bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Augmenting central arterial stiffness following eradication of HCV by direct acting antivirals in advanced fibrosis patients
Authors: Cheng Pin-Nan , Chen Ju-Yi , Chiu Yen-Cheng , Chiu Hung-Chih , Tsai Liang-Miin
Published: February 2019

Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is strongly associated with risks of cardiovascular diseases. The impact of direct acting antiviral (DAA) therapy on central blood pressure remains unclear. This investigation evaluates changes in central blood pressure following DAA therapy. One hundred and two DAA-treated patients were prospectively enrolled. Lipid profiles and pulse wave analysis of brachial artery by cuff sphygmomanometry including augmentation index (AIx), a parameter of central artery stiffness, were evaluated. All of the 102 patients achieved sustained virological response (SVR12). Cholesterol and LDL significantly increased following SVR12. Along with lipid changes, significantly higher central diastolic pressure (78.2 ± 14.2 mm Hg at baseline vs. 83.3 ± 13.9 mm Hg at SVR12, p = 0.011) and AIx (33.0 ± 12.7% at baseline vs. 36.9 ± 12.9% at SVR12, p = 0.012) were only observed in the advanced fibrosis patients. Co-morbid diseases, including hypertension (33.4 ± 13.0% vs. 39.7 ± 12.6%, p = 0.003), abnormal waist circumference (33.8 ± 12.2% vs. 38.0 ± 13.2%, p = 0.027), and metabolic syndrome (34.5 ± 12.1% vs. 39.0 ± 11.2%, p = 0.043) were associated with augmented AIx upon SVR12. The augmented central artery stiffness following viral eradication by DAA therapy may raise the concern of short-term cardiovascular risk in CHC patients.
Defining the genes for the final steps in biosynthesis of the complex polyketide antibiotic mupirocin by Pseudomonas fluorescens NCIMB10586
Authors: Connolly Jack A. , Wilson Amber , Macioszek Malgorzata , Song Zhongshu , Wang Luoyi , Mohammad Hadi H. , Yadav Mukul , di Martino Maura , Miller Claire E. , Hothersall Joanne , Haines Anthony S. , Stephens Elton R. , Crump Matthew P. , Willis Christine L. , Simpson Thomas J. , Winn Peter J. , Thomas Christopher M.
Published: February 2019

The mupirocin trans-AT polyketide synthase pathway, provides a model system for manipulation of antibiotic biosynthesis. Its final phase involves removal of the tertiary hydroxyl group from pseudomonic acid B, PA-B, producing the fully active PA-A in a complex series of steps. To further clarify requirements for this conversion, we fed extracts containing PA-B to mutants of the producer strain singly deficient in each mup gene. This additionally identified mupM and mupN as required plus the sequence but not enzymic activity of mupL and ruled out need for other mup genes. A plasmid expressing mupLMNOPVCFU + macpE together with a derivative of the producer P. fluorescens strain NCIMB10586 lacking the mup cluster allowed conversion of PA-B to PA-A. MupN converts apo-mAcpE to holo-form while MupM is a mupirocin-resistant isoleucyl tRNA synthase, preventing self-poisoning. Surprisingly, the expression plasmid failed to allow the closely related P. fluorescens strain SBW25 to convert PA-B to PA-A.
Characterisation of N-glycans in the epithelial-like tissue of the rat cochlea
Authors: Nonomura Yoriko , Sawamura Seishiro , Hanzawa Ken , Nishikaze Takashi , Sekiya Sadanori , Higuchi Taiga , Nin Fumiaki , Uetsuka Satoru , Inohara Hidenori , Okuda Shujiro , Miyoshi Eiji , Horii Arata , Takahashi Sugata , Natsuka Shunji , Hibino Hiroshi
Published: February 2019

Membrane proteins (such as ion channels, transporters, and receptors) and secreted proteins are essential for cellular activities. N-linked glycosylation is involved in stability and function of these proteins and occurs at Asn residues. In several organs, profiles of N-glycans have been determined by comprehensive analyses. Nevertheless, the cochlea of the mammalian inner ear, a tiny organ mediating hearing, has yet to be examined. Here, we focused on the stria vascularis, an epithelial-like tissue in the cochlea, and characterised N-glycans by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry. This hypervascular tissue not only expresses several ion transporters and channels to control the electrochemical balance in the cochlea but also harbours different transporters and receptors that maintain structure and activity of the organ. Seventy-nine N-linked glycans were identified in the rat stria vascularis. Among these, in 55 glycans, the complete structures were determined; in the other 24 species, partial glycosidic linkage patterns and full profiles of the monosaccharide composition were identified. In the process of characterisation, several sialylated glycans were subjected sequentially to two different alkylamidation reactions; this derivatisation helped to distinguish α2,3-linkage and α2,6-linkage sialyl isomers with mass spectrometry. These data should accelerate elucidation of the molecular architecture of the cochlea.
Design of training populations for selective phenotyping in genomic prediction
Authors: Akdemir Deniz , Isidro-Sánchez Julio
Published: February 2019

Phenotyping is the current bottleneck in plant breeding, especially because next-generation sequencing has decreased genotyping cost more than 100.000 fold in the last 20 years. Therefore, the cost of phenotyping needs to be optimized within a breeding program. When designing the implementation of genomic selection scheme into the breeding cycle, breeders need to select the optimal method for (1) selecting training populations that maximize genomic prediction accuracy and (2) to reduce the cost of phenotyping while improving precision. In this article, we compared methods for selecting training populations under two scenarios: Firstly, when the objective is to select a training population set (TRS) to predict the remaining individuals from the same population (Untargeted), and secondly, when a test set (TS) is first defined and genotyped, and then the TRS is optimized specifically around the TS (Targeted). Our results show that optimization methods that include information from the test set (targeted) showed the highest accuracies, indicating that apriori information from the TS improves genomic predictions. In addition, predictive ability enhanced especially when population size was small which is a target to decrease phenotypic cost within breeding programs.
Occlusion time analysis in military pilots affected by bruxism
Authors: Nota Alessandro , Tecco Simona , Cioffi Clementina , Beraldi Alessandro , Padulo Johnny , Baldini Alberto
Published: February 2019

Military pilots are characterized by peculiar job conditions related to intense accelerative stresses. For this, they frequently report work-related neck and back pain and are affected by bruxism. The aim of this case-control study is to analyze the occlusion time (OT) in a sample of military pilots affected by bruxism, compared with healthy non-pilot subjects. 14 military pilots, all males (mean age 35.14 ± 2.32 y), affected by bruxism, were compared with an age matched control group of 14 male subjects (mean age 32.29 ± 4.84 y). The T-Scan computerized occlusal analysis system (Tek-Scan Inc., Boston, MA, USA) was used to record the subjects’ occlusion times during 4 mandibular opening-closing movements. Military pilots affected by bruxism showed a statistically significant lower (reduced of 85%) mean OT, compared with control subjects (p < 0.0001). Military pilots are characterized by a highly reduced occlusion time compared to healthy non-pilot subjects. This feature could not be only related with the presence of bruxism but with their particular clinical job-related condition that causes different dental and stomatognathic system problems. Further studies are encouraged to enhance the scientific knowledge in this field.
18β-glycyrrhetyl-3-O-sulfate would be a causative agent of licorice-induced pseudoaldosteronism
Authors: Ishiuchi Kan’ichiro , Morinaga Osamu , Ohkita Takeshi , Tian Chuanting , Hirasawa Asuka , Mitamura Miaki , Maki Yasuhito , Kondo Tsubasa , Yasujima Tomoya , Yuasa Hiroaki , Minamizawa Kiyoshi , Namiki Takao , Makino Toshiaki
Published: February 2019

Licorice-induced pseudoaldosteronism is a common adverse effect in traditional Japanese Kampo medicine, and 3-monoglucuronyl glycyrrhetinic acid (3MGA) was considered as a causative agent of it. Previously, we found 22α-hydroxy-18β-glycyrrhetyl-3-O-sulfate-30-glucuronide (1), one of the metabolites of glycyrrhizin (GL) in the urine of Eisai hyperbilirubinuria rats (EHBRs) treated with glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), and suggested that it is also a possible causative agent of pseudoaldosteronism. The discovery of 1 also suggested that there might be other metabolites of GA as causal candidates. In this study, we found 22α-hydroxy-18β-glycyrrhetyl-3-O-sulfate (2) and 18β-glycyrrhetyl-3-O-sulfate (3) in EHBRs’ urine. 2 and 3 more strongly inhibited rat type 2 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase than 1 did in vitro. When EHBRs were orally treated with GA, GA and 1–3 in plasma and 1–3 in urine were detected; the levels of 3MGA were quite low. 2 and 3 were shown to be the substrates of organic anion transporter (OAT) 1 and OAT3. In the plasma of a patient suffering from pseudoaldosteronism with rhabdomyolysis due to licorice, we found 8.6 µM of 3, 1.3 µM of GA, and 87 nM of 2, but 1, GL, and 3MGA were not detected. These findings suggest that 18β-glycyrrhetyl-3-O-sulfate (3) is an alternative causative agent of pseudoaldosteronism, rather than 3MGA and 1.
Assessment of trace elements pollution in the sea ports of New South Wales (NSW), Australia using oysters as bioindicators
Authors: Jahan Sayka , Strezov Vladimir
Published: February 2019

In this study Sydney rock oysters (S. glomerata) from six major sea ports of NSW, Australia were used as bioindicators to assess the distribution and levels of trace element accumulation in the ports. Substantial enrichment of Cu, Pb and Zn in the oysters of the sea ports were detected when compared to their background samples and the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) provisional tolerable intake standard. Enrichment of As, Al, Fe, Mn, Br, Sr were also found in the oysters at the port areas. The bioconcentration ratios of the trace elements illustrated significant Fe, Cu, Zn, As, Mn, Al, Pb and Cr accumulation in S. glomerate. The biota sediment accumulation factor suggested Cu, Mn and Zn accumulation at two of the ports (Port Yamba and Botany), indicating availability of these metals in the oysters as strong metal accumulators. In addition, integrated metal contamination illustrated notable Fe, Zn, Cu and Al contamination at port environment, whereas cluster analysis portrayed interconnection between the contaminants and the study sites.
Generation of a single-cycle pulse using a two-stage compressor and its temporal characterization using a tunnelling ionization method
Authors: Hwang Sung In , Park Seung Beom , Mun Jehoi , Cho Wosik , Nam Chang Hee , Kim Kyung Taec
Published: February 2019

A single-cycle laser pulse was generated using a two-stage compressor and characterized using a pulse characterization technique based on tunnelling ionization. A 25-fs, 800-nm laser pulse was compressed to 5.5 fs using a gas-filled hollow-core fibre and a set of chirped mirrors. The laser pulse was further compressed, down to the single-cycle limit by propagation through multiple fused-silica plates and another set of chirped mirrors. The two-stage compressor mitigates the development of higher-order dispersion during spectral broadening. Thus, a single-cycle pulse was generated by compensating the second-order dispersion using chirped mirrors. The duration of the single-cycle pulse was 2.5 fs, while its transform-limited duration was 2.2 fs. A continuum extreme ultraviolet spectrum was obtained through high-harmonic generation without applying any temporal gating technique. The continuum spectrum was shown to have a strong dependence on the carrier-envelope phase of the laser pulse, confirming the generation of a single-cycle pulse.
Transcriptome-based identification and validation of reference genes for plant-bacteria interaction studies using Nicotiana benthamiana
Authors: Pombo Marina A. , Ramos Romina N. , Zheng Yi , Fei Zhangjun , Martin Gregory B. , Rosli Hernan G.
Published: February 2019

RT-qPCR is a widely used technique for the analysis of gene expression. Accurate estimation of transcript abundance relies strongly on a normalization that requires the use of reference genes that are stably expressed in the conditions analyzed. Initially, they were adopted from those used in Northern blot experiments, but an increasing number of publications highlight the need to find and validate alternative reference genes for the particular system under study. The development of high-throughput sequencing techniques has facilitated the identification of such stably expressed genes. Nicotiana benthamiana has been extensively used as a model in the plant research field. In spite of this, there is scarce information regarding suitable RT-qPCR reference genes for this species. Employing RNA-seq data previously generated from tomato plants, combined with newly generated data from N. benthamiana leaves infiltrated with Pseudomonas fluorescens, we identified and tested a set of 9 candidate reference genes. Using three different algorithms, we found that NbUbe35, NbNQO and NbErpA exhibit less variable gene expression in our pathosystem than previously used genes. Furthermore, the combined use of the first two is sufficient for robust gene expression analysis. We encourage employing these novel reference genes in future RT-qPCR experiments involving N. benthamiana and Pseudomonas spp.
Novel anti-biofouling light-curable fluoride varnish containing 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine to prevent enamel demineralization
Authors: Kwon Jae-Sung , Lee Myung-Jin , Kim Ji-Young , Kim Dohyun , Ryu Jeong-Hyun , Jang Sungil , Kim Kwang-Mahn , Hwang Chung-Ju , Choi Sung-Hwan
Published: February 2019

We evaluated the efficacy of light-curable fluoride varnish (LCFV) that contains 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) in terms of anti-biofouling properties and prevention of tooth enamel demineralization. MPC was mixed with and incorporated into LCFV at 0 (control), 1.5, 3.0, 5.0, 10.0, 20.0, and 40.0 weight percentage (wt%). Addition of high wt% of MPC resulted in increased film thickness and decreased the degree of conversion, indicating loss of the advantageous properties of LCFV. Addition of 1.5, 3, or 5 wt% MPC significantly reduced the amount of bovine serum albumin adsorbed from a solution and proteins adsorbed from brain heart infusion medium compared to the control (P < 0.001). A similar pattern was observed for bacterial adhesion: significantly less Streptococcus mutans cells adhered on the surface of LCFV with 1.5, 3, or 5 wt% MPC (P < 0.001) than on the control, and similar results were obtained for Actinomyces naeslundii and Streptococcus sanguinis adherence to LCFV with 3 wt% MPC. Finally, bacterial adhesion, surface microhardness loss, and the depth of demineralization were substantially lower on bovine tooth enamel surface coated with LCFV containing 3 wt% of MPC than in the control treatment (0 wt% MPC). Therefore, this novel LCFV containing a low concentration of MPC (e.g., 3 wt%) would be effective in anti-biofouling while maintaining the important advantageous features of light-curable fluoride in preventing demineralization.
The Bull’s Eye Pattern of the Tear Film in Humans during Visual Fixation on En-Face Optical Coherence Tomography
Authors: Napoli Pietro Emanuele , Nioi Matteo , d’Aloja Ernesto , Fossarello Maurizio
Published: February 2019

The aim of the study was to define and characterize the optical behavior of the tear film during visual fixation in humans on en-face optical coherence tomography (OCT). We included 20 healthy participants, 60% female, aged from 25 to 42 years (33.05 ± 4.97 [mean ± SD]) and ten patients with severe dry eye, 50% female, aged from 26 to 42 years (33.7 ± 5.31). To perform high-resolution tear film imaging, participants were asked to gaze at the internal fixation point in the spectral-domain anterior segment OCT device, and meanwhile scanning session was executed at the following time-points after blinking: at the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th second. After one hour, OCT imaging was repeated (second session) by a different operator masked to the study to verify the reliability of results. During each measuring session, a pulse oximetry was used for continuously measuring the heart rate and oxygen saturation (SpO2%). A preliminary experiment was also performed to test the absence of geometric patterns from the anterior surface of a motionless artificial eye. OCT imaging showed a motionless, stable anterior surface of the artificial eye and in dry eye patients. Conversely, in the healthy participants of the study, a bull’s eye pattern of the tear film was detected by OCT at the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th second after blinking, respectively, in 45%, 60%, 45%, 60%, and 40% of OCT scans during the first session, and in 35%, 65%, 65%, 60%, and 35% of cases in the second session. Overall, a total of 200 OCT scans were performed in normal human population. A significant correlation was found between the novel tear film pattern and heart rate during the first and the second session (p < 0.01) in healthy eyes. Conversely, no correlation was revealed with SpO2%. Intraclass correlation (ICC) analysis for OCT imaging of the tear film revealed a statistically significant reproducibility of the results (ICC = 0.838; p < 0.01), indicating the high level of reliability of the method, independently of heart rate and SpO2% variables. There exists a novel, geometric pattern of the tear film during visual fixation detectable by en-face OCT, which is mainly evident as heart rate increases. Its discovery implies in turn the presence of a specific vibration (or imperceptible motion) of the tear film that, at present, is not recognized and corrected by the OCT software (in image postprocessing) unlike other eyeball movements.
Prognostic utility of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in residual tumor after neoadjuvant chemotherapy with trastuzumab for HER2-positive breast cancer
Authors: Kurozumi Sasagu , Inoue Kenichi , Matsumoto Hiroshi , Fujii Takaaki , Horiguchi Jun , Oyama Tetsunari , Kurosumi Masafumi , Shirabe Ken
Published: February 2019

Predictive utility of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in HER2-positive breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) with concurrent trastuzumab remains unclear. We examined TILs grades of pretreatment cancer tissue specimens and residual tumors after NAC with trastuzumab and determined the predictive utility of the TILs grade in pathological complete response (pCR) and the prognostic power of TILs in HER2-positive breast cancer. This cohort study included 128 HER2-positive breast cancer who received NAC with trastuzumab. TILs grading of the tumor stroma in pretreatment biopsy specimens and residual tumors after NAC with trastuzumab was categorized as low, intermediate, and high based on the criteria of the International Working Group. In current study, the pCR rate was 64.8%, and the Relapse-free survival (RFS) was significantly worse in the non-pCR group than in the pCR group. The pCR rate correlated with the TILs grade in pretreatment tumors. In 45 non-pCR patients, TILs grade was higher in the residual tumors than in the pretreatment tumors. The RFS was significantly better in residual tumors with high TILs grade than those with low TILs grade (p = 0.033). In conclusion, assessment of the TILs grade in residual tumors after NAC with trastuzumab might be necessary to determine patients with good prognosis among those who do not achieve pCR.
Early tone categorization in absolute pitch musicians is subserved by the right-sided perisylvian brain
Authors: Burkhard Anja , Elmer Stefan , Jäncke Lutz
Published: February 2019

Absolute pitch (AP) is defined as the ability to identify and label tones without reference to keyality. In this context, the main question is whether early or late processing stages are responsible for this ability. We investigated the electrophysiological responses to tones in AP and relative pitch (RP) possessors while participants listened attentively to sine tones. Since event-related potentials are particularly suited for tracking tone encoding (N100 and P200), categorization (N200), and mnemonic functions (N400), we hypothesized that differences in early pitch processing stages would be reflected by increased N100 and P200-related areas in AP musicians. Otherwise, differences in later cognitive stages of tone processing should be mirrored by increased N200 and/or N400 areas in AP musicians. AP possessors exhibited larger N100 areas and a tendency towards enhanced P200 areas. Furthermore, the sources of these components were estimated and statistically compared between the two groups for a set of a priori defined regions of interest. AP musicians demonstrated increased N100-related current densities in the right superior temporal sulcus, middle temporal gyrus, and Heschl’s gyrus. Results are interpreted as indicating that early between-group differences in right-sided perisylvian brain regions might reflect auditory tone categorization rather than labelling mechanisms.
IPSE, a urogenital parasite-derived immunomodulatory protein, ameliorates ifosfamide-induced hemorrhagic cystitis through downregulation of pro-inflammatory pathways
Authors: Mbanefo Evaristus C. , Le Loc , Zee Rebecca , Banskota Nirad , Ishida Kenji , Pennington Luke F. , Odegaard Justin I. , Jardetzky Theodore S. , Alouffi Abdulaziz , Falcone Franco H. , Hsieh Michael H.
Published: February 2019

Ifosfamide and other oxazaphosphorines can result in hemorrhagic cystitis, a constellation of complications caused by acrolein metabolites. We previously showed that a single dose of IPSE (Interleukin-4-inducing principle from Schistosoma eggs), a schistosome-derived host modulatory protein, can ameliorate ifosfamide-related cystitis; however, the mechanisms underlying this urotoxicity and its prevention are not fully understood. To provide insights into IPSE’s protective mechanism, we undertook transcriptional profiling of bladders from ifosfamide-treated mice, with or without pretreatment with IPSE or IPSE-NLS (a mutant of IPSE lacking nuclear localization sequence). Ifosfamide treatment upregulated a range of proinflammatory genes. The IL-1β-TNFα-IL-6 proinflammatory cascade via NFκB and STAT3 pathways was identified as the key driver of inflammation. The NRF2-mediated oxidative stress response pathway, which regulates heme homoeostasis and expression of antioxidant enzymes, was highly activated. Anti-inflammatory cascades, namely Wnt, Hedgehog and PPAR pathways, were downregulated. IPSE drove significant downregulation of major proinflammatory pathways including the IL-1β-TNFα-IL-6 pathways, interferon signaling, and reduction in oxidative stress. IPSE-NLS reduced inflammation but not oxidative stress. Taken together, we have identified signatures of acute-phase inflammation and oxidative stress in ifosfamide-injured bladder, which are reversed by pretreatment with IPSE. This work revealed several pathways that could be therapeutically targeted to prevent ifosfamide-induced hemorrhagic cystitis.
A shift from drought to extreme rainfall drives a stable landslide to catastrophic failure
Authors: Handwerger Alexander L. , Huang Mong-Han , Fielding Eric Jameson , Booth Adam M. , Bürgmann Roland
Published: February 2019

The addition of water on or below the earth’s surface generates changes in stress that can trigger both stable and unstable sliding of landslides and faults. While these sliding behaviours are well-described by commonly used mechanical models developed from laboratory testing (e.g., critical-state soil mechanics and rate-and-state friction), less is known about the field-scale environmental conditions or kinematic behaviours that occur during the transition from stable to unstable sliding. Here we use radar interferometry (InSAR) and a simple 1D hydrological model to characterize 8 years of stable sliding of the Mud Creek landslide, California, USA, prior to its rapid acceleration and catastrophic failure on May 20, 2017. Our results suggest a large increase in pore-fluid pressure occurred during a shift from historic drought to record rainfall that triggered a large increase in velocity and drove slip localization, overcoming the stabilizing mechanisms that had previously inhibited landslide acceleration. Given the predicted increase in precipitation extremes with a warming climate, we expect it to become more common for landslides to transition from stable to unstable motion, and therefore a better assessment of this destabilization process is required to prevent loss of life and infrastructure.
Inferring pathogen-host interactions between Leptospira interrogans and Homo sapiens using network theory
Authors: Kumar Swapnil , Lata Kumari Snehkant , Sharma Priyanka , Bhairappanavar Shivarudrappa B. , Soni Subhash , Das Jayashankar
Published: February 2019

Leptospirosis is the most emerging zoonotic disease of epidemic potential caused by pathogenic species of Leptospira. The bacterium invades the host system and causes the disease by interacting with the host proteins. Analyzing these pathogen-host protein interactions (PHPIs) may provide deeper insight into the disease pathogenesis. For this analysis, inter-species as well as intra-species protein interactions networks of Leptospira interrogans and human were constructed and investigated. The topological analyses of these networks showed lesser connectivity in inter-species network than intra-species, indicating the perturbed nature of the inter-species network. Hence, it can be one of the reasons behind the disease development. A total of 35 out of 586 PHPIs were identified as key interactions based on their sub-cellular localization. Two outer membrane proteins (GpsA and MetXA) and two periplasmic proteins (Flab and GlyA) participating in PHPIs were found conserved in all pathogenic, intermediate and saprophytic spp. of Leptospira. Furthermore, the bacterial membrane proteins involved in PHPIs were found playing major roles in disruption of the immune systems and metabolic processes within host and thereby causing infectious disease. Thus, the present results signify that the membrane proteins participating in such interactions hold potential to serve as effective immunotherapeutic candidates for vaccine development.
Differential sensitivity of bees to urbanization-driven changes in body temperature and water content
Authors: Burdine Justin D. , McCluney Kevin E.
Published: February 2019

Predicting how species will respond to climate change and land use modification is essential for conserving organisms and maintaining ecosystem services. Thermal tolerances have been shown to have strong predictive power, but the potential importance of desiccation tolerances have been less explored in some species. Here, we report measurements of thermal and desiccation tolerances and safety margins across a gradient of urbanization, for three bee species: silky striped sweat bees (Agapostemon sericeus), western honeybees (Apis mellifera), and common eastern bumblebees (Bombus impatiens). We found significant differences in thermal tolerances, measured as critical thermal maximum (CTmax), amongst species. Bumblebees were the least sensitive to warming, with a higher CTmax(53.1 °C) than sweat bees (50.3 °C) and honeybees (49.1 °C). We also found significant differences in desiccation tolerances, measured as critical water content (CWC), between all species. Sweat bees were the least sensitive to desiccation, with the lowest CWC (51.7%), followed by bumblebees (63.7%) and honeybees (74.2%). Moreover, bumblebees and sweat bees were closer to their CTmaxin more urbanized locations, while honeybees were closer to their CWC. These results suggest that bees have differential sensitivities to environmental change and managing for diverse bee communities in the face of global change may require mitigating both changes in temperature and water.
Extracts of Qizhu decoction inhibit hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro and in C57BL/6 mice by suppressing NF-κB signaling
Authors: Wan Ling-feng , Shen Jian-jiang , Wang Yao-hui , Zhao Wei , Fang Nan-yuan , Yuan Xin , Xue Bo-yu
Published: February 2019

Hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma are serious human diseases. Here, we examined thein vivoandin vitroinhibitory effect of extracts of Qizhu decoction (a traditional Chinese medicine) on hepatitis caused by diethylnitrosamine or hepatitis B virus and on diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma. The results showed that boththe aqueous and ethanol extracts (QC and QS, respectively)of Qizhu decoction significantly inhibited hepatic inflammation and liver cancer induced by diethylnitrosamine or hepatitis B virus by suppressing NF-κB signaling and decreasing the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β. Both QC and QS inhibited the proliferation and migration of primary cancer hepatocytes by reducing cyclin B1, cyclin D1 and N-cadherin expression and increasing E-cadherin expression. QC and QS also promoted the apoptosis of primary cancer hepatocytes by upregulating caspase-3 and downregulating BCL-2 expression. The knockdown of p65 in NF-κB signaling inhibited the ability of QC and QS to significantly reduce the colony formation ability of liver cancer cells. Additionally, QC and QS might significantly inhibit the DNA replication of hepatitis B virusin vivoandin vitro, and we found that corilagin and polydatin were the active compounds of QC and QS. Taken together, ourin vitrofindings and our results in C57BL/6 mice showed that extracts of Qizhu decoction might inhibit hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma by suppressing NF-κB signaling.
The orbitofrontal cortex modulates parenting stress in the maternal brain
Authors: Noriuchi Madoka , Kikuchi Yoshiaki , Mori Kumiko , Kamio Yoko
Published: February 2019

Many mothers are adaptive, deploying successful coping strategies that mitigate the deleterious effects of parenting stress on caregiving, nevertheless, the neural mechanisms underlying these adaptive responses remain unclear. We utilized functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate brain activity in 28 healthy mothers of typically developing, 2-to-3-year-old children in response to the feeding behavior of their own children versus that of other children. We then examined the correlation between maternal brain activation and subjective feelings of parenting stress. Brain regions associated with maternal motivation including the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), ventral pallidum, periaqueductal gray (PAG), dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), and anterior insular cortex (AIC)—as well as those associated with the recognition of one’s own child’s state (e.g., cerebellum)—exhibited significant activation in response to their own children. While mothers with higher activation in the OFC showed less parenting stress related to one’s sense of competence in the parental role, mothers with higher co-activation of the OFC with both of the AIC and PAG/DRN, and with the cerebellum showed less parenting stress caused by child characteristics. Our findings suggest that well-balanced maternal brain mechanisms integrated by the OFC may provide effective adaptive responses in daily parenting scenarios.
Hyperthermia enhances photodynamic therapy by regulation of HCP1 and ABCG2 expressions via high level ROS generation
Authors: Kurokawa Hiromi , Ito Hiromu , Terasaki Masahiko , Matsui Hirofumi
Published: February 2019

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a cancer treatment that make use of the cancer-specific accumulation of porphyrins. We have reported that mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mitROS) upregulate uptake transporter of porphyrins, heme carrier protein-1 (HCP-1). The accumulation of cancer-specific porphyrins was increased by mitROS production, thereby the cancer-specific PDT cytotoxicity was enhanced. Thus we investigated whether mitROS production by hyperthermia can enhanced the cytotoxicity of PDT or not. In this study, 1 h of hyperthermia at 42 °C increased the mitROS production, and both the accumulation of cancer-specific porphyrins and the PDT cytotoxicity increased. Moreover, the authors treated cells with N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) to examine the effect of mitROS. NAC inhibited the increasing ROS production after hyperthermia to restrain the post-treatment increase of cancer-specific porphyrins accumulation. Moreover, the increase of ROS production in cancer cells after hyperthermia upregulated HCP-1 expression and downregulated ABCG2 expression. These regulation were inhibited by NAC. These results suggest that hyperthermia treatment increased mitROS production, which involved HpD accumulation and enhanced PDT effects in cancer cells. The mechanism of this phenomenon was most likely to be due to both the upregulation of HCP-1 and the downregulation of ABCG2 by mitROS.
Liver-specific Gene Delivery Using Engineered Virus-Like Particles of Hepatitis E Virus
Authors: Lee Eun Byul , Kim Jung-Hee , Hur Wonhee , Choi Jung Eun , Kim Sung Min , Park Dong Jun , Kang Byung-Yoon , Lee Gil Won , Yoon Seung Kew
Published: February 2019

Virus-like particles (VLPs) possess great potential for organ-specific transport of therapeutic agents due to their central cavity surrounded by viral capsid proteins and similar tropism to their original viruses. The N-terminal truncated second open reading frame (Nt-ORF2) of the hepatotropic hepatitis E virus (HEV) forms VLPs via self-assembly. In the present study, we investigated whether HEV-LPs could deliver foreign genes specifically to the liver. HEV-LPs were obtained from Nt-ORF2 expression in Huh7 cells that were transduced with recombinant baculoviruses and purified by continuous density gradient centrifugation. The purified HEV-LPs efficiently penetrated liver-derived cell lines and the liver tissues. To evaluate HEV-LPs as gene delivery tools, we encapsulated foreign plasmids in HEV-LPs with disassembly/reassembly systems. Green fluorescence was detected at higher frequency in liver-derived Huh7 cells treated with HEV-LPs bearing GFP-encoding plasmids than in control cells. Additionally, HEV-LPs bearing Bax-encoding plasmids induced apoptotic signatures in Huh7 cells. In conclusion, HEV-LPs produced in mammalian cells can encapsulate foreign genes in their central cavity and specifically transport these genes to liver-derived cells, where they are expressed. The present study could contribute to advances in liver-targeted gene therapy.
Improvement of Terahertz Photoconductive Antenna using Optical Antenna Array of ZnO Nanorods
Authors: Bashirpour Mohammad , Forouzmehr Matin , Hosseininejad Seyed Ehsan , Kolahdouz Mohammadreza , Neshat Mohammad
Published: February 2019

An efficient terahertz (THz) photoconductive antenna (PCA), as a major constituent for the generation or detection of THz waves, plays an essential role in bridging microwave-to-photonic gaps. Here, we propose an impressive approach comprising the use of arrayed zinc oxide nanorods (ZnO NRs) as an optical nanoantenna over an anti-reflective layer (silicon nitride) in the antenna gap to boost the photocurrent and consequently the THz signal. The numerical approach applied in investigating the optical behavior of the structure, demonstrates a significant field enhancement within the LT-GaAs layer due to the optical antenna performing simultaneously as a concentrator and an antireflector which behaves as a graded-refractive index layer. ZnO NRs have been fabricated on the PCA gap using the hydrothermal method as a simple, low cost and production compatible fabrication method compared to other complex methods used for the optical nanoantennas. Compared to the conventional PCA with a traditional antireflection coating, the measured THz power by time domain spectroscopy (TDS) is increased more than 4 times on average over the 0.1–1.2 THz range.
Alcohol consumption and leukocyte telomere length
Authors: Dixit Shalini , Whooley Mary A. , Vittinghoff Eric , Roberts Jason D. , Heckbert Susan R. , Fitzpatrick Annette L. , Lin Jue , Leung Cindy , Mukamal Kenneth J. , Marcus Gregory M.
Published: February 2019

The relationship between alcohol consumption and mortality generally exhibits a U-shaped curve. The longevity observed with moderate alcohol consumption may be explained by other confounding factors, and, if such a relationship is present, the mechanism is not well understood. Indeed, the optimal amount of alcohol consumption for health has yet to be determined. Leukocyte telomere length is an emerging quantifiable marker of biological age and health, and a shorter telomere length is a predictor of increased mortality. Because leukocyte telomere length is a quantifiable and objectively measurable biomarker of aging, we sought to identify the amount of alcohol consumption associated with the longest telomere length and least telomere length attrition. Among over 2,000 participants from two distinct cohort studies, we found no pattern of alcohol consumption that was associated with longer telomere length or less telomere length attrition over time. Binge drinking may reduce telomere length. Using telomere length as a marker of age and health, these data fail to demonstrate any benefits of alcohol consumption, even when consumed in moderation.
Neighborhood size-effects shape growing population dynamics in evolutionary public goods games
Authors: Kimmel Gregory J. , Gerlee Philip , Brown Joel S. , Altrock Philipp M.
Published: February 2019

An evolutionary game emerges when a subset of individuals incur costs to provide benefits to all individuals. Public goods games (PGG) cover the essence of such dilemmas in which cooperators are prone to exploitation by defectors. We model the population dynamics of a non-linear PGG and consider density-dependence on the global level, while the game occurs within local neighborhoods. At low cooperation, increases in the public good provide increasing returns. At high cooperation, increases provide diminishing returns. This mechanism leads to diverse evolutionarily stable strategies, including monomorphic and polymorphic populations, and neighborhood-size-driven state changes, resulting in hysteresis between equilibria. Stochastic or strategy-dependent variations in neighborhood sizes favor coexistence by destabilizing monomorphic states. We integrate our model with experiments of cancer cell growth and confirm that our framework describes PGG dynamics observed in cellular populations. Our findings advance the understanding of how neighborhood-size effects in PGG shape the dynamics of growing populations.
Whole-exome sequencing data of suicide victims who had suffered from major depressive disorder
Authors: Tombácz Dóra , Maróti Zoltán , Kalmár Tibor , Palkovits Miklós , Snyder Michael , Boldogkői Zsolt
Published: February 2019

Suicide is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide; it causes the death of more than one million patients each year. Suicide is a complex, multifactorial phenotype with environmental and genetic factors contributing to the risk of the forthcoming suicide. These factors first generally lead to mental disorders, such as depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, which then become the direct cause of suicide. Here we present a high quality dataset (including processed BAM and VCF files) gained from the high-throughput whole-exome Illumina sequencing of 23 suicide victims – all of whom had suffered from major depressive disorder - and 21 control patients to a depth of at least 40-fold coverage in both cohorts. We identified ~130,000 variants per sample and altogether 442,270 unique variants in the cohort of 44 samples. To our best knowledge, this is the first whole-exome sequencing dataset from suicide victims. We expect that this dataset provides useful information for genomic studies of suicide and depression, and also for the analysis of the Hungarian population.
Kinetic and mechanistic aspects of solid state, nanostructured porphyrin diacid photosensitizers in photooxidation of sulfides
Authors: Nasrollahi Rahele , Heydari-turkmani Akram , Zakavi Saeed
Published: February 2019

The kinetics and mechanism of aerobic photooxidation of sulfides in the presence of a series of electron-rich and electron-deficient porphyrins immobilized on Amberlyst 15 nanoparticles in the form of porphyrin diacids are reported.
Anionic and neutral 2D indium metal–organic frameworks as catalysts for the Ugi one-pot multicomponent reaction
Authors: Reinares-Fisac Daniel , Aguirre-Díaz Lina M , Iglesias Marta , Gutiérrez-Puebla Enrique , Gándara Felipe , Monge M. Ángeles
Published: February 2019

Two metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) made of indium and 1,3,5-tris(4-carboxyphenyl)benzene and having a layered structure have been synthesized, showing catalytic activity in the one-pot Ugi reaction.
Crystal structures, dielectric properties and ferroelectricity in stuffed tridymite-type BaAl(2−2x)(Zn0.5Si0.5)2xO4 solid solutions
Authors: Li Jie , Lan Xue-Kai , Song Xiao-Qiang , Lu Wen-Zhong , Wang Xiao-Hong , Shi Feng , Lei Wen
Published: February 2019

The crystal structures, and dielectric and ferroelectric properties of BaAl(2−2x)(Zn0.5Si0.5)2xO4 are studied in detail.
Encapsulation of inuloxin A, a plant germacrane sesquiterpene with potential herbicidal activity, in β-cyclodextrins
Authors: Moeini Arash , Masi Marco , Zonno Maria C. , Boari Angela , Cimmino Alessio , Tarallo Oreste , Vurro Maurizio , Evidente Antonio
Published: February 2019

A potential natural herbicide inuloxin A was successfully encapsulated in β-cyclodextrins, increasing its water solubility and preserving its biological properties for practical applications.
Synthesis of polymer-linked copper(i) bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) complexes of linear and chain extended architecture
Authors: Biewend Michel , Neumann Steve , Michael Philipp , Binder Wolfgang H.
Published: February 2019

Novel PS-based mechanophores of linear and chain-extended architecture are synthesized obtaining bis(NHC) complexes with more than one Cu(i) center per chain and molecular weights of up to 50 000 g mol−1.
Enhanced antibacterial properties of biocompatible titanium via electrochemically deposited Ag/TiO2 nanotubes and chitosan–gelatin–Ag–ZnO complex coating
Authors: Yin Linling , Fu Zhenxuan , Li Yuan , Liu Bin , Lin Zongjian , Lu Jiayu , Chen Xu , Han Xiaopeng , Deng Yida , Hu Wenbin , Zou Derong , Zhong Cheng
Published: February 2019

A novel complex antibacterial coating fabricated via a simple three-step electrodeposition process shows high antibacterial rate of 99.2%.
Synthesis of ZnO doped high valence S element and study of photogenerated charges properties
Authors: Zhang Lijing , Zhu Xiufang , Wang Zhihui , Yun Shan , Guo Tan , Zhang Jiadong , Hu Tao , Jiang Jinlong , Chen Jing
Published: February 2019

The uniform distribution of S dopants elevated the valence band maximum by mixing S 3p with the upper valence band states of ZnO. The valence band maxima of S–ZnO was 0.37 eV higher than that of ZnO.
Electrochemical performance of myoglobin based on TiO2-doped carbon nanofiber decorated electrode and its applications in biosensing
Authors: Niu Yanyan , Xie Hui , Luo Guiling , Weng Wenju , Ruan Chengxiang , Li Guangjiu , Sun Wei
Published: February 2019

A new biosensing strategy based on a TiO2-doped carbon nanofiber (CNF) composite modified electrode was developed.
Microstructure and hydrogen storage kinetics of Mg89RE11 (RE = Pr, Nd, Sm) binary alloys
Authors: Chen Li , Hu Changyi , Liu Feng
Published: February 2019

Improving hydrogen storage performance of Mg89RE11 alloys attributes to the RE hydride nanoparticles facilitate the hydriding and dehydriding reactions.
Multifunctional property exploration: Bi4O5I2 with high visible light photocatalytic performance and a large nonlinear optical effect
Authors: Yin Ruonan , Li Yang , Zhong Kangdi , Yao Hang , Zhang Yamin , Lai Kangrong
Published: February 2019

Bi4O5I2 exhibits an extremely high second harmonic generation response and enhanced photocatalytic activity. The multifunction of Bi4O5I2 is mainly resulting from the dipole moment of the stereochemical activity of Bi 6s lone pairs.
Dielectric and photoluminescence properties of fine-grained BaTiO3 ceramics co-doped with amphoteric Sm and valence-variable Cr
Authors: Han Dandan , Lu Dayong , Meng Fanling
Published: February 2019

(Ba1−xSmx)(Ti1−xCrx)O3 (BSTC) and (Ba1−xSmx)(Ti1−(x−0.01)Crx−0.01)O3 (BSTC1) ceramics with a single-phase perovskite structure were prepared using a traditional solid state based method.
Insights into interaction of chlorophylls with sodium caseinate in aqueous nanometre-scale dispersion: color stability, spectroscopic, electrostatic, and morphological properties
Authors: He Siyu , Zhang Nan , Jing Pu
Published: February 2019

Stability of chlorophylls was improved with self-assembly of chlorophylls and NaCas nanoparticles via van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonds.
Rheological, electrochemical, surface, DFT and molecular dynamics simulation studies on the anticorrosive properties of new epoxy monomer compound for steel in 1 M HCl solution
Authors: Dagdag Omar , El Harfi Ahmed , Cherkaoui Omar , Safi Zaki , Wazzan Nuha , Guo Lei , Akpan E. D. , Verma Chandrabhan , Ebenso E. E. , Jalgham Ramzi T. T.
Published: February 2019

A new epoxy monomer, namely, tetraglycidyl-1,2-aminobenzamide (ER), was synthesized by condensation of the amines with epichlorohydrin in a basic medium.
Synthesis and physico-chemical properties of a H-cardanol triazole zinc porphyrin conjugate
Authors: Prakash Rao H. Surya , Kamalraj M. , Prabakaran M.
Published: February 2019

A fluorescent and fat-soluble zinc porphyrin incorporating four units of hydrogenated cardanol (H-cardanol) was synthesized, and its physico-chemical properties were characterized.
Amorphous nanoparticles by self-assembly: processing for controlled release of hydrophobic molecules
Authors: Feng Jie , Zhang Yingyue , McManus Simon A. , Qian Rolane , Ristroph Kurt D. , Ramachandruni Hanu , Gong Kai , White Claire E. , Rawal Aditya , Prud'homme Robert K.
Published: February 2019

We couple Flash NanoPrecipitation and spray drying as a scalable and versatile platform to formulate and recover amorphous nanoparticles for controlled release of hydrophobic drugs.
Synthesis of covalent organic frameworks via in situ salen skeleton formation for catalytic applications
Authors: Li He , Feng Xiao , Shao Pengpeng , Chen Jian , Li Chunzhi , Jayakumar Sanjeevi , Yang Qihua
Published: February 2019

A facile synthesis of COF-salen via in situ salen skeleton formation under air atmosphere is described herein. COF-salen–M prepared via metal ion coordination could efficiently catalyse chemical reactions, e.g. styrene epoxidation, epoxide hydration and cycloaddition reactions of epoxides with CO2. More interestingly, both cooperation and isolation effects were observed in COF-salen–M.
Engineering of Ru/Ru2P interfaces superior to Pt active sites for catalysis of the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Liu Zhao , Li Zhe , Li Jing , Xiong Jie , Zhou Shunfa , Liang Jiawei , Cai Weiwei , Wang Chao , Yang Zehui , Cheng Hansong
Published: February 2019

Based on the synergistic effects of Ru on water dissociation and Ru2P on proton reduction, Ru/Ru2P interfaces were engineered in situ, and the mass activity of the new catalyst for the alkaline HER was doubled compared to Pt/C.
Effect of small molecule additives on efficient operation of all inorganic polycrystalline perovskite light-emitting diodes
Authors: Zhao Bo , Lau Ying Suet , Syed Ali Asgher , Jin Fangming , Zhu Furong
Published: February 2019

The effect of the small molecule PBD additive on the performance of the all inorganic polycrystalline CsPbBr3-based PeLEDs was studied.
Effect of density of surface defects on photoluminescence properties in MAPbI3 perovskite films
Authors: Fassl Paul , Zakharko Yuriy , Falk Lukas M. , Goetz Katelyn P. , Paulus Fabian , Taylor Alexander D. , Zaumseil Jana , Vaynzof Yana
Published: February 2019

This work investigates the effect of energetically shallow and deep surface defects in MAPbI3 films on the evolution of their photoluminescence properties upon exposure to ambient environment.