bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Finding the Good in Grief: What Augustine Knew that Meursault Could Not
Authors: CHOLBI MICHAEL
Published: August 2017

Meursault, the protagonist of Camus's The Stranger, was unable to experience grief at his mother's death—and was in fact condemned for this inability. Should Meursault's inability to grieve be pitied, or should it be welcomed inasmuch as grief is a painful and highly distressing experience? With the assistance of Augustine's remarks on grief in his Confessions, I argue that Meursault's plight is to be pitied. The emotional pains of grief are genuine and cannot be recast either as masochistic pleasures or as instrumental costs to be borne in exchange for grief's benefits. These pains are instead experienced as good inasmuch as they are components of a complex valuable experience. More specifically, because we experience grief at the deaths of those with whom we stand in identity-constituting relationships, grief is both a powerful source of, and motivator for, substantial self-knowledge.
A problematic cnidarian (Cambroctoconus; Octocorallia?) from the Cambrian (Series 2–3) of Laurentia
Authors: Peel John S.
Published: August 2017

The problematic calcified cnidarianCambroctoconusis described from the Henson Gletscher Formation (Cambrian Series 2, Stage 4–Series 3, Stage 5) of North Greenland, representing the first record from Laurentia of a genus otherwise recently described from China, Kyrgyzstan, and Korea. Internal molds produced by penetrative phosphatization mirror the pervasive pore system of the calice walls and septa. The pore system is compared to the network of gastrodermal solenia that distributes nutrients between polyps and surrounding stolon tissues in present day octocorals. In conjunction with the octagonal form of the individual coralla and eight-fold symmetry of septa, the pore system promotes assignment ofCambroctoconusto the Octocorallia, a basal clade in cnidarian phylogeny. Octocorals (‘soft corals’) are diverse in present day seas, but have a poor fossil record despite the general development of distinctive calcareous spicules. New taxa: Order Cambroctoconida new;Cambroctoconus koorinew species.
Tracing Carbon’s Fate in the Ocean
Authors: Morris Stephanie , Hansman Roberta , Miquel Juan-Carlos
Published: August 2017

Improving the Application of Radionuclides in Studies of the Carbon Cycle and the Impact of Ocean Acidification; Monaco, 19–21 October 2016
Interviewing 102: Questions About Questions
Authors: Harwell David , Janick Nathaniel
Published: August 2017

What are common questions? What questions best respond to their questions? What about questionable questions? Find answers below.
Activated protein C protects from GvHD via PAR2/PAR3 signalling in regulatory T-cells
Authors: Ranjan Satish , Goihl Alexander , Kohli Shrey , Gadi Ihsan , Pierau Mandy , Shahzad Khurrum , Gupta Dheerendra , Bock Fabian , Wang Hongjie , Shaikh Haroon , Kähne Thilo , Reinhold Dirk , Bank Ute , Zenclussen Ana C. , Niemz Jana , Schnöder Tina M. , Brunner-Weinzierl Monika , Fischer Thomas , Kalinski Thomas , Schraven Burkhart , Luft Thomas , Huehn Jochen , Naumann Michael , Heidel Florian H. , Isermann Berend
Published: August 2017

Graft-vs.-host disease (GvHD) is a major complication of allogenic hematopoietic stem-cell(HSC) transplantation. GvHD is associated with loss of endothelial thrombomodulin, but the relevance of this for the adaptive immune response to transplanted HSCs remains unknown. Here we show that the protease-activated protein C (aPC), which is generated by thrombomodulin, ameliorates GvHD aPC restricts allogenic T-cell activation via the protease activated receptor (PAR)2/PAR3 heterodimer on regulatory T-cells (Tregs, CD4+FOXP3+). Preincubation of pan T-cells with aPC prior to transplantation increases the frequency of Tregs and protects from GvHD. Preincubation of human T-cells (HLA-DR4−CD4+) with aPC prior to transplantation into humanized (NSG-AB°DR4) mice ameliorates graft-vs.-host disease. The protective effect of aPC on GvHD does not compromise the graft vs. leukaemia effect in two independent tumor cell models. Ex vivo preincubation of T-cells with aPC, aPC-based therapies, or targeting PAR2/PAR3 on T-cells may provide a safe and effective approach to mitigate GvHD.
Antiskyrmions stabilized at interfaces by anisotropic Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions
Authors: Hoffmann Markus , Zimmermann Bernd , Müller Gideon P. , Schürhoff Daniel , Kiselev Nikolai S. , Melcher Christof , Blügel Stefan
Published: August 2017

Chiral magnets are an emerging class of topological matter harboring localized and topologically protected vortex-like magnetic textures called skyrmions, which are currently under intense scrutiny as an entity for information storage and processing. Here, on the level of micromagnetics we rigorously show that chiral magnets can not only host skyrmions but also antiskyrmions as least energy configurations over all non-trivial homotopy classes. We derive practical criteria for their occurrence and coexistence with skyrmions that can be fulfilled by (110)-oriented interfaces depending on the electronic structure. Relating the electronic structure to an atomistic spin-lattice model by means of density functional calculations and minimizing the energy on a mesoscopic scale by applying spin-relaxation methods, we propose a double layer of Fe grown on a W(110) substrate as a practical example. We conjecture that ultra-thin magnetic films grown on semiconductor or heavy metal substrates with C2v
symmetry are prototype classes of materials hosting magnetic antiskyrmions.
Brassinosteroid signaling-dependent root responses to prolonged elevated ambient temperature
Authors: Martins Sara , Montiel-Jorda Alvaro , Cayrel Anne , Huguet Stéphanie , Roux Christine Paysant-Le , Ljung Karin , Vert Grégory
Published: August 2017

Due to their sessile nature, plants have to cope with and adjust to their fluctuating environment. Temperature elevation stimulates the growth of Arabidopsis aerial parts. This process is mediated by increased biosynthesis of the growth-promoting hormone auxin. How plant roots respond to elevated ambient temperature is however still elusive. Here we present strong evidence that temperature elevation impinges on brassinosteroid hormone signaling to alter root growth. We show that elevated temperature leads to increased root elongation, independently of auxin or factors known to drive temperature-mediated shoot growth. We further demonstrate that brassinosteroid signaling regulates root responses to elevated ambient temperature. Increased growth temperature specifically impacts on the level of the brassinosteroid receptor BRI1 to downregulate brassinosteroid signaling and mediate root elongation. Our results establish that BRI1 integrates temperature and brassinosteroid signaling to regulate root growth upon long-term changes in environmental conditions associated with global warming.
In situ atomic-scale imaging of the metal/oxide interfacial transformation
Authors: Zou Lianfeng , Li Jonathan , Zakharov Dmitri , Stach Eric A. , Zhou Guangwen
Published: August 2017

Directly probing structure dynamics at metal/oxide interfaces has been a major challenge due to their buried nature. Using environmental transmission electron microscopy, here we report observations of the in-place formation of Cu2O/Cu interfaces via the oxidation of Cu, and subsequently probe the atomic mechanisms by which interfacial transformation and grain rotation occur at the interfaces during reduction in an H2 gas environment. The Cu2O→Cu transformation is observed to occur initially along the Cu2O/Cu interface in a layer-by-layer manner. The accumulation of oxygen vacancies at the Cu2O/Cu interface drives the collapse of the Cu2O lattice near the interface region, which results in a tilted Cu2O/Cu interface with concomitant Cu2O island rotation. These results provide unprecedented microscopic detail regarding the redox reactions of supported oxides, which differs fundamentally from the reduction of bulk or isolated oxides that requires the formation of new interfaces between the parent oxide and the reduced phase.
Single molecule high-throughput footprinting of small and large DNA ligands
Authors: Manosas Maria , Camunas-Soler Joan , Croquette Vincent , Ritort Felix
Published: August 2017

Most DNA processes are governed by molecular interactions that take place in a sequence-specific manner. Determining the sequence selectivity of DNA ligands is still a challenge, particularly for small drugs where labeling or sequencing methods do not perform well. Here, we present a fast and accurate method based on parallelized single molecule magnetic tweezers to detect the sequence selectivity and characterize the thermodynamics and kinetics of binding in a single assay. Mechanical manipulation of DNA hairpins with an engineered sequence is used to detect ligand binding as blocking events during DNA unzipping, allowing determination of ligand selectivity both for small drugs and large proteins with nearly base-pair resolution in an unbiased fashion. The assay allows investigation of subtle details such as the effect of flanking sequences or binding cooperativity. Unzipping assays on hairpin substrates with an optimized flat free energy landscape containing all binding motifs allows determination of the ligand mechanical footprint, recognition site, and binding orientation.
Visualizing atomic-scale redox dynamics in vanadium oxide-based catalysts
Authors: Ek Martin , Ramasse Quentin M. , Arnarson Logi , Georg Moses Poul , Helveg Stig
Published: August 2017

Surface redox processes involving oxygen atom exchange are fundamental in catalytic reactions mediated by metal oxides. These processes are often difficult to uncover due to changes in the surface stoichiometry and atomic arrangement. Here we employ high-resolution transmission electron microscopy to study vanadium oxide supported on titanium dioxide, which is of relevance as a catalyst in, e.g., nitrogen oxide emission abatement for environmental protection. The observations reveal a reversible transformation of the vanadium oxide surface between an ordered and disordered state, concomitant with a reversible change in the vanadium oxidation state, when alternating between oxidizing and reducing conditions. The transformation depends on the anatase titanium dioxide surface termination and the vanadium oxide layer thickness, suggesting that the properties of vanadium oxide are sensitive to the supporting oxide. These atomic-resolution observations offer a basis for rationalizing previous reports on shape-sensitive catalytic properties.
Predicting hair cortisol levels with hair pigmentation genes: a possible hair pigmentation bias
Authors: Neumann Alexander , Noppe Gerard , Liu Fan , Kayser Manfred , Verhulst Frank C. , Jaddoe Vincent W. V. , van Rossum Elisabeth F. C. , Tiemeier Henning
Published: August 2017

Cortisol concentrations in hair are used to create hormone profiles spanning months. This method allows assessment of chronic cortisol exposure, but might be biased by hair pigmentation: dark hair was previously related to higher concentrations. It is unclear whether this association arises from local effects, such as increased hormone extractability, or whether the association represents systemic differences arising from population stratification. We tested the hypothesis that hair pigmentation gene variants are associated with varying cortisol levels independent of genetic ancestry. Hormone concentrations and genotype were measured in 1674 children from the Generation R cohort at age 6. We computed a polygenic score of hair color based on 9 single nucleotide polymorphisms. This score was used to predict hair cortisol concentrations, adjusted for genetic ancestry, sex, age and corticosteroid use. A 1-standard deviation (SD) higher polygenic score (darker hair) was associated with 0.08 SD higher cortisol levels (SE = 0.03, p = 0.002). This suggests that variation in hair cortisol concentrations is partly explained by local hair effects. In multi-ancestry studies this hair pigmentation bias can reduce power and confound results. Researchers should therefore consider adjusting analyses by reported hair color, by polygenic scores, or by both.
Groundwater nitrate response to sustainable nitrogen management
Authors: Hansen Birgitte , Thorling Lærke , Schullehner Jörg , Termansen Mette , Dalgaard Tommy
Published: August 2017

Throughout the world, nitrogen (N) losses from intensive agricultural production may end up as undesirably high concentrations of nitrate in groundwater with a long-term impact on groundwater quality. This has human and environmental health consequences, due to the use of groundwater as a drinking water resource, and causes eutrophication of groundwater-dependent ecosystems such as wetlands, rivers and near-coastal areas. At national scale, the measured nitrate concentrations and trends in Danish oxic groundwater in the last 70 years correlate well with the annual agricultural N surpluses. We also show that the N use efficiency of agriculture is related to the groundwater nitrate concentrations. We demonstrate an inverted U-shape of annual nitrate concentrations as a function of economic growth from 1948 to 2014. Our analyses evidence a clear trend of a reversal at the beginning of the 1980s towards a more sustainable agricultural N management. This appears to be primarily driven by societal demand for groundwater protection linked to economic prosperity and an increased environmental awareness. However, the environmental and human health thresholds are still exceeded in many locations. Groundwater protection is of fundamental global importance, and this calls for further development of environmentally and economically sustainable N management in agriculture worldwide.
Dynamic local connectivity uncovers altered brain synchrony during propofol sedation
Authors: Bharath Rose Dawn , Panda Rajanikant , Saini Jitender , Sriganesh Kamath , Rao G. S. Umamaheswara
Published: August 2017

Human consciousness is considered a result of the synchronous “humming” of multiple dynamic networks. We performed a dynamic functional connectivity analysis using resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) in 14 patients before and during a propofol infusion to characterize the sedation-induced alterations in consciousness. A sliding 36-second window was used to derive 59 time points of whole brain integrated local connectivity measurements. Significant changes in the connectivity strength (Z Corr) at various time points were used to measure the connectivity fluctuations during awake and sedated states. Compared with the awake state, sedation was associated with reduced cortical connectivity fluctuations in several areas connected to the default mode network and around the perirolandic cortex with a significantly decreased correlation of connectivity between their anatomical homologues. In addition, sedation was associated with increased connectivity fluctuations in the frequency range of 0.027 to 0.063 Hz in several deep nuclear regions, including the cerebellum, thalamus, basal ganglia and insula. These findings advance our understanding of sedation-induced altered consciousness by visualizing the altered dynamics in several cortical and subcortical regions and support the concept of defining consciousness as a dynamic and integrated network.
Expression of long non-coding RNA MFI2-AS1 is a strong predictor of recurrence in sporadic localized clear-cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Flippot Ronan , Mouawad Roger , Spano Jean-Philippe , Rouprêt Morgan , Compérat Eva , Bitker Marc-Olivier , Parra Jérôme , Vaessen Christophe , Allanic Frederick , Manach Quentin , Tannir Nizar M. , Khayat David , Su Xiaoping , Malouf Gabriel G.
Published: August 2017

Prediction of recurrence is a challenge for the development of adjuvant treatments in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). In these tumors, expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are deregulated and closely associated with prognosis. Thus, we aimed to predict ccRCC recurrence risk using lncRNA expression. We identified prognostic lncRNAs in a training set of 351 localized ccRCCs from The Cancer Genome Atlas and validated lncRNA-based recurrence classification in an independent cohort of 167 localized ccRCCs. We identified lncRNA MFI2-AS1 as best candidate in the training set. In the validation cohort, MFI2-AS1 expression was independently associated with shorter disease-free survival (Hazard Ratio (HR) for relapse 3.5, p = 0.0001). Combined with Leibovich classification, MFI2-AS1 status improved prediction of recurrence (C-index 0.70) compared to MFI2-AS1 alone (0.67) and Leibovich classification alone (0.66). In patients with aggressive tumors (Leibovich ≥5), MFI2-AS1 expression was associated with dramatically increased risk of relapse (HR 12.16, p < 0.0001) compared to patients with undetectable MFI2-AS1 who had favorable outcomes. Compared to normal samples, MFI2-AS1 was upregulated in tumor tissue, and higher expression was associated with metastatic dissemination. Overall, MFI2-AS1 status improves patient stratification in localized ccRCC, which supports further integration of lncRNAs in molecular cancer classifications.
Energy-free machine learning force field for aluminum
Authors: Kruglov Ivan , Sergeev Oleg , Yanilkin Alexey , Oganov Artem R.
Published: August 2017

We used the machine learning technique of Liet al. (PRL 114, 2015) for molecular dynamics simulations. Atomic configurations were described by feature matrix based on internal vectors, and linear regression was used as a learning technique. We implemented this approach in the LAMMPS code. The method was applied to crystalline and liquid aluminum and uranium at different temperatures and densities, and showed the highest accuracy among different published potentials. Phonon density of states, entropy and melting temperature of aluminum were calculated using this machine learning potential. The results are in excellent agreement with experimental data and results of full ab initio calculations.
HDAC3 inhibition ameliorates spinal cord injury by immunomodulation
Authors: Kuboyama Tomoharu , Wahane Shalaka , Huang Yong , Zhou Xiang , Wong Jamie K. , Koemeter-Cox Andrew , Martini Michael , Friedel Roland H. , Zou Hongyan
Published: August 2017

Following spinal cord injury (SCI), the innate immune response of microglia and infiltrating macrophages clears up cellular debris and promotes tissue repair, but it also inflicts secondary injury from inflammatory responses. Immunomodulation aimed at maximizing the beneficial effects while minimizing the detrimental roles of the innate immunity may aid functional recovery after SCI. However, intracellular drivers of global reprogramming of the inflammatory gene networks in the innate immune cells are poorly understood. Here we show that SCI resulted in an upregulation of histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) in the innate immune cells at the injury site. Remarkably, blocking HDAC3 with a selective small molecule inhibitor shifted microglia/macrophage responses towards inflammatory suppression, resulting in neuroprotective phenotypes and improved functional recovery in SCI model. Mechanistically, HDAC3 activity is largely responsible for histone deacetylation and inflammatory responses of primary microglia to classic inflammatory stimuli. Our results reveal a novel function of HDAC3 inhibitor in promoting functional recovery after SCI by dampening inflammatory cytokines, thus pointing towards a new direction of immunomodulation for SCI repair.
Mechanism of transformation in Mycobacteria using a novel shockwave assisted technique driven by in-situ generated oxyhydrogen
Authors: Datey Akshay , Subburaj Janardhanraj , Gopalan Jagadeesh , Chakravortty Dipshikha
Published: August 2017

We present a novel method for shockwave-assisted bacterial transformation using a miniature oxyhydrogen detonation-driven shock tube. We have obtained transformation efficiencies of about 1.28 × 106, 1.7 × 106, 5 × 106, 1 × 105, 1 × 105 and 2 × 105 transformants/µg of DNA for Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhimurum, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and Helicobacter pylori respectively using this method which are significantly higher than those obtained using conventional methods. Mtb is the most difficult bacteria to be transformed and hence their genetic modification is hampered due to their poor transformation efficiency. Experimental results show that longer steady time duration of the shockwave results in higher transformation efficiencies. Measurements of Young’s modulus and rigidity of cell wall give a good understanding of the transformation mechanism and these results have been validated computationally. We describe the development of a novel shockwave device for efficient bacterial transformation in complex bacteria along with experimental evidence for understanding the transformation mechanism.
Spag6 Mutant Mice Have Defects in Development and Function of Spiral Ganglion Neurons, Apoptosis, and Higher Sensitivity to Paclitaxel
Authors: Li Xiaofei , Xu Lei , Sun Gaoying , Wu Xianmin , Bai Xiaohui , Li Jianfeng , Strauss Jerome F. , Zhang Zhibing , Wang Haibo
Published: August 2017

Mammalian Sperm Associated Antigen 6 (SPAG6) is the orthologue of Chlamydomonas PF16, a protein localized in the axoneme central apparatus. Recent studies showed that Spag6 has a role in brain neuronal proliferation and differentiation. The mammalian spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) are specialzed bipolar neurons in the inner ear. However, the role of SPAG6 in SGN has not been elucidated. Therefore, We hypothesized that a Spag6 knockout would affect the development and function of SGNs. We utilized Spag6-deficient mice and SGN explants to define the role of SPAG6. On postnatal day 30 (P30) mutant mice had lower SGN density compared to their wild-type littermates, and more apoptosis was evident in the mutants. Increased Bax expression, a disturbed distribution of cytochrome c, and cleaved caspase-3 positive staining indicated that increased apoptosis involved a mitochondrial pathway. Transmission electron microscopy revealed abnormalities in the ultrastructure of mutant SGNs as early as P7. In vitro, lack of SPAG6 affected the growth of neurites and growth cones. Additionally, SPAG6 deficiency decreased synapse density in SGN explants. Finally, Spag6 mutant SGNs were more sensitive to the microtubule stabilizing agent, paclitaxel. These findings suggest that Spag6 plays a crucial role in SGN development and function.
An Optimal Mean Based Block Robust Feature Extraction Method to Identify Colorectal Cancer Genes with Integrated Data
Authors: Liu Jian , Cheng Yuhu , Wang Xuesong , Zhang Lin , Liu Hui
Published: August 2017

It is urgent to diagnose colorectal cancer in the early stage. Some feature genes which are important to colorectal cancer development have been identified. However, for the early stage of colorectal cancer, less is known about the identity of specific cancer genes that are associated with advanced clinical stage. In this paper, we conducted a feature extraction method named Optimal Mean based Block Robust Feature Extraction method (OMBRFE) to identify feature genes associated with advanced colorectal cancer in clinical stage by using the integrated colorectal cancer data. Firstly, based on the optimal mean and L2,1-norm, a novel feature extraction method called Optimal Mean based Robust Feature Extraction method (OMRFE) is proposed to identify feature genes. Then the OMBRFE method which introduces the block ideology into OMRFE method is put forward to process the colorectal cancer integrated data which includes multiple genomic data: copy number alterations, somatic mutations, methylation expression alteration, as well as gene expression changes. Experimental results demonstrate that the OMBRFE is more effective than previous methods in identifying the feature genes. Moreover, genes identified by OMBRFE are verified to be closely associated with advanced colorectal cancer in clinical stage.
Zeb2 is a negative regulator of midbrain dopaminergic axon growth and target innervation
Authors: Hegarty Shane V. , Wyatt Sean L. , Howard Laura , Stappers Elke , Huylebroeck Danny , Sullivan Aideen M. , O’Keeffe Gerard W.
Published: August 2017

Neural connectivity requires neuronal differentiation, axon growth, and precise target innervation. Midbrain dopaminergic neurons project via the nigrostriatal pathway to the striatum to regulate voluntary movement. While the specification and differentiation of these neurons have been extensively studied, the molecular mechanisms that regulate midbrain dopaminergic axon growth and target innervation are less clear. Here we show that the transcription factor Zeb2 cell-autonomously represses Smad signalling to limit midbrain dopaminergic axon growth and target innervation. Zeb2 levels are downregulated in the embryonic rodent midbrain during the period of dopaminergic axon growth, when BMP pathway components are upregulated. Experimental knockdown of Zeb2 leads to an increase in BMP-Smad-dependent axon growth. Consequently there is dopaminergic hyperinnervation of the striatum, without an increase in the numbers of midbrain dopaminergic neurons, in conditional Zeb2 (Nestin-Cre based) knockout mice. Therefore, these findings reveal a new mechanism for the regulation of midbrain dopaminergic axon growth during central nervous system development.
The investigation of stress in freestanding GaN crystals grown from Si substrates by HVPE
Authors: Lee Moonsang , Mikulik Dmitry , Yang Mino , Park Sungsoo
Published: August 2017

We investigate the stress evolution of 400 µm-thick freestanding GaN crystals grown from Si substrates by hydride vapour phase epitaxy (HVPE) and the in situ removal of Si substrates. The stress generated in growing GaN can be tuned by varying the thickness of the MOCVD AlGaN/AlN buffer layers. Micro Raman analysis shows the presence of slight tensile stress in the freestanding GaN crystals and no stress accumulation in HVPE GaN layers during the growth. Additionally, it is demonstrated that the residual tensile stress in HVPE GaN is caused only by elastic stress arising from the crystal quality difference between Ga- and N-face GaN. TEM analysis revealed that the dislocations in freestanding GaN crystals have high inclination angles that are attributed to the stress relaxation of the crystals. We believe that the understanding and characterization on the structural properties of the freestanding GaN crystals will help us to use these crystals for high-performance opto-electronic devices.
Insights into the role of endonuclease V in RNA metabolism in Trypanosoma brucei
Authors: García-Caballero Daniel , Pérez-Moreno Guiomar , Estévez Antonio M. , Ruíz-Pérez Luis Miguel , Vidal Antonio E. , González-Pacanowska Dolores
Published: August 2017

Inosine may arise in DNA as a result of oxidative deamination of adenine or misincorporation of deoxyinosine triphosphate during replication. On the other hand, the occurrence of inosine in RNA is considered a normal and essential modification induced by specific adenosine deaminases acting on mRNA and tRNA. In prokaryotes, endonuclease V (EndoV) can recognize and cleave inosine-containing DNA. In contrast, mammalian EndoVs preferentially cleave inosine-containing RNA, suggesting a role in RNA metabolism for the eukaryotic members of this protein family. We have performed a biochemical characterization of EndoV from the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei. In vitro, TbEndoV efficiently processes single-stranded RNA oligonucleotides with inosine, including A to I-edited tRNA-like substrates but exhibits weak activity over DNA, except when a ribonucleotide is placed 3′ to the inosine. Immunolocalization studies performed in procyclic forms indicate that TbEndoV is mainly cytosolic yet upon nutritional stress it redistributes and accumulates in stress granules colocalizing with the DEAD-box helicase TbDhh1. RNAi-mediated depletion of TbEndoV results in moderate growth defects in procyclic cells while the two EndoV alleles could be readily knocked out in bloodstream forms. Taken together, these observations suggest an important role of TbEndoV in RNA metabolism in procyclic forms of the parasite.
Light Scattering By Optically-Trapped Vesicles Affords Unprecedented Temporal Resolution Of Lipid-Raft Dynamics
Authors: Collard Liam , Perez-Guaita David , Faraj Bayan H. A. , Wood Bayden R. , Wallis Russell , Andrew Peter W. , Hudson Andrew J.
Published: August 2017

A spectroscopic technique is presented that is able to identify rapid changes in the bending modulus and fluidity of vesicle lipid bilayers on the micrometer scale, and distinguish between the presence and absence of heterogeneities in lipid-packing order. Individual unilamellar vesicles have been isolated using laser tweezers and, by measuring the intensity modulation of elastic back-scattered light, changes in the biophysical properties of lipid bilayers were revealed. Our approach offers unprecedented temporal resolution and, uniquely, physical transformations of lipid bilayers can be monitored on a length scale of micrometers. As an example, the deformation of a membrane bilayer following the gel-to-fluid phase transition in a pure phospholipid vesicle was observed to take place across an interval of 54 ± 5 ms corresponding to an estimated full-width of only ~1 m°C. Dynamic heterogeneities in packing order were detected in mixed-lipid bilayers. Using a ternary mixture of lipids, the modulated-intensity profile of elastic back-scattered light from an optically-trapped vesicle revealed an abrupt change in the bending modulus of the bilayer which could be associated with the dissolution of ordered microdomains (i.e., lipid rafts). This occurred across an interval of 30 ± 5 ms (equivalent to ~1 m°C).
The correlation between CRB1 variants and the clinical severity of Brazilian patients with different inherited retinal dystrophy phenotypes
Authors: Motta Fabiana Louise , Salles Mariana Vallim , Costa Karita Antunes , Filippelli-Silva Rafael , Martin Renan Paulo , Sallum Juliana Maria Ferraz
Published: August 2017

Inherited retinal dystrophies are characterized by progressive retina degeneration and mutations in at least 250 genes have been associated as disease-causing. CRB1 is one of many genes analyzed in molecular diagnosis for inherited retinal dystrophy. Crumbs homolog-1 protein encoded by CRB1 is important for cell-to-cell contact, polarization of epithelial cells and the morphogenesis of photoreceptors. Pathogenic variants in CRB1 lead to a huge variety of phenotypes ranging from milder forms of inherited retinal dystrophy, such as retinitis pigmentosa to more severe phenotypes such as Leber congenital amaurosis. In this study, seven novel likely-pathogenic variants were identified: four missense variants (p.Leu479Pro, p.Ala921Pro, p.Cys948Arg and p.Asp1031Asn), two frameshift deletions (c.2536_2542del7 and c.3460_3461delTG) and one frameshift indel variant (c.276_294delinsTGAACACTGTAC). Furthermore, two patients with cone-rod dystrophy due to mutations in CRB1 were reported, supporting previous data, in which mutations in CRB1 can also cause cone-rod dystrophy. Finally, our data suggested there was a direct relation between phenotype severity and the mutation effect on protein functionality in 15 Brazilian CRB1 patients.
Capnography monitoring the hypoventilation during the induction of bronchoscopic sedation: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Lin Ting-Yu , Fang Yueh-Fu , Huang Shih-Hao , Wang Tsai-Yu , Kuo Chih-Hsi , Wu Hau-Tieng , Kuo Han-Pin , Lo Yu-Lun
Published: August 2017

We hypothesize that capnography could detect hypoventilation during induction of bronchoscopic sedation and starting bronchoscopy following hypoventilation, may decrease hypoxemia. Patients were randomized to: starting bronchoscopy when hypoventilation (hypopnea, two successive breaths of at least 50% reduction of the peak wave compared to baseline or apnea, no wave for 10 seconds) (Study group, n = 55), or when the Observer Assessment of Alertness and Sedation scale (OAAS) was less than 4 (Control group, n = 59). Propofol infusion was titrated to maintain stable vital signs and sedative levels. The hypoventilation during induction in the control group and the sedative outcome were recorded. The patient characteristics and procedures performed were similar. Hypoventilation was observed in 74.6% of the patients before achieving OAAS < 4 in the control group. Apnea occurred more than hypopnea (p < 0.0001). Hypoventilation preceded OAAS < 4 by 96.5 ± 88.1 seconds. In the study group, the induction time was shorter (p = 0.03) and subjects with any two events of hypoxemia during sedation, maintenance or recovery were less than the control group (1.8 vs. 18.6%, p < 0.01). Patient tolerance, wakefulness during sedation, and cooperation were similar in both groups. Significant hypoventilation occurred during the induction and start bronchoscopy following hypoventilation may decrease hypoxemia without compromising patient tolerance.
Regulation of CCR7-dependent cell migration through CCR7 homodimer formation
Authors: Kobayashi Daichi , Endo Masataka , Ochi Hirotaka , Hojo Hironobu , Miyasaka Masayuki , Hayasaka Haruko
Published: August 2017

The chemokine receptor CCR7 contributes to various physiological and pathological processes including T cell maturation, T cell migration from the blood into secondary lymphoid tissues, and tumor cell metastasis to lymph nodes. Although a previous study suggested that the efficacy of CCR7 ligand-dependent T cell migration correlates with CCR7 homo- and heterodimer formation, the exact extent of contribution of the CCR7 dimerization remains unclear. Here, by inducing or disrupting CCR7 dimers, we demonstrated a direct contribution of CCR7 homodimerization to CCR7-dependent cell migration and signaling. Induction of stable CCR7 homodimerization resulted in enhanced CCR7-dependent cell migration and CCL19 binding, whereas induction of CXCR4/CCR7 heterodimerization did not. In contrast, dissociation of CCR7 homodimerization by a novel CCR7-derived synthetic peptide attenuated CCR7-dependent cell migration, ligand-dependent CCR7 internalization, ligand-induced actin rearrangement, and Akt and Erk signaling in CCR7-expressing cells. Our study indicates that CCR7 homodimerization critically regulates CCR7 ligand-dependent cell migration and intracellular signaling in multiple cell types.
Dielectric properties of Y and Nb co-doped TiO2 ceramics
Authors: Wang Xianwei , Zhang Bihui , Xu Linhai , Wang Xiaoer , Hu Yanchun , Shen Gaohang , Sun Lingyun
Published: August 2017

In this work, the (Y0.5Nb0.5)xTi1−xO2 (x = 0.001, 0.01, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06 and 0.1) ceramics (as called YNTO) were fabricated by synthesized through a standard solid-state reaction. As revealed by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra, the YNTOs exhibit tetragonal rutile structure. Meanwhile, the grain size of YNTO ceramics increased and then decreased with the increase of x value, and the largest value reached when x = 0.02. All the YNTO samples display colossal permittivity (~102–105) over a wide temperature and frequency range. Moreover, the optimal ceramic, (Y0.5Nb0.5)0.02Ti0.98O2, exhibits high performance over a broad temperature range from 20 °C to 180 °C; specifically, at 1 kHz, the dielectric constant and dielectric loss are 6.55 × 104 and 0.22 at room temperature, and they are 1.03 × 105 and 0.11 at 180 °C, respectively.
In Vitro Micropatterned Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Test (µP-hPST) for Morphometric-Based Teratogen Screening
Authors: Xing Jiangwa , Cao Yue , Yu Yang , Li Huan , Song Ziwei , Yu Hanry
Published: August 2017

Exposure to teratogenic chemicals during pregnancy may cause severe birth defects. Due to high inter-species variation of drug responses as well as financial and ethical burdens, despite the widely use of in vivo animal tests, it’s crucial to develop highly predictive human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-based in vitro assays to identify potential teratogens. Previously we have shown that the morphological disruption of mesoendoderm patterns formed by geometrically-confined cell differentiation and migration using hPSCs could potentially serve as a sensitive morphological marker in teratogen detection. Here, a micropatterned human pluripotent stem cell test (µP-hPST) assay was developed using 30 pharmaceutical compounds. A simplified morphometric readout was developed to quantify the mesoendoderm pattern changes and a two-step classification rule was generated to identify teratogens. The optimized µP-hPST could classify the 30 compounds with 97% accuracy, 100% specificity and 93% sensitivity. Compared with metabolic biomarker-based hPSC assay by Stemina, the µP-hPST could successfully identify misclassified drugs Bosentan, Diphenylhydantoin and Lovastatin, and show a higher accuracy and sensitivity. This scalable µP-hPST may serve as either an independent assay or a complement assay for existing assays to reduce animal use, accelerate early discovery-phase drug screening and help general chemical screening of human teratogens.
Porous Polystyrene Monoliths and Microparticles Prepared from Core Cross-linked Star (CCS) Polymers-Stabilized Emulsions
Authors: Chen Qijing , Shi Ting , Han Fei , Li Zihan , Lin Chao , Zhao Peng
Published: August 2017

A hydrophobic CCS polymer of poly(benzyl methacrylate) (PBzMA) was prepared in toluene by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT)-mediated dispersion polymerization. The CCS polymer, with poly(benzyl methacrylate) as the arm and crosslinked N, N′-bis(acryloyl)cystamine (BAC) as the core, was confirmed by characterization with gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Three kinds of oils (toluene, anisole and styrene) were chosen to study the emulsification properties of PBzMA CCS polymer. The oils can be emulsified by CCS polymer to form water-in-oil (w/o) emulsions. Moreover, w/o high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) can be obtained with the increase of toluene and styrene volume fractions from 75% to 80%. Porous polystyrene monolith and microparticles were prepared from the emulsion templates and characterized by the scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). With the internal phase volume fraction increased, open-pore porous monolith was obtained.
Impact of extracellular matrix on engraftment and maturation of pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes in a rat myocardial infarct model
Authors: Ogasawara Tatsuki , Okano Satomi , Ichimura Hajime , Kadota Shin , Tanaka Yuki , Minami Itsunari , Uesugi Motonari , Wada Yuko , Saito Naoto , Okada Kenji , Kuwahara Koichiro , Shiba Yuji
Published: August 2017

Pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes show great promise in regenerating the heart after myocardial infarction; however, several uncertainties exist that must be addressed before clinical trials. One practical issue is graft survival following transplantation. Although a pro-survival cocktail with Matrigel has been shown to enhance graft survival, the use of Matrigel may not be clinically feasible. The purpose of this study was to test whether a hyaluronan-based hydrogel, HyStem, could be a substitute for Matrigel. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes diluted with HyStem alone, HyStem plus pro-survival factors, or a pro-survival cocktail with Matrigel (PSC/MG), were transplanted into a rat model of acute myocardial infarction. Histological analysis at 4 weeks post transplantation revealed that, among the three groups, recipients of PSC/MG showed the largest graft size. Additionally, the grafted cardiomyocytes in the recipients of PSC/MG had a more matured phenotype compared to those in the other two groups. These findings suggest that further studies will be required to enhance not only graft size, but also the maturation of grafted cardiomyocytes.
Nano-hybrid plasmonic photocatalyst for hydrogen production at 20% efficiency
Authors: Pavliuk Mariia V. , Fernandes Arthur B. , Abdellah Mohamed , Fernandes Daniel L. A. , Machado Caroline O. , Rocha Igor , Hattori Yocefu , Paun Cristina , Bastos Erick L. , Sá Jacinto
Published: August 2017

The efficient conversion of light energy into chemical energy is key for sustainable human development. Several photocatalytic systems based on photovoltaic electrolysis have been used to produce hydrogen via water reduction. However, in such devices, light harvesting and proton reduction are carried separately, showing quantum efficiency of about 10–12%. Here, we report a nano-hybrid photocatalytic assembly that enables concomitant reductive hydrogen production and pollutant oxidation with solar-to-fuel efficiencies up to 20%. The modular architecture of this plasmonic material allows the fine-tuning of its photocatalytic properties by simple manipulation of a reduced number of basic components.
Enhancement of Perivascular Spaces in 7 T MR Image using Haar Transform of Non-local Cubes and Block-matching Filtering
Authors: Hou Yingkun , Park Sang Hyun , Wang Qian , Zhang Jun , Zong Xiaopeng , Lin Weili , Shen Dinggang
Published: August 2017

Perivascular spaces (PVSs) in brain have a close relationship with typical neurological diseases. The quantitative studies of PVSs are meaningful but usually difficult, due to their thin and weak signals and also background noise in the 7 T brain magnetic resonance images (MRI). To clearly distinguish the PVSs in the 7 T MRI, we propose a novel PVS enhancement method based on the Haar transform of non-local cubes. Specifically, we extract a certain number of cubes from a small neighbor to form a cube group, and then perform Haar transform on each cube group. The Haar transform coefficients are processed using a nonlinear function to amplify the weak signals relevant to the PVSs and to suppress the noise. The enhanced image is reconstructed using the inverse Haar transform of the processed coefficients. Finally, we perform a block-matching 4D filtering on the enhanced image to further remove any remaining noise, and thus obtain an enhanced and denoised 7 T MRI for PVS segmentation. We apply two existing methods to complete PVS segmentation, i.e., (1) vesselness-thresholding and (2) random forest classification. The experimental results show that the PVS segmentation performances can be significantly improved by using the enhanced and denoised 7 T MRI.
Deletion of EP4 in S100a4-lineage cells reduces scar tissue formation during early but not later stages of tendon healing
Authors: Ackerman Jessica E. , Best Katherine T. , O’Keefe Regis J. , Loiselle Alayna E.
Published: August 2017

Tendon injuries heal via scar tissue rather than regeneration. This healing response forms adhesions between the flexor tendons in the hand and surrounding tissues, resulting in impaired range of motion and hand function. Mechanistically, inflammation has been strongly linked to adhesion formation, and Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is associated with both adhesion formation and tendinopathy. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that deletion of the PGE2 receptor EP4 in S100a4-lineage cells would decrease adhesion formation. S100a4-Cre; EP4flox/flox (EP4cKOS100a4) repairs healed with improved gliding function at day 14, followed by impaired gliding at day 28, relative to wild type. Interestingly, EP4cKOS100a4 resulted in only transient deletion of EP4, suggesting up-regulation of EP4 in an alternative cell population in these mice. Loss of EP4 in Scleraxis-lineage cells did not alter gliding function, suggesting that Scx-lineage cells are not the predominant EP4 expressing population. In contrast, a dramatic increase in α-SMA+, EP4+ double-positive cells were observed in EP4cKOS100a4 suggesting that EP4cKOS100a4 repairs heal with increased infiltration of EP4 expressing α-SMA myofibroblasts, identifying a potential mechanism of late up-regulation of EP4 and impaired gliding function in EP4cKOS100a4 tendon repairs.
Investigations of Phase Transformation in Monocrystalline Silicon at Low Temperatures via Nanoindentation
Authors: Wang Shunbo , Liu Hang , Xu Lixia , Du Xiancheng , Zhao Dan , Zhu Bo , Yu Miao , Zhao Hongwei
Published: August 2017

Nanoindentations of monocrystalline silicon are conducted to investigate the phase transformation process at a temperature range from 292 K to 210 K. The load-displacement curves are obtained and the residual indents are detected by Raman spectra. MD simulations are also conducted to identify the phase state during nanoindentation. The results show that the low temperature has no influence on the generation of Si-II during loading process of indentation, but the phenomenon of pop-out is inhibited with the temperature decreasing. The probability of pop-out occurrence has a dramatic drop from 260 K to 230 K. Both the generation and propagation of Si-III/XII transformed from Si-II are inhibited by the low temperature, and only a-Si was generated as a final phase state.
Effect of the solvation state of electron in dissociative electron attachment reaction in aqueous solutions
Authors: Wang Furong , Archirel Pierre , Muroya Yusa , Yamashita Shinichi , Pernot Pascal , Yin Chengying , El Omar Abdel Karim , Schmidhammer Uli , Teuler Jean-Marie , Mostafavi Mehran
Published: August 2017

Dissociative electron attachment induced by prehydrated electron is observed by using multichannel transient absorption measurements at the picosecond range.
Calix[n]arene-based polyradicals: enhancing ferromagnetism by avoiding edge effects
Authors: Reta Daniel , Moreira Ibério de P. R. , Illas Francesc
Published: August 2017

The absence of edges in circular structures derived from 1,3-arylmethyl polyradical results in realistic molecules showing largely stabilized high-spin ground states.
Influence of the DNA sequence/length and pH on deaminase activity, as well as the roles of the amino acid residues around the catalytic center of APOBEC3F
Authors: Wan Li , Nagata Takashi , Katahira Masato
Published: August 2017

The roles of the amino acid residues responsible for the deaminase activity of APOBEC3F were identified by mutation analysis.
Exceptional thermoelectric performance of a “star-like” SnSe nanotube with ultra-low thermal conductivity and a high power factor
Authors: Lin Chensheng , Cheng Wendan , Guo Zhengxiao , Chai Guoliang , Zhang Hao
Published: August 2017

A “star-like” SnSe nanotube shows an exceptionally large ZT value of 3.5–4.6, which is far greater than that of the corresponding SnSe crystal.
Effects of CO2 on the deactivation behaviors of Co/Al2O3 and Co/SiO2 in CO hydrogenation to hydrocarbons
Authors: Park Kyung Soo , Saravanan K. , Park Seon-Ju , Lee Yun-Jo , Jeon Ki-Won , Bae Jong Wook
Published: August 2017

Different deactivation behaviors of the prototype Co/γ-Al2O3 (CoAl) and Co/SiO2 (CoSi) catalysts under an excess CO2 environment were investigated in terms of the surface oxidation and aggregation of cobalt crystallites for the Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis (FTS) reaction.
Permittivity imaged at the nanoscale using tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Plathier Julien , Krayev Andrey , Gavrilyuk Vasili , Pignolet Alain , Ruediger Andreas
Published: August 2017

The gold tip's luminescence, enhanced by its LSPR, whose maximum shifts with the sample's optical properties allow mapping of the permittivity at the nanoscale.
One-pot synthesis of N-substituted pyrroles from nitro compounds and 2,5-hexadione over a heterogeneous cobalt catalyst
Authors: Gong Zheng , Lei Yu , Zhou Peng , Zhang Zehui
Published: August 2017

One-pot synthesis of N-substituted pyrroles with highly stable CoNx catalysts and HCOOH as hydrogen donor.
Light intensity field enhancement (LIFE) induced localized edge abrasion of silica-coated silver nanoprisms
Authors: Thomas Rijil , Phua Soo Zeng Fiona , Sreejith Sivaramapanicker , Zhao Yanli , Soh Cheong Boon
Published: August 2017

Light intensity field enhancement (LIFE) due to the optical excitation of silica-coated silver nanoprisms leads to localized edge abrasion.
Silicon-based nanotheranostics
Authors: Knežević Nikola Ž. , Kaluđerović Goran N.
Published: August 2017

The unique properties of mesoporous silicon, silica and organosilica nanoparticles allow designing multifunctional nanoarchitectures for imaging and targeted therapy.