bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SHORT COMMUNICATION Increased sensitivity to green light during transition from conditional dormancy to nondormancy in seeds of three species ofSolidago(Asteraceae)
Authors: Walck Jeffrey L. , Baskin Jerry M. , Baskin Carol C.
Published: May 2019

Germination responses of nonstratified (conditionally dormant) and of cold-stratified (nondormant) seeds of threeSolidagospecies were tested in darkness at 30/15°C following various lengths of exposure [0 (control), 5 and 30 min, 1, 6 and 14 h] to green (mostly 500–600 nm) or white (400–700 nm) light. Prior to exposures, nonstratified seeds were imbibed in darkness at laboratory conditions for 24 h, and cold-stratified seeds were kept in darkness at 5°C on a moist substrate for 8 wk. Nonstratified seeds ofS. altissima,S. nemoralisandS. shortiigerminated to 0–46%, 0–25% and 36–99%, respectively, in darkness following 5 min to 14 h of green or white light, whereas cold-stratified seeds germinated to 53–98%, 31–85% and 82–100%, respectively. Thus, sensitivity of seeds to both green and white light increased as they passed from conditional dormancy to nondormancy. Moreover, sensitivity to green and white light was similar to the hierarchy of seed size. Green safe lights must be used with caution in interpreting the results of studies on light/dark responses of seeds.
Toys and Materials as Setting Events on the Social Interaction of Preschool Children
Authors: Carter Mark , O’Gorman‐Hughes Catherine A.
Published: May 2019

This review examined the effects of toys and materials as setting events on social interactions of preschool children. A total of 11 studies were examined and the findings suggested an association with particular types of toys and materials and increases in social interaction. There are, however, several methodological weaknesses that need to be addressed in future studies. In particular, future studies need to make more extensive use of experimental rather than observational research designs, provide functional descriptions of extant social skills of participants, apply research designs that allow idiosyncratic responses to intervention to be examined and consider the effects of manipulation of effects of toys and materials in relation to age. With regard to studies involving children with special needs, a number of features of existing research, including small group sizes, unusual ratios of children with disabilities compared to typically developing children and atypical play areas, limit conclusions that can be drawn from the present data. Future research will need to address these issues and examine more typical preschool settings in order to clarify the role of toys and materials in encouraging positive social interactions between young children with disabilities and their regular peers.
Effect of tryptophan on the utilization of intra-duodenally infused labelled glucose in piglets given food at 1·35 times maintenance energy
Authors: Ponter A. A. , Matte J. J. , Sève B.
Published: May 2019

Two experiments were conducted. The first, studied the chronic effect of tryptophan (trp) on glucose disposal and the second, the acute effect of trp on glucose disposal. In experiment 1, 12 piglets were allocated either to a trp deficient diet (T0) or a trp adequate diet (T1). After 14 days a 240-min intraduodenal infusion of glucose (130 µmol/kg per min) associated with D-(U-14C) glucose (1·18 kBq/kg per min) and an intrajugular infusion of D-(6-3H) glucose (1·85 kBq/kg per min) were started. In experiment 2, 18 piglets were given a trp adequate diet (T1) for 14 days. The piglets were then divided into two groups and received an intraduodenal infusion of either glucose (130 µmol/kg per min) or glucose plus trp (0·53 µmol/kg per min) for 240 min. At the same time an intrajugular infusion of D-(U-14C)glucose (1·48 kBq/kg per min) and D-(6-3H)glucose (2·59 kBq/kg per min) was given to all piglets. Blood samples were taken at regular intervals during the infusions for the measurement of plasma concentrations of insulin, glucose, lactate and blood specific activities of14C-glucose,14C-lactate,3H-glucose and3H-lactate. At the end of the infusion, samples were taken for the measurement of the accumulation of14C and3H in glycogen. In experiment 1, plasma insulin concentrations were higher in the T0 compared with the T1 group (at 30 min respectively, 837·7 (s.e.56·6) v. 404·9 (s.e.56·6) pmol/l,P< 0·001). Glucose concentrations were also higher in T0 compared with T1 (at 30 min respectively, 10·9 (s.e. 0·54) v. 9·3 (s.e. 0·54) mmol/l,P< 0·05). Glucose flux was unaffected by trp in both experiments. The accumulation of labelled glucose into liver and carcass glycogen was not affected by trp. The route of administration of glucose label had a significant effect on the percentage of label accumulated in liver glycogen. When both14C and3H were infused into the jugular vein there was no difference in the accumulation of the two tracers in liver glycogen (22·7 v. 21·8% of that infused,P> 0·05, respectively). However, when 14C was infused into the duodenum and3H into the jugular vein, accumulation into liver glycogen was higher for14C compared with3H (19·9 v. 15·6%,P< 0·001, respectively). In conclusion, trp does not appear to influence glucose disposal measured at the end of a 240 min intraduodenal glucose infusion. Contrary to results published from experiments with rats the indirect pathway for glycogen synthesis (glucose→lactate→glycogen) does not appear to occur in underfed piglets.
Quantification of changes in body weight and body condition scores during lactation by modelling individual energy balance and total net energy intake
Authors: Schwager-Suter R. , Stricker C. , Erdin D. , Künzi N.
Published: May 2019

Individual energy balances (EB) and total net energy intake (NEI) were modelled to quantify the energy content of the explanatory variables body-weight change corrected for gut fill (BWC) and body condition-score change (BCSC). A total of 6147 records from 213 lactating dairy cows, 71 Holstein-Friesians, 71 Jerseys and 71 HolsteinJersey F1-crosses was analysed (1st, 2nd and >2nd lactation). Data were collected during 210 days of lactation, from calving to week 30. Individual EB were calculated as total energy for lactation (MJ NEL) minus estimated energy necessary for maintenance and production. Body-weight changes were calculated as differences between weekly means of body weight corrected for gut fill (BWCw) as well as from polynomial regression (BWCp). BCSC were differences between assessed body condition scores. The study included analyses of 1- and of 4-week periods for BWCw and BWCp, of differences between measuring periods for BCSC as well as separate analyses of data from cows in either negative or positive energy balance.

Analysis of repeated measurements were performed applying mixed model theory. Models for EB contained type of dairy cow, lactation and type of roughage as fixed effects, week of lactation and either BWCw, BWCp or BCSC. Models for NEI contained type of dairy cow, lactation and quality of roughage as fixed effects, week of lactation as well as energy corrected milk, metabolic body weight and either BWCw, BWCp or BCSC as covariates.

Most plausible energy contents per unit body tissue change were estimated for BWCp from weekly data with either EB (with energy partitioned into milk production and maintenance fixed) or NEI (no restrictions concerning partitioning) as the response variable. The estimated energy contents for BWCp were 15·40 and 10·47 MJ NEL, respectively.
The effects of dietary urea on embryo development in superovulated donor ewes and on early embryo survival and development in recipient ewes
Authors: Fahey J. , Boland M.P. , O’Callaghan1 D.
Published: May 2019

The aim was to examine the effect of dietary urea on yield and quality of embryos in superovulated donor ewes, and on embryo survival in recipient ewes. Ewes (25 donors and 34 recipients) were offered 1·25 kg of grass meal containing 50 g urea per ewe per day on a group basis; the remaining ewes (30 donors and 32 recipients) received 1·25 kg untreated grass meal per day. After 5 days, ewes were synchronized using a progestagen pessary for 14 days and stimulated with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin. Donors were naturally mated; recipients were detected in oestrus using vasectomized rams. On day 4 following the onset of oestrus, embryos were recovered from donors, graded morphologically and cell number counted. Two embryos of acceptable morphological grade (≥ eight cells on day 4) were then surgically transferred to recipient ewes. Recipients were slaughtered between days 34 and 36 post oestrus. The mean number of embryos recovered per ewe [3·68 (s.e. 0·41) v. 3·83 (s.e. 0·45)] was not different between untreated and urea-treated ewes, respectively. However, urea treatment of donor ewes reduced the mean cell number per embryo (10·27 (s.e. 0·27) v. 8·17 (s.e. 0·29) for untreated and urea-treated donor ewes, respectively,P< 0·001). Similarly, the percentage of embryos recovered that had ≥ 10 cells and their mean cell number was reduced following urea treatment of donor ewes (82/113 (73%) v. 39/93 (42%),P< 0·01 and 11·61 (s.e. 0·20) v. 10·41 (s.e. 0·29),P< 0·001) for untreated and urea-treated ewes, respectively. The diet offered to recipient ewes had no effect on the number of ewes confirmed pregnant (24/32 (75%) v. 28/34 (82%)) or on embryo survival following transfer (45/64 (70%) v. 51/68 (75%) for untreated and urea-treated ewes, respectively,P> 0·05). Excess nonprotein nitrogen in the form of dietary urea reduced embryo quality. However, embryo survival in recipient ewes was not affected when good quality embryos were transferred. This suggests that the deleterious effects of excess dietary urea are due to alterations to the oocyte and (or) the oviductal environment rather than changes in the uterine environment.
Oestrus in relation to peak oestradiol levels in ovariectomized Galloway cows
Authors: Darwash A. O. , Lamming G. E. , L. M. Hicking
Published: May 2019

The objective of the present study was to characterize the variation in oestrous behaviour among ovariectomized cows in response to a measured dose of oestradiol benzoate (OB) . In study 1, nine ovariectomized Galloway cows, approximately 10 years old, were challenged with an intramuscular injection of either 0·25, 0·5 or 1·0 mg of OB. Following this, 0·5 mg OB was chosen as the appropriate dose required to induce oestrous behaviour in ovariectomized Galloway cows. In study 2, nine cows injected with 0·5 mg OB were monitored for oestrous behaviour using KAMAR® heat mount detectors. Blood samples for plasma oestradiol-17β (E2) assay were taken every 4 h between 0 to 72 h and once at 96 h, following OB administration. The plasma E2 concentrations between 0 to 96 h following OB administration differed significantly ( P < 0·001) among cows. The interval to peak E2 concentrations averaged 17·42 (s.e. 2·21) h and the mean peak E2 concentration was 5·86 (s.e. 0·57) ng/l. The mean interval from OB administration until onset of mounting activity was 24·57 (s.e.2·38) h and the duration of oestrus averaged 10·5 (s.e. 1·99) h . In all cows, mounting activity occurred following peak E2 concentrations after an average interval of 7·73 (s.e. 1·84) h. There was no significant association between peak E2 concentrations and the interval to onset of mounting activity or its duration. Since the variation among Galloway cows in the manifestation of behavioural oestrus was independent of systemic E2 concentrations, it implies that there are inherent differences between individuals in the sensitivity of the hypothalamus to physiological E2 thresholds. This may help to explain the incidence of silent ovulation in some animals and the occurrence of overt oestrus associated with follicular activity during the luteal phase of the cycle or during the various stages of pregnancy, in the presence of high plasma progesterone concentrations.
Toward a flexible and adaptive wireless hub by embedding power amplifier thinned silicon chip and antenna in a polymer foil
Authors: Alavi Golzar , Özbek Sefa , Rasteh Mahsa , Grözing Markus , Berroth Manfred , Hesselbarth Jan , Burghartz Joachim N.
Published: May 2019

A flexible and adaptive energy-efficient high-speed wireless hub is developed in polymer foil as a Hybrid System-in-Foil (HySiF) using Chip-Film Patch (CFP) technology. In this matter, the SiGe BiCMOS silicon chips (2.39 × 1.65 mm2) are thinned down to 45 μm and are embedded face-up inside a two-polymer CFP carrier. The active pads of the embedded silicon chips inside foil are extended to the surface of the foil to interconnect to the antenna on the foil. The integrated hybrid system has a signal transmission at 5–6 GHz frequency band. The overall thickness of the system is below 100 μm and its bendability is down to 4 mm radius of curvature. The designed and fabricated PA silicon chips operate at 50 mA with a 1.5 V supply voltage. Therefore, in addition to the high lateral thermal resistance of the thinned chip, self-heating loop inside polymer due to the low thermal conductivity of the embedding polymer raises the system temperature. Consequently, the thermal behavior and RF performance of the PA chip under different conditions are investigated. Moreover, the antenna with the required carrier frequency is simulated, fabricated, and measured on top of the polymer foil as a stand-alone system in the flexible CFP.
Neogene Kinematic Evolution and Exhumation of the NW India Himalaya: Zircon Geo‐ and Thermochronometric Insights From the Fold‐Thrust Belt and Foreland Basin
Authors: Colleps C. L. , Stockli D. F. , McKenzie N. R. , Webb A. A. G. , Horton B. K.
Published: May 2019

The kinematic and exhumational evolution of the Lesser Himalaya (LH) remains a topic of debate. In NW India, the stratigraphically diverse LH is separated into the inner LH (iLH) of late Paleo‐Mesoproterozoic rocks and the outer LH (oLH) of Cryogenian to Cambrian rocks. Contradictory models regarding the age and structural affinity of the Tons thrust—a prominent structure bounding the oLH and iLH—are grounded in conflicting positions of the oLH prior to Himalayan orogenesis. This study presents new zircon (U‐Th)/He and U‐Pb ages from the thrust belt and foreland basin of NW India that refine the kinematic and exhumational evolution of the LH. Combined cooling ages and foreland provenance data support emplacement and unroofing of the oLH via southward in‐sequence propagation of the Tons thrust by middle Miocene time. This requires that, before India–Asia collision, the oLH was positioned as the southernmost succession of Neoproterozoic–Cambrian strata along the north Indian margin. This is further supported by detrital zircon U‐Pb ages from Cretaceous–Paleogene strata (Singtali Formation) unconformably overlying the oLH, which yield diagnostic Cretaceous detrital zircons correlative with coeval strata in the frontal Himalaya of Nepal. A pulse of rapid exhumation along the Tons thrust front at ~16 Ma was followed by east‐to‐west development of a midcrustal ramp at ~12 Ma which facilitated diachronous iLH duplexing. This duplexing shifted the locus of maximum exhumation northward, eroding away Main Central Thrust hanging wall rocks until the iLH breached the surface at ~9–11 Ma near Nepal and by ~3–7 Ma within the Kullu‐Rampur window.
High‐Resolution Ensemble Simulations of Intense Tropical Cyclones and Their Internal Variability During the El Niños of 1997 and 2015
Authors: Yamada Y. , Kodama C. , Satoh M. , Nakano M. , Nasuno T. , Sugi M.
Published: May 2019

Extreme El Niño events affect the number of intense tropical cyclones (ITCs) over the western North Pacific (WNP). In 1997 and 2015, both extreme El Niño years, ITC numbers were above normal in the WNP. In order to clarify how, and to what extent, sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) distributions control the ITCs genesis, the authors conducted 50‐member ensemble simulations using a high‐resolution global nonhydrostatic model that explicitly simulates ITCs. The ensemble simulations showed a clear relationship between the number of ITCs and their genesis locations in the WNP. However, the authors found that the simulated numbers of ITCs in the WNP were also closely related to the strength of the monsoon trough, which varies under given SSTA conditions. This indicates that reliable seasonal forecasting of ITCs depends on our ability to accurately reproduce the monsoon trough, whose strength is modulated mainly by internal atmospheric variability but also by SSTA.
Initial Breakdown Pulses Accompanied by VHF Pulses During Negative Cloud‐to‐Ground Lightning Flashes
Authors: Kolmasova Ivana , Marshall Thomas , Bandara Sampath , Karunarathne Sumedhe , Stolzenburg Maribeth , Karunarathne Nilmini , Siedlecki Raymond
Published: May 2019

This study compares waveforms recorded by “broadband” very low frequency/low‐frequency/medium‐frequency (VLF/LF/MF) electric field change sensors (bandwidth ~0–2.5 MHz) and very high frequency (VHF) sensors (bandwidth 186–192 MHz) during the initiation of 20 negative cloud‐to‐ground lightning flashes. In the first 2 ms of each flash, initial breakdown (IB) pulses are detected with the VLF/LF/MF sensors. Comparison shows that all classical IB pulses are accompanied by VHF pulses, where classical IB pulses are defined herein as bipolar with duration >10 μs and amplitude >25% of the largest IB pulse amplitude in the flash. There are on average 47% of IB pulses (of all amplitudes and durations) that are accompanied by VHF pulses within ±1 μs. There are also many VHF pulses with no associated IB pulses. These observations indicate that the initial in‐cloud lightning channel extension process (es) occurs very fast and at multiple length scales, since substantial electromagnetic radiation is emitted in the VLF/LF/MF and VHF bands.
Remote Measurement of Sea Ice Dynamics With Regularized Optimal Transport
Authors: Parno M. D. , West B. A. , Song A. J. , Hodgdon T. S. , O'Connor D. T.
Published: May 2019

As Arctic conditions rapidly change, human activity in the Arctic will continue to increase and so will the need for high‐resolution observations of sea ice. While satellite imagery can provide high spatial resolution, it is temporally sparse and significant ice deformation can occur between observations. This makes it difficult to apply feature tracking or image correlation techniques that require persistent features to exist between images. With this in mind, we propose a technique based on optimal transport, which is commonly used to measure differences between probability distributions. When little ice enters or leaves the image scene, we show that regularized optimal transport can be used to quantitatively estimate ice deformation. We discuss the motivation for our approach and describe efficient computational implementations. Results are provided on a combination of synthetic and satellite imagery to demonstrate the ability of our approach to estimate dynamics properties at the original image resolution.
Characteristics of the Quiet‐Time Hot Spot Gravity Waves Observed by GOCE Over the Southern Andes on 5 July 2010
Authors: Vadas Sharon L. , Xu Shuang , Yue Jia , Bossert Katrina , Becker Erich , Baumgarten Gerd
Published: May 2019

We analyze quiet‐time data from the Gravity Field and Ocean Circulation Explorer satellite as it overpassed the Southern Andes at z≃275 km on 5 July 2010 at 23 UT. We extract the 20 largest traveling atmospheric disturbances from the density perturbations and cross‐track winds using Fourier analysis. Using gravity wave (GW) dissipative theory that includes realistic molecular viscosity, we search parameter space to determine which hot spot traveling atmospheric disturbances are GWs. This results in the identification of 17 GWs having horizontal wavelengths λH = 170–1,850 km, intrinsic periods τIr = 11–54 min, intrinsic horizontal phase speeds cIH = 245–630 m/s, and density perturbations
 0.03–7%. We unambiguously determine the propagation direction for 11 of these GWs and find that most had large meridional components to their propagation directions. Using reverse ray tracing, we find that 10 of these GWs must have been created in the mesosphere or thermosphere. We show that mountain waves (MWs) were observed in the stratosphere earlier that day and that these MWs saturated at z∼ 70–75 km from convective instability. We suggest that these 10 Gravity Field and Ocean Circulation Explorer hot spot GWs are likely tertiary (or higher‐order) GWs created from the dissipation of secondary GWs excited by the local body forces created from MW breaking. We suggest that the other GW is likely a secondary or tertiary (or higher‐order) GW. This study strongly suggests that the hot spot GWs over the Southern Andes in the quiet‐time middle winter thermosphere cannot be successfully modeled by conventional global circulation models where GWs are parameterized and launched in the troposphere or stratosphere.
Switching the activity of Cas12a using guide RNA strand displacement circuits
Authors: Oesinghaus Lukas , Simmel Friedrich C.
Published: May 2019

The CRISPR effector protein Cas12a has been used for a wide variety of applications such as in vivo gene editing and regulation or in vitro DNA sensing. Here, we add programmability to Cas12a-based DNA processing by combining it with strand displacement-based reaction circuits. We first establish a viable strategy for augmenting Cas12a guide RNAs (gRNAs) at their 5′ end and then use such 5′ extensions to construct strand displacement gRNAs (SD gRNAs) that can be activated by single-stranded RNA trigger molecules. These SD gRNAs are further engineered to exhibit a digital and orthogonal response to different trigger RNA inputs—including full length mRNAs—and to function as multi-input logic gates. We also demonstrate that SD gRNAs can be designed to work inside bacterial cells. Using such in vivo SD gRNAs and a DNase inactive version of Cas12a (dCas12a), we demonstrate logic gated transcriptional control of gene expression in E. coli.
Pancreatic islet chromatin accessibility and conformation reveals distal enhancer networks of type 2 diabetes risk
Authors: Greenwald William W. , Chiou Joshua , Yan Jian , Qiu Yunjiang , Dai Ning , Wang Allen , Nariai Naoki , Aylward Anthony , Han Jee Yun , Kadakia Nikita , Regue Laura , Okino Mei-Lin , Drees Frauke , Kramer Dana , Vinckier Nicholas , Minichiello Liliana , Gorkin David , Avruch Joseph , Frazer Kelly A. , Sander Maike , Ren Bing , Gaulton Kyle J.
Published: May 2019

Genetic variants affecting pancreatic islet enhancers are central to T2D risk, but the gene targets of islet enhancer activity are largely unknown. We generate a high-resolution map of islet chromatin loops using Hi-C assays in three islet samples and use loops to annotate target genes of islet enhancers defined using ATAC-seq and published ChIP-seq data. We identify candidate target genes for thousands of islet enhancers, and find that enhancer looping is correlated with islet-specific gene expression. We fine-map T2D risk variants affecting islet enhancers, and find that candidate target genes of these variants defined using chromatin looping and eQTL mapping are enriched in protein transport and secretion pathways. At IGF2BP2, a fine-mapped T2D variant reduces islet enhancer activity and IGF2BP2 expression, and conditional inactivation of IGF2BP2 in mouse islets impairs glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Our findings provide a resource for studying islet enhancer function and identifying genes involved in T2D risk.
Engineering atomic-level complexity in high-entropy and complex concentrated alloys
Authors: Oh Hyun Seok , Kim Sang Jun , Odbadrakh Khorgolkhuu , Ryu Wook Ha , Yoon Kook Noh , Mu Sai , Körmann Fritz , Ikeda Yuji , Tasan Cemal Cem , Raabe Dierk , Egami Takeshi , Park Eun Soo
Published: May 2019

Quantitative and well-targeted design of modern alloys is extremely challenging due to their immense compositional space. When considering only 50 elements for compositional blending the number of possible alloys is practically infinite, as is the associated unexplored property realm. In this paper, we present a simple property-targeted quantitative design approach for atomic-level complexity in complex concentrated and high-entropy alloys, based on quantum-mechanically derived atomic-level pressure approximation. It allows identification of the best suited element mix for high solid-solution strengthening using the simple electronegativity difference among the constituent elements. This approach can be used for designing alloys with customized properties, such as a simple binary NiV solid solution whose yield strength exceeds that of the Cantor high-entropy alloy by nearly a factor of two. This study provides general design rules that enable effective utilization of atomic level information to reduce the immense degrees of freedom in compositional space without sacrificing physics-related plausibility.
Cartography of rhodopsin-like G protein-coupled receptors across vertebrate genomes
Authors: Rinne Maiju , Tanoli Zia-Ur-Rehman , Khan Asifullah , Xhaard Henri
Published: May 2019

We conduct a cartography of rhodopsin-like non-olfactory G protein-coupled receptors in the Ensembl database. The most recent genomic data (releases 90–92, 90 vertebrate genomes) are analyzed through the online interface and receptors mapped on phylogenetic guide trees that were constructed based on a set of ~14.000 amino acid sequences. This snapshot of genomic data suggest vertebrate genomes to harbour 142 clades of GPCRs without human orthologues. Among those, 69 have not to our knowledge been mentioned or studied previously in the literature, of which 28 are distant from existing receptors and likely new orphans. These newly identified receptors are candidates for more focused evolutionary studies such as chromosomal mapping as well for in-depth pharmacological characterization. Interestingly, we also show that 37 of the 72 human orphan (or recently deorphanized) receptors included in this study cluster into nineteen closely related groups, which implies that there are less ligands to be identified than previously anticipated. Altogether, this work has significant implications when discussing nomenclature issues for GPCRs.
Convergence and divergence of songs suggests ongoing, but annually variable, mixing of humpback whale populations throughout the North Pacific
Authors: Darling James D. , Acebes Jo Marie V. , Frey Oscar , Jorge Urbán R. , Yamaguchi Manami
Published: May 2019

All humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) males in a population sing fundamentally the same version of a complex, progressively changing, series of sounds at any one time – the song. The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship of humpback whale populations across the North Pacific based on song composition. Songs were collected from Philippines, Japan, Hawaii and Mexico in 2011, 2012 and 2013. The presence and proportion of 11 phrase types were compared within and between populations to investigate song similarity and change. Results included: shared song phrases across the North Pacific; variable, temporary, regional song differences; varying rate of song change; and distance a factor, but not predictor in degree of similarity. Shared phrases indicate ongoing mixing of populations throughout the North Pacific. Year to year differences in degree of similarity suggest variability in these interactions. Songs appear to diverge as populations split up and converge when they amalgamate. Song studies complicate current US management policy designating four distinct populations in the North Pacific. North and South Pacific humpback whale population structure may be comparable, although song dynamics may be different. The fluidity of song composition suggests it provides acoustic definition or identity to changing associations of whales.
Modeling integrin and plasma-polymerized pyrrole interactions: chemical diversity relevance for cell regeneration
Authors: Serratos Iris N. , Olayo Roberto , Millán-Pacheco César , Morales-Corona Juan , Vicente-Escobar Jonathan Osiris , Soto-Estrada Ana María , Córdoba-Herrera José Gilberto , Uribe Omar , Gómez-Quintero Teresa , Arroyo-Ornelas Miguel Ángel , Godínez-Fernández Rafael
Published: May 2019

Protein-engineered biomaterials represent a powerful approach to increase biofunctional activity like tissue repair and celular proliferation. Among these materials, integrins and the development of their specific interactions with plasma-polymerized pyrrole (PPPy) are promising biomaterial for tissue regeneration. In this paper, we studied the molecular recognition in the active site of three integrins (α5β1, αvβ3 and αIIbβ3) with PPPy using the structure proposed by Kumar et al. PPPy molecule has three sites to incorporate different species, we worked mainly with the functional groups, –NH2 and –OH groups according to our IR spectroscopic results. We carried out docking studies to find the better conformational couplings and to determine electrostatic (ΔGelec) and non-electrostatic (ΔGnon-elec) contributions to the binding free energy (ΔGb) of these complexes we used Adaptive Poisson-Bolztmann program (APBS). Our results indicated that when incorporating -1H-azirine, -NH2 or –OH group in PPPy structure, interactions with integrins were favorable, as indicated by correspondent ΔGb values. These interactions were mainly triggered by Coulomb interactions, an important term in the electrostatic component. Furthermore, our studies suggest that some residues of integrins α5β1, αvβ3 and αIIbβ3 like aspartates are important for the binding to PPPy structures. Detailed interactions between integrin α5β1 and PPPy structures were revealed by molecular dynamics simulations. We used this particular integrin structure because of its favorable ΔGb as well as its major cellular receptor for the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin. Clustering analysis allowed us to carry out focused docking studies and to determine the time evolution of the ΔGb values. By incorporating -NH2 into PPPy structure, ΔGb values were very favorable during the course of the dynamics simulations by the establishment of hydrogen bonds with Asn224 and/orAsp227 residues, which are part of the integrin α5β1 pocket. However, for the integrin α5β1-PPPy-1H-azirine complex and the rest of the functional groups, the ΔGb values were less favorable, although PPPy was found at a distance of less than 5 Å from the active site residues. This work is complementary to the previous studies made employing PPPy nanoparticles for a variety of tissue engineering applications, and were done to enlighten the role played by the amino group of the PPPy in its integrin recognition process.
Solvent-free bulk polymerization of lignin-polycaprolactone (PCL) copolymer and its thermoplastic characteristics
Authors: Park In-Kyung , Sun Hanna , Kim Sung-Hoon , Kim Youngjun , Kim Go Eun , Lee Youngkwan , Kim Taesung , Choi Hyouk Ryeol , Suhr Jonghwan , Nam Jae-Do
Published: May 2019

The pristine lignin molecules contain multiple reactive hydroxyl [OH] groups, some of which undergo limited polymerization depending on their configuration (aromatic or aliphatic) or conformation. The key issue in lignin-polymerization is to quantify the number of hydroxyl groups in the pristine molecules for subsequent activation to specific lignin-polymer chain lengths or degree of grafting. In this study, using ε-caprolactone (CL) as a reactive solvent, we successfully polymerized CL on the [OH] sites in the kraft lignin macromonomers (LM, Mw = 1,520 g mol−1), which resulted in a thermoplastic lignin-polycaprolactone (PCL) grafted copolymer. We found that the average number of [OH] groups in the LM was 15.3 groups mol−1, and further detected 40–71% of the [OH] groups in the CL bulk polymerization. The degree of polymerization of PCL grown on each [OH] site ranged between 7 and 26 depending on the reaction conditions ([CL]/[OH] and reaction-time) corresponding to 4,780 and 32,600 g mol−1 of PCL chains per a LM. The thermoplastic characteristics of the synthesized lignin-PCL copolymers were established by the melt viscosity exhibiting a shear-thinning behavior, e.g., 921 Pa.s at 180 °C. The thermal stability was remarkable providing a Tid (2% of weight loss) of 230 °C of the copolymers, compared with 69 °C for the pristine lignin.
Genome-wide association studies for 30 haematological and blood clinical-biochemical traits in Large White pigs reveal genomic regions affecting intermediate phenotypes
Authors: Bovo Samuele , Mazzoni Gianluca , Bertolini Francesca , Schiavo Giuseppina , Galimberti Giuliano , Gallo Maurizio , Dall’Olio Stefania , Fontanesi Luca
Published: May 2019

Haematological and clinical-biochemical parameters are considered indicators of the physiological/health status of animals and might serve as intermediate phenotypes to link physiological aspects to production and disease resistance traits. The dissection of the genetic variability affecting these phenotypes might be useful to describe the resilience of the animals and to support the usefulness of the pig as animal model. Here, we analysed 15 haematological and 15 clinical-biochemical traits in 843 Italian Large White pigs, via three genome-wide association scan approaches (single-trait, multi-trait and Bayesian). We identified 52 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with 29 out of 30 analysed blood parameters, with the most significant QTL identified on porcine chromosome 14 for basophil count. Some QTL regions harbour genes that may be the obvious candidates: QTLs for cholesterol parameters identified genes (ADCY8,APOB,ATG5,CDKAL1,PCSK5,PRLandSOX6) that are directly involved in cholesterol metabolism; other QTLs highlighted genes encoding the enzymes being measured [ALT (known also as GPT) and AST (known also as GOT)]. Moreover, the multivariate approach strengthened the association results for several candidate genes. The obtained results can contribute to define new measurable phenotypes that could be applied in breeding programs as proxies for more complex traits.
Exploring cellular uptake, accumulation and mechanism of action of a cationic Ru-based nanosystem in human preclinical models of breast cancer
Authors: Piccolo Marialuisa , Misso Gabriella , Ferraro Maria Grazia , Riccardi Claudia , Capuozzo Antonella , Zarone Mayra Rachele , Maione Francesco , Trifuoggi Marco , Stiuso Paola , D’Errico Gerardino , Caraglia Michele , Paduano Luigi , Montesarchio Daniela , Irace Carlo , Santamaria Rita
Published: May 2019

According to WHO, breast cancer incidence is increasing so that the search for novel chemotherapeutic options is nowadays an essential requirement to fight neoplasm subtypes. By exploring new effective metal-based chemotherapeutic strategies, many ruthenium complexes have been recently proposed as antitumour drugs, showing ability to impact on diverse cellular targets. In the framework of different molecular pathways leading to cell death in human models of breast cancer, here we demonstrate autophagy involvement behind the antiproliferative action of a ruthenium(III)-complex incorporated into a cationic nanosystem (HoThyRu/DOTAP), proved to be hitherto one of the most effective within the suite of nucleolipidic formulations we have developed for the in vivo transport of anticancer ruthenium(III)-based drugs. Indeed, evidences are implicating autophagy in both cancer development and therapy, and anticancer interventions endowed with the ability to trigger this biological response are currently considered attractive oncotherapeutic approaches. Moreover, crosstalk between apoptosis and autophagy, regulated by finely tuned metallo-chemotherapeutics, may provide novel opportunities for future improvement of cancer treatment. Following this line, our in vitro and in vivo preclinical investigations suggest that an original strategy based on suitable formulations of ruthenium(III)-complexes, inducing sustained cell death, could open new opportunities for breast cancer treatment, including the highly aggressive triple-negative subtype.
Increased LIGHT expression and activation of non-canonical NF-κB are observed in gastric lesions of MyD88-deficient mice upon Helicobacter felis infection
Authors: Mejías-Luque Raquel , Lozano-Pope Ivonne , Wanisch Andreas , Heikenwälder Matthias , Gerhard Markus , Obonyo Marygorret
Published: May 2019

Helicobacter pylori infection induces a number of pro-inflammatory signaling pathways contributing to gastric inflammation and carcinogenesis. Among those, NF-κB signaling plays a pivotal role during infection and malignant transformation of the gastric epithelium. However, deficiency of the adaptor molecule myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88), which signals through NF-κB, led to an accelerated development of gastric pathology upon H. felis infection, but the mechanisms leading to this phenotype remained elusive. Non-canonical NF-κB signaling was shown to aggravate H. pylori-induced gastric inflammation via activation of the lymphotoxin β receptor (LTβR). In the present study, we explored whether the exacerbated pathology observed in MyD88-deficient (Myd88−/−) mice was associated with aberrant activation of non-canonical NF-κB. Our results indicate that, in the absence of MyD88, H. felis infection enhances the activation of non-canonical NF-κB that is associated with increase in Cxcl9 and Icam1 gene expression and CD3+ lymphocyte recruitment. In addition, activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling was higher in Myd88−/− compared to wild type (WT) mice, indicating a link between MyD88 deficiency and STAT3 activation in response to H. felis infection. Thereby, MyD88 deficiency results in accelerated and aggravated gastric pathology induced by Helicobacter through activation of non-canonical NF-κB.
Identification of a novel strong promoter from the anhydrobiotic midge, Polypedilum vanderplanki, with conserved function in various insect cell lines
Authors: Miyata Yugo , Tokumoto Shoko , Sogame Yoichiro , Deviatiiarov Ruslan , Okada Jun , Cornette Richard , Gusev Oleg , Shagimardanova Elena , Sakurai Minoru , Kikawada Takahiro
Published: May 2019

Larvae of the African midge Polypedilum vanderplanki (Diptera: Chironomidae) show a form of extreme desiccation tolerance known as anhydrobiosis. The cell line Pv11 was recently established from the species, and these cells can also survive under desiccated conditions, and proliferate normally after rehydration. Here we report the identification of a new promoter, 121, which has strong constitutive transcriptional activity in Pv11 cells and promotes effective expression of exogenous genes. Using a luciferase reporter assay, this strong transcriptional activity was shown to be conserved in cell lines from various insect species, including S2 (Drosophila melanogaster, Diptera), SaPe-4 (Sarcophaga peregrina, Diptera), Sf9 (Spodoptera frugiperda, Lepidoptera) and Tc81 (Tribolium castaneum, Coleoptera) cells. In conjunction with an appropriate selection maker gene, the 121 promoter was able to confer zeocin resistance on SaPe-4 cells and allowed the establishment of stable SaPe-4 cell lines expressing the fluorescent protein AcGFP1; this is the first report of heterologous gene expression in this cell line. These results show the 121 promoter to be a versatile tool for exogenous gene expression in a wide range of insect cell lines, particularly useful to those from non-model insect species.
Emulating the early phases of human tooth development in vitro
Authors: Rosowski Jennifer , Bräunig Julia , Amler Anna-Klara , Strietzel Frank P. , Lauster Roland , Rosowski Mark
Published: May 2019

Functional in vitro models emulating the physiological processes of human organ formation are invaluable for future research and the development of regenerative therapies. Here, a developmentally inspired approach is pursued to reproduce fundamental steps of human tooth organogenesis in vitro using human dental pulp cells. Similar to the in vivo situation of tooth initiating mesenchymal condensation, a 3D self-organizing culture was pursued resulting in an organoid of the size of a human tooth germ with odontogenic marker expression. Furthermore, the model is capable of epithelial invagination into the condensed mesenchyme, mimicking the reciprocal tissue interactions of human tooth development. Comprehensive transcriptome analysis revealed activation of well-studied as well as rather less investigated signaling pathways implicated in human tooth organogenesis, such as the Notch signaling. Early condensation in vitro revealed a shift to the TGFß signal transduction pathway and a decreased RhoA small GTPase activity, connected to the remodeling of the cytoskeleton and actin-mediated mechanotransduction. Therefore, this in vitro model of tooth development provides a valuable model to study basic human developmental mechanisms.
Optical properties of metamaterial split ring nematic colloids
Authors: Pusovnik Anja , Aplinc Jure , Ravnik Miha
Published: May 2019

The fabrication of 3D bulk metamaterials, optical materials with sub-wavelength building blocks, is an open challenge, along with the tuning of their optical properties, such as transmissivity or exit polarization where a possible approach is to embed liquid crystalline materials into metamaterials and use their tunable birefringence. In this work, we explore using numerical modelling the photonic properties of a composite of split ring resonator colloidal particles, dispersed in nematic liquid crystal, which was optimised to enable self-assembly fully. Specifically, using generalised FDTD simulations for light propagation in birefringent profiles, we demonstrate the photonic response of single particles, 2D and 3D colloidal crystals. The material transmittance is shown to exhibit clear resonant behaviour with the resonances tunable with the birefringence in the order of ~5%. Electric and magnetic field modes emergent on the particles are shown, as affected by the surrounding nematic birefringence, both the in the slit region of the split ring resonator (SRR) particles as well as around the particles. Observed photonic response is further explained by introducing basic equivalent LC circuits. Finally, this work is aimed at developing soft and fluid metamaterials, which exhibit optical anisotropy in the photonic response as a potent mechanism for controlling the flow of light at wavelength and even sub-wavelength scales.
Specific targeting of PKCδ suppresses osteoclast differentiation by accelerating proteolysis of membrane-bound macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor
Authors: Kim Mi Yeong , Lee Kyunghee , Shin Hong-In , Jeong Daewon
Published: May 2019

c-Fms is the macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) receptor, and intracellular signalling via the M-CSF/c-Fms axis mediates both innate immunity and bone remodelling. M-CSF-induced transient proteolytic degradation of c-Fms modulates various biological functions, and protein kinase C (PKC) signalling is activated during this proteolytic process via an unknown mechanism. Notably, the role of specific PKC isoforms involved in c-Fms degradation during osteoclast differentiation is not known. Here, we observed that inactivation of PKCδ by the biochemical inhibitor rottlerin, a cell permeable peptide inhibitor, and short hairpin (sh) RNA suppresses osteoclast differentiation triggered by treatment with M-CSF and receptor activator of NF-κB ligand. Interestingly, inhibition of PKCδ by either inhibitor or gene silencing of PKCδ accelerated M-CSF-induced proteolytic degradation of membrane-bound c-Fms via both the lysosomal pathway and regulated intramembrane proteolysis (RIPping), but did not affect c-fms expression at the mRNA level. Degradation of c-Fms induced by PKCδ inactivation subsequently inhibited M-CSF-induced osteoclastogenic signals, such as extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-JUN N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38, and Akt. Furthermore, mice administered PKCδ inhibitors into the calvaria periosteum exhibited a decrease in both osteoclast formation on the calvarial bone surface and the calvarial bone marrow cavity, which reflects osteoclastic bone resorption activity. These data suggest that M-CSF-induced PKCδ activation maintains membrane-anchored c-Fms and allows the sequential cellular events of osteoclastogenic signalling, osteoclast formation, and osteoclastic bone resorption.
Thymoquinone therapy remediates elevated brain tissue inflammatory mediators induced by chronic administration of food preservatives
Authors: Hamdan Ahmed Mohsen , Al-Gayyar Mohammed M. , Shams Mohamed E. E. , Alshaman Udai Salamh , Prabahar Kousalya , Bagalagel Alaa , Diri Reem , Noor Ahmad O. , Almasri Diena
Published: May 2019

Continuous exposure to preservatives such as nitrite salts has deleterious effects on different organs. Meanwhile, Nigella sativa oil can remediate such organ dysfunction. Here, we studied the effect of consumption of thymoquinone (TQ); the main component of Nigella sativa oil on the brain damage induced by sodium nitrite. Forty adult male rats were daily given oral gavage of sodium nitrite (80 mg/kg) with or without thymoquinone (50 mg/kg). Oxidative stress, cytokines of inflammation, fibrotic elements and apoptotic markers in brain tissue were measured. Exposure to sodium nitrite (SN) resulted in increased levels of malondialdehyde, TGF-β, c-reactive protein, NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1β and caspase-3 associated with reduced levels of glutathione, cytochrome c oxidase, Nrf2 and IL-10. However, exposure of rats’ brain tissues to thymoquinone resulted ameliorated all these effects. In conclusion, thymoquinone remediates sodium nitrite-induced brain impairment through several mechanisms including attenuation of oxidative stress, retrieving the reduced concentration of glutathione, blocks elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, restores cytochrome c oxidase activity, and reducing the apoptosis markers in the brain tissues of rats.
Chemical Reactions in the Indoor Atmosphere
Authors: Carslaw Nicola
Published: May 2019

This chapter summarizes the key chemical reactions that occur in indoor air. Indoor air chemistry has many similarities to, but also some differences from, that in the ambient atmosphere. Indoors, there is less light, more available surface area and a time scale for reaction that is limited by the exchange rate with outdoors. Despite these differences, there is still a wide range of gas-phase and surface reactions and also partitioning between gas and particle phases. Consequently, indoor chemical reactions produce a myriad of complex, multifunctional products, many of which are thought to be harmful to health. Most research in this area has been focused on the reactions between ozone and terpene species. Ozone can ingress from outdoors, whereas terpenes are components of many indoor products such as cleaning fluids, air fresheners and fragrances. These reactions lead to a wide range of both short- and longer-lived species. Research is becoming increasingly focused on the impact of human activities such as cooking and cleaning on indoor air chemistry. The importance of surfaces is also becoming apparent, both in terms of providing a permanent or temporary sink for species that undergo deposition, but also as a means of forming new products.
The anionic Fries rearrangement: a convenient route toortho-functionalized aromatics
Authors: Korb Marcus , Lang Heinrich
Published: May 2019

The scope and mechanism of anionic (hetero-) Fries rearrangements are summarized for various migrating groups and arenes, including applications and computational studies.
Two-dimensional bimetallic phosphide ultrathin nanosheets as non-noble electrocatalysts for a highly efficient oxygen evolution reaction
Authors: Jiang Min , Li Jun , Li Junming , Zhao Yu , Pan Lijia , Cao Qingqi , Wang Dunhui , Du Youwei
Published: May 2019

2D bimetallic phosphide (Co1−xFexP) ultrathin nanosheets can serve as high-performance OER catalysts.