bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
WRN regulates pathway choice between classical and alternative non-homologous end joining
Authors: Shamanna Raghavendra A. , Lu Huiming , de Freitas Jessica K. , Tian Jane , Croteau Deborah L. , Bohr Vilhelm A.
Published: December 2016

Werner syndrome (WS) is an accelerated ageing disorder with genomic instability caused by WRN protein deficiency. Many features seen in WS can be explained by the diverse functions of WRN in DNA metabolism. However, the origin of the large genomic deletions and telomere fusions are not yet understood. Here, we report that WRN regulates the pathway choice between classical (c)- and alternative (alt)-nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) during DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair. It promotes c-NHEJ via helicase and exonuclease activities and inhibits alt-NHEJ using non-enzymatic functions. When WRN is recruited to the DSBs it suppresses the recruitment of MRE11 and CtIP, and protects the DSBs from 5′ end resection. Moreover, knockdown of Wrn, alone or in combination with Trf2 in mouse embryonic fibroblasts results in increased telomere fusions, which were ablated by Ctip knockdown. We show that WRN regulates alt-NHEJ and shields DSBs from MRE11/CtIP-mediated resection to prevent large deletions and telomere fusions.
Profilometry of thin films on rough substrates by Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Ledinský Martin , Paviet-Salomon Bertrand , Vetushka Aliaksei , Geissbühler Jonas , Tomasi Andrea , Despeisse Matthieu , De Wolf Stefaan , Ballif Christophe , Fejfar Antonín
Published: December 2016

Thin, light-absorbing films attenuate the Raman signal of underlying substrates. In this article, we exploit this phenomenon to develop a contactless thickness profiling method for thin films deposited on rough substrates. We demonstrate this technique by probing profiles of thin amorphous silicon stripes deposited on rough crystalline silicon surfaces, which is a structure exploited in high-efficiency silicon heterojunction solar cells. Our spatially-resolved Raman measurements enable the thickness mapping of amorphous silicon over the whole active area of test solar cells with very high precision; the thickness detection limit is well below 1 nm and the spatial resolution is down to 500 nm, limited only by the optical resolution. We also discuss the wider applicability of this technique for the characterization of thin layers prepared on Raman/photoluminescence-active substrates, as well as its use for single-layer counting in multilayer 2D materials such as graphene, MoS2 and WS2.
Protein self-assembly onto nanodots leads to formation of conductive bio-based hybrids
Authors: Hu Xiao , Dong Chenbo , Su Rigu , Xu Quan , Dinu Cerasela Zoica
Published: December 2016

The next generation of nanowires that could advance the integration of functional nanosystems into synthetic applications from photocatalysis to optical devices need to demonstrate increased ability to promote electron transfer at their interfaces while ensuring optimum quantum confinement. Herein we used the biological recognition and the self-assembly properties of tubulin, a protein involved in building the filaments of cellular microtubules, to create stable, free standing and conductive sulfur-doped carbon nanodots-based conductive bio-hybrids. The physical and chemical properties (e.g., composition, morphology, diameter etc.) of such user-synthesized hybrids were investigated using atomic and spectroscopic techniques, while the electron transfer rate was estimated using peak currents formed during voltammetry scanning. Our results demonstrate the ability to create individually hybrid nanowires capable to reduce energy losses; such hybrids could possibly be used in the future for the advancement and implementation into nanometer-scale functional devices.
Identification and Structural Characterization of the N-terminal Amyloid Core of Orb2 isoform A
Authors: Cervantes Silvia A. , Bajakian Thalia H. , Soria Maria A. , Falk Alexander S. , Service Rachel J. , Langen Ralf , Siemer Ansgar B.
Published: December 2016

Orb2 is a functional amyloid that plays a key role in Drosophila long-term memory formation. Orb2 has two isoforms that differ in their N-termini. The N-terminus of the A isoform (Orb2A) that precedes its Q-rich prion-like domain has been shown to be important for Orb2 aggregation and long-term memory. However, besides the fact that it forms fibrillar aggregates, structural information of Orb2 is largely absent. To understand the importance of the N-terminus of Orb2A and its relation to the fibril core, we recorded solid-state NMR and EPR data on fibrils formed by the first 88 residues of Orb2A (Orb2A88). These data show that the N-terminus of Orb2A not only promotes the formation of fibrils, but also forms the fibril core of Orb2A88. This fibril core has an in-register parallel β-sheet structure and does not include the Q-rich, prion-like domain of Orb2. The Q-rich domain is part of the unstructured region, which becomes increasingly dynamic towards the C-terminus.
Identification of KIAA1199 as a Biomarker for Pancreatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia
Authors: Suh Han Na , Jun Sohee , Oh Ah-Young , Srivastava Mrinal , Lee Sunhye , Taniguchi Cullen M. , Zhang Songlin , Lee Won Sup , Chen Junjie , Park Bum-Joon , Park Jae-Il
Published: December 2016

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive cancers and has an extremely poor prognosis. Despite recent progress in both basic and clinical research, most pancreatic cancers are detected at an incurable stage owing to the absence of disease-specific symptoms. Thus, developing novel approaches for detecting pancreatic cancer at an early stage is imperative. Our in silico and immunohistochemical analyses showed that KIAA1199 is specifically expressed in human pancreatic cancer cells and pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia, the early lesion of pancreatic cancer, in a genetically engineered mouse model and in human patient samples. We also detected secreted KIAA1199 protein in blood samples obtained from pancreatic cancer mouse models, but not in normal mice. Furthermore, we found that assessing KIAA1199 autoantibody increased the sensitivity of detecting pancreatic cancer. These results indicate the potential benefits of using KIAA1199 as a biomarker for early-stage pancreatic cancer.
Non-small cell lung cancer: quantitative phenotypic analysis of CT images as a potential marker of prognosis
Authors: Song Jiangdian , Liu Zaiyi , Zhong Wenzhao , Huang Yanqi , Ma Zelan , Dong Di , Liang Changhong , Tian Jie
Published: December 2016

This was a retrospective study to investigate the predictive and prognostic ability of quantitative computed tomography phenotypic features in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). 661 patients with pathological confirmed as NSCLC were enrolled between 2007 and 2014. 592 phenotypic descriptors was automatically extracted on the pre-therapy CT images. Firstly, support vector machine (SVM) was used to evaluate the predictive value of each feature for pathology and TNM clinical stage. Secondly, Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the prognostic value of these imaging signatures selected by SVM which subjected to a primary cohort of 138 patients, and an external independent validation of 61 patients. The results indicated that predictive accuracy for histopathology, N staging, and overall clinical stage was 75.16%, 79.40% and 80.33%, respectively. Besides, Cox models indicated the signatures selected by SVM: “correlation of co-occurrence after wavelet transform” was significantly associated with overall survival in the two datasets (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.65, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.41–2.75, p = 0.010; and HR: 2.74, 95%CI: 1.10–6.85, p = 0.027, respectively). Our study indicates that the phenotypic features might provide some insight in metastatic potential or aggressiveness for NSCLC, which potentially offer clinical value in directing personalized therapeutic regimen selection for NSCLC.
Antiproliferative activities of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids from Lycoris radiata targeting DNA topoisomerase I
Authors: Chen Gui-Lin , Tian Yong-Qiang , Wu Jian-Lin , Li Na , Guo Ming-Quan
Published: December 2016

Crude Amaryllidaceae alkaloids (AAs) extracted from Lycoris radiata are reported to exhibit significant anti-cancer activity. However, the specific alkaloids responsible for the pharmacodynamic activity and their targets still remain elusive. In this context, we strived to combine affinity ultrafiltration with topoisomerase I (Top I) as a target enzyme aiming to fish out specific bioactive AAs from Lycoris radiata. 11 AAs from Lycoris radiata were thus screened out, among which hippeastrine (peak 5) with the highest Enrichment factor (EF) against Top I exhibited good dose-dependent inhibition with IC50 at 7.25 ± 0.20 μg/mL comparable to camptothecin (positive control) at 6.72 ± 0.23 μg/mL. The molecular docking simulation further indicated the inhibitory mechanism between Top I and hippeastrine. The in vitro antiproliferation assays finally revealed that hippeastrine strongly inhibited the proliferation of HT-29 and Hep G2 cells in an intuitive dose-dependent manner with the IC50 values at 3.98 ± 0.29 μg/mL and 11.85 ± 0.20 μg/mL, respectively, and also induced significant cellular morphological changes, which further validated our screening method and the potent antineoplastic effects. Collectively, these results suggested that hippeastrine could be a very promising anticancer candidate for the therapy of cancer in the near future.
A carotenogenic mini-pathway introduced into white corn does not affect development or agronomic performance
Authors: Zanga Daniela , Capell Teresa , Slafer Gustavo A. , Christou Paul , Savin Roxana
Published: December 2016

High-carotenoid corn (Carolight®) has been developed as a vehicle to deliver pro-vitamin A in the diet and thus address vitamin A deficiency in at-risk populations in developing countries. Like any other novel crop, the performance of Carolight® must be tested in different environments to ensure that optimal yields and productivity are maintained, particularly in this case to ensure that the engineered metabolic pathway does not attract a yield penalty. Here we compared the performance of Carolight® with its near isogenic white corn inbred parental line under greenhouse and field conditions, and monitored the stability of the introduced trait. We found that Carolight® was indistinguishable from its near isogenic line in terms of agronomic performance, particularly grain yield and its main components. We also established experimentally that the functionality of the introduced trait was indistinguishable when plants were grown in a controlled environment or in the field. Such thorough characterization under different agronomic conditions is rarely performed even for first-generation traits such as herbicide tolerance and pest resistance, and certainly not for complex second-generation traits such as the metabolic remodeling in the Carolight® variety. Our results therefore indicate that Carolight® can now be incorporated into breeding lines to generate hybrids with locally adapted varieties for further product development and assessment.
Deep sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA of the neonatal oral microbiome: a comparison of breast-fed and formula-fed infants
Authors: Al-Shehri S. S. , Sweeney E. L. , Cowley D. M. , Liley H. G. , Ranasinghe P. D. , Charles B. G. , Shaw P. N. , Vagenas D. , Duley J. A. , Knox C. L.
Published: December 2016

In utero and upon delivery, neonates are exposed to a wide array of microorganisms from various sources, including maternal bacteria. Prior studies have proposed that the mode of feeding shapes the gut microbiota and, subsequently the child’s health. However, the effect of the mode of feeding and its influence on the development of the neonatal oral microbiota in early infancy has not yet been reported. The aim of this study was to compare the oral microbiota of healthy infants that were exclusively breast-fed or formula-fed using 16S-rRNA gene sequencing. We demonstrated that the oral bacterial communities were dominated by the phylum Firmicutes, in both groups. There was a higher prevalence of the phylum Bacteroidetes in the mouths of formula-fed infants than in breast-fed infants (p = 0.01), but in contrast Actinobacteria were more prevalent in breast-fed babies; Proteobacteria was more prevalent in saliva of breast-fed babies than in formula-fed neonates (p = 0.04). We also found evidence suggesting that the oral microbiota composition changed over time, particularly Streptococcus species, which had an increasing trend between 4–8 weeks in both groups. This study findings confirmed that the mode of feeding influences the development of oral microbiota, and this may have implications for long-term human health.
Different responses of alpine plants to nitrogen addition: effects on plant-plant interactions
Authors: Wang Jun , Luo Peng , Yang Hao , Mou Chengxiang , Mo Li
Published: December 2016

The different responses of plant species to resource stress are keys to understand the dynamics of plant community in a changing environment. To test the hypothesis that nitrogen (N) increase would benefit N competitive species, rather than N stress-tolerant species, to compete with neighbours, we conducted an experiment with neighbour removal, N addition and soil moisture as treatments in an alpine grassland on the southeastern Tibetan Plateau. Both growths and competitive-response abilities (CRA, the ability to tolerate the inhibitory effects of neighbors) of Kobresia macrantha, Polygonum viviparum and Potentilla anserine in wet site were facilitated by N addition, conversely, both growths and CRA of Taraxacum mongolicum and Ligularia virgaurea were suppressed by N addition, indicating that the responses of CRA of target species under N addition were consistent with the N utilization strategies of them. Moreover, the facilitative effects of N addition on competitive-response abilities of Kobresia macrantha and Polygonum viviparum were not found at the dry site, illustrating that soil moisture can alter the changes of neighbour effects caused by N addition. Life strategy of dominant species in plant community on the undisturbed southeastern Tibetan Plateau may shift from N stress-tolerant to N competitive, if the N increases continuously.
Source apportionment of chlorinated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons associated with ambient particles in a Japanese megacity
Authors: Kamiya Yuta , Iijima Akihiro , Ikemori Fumikazu , Okuda Tomoaki , Ohura Takeshi
Published: December 2016

Chlorinated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (ClPAHs) are novel species of environmental contaminants whose possible sources remain unclear. The occurrence of ClPAHs within total suspended particles (TSP) is compared with weekly air samples at two sites of differing characteristics (industrial and residential) in the megacity of Nagoya, Japan. Samples were collected over 12 months during 2011–2012. All 24 species of targeted ClPAHs were detected at both industrial and residential sites, where mean concentrations of total ClPAHs in TSP were 20.7 and 14.1 pg/m3, respectively. High concentrations at the industrial site were frequently observed during winter, suggesting potent seasonal ClPAH sources there. Positive matrix factorization modeling of particulate ClPAH source identification and apportioning were conducted for datasets including ClPAHs, PAHs, elements and ions, plus elemental carbons in TSP. Eight factors were identified as possible ClPAH sources, with estimates that the dominant one was a specific source of ClPAH emission (31%), followed by traffic (23%), photodegradable and semi-volatile species (18%), long-range transport (11%), and industry and oil combustion (10%). Source contributions of ClPAHs differed substantially from those of PAHs. This suggests specific and/or potent ClPAH sources in the local area, and that the production mechanisms between ClPAHs and PAHs are substantially different.
Authentication of Chinese vintage liquors using bomb-pulse 14C
Authors: Cheng Peng , Zhou Weijian , Burr G. S. , Fu Yunchong , Fan Yukun , Wu Shugang
Published: December 2016

The older a bottle of Chinese vintage liquor is, the higher the price it commands. Driven by the potential for higher profits, some newly-founded distilleries openly sell liquor whose storage ages are exaggerated. In China, the market for vintage liquor has become fraught with uncertainty and a pressing need has arisen to establish an effective method to authenticate the age of vintage liquors. A radiocarbon (14C) dating method is described here that can verify cellar-stored years of Chinese liquors distilled within the last fifty years. Two different flavored Chinese liquors produced in “the golden triangular region” in the Upper Yangtze River region in southwest China, with known cellar-stored years, were analyzed to benchmark the technique. Strong flavored liquors are found to be consistent with local atmospheric Δ14C values. A small offset of 2–3 years between predicted vintage years of soy-sauce flavored liquors and strong flavored liquors is found to be associated with the fermentation cycle of certain varieties. The technique can measure cellar-stored years of a wide range of liquors including those with fundamentally different aromas. This demonstrates the strength of our method in identifying suspect Chinese vintage liquors.
Foldable and Disposable Memory on Paper
Authors: Lee Byung-Hyun , Lee Dong-Il , Bae Hagyoul , Seong Hyejeong , Jeon Seung-Bae , Seol Myung-Lok , Han Jin-Woo , Meyyappan M. , Im Sung-Gap , Choi Yang-Kyu
Published: December 2016

Foldable organic memory on cellulose nanofibril paper with bendable and rollable characteristics is demonstrated by employing initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) for polymerization of the resistive switching layer and inkjet printing of the electrode, where iCVD based on all-dry and room temperature process is very suitable for paper electronics. This memory exhibits a low operation voltage of 1.5 V enabling battery operation compared to previous reports and wide memory window. The memory performance is maintained after folding tests, showing high endurance. Furthermore, the quick and complete disposable nature demonstrated here is attractive for security applications. This work provides an effective platform for green, foldable and disposable electronics based on low cost and versatile materials.
Warming Trends and Bleaching Stress of the World’s Coral Reefs 1985–2012
Authors: Heron Scott F. , Maynard Jeffrey A. , van Hooidonk Ruben , Eakin C. Mark
Published: December 2016

Coral reefs across the world’s oceans are in the midst of the longest bleaching event on record (from 2014 to at least 2016). As many of the world’s reefs are remote, there is limited information on how past thermal conditions have influenced reef composition and current stress responses. Using satellite temperature data for 1985–2012, the analysis we present is the first to quantify, for global reef locations, spatial variations in warming trends, thermal stress events and temperature variability at reef-scale (~4 km). Among over 60,000 reef pixels globally, 97% show positive SST trends during the study period with 60% warming significantly. Annual trends exceeded summertime trends at most locations. This indicates that the period of summer-like temperatures has become longer through the record, with a corresponding shortening of the ‘winter’ reprieve from warm temperatures. The frequency of bleaching-level thermal stress increased three-fold between 1985–91 and 2006–12 – a trend climate model projections suggest will continue. The thermal history data products developed enable needed studies relating thermal history to bleaching resistance and community composition. Such analyses can help identify reefs more resilient to thermal stress.
Co-expression network analyses identify functional modules associated with development and stress response in Gossypium arboreum
Authors: You Qi , Zhang Liwei , Yi Xin , Zhang Kang , Yao Dongxia , Zhang Xueyan , Wang Qianhua , Zhao Xinhua , Ling Yi , Xu Wenying , Li Fuguang , Su Zhen
Published: December 2016

Cotton is an economically important crop, essential for the agriculture and textile industries. Through integrating transcriptomic data, we discovered that multi-dimensional co-expression network analysis was powerful for predicting cotton gene functions and functional modules. Here, the recently available transcriptomic data on Gossypium arboreum, including data on multiple growth stages of tissues and stress treatment samples were applied to construct a co-expression network exploring multi-dimensional expression (development and stress) through multi-layered approaches. Based on differential gene expression and network analysis, a fibre development regulatory module of the gene GaKNL1 was found to regulate the second cell wall through repressing the activity of REVOLUTA, and a tissue-selective module of GaJAZ1a was examined in response to water stress. Moreover, comparative genomics analysis of the JAZ1-related regulatory module revealed high conservation across plant species. In addition, 1155 functional modules were identified through integrating the co-expression network, module classification and function enrichment tools, which cover functions such as metabolism, stress responses, and transcriptional regulation. In the end, an online platform was built for network analysis (http://structuralbiology.cau.edu.cn/arboreum), which could help to refine the annotation of cotton gene function and establish a data mining system to identify functional genes or modules with important agronomic traits.
Optimized invisibility cloaks from the Logarithm conformal mapping
Authors: Zhu Chunhui , Liu Lijun , Song Zhengyong , Liu Qing Huo
Published: December 2016

Invisibility cloaks designed from the coordinate transformation method have attracted increasing interest recently. Conformal transformation optics scheme leads to cloaks that possess isotopic media, thus provides a prospective way to facilitate easier realization. Reducing the maximum value of the refractive index required by the cloaks is very important in practical imple- mentation. This letter studies on how the parameters in the logarithm conformal mapping control the cloaking effect. The optimized invisibility cloaks are designed. The maximum values of the refractive index required from the first kind and the second kind of logarithm conformal mappings are reduced to 9.779 and 12.936, respectively.
Wideband helicity dependent spoof surface plasmon polaritons coupling metasurface based on dispersion design
Authors: Dong Guoxiang , Shi Hongyu , He Yuchen , Zhang Anxue , Wei Xiaoyong , Zhuang Yongyong , Du Bai , Xia Song , Xu Zhuo
Published: December 2016

The surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) have many potential application due to their local field enhancement and sub-wavelength characteristics. Recently, the gradient metasurface is introduced to couple the spoof SPPs in microwave frequency band. One of the most important issue which should be solved is the narrowband of spoof SPPs coupling on the gradient metasurface. Here, the metasurface is proposed to achieve the wideband helicity dependent directional spoof SPPs coupling for circular polarized light. Our research show that the coupling frequency of spoof SPPs on the gradient metasurface is determined by the dispersion of the metasurface, so the coupling frequency can be controlled by dispersion design. The careful design of each cell geometric parameters has provided many appropriate dispersion relations possessed by just one metasurface. The wave vector matching between the propagating wave and the spoof SPPs has been achieved at several frequencies for certain wave vector provided by the metasurface, which leads to wideband spoof SPPs coupling. This work has shown that wideband helicity dependent directional spoof SPPs coupling has been achieved with a high efficiency. Hence, the proposed wideband spoof SPPs coupling presents the improvement in practice applications.
Photoluminescence changes of C70 nano/submicro-crystals induced by high pressure and high temperature
Authors: Liu Dedi , Liu Bingbing , Sundqvist Bertil , Dong Dapeng , Li Zhenghua , Liu Dongping
Published: December 2016

Hollow C70 nano/submicro-crystals with a fcc lattice structure were treated under various high pressure and high temperature conditions. The energy band structure was visibly changed by the high pressure and high temperature treatment, and the luminescence of the treated C70 nano/submicro-crystals were tuned from the visible to the near infrared range. In-situ high pressure experiments at room temperature indicate that pressure plays a key role in the tuning of the band gap and PL properties in C70 nanocrystals, and temperature plays an important role in the formation of stable intermolecular bonds and thus to define the final red-shift of the PL peaks. The polymeric phases of C70 nanocrystals treated at high pressure and high temperature were identified from their Raman spectra, which showed a change from monomers to a dimer-rich phase and finally to a phase containing larger, disordered C70 oligomers.
Elderly patients have an altered gut-brain axis regardless of the presence of cirrhosis
Authors: Bajaj Jasmohan S. , Ahluwalia Vishwadeep , Steinberg Joel L. , Hobgood Sarah , Boling Peter A. , Godschalk Michael , Habib Saima , White Melanie B. , Fagan Andrew , Gavis Edith A. , Ganapathy Dinesh , Hylemon Phillip B. , Stewart Karen E. , Keradman Raffi , Liu Eric J. , Wang Jessica , Gillevet Patrick M. , Sikaroodi Masoumeh , Moeller F. Gerard , Wade James B.
Published: December 2016

Cognitive difficulties manifested by the growing elderly population with cirrhosis could be amnestic (memory-related) or non-amnestic (memory-unrelated). The underlying neuro-biological and gut-brain changes are unclear in this population. We aimed to define gut-brain axis alterations in elderly cirrhotics compared to non-cirrhotic individuals based on presence of cirrhosis and on neuropsychological performance. Age-matched outpatients with/without cirrhosis underwent cognitive testing (amnestic/non-amnestic domains), quality of life (HRQOL), multi-modal MRI (fMRI go/no-go task, volumetry and MR spectroscopy), blood (inflammatory cytokines) and stool collection (for microbiota). Groups were studied based on cirrhosis/not and also based on neuropsychological performance (amnestic-type, amnestic/non-amnestic-type and unimpaired). Cirrhotics were impaired on non-amnestic and selected amnestic tests, HRQOL and systemic inflammation compared to non-cirrhotics. Cirrhotics demonstrated significant changes on MR spectroscopy but not on fMRI or volumetry. Correlation networks showed that Lactobacillales members were positively while Enterobacteriaceae and Porphyromonadaceae were negatively linked with cognition. Using the neuropsychological classification amnestic/non-amnestic-type individuals were majority cirrhosis and had worse HRQOL, higher inflammation and decreased autochthonous taxa relative abundance compared to the rest. This classification also predicted fMRI, MR spectroscopy and volumetry changes between groups. We conclude that gut-brain axis alterations may be associated with the type of neurobehavioral decline or inflamm-aging in elderly cirrhotic subjects.
Emotion Dysregulation of Women with Premenstrual Syndrome
Authors: Wu Mengying , Liang Ying , Wang Qingguo , Zhao Yan , Zhou Renlai
Published: December 2016

The aim of the current study was to test whether women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) had difficulties in emotion regulation. In Study 1, we investigated the relationship between the habitual use of emotion-regulation strategies and the severity of PMS (n = 230). The results showed that the severity of PMS was negatively associated with the habitual use of reappraisal, but positively associated with the habitual use of suppression. In Study 2, we first investigated the difference in the spontaneous use of suppression versus reappraisal between women with (n = 42) and without PMS (n = 42) when watching sad film clips. Then we instructed some participants (PMS group = 20, healthy group = 21) to use reappraisal to regulate their emotions induced by a second sad film clip, and the other participants were asked to watch the second film clip freely (PMS group = 22, healthy group = 21). The results showed that there was no significant difference between participants with and without PMS in the self-reported spontaneous use of emotion-regulation strategies. For participants with PMS, increases in spontaneous suppression use were associated with increases in skin conductance level (SCL), while this association was not found among participants without PMS.
Evaluation of candidate reference genes for RT-qPCR studies in three metabolism related tissues of mice after caloric restriction
Authors: Gong Huan , Sun Liang , Chen Beidong , Han Yiwen , Pang Jing , Wu Wei , Qi Ruomei , Zhang Tie-mei
Published: December 2016

Reverse transcription quantitative-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is a routine method for gene expression analysis, and reliable results depend on proper normalization by stable reference genes. Caloric restriction (CR) is a robust lifestyle intervention to slow aging and delay onset of age-associated diseases via inducing global changes in gene expression. Reliable normalization of RT-qPCR data becomes crucial in CR studies. In this study, the expression stability of 12 candidate reference genes were evaluated in inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT), skeletal muscle (Sk.M) and liver of CR mice by using three algorithms, geNorm, NormFinder, and Bestkeeper. Our results showed β2m, Ppia and Hmbs as the most stable genes in iWAT, Sk.M and liver, respectively. Moreover, two reference genes were sufficient to normalize RT-qPCR data in each tissue and the suitable pair of reference genes was β2m-Hprt in iWAT, Ppia-Gusb in Sk.M and Hmbs-β2m in liver. By contrast, the least stable gene in iWAT or Sk.M was Gapdh, and in liver was Pgk1. Furthermore, the expression of Leptin and Ppar-γ were profiled in these tissues to validate the selected reference genes. Our data provided a basis for gene expression analysis in future CR studies.
Viral and bacterial co-infection in severe pneumonia triggers innate immune responses and specifically enhances IP-10: a translational study
Authors: Hoffmann Jonathan , Machado Daniela , Terrier Olivier , Pouzol Stephane , Messaoudi Mélina , Basualdo Wilma , Espínola Emilio E , Guillen Rosa M. , Rosa-Calatrava Manuel , Picot Valentina , Bénet Thomas , Endtz Hubert , Russomando Graciela , Paranhos-Baccalà Gláucia
Published: December 2016

Mixed viral and bacterial infections are widely described in community-acquired pneumonia; however, the clinical implications of co-infection on the associated immunopathology remain poorly studied. In this study, microRNA, mRNA and cytokine/chemokine secretion profiling were investigated for human monocyte-derived macrophages infected in-vitro with Influenza virus A/H1N1 and/or Streptococcus pneumoniae. We observed that the in-vitro co-infection synergistically increased interferon-γ-induced protein-10 (CXCL10, IP-10) expression compared to the singly-infected cells conditions. We demonstrated that endogenous miRNA-200a-3p, whose expression was synergistically induced following co-infection, indirectly regulates CXCL10 expression by targeting suppressor of cytokine signaling-6 (SOCS-6), a well-known regulator of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. Additionally, in a subsequent clinical pilot study, immunomodulators levels were evaluated in samples from 74 children (≤5 years-old) hospitalized with viral and/or bacterial community-acquired pneumonia. Clinically, among the 74 cases of pneumonia, patients with identified mixed-detection had significantly higher (3.6-fold) serum IP-10 levels than those with a single detection (P = 0.03), and were significantly associated with severe pneumonia (P < 0.01). This study demonstrates that viral and bacterial co-infection modulates the JAK-STAT signaling pathway and leads to exacerbated IP-10 expression, which could play a major role in the pathogenesis of pneumonia.
Transistor Properties of 2,7-Dialkyl-Substituted Phenanthro[2,1-b:7,8-b′]dithiophene
Authors: Kubozono Yoshihiro , Hyodo Keita , Hamao Shino , Shimo Yuma , Mori Hiroki , Nishihara Yasushi
Published: December 2016

A new phenacene-type molecule with five fused aromatic rings was synthesized: 2,7-didodecylphenanthro[2,1-b:7,8-b′]dithiophene ((C12H25)2-i-PDT), with two terminal thiophene rings. Field-effect transistors (FETs) using thin films of this molecule were fabricated using various gate dielectrics, showing p-channel normally-off FET properties with field-effect mobilities (μ) greater than 1 cm2 V−1 s−1. The highest μ value in the thin-film FETs fabricated in this study was 5.4 cm2 V−1 s−1, when a 150 nm-thick ZrO2 gate dielectric was used. This implies that (C12H25)2-i-PDT is very suitable for use in a transistor. Its good FET performance is fully discussed, based on electronic/topological properties and theoretical calculations.
LptD is a promising vaccine antigen and potential immunotherapeutic target for protection against Vibrio species infection
Authors: Zha Zhenzhong , Li Chuchu , Li Weiyan , Ye Zhicang , Pan Jianyi
Published: December 2016

Outer membrane proteins (OMPs) are unique to Gram-negative bacteria. Several features, including surface exposure, conservation among strains and ability to induce immune responses, make OMPs attractive targets for using as vaccine antigens and immunotherapeutics. LptD is an essential OMP that mediates the final transport of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to outer leaflet. The protein in Vibrio parahaemolyticus was identified to have immunogenicity in our previous report. In this study, broad distribution, high conservation and similar surface-epitopes of LptD were found among the major Vibrio species. LptD was further revealed to be associated with immune responses, and it has a strong ability to stimulate antibody response. More importantly, it conferred 100% immune protection against lethal challenge by V. parahaemolyticus in mice when the mice were vaccinated with LptD, and this finding was consistent with the observation of efficient clearance of bacteria in vaccination mice. Strikingly, targeting of bacteria by the LptD antibody caused significant decreases in both the growth and LPS level and an increase in susceptibility to hydrophobic antibiotics. These findings were consistent with those previously obtained in lptD-deletion bacteria. These data demonstrated LptD is a promising vaccine antigens and a potential target for antibody-based therapy to protect against Vibrio infections.
An ERβ agonist induces browning of subcutaneous abdominal fat pad in obese female mice
Authors: Miao Yi-fei , Su Wen , Dai Yu-bing , Wu Wan-fu , Huang Bo , Barros Rodrigo P. A. , Nguyen Hao , Maneix Laure , Guan You-fei , Warner Margaret , Gustafsson Jan-Åke
Published: December 2016

Estrogen, via estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), exerts several beneficial effects on metabolism and energy homeostasis by controlling size, enzymatic activity and hormonal content of adipose tissue. The actions of estrogen on sympathetic ganglia, which are key players in the browning process, are less well known. In the present study we show that ERβ influences browning of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) via its actions both on sympathetic ganglia and on the SAT itself. A 3-day-treatment with a selective ERβ agonist, LY3201, induced browning of SAT in 1-year-old obese WT and ERα−/− female mice. Browning was associated with increased expression of ERβ in the nuclei of neurons in the sympathetic ganglia, increase in tyrosine hydroxylase in both nerve terminals in the SAT and sympathetic ganglia neurons and an increase of β3-adrenoceptor in the SAT. LY3201 had no effect on browning in young female or male mice. In the case of young females browning was already maximal while in males there was very little expression of ERβ in the SAT and very little expression of the β3-adrenoceptor. The increase in both sympathetic tone and responsiveness of adipocytes to catecholamines reveals a novel role for ERβ in controlling browning of adipose tissue.
SLC2A8 (GLUT8) is a mammalian trehalose transporter required for trehalose-induced autophagy
Authors: Mayer Allyson L. , Higgins Cassandra B. , Heitmeier Monique R. , Kraft Thomas E. , Qian Xia , Crowley Jan R. , Hyrc Krzysztof L. , Beatty Wandy L. , Yarasheski Kevin E. , Hruz Paul W. , DeBosch Brian J.
Published: December 2016

Trehalose is a disaccharide demonstrated to mitigate disease burden in multiple murine neurodegenerative models. We recently revealed that trehalose rapidly induces hepatic autophagy and abrogates hepatic steatosis by inhibiting hexose transport via the SLC2A family of facilitative transporters. Prior studies, however, postulate that intracellular trehalose is sufficient to induce cellular autophagy. The objective of the current study was to identify the means by which trehalose accesses the hepatocyte cytoplasm, and define the distal signaling mechanisms by which trehalose induces autophagy. We provide gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric, fluorescence microscopic and radiolabeled uptake evidence that trehalose traverses the plasma membrane via SLC2A8 (GLUT8), a homolog of the trehalose transporter-1 (Tret1). Moreover, GLUT8-deficient hepatocytes and GLUT8-deficient mice exposed to trehalose resisted trehalose-induced AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation and autophagic inductionin vitroandin vivo. Although trehalose profoundly attenuated mTORC1 signaling, trehalose-induced mTORC1 suppression was insufficient to activate autophagy in the absence of AMPK or GLUT8. Strikingly, transient, heterologous Tret1 overexpression reconstituted autophagic flux and AMPK signaling defects in GLUT8-deficient hepatocyte cultures. Together, these data suggest that cytoplasmic trehalose access is carrier-mediated, and that GLUT8 is a mammalian trehalose transporter required for hepatocyte trehalose-induced autophagy and signal transduction.
Identification of critical paralog groups with indispensable roles in the regulation of signaling flow
Authors: Modos Dezso , Brooks Johanne , Fazekas David , Ari Eszter , Vellai Tibor , Csermely Peter , Korcsmaros Tamas , Lenti Katalin
Published: December 2016

Extensive cross-talk between signaling pathways is required to integrate the myriad of extracellular signal combinations at the cellular level. Gene duplication events may lead to the emergence of novel functions, leaving groups of similar genes - termed paralogs - in the genome. To distinguish critical paralog groups (CPGs) from other paralogs in human signaling networks, we developed a signaling network-based method using cross-talk annotation and tissue-specific signaling flow analysis. 75 CPGs were found with higher degree, betweenness centrality, closeness, and ‘bowtieness’ when compared to other paralogs or other proteins in the signaling network. CPGs had higher diversity in all these measures, with more varied biological functions and more specific post-transcriptional regulation than non-critical paralog groups (non-CPG). Using TGF-beta, Notch and MAPK pathways as examples, SMAD2/3, NOTCH1/2/3 and MEK3/6-p38 CPGs were found to regulate the signaling flow of their respective pathways. Additionally, CPGs showed a higher mutation rate in both inherited diseases and cancer, and were enriched in drug targets. In conclusion, the results revealed two distinct types of paralog groups in the signaling network: CPGs and non-CPGs. Thus highlighting the importance of CPGs as compared to non-CPGs in drug discovery and disease pathogenesis.
A human carboxypeptidase E/NF-α1 gene mutation in an Alzheimer’s disease patient leads to dementia and depression in mice
Authors: Cheng Y , Cawley N X , Yanik T , Murthy S R K , Liu C , Kasikci F , Abebe D , Loh Y P
Published: December 2016

Patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a common dementia among the aging population, often also suffer from depression. This comorbidity is poorly understood. Although most forms of AD are not genetically inherited, we have identified a new human mutation in the carboxypeptidase E (CPE)/neurotrophic factor-α1 (NF-α1) gene from an AD patient that caused memory deficit and depressive-like behavior in transgenic mice. This mutation consists of three adenosine inserts, introducing nine amino acids, including two glutamines into the mutant protein, herein called CPE-QQ. Expression of CPE-QQ in Neuro2a cells demonstrated that it was not secreted, but accumulated in the endoplasmic reticulum and was subsequently degraded by proteasomes. Expression of CPE-QQ in rat hippocampal neurons resulted in cell death, through increased ER stress and decreased expression of pro-survival protein, BCL-2. Transgenic mice expressing CPE-QQ did not show any difference in the processing enzyme activity of CPE compared with wild-type mice. However, the transgenic mice exhibited poor memory, depressive-like behavior, severely decreased dendrites in the hippocampal CA3 region and medial prefrontal cortex indicative of neurodegeneration, hyperphosphorylation of tau at Ser396, and diminished neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus at 50 weeks old. All these pathologies are associated with AD and the latter with depression and were observed in 50-week-old mice. Interestingly, the younger CPE-QQ mice (11 weeks old) did not show deficits in dendrite outgrowth and neurogenesis. This study has uncovered a human CPE/NF-α1 gene mutation that could lead to comorbidity of dementia and depression, emphasizing the importance of this gene in cognitive function.
DNA methylation and substance-use risk: a prospective, genome-wide study spanning gestation to adolescence
Authors: Cecil C A M , Walton E , Smith R G , Viding E , McCrory E J , Relton C L , Suderman M , Pingault J-B , McArdle W , Gaunt T R , Mill J , Barker E D
Published: December 2016

Epigenetic processes have been implicated in addiction; yet, it remains unclear whether these represent a risk factor and/or a consequence of substance use. Here, we believe we conducted the first genome-wide, longitudinal study to investigate whether DNA methylation patterns in early life prospectively associate with substance use in adolescence. The sample comprised of 244 youth (51% female) from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), with repeated assessments of DNA methylation (Illumina 450k array; cord blood at birth, whole blood at age 7) and substance use (tobacco, alcohol and cannabis use; age 14–18). We found that, at birth, epigenetic variation across a tightly interconnected genetic network (n=65 loci; q<0.05) associated with greater levels of substance use during adolescence, as well as an earlier age of onset amongst users. Associations were specific to the neonatal period and not observed at age 7. Key annotated genes included PACSIN1, NEUROD4 and NTRK2, implicated in neurodevelopmental processes. Several of the identified loci were associated with known methylation quantitative trait loci, and consequently likely to be under significant genetic control. Collectively, these 65 loci were also found to partially mediate the effect of prenatal maternal tobacco smoking on adolescent substance use. Together, findings lend novel insights into epigenetic correlates of substance use, highlight birth as a potentially sensitive window of biological vulnerability and provide preliminary evidence of an indirect epigenetic pathway linking prenatal tobacco exposure and adolescent substance use.
Assessing the feasibility of electrophoretic separation of CaCO3polymorphs for archaeological applications
Authors: Xu Chuan , Walsh Cole , Boaretto Elisabetta , Poduska Kristin M.
Published: December 2016

Our proof-of-principle method offers a fundamentally different approach to non-destructive separation of archaeological materials, based on electrophoretic polymorph separation.
Hollow carbon nanospheres using an asymmetric triblock copolymer structure directing agent
Authors: Li Yunqi , Tan Haibo , Salunkhe Rahul R. , Tang Jing , Shrestha Lok Kumar , Bastakoti Bishnu Prasad , Rong Hongpan , Takei Toshiaki , Henzie Joel , Yamauchi Yusuke , Ariga Katsuhiko
Published: December 2016

We introduce a simple method to prepare hollow carbon nanospheres (HCNs) by using triblock copolymer micelles.
A five-fold interpenetrated metal–organic framework showing a large variation in thermal expansion behaviour owing to dramatic structural transformation upon dehydration–rehydration
Authors: Aggarwal Himanshu , Das Raj Kumar , Engel Emile R. , Barbour Leonard J.
Published: December 2016

A five-fold interpenetrated MOF has the highest uniaxial negative thermal expansion coefficient reported for any interpenetrated MOF to date. Upon dehydration, the framework shows considerable change in the magnitudes of the thermal expansion coefficients.
Efficient preparation of carbamates by Rh-catalysed oxidative carbonylation: unveiling the role of the oxidant
Authors: Iturmendi Amaia , Iglesias Manuel , Munárriz Julen , Polo Victor , Pérez-Torrente Jesús J. , Oro Luis A.
Published: December 2016

A Rh(i)-catalysed three-component reaction allows access to carbamates from amines or imines under mild conditions in the presence of Oxone, which plays a dual role as a base and an oxidant.
Conformational and entropy analyses of extended molecular dynamics simulations of α-, β- and γ-cyclodextrins and of the β-cyclodextrin/nabumetone complex
Authors: Suárez Dimas , Díaz Natalia
Published: December 2016

The conformational entropies of cyclodextrins and of the β-CD/nabumetone complex are assessed by means of extensive MD simulations.
Electronic forces as descriptors of nucleophilic and electrophilic regioselectivity and stereoselectivity
Authors: Liu Shubin , Rong Chunying , Lu Tian
Published: December 2016

The electronic force proposed in this work provides reliable descriptions of regioselectivity and stereoselectivity for both electrophilic and nucleophilic processes.
Mixed-linker UiO-66: structure–property relationships revealed by a combination of high-resolution powder X-ray diffraction and density functional theory calculations
Authors: Taddei Marco , Tiana Davide , Casati Nicola , van Bokhoven Jeroen A. , Smit Berend , Ranocchiari Marco
Published: December 2016

Structure–property relationships in mixed-linker UiO-66 were disclosed using high-resolution powder X-ray diffraction and density functional theory calculations.
Synergistic effect of the composite films formed by zeolitic imidazolate framework 8 (ZIF-8) and porous nickel films for enhanced amperometric sensing of hydrazine
Authors: Shi Erbin , Lin Huiming , Wang Qian , Zhang Feng , Shi Shaoxuan , Zhang Tingting , Li Xin , Niu Hao , Qu Fengyu
Published: December 2016

A novel ZIF-Ni composite film exhibited an enhanced electrocatalytic hydrazine, benefitting from the synergistic effect between ZIF-8 crystals and porous nickel films.
Structure investigations of group 13 organometallic carboxylates
Authors: Justyniak Iwona , Prochowicz Daniel , Tulewicz Adam , Bury Wojciech , Goś Piotr , Lewiński Janusz
Published: December 2016

The effect of both the relative magnitude of electrophilicity of metal centres and the character of a Lewis base on the molecular structure of the electron-precise [R2M(μ-O2CPh)]2-type carboxylates and their Lewis acid–base adducts [(R2M)(μ-O2CPh)(py-Me)] is reported.
Efficient synthesis of (S,R)-Bn-Yanphos and Rh/(S,R)-Bn-Yanphos catalyzed asymmetric hydroformylation of vinyl heteroarenes
Authors: Wei Biao , Chen Caiyou , You Cai , Lv Hui , Zhang Xumu
Published: December 2016

(S,R)-Bn-Yanphos/Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydroformylation of vinyl heteroarenes and allyl-1H-indole has been achieved, affording the corresponding α-heteroaryl aldehydes with high enantioselectivities.
Highly sensitive visual detection of mutant DNA based on polymeric nanoparticles-participating amplification
Authors: Cui Yanjun , Zhuang Dequan , Tan Tianwei , Yang Jing
Published: December 2016

Taking advantage of the nanoparticles' large surface area and structural repeating characteristics, polymeric nanoparticles-participating polymerization-based amplification system was designed to enhance the sensitivity of detection.