bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Author Correction: Macrophages confer resistance to PI3K inhibitor GDC-0941 in breast cancer through the activation of NF-κB signaling
Authors: Usman Muhammad Waqas , Gao Jing , Zheng Tiezheng , Rui Chunhua , Li Ting , Bian Xing , Cheng Hailing , Liu Pixu , Luo Fuwen
Published: June 2019

Since publication of this article, the authors have noticed the following errors: (1) Fig. 3c, the image is correct but the authors mistakenly provided incorrect figure legend. The correct figure legend is included below along with the original figure. (2) Supplementary Fig. S2, the authors mistakenly provided the data from ELISA analysis of TNFα and IL-6 in media from co-cultured 4T1 and RAW264.7 cells. As stated in the main text, data from ELISA analysis of TNFα and IL-6 in 4T1 tumors from Balb/c mice treated with GDC-0941 should be provided. The correct figure and figure legend are included below. (3) The authors noticed an error in the manuscript in which “RAW276.7” should be “RAW264.7”. The corrections do not alter the conclusions of the paper. The authors apologize for any inconvenience caused. This has been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.
Mitochondrial miR-762 regulates apoptosis and myocardial infarction by impairing ND2
Authors: Yan Kaowen , An Tao , Zhai Mei , Huang Yan , Wang Qi , Wang Yunhong , Zhang Rongcheng , Wang Tao , Liu Jing , Zhang Yuhui , Zhang Jian , Wang Kun
Published: June 2019

Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a major role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNAs that act as negative regulators of gene expression, but how miRNAs affect mitochondrial function in the heart is unclear. Using a miRNA microarray assay, we found that miR-762 predominantly translocated in the mitochondria and was significantly upregulated upon anoxia/reoxygenation (A/R) treatment. Knockdown of endogenous miR-762 significantly attenuated the decrease in intracellular ATP levels, the increase in ROS levels, the decrease in mitochondrial complex I enzyme activity and the increase in apoptotic cell death in cardiomyocytes, which was induced by A/R treatment. In addition, knockdown of miR-762 ameliorated myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in mice. Mechanistically, we showed that enforced expression of miR-762 dramatically decreased the protein levels of endogenous NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) but had no effect on the transcript levels of ND2. The luciferase reporter assay showed that miR-762 bound to the coding sequence of ND2. In addition, knockdown of endogenous ND2 significantly decreased intracellular ATP levels, increased ROS levels, reduced mitochondrial complex I enzyme activity and increased apoptotic cell death in cardiomyocytes, which was induced by A/R treatment. Furthermore, we found that the inhibitory effect of miR-762 downregulation was attenuated by ND2 knockdown. Thus, our findings suggest that miR-762 participates in the regulation of mitochondrial function and cardiomyocyte apoptosis by ND2, a core assembly subunit of mitochondrial complex I. Our results revealed that mitochondrial miR-762, as a new player in mitochondrial dysfunction, may provide a new therapeutic target for myocardial infarction.
Alteration of the IL-33-sST2 pathway in hypertensive patients and a mouse model
Authors: Yin Xiaoyun , Cao Huajun , Wei Yingjie , Li Hui-Hua
Published: June 2019

Inflammatory cells play an important role in the occurrence of hypertension. Recent studies have demonstrated that interleukin-33/suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (IL-33/ST2) signaling plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of several cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to evaluate the association of IL-33 and its receptor levels with the occurrence of hypertension in angiotensin II (Ang II)-infused mice using microarray analysis and validated our results in human specimens. Male wild-type mice were infused with Ang II (1500 ng/kg/min) for 1, 3 and 7 days. Patients with essential hypertension (EH) (n = 166) and healthy control subjects (n = 306) were enrolled. Levels of IL-33 and ST2 mRNAs in serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were analyzed by Luminex assay or ELISA and qPCR analysis. We found that IL-33 expression was significantly increased in the aortas of mice receiving Ang II infusion compared with that of control mice. In contrast, the levels of IL-33 in serum and PBMCs were not significantly different between hypertensive patients and normal controls. However, the levels of soluble ST2 (sST2) in serum and PBMCs were markedly higher in hypertensive patients than in controls (P < 0.001 and P = 0.014, respectively). In addition, the ST2L level in PBMCs was also significantly decreased in hypertensive patients (P = 0.028). Further, logistic analysis showed that the odds ratios of having hypertension based on sST2 levels in serum and PBMCs were 9.714 and 2.244 (P = 0.013 and P = 0.024, respectively) compared with the control group. Above all, sST2 acted as a risk factor for the occurrence of hypertension and may be a promising novel predictive marker for EH.
Role of network-mediated stochasticity in mammalian drug resistance
Authors: Farquhar Kevin S. , Charlebois Daniel A. , Szenk Mariola , Cohen Joseph , Nevozhay Dmitry , Balázsi Gábor
Published: June 2019

A major challenge in biology is that genetically identical cells in the same environment can display gene expression stochasticity (noise), which contributes to bet-hedging, drug tolerance, and cell-fate switching. The magnitude and timescales of stochastic fluctuations can depend on the gene regulatory network. Currently, it is unclear how gene expression noise of specific networks impacts the evolution of drug resistance in mammalian cells. Answering this question requires adjusting network noise independently from mean expression. Here, we develop positive and negative feedback-based synthetic gene circuits to decouple noise from the mean for Puromycin resistance gene expression in Chinese Hamster Ovary cells. In low Puromycin concentrations, the high-noise, positive-feedback network delays long-term adaptation, whereas it facilitates adaptation under high Puromycin concentration. Accordingly, the low-noise, negative-feedback circuit can maintain resistance by acquiring mutations while the positive-feedback circuit remains mutation-free and regains drug sensitivity. These findings may have profound implications for chemotherapeutic inefficiency and cancer relapse.
Probing the active fraction of soil microbiomes using BONCAT-FACS
Authors: Couradeau Estelle , Sasse Joelle , Goudeau Danielle , Nath Nandita , Hazen Terry C. , Bowen Ben P. , Chakraborty Romy , Malmstrom Rex R. , Northen Trent R.
Published: June 2019

The ability to link soil microbial diversity to soil processes requires technologies that differentiate active microbes from extracellular DNA and dormant cells. Here, we use BONCAT (bioorthogonal non-canonical amino acid tagging) to measure translationally active cells in soils. We compare the active population of two soil depths from Oak Ridge (Tennessee, USA) and find that a maximum of 25–70% of the extractable cells are active. Analysis of 16S rRNA sequences from BONCAT-positive cells recovered by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) reveals that the phylogenetic composition of the active fraction is distinct from the total population of extractable cells. Some members of the community are found to be active at both depths independently of their abundance rank, suggesting that the incubation conditions favor the activity of similar organisms. We conclude that BONCAT-FACS is effective for interrogating the active fraction of soil microbiomes in situ and provides a new approach for uncovering the links between soil processes and specific microbial groups.
Neuronal representation of environmental boundaries in egocentric coordinates
Authors: Hinman James R. , Chapman G. William , Hasselmo Michael E.
Published: June 2019

Movement through space is a fundamental behavior for all animals. Cognitive maps of environments are encoded in the hippocampal formation in an allocentric reference frame, but motor movements that comprise physical navigation are represented within an egocentric reference frame. Allocentric navigational plans must be converted to an egocentric reference frame prior to implementation as overt behavior. Here we describe an egocentric spatial representation of environmental boundaries in the dorsomedial striatum.
Comparison of Alterations in miRNA Expression in Matched Tissue and Blood Samples during Spinal Cord Glioma Progression
Authors: An Tian , Fan Tao , Zhang Xin Qing , Liu Yu-Fei , Huang Jiangpinghao , Liang Cong , Lv Bo-Han , Wang Yin-Qian , Zhao Xin-Gang , Liu Jia-Xian , Fu Yu- Huan , Jiang Guang-Jian
Published: June 2019

Abnormal expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) contributes to glioma initiation. However, the expression of miRNAs in tumour tissue or blood of spinal cord glioma (SCG) patients, particularly in high-grade spinal gliomas (Grade IV) known as glioblastoma (GBM), remains largely unknown. In this study we aimed to determine differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) in the tissue and blood between spinal cord glioblastoma (SC-GBM) patients and low grade SCG (L-SCG) patients. Additionally, we predicted key miRNA targets and pathways that may be critical in glioma development using pathway and gene ontology analysis. A total of 74 miRNAs were determined to be differentially expressed (25 upregulated and 49 downregulated) in blood, while 207 miRNAs (20 up-regulated and 187 down-regulated) were identified in tissue samples. Gene ontology analysis revealed multicellular organism development and positive regulation of macromolecule metabolic process to be primarily involved. Pathway analysis revealed “Glioma”, “Signalling pathways regulating pluripotency of stem cells” to be the most relevant pathways. miRNA-mRNA analysis revealed that hsa-miRNA3196, hsa-miR-27a-3p, and hsa-miR-3664-3p and their target genes are involved in cancer progression. Our study provides a molecular basis for SCG pathological grading based on differential miRNA expression.
Vitamin D receptors (VDR), hydroxylases CYP27B1 and CYP24A1 and retinoid-related orphan receptors (ROR) level in human uveal tract and ocular melanoma with different melanization levels
Authors: Markiewicz Anna , Brożyna Anna A. , Podgórska Ewa , Elas Martyna , Urbańska Krystyna , Jetten Anton M. , Slominski Andrzej T. , Jóźwicki Wojciech , Orłowska-Heitzman Jolanta , Dyduch Grzegorz , Romanowska-Dixon Bożena
Published: June 2019

In recent years, a significant number of studies have investigated the preventive role of vitamin D in a number of different neoplasms. In this study, we analyze various components of the vitamin D signaling pathways in the human uveal tract and uveal melanoma, including analysis of the expression of vitamin D receptors (VDR), the activating and inactivating hydroxylases, respectively, CYP27B1 and CYP24A1, and the retinoic acid-related orphan receptors (ROR) α (RORα) and γ (RORγ) in these tissues. We further analyzed the expression of VDR, CYP27B1, CYP24A1, and ROR in relation to melanin levels, clinical stage and prognosis. Our study indicated that the uveal melanoma melanin level inversely correlated with VDR expression. We further showed that vitamin D is metabolized in uveal melanoma. This is significant because until now there has been no paper published, that would describe presence of VDR, hydroxylases CYP27B1 and CYP24A1, and RORα and RORγ in the human uveal tract and uveal melanomas. The outcomes of our research can contribute to the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic methods in uveal tract disorders, especially in uveal melanoma. The presented associations between vitamin D signaling elements and uveal melanoma in comparison to uveal tract encourage future clinical research with larger patients’ population.
Proving hydrogen addition mechanism from manure to coal surface obtained by GC-MS and 1H-NMR analysis
Authors: Koyunoğlu Cemil , Karaca Hüseyin
Published: June 2019

In this study, to explain the possibility of hydrogen transfer paths from manure to coal, Elbistan lignite (EL) combined with manure liquefaction of oil + gas products were analysed with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1H-NMR) technique. In the same way, it is observed that oils which as they fragment to an alkane-alkene mixture, serve as a hydrogen “sponge” and put a serious hydrogen need on the parts of the free radicals and molecules that are currently hydrogen poor. Concerning Elbistan lignite and manure do not have any aromatic hydrogen. Moreover, when the aromatic compounds were hydrogenated, their aromatic hydrogen was transformed to naphthenic hydrogen. Hydrogen transfer was due to isomerization of heptane from 3-methylhexane obtained in test oil where only manure was present as hydrogen donor in the liquefaction environment despite hydrogenation of isomerization from naphthalene to azulene.
Optical properties and pulse shape discrimination in siloxane-based scintillation detectors
Authors: Marchi T. , Pino F. , Fontana C. L. , Quaranta A. , Zanazzi E. , Vesco M. , Cinausero M. , Daldosso N. , Paterlini V. , Gramegna F. , Moretto S. , Collazuol G. , Degerlier M. , Fabris D. , Carturan S. M.
Published: June 2019

The possibility to detect fast neutrons as a distinct signal from that one of γ-rays background is surely of great importance for several topics, spanning from homeland security to radiation monitoring in nuclear physics research plants. Nowadays, Helium-3 based detectors are extremely expensive, while the use of large volume liquid scintillators presents serious concerns related to spillage risks and waste disposal. A very attractive alternative is the use of commercially available solid scintillators, which exploits an aromatic polymer matrix entrapping very high loadings of primary dye, thereby enabling the use of pulse shape analysis (PSA) to discriminate between fast neutrons and γ-rays. In this work, we analyse in detail the optical features of a solid scintillator composed by polymethylphenylsiloxane (PMPS) as base polymer loaded with moderate amounts of 2,5-diphenyloxazole (PPO). Furthermore, fluorescence decay kinetics have been correlated to the observed pulse shape discrimination capabilities of this radiation and thermally resistant scintillator, whose performances have been discussed in terms of conformational features and excimers formation revealed by the optical analyses.
Durability of cell line xenograft resection models to interrogate tumor micro-environment targeting agents
Authors: Miller Ian S. , Shiels Liam P. , Conroy Emer , Connor Kate , Dicker Patrick , Gallagher William M. , Donovan Norma O’ , Kerbel Robert S. , Crown John , Byrne Annette T.
Published: June 2019

Angiogenesis is a key tumor microenvironment (TME) event underpinning tumor growth and metastasis. Nevertheless, the relatively poor performance of anti-angiogenic therapies in clinical trials compared to pre-clinical studies implies that classical subcutaneous xenograft models have limited predictive potential in this setting. To address this issue, we established orthotopic surgical resection models of breast cancer, which replicate the phenotype of clinical post-resection micro-metastasis. To demonstrate the power and precision of these models, we recapitulated the BETH adjuvant trial (NCT00625898) where the addition of bevacizumab (BVZ) to chemotherapy plus trastuzumab (Trast) failed to provide additional benefit. SCID mice were orthotopically implanted with bioluminescent Her2+ MDA-MB-231 or HCC1954 cells and tumors resected c.5 weeks later. Following resection, mice were treated with 10 mg/kg Trast +5 mg/kg paclitaxel (PAC) IP once weekly for 6 cycles +/− weekly BVZ (5 mg/kg IP). Metastasis was monitored by imaging. Using these models our data confirms that the addition of the anti-angiogenic antibody BVZ to adjuvant Trast + chemotherapy provides no additional benefit compared with Trast + chemotherapy alone. Previous studies using non-resection subcutaneously engrafted xenografts failed to predict this outcome. Our results provide compelling evidence for the utility of cell line xenograft resection models to predict clinical outcome for TME targeting agents.
Environment mediated multipartite and multidimensional entanglement
Authors: Lee Chee Kong , Najafabadi Mojdeh S. , Schumayer Daniel , Kwek Leong Chuan , Hutchinson David A. W.
Published: June 2019

Quantum entanglement is usually considered a fragile quantity and decoherence through coupling to an external environment, such as a thermal reservoir, can quickly destroy the entanglement resource. This doesn't have to be the case and the environment can be engineered to assist in the formation of entanglement. We investigate a system of qubits and higher dimensional spins interacting only through their mutual coupling to a reservoir. We explore the entanglement of multipartite and multidimensional system as mediated by the bath and show that at low temperatures and intermediate coupling strengths multipartite entanglement may form between qubits and between higher spins, i.e., qudits. We characterise the multipartite entanglement using an entanglement witness based upon the structure factor and demonstrate its validity versus the directly calculated entanglement of formation, suggesting possible experiments for its measure.
QSAR Classification Models for Predicting the Activity of Inhibitors of Beta-Secretase (BACE1) Associated with Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Ponzoni Ignacio , Sebastián-Pérez Víctor , Martínez María J. , Roca Carlos , De la Cruz Pérez Carlos , Cravero Fiorella , Vazquez Gustavo E. , Páez Juan A. , Díaz Mónica F. , Campillo Nuria E.
Published: June 2019

Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders in elder population. Theβ-site amyloid cleavage enzyme 1 (BACE1) is the major constituent of amyloid plaques and plays a central role in this brain pathogenesis, thus it constitutes an auspicious pharmacological target for its treatment. In this paper, a QSAR model for identification of potential inhibitors of BACE1 protein is designed by using classification methods. For building this model, a database with 215 molecules collected from different sources has been assembled. This dataset contains diverse compounds with different scaffolds and physical-chemical properties, covering a wide chemical space in the drug-like range. The most distinctive aspect of the applied QSAR strategy is the combination of hybridization with backward elimination of models, which contributes to improve the quality of the final QSAR model. Another relevant step is the visual analysis of the molecular descriptors that allows guaranteeing the absence of information redundancy in the model. The QSAR model performances have been assessed by traditional metrics, and the final proposed model has low cardinality, and reaches a high percentage of chemical compounds correctly classified.
Loss of MafA and MafB expression promotes islet inflammation
Authors: Singh Tania , Colberg Jesper K. , Sarmiento Luis , Chaves Patricia , Hansen Lisbeth , Bsharat Sara , Cataldo Luis R. , Dudenhöffer-Pfeifer Monika , Fex Malin , Bryder David , Holmberg Dan , Sitnicka Ewa , Cilio Corrado , Prasad Rashmi B. , Artner Isabella
Published: June 2019

Maf transcription factors are critical regulators of beta-cell function. We have previously shown that reduced MafA expression in human and mouse islets is associated with a pro-inflammatory gene signature. Here, we investigate if the loss of Maf transcription factors induced autoimmune processes in the pancreas. Transcriptomics analysis showed expression of pro-inflammatory as well as immune cell marker genes. However, clusters of CD4+ T and B220+ B cells were associated primarily with adult MafA−/−MafB+/−, but not MafA−/− islets. MafA expression was detected in the thymus, lymph nodes and bone marrow suggesting a novel role of MafA in regulating immune-cell function. Analysis of pancreatic lymph node cells showed activation of CD4+ T cells, but lack of CD8+ T cell activation which also coincided with an enrichment of naïve CD8+ T cells. Further analysis of T cell marker genes revealed a reduction of T cell receptor signaling gene expression in CD8, but not in CD4+ T cells, which was accompanied with a defect in early T cell receptor signaling in mutant CD8+ T cells. These results suggest that loss of MafA impairs both beta- and T cell function affecting the balance of peripheral immune responses against islet autoantigens, resulting in local inflammation in pancreatic islets.
Augmentation of spinal cord glutamatergic synaptic currents in zebrafish primary motoneurons expressing mutant human TARDBP (TDP-43)
Authors: Petel Légaré Virginie , Harji Ziyaan A. , Rampal Christian J. , Allard-Chamard Xavier , Rodríguez Esteban C. , Armstrong Gary A. B.
Published: June 2019

Though there is compelling evidence that de-innervation of neuromuscular junctions (NMJ) occurs early in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), defects arising at synapses in the spinal cord remain incompletely understood. To investigate spinal cord synaptic dysfunction, we took advantage of a zebrafish larval model and expressed either wild type human TARDBP (wtTARDBP) or the ALS-causing G348C variant (mutTARDBP). The larval zebrafish is ideally suited to examine synaptic connectivity between descending populations of neurons and spinal cord motoneurons as a fully intact spinal cord is preserved during experimentation. Here we provide evidence that the tail-beat motor pattern is reduced in both frequency and duration in larvae expressing mutTARDBP. In addition, we report that motor-related synaptic depolarizations in primary motoneurons of the spinal cord are shorter in duration and fewer action potentials are evoked in larvae expressing mutTARDBP. To more thoroughly examine spinal cord synaptic dysfunction in our ALS model, we isolated AMPA/kainate-mediated glutamatergic miniature excitatory post-synaptic currents in primary motoneurons and found that in addition to displaying a larger amplitude, the frequency of quantal events was higher in larvae expressing mutTARDBP when compared to larvae expressing wtTARDBP. In a final series of experiments, we optogenetically drove neuronal activity in the hindbrain and spinal cord population of descending ipsilateral glutamatergic interneurons (expressing Chx10) using the Gal4-UAS system and found that larvae expressing mutTARDBP displayed abnormal tail-beat patterns in response to optogenetic stimuli and augmented synaptic connectivity with motoneurons. These findings indicate that expression of mutTARDBP results in functionally altered glutamatergic synapses in the spinal cord.
Highly-ordered Triptycene Modifier Layer Based on Blade Coating for Ultraflexible Organic Transistors
Authors: Kondo Masaya , Kajitani Takashi , Uemura Takafumi , Noda Yuki , Ishiwari Fumitaka , Shoji Yoshiaki , Araki Teppei , Yoshimoto Shusuke , Fukushima Takanori , Sekitani Tsuyoshi
Published: June 2019

We present a highly ordered surface modification layer for polymers based on ambient solution-processed triptycene (Trip) derivatives for high-mobility organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs). The nested packing of Trip molecules results in the formation of 2D hexagonal arrays, which stack one-dimensionally on the surface of polymer dielectrics without anchoring groups. The Trip surface was previously shown to be preferable for the growth of organic semiconductors (OSCs), and hence for enhancing the mobility of OTFTs. However, although the Trip modifier layer has been realized by thermal evaporation in a high-vacuum environment (TVE), it still has grain-boundary disorders that hinder the optimal growth of OSCs. To fabricate OTFTs with higher mobility, a disorder-free Trip layer is needed. We developed highly ordered Trip layers on polymer dielectrics via blade coating. In addition, we clarified that the highly ordered Trip modifier layer enhances the mobility of the OTFTs by more than 40%, relative to the disordered Trip layer prepared by TVE. Finally, we realized a ring oscillator composed of OTFTs with a highly ordered Trip layer.
Disease-linked mutations alter the stoichiometries of HCN-KCNE2 complexes
Authors: Lussier Yoann , Fürst Oliver , Fortea Eva , Leclerc Marc , Priolo Dimitri , Moeller Lena , Bichet Daniel G. , Blunck Rikard , D’Avanzo Nazzareno
Published: June 2019

The four hyperpolarization-activated cylic-nucleotide gated (HCN) channel isoforms and their auxiliary subunit KCNE2 are important in the regulation of peripheral and central neuronal firing and the heartbeat. Disruption of their normal function has been implicated in cardiac arrhythmias, peripheral pain, and epilepsy. However, molecular details of the HCN-KCNE2 complexes are unknown. Using single-molecule subunit counting, we determined that the number of KCNE2 subunits in complex with the pore-forming subunits of human HCN channels differs with each HCN isoform and is dynamic with respect to concentration. These interactions can be altered by KCNE2 gene-variants with functional implications. The results provide an additional consideration necessary to understand heart rhythm, pain, and epileptic disorders.
The duration of the interpregnancy interval in multiparous women and maternal weight gain between pregnancies: findings from a UK population-based cohort
Authors: Ziauddeen Nida , Roderick Paul J. , Macklon Nicholas S. , Alwan Nisreen A.
Published: June 2019

Maternal obesity in pregnancy increases the risk of adverse long-term health outcomes in both mother and offspring. A population-based cohort of prospectively collected routine antenatal healthcare data collected between January 2003 and September 2017 at University Hospital Southampton, UK was utilised to investigate the association between duration of interpregnancy interval between successive pregnancies and gain in maternal body mass index by the start of the next pregnancy. Records of 19362 women with two or more consecutive singleton live births were analysed. Two-thirds had gained weight when presenting to antenatal care for their subsequent pregnancy with 20% becoming overweight/obese. Compared to an interval of 24–35 months, an interval of 12–23 months was associated with lowest risk of weight gain (adjusted RR 0.91, 99% CI 0.87 to 0.95, p < 0.001) and ≥36 months with greatest risk (adjusted RR 1.11, 99% CI 1.07 to 1.15, p < 0.001) for the first to second pregnancy. This study shows that most multiparous women start their pregnancy with a higher weight than their previous one. An interval of 12–23 months is associated with the lowest risk of starting the second pregnancy with a higher body weight accounting for age. In countries with high prevalence of maternal obesity, birth spacing may merit exploration as a factor impacting on perinatal morbidity.
Healthy adiposity and extended lifespan in obese mice fed a diet supplemented with a polyphenol-rich plant extract
Authors: Aires Virginie , Labbé Jérôme , Deckert Valérie , Pais de Barros Jean-Paul , Boidot Romain , Haumont Marc , Maquart Guillaume , Le Guern Naig , Masson David , Prost-Camus Emmanuelle , Prost Michel , Lagrost Laurent
Published: June 2019

Obesity may not be consistently associated with metabolic disorders and mortality later in life, prompting exploration of the challenging concept of healthy obesity. Here, the consumption of a high-fat/high-sucrose (HF/HS) diet produces hyperglycaemia and hypercholesterolaemia, increases oxidative stress, increases endotoxaemia, expands adipose tissue (with enlarged adipocytes, enhanced macrophage infiltration and the accumulation of cholesterol and oxysterols), and reduces the median lifespan of obese mice. Despite the persistence of obesity, supplementation with a polyphenol-rich plant extract (PRPE) improves plasma lipid levels and endotoxaemia, prevents macrophage recruitment to adipose tissues, reduces adipose accumulation of cholesterol and cholesterol oxides, and extends the median lifespan. PRPE drives the normalization of the HF/HS-mediated functional enrichment of genes associated with immunity and inflammation (in particular the response to lipopolysaccharides). The long-term limitation of immune cell infiltration in adipose tissue by PRPE increases the lifespan through a mechanism independent of body weight and fat storage and constitutes the hallmark of a healthy adiposity trait.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Gut Microbiota Alteration is Characterized by a Proteobacteria and Fusobacteria Bloom in Kwashiorkor and a Bacteroidetes Paucity in Marasmus
Authors: Pham Thi-Phuong-Thao , Tidjani Alou Maryam , Bachar Dipankar , Levasseur Anthony , Brah Souleymane , Alhousseini Daouda , Sokhna Cheikh , Diallo Aldiouma , Wieringa Frank , Million Matthieu , Raoult Didier
Published: June 2019

Kwashiorkor and marasmus are considered to be two different clinical diseases resulting from severe malnutrition, but this distinction has been questioned. In a previous study comparing children with kwashiorkor and healthy children from Niger and Senegal, we found a dramatic gut microbiota alteration with a predominant depletion of anaerobes and enrichment in Proteobacteria and Fusobacteria in kwashiorkor. However, it remained unknown whether this association was related to malnutrition or was a specific feature of kwashiorkor. In this continuation study, we added 7 new marasmus subjects and 71,162 new colonies from the same countries. Our results showed that, compared to marasmus, the kwashiorkor gut microbiota was characterized by an increased proportion of Proteobacteria (culturomics, Marasmus 5.0%, Kwashiorkor 16.7%, p < 0.0001; metagenomics, Marasmus 14.7%, Kwashiorkor 22.0%, p = 0.001), but there was a decreased proportion of Bacteroidetes in marasmus (culturomics, Marasmus 0.8%, Kwashiorkor 6.5%, p = 0.001; metagenomics, Marasmus 5.4%, Kwashiorkor 7.0%, p = 0.03). Fusobacterium was more frequently cultured from kwashiorkor. All detected potential pathogenic species were enriched in the kwashiorkor gut microbiota. These results provide a biological basis to support the usage of an antibiotic therapy more effective in suppressing the overgrowth of bacterial communities resistant to penicillin, combined with antioxidants and probiotics for nutritional recovery therapies, particularly for kwashiorkor.
An untargeted fecal and urine metabolomics analysis of the interplay between the gut microbiome, diet and human metabolism in Indian and Chinese adults
Authors: Jain Abhishek , Li Xin Hui , Chen Wei Ning
Published: June 2019

Gut microbiome plays a vital role in human health. Human fecal and urine metabolome could provide a functional readout of gut microbial metabolism as well as its interaction with host and diet. However, this relationship still needs to be fully characterized. We established an untargeted GC-MS metabolomics method which enabled the detection of 122 and 86 metabolites including amino acids, phenolics, indoles, carbohydrates, sugars and metabolites of microbial origin from fecal and urine samples respectively. 41 compounds were confirmed using external standards. Next, we compared the fecal and urine metabolome of 16 healthy Indian and Chinese adults, ages 22–35 years, using a combined GC-MS and LC-MS approach. We showed dietary habit or ethnicity wise grouping of urine and fecal metabolite profiles of Indian and Chinese adults. Our analysis revealed 53 differentiating metabolites including higher abundance of amino acids and phenolics in Chinese and higher abundance of fatty acids, glycocholic acid, metabolites related to tryptophan metabolism in Indian adults. Correlation analysis showed a strong association of metabolites with gut bacterial profiles of the same subjects in the genus and species level. Thus, our results suggest that gut bacterial compositional changes could be eventually monitored and probed using a metabolomics approach.
Anaplasma phagocytophilum modifies tick cell microRNA expression and upregulates isc-mir-79 to facilitate infection by targeting the Roundabout protein 2 pathway
Authors: Artigas-Jerónimo Sara , Alberdi Pilar , Villar Rayo Margarita , Cabezas-Cruz Alejandro , Prados Pedro J. Espinosa , Mateos-Hernández Lourdes , de la Fuente José
Published: June 2019

The microRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small noncoding RNAs that have important regulatory roles in multicellular organisms including innate and adaptive immune pathways to control bacterial, parasite and viral infections, and pathogens could modify host miRNA profile to facilitate infection and multiplication. Therefore, understanding the function of host miRNAs in response to pathogen infection is relevant to characterize host-pathogen molecular interactions and to provide new targets for effective new interventions for the control infectious diseases. The objective of this study was to characterize the dynamics and functional significance of the miRNA response of the tick vector Ixodes scapularis in response to Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection, the causative agent of human and animal granulocytic anaplasmosis. To address this objective, the composition of tick miRNAs, functional annotation, and expression profiling was characterized using high throughout RNA sequencing in uninfected and A. phagocytophilum-infected I. scapularis ISE6 tick cells, a model for tick hemocytes involved in pathogen infection. The results provided new evidences on the role of tick miRNA during pathogen infection, and showed that A. phagocytophilum modifies I. scapularis tick cell miRNA profile and upregulates isc-mir-79 to facilitate infection by targeting the Roundabout protein 2 (Robo2) pathway. Furthermore, these results suggested new targets for interventions to control pathogen infection in ticks.
Characterization of irreversible electroporation on the stomach: A feasibility study in rats
Authors: Lee Jae Min , Choi Hyuk Soon , Kim Eun Sun , Keum Bora , Seo Yeon Seok , Jeen Yoon Tae , Lee Hong Sik , Chun Hoon Jai , Um Soon Ho , Kim Chang Duck , Kim Hong Bae
Published: June 2019

Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a newly developed non-thermal ablative therapy. During the IRE procedure, the permeability of the cell membrane is irreversibly changed by application of high-energy pulses across the tissue. This induces the breakdown of cell homeostasis, and thereby cell death. Here, we present an in vivo study to demonstrate IRE ablation of gastric tissue and characterize the changes that occur with time therein. No significant complications were observed in the test rats during the experiment. The electroporated tissues exhibited apoptosis at 10, 24 and 48 h after IRE ablation. The apoptosis peaked at 10 h after IRE and then declined, suggesting that the ablated tissue rapidly recovered owing to intense metabolic activity. In addition, the electroporated tissues exhibited morphological changes such as pyknosis and karyorrhexis, while histological analysis showed that the blood vessels were preserved. Interestingly, electroporation greatly affected the mucosa and muscularis propria, but not the submucosa and serosa. This study suggests that IRE could potentially be used as a minimally invasive treatment for early gastric cancer that does not exhibit lymph node metastasis or dysplasia.
A connectivity-based parcellation improved functional representation of the human cerebellum
Authors: Ren Yudan , Guo Lei , Guo Christine Cong
Published: June 2019

The cerebellum is traditionally well known for its role in motor learning and coordination. Recently, it is recognized that the function of the cerebellum is highly diverse and extends to non-motor domains, such as working memory, emotion and language. The diversity of the cerebellum can be appreciated by examining its extensive connectivity to the cerebral regions selective for both motor and cognitive functions. Importantly, the pattern of cerebro-cerebellar connectivity is specific and distinct to different cerebellar subregions. Therefore, to understand the cerebellum and the various functions it involves, it is essential to identify and differentiate its subdivisions. However, most studies are still referring the cerebellum as one brain structure or by its gross anatomical subdivisions, which does not necessarily reflect the functional mapping of the cerebellum. We here employed a data-driven method to generate a functional connectivity-based parcellation of the cerebellum. Our results demonstrated that functional connectivity-based atlas is superior to existing atlases in regards to cluster homogeneity, accuracy of functional connectivity representation and individual identification. Furthermore, our functional atlas improves statistical results of task fMRI analyses, as compared to the standard voxel-based approach and existing atlases. Our detailed functional parcellation provides a valuable tool for elucidating the functional diversity and connectivity of the cerebellum as well as its network relationships with the whole brain.
Features of diclofenac biodegradation by Rhodococcus ruber IEGM 346
Authors: Ivshina Irina B. , Tyumina Elena A. , Kuzmina Maria V. , Vikhareva Elena V.
Published: June 2019

This study investigated the ability of rhodococci to biodegrade diclofenac (DCF), one of the polycyclic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) most frequently detected in the environment. Rhodococcus ruber strain IEGM 346 capable of complete DCF biodegradation (50 µg/L) over 6 days was selected. It is distinguished by the ability to degrade DCF at high (50 mg/L) concentrations unlike other known biodegraders. The DCF decomposition process was accelerated by adding glucose and due to short-term cell adaptation to 5 µg/L DCF. The most typical responses to DCF exposure observed were the changed ζ-potential of bacterial cells; increased cell hydrophobicity and total cell lipid content; multi-cellular conglomerates formed; and the changed surface-to-volume ratio. The obtained findings are considered as mechanisms of rhodococcal adaptation and hence their increased resistance to toxic effects of this pharmaceutical pollutant. The proposed pathways of bacterial DCF metabolisation were described. The data confirming the C-N bond cleavage and aromatic ring opening in the DCF structure were obtained.
In situ estimation of optical properties of rat and monkey brains using femtosecond time-resolved measurements
Authors: Hoshi Yoko , Tanikawa Yukari , Okada Eiji , Kawaguchi Hiroshi , Nemoto Masahito , Shimizu Kosuke , Kodama Tohru , Watanabe Masataka
Published: June 2019

An accurate knowledge of tissue optical properties (absorption coefficients, μa, and reduced scattering coefficients, μs’) is critical for precise modeling of light propagation in biological tissue, essential for developing diagnostic and therapeutic optical techniques that utilize diffusive photons. A great number of studies have explored the optical properties of various tissue, and these values are not known in detail due to difficulties in the experimental determination and significant variations in tissue constitution. Especially, in situ estimates of the optical properties of brain tissue, a common measurement target in optical imaging, is a challenge because of its layer structure (where the thin gray matter covers the white matter). Here, we report an approach to in situ estimates of the μa and μs’ of the gray and white matter in living rat and monkey brains by using femtosecond time-resolved measurements and Monte Carlo simulation. The results demonstrate that the μa of the gray matter is larger than that of the white matter, while there was no significant difference in the μs’ between the gray and white matter. The optical properties of the rat brain were very similar to those of the monkey brain except for the μa of the gray matter here.
Enrichment of extracellular vesicles with lipid nanoprobe functionalized nanostructured silica
Authors: Wan Yuan , Maurer Mackenzie , He Hong-Zhang , Xia Yi-Qiu , Hao Si-Jie , Zhang Wen-Long , Yee Nelson S. , Zheng Si-Yang
Published: June 2019

Nanoscale extracellular vesicles (nEVs) have recently demonstrated potential value in cancer diagnostics and treatment monitoring, but translation has been limited by technical challenges in nEV isolation.
Clustering of Janus particles in an optical potential driven by hydrodynamic fluxes
Authors: Mousavi S. Masoumeh , Kasianiuk Iryna , Kasyanyuk Denis , Velu Sabareesh K. P. , Callegari Agnese , Biancofiore Luca , Volpe Giovanni
Published: June 2019

Hydrodynamic fluxes generated by Janus particles in an optical potential drive reversible clustering of colloids.
Electrochemiluminescence and analytical applications of terbium thiophene carboxylic acid complexes
Authors: Lu Jing , Wang Ling , Xu Xia , Qin Xiangxiang , Qiu Xia , Yinggui Zhu
Published: June 2019

In this work, the electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) behavior of a lanthanide Tb(III) complex was studied using thiophene carboxylic acid (3-thiophenecarboxylic acid, 3-TCA) as the ligand and triethanolamine (TEOA) as the co-reactant.
Functionalisation of isoindolinones via a calcium catalysed Hosomi–Sakurai allylation
Authors: Basson Ashley J. , McLaughlin Mark G.
Published: June 2019

A rapid and functionally tolerant calcium catalysed Hosomi–Sakurai reaction has been realised.
Aromatic hydroxylation of anthracene derivatives by a chromium(iii)-superoxo complex via proton-coupled electron transfer
Authors: Devi Tarali , Lee Yong-Min , Nam Wonwoo , Fukuzumi Shunichi
Published: June 2019

Aromatic hydroxylation of anthracene by a mononuclear nonheme Cr(iii)-superoxo complex proceeds via the rate-determining proton-coupled electron transfer, followed by fast further oxidation to anthraquinone.
Water-soluble conjugated polymer with near-infrared absorption for synergistic tumor therapy using photothermal and photodynamic activity
Authors: Zhou Sirong , Yang Changgang , Guo Lixia , Wang Yunxia , Zhang Guofeng , Feng Liheng
Published: June 2019

A novel NIR-absorbing and water-soluble conjugated polymer (PTDBD) for single-NIR-light induced synergetic photothermal/photodynamic therapy was developed.
Supramolecular chemistry of helical foldamers at the solid–liquid interface: self-assembled monolayers and anion recognition
Authors: Adam Catherine , Faour Lara , Bonnin Valérie , Breton Tony , Levillain Eric , Sallé Marc , Gautier Christelle , Canevet David
Published: June 2019

Helical foldamers were incorporated in self-assembled monolayers that successfully transduce host–guest binding events.
Rational design of novel fluorescent analogues of cholesterol: a “step-by-step” computational study
Authors: Bonvicini Andrea , Reinholdt Peter , Tognetti Vincent , Joubert Laurent , Wüstner Daniel , Kongsted Jacob
Published: June 2019

State-of-the-art quantum chemical and molecular dynamics simulations are used as guidelines in design of novel fluorescent analogues of cholesterol.
Contemporary Research in Boron Chemistry
Authors: Liu Shih-Yuan , Stephan Douglas W.
Published: June 2019

Guest editors Shih-Yuan Liu and Douglas W. Stephan introduce the Boron Chemistry themed issue of Chemical Society Reviews.
MOF-templated in situ fabrication of surface-modified Ni/graphitic carbon nitride with enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution
Authors: Li Mengli , Song Shuang , Su Changsheng , Li Lei , Yan Zheng , Cao Xuebo
Published: June 2019

Surface-modified Ni species derived from 2D Ni-MOFs were loaded on g-C3N4 with high dispersion by the in situ calcination method.
Structural and magnetic characterization of Ni(ii), Co(ii), and Fe(ii) binuclear complexes on a bis(pyridyl-triazolyl)alkane basis
Authors: Gusev Alexey , Nemec Ivan , Herchel Radovan , Riush Irina , Titiš Ján , Boča Roman , Lyssenko Konstantin , Kiskin Mikhail , Eremenko Igor , Linert Wolfgang
Published: June 2019

Reactions of bis[5-(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl]alkanes (alkane spacers –(CH2)n–: n = 2 in L2, n = 3 in L3, −n = 4 in L4) with Ni, Co, Fe salts resulted in the preparation of five series of mononuclear and binuclear complexes.
Paddlewheel-type diruthenium(iii,iii) tetrakis(2-aminopyridinate) complexes with NIR absorption features: combined experimental and theoretical study
Authors: Kataoka Yusuke , Imasaki Nanako , Arakawa Kazuki , Yano Natsumi , Sakiyama Hiroshi , Sugimori Tamotsu , Mitsumi Minoru , Handa Makoto
Published: June 2019

Aminopyridinate-bridged Ru2(iii,iii) complexes with near-infrared absorption features were prepared and characterized by experimental and theoretical techniques.
Sterically encumbered β-diketonates and base metal catalysis
Authors: Krajewski Sebastian M. , Crossman Aaron S. , Akturk Eser S. , Suhrbier Tim , Scappaticci Steven J. , Staab Maxwell W. , Marshak Michael P.
Published: June 2019

Metal coordination complexes of the sterically hindered β-diketonate, 2,6-dimesitylbenzoyl pinacolone (esac), are reported for Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn.
Valence tautomerism and spin crossover in pyridinophane–cobalt–dioxolene complexes: an experimental and computational study
Authors: Tezgerevska Tina , Rousset Elodie , Gable Robert W. , Jameson Guy N. L. , Sañudo E. Carolina , Starikova Alyona , Boskovic Colette
Published: June 2019

Variation of alkyl substituents on pyridinophane ancillary ligands governs temperature-dependent valence tautomeric or spin crossover equilibria in a family of cobalt–dioxolene complexes.
Spatiotemporal control of polymer brush formation through photoinduced radical polymerization regulated by DMD light modulation
Authors: Zhao Haili , Sha Jin , Wang Xiaofeng , Jiang Yongchao , Chen Tao , Wu Tong , Chen Xin , Ji Huajian , Gao Yang , Xie Linsheng , Ma Yulu
Published: June 2019

A novel patterning methodology is reported for fabricating complex polymer brush micropatterns with a spatially controllable 3D nanostructure and chemical composition.
Effect of A-site substitution on the simultaneous catalytic removal of NOx and soot by LaMnO3 perovskites
Authors: Zhao Hairui , Sun Lvesheng , Fu Maochen , Mao Lei , Zhao Xuteng , Zhang Xin , Xiao Youhong , Dong Guojun
Published: June 2019

The simultaneous catalytic removal of NOx and soot by La1−xMxMnO3 (M = K, Sr, Pr; x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3) perovskites was investigated.
Carbon/TiO2/Fe2O3 hybrid shells as efficient visible light photocatalysts
Authors: Wang Minggui , Han Jie , Yuan Ganyin , Guo Rong
Published: June 2019

Mesoporous C/TiO2/Fe2O3 hollow hybrids with TiO2/Fe2O3 p–n heterojunctions and electrically conductive carbon show high photocatalytic performance.
Synthesis of magnetic metal–organic framework composites, Fe3O4-NH2@MOF-235, for the magnetic solid-phase extraction of benzoylurea insecticides from honey, fruit juice and tap water samples
Authors: Duo Huixiao , Lu Xiaofeng , Wang Shuai , Wang Licheng , Guo Yong , Liang Xiaojing
Published: June 2019

Herein, a novel, fusiform-like magnetic metal–organic framework material (Fe3O4-NH2@MOF-235) was fabricated by a facile two-step solvothermal approach.
Electrochemical exfoliation of ultrathin ternary molybdenum sulfoselenide nanosheets to boost the energy-efficient hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Si Jincheng , Chen Hanlin , Lei Chaojun , Suo Yange , Yang Bin , Zhang Zhiguo , Li Zhongjian , Lei Lecheng , Chen Junhong , Hou Yang
Published: June 2019

Ultrathin ternary molybdenum sulfoselenide nanosheets were prepared by an electrochemical exfoliation approach in a non-aqueous electrolyte for the energy-efficient hydrogen evolution reaction.
Self-ZIF template-directed synthesis of a CoS nanoflake array as a Janus electrocatalyst for overall water splitting
Authors: Li Yinge , Fu Xue , Zhu Wenxin , Gong Jiandong , Sun Jing , Zhang Daohong , Wang Jianlong
Published: June 2019

Self-ZIF template-directed synthesis of a CoS nanoflake array as a Janus electrocatalyst for overall water splitting.
The influence mechanism of nanoparticles on the dielectric properties of epoxy resin
Authors: Wang Rui , Xie Congzhen , Luo Shoukang , Gou Bin , Xu Huasong , Zeng Leilei
Published: June 2019

The free volume theory and trap model of nano-modified composite materials were combined to explain the breakdown voltage mechanism.
Two-photon-excited ultralong organic room temperature phosphorescence by dual-channel triplet harvesting
Authors: Mao Zhu , Yang Zhan , Xu Chao , Xie Zongliang , Jiang Long , Gu Feng Long , Zhao Juan , Zhang Yi , Aldred Matthew P. , Chi Zhenguo
Published: June 2019

Small energy gap boosts dual-channel triplet harvestingviaTADF and UOP, which suppresses long-lived triplet concentration quenching. An infrared laser (808 nm) is able to induce persistent emission under ambient conditions.