bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improved Graph Embedding for Robust Recognition with outliers
Authors: Li Peiyang , Zhou Weiwei , Huang Xiaoye , Zhu Xuyang , Liu Huan , Ma Teng , Guo Daqing , Yao Dezhong , Xu Peng
Published: March 2018

Artifacts in biomedical signal recordings, such as gene expression, sonar image and electroencephalogram, have a great influence on the related research because the artifacts with large value usually break the neighbor structure in the datasets. However, the conventional graph embedding (GE) used for dimension reduction such as linear discriminant analysis, principle component analysis and locality preserving projections is essentially defined in the L2 norm space and is prone to the presence of artifacts, resulting in biased sub-structural features. In this work, we defined graph embedding in the L1 norm space and used the maximization strategy to solve this model with the aim of restricting the influence of outliers on the dimension reduction of signals. The quantitative evaluation with different outlier conditions demonstrates that an L1 norm-based GE structure can estimate hyperplanes, which are more stable than those of conventional GE-based methods. The applications to a variety of datasets also show that the proposed L1 GE is more robust to outlier influence with higher classification accuracy estimated. The proposed L1 GE may be helpful for capturing reliable mapping information from the datasets that have been contaminated with outliers.
Muscle stem cell dysfunction impairs muscle regeneration in a mouse model of Down syndrome
Authors: Pawlikowski Bradley , Betta Nicole Dalla , Elston Tiffany , Williams Darian A. , Olwin Bradley B.
Published: March 2018

Down syndrome, caused by trisomy 21, is characterized by a variety of medical conditions including intellectual impairments, cardiovascular defects, blood cell disorders and pre-mature aging phenotypes. Several somatic stem cell populations are dysfunctional in Down syndrome and their deficiencies may contribute to multiple Down syndrome phenotypes. Down syndrome is associated with muscle weakness but skeletal muscle stem cells or satellite cells in Down syndrome have not been investigated. We find that a failure in satellite cell expansion impairs muscle regeneration in the Ts65Dn mouse model of Down syndrome. Ts65Dn satellite cells accumulate DNA damage and over express Usp16, a histone de-ubiquitinating enzyme that regulates the DNA damage response. Impairment of satellite cell function, which further declines as Ts65Dn mice age, underscores stem cell deficiencies as an important contributor to Down syndrome pathologies.
Publisher Correction: Multiple similarly effective solutions exist for biomedical feature selection and classification problems
Authors: Liu Jiamei , Xu Cheng , Yang Weifeng , Shu Yayun , Zheng Weiwei , Zhou Fengfeng
Published: March 2018

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Publisher Correction: Bacillus SEVA siblings: A Golden Gate-based toolbox to create personalized integrative vectors for Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Radeck Jara , Meyer Daniel , Lautenschläger Nina , Mascher Thorsten
Published: March 2018

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Publisher Correction: Natural and directed antigenic drift of the H1 influenza virus hemagglutinin stalk domain
Authors: Anderson Christopher S. , Ortega Sandra , Chaves Francisco A. , Clark Amelia M. , Yang Hongmei , Topham David J. , DeDiego Marta L.
Published: March 2018

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Publisher Correction: Phosphodiester backbone of the CpG motif within immunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleotides augments activation of Toll-like receptor 9
Authors: Pohar Jelka , Lainšček Duško , Kunšek Ana , Cajnko Miša-Mojca , Jerala Roman , Benčina Mojca
Published: March 2018

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Oat evolution revealed in the maternal lineages of 25 Avena species
Authors: Fu Yong-Bi
Published: March 2018

Cultivated hexaploid oat has three different sets of nuclear genomes (A, C, D), but its evolutionary history remains elusive. A multiplexed shotgun sequencing procedure was explored to acquire maternal phylogenetic signals from chloroplast and mitochondria genomes of 25 Avena species. Phylogenetic analyses of the acquired organelle SNP data revealed a new maternal pathway towards hexaploids of oat genome evolution involving three diploid species (A. ventricosa, A. canariensis and A. longiglumis) and two tetraploid species (A. insularis and A. agadiriana). Cultivated hexaploid A. sativa acquired its maternal genome from an AC genome tetraploid close to A. insularis. Both AC genome A. insularis and AB genome A. agadiriana obtained a maternal genome from an ancient A, not C, genome diploid close to A. longiglumis. Divergence dating showed the major divergences of C genome species 19.9–21.2 million years ago (Mya), of the oldest A genome A. canariensis 13–15 Mya, and of the clade with hexaploids 8.5–9.5 Mya. These findings not only advance our knowledge on oat genome evolution, but also have implications for oat germplasm conservation and utilization in breeding.
Polygonumins A, a newly isolated compound from the stem of Polygonum minus Huds with potential medicinal activities
Authors: Ahmad Rafidah , Sahidin I. , Taher Muhammad , Low ChenFei , Noor Normah Mohd , Sillapachaiyaporn Chanin , Chuchawankul Siriporn , Sarachana Tewarit , Tencomnao Tewin , Iskandar Faizah , Rajab Nor Fadilah , Baharum Syarul Nataqain
Published: March 2018

Polygonumins A, a new compound, was isolated from the stem of Polygonum minus. Based on NMR results, the compound’s structure is identical to that of vanicoside A, comprising four phenylpropanoid ester units and a sucrose unit. The structure differences were located at C-3″″′. The cytotoxic activity of polygonumins A was evaluated on several cancer cell lines by a cell viability assay using tetrazolium dye 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). The compound showed the highest antiproliferative (p < 0.05) activities against K562 (Human Leukaemia Cell Line), MCF7 (Human breast adenocarcinoma cell line), and HCT116 (Colorectal cancer cells) cells. Cytotoxic studies against V79–4 cells were carried out and showed that polygonumins A was toxic at 50 µg/ml, suggesting that this compound may be used as an anticancer drug without affecting normal cells. Polygonumins A also showed promising activity as an HIV-1 protease inhibitor with 56% relative inhibition. Molecular docking results indicated that the compound possesses high binding affinity towards the HIV protease over the low binding free energy range of -10.5 to -11.3 kcal/mol. P. minus is used in Malaysian traditional medicine for the treatment of tumour cells. This is the first report on the use of P. minus as an HIV-1 protease inhibitor.
Mechanisms by which Bisphenol A affect the photosynthetic apparatus in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) leaves
Authors: Li Yu-Ting , Liang Ying , Li Yue-Nan , Che Xing-Kai , Zhao Shi-Jie , Zhang Zi-Shan , Gao Hui-Yuan
Published: March 2018

Bisphenol A (BPA), a widely distributed pollutant, suppresses photosynthesis in leaves. In previous studies on higher plants, the plants were treated by BPA through irrigation to root. This method cannot distinguish whether the BPA directly suppresses photosynthesis in leaves, or indirectly influences photosynthesis through affecting the function of root. Here, only the leaves but not the roots of cucumber were infiltrated with BPA solution. The photosystem II and I (PSII, PSI) were insensitive to BPA under darkness. BPA aggravated the PSII but not the PSI photoinhibition under light. BPA also inhibited CO2 assimilation, and the effect of BPA on PSII photoinhibition disappeared when the CO2 assimilation was blocked. The H2O2 accumulated in BPA-treated leaves under light. And the BPA-caused PSII photoinhibition was prevented under low (2%) O2. We also proved that the BPA-caused PSII photoinhibition depend on the turnover of D1 protein. In conclusion, this study proved that BPA could directly suppress photosynthesis in leaves, however, BPA does not damage PSII directly, but inhibits CO2 assimilation and over-reduces the electron transport chain under light, which increases the production of reactive oxygen species (H2O2), the over-accumulated ROS inhibits the turnover of D1 protein and consequently aggravates PSII photoinhibition.
Factors associated with negative T-SPOT.TB results among smear-negative tuberculosis patients in China
Authors: Kang Wanli , Wu Meiying , Yang Kunyun , Ertai A. , Wu Shucai , Geng Shujun , Li Zhihui , Li Mingwu , Pang Yu , Tang Shenjie
Published: March 2018

We compared the positive rates of T-SPOT.TB and bacterial culture in the smear-negative PTB, and analyzed the factors affecting the results of negative T-SPOT.TB and bacterial culture. Retrospective evaluation of data from smear-negative PTB patients who underwent T-SPOT.TB and bacterial culture were done. The agreement and concordance were analyzed between T-SPOT.TB and bacterial culture. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to explore the factors associated with positive results of T-SPOT.TB and bacterial culture in smear-negative PTB. 858 eligible smear-negative PTB patients were included in the study. The agreement rate was 25.6% (22.7~28.5%) between T-SPOT.TB and bacterial culture in smear- negative PTB patients. The positive rate of T-SPOT.TB was higher than that of bacterial culture in smear-negative PTB patients (p < 0.001). There were nearly no concordance between T-SPOT.TB and bacterial culture (p > 0.05). Using multivariable logistic regression analysis we found that older age ≥ 60 years (OR = 0.469, 95% CI: 0.287–0.768) and decreased albumin (OR = 0.614, 95% CI: 0.380–0.992) were associated with negative diagnostic results of T-SPOT.TB in smear-negative PTB patients. Female (OR = 0.654, 95% CI: 0.431–0.992) were associated with negative diagnostic results of bacteria culture in smear-negative PTB patients. Our results indicated that the older age and decreased albumin were independently associated with negative T-SPOT.TB responses.
Author Correction: Down-regulated GATA-1 up-regulates interferon regulatory factor 3 in lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Wang Lu-Lu , Chen Zheng-Sen , Zhou Wen-Di , Shu Jin , Wang Xiao-Hua , Jin Rui , Zhuang Li-Li , Hoda Mir Alireza , Zhang Hao , Zhou Guo-Ping
Published: March 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.
Systematic Evaluation of Non-Uniform Sampling Parameters in the Targeted Analysis of Urine Metabolites by 1H,1H 2D NMR Spectroscopy
Authors: Schlippenbach Trixi von , Oefner Peter J. , Gronwald Wolfram
Published: March 2018

Non-uniform sampling (NUS) allows the accelerated acquisition of multidimensional NMR spectra. The aim of this contribution was the systematic evaluation of the impact of various quantitative NUS parameters on the accuracy and precision of 2D NMR measurements of urinary metabolites. Urine aliquots spiked with varying concentrations (15.6–500.0 µM) of tryptophan, tyrosine, glutamine, glutamic acid, lactic acid, and threonine, which can only be resolved fully by 2D NMR, were used to assess the influence of the sampling scheme, reconstruction algorithm, amount of omitted data points, and seed value on the quantitative performance of NUS in 1H,1H-TOCSY and 1H,1H-COSY45 NMR spectroscopy. Sinusoidal Poisson-gap sampling and a compressed sensing approach employing the iterative re-weighted least squares method for spectral reconstruction allowed a 50% reduction in measurement time while maintaining sufficient quantitative accuracy and precision for both types of homonuclear 2D NMR spectroscopy. Together with other advances in instrument design, such as state-of-the-art cryogenic probes, use of 2D NMR spectroscopy in large biomedical cohort studies seems feasible.
Effects of In vivo Emergent Tigecycline Resistance on the Pathogenic Potential of Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Hornsey Michael , Wareham David W.
Published: March 2018

Multidrug-resistant lineages of Acinetobacter baumannii (MDRAB) are important nosocomial pathogens. As tigecycline remains active against most MDRAB we sought to investigate whether tigecycline resistance impacts biological fitness. The effects of treatment-emergent tigecycline resistance were investigated in vitro and in vivo using two pre- (AB210; W6976) and post-therapy (AB211; W7282) clinical pairs, recovered from individual patients, where tigecycline resistance was associated with up-regulated efflux activity. All isolates belonged to the same epidemic UK lineage. Significant differences were observed in end-point survival proportions between AB210 and AB211, but not between W6976 and W7282, using the Galleria mellonella infection model. Isolate AB211 outcompeted AB210 in vivo, in contrast to isolate W7282, which was outcompeted by its pre-therapy counterpart, W6972. Whole-genome sequencing of isolates W6976 and W7282 revealed a mutation in the adeABC regulatory gene, adeS in W7282; resulting in a Ser-8 → Arg substitution. Previous whole-genome comparison of AB210 and AB211 also identified a non-synonymous mutation in adeS, among several other lesions in genes involved in biofilm formation and DNA mismatch repair; consistent with the phenotypic differences described here. In conclusion, the differing effects on the wider phenotype were not predictable from the antibiograms or clonal lineage, despite a common mechanism of tigecycline resistance.
Interferon-β deficiency at asthma exacerbation promotes MLKL mediated necroptosis
Authors: Cerps Samuel C. , Menzel Mandy , Mahmutovic Persson Irma , Bjermer Leif , Akbarshahi Hamid , Uller Lena
Published: March 2018

Defective production of antiviral interferon (IFN)-β is thought to contribute to rhinovirus-induced asthma exacerbations. These exacerbations are associated with elevated lung levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), indicating occurrence of cell necrosis. We thus hypothesized that reduced lung IFN-β could contribute to necrotic cell death in a model of asthma exacerbations. Wild-type and IFN-β−/− mice were given saline or house dust mite (HDM) intranasally for 3 weeks to induce inflammation. Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) was then given for additional 3 days to induce exacerbation. HDM induced an eosinophilic inflammation, which was not associated with increased expression of cleaved caspase-3, cleaved PARP or elevated bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) LDH levels in wild-type. However, exacerbation evoked by HDM + dsRNA challenges increased BALF levels of LDH, apoptotic markers and the necroptotic markers receptor-interacting protein (RIP)-3 and phosphorylation of mixed linage kinase domain-like protein (pMLKL), compared to HDM + saline. Absence of IFN-β at exacerbation further increased BALF LDH and protein expression of pMLKL compared to wild-type. We demonstrate that cell death markers are increased at viral stimulus-induced exacerbation in mouse lungs, and that absence of IFN-β augments markers of necroptotic cell death at exacerbation. Our data thus suggest a novel role of deficient IFN-β production at viral-induced exacerbation.
Phagocytosis depends on TRPV2-mediated calcium influx and requires TRPV2 in lipids rafts: alteration in macrophages from patients with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Lévêque Manuella , Penna Aubin , Le Trionnaire Sophie , Belleguic Chantal , Desrues Benoît , Brinchault Graziella , Jouneau Stéphane , Lagadic-Gossmann Dominique , Martin-Chouly Corinne
Published: March 2018

Whereas many phagocytosis steps involve ionic fluxes, the underlying ion channels remain poorly defined. As reported in mice, the calcium conducting TRPV2 channel impacts the phagocytic process. Macrophage phagocytosis is critical for defense against pathogens. In cystic fibrosis (CF), macrophages have lost their capacity to act as suppressor cells and thus play a significant role in the initiating stages leading to chronic inflammation/infection. In a previous study, we demonstrated that impaired function of CF macrophages is due to a deficient phagocytosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate TRPV2 role in the phagocytosis capacity of healthy primary human macrophage by studying its activity, its membrane localization and its recruitment in lipid rafts. In primary human macrophages, we showed that P. aeruginosa recruits TRPV2 channels at the cell surface and induced a calcium influx required for bacterial phagocytosis. We presently demonstrate that to be functional and play a role in phagocytosis, TRPV2 might require a preferential localization in lipid rafts. Furthermore, CF macrophage displays a perturbed calcium homeostasis due to a defect in TRPV2. In this context, deregulated TRPV2-signaling in CF macrophages could explain their defective phagocytosis capacity that contribute to the maintenance of chronic infection.
Nutritional status and gait speed in a nationwide population-based sample of older adults
Authors: Mendes Joana , Borges Nuno , Santos Alejandro , Padrão Patrícia , Moreira Pedro , Afonso Cláudia , Negrão Rita , Amaral Teresa F.
Published: March 2018

The association between nutritional status and gait speed remains unclear. This study described gait speed in older adults and quantified the association between overweight, obesity, undernutrition risk and gait speed. Gait speed as potential indicator of nutritional outcomes was also explored. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted in a population-based sample of 1,500 older adults ≥65 years old. Compared to “normal body mass index” women, odds ratio for a slow gait speed was approximately 2-fold higher in“overweight”, 4-fold higher in “obese” and 6-fold higher in women at “undernutrition risk”. “Undernutrition risk” category resulted from joining “undernutrition risk/undernutrition”. For men, these associations were in the same direction, but the odds ratio estimates halved. In women, identified gait speed cut-offs were 0.87 m/s for “obesity” and 0.79 m/s for “undernutrition risk”. In men, 0.94 m/s is the cut-off in which most older adults were correctly classified relative to “undernutrition risk”. About half of Portuguese older adults presented a gait speed ≤0.8 m/s. Overweight, obesity and undernutrition risk were directly and increasingly associated with slow gait speed, but approximately twice as high in women compared to men. Gait speed revealed potential utility in marking nutritional problems, but further investigation is recommended.
Author Correction: Organoid-based epithelial to mesenchymal transition (OEMT) model: from an intestinal fibrosis perspective
Authors: Hahn Soojung , Nam Myeong-Ok , Noh Jung Hyun , Lee Dong Hyeon , Han Hyun Wook , Kim Duk Hwan , Hahm Ki Baik , Hong Sung Pyo , Yoo Jun-Hwan , Yoo Jongman
Published: March 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.
Hsp90 interacts with multiple dengue virus 2 proteins
Authors: Srisutthisamphan Kanjana , Jirakanwisal Krit , Ramphan Suwipa , Tongluan Natthida , Kuadkitkan Atichat , Smith Duncan R.
Published: March 2018

Infections with the mosquito-borne dengue virus (DENV) remain a significant public health challenge. In the absence of a commercial therapeutic to treat DENV infection, a greater understanding of the processes of cellular replication is required. The abundant cellular chaperone protein heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) has been shown to play a proviral role in the replication cycle of several viruses, predominantly through the stabilization of specific viral proteins. To investigate any potential role of Hsp90 in DENV infection the interaction between Hsp90 and DENV proteins was determined through co-immunoprecipitation experiments. Six DENV proteins namely envelope (E) and nonstructural (NS) proteins NS1, NS2B, NS3, NS4B and NS5 were shown to interact with Hsp90, and four of these proteins (E, NS1, NS3 and NS5) were shown to colocalize to a variable extent with Hsp90. Despite the extensive interactions between Hsp90 and DENV proteins, inhibition of the activity of Hsp90 had a relatively minor effect on DENV replication, with inhibition of Hsp90 resulting in a decrease of cellular E protein (but not nonstructural proteins) coupled with an increase of E protein in the medium and an increased virus titer. Collectively these results indicate that Hsp90 has a slight anti-viral effect in DENV infection.
Cisplatin generates oxidative stress which is accompanied by rapid shifts in central carbon metabolism
Authors: Yu Wangie , Chen Yunyun , Dubrulle Julien , Stossi Fabio , Putluri Vasanta , Sreekumar Arun , Putluri Nagireddy , Baluya Dodge , Lai Stephen Y. , Sandulache Vlad C.
Published: March 2018

Cisplatin is commonly utilized in the treatment of solid tumors. Its mechanism of action is complex and multiple mechanisms of resistance have been described. We sought to determine the impact of cisplatin-generated oxidative stress on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) proliferation, survival and metabolic activity in order to identify a potential metabolic signature associated with cisplatin response. DNA-bound cisplatin represents a small fraction of total intra-cellular cisplatin but generates a robust oxidative stress response. Neutralization of oxidative stress reverses cisplatin toxicity independent of the mechanism of cell death and TP53 mutational status. Cisplatin-induced oxidative stress triggers rapid shifts in carbon flux in 3 commonly utilized catabolic pathways: glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway and citric acid cycle. Among these metabolic shifts, decreased flux from pyruvate into lactate is the only metabolic effect consistently observed across multiple HNSCC cell lines of varying genomic backgrounds and may reflect differential cisplatin sensitivity. Oxidative stress is a critical component of cisplatin cytotoxicity in HNSCC and is reflected in acute changes in carbon flux from pyruvate into lactate. This suggests that lactate may contribute to a metabolic signature of acute cisplatin toxicity, and could prove useful in optimizing cisplatin-based treatment regimens in HNSCC.
Publisher Correction: Learning the value of information and reward over time when solving exploration-exploitation problems
Authors: Cogliati Dezza Irene , Yu Angela J. , Cleeremans Axel , Alexander William
Published: March 2018

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Oxic Fe(III) reduction could have generated Fe(II) in the photic zone of Precambrian seawater
Authors: Swanner Elizabeth D. , Maisch Markus , Wu Wenfang , Kappler Andreas
Published: March 2018

Many marine Precambrian iron formations (IF) record deep anoxic seawater enriched in Fe(II) (i.e. ferruginous) overlain by mildly oxygenated surface water. This is reflected by iron-rich sediments forming in deep basins, and relatively iron-poor sediments forming in shallow, sunlit waters. Such an iron gradient is often interpreted as a redox interface where dissolved Fe(II) was oxidized and precipitated as Fe(III)-bearing minerals. As such, sedimentary iron enrichments are proxy to the progressive oxidation of the oceans through geological time. However, this interpretation is founded on the assumption that Fe(II) could not persist within an oxygenated water column. Here, we cultivated cyanobacteria in an illuminated column supplied with Fe(II)-rich seawater medium in a laboratory-scale analog of a continental margin supporting IF deposition. We first observed Fe(II) oxidation with oxygen, then biologically-mediated reduction of Fe(III) (oxyhydr)oxides, which maintained a pool of Fe(II) in the presence of oxygen. Such steady-state iron redox cycling may have maintained dissolved, and hence mobile Fe(II) in oxygenated seawater above ferruginous deep basins such as those inferred for many Precambrian IF.
Genetic diversity of the enterohaemolysin gene (ehxA) in non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains in China
Authors: Fu Shanshan , Bai Xiangning , Fan Ruyue , Sun Hui , Xu Yanmei , Xiong Yanwen
Published: March 2018

Non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is increasingly recognized as an important enteric foodborne pathogen. The hallmark of the disease is the production of Shiga toxins; however, there are other virulence factors that contribute to the pathogenesis of STEC. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and genetic diversity of the enterohaemolysin gene, ehxA, among non-O157 STEC strains from human, animal, and food sources. The ehxA gene was amplified from 138 (31.8%) of 434 non-O157 STEC strains, among which 36 unique ehxA sequences were identified. Based on ehxA sequence analysis, three phylogenetic ehxA groups (I II, and III) were determined. Correlations between ehxA groups and sources, serotypes, and virulent gene profiles were observed. The ehxA group II strains were mostly diarrhoeal patient-derived and may demonstrate higher pathogenic potential compared with the ehxA group I and group III strains. Five types of replicons (I1-Ig, FIB, K, F, and B/O) were identified in the 138 ehxA-positive strains, and 3.6%, 5.8%, and 52.2% of the strains harboured toxB, katP and espP genes, respectively, implying marked genetic diversity of ehxA containing plasmids in non-O157 STEC strains. Sequence-based ehxA genotyping might be important in modern strain typing and in epidemiological surveillance of non-O157 STEC infections.
Quantum man-in-the-middle attack on the calibration process of quantum key distribution
Authors: Fei Yang-Yang , Meng Xiang-Dong , Gao Ming , Wang Hong , Ma Zhi
Published: March 2018

Quantum key distribution (QKD) protocol has been proved to provide unconditionally secure key between two remote legitimate users in theory. Key distribution signals are transmitted in a quantum channel which is established by the calibration process to meet the requirement of high count rate and low error rate. All QKD security proofs implicitly assume that the quantum channel has been established securely. However, the eavesdropper may attack the calibration process to break the security assumption of QKD and provide precondition to steal information about the final key successfully. In this paper, we reveal the security risk of the calibration process of a passive-basis-choice BB84 QKD system by launching a quantum man-in-the-middle attack which intercepts all calibration signals and resends faked ones. Large temporal bit-dependent or basis-dependent detector efficiency mismatch can be induced. Then we propose a basis-dependent detector efficiency mismatch (BEM) based faked states attack on a single photon BB84 QKD to stress the threat of BEM. Moreover, the security of single photon QKD systems with BEM is studied simply and intuitively. Two effective countermeasures are suggested to remove the general security risk of the calibration process.
Whole transcriptome profiling of Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease patients provides insights into the molecular changes involved in the disease
Authors: Annese Anita , Manzari Caterina , Lionetti Claudia , Picardi Ernesto , Horner David S. , Chiara Matteo , Caratozzolo Mariano Francesco , Tullo Apollonia , Fosso Bruno , Pesole Graziano , D’Erchia Anna Maria
Published: March 2018

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia affecting the elderly population worldwide. We have performed a comprehensive transcriptome profiling of Late-Onset AD (LOAD) patients using second generation sequencing technologies, identifying 2,064 genes, 47 lncRNAs and 4 miRNAs whose expression is specifically deregulated in the hippocampal region of LOAD patients. Moreover, analyzing the hippocampal, temporal and frontal regions from the same LOAD patients, we identify specific sets of deregulated miRNAs for each region, and we confirm that the miR-132/212 cluster is deregulated in each of these regions in LOAD patients, consistent with these miRNAs playing a role in AD pathogenesis. Notably, a luciferase assay indicates that miR-184 is able to target the 3’UTR NR4A2 - which is known to be involved in cognitive functions and long-term memory and whose expression levels are inversely correlated with those of miR-184 in the hippocampus. Finally, RNA editing analysis  reveals a general RNA editing decrease in LOAD hippocampus, with 14 recoding sites significantly and differentially edited in 11 genes. Our data underline specific transcriptional changes in LOAD brain and provide an important source of information for understanding the molecular changes characterizing LOAD progression.
A Novel Role of Irbesartan in Gastroprotection against Indomethacin-Induced Gastric Injury in Rats: Targeting DDAH/ADMA and EGFR/ERK Signaling
Authors: Shahin Nancy N. , Abdelkader Noha F. , Safar Marwa M.
Published: March 2018

The advent of angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers (ARBs) as intriguing gastroprotective candidates and the superior pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics displayed by irbesartan compared to many other ARBs raised the interest to investigate its gastroprotective potential in a rat model of gastric injury. Irbesartan (50 mg/Kg) was orally administered to male Wistar rats once daily for 14 days; thereafter gastric injury was induced by indomethacin (60 mg/Kg, p.o). Irbesartan reduced gastric ulcer index, gastric acidity, and ameliorated indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal apoptotic and inflammatory aberrations, as demonstrated by hampering caspase-3, prostaglandin E2 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels and cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA expression. This ARB increased mucosal dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase-1 (DDAH-1) gene expression and decreased elevated levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mRNA and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (pERK1/2). Histopathological evaluation corroborated biochemical findings. Overall efficacy of irbesartan was comparable to ranitidine, the widely used H2 receptor blocker. In conclusion, irbesartan exerts significant gastroprotection against indomethacin-induced mucosal damage via acid-inhibitory, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and extracellular matrix remodeling mechanisms that are probably mediated, at least partly, by down-regulating DDAH/ADMA and EGFR/ERK1/2 signaling.
Allele-specific expression in a family quartet with autism reveals mono-to-biallelic switch and novel transcriptional processes of autism susceptibility genes
Authors: Lin Chun-Yen , Chang Kai-Wei , Lin Chia-Yi , Wu Jia-Ying , Coon Hilary , Huang Pei-Hsin , Ho Hong-Nerng , Akbarian Schahram , Gau Susan Shur-Fen , Huang Hsien-Sung
Published: March 2018

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder, and the exact causal mechanism is unknown. Dysregulated allele-specific expression (ASE) has been identified in persons with ASD; however, a comprehensive analysis of ASE has not been conducted in a family quartet with ASD. To fill this gap, we analyzed ASE using genomic DNA from parent and offspring and RNA from offspring’s postmortem prefrontal cortex (PFC); one of the two offspring had been diagnosed with ASD. DNA- and RNA-sequencing revealed distinct ASE patterns from the PFC of both offspring. However, only the PFC of the offspring with ASD exhibited a mono-to-biallelic switch for LRP2BP and ZNF407. We also identified a novel site of RNA-editing in KMT2C in addition to new monoallelically-expressed genes and miRNAs. Our results demonstrate the prevalence of ASE in human PFC and ASE abnormalities in the PFC of a person with ASD. Taken together, these findings may provide mechanistic insights into the pathogenesis of ASD.
Human tactile detection of within- and inter-finger spatiotemporal phase shifts of low-frequency vibrations
Authors: Kuroki Scinob , Nishida Shin’ya
Published: March 2018

When we touch an object, the skin copies its surface shape/texture, and this deformation pattern shifts according to the objects movement. This shift pattern directly encodes spatio-temporal “motion” information of the event, and has been detected in other modalities (e.g., inter-aural time differences for audition and first-order motion for vision). Since previous studies suggested that mechanoreceptor-afferent channels with small receptive field and slow temporal characteristics contribute to tactile motion perception, we tried to tap the spatio-temporal processor using low-frequency sine-waves as primitive probes in our previous study. However, we found that asynchrony of sine-wave pair presented on adjacent fingers was difficult to detect. Here, to take advantage of the small receptive field, we investigated within-finger motion and found above threshold performance when observers touched localized sine-wave stimuli with one finger. Though observers could not perceptually discriminate rightward from leftward motion, the adaptation occurred in a direction-sensitive way: the motion/asynchronous detection was impaired by adapting to asynchronous stimuli moving in the same direction. These findings are consistent with a possibility that human can directly encode short-range spatio-temporal patterns of skin deformation by using phase-shifted low-frequency components, in addition to detecting short- and long-range motion using energy shifts of high-frequency components.
Halocarbons as hydrogen bond acceptors: a spectroscopic study of haloethylbenzenes (PhCH2CH2X, X = F, Cl, Br) and their hydrate clusters
Authors: Robertson Patrick A. , Villani Luigi , Dissanayake Uresha L. M. , Duncan Luke F. , Abbott Belinda M. , Wilson David J. D. , Robertson Evan G.
Published: March 2018

The hydrogen bond acceptor strength of a series of halocarbons is studied by electronic and vibrational spectroscopy.
Clarifying the role of cryo- and lyo-protectants in the biopreservation of proteins
Authors: Arsiccio Andrea , Pisano Roberto
Published: March 2018

We discovered that the interaction of stabilizers with specific amino acid sequences of proteins is a crucial issue in biopreservation.
Interaction of gas phase copper(ii) acetylacetonate with slow electrons
Authors: Kopyra Janina , Rabilloud Franck , Abdoul-Carime Hassan
Published: March 2018

Understanding the fundamental processes underlying the interaction of organometallic compounds with low energy electrons is desirable for optimizing methodologies for nanoscale applications.
Li deposition and desolvation with electron transfer at a silicon/propylene-carbonate interface: transition-state and free-energy profiles by large-scale first-principles molecular dynamics
Authors: Ohwaki Tsukuru , Ozaki Taisuke , Okuno Yukihiro , Ikeshoji Tamio , Imai Hideto , Otani Minoru
Published: March 2018

We report the result of a large-scale first-principles molecular dynamics simulation under different electric biases performed to understand the charge transfer process coupling with lithium deposition and desolvation processes.
Citrus reticulatapeel oil inhibits non-small cell lung cancer cell proliferation in culture and implanted in nude mice
Authors: Castro María Agustina , Rodenak-Kladniew Boris , Massone Adriana , Polo Mónica , García de Bravo Margarita , Crespo Rosana
Published: March 2018

Mandarin peel oil exerts an antiproliferative effect onin vitroandin vivohuman tumour cells without toxicity effects.
Water soluble compounds ofRosmarinus officinalisL. improve the oxidative and inflammatory states of rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis
Authors: de Almeida Gonçalves Geferson , de Sá-Nakanishi Anacharis B. , Comar Jurandir F. , Bracht Lívia , Dias Maria Inês , Barros Lillian , Peralta Rosane M. , Ferreira Isabel C. F. R. , Bracht Adelar
Published: March 2018

Water soluble compounds of rosemary leaves attenuate oxidative stress and inflammation in arthritic rats.
A photonic sintering derived Ag flake/nanoparticle-based highly sensitive stretchable strain sensor for human motion monitoring
Authors: Kim Inhyuk , Woo Kyoohee , Zhong Zhaoyang , Ko Pyungsam , Jang Yunseok , Jung Minhun , Jo Jeongdai , Kwon Sin , Lee Seung-Hyun , Lee Sungwon , Youn Hongseok , Moon Jooho
Published: March 2018

A highly stretchable sensor with excellent sensitivity was obtained using an Ag flake/Ag NC hybrid by an intense pulsed light sintering process.
Surfactant-free one-pot synthesis of CeO2, TiO2 and Ti@Ce oxide nanoparticles for the ultrafast removal of Cr(vi) from aqueous media
Authors: Mishra Prashant Kumar , Kumar Rakesh , Rai Pramod Kumar
Published: March 2018

Cerium oxide (CeO2), titanium oxide (TiO2) and titanium oxide impregnated with cerium oxide (Ti@Ce oxide) nanoparticles were synthesized using a simple one-pot surfactant-free method.
Electronic metal–organic framework sensors
Authors: Chidambaram Arunraj , Stylianou Kyriakos C.
Published: March 2018

This review provides an overview on the different types of electronic MOF sensors used for the detection of molecules in the gas/vapour phase and how to assess their performances.
The stability of hollow nanoparticles and the simulation temperature ramp
Authors: Reyes Paula N. , Valencia Felipe J. , Vega Hector , Ruestes Carlos , Rogan José , Valdivia J. A. , Kiwi Miguel
Published: March 2018

Hollow nanoparticles (hNPs) are of interest because their large cavities and small thickness give rise to a large surface to volume ratio.
Phytoplankton nutrient dynamics and flow cytometry based population study of a eutrophic wetland habitat in eastern India, a Ramsar site
Authors: Singha Roy Anindita , Gorain Prakash Chandra , Paul Ishita , Sengupta Sarban , Mondal Pronoy Kanti , Pal Ruma
Published: March 2018

Phytoplankton diversity, their abundance based on flow cytometric (FCM) analysis and seasonal nutrient dynamics were investigated from a waste water fed wetland of Eastern India (88° 24.641′E and 22° 33.115′N).
Plasmon-activated water effectively relieves hepatic oxidative damage resulting from chronic sleep deprivation
Authors: Chen Hsiao-Chien , Cheng Chung-Yi , Chen Li-You , Chang Chun-Chao , Yang Chih-Ping , Mai Fu-Der , Liao Wen-Chieh , Chang Hung-Ming , Liu Yu-Chuan
Published: March 2018

Intrinsic anti-oxidative activity of PAW protects the liver from CSD-induced oxidative damage.
High-resolution X-ray diffraction determination of the electron density of 1-(8-PhSC10H6)SS(C10H6SPh-8′)-1′ with the QTAIM approach: evidence for S4 σ(4c–6e) at the naphthalene peri-positions
Authors: Tsubomoto Yutaka , Hayashi Satoko , Nakanishi Waro , Mapp Lucy K. , Coles Simon J.
Published: March 2018

The nature of S4 σ(4c–6e) at the 1,8-positions of naphthalene is elucidated via a high-resolution X-ray method with the QTAIM approach.
The synergistic effect of cobalt oxide and Gd-CeO2 dual infiltration in LSCF/CGO cathodes
Authors: Tomov R. I. , Mitchel-Williams T. B. , Maher R. , Kerherve G. , Cohen L. , Payne D. J. , Kumar R. V. , Glowacki B. A.
Published: March 2018

The synergistic effect of cobalt oxide and Gd-CeO2 dual infiltration on SrO segregation in LSCF/CGO cathodes via commercial inkjet printing infiltration.
Silver ethynide clusters constructed with fluorinated β-diketonate ligands
Authors: Jin Jun-Ling , Shen Yang-Lin , Xie Yun-Peng , Lu Xing
Published: March 2018

Phosphonate can act as the intermediate connector to link two silver ethynide clusters functionalized by hfac ligands together to enlarge the silver cluster.
Long-distance perturbation on Schiff base–counterion interactions by His30 and the extracellular Na+-binding site in Krokinobacter rhodopsin 2
Authors: Shigeta Arisu , Ito Shota , Kaneko Rina , Tomida Sahoko , Inoue Keiichi , Kandori Hideki , Kawamura Izuru
Published: March 2018

Proton pumping ability of a light-driven Na+ pumping Krokinobacter rhodopsin 2 (KR2) is inhibited by H30A and lack of bound Na+ at extracellular site.
Strengths of non-covalent interactions in hydrogen-bonded complexes B⋯HX and halogen-bonded complexes B⋯XY (X, Y = F, Cl): an ab initio investigation
Authors: Alkorta Ibon , Legon Anthony
Published: March 2018

The intermolecular quadratic stretching force constants kcalc.σ of a series of hydrogen-bonded and halogen bonded complexes B⋯HX and B⋯XY, where B is N2, CO, HCCH, C2H4, H2S, PH3, HCN, or NH3.
Mn2+ complexes of open-chain ligands with a pyridine backbone: less donor atoms lead to higher kinetic inertness
Authors: Laine Sophie , Bonnet Célia S. , Kálmán Ferenc K. , Garda Zoltán , Pallier Agnès , Caillé Fabien , Suzenet Franck , Tircsó Gyula , Tóth Éva
Published: March 2018

The loss of a coordinating donor atom in the ligand leads to lower thermodynamic stability, but higher kinetic inertness of Mn2+ complexes.
Light trapping in thin film silicon solar cells via phase separated disordered nanopillars
Authors: Donie Yidenekachew J. , Smeets Michael , Egel Amos , Lentz Florian , Preinfalk Jan B. , Mertens Adrian , Smirnov Vladimir , Lemmer Uli , Bittkau Karsten , Gomard Guillaume
Published: March 2018

Disordered nanopillars fabricated by polymer blend lithography are used in light scattering reflectors to improve light absorption in thin-film photovoltaics.
Electrocatalytic performance of ultrasmall Mo2C affected by different transition metal dopants in hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Yu Feiyang , Gao Ya , Lang Zhongling , Ma Yuanyuan , Yin Liying , Du Jing , Tan Huaqiao , Wang Yonghui , Li Yangguang
Published: March 2018

A series of nanoscale TM-Mo2C@C electrocatalysts with similar size, morphology, and TM/Mo component ratios were prepared, revealing the effects of various TM dopants on catalytic activity of the Mo2C for HER.
Internalization, cytotoxicity, oxidative stress and inflammation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in human endothelial cells: influence of pre-incubation with bovine serum albumin
Authors: Long Jimin , Li Xianqiang , Kang Yang , Ding Yanhuai , Gu Zhipeng , Cao Yi
Published: March 2018

When entering circulation, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) will inevitably adsorb proteins, which can consequently influence their toxicity to cells lining human blood vessels.
Electrospun nanofiber templated assembly of hybrid nanoparticles
Authors: Liu Zhicheng , Yan Zhaodong , Bai Lu
Published: March 2018

Hybrid noble metal nanoparticles could be readily assembled both into and onto electrospun nanofibers.
Maleimide end-functionalized poly(2-oxazoline)s by the functional initiator route: synthesis and (bio)conjugation
Authors: Gil Alvaradejo Gabriela , Glassner Mathias , Hoogenboom Richard , Delaittre Guillaume
Published: March 2018

A new route for the synthesis of polyoxazolines with a maleimide end group is reported using a functional initiator.
An efficient and scalable synthesis of potent TLR2 agonistic PAM2CSK4
Authors: Kaur Arshpreet , Poonam Poonam , Patil Madhuri T. , Mehta Surinder K. , Salunke Deepak B.
Published: March 2018

Diacylated PAM2CSK4, a highly expensive lipopeptide with desirable aqueous solubility and a broad spectrum of cytokine/chemokine induction is a most potent dual (human and murine) Toll-Like Receptor-2 (TLR2) agonist.
Developing the structure–property relationship to design solid state multi-stimuli responsive materials and their potential applications in different fields
Authors: Roy Bibhisan , Reddy Mallu Chenna , Hazra Partha
Published: March 2018

Establishing the structure–property relationship for multi-stimuli responsive mechanochromic materials based on charge transfer luminogens.
A full monolayer of superoxide: oxygen activation on the unmodified Ca3Ru2O7(001) surface
Authors: Halwidl Daniel , Mayr-Schmölzer Wernfried , Setvin Martin , Fobes David , Peng Jin , Mao Zhiqiang , Schmid Michael , Mittendorfer Florian , Redinger Josef , Diebold Ulrike
Published: March 2018

Ca3Ru2O7(001), an oxide surface without dopants, defects, or low-coordinated sites, readily activates molecular oxygen to O2−.
A flexible polymer-based Li–air battery using a reduced graphene oxide/Li composite anode
Authors: Guo Ziyang , Li Jinli , Xia Yuan , Chen Chao , Wang Fengmei , Tamirat Andebet Gedamu , Wang Yonggang , Xia Yongyao , Wang Lei , Feng Shouhua
Published: March 2018

Belt-shaped Li–air batteries using 4% SiO2–LiI-GPE with an rGO/Li anode display superior electrochemical performance under different harsh bending conditions.
Hierarchical theranostic nanomedicine: MRI contrast agents as a physical vehicle anchor for high drug loading and triggered on-demand delivery
Authors: Liu Guangqin , Deng Jian , Liu Fang , Wang Zheng , Peer Dan , Zhao Yanjun
Published: March 2018

A hierarchical hybrid nanocarrier enables an extremely high drug loading by interfacial deposition, pH-dependent drug release and MRI signal amplification.
Masked Speech Recognition and Reading Ability in School-Age Children: Is There a Relationship?
Authors: Miller Gabrielle , Lewis Barbara , Benchek Penelope , Buss Emily , Calandruccio Lauren
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The relationship between reading (decoding) skills, phonological processing abilities, and masked speech recognition in typically developing children was explored. This experiment was designed to evaluate the relationship between phonological processing and decoding abilities and 2 aspects of masked speech recognition in typically developing children: (a) the ability to benefit from temporal and spectral modulations within a noise masker and (b) the masking exerted by a speech masker.

Method

Forty-two typically developing 3rd- and 4th-grade children with normal hearing, ranging in age from 8;10 to 10;6 years (mean age = 9;2 years,
SD
= 0.5 months), completed sentence recognition testing in 4 different maskers: steady-state noise, temporally modulated noise, spectrally modulated noise, and two-talker speech. Children also underwent assessment of phonological processing abilities and assessments of single-word decoding. As a comparison group, 15 adults with normal hearing also completed speech-in-noise testing.

Results

Speech recognition thresholds varied between approximately 3 and 7 dB across children, depending on the masker condition. Compared to adults, performance in the 2-talker masker was relatively consistent across children. Furthermore, decreasing the signal-to-noise ratio had a more precipitously deleterious effect on children's speech recognition in the 2-talker masker than was observed for adults. For children, individual differences in speech recognition threshold were not predicted by phonological awareness or decoding ability in any masker condition.

Conclusions

No relationship was found between phonological awareness and/or decoding ability and a child's ability to benefit from spectral or temporal modulations. In addition, phonological awareness and/or decoding ability was not related to speech recognition in a 2-talker masker. Last, these data suggest that the between-listeners variability often observed in 2-talker maskers for adults may be smaller for children. The reasons for this child–adult difference need to be further explored.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.5913547
One-Pot Highly Regioselective Synthesis of Indole-Fused Pyridazino[4,5-b][1,4]benzoxazepin-4(3H)-ones by a Smiles Rearrangement
Authors: Jiang Xiaolei , Hu Fangdong
Published: March 2018

A simple and convenient synthesis of indole-fused pyridazino[4,5-b][1,4]benzoxazepin-4(3H)-ones is described. A range of 2-(1H-indol-2-yl)phenols and 4,5-dichloropyridazin-3-ones are compatible with this reaction. A Smiles rearrangement is proposed as a key step in the highly regioselective construction of the products. The easy availability of the starting materials makes this an appealing method in ­organic synthesis.