bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Non-mulberry Silk Fibroin Biomaterial for Corneal Regeneration
Authors: Hazra Sarbani , Nandi Sudip , Naskar Deboki , Guha Rajdeep , Chowdhury Sushovan , Pradhan Nirparaj , Kundu Subhas C. , Konar Aditya
Published: February 2016

Purpose: Successful repair of a damaged corneal surface is a great challenge and may require the use of a scaffold that supports cell growth and differentiation. Amniotic membrane is currently used for this purpose, in spite of its limitations. A thin transparent silk fibroin film from non-mulberryAntheraea mylitta(Am) has been developed which offers to be a promising alternative. The silk scaffolds provide sufficient rigidity for easy handling, the scaffolds support the sprouting, migration, attachment and growth of epithelial cells and keratocytes from rat corneal explants; the cells form a cell sheet, preserve their phenotypes, express cytokeratin3 and vimentin respectively. The films also support growth of limbal stem cell evidenced by expression of ABCG2. The cell growth on the silk film and the amniotic membrane is comparable. The implanted film within the rabbit cornea remains transparent, stable. The clinical examination as well as histology shows absence of any inflammatory response or neovascularization. The corneal surface integrity is maintained; tear formation, intraocular pressure and electroretinography of implanted eyes show no adverse changes. The silk fibroin film from non-mulberry silk worms may be a worthy candidate for use as a corneal scaffold.
Negative effects of prolonged dietary restriction on male mating effort: nuptial gifts as honest indicators of long-term male condition
Authors: Macedo-Rego Renato C. , Costa-Schmidt Luiz Ernesto , Santos Eduardo S. A. , Machado Glauco
Published: February 2016

The handicap principle proposes that sexual signals must be costly to be honest. Honesty may be maintained by the costs paid by honest signallers or by the potential costs of cheating. In the latter, handicaps should emerge as a consequence of specific biological constraints, such as life-history trade-offs. Nuptial prey-giving arthropods are good systems to investigate the honesty of sexual signals taking into account trade-offs between self-maintenance and mating effort. We experimentally evaluated if prolonged food shortage during early adulthood imposes long-term negative effects on gift construction by males of the spider Paratrechalea ornata. We also evaluated whether a burst of food availability improved body condition of poorly fed males, increasing their frequency of gift construction. Poorly fed males hardly constructed gifts, even after a marked increase in feeding rate, which clearly improved their body condition. Moreover, initially poorly fed males that latter received high food intake constructed lighter gifts than continuously well fed males. The long-term effects of prolonged dietary restriction on male propensity to construct a gift and on the size of this gift may increase the honesty of this sexually selected signal. From the female’s perspective the offer of a gift may bring information on male quality.
Suppression of ERK phosphorylation through oxidative stress is involved in the mechanism underlying sevoflurane-induced toxicity in the developing brain
Authors: Yufune Shinya , Satoh Yasushi , Akai Ryosuke , Yoshinaga Yosuke , Kobayashi Yasushi , Endo Shogo , Kazama Tomiei
Published: February 2016

In animal models, neonatal exposure to general anesthetics significantly increased neuronal apoptosis with subsequent behavioral deficits in adulthood. Although the underlying mechanism is largely unknown, involvement of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) is speculated since ERK phosphorylation is decreased by neonatal anesthetic exposure. Importance of ERK phosphorylation for neuronal development is underscored by our recent finding that transient suppression of ERK phosphorylation during the neonatal period significantly increased neuronal apoptosis and induced behavioral deficits. However, it is still unknown as to what extent decreased ERK phosphorylation contributes to the mechanism underlying anesthetic-induced toxicity. Here we investigated the causal relationship of decreased ERK phosphorylation and anesthetic-induced toxicity in the developing brain. At postnatal day 6 (P6), mice were exposed to sevoflurane (2%) or the blood-brain barrier-penetrating MEK inhibitor, α-[amino[(4-aminophenyl)thio]methylene]-2-(trifluoromethyl)benzeneacetonitrile (SL327) (50 mg/kg). Transient suppression of ERK phosphorylation by an intraperitoneal injection of SL327 at P6 significantly increased apoptosis similar to sevoflurane-induced apoptosis. Conversely, SL327 administration at P14 or P21 did not induce apoptosis, even though ERK phosphorylation was inhibited. Restoring ERK phosphorylation by administration of molecular hydrogen ameliorated sevoflurane-induced apoptosis. Together, our results strongly suggests that suppressed ERK phosphorylation is critically involved in the mechanism underlying anesthetic-induced toxicity in the developing brain.
Removal of pinned scroll waves in cardiac tissues by electric fields in a generic model of three-dimensional excitable media
Authors: Pan De-Bei , Gao Xiang , Feng Xia , Pan Jun-Ting , Zhang Hong
Published: February 2016

Spirals or scroll waves pinned to heterogeneities in cardiac tissues may cause lethal arrhythmias. To unpin these life-threatening spiral waves, methods of wave emission from heterogeneities (WEH) induced by low-voltage pulsed DC electric fields (PDCEFs) and circularly polarized electric fields (CPEFs) have been used in two-dimensional (2D) cardiac tissues. Nevertheless, the unpinning of scroll waves in three-dimensional (3D) cardiac systems is much more difficult than that of spiral waves in 2D cardiac systems, and there are few reports on the removal of pinned scroll waves in 3D cardiac tissues by electric fields. In this article, we investigate in detail the removal of pinned scroll waves in a generic model of 3D excitable media using PDCEF, AC electric field (ACEF) and CPEF, respectively. We find that spherical waves can be induced from the heterogeneities by these electric fields in initially quiescent excitable media. However, only CPEF can induce spherical waves with frequencies higher than that of the pinned scroll wave. Such higher-frequency spherical waves induced by CPEF can be used to drive the pinned scroll wave out of the cardiac systems. We hope this remarkable ability of CPEF can provide a better alternative to terminate arrhythmias caused by pinned scroll waves.
Receptor-targeted liposome-peptide-siRNA nanoparticles represent an efficient delivery system for MRTF silencing in conjunctival fibrosis
Authors: Yu-Wai-Man Cynthia , Tagalakis Aristides D. , Manunta Maria D. , Hart Stephen L. , Khaw Peng T.
Published: February 2016

There is increasing evidence that the Myocardin-related transcription factor/Serum response factor (MRTF/SRF) pathway plays a key role in fibroblast activation and that knocking down MRTF can lead to reduced scarring and fibrosis. Here, we have developed a receptor-targeted liposome-peptide-siRNA nanoparticle as a non-viral delivery system for MRTF-B siRNA in conjunctival fibrosis. Using 50 nM siRNA, the MRTF-B gene was efficiently silenced by 76% and 72% with LYR and LER nanoparticles, respectively. The silencing efficiency was low when non-targeting peptides or siRNA alone or liposome-siRNA alone were used. LYR and LER nanoparticles also showed higher silencing efficiency than PEGylated LYR-P and LER-P nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were not cytotoxic using different liposomes, targeting peptides and 50 nM siRNA. Three-dimensional fibroblast-populated collagen matrices were also used as a functional assay to measure contraction in vitro and showed that MRTF-B LYR nanoparticles completely blocked matrix contraction after a single transfection treatment. In conclusion, this is the first study to develop and show that receptor-targeted liposome-peptide-siRNA nanoparticles represent an efficient and safe non-viral siRNA delivery system that could be used to prevent fibrosis after glaucoma filtration surgery and other contractile scarring conditions in the eye.
Semipermeable Capsules Wrapping a Multifunctional and Self-regulated Co-culture Microenvironment for Osteogenic Differentiation
Authors: Correia Clara R. , Pirraco Rogério P. , Cerqueira Mariana T. , Marques Alexandra P. , Reis Rui L. , Mano João F.
Published: February 2016

A new concept of semipermeable reservoirs containing co-cultures of cells and supporting microparticles is presented, inspired by the multi-phenotypic cellular environment of bone. Based on the deconstruction of the “stem cell niche”, the developed capsules are designed to drive a self-regulated osteogenesis. PLLA microparticles functionalized with collagen I and a co-culture of adipose stem (ASCs) and endothelial (ECs) cells are immobilized in spherical liquified capsules. The capsules are coated with multilayers of poly(L-lysine), alginate and chitosan nano-assembled through layer-by-layer. Capsules encapsulating ASCs alone or in a co-culture with ECs are cultured in endothelial medium with or without osteogenic differentiation factors. Results show that osteogenesis is enhanced by the co-encapsulation, which occurs even in the absence of differentiation factors. These findings are supported by an increased ALP activity and matrix mineralization, osteopontin detection and the up regulation of BMP-2, RUNX2 and BSP. The liquified co-capsules also act as a VEGF and BMP-2 cytokines release system. The proposed liquified capsules might be a valuable injectable self-regulated system for bone regeneration employing highly translational cell sources.
Maintaining physical activity during refeeding improves body composition, intestinal hyperpermeability and behavior in anorectic mice
Authors: Achamrah Najate , Nobis Séverine , Breton Jonathan , Jésus Pierre , Belmonte Liliana , Maurer Brigitte , Legrand Romain , Bôle-Feysot Christine , Rego Jean Luc do , Goichon Alexis , Rego Jean Claude do , Déchelotte Pierre , Fetissov Sergueï O , Claeyssens Sophie , Coëffier Moïse
Published: February 2016

A role of gut-brain axis emerges in the pathophysiology of anorexia nervosa and maintaining adapted physical activity during refeeding remains discussed. We aimed to assess gastrointestinal protein metabolism and investigate the contribution of physical activity during refeeding in C57BL/6 mice with activity-based anorexia (ABA). ABA mice exhibited lower body weight and food intake with increase of lean mass/fat mass ratio and fat oxidation. Colonic permeability was increased in ABA.Ad libitumfood access was then restored and ABA group was divided into two subgroups, with access to running wheel (ABA-PA) or not (ABA-NPA). After refeeding, fat free mass was completely restored only in ABA-PA. Colonic permeability was enhanced in ABA-NPA. Finally, muscle kynurenine conversion into kynurenic acid was lower in ABA-NPA who also exhibited altered behavior. Maintaining physical activity during refeeding may thus limit colonic hyperpermeability and improve behavior in anorectic mice.
Improved p-type conductivity in Al-rich AlGaN using multidimensional Mg-doped superlattices
Authors: Zheng T. C. , Lin W. , Liu R. , Cai D. J. , Li J. C. , Li S. P. , Kang J. Y.
Published: February 2016

A novel multidimensional Mg-doped superlattice (SL) is proposed to enhance vertical hole conductivity in conventional Mg-doped AlGaN SL which generally suffers from large potential barrier for holes. Electronic structure calculations within the first-principle theoretical framework indicate that the densities of states (DOS) of the valence band nearby the Fermi level are more delocalized along the c-axis than that in conventional SL, and the potential barrier significantly decreases. Hole concentration is greatly enhanced in the barrier of multidimensional SL. Detailed comparisons of partial charges and decomposed DOS reveal that the improvement of vertical conductance may be ascribed to the stronger pz hybridization between Mg and N. Based on the theoretical analysis, highly conductive p-type multidimensional Al0.63Ga0.37N/Al0.51Ga0.49N SLs are grown with identified steps via metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy. The hole concentration reaches up to 3.5 × 1018 cm−3, while the corresponding resistivity reduces to 0.7 Ω cm at room temperature, which is tens times improvement in conductivity compared with that of conventional SLs. High hole concentration can be maintained even at 100 K. High p-type conductivity in Al-rich structural material is an important step for the future design of superior AlGaN-based deep ultraviolet devices.
Systematic Evolution and Study of UAGN Decoding tRNAs in a Genomically Recoded Bacteria
Authors: Wang Nanxi , Shang Xin , Cerny Ronald , Niu Wei , Guo Jiantao
Published: February 2016

We report the first systematic evolution and study of tRNA variants that are able to read a set of UAGN (N = A, G, U, C) codons in a genomically recoded E. coli strain that lacks any endogenous in-frame UAGN sequences and release factor 1. Through randomizing bases in anticodon stem-loop followed by a functional selection, we identified tRNA mutants with significantly improved UAGN decoding efficiency, which will augment the current efforts on genetic code expansion through quadruplet decoding. We found that an extended anticodon loop with an extra nucleotide was required for a detectable efficiency in UAGN decoding. We also observed that this crucial extra nucleotide was converged to a U (position 33.5) in all of the top tRNA hits no matter which UAGN codon they suppress. The insertion of U33.5 in the anticodon loop likely causes tRNA distortion and affects anticodon-codon interaction, which induces +1 frameshift in the P site of ribosome. A new model was proposed to explain the observed features of UAGN decoding. Overall, our findings elevate our understanding of the +1 frameshift mechanism and provide a useful guidance for further efforts on the genetic code expansion using a non-canonical quadruplet reading frame.
Transcriptional profiling of human smooth muscle cells infected with gingipain and fimbriae mutants of Porphyromonas gingivalis
Authors: Zhang Boxi , Sirsjö Allan , Khalaf Hazem , Bengtsson Torbjörn
Published: February 2016

Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) is considered to be involved in the development of atherosclerosis. However, the role of different virulence factors produced by P. gingivalis in this process is still uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate the transcriptional profiling of human aortic smooth muscle cells (AoSMCs) infected with wild type, gingipain mutants or fimbriae mutants of P. gingivalis. AoSMCs were exposed to wild type (W50 and 381), gingipain mutants (E8 and K1A), or fimbriae mutants (DPG-3 and KRX-178) of P. gingivalis. We observed that wild type P. gingivalis changes the expression of a considerable larger number of genes in AoSMCs compare to gingipain and fimbriae mutants, respectively. The results from pathway analysis revealed that the common differentially expressed genes for AoSMCs infected by 3 different wild type P. gingivalis strains were enriched in pathways of cancer, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, regulation of the actin cytoskeleton, focal adhesion and MAPK signaling pathway. Disease ontology analysis showed that various strains of P. gingivalis were associated with different disease profilings. Our results suggest that gingipains and fimbriae, especially arginine-specific gingipain, produced by P. gingivalis play important roles in the association between periodontitis and other inflammatory diseases, including atherosclerosis.
Vitrified canine testicular cells allow the formation of spermatogonial stem cells and seminiferous tubules following their xenotransplantation into nude mice
Authors: Lee Kyung Hoon , Lee Won Young , Kim Dong Hoon , Lee Seung Hoon , Do Jung Tae , Park Chankyu , Kim Jae Hwan , Choi Young Suk , Song Hyuk
Published: February 2016

Belgian Malinois (BM), one of the excellent military dog breeds in South Korea, is usually castrated before sexual maturation. Therefore, the transfer of their genetic features to the next generation is difficult. To overcome this, testicular cells from 4-month-old BMs were frozen. Testicular cells were thawed after 3 months and cultured in StemPro-34 medium. Spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) characteristics were determined by the transplantation of the cultured germ cell-derived colonies (GDCs) into empty testes, containing only several endogenous SSCs and Sertoli cells, of immunodeficient mice, 4 weeks after busulfan treatment. Following the implantation, the transplanted cells localized in the basement membrane of the seminiferous tubules, and ultimately colonized the recipient testes. Xenotransplantation of GDCs together with testicular somatic cells conjugated with extracellular matrix (ECM), led to the formation ofde novoseminiferous tubules. These seminiferous tubules were mostly composed of Sertoli cells. Some germ cells were localized in the basement membrane of seminiferous tubules. This study revealed that BM-derived SSCs, obtained from the castrated testes, might be a valuable tool for the transfer of BM genetic features to the next generation.
Period-independent novel circadian oscillators revealed by timed exercise and palatable meals
Authors: Flôres Danilo E. F. L. , Bettilyon Crystal N. , Yamazaki Shin
Published: February 2016

The mammalian circadian system is a hierarchical network of oscillators organized to optimally coordinate behavior and physiology with daily environmental cycles. The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus is at the top of this hierarchy, synchronizing to the environmental light-dark cycle and coordinates the phases of peripheral clocks. The Period genes are critical components of the molecular timekeeping mechanism of these clocks. Circadian clocks are disabled in Period1/2/3 triple mutant mice, resulting in arrhythmic behavior in constant conditions. We uncovered rhythmic behavior in this mutant by simply exposing the mice to timed access to a palatable meal or running wheel. The emergent circadian behavior rhythms free-ran for many cycles under constant conditions without cyclic environmental cues. Together, these data demonstrate that the palatable meal-inducible circadian oscillator (PICO) and wheel-inducible circadian oscillator (WICO) are generated by non-canonical circadian clocks. Entrainment of these novel oscillators by palatable snacks and timed exercise could become novel therapeutics for human conditions caused by disruptions of the circadian clocks.
Antithrombotic and antiplatelet activities of small-molecule alkaloids from Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans
Authors: Lee Wonhwa , Lee JungIn , Kulkarni Roshan , Kim Mi-Ae , Hwang Jae Sam , Na MinKyun , Bae Jong-Sup
Published: February 2016

The aim of this study was to discover small-molecule anticoagulants from Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans (SSM). A new acylated polyamine (1) and a new sulfated quinoline alkaloid (2) were isolated from SSM. Treatment with the new alkaloids 1, 2, and indole acetic acid 4 prolonged the activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time and inhibited the activity and production of thrombin and activated factor X. Furthermore, compounds 1, 2, and 4 inhibited thrombin-catalyzed fibrin polymerization and platelet aggregation. In accordance with these potential in vitro antiplatelet activities, compounds 1, 2, and 4 showed enhanced antithrombotic effects in an in vivo pulmonary embolism and arterial thrombosis model. Compounds 1, 2, and 4 also elicited anticoagulant effects in mice. Collectively, this study may serve as the groundwork for commercializing SSM or compounds 1, 2, and 4 as functional food components for the prevention and treatment of pathogenic conditions and serve as new scaffolds for the development of anticoagulants.
Pyruvate Carboxylase Activates the RIG-I-like Receptor-Mediated Antiviral Immune Response by Targeting the MAVS signalosome
Authors: Cao Zhongying , Zhou Yaqin , Zhu Shengli , Feng Jian , Chen Xueyuan , Liu Shi , Peng Nanfang , Yang Xiaodan , Xu Gang , Zhu Ying
Published: February 2016

When retinoic acid-inducible gene 1 protein (RIG-I)-like receptors sense viral dsRNA in the cytosol, RIG-I and melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) are recruited to the mitochondria to interact with mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (MAVS) and initiate antiviral immune responses. In this study, we demonstrate that the biotin-containing enzyme pyruvate carboxylase (PC) plays an essential role in the virus-triggered activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling mediated by MAVS. PC contributes to the enhanced production of type I interferons (IFNs) and pro-inflammatory cytokines and PC knockdown inhibits the virus-triggered innate immune response. In addition, PC shows extensive antiviral activity against RNA viruses, including influenza A virus (IAV), human enterovirus 71 (EV71) and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). Furthermore, PC mediates antiviral action by targeting the MAVS signalosome and induces IFNs and pro-inflammatory cytokines by promoting phosphorylation of NF-κB inhibitor-α (IκBα) and the IκB kinase (IKK) complex, as well as NF-κB nuclear translocation, which leads to activation of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), including double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) and myxovirus resistance protein 1 (Mx1). Our findings suggest that PC is an important player in host antiviral signaling.
Using Multi-objective Optimization to Identify Dynamical Network Biomarkers as Early-warning Signals of Complex Diseases
Authors: Vafaee Fatemeh
Published: February 2016

Biomarkers have gained immense scientific interest and clinical value in the practice of medicine. With unprecedented advances in high-throughput technologies, research interest in identifying novel and customized disease biomarkers for early detection, diagnosis, or drug responses is rapidly growing. Biomarkers can be identified in different levels of molecular biomarkers, networks biomarkers and dynamical network biomarkers (DNBs). The latter is a recently developed concept which relies on the idea that a cell is a complex system whose behavior is emerged from interplay of various molecules and this network of molecules dynamically changes over time. A DNB can serve as an early-warning signal of disease progression, or as a leading network that drives the system into the disease state and thus unravels mechanisms of disease initiation and progression. It is therefore of great importance to identify DNBs efficiently and reliably. In this work, the problem of DNB identification is defined as a multi-objective optimization problem and a framework to identify DNBs out of time-course high-throughput data is proposed. Temporal gene expression data of a lung injury with carbonyl chloride inhalation exposure has been used as a case study and the functional role of the discovered biomarker in the pathogenesis of lung injury has been thoroughly analyzed.
Local Maps of the Polarization and Depolarization in Organic Ferroelectric Field-Effect Transistors
Authors: Cai Ronggang , Jonas Alain M.
Published: February 2016

We study the local ferroelectric polarization and depolarization of poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)) in p-type ferroelectric field-effect transistors (FeFETs). Piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) is used to obtain local maps of the polarization on model metal-semiconductor-ferroelectric stacks and on FeFETs stripped from their top-gate electrode; transfer curves are measured on complete FeFETs. The influence of the semiconductor layer thickness and of the polarity and amplitude of the poling voltage are investigated. In accumulation, the stable “on” state consists of a uniform upward-polarized ferroelectric layer, with compensation holes accumulating at the ferroelectric/semiconducting interface. In depletion, the stable “off” state consists of a depolarized region in the center of the transistor channel, surrounded by partially downward-polarized regions over the source and drain electrodes and neighboring regions. The partial depolarization of these regions is due to the incomplete screening of polarization charges by the charges of the remote electrodes. Therefore, thinner semiconducting layers provide higher downward polarizations, which result in a more depleted transistor channel and a higher charge injection barrier between the electrodes and the semiconductor, leading to lower threshold voltages and higher on/off current values at zero gate bias. Clues for optimization of the devices are finally provided.
Probing the Effects and Mechanisms of Electroacupuncture at Ipsilateral or Contralateral ST36–ST37 Acupoints on CFA-induced Inflammatory Pain
Authors: Lu Kung-Wen , Hsu Chao-Kuei , Hsieh Ching-Liang , Yang Jun , Lin Yi-Wen
Published: February 2016

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and associated signaling pathways have been reported to be increased in inflammatory pain signaling. There are accumulating evidences surrounding the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture (EA). EA can reliably attenuate the increase of TRPV1 in mouse inflammatory pain models with unclear signaling mechanisms. Moreover, the difference in the clinical therapeutic effects between using the contralateral and ipsilateral acupoints has been rarely studied. We found that inflammatory pain, which was induced by injecting the complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA), (2.14 ± 0.1, p < 0.05, n = 8) can be alleviated after EA treatment at either ipsilateral (3.91 ± 0.21, p < 0.05, n = 8) or contralateral acupoints (3.79 ± 0.25, p < 0.05, n = 8). EA may also reduce nociceptive Nav sodium currents in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. The expression of TRPV1 and associated signaling pathways notably increased after the CFA injection; this expression can be further attenuated significantly in EA treatment. TRPV1 and associated signaling pathways can be prevented in TRPV1 knockout mice, suggesting that TRPV1 knockout mice are resistant to inflammatory pain. Through this study, we have increased the understanding of the mechanism that both ipsilateral and contralateral EA might alter TRPV1 and associated signaling pathways to reduce inflammatory pain.
Deep-sea whale fall fauna from the Atlantic resembles that of the Pacific Ocean
Authors: Sumida Paulo Y. G. , Alfaro-Lucas Joan M. , Shimabukuro Mauricio , Kitazato Hiroshi , Perez Jose A. A. , Soares-Gomes Abilio , Toyofuku Takashi , Lima Andre O. S. , Ara Koichi , Fujiwara Yoshihiro
Published: February 2016

Whale carcasses create remarkable habitats in the deep-sea by producing concentrated sources of organic matter for a food-deprived biota as well as places of evolutionary novelty and biodiversity. Although many of the faunal patterns on whale falls have already been described, the biogeography of these communities is still poorly known especially from basins other than the NE Pacific Ocean. The present work describes the community composition of the deepest natural whale carcass described to date found at 4204 m depth on Southwest Atlantic Ocean with manned submersible Shinkai 6500. This is the first record of a natural whale fall in the deep Atlantic Ocean. The skeleton belonged to an Antarctic Minke whale composed of only nine caudal vertebrae, whose degradation state suggests it was on the bottom for 5–10 years. The fauna consisted mainly of galatheid crabs, a new species of the snail Rubyspira and polychaete worms, including a new Osedax species. Most of the 41 species found in the carcass are new to science, with several genera shared with NE Pacific whale falls and vent and seep ecosystems. This similarity suggests the whale-fall fauna is widespread and has dispersed in a stepping stone fashion, deeply influencing its evolutionary history.
Bacterial diversity in saliva and oral health-related conditions: the Hisayama Study
Authors: Takeshita Toru , Kageyama Shinya , Furuta Michiko , Tsuboi Hidenori , Takeuchi Kenji , Shibata Yukie , Shimazaki Yoshihiro , Akifusa Sumio , Ninomiya Toshiharu , Kiyohara Yutaka , Yamashita Yoshihisa
Published: February 2016

This population-based study determined the salivary microbiota composition of 2,343 adult residents of Hisayama town, Japan, using 16S rRNA gene next-generation high-throughput sequencing. Of 550 identified species-level operational taxonomic units (OTUs), 72 were common, in ≥75% of all individuals, as well as in ≥75% of the individuals in the lowest quintile of phylogenetic diversity (PD). These “core” OTUs constituted 90.9 ± 6.1% of each microbiome. The relative abundance profiles of 22 of the core OTUs with mean relative abundances ≥1% were stratified into community type I and community type II by partitioning around medoids clustering. Multiple regression analysis revealed that a lower PD was associated with better conditions for oral health, including a lower plaque index, absence of decayed teeth, less gingival bleeding, shallower periodontal pockets and not smoking, and was also associated with tooth loss. By contrast, multiple Poisson regression analysis demonstrated that community type II, as characterized by a higher ratio of the nine dominant core OTUs, including Neisseria flavescens, was implicated in younger age, lower body mass index, fewer teeth with caries experience, and not smoking. Our large-scale data analyses reveal variation in the salivary microbiome among Japanese adults and oral health-related conditions associated with the salivary microbiome.
Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation boosts synaptic plasticity and memory in mice via epigenetic regulation of Bdnf expression
Authors: Podda Maria Vittoria , Cocco Sara , Mastrodonato Alessia , Fusco Salvatore , Leone Lucia , Barbati Saviana Antonella , Colussi Claudia , Ripoli Cristian , Grassi Claudio
Published: February 2016

The effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on brain functions and the underlying molecular mechanisms are yet largely unknown. Here we report that mice subjected to 20-min anodal tDCS exhibited one-week lasting increases in hippocampal LTP, learning and memory. These effects were associated with enhanced: i) acetylation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf) promoter I; ii) expression of Bdnf exons I and IX; iii) Bdnf protein levels. The hippocampi of stimulated mice also exhibited enhanced CREB phosphorylation, pCREB binding to Bdnf promoter I and recruitment of CBP on the same regulatory sequence. Inhibition of acetylation and blockade of TrkB receptors hindered tDCS effects at molecular, electrophysiological and behavioral levels. Collectively, our findings suggest that anodal tDCS increases hippocampal LTP and memory via chromatin remodeling of Bdnf regulatory sequences leading to increased expression of this gene and support the therapeutic potential of tDCS for brain diseases associated with impaired neuroplasticity.
A curative regimen would decrease HIV prevalence but not HIV incidence unless targeted to an ART-naïve population
Authors: Dimitrov Dobromir T. , Kiem Hans-Peter , Jerome Keith R. , Johnston Christine , Schiffer Joshua T.
Published: February 2016

HIV curative strategies currently under development aim to eradicate latent provirus, or prevent viral replication, progression to AIDS and transmission. The impact of implementing curative programs on HIV epidemics has not been considered. We developed a mathematical model of heterosexual HIV transmission to evaluate the independent and synergistic impact of ART, HIV prevention interventions and cure on HIV prevalence and incidence. The basic reproduction number was calculated to study the potential for the epidemic to be eliminated. We explored scenarios with and without the assumption that patients enrolled into HIV cure programs need to be on antiretroviral treatment (ART). In our simulations, curative regimes had limited impact on HIV incidence if only ART patients were eligible for cure. Cure implementation had a significant impact on HIV incidence if ART-untreated patients were enrolled directly into cure programs. Concurrent HIV prevention programs moderately decreased the percent of ART treated or cured patients needed to achieve elimination. We project that widespread implementation of HIV cure would decrease HIV prevalence under all scenarios but would only lower rate of new infections if ART-untreated patients were targeted. Current efforts to identify untreated HIV patients will gain even further relevance upon availability of an HIV cure.
Determination of low levels of Cd(ii) in cosmetic products by spectrophotometry after separation/preconcentration with cloud point extraction
Authors: Altunay Nail , Gürkan Ramazan
Published: February 2016

In the present study, a simple, low-cost and efficient method was developed for the extraction and preconcentration of Cd(ii) from cosmetic products by using cloud point extraction (CPE) prior to spectrophotometric detection.
Homoleptic gold(i) N-heterocyclic allenylidene complexes: excited-state properties and lyotropic chromonics
Authors: Xiao Xin-Shan , Zou Chao , Guan Xiangguo , Yang Chen , Lu Wei , Che Chi-Ming
Published: February 2016

Phosphorescent Au(i) bis(N-heterocyclic allenylidene) complexes exhibit panchromatic transient absorption upon electronic photo-excitation and can self-organize into lyotropic chromonic mesophases in aqueous solutions.
Morphology-preserving transformation of minerals mediated by a temperature-responsive polymer membrane: calcite to hydroxyapatite
Authors: Jensen A. C. S. , Brif A. , Pokroy B. , Hinge M. , Birkedal H.
Published: February 2016

A membrane of a temperature sensate block copolymer facilitates transformation of calcite single crystals into hydroxyapatite while preserving overall particle morphology.
Kohn–Sham calculations of NMR shifts for paramagnetic 3d metal complexes: protocols, delocalization error, and the curious amide proton shifts of a high-spin iron(ii) macrocycle complex
Authors: Martin Bob , Autschbach Jochen
Published: February 2016

Ligand chemical shifts (pNMR shifts) are analyzed using DFT. A large difference in the amide proton shifts of a high-spin Fe(ii) complex arises from O → Fe dative bonding which only transfers β spin density to the metal.
A study of temperature dependent local atomic displacements in a Ba(Fe1−xCox)2As2superconductor
Authors: Hacisalihoglu M. Y. , Paris E. , Joseph B. , Simonelli L. , Sato T. J. , Mizokawa T. , Saini N. L.
Published: February 2016

Fe–Fe atomic correlations, determined by polarized EXAFS on single crystal samples of optimally doped Ba(Fe1−xCox)2As2superconductor showing a decrease across the transition temperatureTc.
Life of superoxide in aprotic Li–O2 battery electrolytes: simulated solvent and counter-ion effects
Authors: Scheers J. , Lidberg D. , Sodeyama K. , Futera Z. , Tateyama Y.
Published: February 2016

Combining DFT-MD and DFT simulations we probe the bond length and the electronic properties of O2*− in three aprotic solvents – in the presence of Li+ or TBA+.
Tuning the size and magnetic properties of ZnxCo1−xFe2O4 nanocrystallites
Authors: Schmidt Martin , Andersen Henrik L. , Granados-Miralles Cecilia , Saura-Múzquiz Matilde , Stingaciu Marian , Christensen Mogens
Published: February 2016

The effects of the zinc substitution level, reaction time and annealing conditions on the size, size distribution and magnetic properties of ZnxCo1–xFe2O4 have been studied using PXRD, TEM, VSM and ICP-OES.
Size-dependent cytotoxicity of copper oxide nanoparticles in lung epithelial cells
Authors: Wongrakpanich Amaraporn , Mudunkotuwa Imali A. , Geary Sean M. , Morris Angie S. , Mapuskar Kranti A. , Spitz Douglas R. , Grassian Vicki H. , Salem Aliasger K.
Published: February 2016

The increasing use of copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (NPs) in medicine and industry demands an understanding of their potential toxicities.
3-Ketosphinganine provokes the accumulation of dihydroshingolipids and induces autophagy in cancer cells
Authors: Ordóñez Yadira F. , González Jèssica , Bedia Carmen , Casas Josefina , Abad José Luis , Delgado Antonio , Fabrias Gemma
Published: February 2016

R = H, acyl; X = H, D; Y = H, phosphate, phosphocholine, glucose, or lactose.
Synthesis and biological evaluation of Schiff base-linked imidazolyl naphthalimides as novel potential anti-MRSA agents
Authors: Gong Huo-Hui , Baathulaa Kishore , Lv Jing-Song , Cai Gui-Xin , Zhou Cheng-He
Published: February 2016

Schiff base-linked imidazolyl naphthalimide 9i was a potential anti-MRSA agent, which could effectively inhibit the growth of MRSA.
Supramolecular self-assembly of graphene oxide and metal nanoparticles into stacked multilayers by means of a multitasking protein ring
Authors: Ardini Matteo , Golia Giordana , Passaretti Paolo , Cimini Annamaria , Pitari Giuseppina , Giansanti Francesco , Leandro Luana Di , Ottaviano Luca , Perrozzi Francesco , Santucci Sandro , Morandi Vittorio , Ortolani Luca , Christian Meganne , Treossi Emanuele , Palermo Vincenzo , Angelucci Francesco , Ippoliti Rodolfo
Published: February 2016

Protein-mediated metal nanoparticles inclusion inside 3D GO.
Synthesis of novel and potent vorapaxar analogues
Authors: Knight Emily , Robinson Eifion , Smoktunowicz Natalia , Chambers Rachel C. , Aliev Abil E. , Inglis Graham G. , Chudasama Vijay , Caddick Stephen
Published: February 2016

Unlocking novel and potent vorapaxar analogues by functionalisation of previously unexplored positions on the parent vorapaxar scaffold.
Cobalt(iii)-catalyzed C–H halogenation of 6-arylpurines: facile entry into arylated, sulfenylated and alkoxylated 6-arylpurines
Authors: Pawar Amit B. , Lade Dhanaji M.
Published: February 2016

Cp*Co(iii)-catalyzed C–H halogenation of 6-arylpurines has been reported under mild conditions and this protocol was further applied for the synthesis of arylated, sulfenylated and alkoxylated purine analogues.
Phosphate adsorption on novel hydrogel beads with interpenetrating network (IPN) structure in aqueous solutions: kinetics, isotherms and regeneration
Authors: Wan Jun , Tao Tao , Zhang Yong , Liang Xiangmin , Zhou Aijiao , Zhu Chang
Published: February 2016

Adsorption has attracted much attention for its effectiveness, low cost and the possibility of regeneration among many phosphorus removal methods.
Classification of carbon nanostructure families occurring in a chemically activated arc discharge reaction
Authors: Dallas P. , Meysami S. S. , Grobert N. , Porfyrakis K.
Published: February 2016

Controlling the generation of empty cages, endohedral metallofullerenes and carbon nanotubes is an important challenge for the tailored synthesis of functional materials and their scaled up production.
New fluorene-based chiral copolymers with unusually high optical activity in pristine and annealed thin films
Authors: Cho Min Ju , Ahn Jong-Soo , Kim Young-Un , Um Hyun Ah , Prasad Paras N. , Lee Geon Joon , Choi Dong Hoon
Published: February 2016

Polyfluorene (PF)-based chiral alternating copolymers, i.e., PFPh and PFTh, were successfully synthesized to obtain high circular dichroism (CD) in pristine thin films.
Crystal structures, Hirshfeld surface analyses and thermal behavior of two new rare tetrahedral terminal zinc(ii) azide and thiocyanate Schiff base complexes
Authors: Montazerozohori M. , Farokhiyani S. , Masoudiasl A. , White J. M.
Published: February 2016

Crystal structures, Hirshfeld surface and thermal analyses of two new rare tetrahedral terminal zinc(ii) thiocyanate and azide Schiff base complexes of [ZnL(NCS)2] and [ZnL(N3)2] are presented.
Redirecting immunity via covalently incorporated immunogenic sialic acid on the tumor cell surface
Authors: Lin Bijuan , Wu Xuanjun , Zhao Hu , Tian Yunpeng , Han Jiahuai , Liu Jian , Han Shoufa
Published: February 2016

Anti-tumor immunity was achievedviametabolically incorporated non-self antigen-labelled sialic acid on the tumor surface glycocalyx.
A mechanistic investigation of the photoinduced, copper-mediated cross-coupling of an aryl thiol with an aryl halide
Authors: Johnson Miles W. , Hannoun Kareem I. , Tan Yichen , Fu Gregory C. , Peters Jonas C.
Published: February 2016

A mechanistic study establishes the viability of a copper-mediated pathway for photoinduced C–S cross-coupling involving single electron transfer and in-cage radical recombination.
Manganese–cobalt hexacyanoferrate cathodes for sodium-ion batteries
Authors: Pasta Mauro , Wang Richard Y. , Ruffo Riccardo , Qiao Ruimin , Lee Hyun-Wook , Shyam Badri , Guo Minghua , Wang Yayu , Wray L. Andrew , Yang Wanli , Toney Michael F. , Cui Yi
Published: February 2016

The interplay between electrochemical properties, crystal structure, and chemical bonding of Prussian Blue analogues determines their suitability for grid-scale aqueous batteries.
The potential of peptide dendron functionalized and gadolinium loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents
Authors: Guo Chunhua , Hu Jiani , Bains Ashika , Pan Dayi , Luo Kui , Li Ning , Gu Zhongwei
Published: February 2016

Peptide dendron functionalized and gadolinium loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles demonstrated potential as MRI contrast imaging probes owing to good biosafety and increased T1 relaxivity.
Vertically ordered silica mesochannel films: electrochemistry and analytical applications
Authors: Yan Fei , Lin Xingyu , Su Bin
Published: February 2016

Vertically-aligned mesoporous silica films were used for electrochemical sensing and molecular separation in terms of molecular size, charge and lipophilicity.
Multicomponent self-assembly of a pentanuclear Ir–Zn heterometal–organic polyhedron for carbon dioxide fixation and sulfite sequestration
Authors: Li Xuezhao , Wu Jinguo , He Cheng , Zhang Rong , Duan Chunying
Published: February 2016

An iridium-containing pentanuclear metal–organic polyhedron was constructedviaa subcomponent self-assembly. The three equatorial Zn(ii) ions in the structure induced atmospheric carbon dioxide transformation as carbonate and sulfur dioxide as sulfite with bonding to the three metal centers.
From molecular germanates to microporous Ge@C via twin polymerization
Authors: Kitschke Philipp , Walter Marc , Rüffer Tobias , Lang Heinrich , Kovalenko Maksym V. , Mehring Michael
Published: February 2016

Porous Ge@C as anode material for Li-ion batteries was synthesized by the novel concept of twin polymerization starting from molecular germanates.
MnBr2/18-crown-6 coordination complexes showing high room temperature luminescence and quantum yield
Authors: Hausmann David , Kuzmanoski Ana , Feldmann Claus
Published: February 2016

The reaction of MnBr2and 18-crown-6 in [(n-Bu)3MeN][N(Tf)2] under mild conditions (80–130 °C) resulted in the formation of the coordination compounds MnBr2(18-crown-6) (1), Mn3Br6(18-crown-6)2(2) and Mn3Br6(18-crown-6) (3).
Chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed asymmetric addition of naphthols to para-quinone methides
Authors: Wong Yuk Fai , Wang Zhaobin , Sun Jianwei
Published: February 2016

An asymmetric addition of naphthols to in situ generated para-quinone methides catalyzed by a chiral phosphoric acid is described.
A convenient method for the synthesis of α-carboxylate ester bromolactones via bromolactonization of alkenoic diesters
Authors: Wong Ying-Chieh , Yeung Ying-Yeung
Published: February 2016

A simple and efficient synthesis of α-ester bromolactones has been developed through the electrophilic bromocyclization of olefinic 1,3-diesters.
Olefin–paraffin separation performance of polyimide Matrimid®/silica nanocomposite membranes
Authors: Davoodi Seyyed Mohammadreza , Sadeghi Morteza , Naghsh Mahdi , Moheb Ahmad
Published: February 2016

In this study, the performance of polyimide Matrimid® membranes in the separation of ethylene/ethane and propylene/propane was improved by silica nanoparticles.
Polymeric micelles from block copolymers containing 2,6-diacylaminopyridine units for encapsulation of hydrophobic drugs
Authors: Concellón Alberto , Clavería-Gimeno Rafael , Velázquez-Campoy Adrián , Abian Olga , Piñol Milagros , Oriol Luis
Published: February 2016

New polymers are described that can form micelles in water and can be envisaged as nanocarriers for drug delivery applications.
On splitting of the NICS(1) magnetic aromaticity index
Authors: Dobrowolski Jan Cz. , Lipiński Piotr F. J.
Published: February 2016

The NICS(1) magnetic aromaticity index is split into NICS(1) and NICS(−1) indices when the points 1 Å above and below the ring center are inequivalent by symmetry. The two indices characterize the aromaticity of the two ring faces rather than the ring itself.
Correction: Synthesis of g-C3N4 nanosheet/Au@Ag nanoparticle hybrids as SERS probes for cancer cell diagnostics
Authors: Wang Jianping , Liu Renyong , Zhang Cheng , Han Guangmei , Zhao Jun , Liu Bianhua , Jiang Changlong , Zhang Zhongping
Published: February 2016

Correction for ‘Synthesis of g-C3N4 nanosheet/Au@Ag nanoparticle hybrids as SERS probes for cancer cell diagnostics’ by Jianping Wang et al., RSC Adv., 2015, 5, 86803–86810.
C-Linked 8-aryl guanine nucleobase adducts: biological outcomes and utility as fluorescent probes
Authors: Manderville Richard A. , Wetmore Stacey D.
Published: February 2016

We summarize the utility and biological outcomes resulting from direct attachment of aryl residues to the 8-site of the guanine nucleobase to afford mutagenic lesions and fluorescent probes in G-quadruplex structures.
Enhanced organic solar cells efficiency through electronic and electro-optic effects resulting from charge transfers in polymer hole transport blends
Authors: Howells Calvyn T. , Marbou Khalid , Kim Haeri , Lee Kwang Jin , Heinrich Benoît , Kim Sang Jun , Nakao Aiko , Aoyama Tetsua , Furukawa Seiichi , Kim Ju-Hyung , Kim Eunsun , Mathevet Fabrice , Mery Stéphane , Samuel Ifor D. W. , Al Ghaferi Amal , Dahlem Marcus S. , Uchiyama Masanobu , Kim Sang Youl , Wu Jeong Weon , Ribierre Jean-Charles , Adachi Chihaya , Kim Dong-Wook , André Pascal
Published: February 2016

OPV HTL fluorination alters not only the HTL electronic properties but also the complex refractive indices.
Diagnostic measure to quantify loss of clinical components in multi‐lead electrocardiogram
Authors: Tripathy R.K. , Sharma L.N. , Dandapat S.
Published: February 2016

In this Letter, a novel principal component (PC)‐based diagnostic measure (PCDM) is proposed to quantify loss of clinical components in the multi‐lead electrocardiogram (MECG) signals. The analysis of MECG shows that, the clinical components are captured in few PCs. The proposed diagnostic measure is defined as the sum of weighted percentage root mean square difference (PRD) between the PCs of original and processed MECG signals. The values of the weight depend on the clinical importance of PCs. The PCDM is tested over MECG enhancement and a novel MECG data reduction scheme. The proposed measure is compared with weighted diagnostic distortion, wavelet energy diagnostic distortion and PRD. The qualitative evaluation is performed using Spearman rank‐order correlation coefficient (SROCC) and Pearson linear correlation coefficient. The simulation result demonstrates that the PCDM performs better to quantify loss of clinical components in MECG and shows a SROCC value of 0.9686 with subjective measure.