bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Discovery of BVDU as a promising Drug for autoimmune diseases Therapy by Dendritic-cell-based functional screening
Authors: Chen Shuai , Zhou Jinfeng , Cai Yingying , Zheng Xinyuan , Xie Sirong , Liao Yuhan , Zhu Yu , Qin Chaoyan , Lai Weiming , Yang Cuixia , Xie Xin , Du Changsheng
Published: March 2017

Dendritic cells (DCs) play a critical role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases including multiple sclerosis, and targeting DCs’ cytokines production is an important strategy for autoimmune diseases treatment. By establishing a high-throughput screening system, we analyzed LOPAC drug library to identify drugs that control the secretion of IL-6 by DCs, we selected the most likely candidate drug, BVDU, and found that it affected not only IL-6 production, but also that of IL-12, IL-1β during the DCs differentiation and maturation. The mechanism studies showed that BVDU treatment restricted the phosphorylation of MAP kinase, which played an important role in DC cytokine production. We further assessed thein vivotherapeutic potentials of BVDU on mouse models including EAE and STZ-induced T1D, and found that BVDU treated EAE mice exhibited significantly lower EAE clinical scores, decreased leukocyte infiltration in central nervous system lesions, and reduced demyelination. As in T1D mice, BVDU treatment also showed promising therapeutic effects based on both alleviated disease symptoms and tissue pathogenesis. More interestingly, the modulating effect of BVDU on IL-6 production was further verified in human primary DCs. The above data supported the promising application of our screen model, and also the potential of BVDU for autoimmune diseases therapy.
Nucleic acid-based polymers effective against hepatitis B Virus infection in patients don’t harbor immunostimulatory properties in primary isolated liver cells
Authors: Real Catherine Isabell , Werner Melanie , Paul Andreas , Gerken Guido , Schlaak Joerg Friedrich , Vaillant Andrew , Broering Ruth
Published: March 2017

Nucleic acid polymers (NAPs) block the release of subviral particles from hepatocytes, a mechanism consistent with their antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus (HBV) in patients. Analysis of immunostimulatory properties of NAPs were conducted with several NAP species: REP 2006, the prototypic degenerate NAP [dN]40, containing TLR9-stimulatory CpG; REP 2055 a clinically active NAP with a sequence [dAdC]20devoid of CpG content; REP 2139 (also clinically active) and REP 2165 (REP 2055 analogues further rendered immunologically inactive by replacing cytidine with 5-methylcytidine and incorporating 2′-O methylation of riboses). These analyses revealed pro-inflammatory responses in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells with REP 2006 and with REP 2139 and REP 2165 only at high dose but displayed no significant antiviral activity. In primary isolated human hepatocytes and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells no significant inflammatory or antiviral responses were detected for any NAPs. In human Kupffer cells pro-inflammatory activity was observed with REP 2006 and REP 2055, whereas a weak but significant induction of interferon genes was only observed with REP 2006 at the highest concentration. We therefore hypothesize that the antiviral activity of NAPs optimized to treat HBV infection in patients cannot be explained by direct induction of innate antiviral responses.
Center Frequency Stabilization in Planar Dual-Mode Resonators during Mode-Splitting Control
Authors: Naji Adham , Soliman Mina H.
Published: March 2017

Shape symmetry in dual-mode planar electromagnetic resonators results in their ability to host two degenerate resonant modes. As the designer enforces a controllable break in the symmetry, the degeneracy is removed and the two modes couple, exchanging energy and elevating the resonator into its desirable second-order resonance operation. The amount of coupling is controlled by the degree of asymmetry introduced. However, this mode coupling (or splitting) usually comes at a price. The centre frequency of the perturbed resonator is inadvertently drifted from its original value prior to coupling. Maintaining centre frequency stability during mode splitting is a nontrivial geometric design problem. In this paper, we analyse the problem and propose a novel method to compensate for this frequency drift, based on field analysis and perturbation theory, and we validate the solution through a practical design example and measurements. The analytical method used works accurately within the perturbational limit. It may also be used as a starting point for further numerical optimization algorithms, reducing the required computational time during design, when larger perturbations are made to the resonator. In addition to enabling the novel design example presented, it is hoped that the findings will inspire akin designs for other resonator shapes, in different disciplines and applications.
The complementarity relations of quantum coherence in quantum information processing
Authors: Pan Fei , Qiu Liang , Liu Zhi
Published: March 2017

We establish two complementarity relations for the relative entropy of coherence in quantum information processing, i.e., quantum dense coding and teleportation. We first give an uncertainty-like expression relating local quantum coherence to the capacity of optimal dense coding for bipartite system. The relation can also be applied to the case of dense coding by using unital memoryless noisy quantum channels. Further, the relation between local quantum coherence and teleportation fidelity for two-qubit system is given.
Physiological Integration Affects Expansion of an Amphibious Clonal Plant from Terrestrial to Cu-Polluted Aquatic Environments
Authors: Xu Liang , Zhou Zhen-Feng
Published: March 2017

The effects of physiological integration on clonal plants growing in aquatic and terrestrial habitats have been extensively studied, but little is known about the role in the extension of amphibious clonal plants in the heterogeneous aquatic-terrestrial ecotones, especially when the water environments are polluted by heavy metals. Ramets of the amphibious clonal herb Alternanthera philoxeroides were rooted in unpolluted soil and polluted water at three concentrations of Cu. The extension of populations from unpolluted terrestrial to polluted aqueous environments mainly relied on stem elongation rather than production of new ramets. The absorbed Cu in the ramets growing in polluted water could be spread horizontally to other ramets in unpolluted soil via physiological integration and redistributed in different organs. The performances of ramets in both terrestrial and aquatic habitats were negatively correlated with Cu intensities in different organs of plants. It is concluded that physiological integration might lessen the fitness of connected ramets in heterogeneously polluted environments. The mechanical strength of the stems decreased with increasing Cu levels, especially in polluted water. We suggest that, except for direct toxicity to growth and expansion, heavy metal pollution might also increase the mechanical risk in breaking failure of plants.
The ligand-bound thyroid hormone receptor in macrophages ameliorates kidney injury via inhibition of nuclear factor-κB activities
Authors: Furuya Fumihiko , Ishii Toshihisa , Tamura Shogo , Takahashi Kazuya , Kobayashi Hidetoshi , Ichijo Masashi , Takizawa Soichi , Kaneshige Masahiro , Suzuki-Inoue Katsue , Kitamura Kenichiro
Published: March 2017

In chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, inflammation plays a pivotal role in the progression of renal fibrosis. Hypothyroidism is associated with an increased occurrence of atherosclerosis and inflammation, suggesting protective roles of thyroid hormones and their receptors against inflammatory processes. The contribution of thyroid hormone receptors to macrophage differentiation has not been well documented. Here, we focused on the endogenous thyroid hormone receptor α (TRα) in macrophages and examined the role of ligand-bound TRα in macrophage polarization-mediated anti-inflammatory effects. TRα-deficient irradiated chimeric mice showed exacerbated tubulointerstitial injury in a unilateral ureteral obstruction model. Compared with wild-type macrophages, macrophages isolated from the obstructed kidneys of mice lacking TRα displayed increased expression of proinflammatory cytokines that was accompanied by enhanced nuclear translocation of p65. Comparison of TRα-deficient bone marrow-derived macrophages with wild-type macrophages confirmed the propensity of the former cells to produce excessive IL-1β levels. Co-culture of these macrophages with renal epithelial cells induced more severe damage to the epithelial cells via the IL-1 receptor. Our findings indicate that ligand-bound TRα on macrophages plays a protective role in kidney inflammation through the inhibition of NF-κB pathways, possibly by affecting the pro- and anti-inflammatory balance that controls the development of CKD.
Economy, Movement Dynamics, and Muscle Activity of Human Walking at Different Speeds
Authors: Raffalt P. C. , Guul M. K. , Nielsen A. N. , Puthusserypady S. , Alkjær T.
Published: March 2017

The complex behaviour of human walking with respect to movement variability, economy and muscle activity is speed dependent. It is well known that a U-shaped relationship between walking speed and economy exists. However, it is an open question if the movement dynamics of joint angles and centre of mass and muscle activation strategy also exhibit a U-shaped relationship with walking speed. We investigated the dynamics of joint angle trajectories and the centre of mass accelerations at five different speeds ranging from 20 to 180% of the predicted preferred speed (based on Froude speed) in twelve healthy males. The muscle activation strategy and walking economy were also assessed. The movement dynamics was investigated using a combination of the largest Lyapunov exponent and correlation dimension. We observed an intermediate stage of the movement dynamics of the knee joint angle and the anterior-posterior and mediolateral centre of mass accelerations which coincided with the most energy-efficient walking speed. Furthermore, the dynamics of the joint angle trajectories and the muscle activation strategy was closely linked to the functional role and biomechanical constraints of the joints.
Diet of land birds along an elevational gradient in Papua New Guinea
Authors: Sam Katerina , Koane Bonny , Jeppy Samuel , Sykorova Jana , Novotny Vojtech
Published: March 2017

Food preferences and exploitation are crucial to many aspects of avian ecology and are of increasing importance as we progress in our understanding of community ecology. We studied birds and their feeding specialization in the Central Range of Papua New Guinea, at eight study sites along a complete (200 to 3700 m a.s.l.) rainforest elevational gradient. The relative species richness and abundance increased with increasing elevation for insect and nectar eating birds, and decreased with elevation for fruit feeding birds. Using emetic tartar, we coerced 999 individuals from 99 bird species to regurgitate their stomach contents and studied these food samples. The proportion of arthropods in food samples increased with increasing elevation at the expense of plant material. Body size of arthropods eaten by birds decreased with increasing elevation. This reflected the parallel elevational trend in the body size of arthropods available in the forest understory. Body size of insectivorous birds was significantly positively correlated with the body size of arthropods they ate. Coleoptera were the most exploited arthropods, followed by Araneae, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera. Selectivity indexes showed that most of the arthropod taxa were taken opportunistically, reflecting the spatial patterns in arthropod abundances to which the birds were exposed.
Multimer recognition and secretion by the non-classical secretion pathway in Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Zhao Liuqun , Chen Jingqi , Sun Jibin , Zhang Dawei
Published: March 2017

Non-classical protein secretion in bacteria is a common phenomenon. However, the selection principle for non-classical secretion pathways remains unclear. Here, our experimental data, to our knowledge, are the first to show that folded multimeric proteins can be recognized and excreted by a non-classical secretion pathway inBacillus subtilis. We explored the secretion pattern of a typical cytoplasmic protein D-psicose 3-epimerase fromRuminococcus sp. 5_1_39BFAA (RDPE), and showed that its non-classical secretion is not simply due to cell lysis. Analysis of truncation variants revealed that the C- and N-terminus, and two hydrophobic domains, are required for structural stability and non-classical secretion of RDPE. Alanine scanning mutagenesis of the hydrophobic segments of RDPE revealed that hydrophobic residues mediated the equilibrium between its folded and unfolded forms. Reporter mCherry and GFP fusions with RDPE regions show that its secretion requires an intact tetrameric protein complex. Using cross-linked tetramers, we show that folded tetrameric RDPE can be secreted as a single unit. Finally, we provide evidence that the non-classical secretion pathway has a strong preference for multimeric substrates, which accumulate at the poles and septum region. Altogether, these data show that a multimer recognition mechanism is likely applicable across the non-classical secretion pathway.
Secreted Ectodomain of SIGLEC-9 and MCP-1 Synergistically Improve Acute Liver Failure in Rats by Altering Macrophage Polarity
Authors: Ito Takanori , Ishigami Masatoshi , Matsushita Yoshihiro , Hirata Marina , Matsubara Kohki , Ishikawa Tetsuya , Hibi Hideharu , Ueda Minoru , Hirooka Yoshiki , Goto Hidemi , Yamamoto Akihito
Published: March 2017

Effective treatments for acute liver failure (ALF) are still lacking. We recently reported that a single intravenous administration of serum-free conditioned medium from stem cells derived from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED-CM) into the D-galactosamine (D-Gal)-induced rat ALF model improves the liver injury. However, the specific factors in SHED-CM that are responsible for resolving ALF remain unclear. Here we found that depleting SHED-CM of two anti-inflammatory M2 macrophage inducers—monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and the secreted ectodomain of sialic acid-binding Ig-like lectin-9 (sSiglec-9)—abolished its ability to resolve rat ALF. Furthermore, treatment with MCP-1/sSiglec-9 alone dramatically improved the survival of ALF rats. This treatment induced anti-inflammatory M2, suppressed hepatocyte apoptosis, and promoted hepatocyte proliferation. Treatment with an M2-depletion reagent (mannosylated clodronate liposomes) suppressed the recovery. In addition, MCP-1 and sSiglec-9 synergistically promoted the M2 differentiation of bone marrow-derived macrophages via CCR2, accompanied by the production of multiple liver-regenerating factors. The conditioned medium from MCP-1/sSiglec-9-activated M2 macrophages, but not from interleukin-4-induced ones, suppressed the D-Gal- and LPS-induced apoptosis of primary hepatocytes and promoted their proliferation in vitro. The unique combination of MCP-1/sSiglec-9 ameliorates rat ALF by inhibiting hepatocellular apoptosis and promoting liver regeneration through the induction of anti-inflammatory/tissue-repairing M2 macrophages.
Genetic analysis and clinical features of X-linked retinoschisis in Chinese patients
Authors: Hu Qin-rui , Huang Lv-zhen , Chen Xiao-li , Xia Hui-ka , Li Tian-qi , Li Xiao-xin
Published: March 2017

Many mutations in the retinoschisis (RS1) gene have been identified, but there are limited clinical data relating to the different genotypes. This study investigated the genotype, clinical phenotype and therapies for X-linked juvenile retinoschisis (XLRS) patients in China to evaluate the effects of gene mutations and therapies on the prognosis of the disease. Thirty patients were recruited in the study. Genetic examination identified 8 novel RS1 gene mutations. Twenty-four patients were identified as missense mutation, which was the most common gene mutation in XLRS patients. Amino acids 102 and 209 were the most common mutation areas, accounting for a total 35.7% of all patients. Mutations affecting amino acid 102 were associated with poor results on the flash electroretinogram (ERG). Sixteen patients had various complications. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs were given to four patients with hemorrhage or other complications, and serious adverse events did not occur. Our outcome demonstrates that missense mutation was the leading cause of XLRS and more than half of the patients with this missense had various complications. Anti-VEGF drugs may be an effective and safe way to prevent deterioration of XLRS with certain complications. There is wide genotypic and phenotypic variability in Chinese patients with XLRS.
Development of long-term event memory in preverbal infants: an eye-tracking study
Authors: Nakano Tamami , Kitazawa Shigeru
Published: March 2017

The development of long-term event memory in preverbal infants remains elusive. To address this issue, we applied an eye-tracking method that successfully revealed in great apes that they have long-term memory of single events. Six-, 12-, 18- and 24-month-old infants watched a video story in which an aggressive ape-looking character came out from one of two identical doors. While viewing the same video again 24 hours later, 18- and 24-month-old infants anticipatorily looked at the door where the character would show up before it actually came out, but 6- and 12-month-old infants did not. Next, 12-, 18- and 24-month-old infants watched a different video story, in which a human grabbed one of two objects to hit back at the character. In their second viewing after a 24-hour delay, 18- and 24-month-old infants increased viewing time on the objects before the character grabbed one. In this viewing, 24-month-old infants preferentially looked at the object that the human had used, but 18-month-old infants did not show such preference. Our results show that infants at 18 months of age have developed long-term event memory, an ability to encode and retrieve a one-time event and this ability is elaborated thereafter.
Activity screening of environmental metagenomic libraries reveals novel carboxylesterase families
Authors: Popovic Ana , Hai Tran , Tchigvintsev Anatoly , Hajighasemi Mahbod , Nocek Boguslaw , Khusnutdinova Anna N. , Brown Greg , Glinos Julia , Flick Robert , Skarina Tatiana , Chernikova Tatyana N. , Yim Veronica , Brüls Thomas , Paslier Denis Le , Yakimov Michail M. , Joachimiak Andrzej , Ferrer Manuel , Golyshina Olga V. , Savchenko Alexei , Golyshin Peter N. , Yakunin Alexander F.
Published: March 2017

Metagenomics has made accessible an enormous reserve of global biochemical diversity. To tap into this vast resource of novel enzymes, we have screened over one million clones from metagenome DNA libraries derived from sixteen different environments for carboxylesterase activity and identified 714 positive hits. We have validated the esterase activity of 80 selected genes, which belong to 17 different protein families including unknown and cyclase-like proteins. Three metagenomic enzymes exhibited lipase activity, and seven proteins showed polyester depolymerization activity against polylactic acid and polycaprolactone. Detailed biochemical characterization of four new enzymes revealed their substrate preference, whereas their catalytic residues were identified using site-directed mutagenesis. The crystal structure of the metal-ion dependent esterase MGS0169 from the amidohydrolase superfamily revealed a novel active site with a bound unknown ligand. Thus, activity-centered metagenomics has revealed diverse enzymes and novel families of microbial carboxylesterases, whose activity could not have been predicted using bioinformatics tools.
Evidence from single nucleotide polymorphism analyses of ADVANCE study demonstrates EFNB3 as a hypertension risk gene
Authors: Tremblay Johanne , Wang Yujia , Raelson John , Marois-Blanchet Francois-Christophe , Wu Zenghui , Luo Hongyu , Bradley Edward , Chalmers John , Woodward Mark , Harrap Stephen , Hamet Pavel , Wu Jiangping
Published: March 2017

EPH kinases and their ligands, ephrins (EFNs), have vital and diverse biological functions. We recently reported that Efnb3 gene deletion results in hypertension in female but not male mice. These data suggest that EFNB3 regulates blood pressure in a sex- and sex hormone-dependent way. In the present study, we conducted a human genetic study to assess the association of EFNB3 single nucleotide polymorphisms with human hypertension risks, using 3,448 patients with type 2 diabetes from the ADVANCE study (Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease: Peterax and Diamicron MR Controlled Evaluation). We have observed significant association between 2 SNPs in the 3′ untranslated region or within the adjacent region just 3′ of the EFNB3 gene with hypertension, corroborating our findings from the mouse model. Thus, our investigation has shown that EFNB3 is a hypertension risk gene in certain individuals.
Size matters for in vitro gene delivery: investigating the relationships among complexation protocol, transfection medium, size and sedimentation
Authors: Pezzoli Daniele , Giupponi Elisa , Mantovani Diego , Candiani Gabriele
Published: March 2017

Although branched and linear polyethylenimines (bPEIs and lPEIs) are gold standard transfectants, a systematic analysis of the effects of the preparation protocol of polyplexes and the composition of the transfection medium on their physicochemical behaviour and effectiveness in vitro have been much neglected, undermining in some way the identification of precise structure-function relationships. This work aimed to address these issues. bPEI/DNA and lPEI/DNA, prepared using two different modes of addition of reagents, gave rise to polyplexes with exactly the same chemical composition but differing in dimensions. Upon dilution in serum-free medium, the size of any kind of polyplex promptly rose over time while remained invariably stable in complete DMEM. Of note, the bigger the dimension of polyplexes (in the nano- to micrometer range), the greater their efficiency in vitro. Besides, centrifugal sedimentation of polyplexes displaying different dimensions to speed up and enhance their settling onto cells boosted transfection efficiencies. Conversely, transgene expression was significantly blunted in cells held upside-down and transfected, definitively pointing out the impact of gravitational sedimentation of polyplexes on their transfection efficiency. Overall, much more attention must be paid to the actual polyplex size that relies on the complexation conditions and the transfection medium.
Enhancing adsorption of U(VI) onto EDTA modified L. cylindrica using epichlorohydrin and ethylenediamine as a bridge
Authors: Su Shouzheng , Liu Qi , Liu Jingyuan , Zhang Hongsen , Li Rumin , Jing Xiaoyan , Wang Jun
Published: March 2017

Benefiting from strong coordination ability and unique vascular structure, EDTA modified L. cylindrica opens up an alternative way for uranium recovery from seawater. However, limitations, such as poor adsorption capacity and slow adsorption rate due to low graft ratio of EDTA via one-step esterification block its practical application. Here, a strategy for increasing the graft ratio is proposed in order to improve the adsorption performance. The strategy initially involves immobilization of epichlorohydrin (EPI) onto L. cylindrica and then ethylenediamine (EDA) is introduced via facile ring-opening reaction. EPI and EDA serve as a bridge between L. cylindrica and EDTA. The graft ratio is promoted (15.01 to 21.44%) contributing to the smaller steric hindrance of EPI and EDA than EDTA and improvement in adsorption performance. In addition, the adsorbent prepared by the new strategy exhibits excellent adsorption properties in simulated seawater.
A 3 base pair deletion in TBX1 leads to reduced protein expression and transcriptional activity
Authors: Xu Yuejuan , Fang Shaohai , Zhang Erge , Pu Tian , Cao Ruixue , Fu Qihua , Li Fen , Chen Sun , Sun Kun , Xu Rang
Published: March 2017

Transcription factor TBX1 plays a pivotal role in heart development and has been implicated in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. The structure of this protein has been elucidated, and several mutations have been identified that disrupt TBX1 localization, DNA/protein-binding, or mRNA expression. This study reports a mutation in the TBX1 gene that leads to significantly reduced expression of the mutant protein. A total of 773 conotruncal heart defect patients and 516 unrelated healthy control individuals were enrolled, none of which harbored a 22q11.2 deletion or duplication. We identified a mutation, c.303-305delGAA, located in the third exon of TBX1 that does not disrupt TBX1 mRNA expression or DNA binding activity, but results in decreased TBX1 protein levels and transcriptional activity. Through protein degradation studies we demonstrated that TBX1 is degraded primarily in proteasomes. Although the c.303-305delGAA mutation leads to low levels of the mutant protein, we found that increased protein degradation was not the cause, and we hypothesize that an alternate mechanism, such as translational inhibition, may be the cause.
Real-time monitoring and visualization of the multi-dimensional motion of an anisotropic nanoparticle
Authors: Go Gi-Hyun , Heo Seungjin , Cho Jong-Hoi , Yoo Yang-Seok , Kim MinKwan , Park Chung-Hyun , Cho Yong-Hoon
Published: March 2017

As interest in anisotropic particles has increased in various research fields, methods of tracking such particles have become increasingly desirable. Here, we present a new and intuitive method to monitor the Brownian motion of a nanowire, which can construct and visualize multi-dimensional motion of a nanowire confined in an optical trap, using a dual particle tracking system. We measured the isolated angular fluctuations and translational motion of the nanowire in the optical trap, and determined its physical properties, such as stiffness and torque constants, depending on laser power and polarization direction. This has wide implications in nanoscience and nanotechnology with levitated anisotropic nanoparticles.
Epidermal CD147 expression plays a key role in IL-22-induced psoriatic dermatitis
Authors: Peng Cong , Zhang ShengXi , Lei Li , Zhang Xu , Jia Xuekun , Luo Zhongling , Huang Xiaoyan , Kuang Yanhong , Zeng Weiqi , Su Juan , Chen Xiang
Published: March 2017

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by abnormal keratinocyte proliferation and terminal differentiation. Interleukin-22 (IL-22) and the transcription factor Stat3 play pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. CD147 is a transmembrane glycosylation protein that belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily. Our previous studies have shown that CD147 is a marker of high keratinocyte proliferation and poor keratinocyte differentiation as well as a psoriasis susceptibility gene. The current study demonstrates that CD147 is highly expressed in psoriatic skin lesions. Specific CD147 over-expression in the epidermis of K5-promoter transgenic mice promotes imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis-like inflammation characterized by acanthosis, granular layer loss and inflammatory cell infiltration. We also found that IL-22 increases CD147 transcription in vitro and in vivo and that Stat3 binds directly to the CD147 promoter between positions −854 and −440, suggesting that CD147 expression is up-regulated in patients with psoriasis through Stat3 activation. In addition, CD147 knockdown dramatically blocks IL-22-mediated Stat3 activation as well as IL-22-induced cytokine, chemokine and antimicrobial factor expression. Together, these findings show that CD147 is a novel and key mediator of IL-22-induced psoriatic alterations in the epidermis and might be a therapeutic target in patients with psoriasis.
Critical role of quorum sensing-dependent glutamate metabolism in homeostatic osmolality and outer membrane vesiculation in Burkholderia glumae
Authors: Kang Yongsung , Goo Eunhye , Kim Jinwoo , Hwang Ingyu
Published: March 2017

Metabolic homeostasis in cooperative bacteria is achieved by modulating primary metabolism in a quorum sensing (QS)-dependent manner. A perturbed metabolism in QS mutants causes physiological stress in the rice bacterial pathogen Burkholderia glumae. Here, we show that increased bacterial osmolality in B. glumae is caused by unusually high cellular concentrations of glutamate and betaine generated by QS deficiencies. QS negatively controls glutamate uptake and the expression of genes involved in the glutamine synthetase and glutamine oxoglutarate aminotransferase cycles. Thus, cellular glutamate levels were significantly higher in the QS mutants than in the wild type, and they caused hyperosmotic cellular conditions. Under the hypotonic conditions of the periplasm in the QS mutants, outer membrane bulging and vesiculation were observed, although these changes were rescued by knocking out the gltI gene, which encodes a glutamate transporter. Outer membrane modifications were not detected in the wild type. These results suggest that QS-dependent glutamate metabolism is critical for homeostatic osmolality. We suggest that outer membrane bulging and vesiculation might be the outcome of a physiological adaptation to relieve hypotonic osmotic stress in QS mutants. Our findings reveal how QS functions to maintain bacterial osmolality in a cooperative population.
Alternative exon skipping biases substrate preference of the deubiquitylase USP15 for mysterin/RNF213, the moyamoya disease susceptibility factor
Authors: Kotani Yuri , Morito Daisuke , Sakata Kenshiro , Ainuki Shiori , Sugihara Munechika , Hatta Tomohisa , Iemura Shun-ichiro , Takashima Seiji , Natsume Tohru , Nagata Kazuhiro
Published: March 2017

The deubiquitylating enzyme USP15 plays significant roles in multiple cellular pathways including TGF-β signaling, RNA splicing, and innate immunity. Evolutionarily conserved skipping of exon 7 occurs during transcription of the mRNAs encoding USP15 and its paralogue USP4, yielding two major isoforms for each gene. Exon 7 of USP15 encodes a serine-rich stretch of 29 amino acid residues located in the inter-region linker that connects the N-terminal putative regulatory region and the C-terminal enzymatic region. Previous findings suggested that the variation in the linker region leads to functional differences between the isoforms of the two deubiquitylating enzymes, but to date no direct evidence regarding such functional divergence has been published. We found that the long isoform of USP15 predominantly recognizes and deubiquitylates mysterin, a large ubiquitin ligase associated with the onset of moyamoya disease. This observation represents the first experimental evidence that the conserved exon skipping alters the substrate specificity of this class of deubiquitylating enzymes. In addition, we found that the interactomes of the short and long isoforms of USP15 only partially overlapped. Thus, USP15, a key gene in multiple cellular processes, generates two functionally different isoforms via evolutionarily conserved exon skipping.
High-efficient production and biophysical characterisation of nicastrin and its interaction with APPC100
Authors: Yu Kun , Yang Ge , Labahn Jörg
Published: March 2017

Nicastrin, the largest member among the four components of the γ-secretase complex, has been identified to be the substrate recognizer for the proteolytic activity of the complex. Here we report that full-length human nicastrin (hNCT) can be obtained by heterologous expression in E. coli. Milligram quantities of the target protein are purified in a two-step purification protocol using affinity chromatography followed by SEC. The FOS-choline 14 purified tetrameric hNCT exhibits a proper folding with 31% α-helix and 23% β-sheet content. Thermal stability studies reveal stable secondary and tertiary structure of the detergent purified hNCT. A physical interaction between nicastrin and the γ-secretase substrate APPC100 confirmed the functionality of hNCT as a substrate recognizer.
Fabrication and characterization of electrospun nanofibers composed of decellularized meniscus extracellular matrix and polycaprolactone for meniscus tissue engineering
Authors: Gao Shuang , Guo Weimin , Chen Mingxue , Yuan Zhiguo , Wang Mingjie , Zhang Yu , Liu Shuyun , Xi Tingfei , Guo Quanyi
Published: March 2017

Decellularized meniscus extracellular matrix (DMECM) and polycaprolactone (PCL) were electrospun into nanofibers to make meniscus scaffolds with good mechanical properties.
Design, synthesis, crystal structure and fungicidal activity of (E)-5-(methoxyimino)-3,5-dihydrobenzo[e][1,2]oxazepin-4(1H)-one analogues
Authors: Yang Dongyan , Wan Chuan , He MengMeng , Che Chuanliang , Xiao Yumei , Fu Bin , Qin Zhaohai
Published: March 2017

It is the first reported the synthesis of 1,2-benzoxazepinone. These compounds showed excellent fungicidal activity.
Correction: Substituted bidentate and ancillary ligands modulate the bioimaging properties of the classical Re(i) tricarbonyl core with yeasts and bacteria
Authors: Carreño Alexander , Aros Alejandra E. , Otero Carolina , Polanco Rubén , Gacitúa Manuel , Arratia-Pérez Ramiro , Fuentes Juan A.
Published: March 2017

Correction for ‘Substituted bidentate and ancillary ligands modulate the bioimaging properties of the classical Re(i) tricarbonyl core with yeasts and bacteria’ by Alexander Carreño et al., New J. Chem., 2017, 41, 2140–2147.
Enhanced thermal conductivity in immiscible polyimide blend composites with needle-shaped ZnO particles
Authors: Uchida Shoya , Murakami Tomoya , Iwamura Takeru , Ishige Ryohei , Ando Shinji
Published: March 2017

Novel composite films exhibiting high thermal conductivity along the out-of-plane direction were prepared from two types of immiscible polyimides (PIs) and needle-shaped ZnO particles.
Mesoporous C, N-codoped TiO2 hybrid shells with enhanced visible light photocatalytic performance
Authors: Wang Minggui , Han Jie , Hu Yimin , Guo Rong
Published: March 2017

Mesoporous C, N-codoped TiO2 (C/N-TiO2) hybrid shells incorporated with graphite carbon were synthesized. Catalytic results indicated that C and N codoping could remarkably improve the photocatalytic performance of TiO2.
Retraction: Utility of plasma: a new road from physics to chemistry
Authors: Attri Pankaj , Arora Bharti , Choi Eun Ha
Published: March 2017

Retraction of ‘Utility of plasma: a new road from physics to chemistry’ by Pankaj Attri et al., RSC Adv., 2013, 3, 12540–12567.
Hybrid Na–air flow batteries using an acidic catholyte: effect of the catholyte pH on the cell performance
Authors: Hwang Soo Min , Go Wooseok , Yu Hyein , Kim Youngsik
Published: March 2017

Hybrid-type Na–air batteries using a flow-through configuration and an acidic catholyte are investigated to enhance the battery performance.
Conventional protein kinase C in the brain: 40 years later
Authors: Callender Julia A. , Newton Alexandra C.
Published: March 2017

Protein kinase C (PKC) is a family of enzymes whose members transduce a large variety of cellular signals instigated by the receptor-mediated hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids. While PKC has been widely implicated in the pathology of diseases affecting all areas of physiology including cancer, diabetes, and heart disease—it was discovered, and initially characterized, in the brain. PKC plays a key role in controlling the balance between cell survival and cell death. Its loss of function is generally associated with cancer, whereas its enhanced activity is associated with neurodegeneration. This review presents an overview of signaling by diacylglycerol (DG)-dependent PKC isozymes in the brain, and focuses on the role of the Ca2+-sensitive conventional PKC isozymes in neurodegeneration.
Clutter covariance matrix estimation using weight vectors in knowledge‐aided STAP
Authors: Jeon H. , Chung Y. , Chung W. , Kim J. , Yang H.
Published: March 2017

A knowledge‐aided space–time adaptive processing (STAP) is a quite useful technique to suppress non‐stationary and heterogeneous clutter. It estimates a covariance matrix by combining a conventional covariance matrix based on secondary data with a synthesised one by prior information. A new combining method is presented, where weight vectors, rather than constant weights, are used to combine two covariance matrices. In this method, the weight vectors are derived in a way to maximise clutter‐to‐noise ratio of the combined covariance matrix. A numerical simulation is conducted for a bistatic radar scenario where clutter non‐stationarity and heterogeneity can be assumed and the performance of the proposed method is demonstrated in terms of clutter suppression and target detection.
Reachability resolution for discrete‐time hybrid systems with application to automated test generation for Simulink/Stateflow
Authors: Li Meng , Kumar Ratnesh
Published: March 2017

Simulink/Stateflow is a popular commercial model‐based development tool for many industrial domains. For safety and security concerns, verification and testing must be performed on the Simulink/Stateflow designs and the generated code. The authors present a test generation approach for Simulink/Stateflow by its reduction to reachability in a hybrid automaton, with its locations representing the computations of the Simulink/Stateflow model, and edges representing the computation‐succession. A novel reachability resolution method is presented based on the refinement of the hybrid automaton such that the reachability is reduced to the reachability in the underlying graph (without the dynamics), whenever the refinement step terminates. The approach yields a technique that is effective in terms of achieving test coverage and efficient in terms of test generation time whenever the computation of each time step can be analytically solved for an arbitrary number of repetition. The approach is also applied on defect‐detection and requirements‐satisfaction, and illustrated through application to a bounded counter and a cyberphysical system of a thermal control unit.
Smart building uncertainty analysis via adaptive Lasso
Authors: Lin Bingqing , Yu Bei
Published: March 2017

Uncertainty analysis plays a pivotal role in identifying the important parameters affecting building energy consumption and estimate their effects at the early design stages. In this work, we consider the adaptive Lasso for uncertainty analysis in building performance simulation. This procedure has several appealing features: (1) We can introduce a large number of possible physical and environmental parameters at the initial stage to obtain a more complete picture of the building energy consumption. (2) The procedure could automatically select parameters and estimate influences simultaneously and no prior knowledge is required. (3) Due to computational efficiency of the procedure, non‐linear relationship between the building performance and the input parameters could be accommodated. (4) The proposed adaptive Lasso can use a small number of samples to achieve high modeling accuracy and further reduce the huge computational cost of running building energy simulation programs. Furthermore, we propose a stable algorithm to rank input parameters to better identify important input parameters that affect energy consumption. A case study shows the superior performance of the procedure compared with LS and OMP in terms of modeling accuracy and computational cost.
Analysis and design of coded apertures for defocus deblurring based on imaging system properties and optical features
Authors: Masoudifar Mina , Pourreza Hamid Reza
Published: March 2017

As the physical size of single pixels in digital cameras grows smaller, the captured images are increasingly affected by defocused blurring and consequently valuable details are lost. Different aperture patterns have already been proposed to mitigate this problem based on presumed conditions, which maybe violated in practise. Sensor characteristics and current photometric scene properties have been largely ignored in the design of aperture patterns in the literature. In this study, a number of perceptually optimised coded apertures are introduced for defocused deblurring. These apertures are specifically designed considering illumination conditions, sensor specifications and human visual system characteristics. The designed patterns are compared with circular apertures of equal throughput and pinhole aperture. Experiments show signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) gains of up to 0.35 and 2 dB over circular and pinhole apertures, respectively. To study the trade‐off between diffraction and deblurring gains, the proposed binary masks are enhanced by smoothing and morphological operations, which can yield non‐binary and rounded binary patterns. The results of the authors’ study show that rounded binary patterns improve diffraction behaviour while maintaining the desired SNR level.
Realised safety impacts of electronic stability control in Finland
Authors: Öörni Risto , Luoma Juha
Published: March 2017

The objective of the study is to estimate the realised safety effects of electronic stability control (ESC) in Finland in the current context. The modelling of impacts was based on a framework in which the outcomes of accidents are determined by exposure of road users, accident risk and accident severity. Exposure to risk was modelled in three ways: (i) by calculating the share of passenger cars equipped with ESC with a mathematical model, (ii) on the basis of an ESC fleet penetration estimate obtained from a survey targeted to car importers and (iii) with ESC fleet penetration taking into account the penetration estimate obtained from the survey weighted with the annual kilometrage of passenger cars. The results of the study suggest that around 37 fatalities and 747 injuries were avoided in Finland in 2014 because of ESC.
On‐road experimental study on driving anger identification model based on physiological features by ROC curve analysis
Authors: Wan Ping , Wu Chaozhong , Lin Yingzi , Ma Xiaofeng
Published: March 2017

Road rage is a serious psychological issue affecting traffic safety, which has attracted increasing concern regarding driving anger intervention. This study proposed a method for driving anger identification based on physiological features. First, 30 drivers were recruited to perform on‐road experiments on a busy route in Wuhan, China. The drivers’ anger could be inducted on the study route by elicitation events, e.g. vehicles weaving/cutting in line, jaywalking, traffic congestion and waiting at red light if they want to finish the experiments ahead of basic time for extra pay. Subsequently, significance analysis was used to determine that five physiological features including heart rate, skin conductance, respiration rate, the relative energy spectrum of θ and β bands of electroencephalogram were effective for driving anger identification. Finally, a linear discriminant model was proposed to identify driving anger based on the optimal thresholds of the five features which were determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The results show that the proposed model achieves an accuracy of 85.84% which is 7.95 and 5.71% higher than the models using back propagation neural network and support vector machine, respectively. The results can provide theoretical foundation for developing driving anger detection devices based on physiological features.
Traffic demand estimation for lane groups at signal‐controlled intersections using travel times from video‐imaging detectors
Authors: Ma Dongfang , Luo Xiaoqin , Li Wenjing , Jin Sheng , Guo Weiwei , Wang Dianhai
Published: March 2017

The purpose of this study is to present a new method for lane‐based traffic demand estimation using travel times from video‐imaging detectors. The method overcomes the following two shortcomings of loop‐detector‐based algorithms: the fact that the actual demand is unknown when detectors are located upstream from the stop lines within a short distance; and the difficulty in calculating the ratio between streams in different lane groups if detectors are located at the upper reaches of the links. First, the authors analyse a variety of travel time patterns and introduce the concept of a virtual cycle that satisfies the criteria that all vehicles entering into a link in one virtual cycle have just departed from a downstream stop line within a single signal cycle. Next, the authors improve the travel time reduction rate model for queued vehicles in each cycle, and enhance the algorithms to estimate the lane‐based traffic demand under different conditions. Finally, all parameters are calibrated and the new models are evaluated. The results show that: the maximum, minimum and average deviations over 12 cycles are 38.50, 0.02 and 16.19%, respectively. The findings in this study have potential applicability for use in traffic control systems, especially where oversaturated conditions are present.
Surrogate‐splits ensembles for real‐time voltage stability assessment in the presence of missing synchrophasor measurements
Authors: Adewole Adeyemi Charles , Tzoneva Raynitchka
Published: March 2017

This paper proposes a new machine learning approach in the presence of missing measurements using surrogate‐splits ensembles for real‐time voltage stability assessment comprising of the classification of the operating state of the power system, and the prediction of the power system's margin to voltage collapse. The proposed approach applied the Boosting and Bagging machine learning methods in the design of the ensemble models required for the classification and regression tasks, respectively, based on the feature attributes obtained from synchrophasor measurements. The performance of the trained classifiers and regressors was evaluated for the case of missing phasor measurement unit (PMU) measurements. Robust classifier and regressor models immune to missing PMU measurements were afterwards developed using the surrogate‐splits technique. The validity of the proposed approach was tested using the New England 39‐bus test system. The experimental results obtained validate the effectiveness of the proposed method for various operating scenarios and contingencies even in the presence of missing PMU measurements.
Catalytic Asymmetric Direct-Type 1,4-Addition Reactions of Alkanesulfonamides
Authors: Kobayashi Shū , Yamashita Yasuhiro , Igarashi Ryo , Suzuki Hirotsugu
Published: March 2017

Catalytic asymmetric 1,4-addition reactions of alkanesulfonamides were developed on the ‘product base’ strategy. Alkanesulfonamides reacted with α,β-unsaturated amides in good to high yields with good to high diastereo- and enantioselectivities using a chiral alkaline metal amide. To our knowledge, this is the first example of a catalytic asymmetric C–C bond-forming reaction using an alkanesulfonamide without any activating group at its α-position.
Direct Regio- and Diastereoselective Diphosphonylation of Cyclic Enamines: One-Pot Synthesis of α,α′-Bis(diphenylphosphoryl)- and α,α′-Bis(diphenylphosphorothioyl)cycloalkanones
Authors: Jebli Nejib , Debrouwer Wouter , Berton Jan , Van Hecke Kristof , Stevens Christian , Touil Soufiane
Published: March 2017

A straightforward regio- and diastereoselective process has been developed for the synthesis of unprecedented symmetrical trans-α,α′-bis(diphenylphosphoryl)- and α,α′-bis(diphenylphosphorothioyl)-cycloalkanones, through the reaction of cyclic enamines with excess P-chlorodiphenylphosphine in the presence of triethylamine, followed by oxidation or sulfurization and hydrolytic workup.
The Suction Test: A Novel Technique to Identify and Verify Successful Repair of Peripheral Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex Tears
Authors: Greene Ryan , Kakar Sanjeev
Published: March 2017

Background The diagnoses of peripheral triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) tears continue to be the subject of numerous investigations.

Case Description We describe a novel arthroscopic technique that may be used as an adjunct with other arthroscopic maneuvers to diagnose and confirm repair of peripheral sided TFCC injuries.

Literature Review The hook and trampoline tests are intraoperative techniques to diagnose TFCC tears.

Clinical Relevance The suction test provides a means to detect peripheral tears and to confirm restoration of its tension post repair.