bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How does hormesis impact biology, toxicology, and medicine?
Authors: Calabrese Edward J. , Mattson Mark P.
Published: September 2017

Hormesis refers to adaptive responses of biological systems to moderate environmental or self-imposed challenges through which the system improves its functionality and/or tolerance to more severe challenges. The past two decades have witnessed an expanding recognition of the concept of hormesis, elucidation of its evolutionary foundations, and underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms, and practical applications to improve quality of life. To better inform future basic and applied research, we organized and re-evaluated recent hormesis-related findings with the intent of incorporating new knowledge of biological mechanisms, and providing fundamental insights into the biological, biomedical and risk assessment implications of hormesis. As the literature on hormesis is expanding rapidly into new areas of basic and applied research, it is important to provide refined conceptualization of hormesis to aid in designing and interpreting future studies. Here, we establish a working compartmentalization of hormesis into ten categories that provide an integrated understanding of the biological meaning and applications of hormesis.
Erratum: Identification of a six-lncRNA signature associated with recurrence of ovarian cancer
Authors: Yang Kai , Hou Yan , Li Ang , Li Zhenzi , Wang Wenjie , Xie Hongyu , Rong Zhiwei , Lou Ge , Li Kang
Published: September 2017

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML version of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.
Pollination of Ficus elastica: India rubber re-establishes sexual reproduction in Singapore
Authors: Harrison Rhett D. , Chong Kwek Yan , Pham Nguyet Minh , Yee Alex T. K. , Yeo Chow Khoon , Tan Hugh T. W. , Rasplus Jean-Yves
Published: September 2017

Ficus elastica, otherwise known as India Rubber (although its geographical origins are unclear), was an important source of latex in the early 19th century and was widely cultivated in tropical Asia. Like all figs, F. elastica is dependent on tiny, highly specific wasps for pollination, and detailed studies based out of Singapore in the 1930s suggested that through the loss of its pollinator F. elastica was extinct in the wild. However, around 2005 wild seedlings of F. elastica began appearing in Singapore. We identified the pollinator as Platyscapa clavigera, which was originally described from F. elastica in Bogor in 1885. A visit to Bogor Botanical Gardens revealed that not only was F. elastica being pollinated by P. clavigera in the gardens, but there was clear evidence it had been reproducing naturally there over many decades. Although Singapore has a native fig flora of over 50 species, F. elastica went unpollinated for at least 70 years and probably from the time it was introduced during the 19th century. These observations illustrate the extraordinary specificity of this interaction and, through the fig’s ability to wait for its pollinators, demonstrates one way in which such highly specific interactions can be evolutionarily stable.
Role of Dopamine D2 Receptor in Stress-Induced Myelin Loss
Authors: Choi Mi-Hyun , Na Ji Eun , Yoon Ye Ran , Lee Hyo Jin , Yoon Sehyoun , Rhyu Im Joo , Baik Ja-Hyun
Published: September 2017

Dopaminergic systems play a major role in reward-related behavior and dysregulation of dopamine (DA) systems can cause several mental disorders, including depression. We previously reported that dopamine D2 receptor knockout (D2R−/−) mice display increased anxiety and depression-like behaviors upon chronic stress. Here, we observed that chronic stress caused myelin loss in wild-type (WT) mice, while the myelin level in D2R−/− mice, which was already lower than that in WT mice, was not affected upon stress. Fewer mature oligodendrocytes (OLs) were observed in the corpus callosum of stressed WT mice, while in D2R−/− mice, both the control and stressed group displayed a decrease in the number of mature OLs. We observed a decrease in the number of active β-catenin (ABC)-expressing and TCF4-expressing cells among OL lineage cells in the corpus callosum of stressed WT mice, while such regulation was not found in D2R−/− mice. Administration of lithium normalized the behavioral impairments and myelin damage induced by chronic stress in WT mice, and restored the number of ABC-positive and TCF4-positive OLs, while such effect was not found in D2R−/− mice. Together, our findings indicate that chronic stress induces myelin loss through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in association with DA signaling through D2R.
MAD2B acts as a negative regulatory partner of TCF4 on proliferation in human dermal papilla cells
Authors: Yu Nanlan , Song Zhiqiang , Zhang Kezhou , Yang Xichuan
Published: September 2017

Dermal papilla cells (DPCs) are important components of hair follicles and play a critical role in hair follicle development. However, the mechanisms by which DPCs induce hair follicle development remain unclear. In the present study, we identified the mitotic arrest deficient protein MAD2B as a modifier of DPCs. Overexpression of MAD2B inhibited DPC aggregative growth and proliferation induced by the Wnt signaling activator T cell factor 4 (TCF4), and decreased TCF4-induced expression and the release of hair growth-related cytokines, including hepatocyte growth factor, insulin-like growth factor-1, and vascular endothelial growth factor in DPCs. In contrast, knockdown of MAD2B promoted TCF4-induced DPC proliferation, but did not affect the expression and secretion of cytokines by TCF4-induced DPCs. These results suggest a functional antagonism between MAD2B and TCF4 in DPC-induced hair follicle development. Mechanistically, MAD2B physically interacted with TCF4 to repress TCF4 transcriptional activity via β-catenin mediation, leading to reduced β-catenin/TCF4-dependent transactivation and Wnt signaling activity. These results demonstrate, for the first time, that MAD2B plays a negative role in TCF4-induced DPC growth and proliferation.
The Chinese herbal formula Free and Easy Wanderer ameliorates oxidative stress through KEAP1-NRF2/HO-1 pathway
Authors: Hong Chunlan , Cao Jingming , Wu Ching-Fen , Kadioglu Onat , Schüffler Anja , Kauhl Ulrich , Klauck Sabine M. , Opatz Till , Thines Eckhard , Paul Norbert W. , Efferth Thomas
Published: September 2017

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) gains a lot of attention due to high prevalence and strong psychological upset, but the etiology remains undefined and effective treatment is quite limited. Growing studies demonstrated the involvement of oxidative stress in various psychiatry diseases, suggesting anti-oxidation therapy might be a strategy for PTSD treatment.Free and Easy Wanderer(FAEW) is a poly-herbal drug clinically used in China for hundreds of years in the treatment of psychiatric disorder. We hypothesized that FAEW exerts clinical effects through the activity against oxidative stress with fluoxetine as antidepressant control drug. Our results revealed that FAEW significantly reduced both endogenous and H2O2-induced exogenous ROS levels in the human glioblastoma T98G and neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell lines. Transcriptome-wide microarray analysis indicated NRF2/HO-1 as the common target of FAEW and fluoxetine. Western blotting assay proved that the two drugs promoted NRF2 release from KEAP1 in the cytoplasm and translocation to the nuclei in a KEAP1-dependent manner, the expression of the protein HO-1 increased accordingly, suggesting the participation of KEAP1-NRF2/HO-1 pathway. The chemical constituents of FAEW (i.e. paeoniflorin, baicalin) bound to KEAP1in silico, which hence might be the effective substances of FAEW. In conclusion, FAEW counteracted H2O2-induced oxidative stress through KEAP1-NRF2/HO-1 pathway.
Vδ2+ T cell response to malaria correlates with protection from infection but is attenuated with repeated exposure
Authors: Jagannathan Prasanna , Lutwama Fredrick , Boyle Michelle J. , Nankya Felistas , Farrington Lila A. , McIntyre Tara I. , Bowen Katherine , Naluwu Kate , Nalubega Mayimuna , Musinguzi Kenneth , Sikyomu Esther , Budker Rachel , Katureebe Agaba , Rek John , Greenhouse Bryan , Dorsey Grant , Kamya Moses R. , Feeney Margaret E.
Published: September 2017

Vδ2+γδ T cells are semi-innate T cells that expand markedly followingP. falciparum (Pf)infection in naïve adults, but are lost and become dysfunctional among children repeatedly exposed to malaria. The role of these cells in mediating clinical immunity (i.e. protection against symptoms) to malaria remains unclear. We measured Vδ2+T cell absolute counts at acute and convalescent malaria timepoints (n = 43), and Vδ2+counts, cellular phenotype, and cytokine production followingin vitrostimulation at asymptomatic visits (n = 377), among children aged 6 months to 10 years living in Uganda. Increasing age was associated with diminishedin vivoexpansion following malaria, and lower Vδ2 absolute counts overall, among children living in a high transmission setting. Microscopic parasitemia and expression of the immunoregulatory markers Tim-3 and CD57 were associated with diminished Vδ2+T cell pro-inflammatory cytokine production. Higher Vδ2 pro-inflammatory cytokine production was associated with protection from subsequentPfinfection, but also with an increased odds of symptoms once infected. Vδ2+T cells may play a role in preventing malaria infection in children living in endemic settings; progressive loss and dysfunction of these cells may represent a disease tolerance mechanism that contributes to the development of clinical immunity to malaria.
Toxoplasma Modulates Signature Pathways of Human Epilepsy, Neurodegeneration & Cancer
Authors: Ngô Huân M. , Zhou Ying , Lorenzi Hernan , Wang Kai , Kim Taek-Kyun , Zhou Yong , El Bissati Kamal , Mui Ernest , Fraczek Laura , Rajagopala Seesandra V. , Roberts Craig W. , Henriquez Fiona L. , Montpetit Alexandre , Blackwell Jenefer M. , Jamieson Sarra E. , Wheeler Kelsey , Begeman Ian J. , Naranjo-Galvis Carlos , Alliey-Rodriguez Ney , Davis Roderick G. , Soroceanu Liliana , Cobbs Charles , Steindler Dennis A. , Boyer Kenneth , Noble A. Gwendolyn , Swisher Charles N. , Heydemann Peter T. , Rabiah Peter , Withers Shawn , Soteropoulos Patricia , Hood Leroy , McLeod Rima
Published: September 2017

One third of humans are infected lifelong with the brain-dwelling, protozoan parasite,Toxoplasma gondii. Approximately fifteen million of these have congenital toxoplasmosis. Although neurobehavioral disease is associated with seropositivity, causality is unproven. To better understand what this parasite does to human brains, we performed a comprehensive systems analysis of the infected brain: We identified susceptibility genes for congenital toxoplasmosis in our cohort of infected humans and found these genes are expressed in human brain. Transcriptomic and quantitative proteomic analyses of infected human, primary, neuronal stem and monocytic cells revealed effects on neurodevelopment and plasticity in neural, immune, and endocrine networks. These findings were supported by identification of protein and miRNA biomarkers in sera of ill children reflecting brain damage andT. gondiiinfection. These data were deconvoluted using three systems biology approaches: “Orbital-deconvolution” elucidated upstream, regulatory pathways interconnecting human susceptibility genes, biomarkers, proteomes, and transcriptomes. “Cluster-deconvolution” revealed visual protein-protein interaction clusters involved in processes affecting brain functions and circuitry, including lipid metabolism, leukocyte migration and olfaction. Finally, “disease-deconvolution” identified associations between the parasite-brain interactions and epilepsy, movement disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, and cancer. This “reconstruction-deconvolution” logic provides templates of progenitor cells’ potentiating effects, and components affecting human brain parasitism and diseases.
Under-ice availability of phytoplankton lipids is key to freshwater zooplankton winter survival
Authors: Grosbois Guillaume , Mariash Heather , Schneider Tobias , Rautio Milla
Published: September 2017

Shortening winter ice-cover duration in lakes highlights an urgent need for research focused on under-ice ecosystem dynamics and their contributions to whole-ecosystem processes. Low temperature, reduced light and consequent changes in autotrophic and heterotrophic resources alter the diet for long-lived consumers, with consequences on their metabolism in winter. We show in a survival experiment that the copepod Leptodiaptomus minutus in a boreal lake does not survive five months under the ice without food. We then report seasonal changes in phytoplankton, terrestrial and bacterial fatty acid (FA) biomarkers in seston and in four zooplankton species for an entire year. Phytoplankton FA were highly available in seston (2.6 µg L−1) throughout the first month under the ice. Copepods accumulated them in high quantities (44.8 µg mg dry weight−1), building lipid reserves that comprised up to 76% of body mass. Terrestrial and bacterial FA were accumulated only in low quantities (<2.5 µg mg dry weight−1). The results highlight the importance of algal FA reserve accumulation for winter survival as a key ecological process in the annual life cycle of the freshwater plankton community with likely consequences to the overall annual production of aquatic FA for higher trophic levels and ultimately for human consumption.
Grip force when reaching with target uncertainty provides evidence for motor optimization over averaging
Authors: Nashed Joseph Y. , Diamond Jonathan S. , Gallivan Jason P. , Wolpert Daniel M. , Flanagan J. Randall
Published: September 2017

When presented with competing potential reach targets and required to launch a movement before knowing which one will be cued as the target, people initially reach in the average target direction. Although this spatial averaging could arise from executing a weighted average of motor plans for the potential targets, it could also arise from planning a single, optimal movement. To test between these alternatives we used a task in which participants were required to reach to either a single target or towards two potential targets while grasping an object. A robotic device applied a lateral elastic load to the object requiring large grip forces for reaches to targets either side of midline and a minimal grip force for midline movements. As expected, in trials with two targets located either side of midline, participants initially reached straight ahead. Critically, on these trials the initial grip force was minimal, appropriate for the midline movement, and not the average of the large grip forces required for movements to the individual targets. These results indicate that under conditions of target uncertainty, people do not execute an average of planned actions but rather a single movement that optimizes motor costs.
Responses of LAI to rainfall explain contrasting sensitivities to carbon uptake between forest and non-forest ecosystems in Australia
Authors: Li Longhui , Wang Ying-Ping , Beringer Jason , Shi Hao , Cleverly James , Cheng Lei , Eamus Derek , Huete Alfredo , Hutley Lindsay , Lu Xingjie , Piao Shilong , Zhang Lu , Zhang Yongqiang , Yu Qiang
Published: September 2017

Non-forest ecosystems (predominant in semi-arid and arid regions) contribute significantly to the increasing trend and interannual variation of land carbon uptake over the last three decades, yet the mechanisms are poorly understood. By analysing the flux measurements from 23 ecosystems in Australia, we found the the correlation between gross primary production (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (Re) was significant for non-forest ecosystems, but was not for forests. In non-forest ecosystems, both GPP and Re increased with rainfall, and, consequently net ecosystem production (NEP) increased with rainfall. In forest ecosystems, GPP and Re were insensitive to rainfall. Furthermore sensitivity of GPP to rainfall was dominated by the rainfall-driven variation of LAI rather GPP per unit LAI in non-forest ecosystems, which was not correctly reproduced by current land models, indicating that the mechanisms underlying the response of LAI to rainfall should be targeted for future model development.
Decoupled dynamic magnetic field measurements improves diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance images
Authors: Chu Ying-Hua , Hsu Yi-Cheng , Lin Fa-Hsuan
Published: September 2017

Field probes are miniature receiver coils with localized NMR-active samples inside. They are useful in monitoring magnetic field. This information can be used to improve magnetic resonance image quality. While field probes are coupled to each other marginally in most applications, this coupling can cause incorrect resonance frequency estimates and image reconstruction errors. Here, we propose a method to reduce the coupling between field probes in order to improve the accuracy of magnetic field estimation. An asymmetric sensitivity matrix describing the coupling between channels of field probes and NMR active droplets within field probes was empirically measured. Localized signal originating from each probe was derived from the product of the inverse of the sensitivity matrix and the coupled probe measurements. This method was used to estimate maps of dynamic magnetic fields in diffusion weighted MRI. The estimated fields using decoupled probe measurement led to images more robust to eddy currents caused by diffusion sensitivity gradients along different directions.
Oscillatory dynamics of p38 activity with transcriptional and translational time delays
Authors: Zhang Yuan , Liu Haihong , Yan Fang , Zhou Jin
Published: September 2017

Recent experimental evidence reports that oscillations of p38 MAPK (p38) activity would efficiently induce pro-inflammatory gene expression, which might be deleterious to immune systems and may even cause cellular damage and apoptosis. It is widely accepted now that transcriptional and translational delays are ubiquitous in gene expression, which can typically result in oscillatory responses of gene regulations. Consequently, delay-driven sustained oscillations in p38 activity (p38*) could in principle be commonplace. Nevertheless, so far the studies of the impact of such delays on p38* have been lacking both experimentally and theoretically. Here, we use experimental data to develop a delayed mathematical model, with the aim of understanding how such delays affect oscillatory behaviour on p38*. We analyze the stability and oscillation of the model with and without explicit time delays. We show that a sufficiently input stimulation strength is prerequisite for generating p38* oscillations, and that an optimal rate of model parameters is also essential to these oscillations. Moreover, we find that the time delays required for transcription and translation in mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 (MKP-1) gene expression can drive p38* to be oscillatory even when the concentration of p38* level is at a stable state. Furthermore, the length of these delays can determine the amplitude and period of the oscillations and can enormously extend the oscillatory ranges of model parameters. These results indicate that time delays in MKP-1 synthesis are required, albeit not sufficient, for p38* oscillations, which may lead to new insights related to p38 oscillations.
Rhus coriaria increases protein ubiquitination, proteasomal degradation and triggers non-canonical Beclin-1-independent autophagy and apoptotic cell death in colon cancer cells
Authors: Athamneh Khawlah , Hasasna Hussain El , Samri Halima Al , Attoub Samir , Arafat Kholoud , Benhalilou Nehla , Rashedi Asma Al , Dhaheri Yusra Al , AbuQamar Synan , Eid Ali , Iratni Rabah
Published: September 2017

Colorectal cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Here, we investigated the anticancer effect ofRhus coriariaextract (RCE) on HT-29 and Caco-2 human colorectal cancer cells. We found that RCE significantly inhibited the viability and colony growth of colon cancer cells. Moreover, RCE induced Beclin-1-independent autophagy and subsequent caspase-7-dependent apoptosis. Blocking of autophagy by chloroquine significantly reduced RCE-induced cell death, while blocking of apoptosis had no effect on RCE-induced cell death. Mechanistically, RCE inactivated the AKT/mTOR pathway by promoting the proteasome-dependent degradation of both proteins. Strikingly, we also found that RCE targeted Beclin-1, p53 and procaspase-3 to degradation. Proteasome inhibition by MG-132 not only restored these proteins to level comparable to control cells, but also reduced RCE-induced cell death and blocked the activation of autophagy and apoptosis. The proteasomal degradation of mTOR, which occurred only 3 hours post-RCE treatment was concomitant with an overall increase in the level of ubiquitinated proteins and translated stimulation of proteolysis by the proteasome. Our findings demonstrate thatRhus coriariapossesses strong anti-colon cancer activity through stimulation of proteolysis as well as induction of autophagic and apoptotic cell death, making it a potential and valuable source of novel therapeutic cancer drug.
STIM1-dependent Ca2+ signaling regulates podosome formation to facilitate cancer cell invasion
Authors: Chen Yun-Wen , Lai Chieh-Shan , Chen Yih-Fung , Chiu Wen-Tai , Chen Hong-Chen , Shen Meng-Ru
Published: September 2017

The clinical significance of STIM proteins and Orai Ca2+ channels in tumor progression has been demonstrated in different types of cancers. Podosomes are dynamic actin-rich cellular protrusions that facilitate cancer cell invasiveness by degrading extracellular matrix. Whether STIM1-dependent Ca2+ signaling facilitates cancer cell invasion through affecting podosome formation remains unclear. Here we show that the invasive fronts of cancer tissues overexpress STIM1, accompanied by active store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE). Interfering SOCE activity by SOCE inhibitors and STIM1 or Orai1 knockdown remarkably affects podosome rosettes formation. Mechanistically, STIM1-silencing significantly alters the podosome rosettes dynamics, shortens the maintenance phase of podosome rosettes and reduces cell invasiveness. The subsequently transient expression of STIM1 cDNA in STIM1-null (STIM1−/−) mouse embryo fibroblasts rescues the suppression of podosome formation, suggesting that STIM1-mediated SOCE activation directly regulates podosome formation. This study uncovers SOCE-mediated Ca2+ microdomain that is the molecular basis for Ca2+ sensitivity controlling podosome formation.
IL-37 is associated with osteoarthritis disease activity and suppresses proinflammatory cytokines production in synovial cells
Authors: Ding Liping , Hong Xiaoping , Sun Baodong , Huang Qin , Wang Xiaoqi , Liu Xiaokai , Li Lingyun , Huang Zhong , Liu Dongzhou
Published: September 2017

The objective of this study is to investigate the correlation between IL-37 level and osteoarthritis activity and to determine the anti-inflammatory effects of IL-37 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and synovial cells (SCs) from osteoarthritis (OA) patients, which including 32 patients with erosive inflammatory OA (EIOA) and 40 patients with primary generalized OA (PGOA), 40 age and sex matched healthy volunteers were recruited as healthy controls (HCs). The protein and relative mRNA levels of IL-37 were significant increased in the blood of EIOA patients compared with those of PGOA patients and HCs. Serum IL-37 levels of OA patients were positively correlated with VAS score, as well as with CRP, ESR in blood. Positive correlations were also observed among IL-37 with IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 in synovial cells. Furthermore, the expression of IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 in PBMCs and SCs from EIOA patients was suppressed by IL-37 in vitro. In conclusion, our results indicated that IL-37 increased in EIOA patients and was positively correlated with disease activity, the pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 in PBMCs and synovial cells from EIOA patients were restrained by recombinant IL-37. Thus, IL-37 may serve as a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of OA inflammation.
Two-dimensional Dirac particles in a Pöschl-Teller waveguide
Authors: Hartmann R. R. , Portnoi M. E.
Published: September 2017

We obtain exact solutions to the two-dimensional (2D) Dirac equation for the one-dimensional Pöschl-Teller potential which contains an asymmetry term. The eigenfunctions are expressed in terms of Heun confluent functions, while the eigenvalues are determined via the solutions of a simple transcendental equation. For the symmetric case, the eigenfunctions of the supercritical states are expressed as spheroidal wave functions, and approximate analytical expressions are obtained for the corresponding eigenvalues. A universal condition for any square integrable symmetric potential is obtained for the minimum strength of the potential required to hold a bound state of zero energy. Applications for smooth electron waveguides in 2D Dirac-Weyl systems are discussed.
Polycystin-1 inhibits eIF2α phosphorylation and cell apoptosis through a PKR-eIF2α pathway
Authors: Tang Yan , Wang Zuocheng , Yang JungWoo , Zheng Wang , Chen Di , Wu Guanqing , Sandford Richard , Tang Jingfeng , Chen Xing-Zhen
Published: September 2017

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is caused by mutations in PKD1 or PKD2 which encodes polycystin-1 (PC1) and polycystin-2, respectively. PC1 was previously shown to slow cell proliferation and inhibit apoptosis but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive or controversial. Here we showed in cultured mammalian cells and Pkd1 knockout mouse kidney epithelial cells that PC1 and its truncation mutant comprising the last five transmembrane segments and the intracellular C-terminus (PC1-5TMC) down-regulate the phosphorylation of protein kinase R (PKR) and its substrate eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha (eIF2α). PKR is known to be activated by interferons and dsRNAs, inhibits protein synthesis and induces apoptosis. By co-immunoprecipitation experiments we found that PC1 truncation mutants associate with PKR, or with PKR and its activator PACT. Further experiments showed that PC1 and PC1-5TMC reduce phosphorylation of eIF2α through inhibiting PKR phosphorylation. Our TUNEL experiments using tunicamycin, an apoptosis inducer, and GADD34, an inhibitor of eIF2α phosphorylation, demonstrated that PC1-5TMC inhibits apoptosis of HEK293T cells in a PKR-eIF2α-dependent manner, with concurrent up- and down-regulation of Bcl-2 and Bax, respectively, revealed by Western blotting. Involvement of PC1-regulated eIF2α phosphorylation and a PKR-eIF2α pathway in cell apoptosis may be an important part of the mechanism underlying ADPKD pathogenesis.
Production and Characteristics of a Novel Xylose- and Alkali-tolerant GH 43 β-xylosidase from Penicillium oxalicum for Promoting Hemicellulose Degradation
Authors: Ye Yanxin , Li Xuezhi , Zhao Jian
Published: September 2017

β-xylosidase is a pivotal enzyme for complete degradation of xylan in hemicelluloses of lignocelluloses, and the xylose- and alkali-tolerant β-xylosidase with high catalytic activity is very attractive for promoting enzymatic hydrolysis of alkaline-pretreated lignocellulose. In this study, a novel intracellular glycoside hydrolase family 43 β-xylosidase gene (xyl43) from Penicillium oxalicum 114-2 was successfully high-level overexpressed in Pichia pastoris, and the secreted enzyme was characterized. The β-xylosidase Xyl43 exhibited great pH stability and high catalytic activity in the range of pH 6.0 to 8.0, and high tolerance to xylose with the Ki value of 28.09 mM. The Xyl43 could effectively promote enzymatic degradation of different source of xylan and hemicellulose contained in alkaline-pretreated corn stover, and high conversion of xylan to xylose could be obtained.
Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase Maintains Glycolysis-driven Growth in Drosophila Tumors
Authors: Hussain Rashid , Shaukat Zeeshan , Khan Mahwish , Saint Robert , Gregory Stephen L.
Published: September 2017

Tumors frequently fail to pass on all their chromosomes correctly during cell division, and this chromosomal instability (CIN) causes irregular aneuploidy and oxidative stress in cancer cells. Our objective was to test knockdowns of metabolic enzymes in Drosophila to find interventions that could exploit the differences between normal and CIN cells to block CIN tumor growth without harming the host animal. We found that depleting by RNAi or feeding the host inhibitors against phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) was able to block the growth of CIN tissue in a brat tumor explant model. Increasing NAD+ or oxidising cytoplasmic NADH was able to rescue the growth of PEPCK depleted tumors, suggesting a problem in clearing cytoplasmic NADH. Consistent with this, blocking the glycerol-3-phosphate shuttle blocked tumor growth, as well as lowering ROS levels. This work suggests that proliferating CIN cells are particularly vulnerable to inhibition of PEPCK, or its metabolic network, because of their compromised redox status.
Enstrophy transport conditional on local flow topologies in different regimes of premixed turbulent combustion
Authors: Papapostolou Vassilios , Wacks Daniel H. , Chakraborty Nilanjan , Klein Markus , Im Hong G.
Published: September 2017

Enstrophy is an intrinsic feature of turbulent flows, and its transport properties are essential for the understanding of premixed flame-turbulence interaction. The interrelation between the enstrophy transport and flow topologies, which can be assigned to eight categories based on the three invariants of the velocity-gradient tensor, has been analysed here. The enstrophy transport conditional on flow topologies in turbulent premixed flames has been analysed using a Direct Numerical Simulation database representing the corrugated flamelets (CF), thin reaction zones (TRZ) and broken reaction zones (BRZ) combustion regimes. The flame in the CF regime exhibits considerable flame-generated enstrophy, and the dilatation rate and baroclinic torque contributions to the enstrophy transport act as leading order sink and source terms, respectively. Consequently, flow topologies associated with positive dilatation rate values, contribute significantly to the enstrophy transport in the CF regime. By contrast, enstrophy decreases from the unburned to the burned gas side for the cases representing the TRZ and BRZ regimes, with diminishing influences of dilatation rate and baroclinic torque. The enstrophy transport in the TRZ and BRZ regimes is governed by the vortex-stretching and viscous dissipation contributions, similar to non-reacting flows, and topologies existing for all values of dilatation rate remain significant contributors.
The Th1/Th17 balance dictates the fibrosis response in murine radiation-induced lung disease
Authors: Paun Alexandra , Bergeron Marie-Eve , Haston Christina K.
Published: September 2017

Radiotherapy can result in lung diseases pneumonitis or fibrosis dependent on patient susceptibility. Herein we used inbred and genetically altered mice to investigate whether the tissue adaptive immune response to radiation injury influences the development of radiation-induced lung disease. Six inbred mouse strains were exposed to 18 Gy whole thorax irradiation and upon respiratory distress strains prone to pneumonitis with fibrosis presented an increased pulmonary frequency of Thelper (Th)17 cells which was not evident in strains prone solely to pneumonitis. The contribution of Th17 cells to fibrosis development was supported as the known enhanced fibrosis of toll-like receptor 2&4 deficient mice, compared to C57BL/6J mice, occurred with earlier onset neutrophilia, and with increased levels of pulmonary Th17, but not Th1, cells following irradiation. Irradiated Il17−/− mice lacked Th17 cells, and were spared both fibrosis and pneumonitis, as they survived to the end of the experiment with a significantly increased pulmonary Th1 cell frequency, only. Interferon-γ−/− mice, deficient in Th1 cells, developed a significantly enhanced fibrosis response compared to that of C57BL/6J mice. The tissue adaptive immune response influences the pulmonary disease response to radiotherapy, as an increased Th17 cell frequency enhanced and a Th1 response spared, fibrosis in mice.
Genomic structure and evolution of the mating type locus in the green seaweed Ulva partita
Authors: Yamazaki Tomokazu , Ichihara Kensuke , Suzuki Ryogo , Oshima Kenshiro , Miyamura Shinichi , Kuwano Kazuyoshi , Toyoda Atsushi , Suzuki Yutaka , Sugano Sumio , Hattori Masahira , Kawano Shigeyuki
Published: September 2017

The evolution of sex chromosomes and mating loci in organisms with UV systems of sex/mating type determination in haploid phases via genes on UV chromosomes is not well understood. We report the structure of the mating type (MT) locus and its evolutionary history in the green seaweed Ulva partita, which is a multicellular organism with an isomorphic haploid-diploid life cycle and mating type determination in the haploid phase. Comprehensive comparison of a total of 12.0 and 16.6 Gb of genomic next-generation sequencing data for mt− and mt+ strains identified highly rearranged MT loci of 1.0 and 1.5 Mb in size and containing 46 and 67 genes, respectively, including 23 gametologs. Molecular evolutionary analyses suggested that the MT loci diverged over a prolonged period in the individual mating types after their establishment in an ancestor. A gene encoding an RWP-RK domain-containing protein was found in the mt− MT locus but was not an ortholog of the chlorophycean mating type determination gene MID. Taken together, our results suggest that the genomic structure and its evolutionary history in the U. partita MT locus are similar to those on other UV chromosomes and that the MT locus genes are quite different from those of Chlorophyceae.
Red and green colors emitting spherical-shaped calcium molybdate nanophosphors for enhanced latent fingerprint detection
Authors: Bharat L. Krishna , Raju G. Seeta Rama , Yu Jae Su
Published: September 2017

We report the synthesis of spherical-shaped rare-earth (Eu3+ and Tb3+) ions doped CaMoO4 nanoparticles in double solvents (IPA and H2O) with the help of autoclave. The X-ray diffraction patterns well match with the standard values and confirm the crystallization in a tetragonal phase with an I41/a (88) space group. The luminescence spectra exhibit the strong red and green emissions from Eu3+ and Tb3+ ions doped samples, respectively. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results show the oxidation states of all the elements present in the sample. The temperature-dependent luminescence spectra reveal the stability of Eu3+ and Tb3+ ions doped samples. The red- and green-emitting Eu3+ and Tb3+ ions doped CaMoO4 samples were used for detection and enhancement of latent fingerprints which are the common evidences found at crime scenes. The enhanced latent fingerprints obtained on different surfaces have high contrast with low background interference. The minute details of the fingerprint which are useful for individualization are clearly observed with the help of these nanopowders.
Food-grade filler particles as an alternative method to modify the texture and stability of myofibrillar gels
Authors: Gravelle Andrew J. , Barbut Shai , Marangoni Alejandro G.
Published: September 2017

A series of food grade particles were characterized for their potential as fillers in myofibrillar gels. The fillers were separated into (i) hydrophilic, insoluble, crystalline particles and (ii) starch granules. The particles used were microcrystalline cellulose, oat fiber and walnut shell flour, as well as potato and tapioca starches. Crystalline particles increased hardness and decreased recovery properties. Although all of these fillers decreased the T2 relaxation time of water, this was dependent on particle type and size. An increase in gel strength was observed with increasing filler content, which was attributed to particle crowding. Native potato starch was the most efficient at increasing liquid retention, while native tapioca was the least effective. Gel strength increased significantly only for the native potato and modified tapioca starches, but no effect on recovery attributes were observed for any of the starch varieties. The potato starches became swollen and hydrated to a similar extent during the protein gelation process, while the native tapioca starch gelatinized at higher temperatures, and the modified tapioca showed little evidence of swelling. T2 relaxometry supported this finding, as the meat batters containing native potato starch displayed two water populations, while the remaining starches displayed only a single population.
Physiological activity in calm thermal indoor environments
Authors: Okamoto Tsuyoshi , Tamura Kaori , Miyamoto Naoyuki , Tanaka Shogo , Futaeda Takaharu
Published: September 2017

Indoor environmental comfort has previously been quantified based on the subjective assessment of thermal physical parameters, such as temperature, humidity, and airflow velocity. However, the relationship of these parameters to brain activity remains poorly understood. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of airflow on brain activity using electroencephalograms (EEG) of participants in a living environment under different airflow conditions. Before the recording, the room was set to a standardised air temperature and humidity. During the recording, each participant was required to perform a simple time-perception task that involved pressing buttons after estimating a 10-second interval. Cooling and heating experiments were conducted in summer and winter, respectively. A frequency analysis of the EEGs revealed that gamma and beta activities showed lower amplitudes under conditions without airflow than with airflow, regardless of the season (i.e., cooling or heating). Our results reveal new neurophysiological markers of the response to airflow sensation. Further, based on the literature linking gamma and beta waves to less anxious states in calm environments, we suggest that airflow may alter the feelings of the participants.
Precise insertion and guided editing of higher plant genomes using Cpf1 CRISPR nucleases
Authors: Begemann Matthew B. , Gray Benjamin N. , January Emma , Gordon Gina C. , He Yonghua , Liu Haijun , Wu Xingrong , Brutnell Thomas P. , Mockler Todd C. , Oufattole Mohammed
Published: September 2017

Precise genome editing of plants has the potential to reshape global agriculture through the targeted engineering of endogenous pathways or the introduction of new traits. To develop a CRISPR nuclease-based platform that would enable higher efficiencies of precise gene insertion or replacement, we screened the Cpf1 nucleases from Francisella novicida and Lachnospiraceae bacterium ND2006 for their capability to induce targeted gene insertion via homology directed repair. Both nucleases, in the presence of a guide RNA and repairing DNA template flanked by homology DNA fragments to the target site, were demonstrated to generate precise gene insertions as well as indel mutations at the target site in the rice genome. The frequency of targeted insertion for these Cpf1 nucleases, up to 8%, is higher than most other genome editing nucleases, indicative of its effective enzymatic chemistry. Further refinements and broad adoption of the Cpf1 genome editing technology have the potential to make a dramatic impact on plant biotechnology.
Effect of palm-based tocotrienols and tocopherol mixture supplementation on platelet aggregation in subjects with metabolic syndrome: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Gan Yee-Lin , Fu Ju-Yen , Lai Oi-Ming , Chew Boon-How , Yuen Kah-Hay , Teng Kim-Tiu , Nesaretnam Kalanithi , Selvaduray Kanga Rani , Meganathan Puvaneswari
Published: September 2017

Tocotrienols, the unsaturated form of vitamin E, were reported to modulate platelet aggregation and thrombotic mechanisms in pre-clinical studies. Using a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved cartridge-based measurement system, a randomised, double-blind, crossover and placebo-controlled trial involving 32 metabolic syndrome adults was conducted to investigate the effect of palm-based tocotrienols and tocopherol (PTT) mixture supplementation on platelet aggregation reactivity. The participants were supplemented with 200 mg (69% tocotrienols and 31% α-tocopherol) twice daily of PTT mixture or placebo capsules for 14 days in a random order. After 14 days, each intervention was accompanied by a postprandial study, in which participants consumed 200 mg PTT mixture or placebo capsule after a meal. Blood samples were collected on day 0, day 14 and during postprandial for the measurement of platelet aggregation reactivity. Subjects went through a 15-day washout period before commencement of subsequent intervention. Fasting platelet aggregation reactivity stimulated with adenosine diphosphate (ADP) did not show substantial changes after supplementation with PTT mixture compared to placebo (p = 0.393). Concomitantly, changes in postprandial platelet aggregation reactivity remained similar between PTT mixture and placebo interventions (p = 0.408). The results of this study highlight the lack of inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation after short-term supplementation of PTT mixture in participants with metabolic syndrome.
Analytical Property of Scattering Matrix:Spectroscopy Phenomena and Sharp Overlapping Autoionization Resonances
Authors: Jin Rui , Han Xiao-Ying , Gao Xiang , Zeng De-ling , Li Jia-Ming
Published: September 2017

An extended atomic data base with sufficiently high precision is required in astrophysics studies and the energy researches. For example, there are “infinite” energy levels in discrete energy region as well as overlapping resonances in autoionization region. We show in this paper the merits of our relativistic eigenchannel R-matrix method R-R-Eigen based on the analytical continuation properties of scattering matrices for the calculations of the energy levels, overlapping resonances and the related transitions. Using Ne+as an illustration example, the scattering matrices of Ne+in both discrete and continuum energy regions are calculated by our R-R-Eigen method directly. Based on our proposed projected high dimensional quantum-defect graph (symmetrized), one can readily determine the accuracies of the calculated scattering matrices using the experimental energy levels in a systematical way. The calculated resonant photoionization cross sections in the autoionization region are in excellent agreement with the benchmark high resolution experiments. With the scattering matrices checked/calibrated against spectroscopy data in both discrete and continuum energy regions, the relevant dynamical processes should be calculated with adequate accuracies. It should then satisfy the needs of the astrophysical and energy researches.
Genome sequencing reveals metabolic and cellular interdependence in an amoeba-kinetoplastid symbiosis
Authors: Tanifuji Goro , Cenci Ugo , Moog Daniel , Dean Samuel , Nakayama Takuro , David Vojtěch , Fiala Ivan , Curtis Bruce A. , Sibbald Shannon J. , Onodera Naoko T. , Colp Morgan , Flegontov Pavel , Johnson-MacKinnon Jessica , McPhee Michael , Inagaki Yuji , Hashimoto Tetsuo , Kelly Steven , Gull Keith , Lukeš Julius , Archibald John M.
Published: September 2017

Endosymbiotic relationships between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells are common in nature. Endosymbioses between two eukaryotes are also known; cyanobacterium-derived plastids have spread horizontally when one eukaryote assimilated another. A unique instance of a non-photosynthetic, eukaryotic endosymbiont involves members of the genusParamoeba, amoebozoans that infect marine animals such as farmed fish and sea urchins.Paramoebaspecies harbor endosymbionts belonging to the Kinetoplastea, a diverse group of flagellate protists including some that cause devastating diseases. To elucidate the nature of this eukaryote-eukaryote association, we sequenced the genomes and transcriptomes ofParamoeba pemaquidensisand its endosymbiontPerkinselasp. The endosymbiont nuclear genome is ~9.5 Mbp in size, the smallest of a kinetoplastid thus far discovered. Genomic analyses show thatPerkinselasp. has lost the ability to make a flagellum but retains hallmark features of kinetoplastid biology, including polycistronic transcription,trans-splicing, and a glycosome-like organelle. Mosaic biochemical pathways suggest extensive ‘cross-talk’ between the two organisms, and electron microscopy shows that the endosymbiont ingests amoeba cytoplasm, a novel form of endosymbiont-host communication. Our data reveal the cell biological and biochemical basis of the obligate relationship betweenPerkinselasp. and its amoeba host, and provide a foundation for understanding pathogenicity determinants in economically importantParamoeba.
TGF-β1-induced miR-503 controls cell growth and apoptosis by targeting PDCD4 in glioblastoma cells
Authors: Guo Pin , Yu Yanan , Li Huanting , Zhang Daoxiang , Gong Anjing , Li Shifang , Liu Wei , Cheng Lei , Qiu Yongming , Yao Weicheng , Li Luo , Feng Yugong
Published: September 2017

Aberrant expression of microRNAs hae been shown to be closely associated with glioblastoma cell proliferation, apoptosis and drug resistance. However, mechanisms underlying the role of mcroRNAs in glioblastoma cell growth and apoptosis are not fully understood. In this study, we report that miR-503 is overexpressed in glioblastoma tissue compared with normal human brain tissue. Mechanistically, miR-503 can be induced by TGF-β1 at the transcriptional level by binding the smad2/3 binding elements in the promoter. Ectopic overexpression of miR-503 promotes cell growth and inhibits apoptosis by targeting PDCD4. In contrast, inhibition of miR-503 reduces cell growth. Furthermore, miR-503 inhibitor augments the growth inhibitory effect of temozolomide in glioblastoma cells. These results establish miR-503 as a promising molecular target for glioblastoma therapy.
The association between respiratory tract infection incidence and localised meningitis epidemics: an analysis of high-resolution surveillance data from Burkina Faso
Authors: Mueller Judith E. , Woringer Maxime , Porgho Souleymane , Madec Yoann , Tall Haoua , Martiny Nadège , Bicaba Brice W.
Published: September 2017

Meningococcal meningitis epidemics in the African meningitis belt consist of localised meningitis epidemics (LME) that reach attack proportions of 1% within a few weeks. A meningococcal serogroup A conjugate vaccine was introduced in meningitis belt countries from 2010 on, but LME due to other serogroups continue to occur. The mechanisms underlying LME are poorly understood, but an association with respiratory pathogens has been hypothesised. We analysed national routine surveillance data in high spatial resolution (health centre level) from 13 districts in Burkina Faso, 2004–2014. We defined LME as a weekly incidence rate of suspected meningitis ≥75 per 100,000 during ≥2 weeks; and high incidence episodes of respiratory tract infections (RTI) as the 5th quintile of monthly incidences. We included 10,334 health centre month observations during the meningitis season (January-May), including 85 with LME, and 1891 (1820) high-incidence episodes of upper (lower) RTI. In mixed effects logistic regression accounting for spatial structure, and controlling for dust conditions, relative air humidity and month, the occurrence of LME was strongly associated with high incidence episodes of upper (odds ratio 23.9, 95%-confidence interval 3.1–185.3), but not lower RTI. In the African meningitis belt, meningitis epidemics may be triggered by outbreaks of upper RTI.