bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cigarette Smoking Aggravates the Activity of Periodontal Disease by Disrupting Redox Homeostasis- An Observational Study
Authors: Chang Chia-Huang , Han Ming-Lun , Teng Nai-Chia , Lee Chang-Yu , Huang Wan-Ting , Lin Che-Tong , Huang Yung-Kai
Published: July 2018

The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations between cigarette use and five salivary oxidative stress biomarkers, copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn SOD), manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), catalase, thioredoxin-1 (TRX1), and peroxiredoxin-2 (PRX2), to assess the effectiveness of non-surgical periodontal therapy. Materials and Methods: This is an observational study,167 patients diagnosed with periodontitis were recruited. Both saliva samples and clinical measurements (plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), and pocket depth (PD)) were taken at baseline and after completing non-surgical periodontal therapy. The Levels of salivary biomarkers were determined using a MILLIPLEX® MAP Human Oxidative Stress Magnetic Bead Panel kit. The overall reductions in PI and BOP were 31.56% and 42.16%, respectively. BOP reduction after treatment in female or male non-smokers was significantly higher than in male former smokers (p < 0.05). After completing non-surgical periodontal therapy, Cu/ZnSOD, MnSOD, catalase, and Prx2 significantly decreased. There was a significant interaction between smoking status and ΔCu/ZnSOD on PI and a significant interaction between smoking status and ΔCatalase on BOP. Conclusions: Cigarette smoking interferes with redox homeostasis in the body, alters antioxidants levels, and influences the periodontal disease activity.
Volatile compounds emission from teratogenic human pluripotent stem cells observed during their differentiation in vivo
Authors: Capuano Rosamaria , Spitalieri Paola , Talarico Rosa Valentina , Catini Alexandro , Domakoski Ana Carolina , Martinelli Eugenio , Scioli Maria Giovanna , Orlandi Augusto , Cicconi Rosella , Paolesse Roberto , Novelli Giuseppe , Di Natale Corrado , Sangiuolo Federica
Published: July 2018

Several investigations point out that the volatile fraction of metabolites, often called volatilome, might signal the difference processes occurring in living beings, both in vitro and in vivo. These studies have been recently applied to stem cells biology, and preliminary results show that the composition of the volatilome of stem cells in vitro changes along the differentiation processes leading from pluripotency to full differentiation. The identification of pluripotent stem cells is of great importance to improve safety in regenerative medicine avoiding the formation of teratomas. In this paper, we applied gas chromatography and gas sensor array to the study of the volatilome released by mice transplanted with human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) or embryoid bodies (EBs) derived from hiPSCs at 5 days and spontaneously differentiated cells at 27 day. Gas chromatography analysis finds that, in mice transplanted with hiPSCs, the abundance of 13 volatile compounds increases four weeks after the implant and immediately before the formation of malignant teratomas (grade 3) become observable. The same behaviour is also followed by the signals of the gas sensors. Besides this event, the gas-chromatograms and the sensors signals do not show any appreciable variation related neither among the groups of transplanted mice nor respect to a placebo population. This is the first in vivo observation of the change of volatile metabolites released by human induced pluripotent stem cells and hiPSCs-derived cells during the differentiation process. These results shed further light on the differentiation mechanisms of stem cells and suggest possible applications for diagnostic purposes for an early detection of tumor relapse after surgery.
Computing Resonant Inelastic X-Ray Scattering Spectra Using The Density Matrix Renormalization Group Method
Authors: Nocera A. , Kumar U. , Kaushal N. , Alvarez G. , Dagotto E. , Johnston S.
Published: July 2018

We present a method for computing the resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) spectra in one-dimensional systems using the density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) method. By using DMRG to address this problem, we shift the computational bottleneck from the memory requirements associated with exact diagonalization (ED) calculations to the computational time associated with the DMRG algorithm. This approach is then used to obtain RIXS spectra on cluster sizes well beyond state-of-the-art ED techniques. Using this new procedure, we compute the low-energy magnetic excitations observed in Cu L-edge RIXS for the challenging corner shared CuO4 chains, both for large multi-orbital clusters and downfolded t-J chains. We are able to directly compare results obtained from both models defined in clusters with identical momentum resolution. In the strong coupling limit, we find that the downfolded t-J model captures the main features of the magnetic excitations probed by RIXS only after a uniform scaling of the spectra is made.
Biostatistics mining associated method identifies AKR1B10 enhancing hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth and degenerated by miR-383-5p
Authors: Wang Junqing , Zhou Yunyun , Fei Xiaochun , Chen Xuehua , Chen Yongjun
Published: July 2018

Previous studies have reported that the aberrantly expressed AKR1B10 is associated with many cancer development, however the functional roles of AKR1B10 and its regulatory mechanisms in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been limited studied. In this project, we identified AKR1B10 functional as an oncogene in HCC through tumor/normal human tissue comparison from both GEO microarray and TCGA RNAseq dataset. Further experimental validations from three HCC cell lines (SMMC-7721, HePG2 and HeP3B) also suggested the ontogenetic functions of AKR1B10 in HCC tumor growth. By knocking down AKR1B10 through shRNA in HCC HeP3B cells, we showed it significantly induced cell cycle arrest and inhibited cell growth. Interestingly, integrative analysis of TCGA RNAseq data and miRNA-seq data predicted that miR-383-5p, a novel post-transcriptional tumor suppressor, is negatively associated with AKR1B10 expression. To further investigate the role of miR-383-5p in regulating AKR1B10 in HCC, we performed Dual-luciferase reporter assay experiments. Results showed that miR-383-5p is an upstream modulator targeting AKR1B10 in the post-transcriptional stage. Thus, we report AKR1B10 modulated regulated by miR-383-5p, promotes HCC tumor progress, and could be potentially a therapeutic target for precision medicine in HCC.
Adaptive Genetic Algorithm for Optical Metasurfaces Design
Authors: Jafar-Zanjani Samad , Inampudi Sandeep , Mosallaei Hossein
Published: July 2018

As optical metasurfaces become progressively ubiquitous, the expectations from them are becoming increasingly complex. The limited number of structural parameters in the conventional metasurface building blocks, and existing phase engineering rules do not completely support the growth rate of metasurface applications. In this paper, we present digitized-binary elements, as alternative high-dimensional building blocks, to accommodate the needs of complex-tailorable-multifunctional applications. To design these complicated platforms, we demonstrate adaptive genetic algorithm (AGA), as a powerful evolutionary optimizer, capable of handling such demanding design expectations. We solve four complex problems of high current interest to the optics community, namely, a binary-pattern plasmonic reflectarray with high tolerance to fabrication imperfections and high reflection efficiency for beam-steering purposes, a dual-beam aperiodic leaky-wave antenna, which diffracts TE and TM excitation waveguides modes to arbitrarily chosen directions, a compact birefringent all-dielectric metasurface with finer pixel resolution compared to canonical nano-antennas, and a visible-transparent infrared emitting/absorbing metasurface that shows high promise for solar-cell cooling applications, to showcase the advantages of the combination of binary-pattern metasurfaces and the AGA technique. Each of these novel applications encounters computational and fabrication challenges under conventional design methods, and is chosen carefully to highlight one of the unique advantages of the AGA technique. Finally, we show that large surplus datasets produced as by-products of the evolutionary optimizers can be employed as ingredients of the new-age computational algorithms, such as, machine learning and deep leaning. In doing so, we open a new gateway of predicting the solution to a problem in the fastest possible way based on statistical analysis of the datasets rather than researching the whole solution space.
Novel interactomics approach identifies ABCA1 as direct target of evodiamine, which increases macrophage cholesterol efflux
Authors: Wang Limei , Eftekhari Pierre , Schachner Daniel , Ignatova Irena D. , Palme Veronika , Schilcher Nicole , Ladurner Angela , Heiss Elke H. , Stangl Herbert , Dirsch Verena M. , Atanasov Atanas G.
Published: July 2018

Evodiamine, a bioactive alkaloid from the fruits of the traditional Chinese medicine Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth. (Fructus Evodiae, Wuzhuyu), recently gained attention as a dietary supplement for weight loss and optimization of lipid metabolism. In light of its use by patients and consumers, there is an urgent need to elucidate the molecular targets affected by this natural product. Using a novel interactomics approach, the Nematic Protein Organisation Technique (NPOT), we report the identification of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), a key membrane transporter contributing to cholesterol efflux (ChE), as a direct binding target of evodiamine. The binding of evodiamine to ABCA1 is confirmed by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) experiments. Examining the functional consequences of ABCA1 binding reveals that evodiamine treatment results in increased ABCA1 stability, elevated cellular ABCA1 protein levels, and ultimately increased ChE from THP-1-derived human macrophages. The protein levels of other relevant cholesterol transporters, ABCG1 and SR-B1, remain unaffected in the presence of evodiamine, and the ABCA1 mRNA level is also not altered.
A novel calix[4]pyrrole derivative as a potential anticancer agent that forms genotoxic adducts with DNA
Authors: Geretto Marta , Ponassi Marco , Casale Martina , Pulliero Alessandra , Cafeo Grazia , Malagreca Ferdinando , Profumo Aldo , Balza Enrica , Bersimbaev Rakhmetkazhi , Kohnke Franz Heinrich , Rosano Camillo , Izzotti Alberto
Published: July 2018

meso-(p-acetamidophenyl)-calix[4]pyrrole 3 was found to exhibit remarkable cytotoxicity towards A549 cancer cells. A comparative study including the isomer of 3meso-(m-acetamidophenyl)-calix[4]pyrrole 5, as well as molecules containing ‘fragments’ of these structures, demonstrated that both the calix[4]pyrrole and the acetamidophenyl units are essential for high cytotoxicity. Although calix[4]pyrroles and other anion-complexing ionophores have recently been reported to induce apoptosis by perturbing cellular chloride concentrations, in our study an alternative mechanism has emerged, as proven by the isolation of covalent DNA adducts revealed by the 32P postlabelling technique. Preliminary pharmacokinetic studies indicate that 3 is able to cross the Blood-Brain-Barrier, therefore being a potential drug that could kill primary and brain metastatic cancer cells simultaneously.
Mapping the genetic basis of breast microcalcifications and their role in metastasis
Authors: Rizwan Asif , Paidi Santosh Kumar , Zheng Chao , Cheng Menglin , Barman Ishan , Glunde Kristine
Published: July 2018

Breast cancer screening and early stage diagnosis is typically performed by X-ray mammography, which detects microcalcifications. Despite being one of the most reliable features of nonpalpable breast cancer, the processes by which these microcalcifications form are understudied and largely unknown. In the current work, we have investigated the genetic drivers for the formation of microcalcifications in breast cancer cell lines, and have investigated their involvement in disease progression. We have shown that stable silencing of the Osteopontin (OPN) gene decreased the formation of hydroxyapatite in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells in response to osteogenic cocktail. In addition, OPN silencing reduced breast cancer cell migration. Furthermore, breast cancer cells that had spontaneously metastasized to the lungs in a mouse model of breast cancer had largely elevated OPN levels, while circulating tumor cells in the same mouse model contained intermediately increased OPN levels as compared to parental cells. The observed dual roles of the OPN gene reveal the existence of a direct relationship between calcium deposition and the ability of breast cancer cells to metastasize to distant organs, mediated by common genetic factors.
Comparative transcriptome analysis of field- and chamber-grown samples of Colobanthus quitensis (Kunth) Bartl, an Antarctic flowering plant
Authors: Cho Sung Mi , Lee Hyoungseok , Jo Hojin , Lee Horim , Kang Yoonjee , Park Hyun , Lee Jungeun
Published: July 2018

Colobanthus quitensisis one of the two vascular plants inhabiting the Antarctic. In natural habitats, it grows in the form of a cushion or mats, commonly observed in high latitudes or alpine vegetation. Although this species has been investigated over many years to study its geographical distribution and physiological adaptations to climate change, very limited genetic information is available. The high-throughput sequencing with ade novoassembly analysis yielded 47,070 contigs with blast-hits. Through the functional classification and enrichment analysis, we identified that photosynthesis and phenylpropanoid pathway genes show differential expression depending on the habitat environment. We found that the known ‘plant core environmental stress response (PCESR)’ genes were abundantly expressed in Antarctic samples, and confirmed that their expression is mainly induced by low-temperature. In addition, we suggest that differential expression of thermomorphogenesis-related genes may contribute to phenotypic plasticity of the plant, for instance, displaying a cushion-like phenotype to adapt to harsh environments.
Heterotic loci identified for maize kernel traits in two chromosome segment substitution line test populations
Authors: Wang Yafei , Zhang Xiangge , Shi Xia , Sun Canran , Jin Jiao , Tian Runmiao , Wei Xiaoyi , Xie Huiling , Guo Zhanyong , Tang Jihua
Published: July 2018

Heterosis has been widely used to increase grain quality and yield, but its genetic mechanism remains unclear. In this study, the genetic basis of heterosis for four maize kernel traits was examined in two test populations constructed using a set of 184 chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) and two inbred lines (Zheng58 and Xun9058) in two environments. 63 and 57 different heterotic loci (HL) were identified for four kernel traits in the CSSLs × Zheng58 and CSSLs × Xun9058 populations, respectively. Of these, nine HL and six HL were identified for four kernel traits in the CSSLs × Zheng58 and CSSLs × Xun9058 populations, at the two locations simultaneously. Comparative analysis of the HL for the four kernel traits identified only 21 HL in the two test populations simultaneously. These results showed that most HL for the four kernel traits differed between the two test populations. The common HL were important loci from the Reid × Tangsipingtou heterotic model, and could be used to predict hybrid performance in maize breeding.
Coherence as resource in scattering quantum walk search on complete graph
Authors: Su Yun-Long , Liu Si-Yuan , Wang Xiao-Hui , Fan Heng , Yang Wen-Li
Published: July 2018

We investigate the behavior of coherence in scattering quantum walk search on complete graph under the condition that the total number of vertices of the graph is significantly larger than the marked number of vertices we are searching, N ≫ v. We find that the consumption of coherence represents the increase of the success probability for the searching, also it is related to the efficiency of the algorithm in oracle queries. If no coherence is consumed or an incoherent state is utilized, the algorithm will behave as the classical blind search, implying that coherence is responsible for the speed-up in this quantum algorithm over its classical counterpart. The effect of noises, in particular of photon loss and random phase shifts, on the performance of algorithm is studied. Two types of noise are considered because they arise in the optical network used for experimental realization of scattering quantum walk. It is found that photon loss will reduce the coherence and random phase shifts will hinder the interference between the edge states, both leading to lower success probability compared with the noise-free case. We then conclude that coherence plays an essential role and is responsible for the speed-up in this quantum algorithm.
Exposure to galactic cosmic radiation compromises DNA repair and increases the potential for oncogenic chromosomal rearrangement in bronchial epithelial cells
Authors: Li Z. , Jella K. K. , Jaafar L. , Li S. , Park S. , Story M. D. , Wang H. , Wang Y. , Dynan W. S.
Published: July 2018

Participants in deep space missions face protracted exposure to galactic cosmic radiation (GCR). In this setting, lung cancer is a significant component of the overall risk of radiation-exposure induced death. Here we investigate persistent effects of GCR exposure on DNA repair capacity in lung-derived epithelial cells, using an enzyme-stimulated chromosomal rearrangement as an endpoint. Replicate cell cultures were irradiated with energetic 48Ti ions (a GCR component) or reference γ-rays. After a six-day recovery, they were challenged by expression of a Cas9/sgRNA pair that creates double-strand breaks simultaneously in the EML4 and ALK loci, misjoining of which creates an EML4-ALK fusion oncogene. Misjoining was significantly elevated in 48Ti-irradiated populations, relative to the baseline rate in mock-irradiated controls. The effect was not seen in γ-ray irradiated populations exposed to equal or higher radiation doses. Sequence analysis of the EML4-ALK joints from 48Ti-irradiated cultures showed that they were far more likely to contain deletions, sometimes flanked by short microhomologies, than equivalent samples from mock-irradiated cultures, consistent with a shift toward error-prone alternative nonhomologous end joining repair. Results suggest a potential mechanism by which a persistent physiological effect of GCR exposure may increase lung cancer risk.
Social context influences the expression of DNA methyltransferase genes in the honeybee
Authors: Cardoso-Júnior Carlos Antônio Mendes , Eyer Michael , Dainat Benjamin , Hartfelder Klaus , Dietemann Vincent
Published: July 2018

DNA methylation is a reversible epigenetic modification that alters gene expression without altering the nucleotide sequence. Epigenetic modifications have been suggested as crucial mediators between social interactions and gene expression in mammals. However, little is known about the role of DNA methylation in the life cycle of social invertebrates. Recently, honeybees have become an attractive model to study epigenetic processes in social contexts. Although DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) enzymes responsible for DNA methylation are known in this model system, the influence of social stimuli on this process remains largely unexplored. By quantifying the expression of DNMT genes (dnmt1a, dnmt2 and dnmt3) under different demographical conditions characterized by the absence or presence of immatures and young adults, we tested whether the social context affected the expression of DNMT genes. The three DNMT genes had their expression altered, indicating that distinct molecular processes were affected by social interactions. These results open avenues for future investigations into regulatory epigenetic mechanisms underlying complex traits in social invertebrates.
Role of extrinsic mechanical force in the development of the RA-I tactile mechanoreceptor
Authors: Pham Trung Quang , Kawaue Takumi , Hoshi Takayuki , Tanaka Yoshihiro , Miyata Takaki , Sano Akihito
Published: July 2018

Rapidly adapting type I (RA-I) mechanoreceptors play an important role in sensing the low-frequency vibration aspects of touch. The structure of the RA-I mechanoreceptor is extremely complex regardless of its small size, limiting our understanding of its mechanotransduction. As a result of the emergence of bioengineering, we previously proposed an in vitro bioengineering approach for RA-I receptors to overcome this limitation. Currently, the in vitro bioengineering approach for the RA-I receptor is not realizable given the lack of knowledge of its morphogenesis. This paper demonstrates our first attempt to interpret the cellular morphogenesis of the RA-I receptor. We found indications of extrinsic mechanical force nearby the RA-I receptor in the developing fingertip. Using a mechanical compression device, the axon of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons buckled in vitro into a profile that resembled the morphology of the RA-I receptor. This work encourages further implementation of this bioengineering approach in tactile receptor-related research.
Topical Curcumin Nanocarriers are Neuroprotective in Eye Disease
Authors: Davis Benjamin M. , Pahlitzsch Milena , Guo Li , Balendra Shiama , Shah Parth , Ravindran Nivedita , Malaguarnera Giulia , Sisa Claudia , Shamsher Ehtesham , Hamze Hisham , Noor Abdinasir , Sornsute Acom , Somavarapu Satyanarayana , Cordeiro M. Francesca
Published: July 2018

Curcumin (1,7-bis-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5dione) is a polyphenol extracted from turmeric that has long been advocated for the treatment of a variety of conditions including neurodegenerative and inflammatory disorders. Despite this promise, the clinical use of curcumin has been limited by the poor solubility and low bioavailability of this molecule. In this article, we describe a novel nanocarrier formulation comprising Pluronic-F127 stabilised D-α-Tocopherol polyethene glycol 1000 succinate nanoparticles, which were used to successfully solubilize high concentrations (4.3 mg/mL) of curcumin. Characterisation with x-ray diffraction and in vitro release assays localise curcumin to the nanocarrier interior, with each particle measuring <20 nm diameter. Curcumin-loaded nanocarriers (CN) were found to significantly protect against cobalt chloride induced hypoxia and glutamate induced toxicity in vitro, with CN treatment significantly increasing R28 cell viability. Using established glaucoma-related in vivo models of ocular hypertension (OHT) and partial optic nerve transection (pONT), topical application of CN twice-daily for three weeks significantly reduced retinal ganglion cell loss compared to controls. Collectively, these results suggest that our novel topical CN formulation has potential as an effective neuroprotective therapy in glaucoma and other eye diseases with neuronal pathology.
Interleukin-27 controls basal pain threshold in physiological and pathological conditions
Authors: Sasaguri Tomoko , Taguchi Toru , Murata Yuzo , Kobayashi Kimiko , Iizasa Sayaka , Iizasa Ei’ichi , Tsuda Makoto , Hirakawa Naomi , Hara Hiromitsu , Yoshida Hiroki , Yasaka Toshiharu
Published: July 2018

Numerous studies have shown that pain sensation is affected by various immune molecules, such as cytokines, in tissues comprising the sensory pathway. Specifically, it has been shown that interleukin (IL)-17 promotes pain behaviour, but IL-10 suppresses it. IL-27 has been reported to have an anti-inflammatory effect through regulation of T cell differentiation, resulting in reduced IL-17 and induction of IL-10. Thus, we hypothesised that IL-27 would have some regulatory role in pain sensation. Here, we provide evidence that endogenous IL-27 constitutively controls thresholds for thermal and mechanical sensation in physiological and pathological conditions. Mice lacking IL-27 or its receptor WSX-1 spontaneously showed chronic pain-like hypersensitivity. Reconstitution of IL-27 in IL-27-deficient mice reversed thermal and mechanical hypersensitive behaviours. Thus, unlike many other cytokines induced by inflammatory events, IL-27 appears to be constitutively produced and to control pain sensation. Furthermore, mice lacking IL-27/WSX-1 signalling showed additional hypersensitivity when subjected to inflammatory or neuropathic pain models. Our results suggest that the mechanisms underlying hypersensitive behaviours caused by the ablation of IL-27/WSX-1 signalling are different from those underlying established chronic pain models. This novel pain control mechanism mediated by IL-27 might indicate a new mechanism for the chronic pain hypersensitivity.
Homophily influences ranking of minorities in social networks
Authors: Karimi Fariba , Génois Mathieu , Wagner Claudia , Singer Philipp , Strohmaier Markus
Published: July 2018

Homophily can put minority groups at a disadvantage by restricting their ability to establish links with a majority group or to access novel information. Here, we show how this phenomenon can influence the ranking of minorities in examples of real-world networks with various levels of heterophily and homophily ranging from sexual contacts, dating contacts, scientific collaborations, and scientific citations. We devise a social network model with tunable homophily and group sizes, and demonstrate how the degree ranking of nodes from the minority group in a network is a function of (i) relative group sizes and (ii) the presence or absence of homophilic behaviour. We provide analytical insights on how the ranking of the minority can be improved to ensure the representativeness of the group and correct for potential biases. Our work presents a foundation for assessing the impact of homophilic and heterophilic behaviour on minorities in social networks.
Increased Cathepsin S activity associated with decreased protease inhibitory capacity contributes to altered tear proteins in Sjögren’s Syndrome patients
Authors: Edman Maria C. , Janga Srikanth R. , Meng Zhen , Bechtold Mercy , Chen Alexander F. , Kim Chongiin , Naman Luke , Sarma Arunava , Teekappanavar Neha , Kim Alice Y. , Madrigal Sara , Singh Simranjit , Ortiz Elizabeth , Christianakis Stratos , Arkfeld Daniel G. , Mack Wendy J. , Heur Martin , Stohl William , Hamm-Alvarez Sarah F.
Published: July 2018

Cathepsin S (CTSS) activity is elevated in Sjögren’s Syndrome (SS) patient tears. Here we tested whether protease inhibition and cystatin C (Cys C) levels are reduced in SS tears, which could lead to enhanced CTSS-driven degradation of tear proteins. CTSS activity against Cys C, LF and sIgA was tested in SS or healthy control tears. Tears from 156 female subjects (33, SS; 33, rheumatoid arthritis; 31, other autoimmune diseases; 35, non-autoimmune dry eye (DE); 24, healthy controls) were analyzed for CTSS activity and Cys C, LF, and sIgA levels. Cys C and LF showed enhanced degradation in SS tears supplemented with recombinant CTSS, but not supplemented healthy control tears. CTSS activity was significantly increased, while Cys C, LF and sIgA levels were significantly decreased, in SS tears compared to other groups. While tear CTSS activity remained the strongest discriminator of SS in autoimmune populations, combining LF and CTSS improved discrimination of SS beyond CTSS in DE patients. Reductions in Cys C and other endogenous proteases may enhance CTSS activity in SS tears. Tear CTSS activity is reconfirmed as a putative biomarker of SS in an independent patient cohort while combined LF and CTSS measurements may distinguish SS from DE patients.
The Effect of SkitoSnack, an Artificial Blood Meal Replacement, on Aedes aegypti Life History Traits and Gut Microbiota
Authors: Gonzales Kristina K. , Rodriguez Stacy D. , Chung Hae-Na , Kowalski Margaret , Vulcan Julia , Moore Emily L. , Li Yiyi , Willette Stephanie M. , Kandel Yashoda , Van Voorhies Wayne A. , Holguin F. Omar , Hanley Kathryn A. , Hansen Immo A.
Published: July 2018

Public health research and vector control frequently require the rearing of large numbers of vector mosquitoes. All target vector mosquito species are anautogenous, meaning that females require vertebrate blood for egg production. Vertebrate blood, however, is costly, with a short shelf life. To overcome these constraints, we have developed SkitoSnack, an artificial blood meal replacement for the mosquitoAedes aegypti, the vector of dengue, Zika and chikungunya virus. SkitoSnack contains bovine serum albumin and hemoglobin as protein source as well as egg yolk and a bicarbonate buffer. SkitoSnack-raised females had comparable life history traits as blood-raised females. Mosquitoes reared from SkitoSnack-fed females had similar levels of infection and dissemination when orally challenged with dengue virus type 2 (DENV-2) and significantly lower infection with DENV-4. When SkitoSnack was used as a vehicle for DENV-2 delivery, blood-raised and SkitoSnack-raised females were equally susceptible. The midgut microbiota differed significantly between mosquitoes fed on SkitoSnack and mosquitoes fed on blood. By rearing 20 generations ofAedesexclusively on SkitoSnack, we have proven that this artificial diet can replace blood in mosquito mass rearing.
RNA-Seq reveals novel genes and pathways involved in bovine mammary involution during the dry period and under environmental heat stress
Authors: Dado-Senn Bethany , Skibiel Amy L. , Fabris Thiago F. , Zhang Y. , Dahl Geoffrey E. , Peñagaricano Francisco , Laporta Jimena
Published: July 2018

The bovine dry period is a dynamic non-lactating phase where the mammary gland undergoes extensive cellular turnover. Utilizing RNA sequencing, we characterized novel genes and pathways involved in this process and determined the impact of dry period heat stress. Mammary tissue was collected before and during the dry period (−3, 3, 7, 14, and 25 days relative to dry-off [day 0]) from heat-stressed (HT, n = 6) or cooled (CL, n = 6) late-gestation Holstein cows. We identified 3,315 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between late lactation and early involution, and 880 DEGs later in the involution process. DEGs, pathways, and upstream regulators during early involution support the downregulation of functions such as anabolism and milk component synthesis, and upregulation of cell death, cytoskeleton degradation, and immune response. The impact of environmental heat stress was less significant, yet genes, pathways, and upstream regulators involved in processes such as ductal branching morphogenesis, cell death, immune function, and protection against tissue stress were identified. Our research advances understanding of the mammary gland transcriptome during the dry period, and under heat stress insult. Individual genes, pathways, and upstream regulators highlighted in this study point towards potential targets for dry period manipulation and mitigation of the negative consequences of heat stress on mammary function.
Fundamental parameters of the developing thymic epithelium in the mouse
Authors: Hirakawa Mayumi , Nagakubo Daisuke , Kanzler Benoît , Avilov Sergiy , Krauth Brigitte , Happe Christiane , Swann Jeremy B. , Nusser Anja , Boehm Thomas
Published: July 2018

The numbers of thymic epithelial cells (TECs) and thymocytes steadily increase during embryogenesis. To examine this dynamic, we generated several TEC-specific transgenic mouse lines, which express fluorescent proteins in the nucleus, the cytosol and in the membranes under the control of theFoxn1promoter. These tools enabled us to determine TEC numbers in tissue sections by confocal fluorescent microscopy, and in the intact organ by light-sheet microscopy. Compared to histological procedures, flow cytometric analysis of thymic cellularity is shown to underestimate the numbers of TECs by one order of magnitude; using enzymatic digestion of thymic tissue, the loss of cortical TECs (cTECs) is several fold greater than that of medullary TECs (mTECs), although different cTEC subsets appear to be still present in the final preparation. Novel reporter lines driven byPsmb11andPrss16promoters revealed the trajectory of differentiation of cTEC-like cells, and, owing to the additional facility of conditional cell ablation, allowed us to follow the recovery of such cells after their depletion during embryogenesis. Multiparametric histological analyses indicate that the new transgenic reporter lines not only reveal the unique morphologies of different TEC subsets, but are also conducive to the analysis of the complex cellular interactions in the thymus.
The effect of adipose-derived stem cell sheets and CTGF on early flexor tendon healing in a canine model
Authors: Shen Hua , Jayaram Rohith , Yoneda Susumu , Linderman Stephen W. , Sakiyama-Elbert Shelly E. , Xia Younan , Gelberman Richard H. , Thomopoulos Stavros
Published: July 2018

Intrasynovial tendon injuries are among the most challenging in orthopedics. Despite significant improvements in operative and rehabilitation methods, functional outcomes continue to be limited by adhesions, gap formation, and rupture. Adhesions result from excessive inflammation, whereas tendon gapping and rupture result from inflammation-induced matrix degradation and insufficient regeneration. Therefore, this study used a combined treatment approach to modulate inflammation with adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (ASCs) while stimulating tendon regeneration with connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). ASCs were applied to the repair surface via cell sheets and CTGF was delivered to the repair center via porous sutures. The effect of the combined treatment was assessed fourteen days after repair in a canine flexor tendon injury model. CTGF, either alone or with ASCs, reduced inflammatory (IL1B and IL6) and matrix degrading (MMP3 and MMP13) gene expression, while increasing anti-inflammatory gene (IL4) expression and collagen synthesis compared to control repairs. The combined treatment was more effective than CTGF treatment alone, reducing the inflammatory IFNG and scar-associated COL3A1 gene expression and increasing CD146+ tendon stem/progenitor cells at the tendon surface and interior along the core suture tracks. Therefore, the combined approach is promising in promoting early flexor tendon healing and worthy of further investigation.
Allosteric sodium binding cavity in GPR3: a novel player in modulation of Aβ production
Authors: Capaldi Stefano , Suku Eda , Antolini Martina , Di Giacobbe Mattia , Giorgetti Alejandro , Buffelli Mario
Published: July 2018

The orphan G-protein coupled receptor 3 (GPR3) belongs to class A G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and is highly expressed in central nervous system neurons. Among other functions, it is likely associated with neuron differentiation and maturation. Recently, GPR3 has also been linked to the production of Aβ peptides in neurons. Unfortunately, the lack of experimental structural information for this receptor hampers a deep characterization of its function. Here, using an in-silico and in-vitro combined approach, we describe, for the first time, structural characteristics of GPR3 receptor underlying its function: the agonist binding site and the allosteric sodium binding cavity. We identified and validated by alanine-scanning mutagenesis the role of three functionally relevant residues: Cys2676.55, Phe1203.36 and Asp2.50. The latter, when mutated into alanine, completely abolished the constitutive and agonist-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity of GPR3 receptor by disrupting its sodium binding cavity. Interestingly, this is correlated with a decrease in Aβ production in a model cell line. Taken together, these results suggest an important role of the allosteric sodium binding site for GPR3 activity and open a possible avenue for the modulation of Aβ production in the Alzheimer’s Disease.
A Photonic Switch Based on a Hybrid Combination of Metallic Nanoholes and Phase-change Vanadium Dioxide
Authors: Sun Miao , Taha Mohammad , Walia Sumeet , Bhaskaran Madhu , Sriram Sharath , Shieh William , Unnithan Ranjith Rajasekharan
Published: July 2018

A photonic switch is an integral part of optical telecommunication systems. A plasmonic bandpass filter integrated with materials exhibiting phase transition can be used as a thermally reconfigurable optical switch. This paper presents the design and demonstration of a broadband photonic switch based on an aluminium nanohole array on quartz utilising the semiconductor-to-metal phase transition of vanadium dioxide. The fabricated switch shows an operating range over 650 nm around the optical communication C, L, and U band with maximum 20%, 23% and 26% transmission difference in switching in the C band, L band, and U band, respectively. The extinction ratio is around 5 dB in the entire operation range. This architecture is a precursor for developing micron-size photonic switches and ultra-compact modulators for thin film photonics.
Triple-core-hole states produced in the interaction of solid-state density plasmas with a relativistic femtosecond optical laser
Authors: Gao Cheng , Li Yongjun , Liu Pengfei , Fan Xiaohui , Zeng Jiaolong
Published: July 2018

Extremely exotic dense matter states can be produced in the interaction of a relativistic femtosecond optical laser with a solid density matter. Here we theoretically investigate triple-core-hole (TCH) states produced by an intense polychromatic x-ray field formed by hot electrons in the interaction of a relativistic femtosecond optical laser with a thin silver foil. X-ray emission spectra of solid-density silver plasmas show unambiguously the production of TCH states at an electron temperature of a few hundreds of eV and radiative temperature of 1–3 keV of the polychromatic x-ray field. Practical calculations show that the emissivity originating from the TCH states exceeds that from the single- and double-core-hole states in Ne-like Ag37+ at electron temperature of ~500 eV and radiative temperature of ~1500 eV. For the neighbouring ionization stages of Ag36+ and Ag38+, TCH emissivity is roughly equivalent or comparable to that from the single- and double-core-hole states. Present work deepens our insight into investigation of the properties of extremely exotic states, which is important in high energy density physics, astrophysics and laser physics.
Reproduction predicts shorter telomeres and epigenetic age acceleration among young adult women
Authors: Ryan Calen P. , Hayes M. Geoffrey , Lee Nanette R. , McDade Thomas W. , Jones Meaghan J. , Kobor Michael S. , Kuzawa Christopher W. , Eisenberg Dan T. A.
Published: July 2018

Evolutionary theory predicts that reproduction entails costs that detract from somatic maintenance, accelerating biological aging. Despite support from studies in human and non-human animals, mechanisms linking ‘costs of reproduction’ (CoR) to aging are poorly understood. Human pregnancy is characterized by major alterations in metabolic regulation, oxidative stress, and immune cell proliferation. We hypothesized that these adaptations could accelerate blood-derived cellular aging. To test this hypothesis, we examined gravidity in relation to telomere length (TL, n = 821) and DNA-methylation age (DNAmAge, n = 397) in a cohort of young (20–22 year-old) Filipino women. Age-corrected TL and accelerated DNAmAge both predict age-related morbidity and mortality, and provide markers of mitotic and non-mitotic cellular aging, respectively. Consistent with theoretical predictions, TL decreased (p = 0.031) and DNAmAge increased (p = 0.007) with gravidity, a relationship that was not contingent upon resource availability. Neither biomarker was associated with subsequent fertility (both p > 0.3), broadly consistent with a causal effect of gravidity on cellular aging. Our findings provide evidence that reproduction in women carries costs in the form of accelerated aging through two independent cellular pathways.
Upper limb activity in myoelectric prosthesis users is biased towards the intact limb and appears unrelated to goal-directed task performance
Authors: Chadwell A. , Kenney L. , Granat M. H. , Thies S. , Head J. , Galpin A. , Baker R. , Kulkarni J.
Published: July 2018

Studies of the effectiveness of prosthetic hands involve assessing user performance on functional tasks, typically collected in the lab, sometimes combined with self-report of real-world use. In this paper we compare real-world upper limb activity between a group of 20 myoelectric prosthesis users and 20 anatomically intact adults. Activity was measured from wrist-worn accelerometers over a 7-day period. The temporal patterns in upper limb activity are presented and the balance of activity between the two limbs quantified. We also evaluated the prosthesis users’ performance on a goal-directed task, characterised using measures including task success rate, completion time, gaze behaviour patterns, and kinematics (e.g. variability and patterns in hand aperture). Prosthesis users were heavily reliant on their intact limb during everyday life, in contrast to anatomically intact adults who demonstrated similar reliance on both upper limbs. There was no significant correlation between the amount of time a prosthesis was worn and reliance on the intact limb, and there was no significant correlation between either of these measures and any of the assessed kinematic and gaze-related measures of performance. We found participants who had been prescribed a prosthesis for longer to demonstrate more symmetry in their overall upper limb activity, although this was not reflected in the symmetry of unilateral limb use. With the exception of previously published case studies, this is the first report of real world upper limb activity in myoelectric prosthesis users and confirms the widely held belief that users are heavily reliant on their intact limb.
Enhanced bending strength and thermal conductivity in diamond/Al composites with B4C coating
Authors: Sun Youhong , Zhang Chi , He Linkai , Meng Qingnan , Liu Bao-Chang , Gao Ke , Wu Jinhao
Published: July 2018

Diamond/Al composites containing B4C-coated and uncoated diamond particles were prepared by powder metallurgy. The microstructure, bending strength and thermal conductivity were characterized considering the B4C addition and diamond fraction. The influence of B4C coating and fraction of diamond on both bending strength and thermal conductivity were investigated. The bending strength increased with decreasing diamond fraction. Moreover, addition of B4C coating led to an obvious increase in bending strength. The peak value at 261.2 MPa was achieved in the composite with 30 vt.% B4C-coated diamond particles, which was about twice of that for 30 vt.% uncoated diamond/Al composite (140.1 MPa). The thermal conductivity enhanced with the increase in diamond fraction, and the highest value (352.7 W/m·K) was obtained in the composite with 50 vt.% B4C-coated diamond particles. Plating B4C on diamond gave rise to the enhancement in bending strength and thermal conductivity for diamond/Al composites, because of the improvement of the interfacial bonding between diamond and aluminum matrix.
Publisher Correction: Two-dimensional materials with piezoelectric and ferroelectric functionalities
Authors: Cui Chaojie , Xue Fei , Hu Wei-Jin , Li Lain-Jong
Published: July 2018

In the original published version of this Article, Wei-Jin Hu was incorrectly listed as being affiliated with Corporate Research and Chief Technology Office, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, 30075, Hsinchu, Taiwan. This has now been updated to be the Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research (IMR), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shenyang 110016, China. This has been corrected in the HTML and PDF versions of the Article.
Structural and functional brain scans from the cross-sectional Southwest University adult lifespan dataset
Authors: Wei Dongtao , Zhuang Kaixiang , Ai Lei , Chen Qunlin , Yang Wenjing , Liu Wei , Wang Kangcheng , Sun Jiangzhou , Qiu Jiang
Published: July 2018

Recently, the field of developmental neuroscience has aimed to uncover the developmental trajectory of the human brain and to understand the changes that occur as a function of ageing. Here, we present a dataset of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data covering the adult lifespan that includes structural MRI and resting-state functional MRI. Four hundred ninety-four healthy adults (age range: 19-80 years; Males=187) were recruited and completed two multi-modal MRI scan sessions at the Brain Imaging Center of Southwest University, Chongqing, China. The goals of the dataset are to give researchers the opportunity to map the developmental trajectories of structural and functional changes in the human brain and to replicate previous findings.
Broadening the sunlight response region with carbon dot sensitized TiO2 as a support for a Pt catalyst in the methanol oxidation reaction
Authors: Bora Anindita , Mohan Kiranjyoti , Doley Simanta , Goswami Prayashi , Dolui Swapan Kumar
Published: July 2018

Carbon dots with upconversion properties harness unused visible light and act as sensitizers for a TiO2 supported Pt catalyst in MOR.
Enhancement of polaron-hopping-based a.c. conduction in semiconducting STS (Se–Te–Sn) glass by silver incorporation
Authors: Srivastava Ankita , Mehta Neeraj
Published: July 2018

A dipolar model for dipole formation between silver ions and negatively charged defect states to reveal the a.c. conduction mechanism is described.
Facile incorporation of technetium into magnetite, magnesioferrite, and hematite by formation of ferrous nitratein situ: precursors to iron oxide nuclear waste forms
Authors: Lukens Wayne W. , Saslow Sarah A.
Published: July 2018

The fission product,99Tc, presents significant challenges to the long-term disposal of nuclear waste due to its long half-life, high fission yield, and to the environmental mobility of pertechnetate (TcO4−), the stable Tc species in aerobic environments.
Co-synthesis of atomically precise nickel nanoclusters and the pseudo-optical gap of Ni4(SR)8
Authors: Pan Yanze , Chen Jishi , Gong Shida , Wang Zonghua
Published: July 2018

For Nin(SR)2n, electrochemical gaps reflect their HOMO–LUMO gaps more accurately.
Nanostructured binary copper chalcogenides: synthesis strategies and common applications
Authors: Chen Xinqi , Yang Jianping , Wu Tian , Li Li , Luo Wei , Jiang Wan , Wang Lianjun
Published: July 2018

Nanostructured binary copper chalcogenides (NBCCs) have been the subject of extensive research as promising candidates in energy-related and biological applications due to their advantageous properties, environmental compatibility, and abundance.
Two catalytic protocols for Achmatowicz rearrangement using cyclic diacyl peroxides as oxidants
Authors: Wei Congyin , Zhao Rong , Shen Zhihong , Chang Denghu , Shi Lei
Published: July 2018

The development of two new catalytic protocols for Achmatowicz rearrangement using cyclic diacyl peroxides as terminal oxidants.
Facile fabrication of positively-charged helical poly(phenyl isocyanide) modified multi-stimuli-responsive nanoassembly capable of high efficiency cell-penetrating, ratiometric fluorescence imaging, and rapid intracellular drug release
Authors: Zhang Wen-Ming , Zhang Jian , Qiao Zhu , Liu Huan-Ying , Wu Zong-Quan , Yin Jun
Published: July 2018

High efficiency cell-penetrating helical chain functionalized polymeric micelles capable of co-delivery of cargoes and rapid release were reported.
Flexible polypyrrolone-based microporous carbon nanofibers for high-performance supercapacitors
Authors: Liu Shuwu , Zeng Yue , Fang Hong , Guo Qiaohui , Sui Ling , Hou Haoqing
Published: July 2018

A flexible polypyrrolone (BBB)/polyimide (PI) composite-based carbon nanofiber membrane (PBPICF) has been prepared by a facile electrospinning and carbonization process.
A photochemical layer-by-layer solution process for preparing organic semiconducting thin films having the right material at the right place
Authors: Suzuki Mitsuharu , Yamaguchi Yuji , Uchinaga Kensuke , Takahira Katsuya , Quinton Cassandre , Yamamoto Shinpei , Nagami Naoto , Furukawa Mari , Nakayama Ken-ichi , Yamada Hiroko
Published: July 2018

A mild and versatile solution process enables the controlled preparation of multicomponent organic small-molecule thin films.