bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ATP synthase F1 subunits recruited to centromeres by CENP-A are required for male meiosis
Authors: Collins Caitríona M. , Malacrida Beatrice , Burke Colin , Kiely Patrick A. , Dunleavy Elaine M.
Published: July 2018

The histone H3 variant CENP-A epigenetically defines the centromere and is critical for chromosome segregation. Here we report an interaction between CENP-A and subunits of the mitochondrial ATP synthase complex in the germline of male Drosophila. Furthermore, we report that knockdown of CENP-A, as well as subunits ATPsyn-α, -βlike (a testis-specific paralogue of ATPsyn-β) and -γ disrupts sister centromere cohesion in meiotic prophase I. We find that this disruption is likely independent of reduced ATP levels. We identify that ATPsyn-α and -βlike localise to meiotic centromeres and that this localisation is dependent on the presence of CENP-A. We show that ATPsyn-α directly interacts with the N-terminus of CENP-A in vitro and that truncation of its N terminus perturbs sister centromere cohesion in prophase I. We propose that the CENP-A N-terminus recruits ATPsyn-α and -βlike to centromeres to promote sister centromere cohesion in a nuclear function that is independent of oxidative phosphorylation.
Controlled gene and drug release from a liposomal delivery platform triggered by X-ray radiation
Authors: Deng Wei , Chen Wenjie , Clement Sandhya , Guller Anna , Zhao Zhenjun , Engel Alexander , Goldys Ewa M.
Published: July 2018

Liposomes have been well established as an effective drug delivery system, due to simplicity of their preparation and unique characteristics. However conventional liposomes are unsuitable for the on-demand content release, which limits their therapeutic utility. Here we report X-ray-triggerable liposomes incorporating gold nanoparticles and photosensitizer verteporfin. The 6 MeV X-ray radiation induces verteporfin to produce singlet oxygen, which destabilises the liposomal membrane and causes the release of cargos from the liposomal cavity. This triggering strategy is demonstrated by the efficiency of gene silencing in vitro and increased effectiveness of chemotherapy in vivo. Our work indicates the feasibility of a combinatorial treatment and possible synergistic effects in the course of standard radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy delivered via X-ray-triggered liposomes. Importantly, our X-ray-mediated liposome release strategy offers prospects for deep tissue photodynamic therapy, by removing its depth limitation.
Modulation of anti-tumor immunity by the brain’s reward system
Authors: Ben-Shaanan Tamar L , Schiller Maya , Azulay-Debby Hilla , Korin Ben , Boshnak Nadia , Koren Tamar , Krot Maria , Shakya Jivan , Rahat Michal A. , Hakim Fahed , Rolls Asya
Published: July 2018

Regulating immunity is a leading target for cancer therapy. Here, we show that the anti-tumor immune response can be modulated by the brain’s reward system, a key circuitry in emotional processes. Activation of the reward system in tumor-bearing mice (Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) and B16 melanoma) using chemogenetics (DREADDs), resulted in reduced tumor weight. This effect was mediated via the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), manifested by an attenuated noradrenergic input to a major immunological site, the bone marrow. Myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), which develop in the bone marrow, became less immunosuppressive following reward system activation. By depleting or adoptively transferring the MDSCs, we demonstrated that these cells are both necessary and sufficient to mediate reward system effects on tumor growth. Given the central role of the reward system in positive emotions, these findings introduce a physiological mechanism whereby the patient’s psychological state can impact anti-tumor immunity and cancer progression.
Author Correction: Pro-metastatic collagen lysyl hydroxylase dimer assemblies stabilized by Fe2+-binding
Authors: Guo Hou-Fu , Tsai Chi-Lin , Terajima Masahiko , Tan Xiaochao , Banerjee Priyam , Miller Mitchell D. , Liu Xin , Yu Jiang , Byemerwa Jovita , Alvarado Sarah , Kaoud Tamer S. , Dalby Kevin N. , Bota-Rabassedas Neus , Chen Yulong , Yamauchi Mitsuo , Tainer John A. , Phillips George N. , Kurie Jonathan M.
Published: July 2018

In the originally published version of this Article, financial support was not fully acknowledged. The PDF and HTML versions of the Article have now been corrected to also include support from the National Institutes of Health grant T32GM008280 to Sarah Alvarado.
Elucidating therapeutic molecular targets in premenopausal Asian women with recurrent breast cancers
Authors: Yap Yoon-Sim , Singh Angad P. , Lim John H. C. , Ahn Jin-Hee , Jung Kyung-Hae , Kim Jeongeun , Dent Rebecca A. , Ng Raymond C. H. , Kim Sung-Bae , Chiang Derek Y.
Published: July 2018

Breast cancer is an increasing problem in Asia, with a higher proportion of premenopausal patients who are at higher risk of recurrence. Targeted sequencing was performed on DNA extracted from primary tumor specimens of 63 premenopausal Asian patients who relapsed after initial diagnosis of non-metastatic breast cancer. The most prevalent alterations included: TP53 (65%); PIK3CA (32%); GATA3 (29%); ERBB2 (27%); MYC (25%); KMT2C (21%); MCL1 (17%); PRKDC, TPR, BRIP1 (14%); MDM4, PCDH15, PRKAR1A, CDKN1B (13%); CCND1, KMT2D, STK11, and MLH1 (11%). Sixty of the 63 patients (95%) had at least one genetic alteration in a signaling pathway related to cell cycle or p53 signaling. The presence of MCL1 amplification, HIF-1-alpha transcription factor network pathway alterations, and direct p53 effectors pathway alterations were independent predictors of inferior overall survival from initial diagnosis. Comparison with non-Asian premenopausal tumors in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) revealed a higher prevalence of TP53 mutations among HER2-positive cancers, and more frequent TP53, TET2, and CDK12 mutations among hormone receptor-positive HER2-negative cancers in our cohort. Given the limited number of non-Asian premenopausal breast cancers that had relapsed in TCGA, we compared the frequency of mutations in our cohort with 43 premenopausal specimens from both TCGA and International Cancer Genome Consortium that had relapsed. There was a trend toward higher prevalence of TP53 mutations in our cohort. Certain genomic aberrations may be enriched in tumors of poor-prognosis premenopausal Asian breast cancers. The development of novel therapies targeting these aberrations merit further research.
Impacts of glass composition, pH, and temperature on glass forward dissolution rate
Authors: Vienna John D. , Neeway James J. , Ryan Joseph V. , Kerisit Sebastien N.
Published: July 2018

Nuclear waste glasses dissolve at the forward dissolution rate (rf) in very dilute aqueous solutions, which can isolate the impact of the glass composition from solution feedback and alteration product effects. While it has long been known that pH and temperature (T) strongly impact rf, the impacts of glass composition have remained uncertain. In this work, rf data from 19 nuclear waste glasses were used with the aim of identifying the effect of glass composition on rf. The rf values were modeled as: rf = k010–ηpHexp(−Ea/RT), with k0, η, Ea, and R, respectively, being the intrinsic rate constant, pH coefficient, apparent activation energy, and gas constant. However, no predictive correlation could be established between the individual model parameters (log[k0], η, and Ea) and glass composition for the glasses considered in this study, an outcome that was attributed to the strong positive correlation between the log[k0] and Ea parameters. Therefore, a model was fitted directly to the combined rf from all 19 glasses. This approach showed that 90% of the variation in rf data could be accounted for solely by T and pH effects. Therefore, any composition effects must be relatively small. After normalizing for differences in pH and T, the only notable differences in rf between the glasses were found to correlate with variations in the fraction of glass forming tetrahedra contributed by tetrahedral boron, f([4]B), with an abrupt threshold at a high value of f([4]B) (~0.22), where higher rf are predicted with no discernable composition effects below the threshold.
Socio-demographic, Clinical, and Genetic Determinants of Quality of Life in Lung Cancer Patients
Authors: Pierzynski Jeanne A. , Ye Yuanqing , Lippman Scott M. , Rodriguez Maria A. , Wu Xifeng , Hildebrandt Michelle A. T.
Published: July 2018

Patient reported health-related quality of life (QOL) is a major component of the overall well-being of cancer patients, with links to prognosis. In 6,420 lung cancer patients, we identified patient characteristics and genetic determinants of QOL. Patient responses from the SF-12 questionnaire was used to calculate normalized Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores. Further, we analyzed 218 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the p38 MAPK signaling pathway, a key mediator of response to cellular and environmental stress, as genetic determinants of QOL in a subset of the study population (N = 641). Trends among demographic factors for mean PCS and MCS included smoking status (PCS Ptrend < 0.001, MCS Ptrend < 0.001) and education (PCS Ptrend < 0.001, MCS Ptrend < 0.001). Similar relationships were seen for MCS. The homozygous rare genotype of MEF2B: rs2040562 showed an increased risk of a poor MCS (OR: 3.06, 95% CI: 1.05–8.92, P = 0.041). Finally, survival analysis showed that a low PCS or a MCS was associated with increased risks of five-year mortality (HR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.51–1.77, HR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.16–1.32, respectively) and there was a significant reduction in median survival time (Plog-rank < 0.001). These findings suggest that multiple factors contribute to QOL in lung cancer patients, and baseline QOL can impact survival.
Relationships of Age and Sex with Cytokine Content and Distribution in Human Platelet Fibrin Gels
Authors: Bai Meng-Yi , Chuang Meng-Han , Lin Ming-Fang , Tang Sung-Ling , Wong Chin-Chean , Chan Wing P.
Published: July 2018

We aimed to determine relationships between age and sex with cytokine content and distribution in human platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) gel. Rabbit PRF was harvested from whole blood (n = 6). Human PRF was collected from 36 healthy volunteers (1:1 men:women) without systemic diseases and not current undergoing medical treatment. Histological analysis and optical microscopy were used to assess the three-dimensional structure of the PRF network. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, quantification of adenosine triphosphate, and bioluminescence imaging of PRF sections were used to assess cytokine and entrapped platelet distribution. Three-dimensional structures of fibrin networks revealed concentration gradients of the platelet-derived growth factor beta beta homodimer and the transforming growth factor-beta 1. Histological analysis of PRF sections (from the red blood cell end to the plasma end of a clot) showed a gradual increase in average porosity, most prominently in PRF clots from young and middle-aged men and women, and a decrease in compactness along the longitudinal axis of the PRF gel. The end of the PRF gel closest to the red blood cell layer is the essence of the PRF clot, and the ability to generate platelets depends on sex and age in humans.
Distinct effects of social motivation on face evaluations in adolescents with and without autism
Authors: Safra Lou , Ioannou Christina , Amsellem Frédérique , Delorme Richard , Chevallier Coralie
Published: July 2018

Individual differences in social motivation have an influence on many behaviours in both clinical and non-clinical populations. As such, social motivation has been identified as a biological trait that is particularly well-suited for dimensional approaches cutting across neuropsychological conditions. In the present paper, we tested whether social motivation had a similar impact in the general population and in a neuropsychological condition characterized by diminished social motivation: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). More precisely, we evaluated the effect of social motivation on face evaluations in 20 adolescents with ASD and 20 matched controls using avatars parametrically varying in dominance and trustworthiness. In line with previous research, we found in the control group that participants with higher levels of social motivation relied more on perceived trustworthiness when producing likeability judgments. However, this pattern was not found in the ASD group. Social motivation thus appears to have a different effect in ASD and control populations, which raises questions about the relevance of subclinical or non-clinical populations to understand ASD.
Characterization of multi-cellular dynamics of angiogenesis and vascular remodelling by intravital imaging of the wounded mouse cornea
Authors: Wang Yixin , Jin Yi , Laviña Bàrbara , Jakobsson Lars
Published: July 2018

Establishment of the functional blood vasculature involves extensive cellular rearrangement controlled by growth factors, chemokines and flow-mediated shear forces. To record these highly dynamic processes in mammalians has been technically demanding. Here we apply confocal and wide field time-lapse in vivo microscopy to characterize the remodelling vasculature of the wounded mouse cornea. Using mouse lines with constitutive or inducible endogenous fluorescent reporters, in combination with tracer injections and mosaic genetic recombination, we follow processes of sprouting angiogenesis, sprout fusion, vessel expansion and pruning in vivo, at subcellular resolution. We describe the migratory behaviour of endothelial cells of perfused vessels, in relation to blood flow directionality and vessel identity. Live-imaging following intravascular injection of fluorescent tracers, allowed for recording of VEGFA-induced permeability. Altogether, live-imaging of the remodelling vasculature of inflamed corneas of mice carrying endogenous fluorescent reporters and conditional alleles, constitutes a powerful platform for investigation of cellular behaviour and vessel function.
Radiocaesium transfer and radiation exposure of frogs in Fukushima Prefecture
Authors: Tagami Keiko , Uchida Shigeo , Wood Michael D. , Beresford Nicholas A.
Published: July 2018

The International Commission on Radiological Protection has proposed an environmental assessment framework. This includes ionising radiation exposure assessment for different frog life-stages, but radiocaesium transfer parameters are unavailable. We collate data from the Fukushima Prefecture (contaminated by the Fukushima accident) and estimate radiocaesium concentration ratio (CRwo-water) values for tadpoles and adult frogs, presenting the largest available amphibian CRwo-water dataset. In total, 513 adult frogs and 2540 tadpoles were analysed in 62 and 59 composite samples respectively. Results suggest that equilibrium was reached between water and amphibian radiocaesium activity concentrations circa one-year after the accident. Radiocaesium transfer to tadpoles was higher than to adult frogs. Dose rates were estimated for different life-stages and species in both the aquatic and terrestrial environment. Estimated dose rates to adults and tadpoles were typically similar because external exposure dominated for both organisms; frogspawn dose rates were estimated to be orders of magnitude lower than other life-stages. For the two sites assessed, which were outside of the most contaminated areas of the Fukushima Prefecture, estimated dose rates were below those anticipated to present a risk to wildlife populations; it is likely that dose rates in more contaminated areas were in excess of some effects benchmark values.
Vesicular stomatitis virus G protein transmembrane region is crucial for the hemi-fusion to full fusion transition
Authors: Ci Yali , Yang Yang , Xu Caimin , Shi Lei
Published: July 2018

Viral fusion proteins are essential for enveloped virus infection. These proteins mediate fusion between the virus envelope and host cellular membrane to release the viral genome into cells. Vesicular stomatitis virus G (VSV G) protein is a typical type III viral fusion protein. To study the mechanism of VSV G protein mediated membrane fusion, we set up a cell-cell fusion system in which cells are marked by different fluorescent proteins. Taking advantage of this system, we performed real-time recording and quantitative analysis of the cell fusion mediated by VSV G. We found that the time scale required for VSV G mediated cell-cell fusion was approximately 1–2 minutes. Next, we specifically examined the function of the transmembrane (TM) region of VSV G protein in membrane fusion by replacing the TM region with those of other fusion proteins. The TM region replacements dramatically impaired VSV G protein function in the cell-cell fusion assay and diminished VSV G mediated lentivirus and recombinant VSV infection efficiency. Further experiments implied that the TM region played a role in the transition from hemi-fusion to full fusion. Several residues within the TM region were identified as important for membrane fusion. Overall, our findings unraveled the important function of the TM region in VSV G mediated viral fusion.
Probiotics in human gut microbiota can degrade host glycosaminoglycans
Authors: Kawai Keigo , Kamochi Reiko , Oiki Sayoko , Murata Kousaku , Hashimoto Wataru
Published: July 2018

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) (e.g. heparin, chondroitin sulfate, and hyaluronan) show various significant physiological functions as a major component of extracellular matrix in animals. Some bacteria target GAGs for adhesion and/or infection to host cells, although no probiotics have been known to degrade GAGs. Here, we show GAG degradation by probiotics from human gut microbiota and their adhesion to human intestinal cells through a GAG. GAG-degrading bacteria were isolated from human faeces and identified as Enterococcus faecium, and some typical probiotics such as Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Enterococcus faecalis were also found to degrade heparin. GAG-degrading lactobacilli and enterococci including the isolated E. faecium possessed a genetic cluster encoding GAG-degrading/metabolising enzymes in the bacterial genome. KduI and KduD enzymes encoded in the GAG cluster of L. rhamnosus functioned as 4-deoxy-l-threo-5-hexosulose-uronate ketol-isomerase and 2-keto-3-deoxy-d-gluconate dehydrogenase, respectively, both of which were crucial for GAG metabolism. GAG-degrading L. rhamnosus and E. faecium attached to human intestinal Caco-2 cells via heparin. Some species of Bacteroides, considered to be the next generation probiotics, degraded chondroitin sulfate C and hyaluronan, and genes coding for the Bacteroides GAG-degrading enzyme were frequently detected from human gut microbiota. This is the first report on GAG-degrading probiotics in human gut microbiota.
Planktonic fungal community structures and their relationship to water quality in the Danjiangkou Reservoir, China
Authors: Chen Zhaojin , Yuan Jian , Sun Feng , Zhang Fei , Chen Yan , Ding Chuanyu , Shi Jianwei , Li Yuying , Yao Lunguang
Published: July 2018

Planktonic fungi are important components of aquatic ecosystems, and analyses of their community composition and function have far-reaching significance for the ecological management and maintenance of reservoir environments. However, few studies have investigated the composition, distribution, and function of planktonic fungi in reservoir ecosystems and their relationship with water quality. Here, the composition of the planktonic fungal community in the surface water layer of the Danjiangkou Reservoir is investigated using Illumina MiSeq sequencing. According to the results, the reservoir community is primarily composed of 7 phyla, including Ascomycota, Rozellomycota, Basidiomycota, Chytridiomycota, and Zygomycota, comprising 294 genera, demonstrating the rich diversity of this community. Redundancy analysis (RDA) of the planktonic fungal community and environmental factors showed dissolved oxygen (DO), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN), chlorophyll a (Chl a), and permanganate (CODMn) to be important factors influencing the distribution of planktonic fungi. Spearman correlation analysis of the planktonic fungal community composition and diversity indices with physical and chemical water quality parameters showed that the impacts of TN, COD and DO were the most significant. The results of this study on the planktonic fungal community in the Danjiangkou Reservoir area using high-throughput sequencing revealed that the community is sensitive to water quality parameters. This result provides a reference for studying the composition and distribution of the planktonic fungal community in Danjiangkou Reservoir and its role in the biogeochemical cycle.
ACGH detects distinct genomic alterations of primary intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas and matched lymph node metastases and identifies a poor prognosis subclass
Authors: Jansen Ruben , Moehlendick Birte , Bartenhagen Christoph , Tóth Csaba , Lehwald Nadja , Stoecklein Nikolas H. , Knoefel Wolfram T. , Lachenmayer Anja
Published: July 2018

Lymph node metastases (LNM) are an important prognostic factor for patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, but underlying genetic alterations are poorly understood. Whole genome array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) was performed in 37 tumors and 14 matched LNM. Genomic analyses of tumors confirmed known and identified new (gains in 19q) copy number alterations (CNA). Tumors with LNM (N1) had more alterations and exclusive gains (3p, 4q, 5p, 13q) and losses (17p and 20p). LNM shared most alterations with their matched tumors (86%), but 79% acquired new isolated gains [12q14 (36%); 1p13, 2p23, 7p22, 7q11, 11q12, 13q13 and 14q12 (>20%)]. Unsupervised clustering revealed a poor prognosis subclass with increased alterations significantly associated to tumor differentiation and survival. TP53 and KRAS mutations occurred in 19% of tumors and 6% of metastases. Pathway analyses revealed association to cancer-associated pathways. Advanced tumor stage, microvascular/perineural invasion, and microscopic positive resection margin (R1) were significantly correlated to metastases, while N1-status, R1-resection, and poor tumor differentiation were significantly correlated to survival. ACGH identified clear differences between N0 (no LNM) and N1 tumors, while N1 tumors and matched LNM displayed high clonality with exclusive gains in the metastases. A novel subclass with increased CNAs and poor tumor differentiation was significantly correlated to survival.
Sub-nanoliter, real-time flow monitoring in microfluidic chips using a portable device and smartphone
Authors: Temiz Yuksel , Delamarche Emmanuel
Published: July 2018

The ever-increasing need for portable, easy-to-use, cost-effective, and connected point-of-care diagnostics (POCD) has been one of the main drivers of recent research on lab-on-a-chip (LoC) devices. A majority of these devices use microfluidics to manipulate precisely samples and reagents for bioanalysis. However, filling microfluidic devices with liquid can be prone to failure. For this reason, we have implemented a simple, yet efficient method for monitoring liquid displacement in microfluidic chips using capacitive sensing and a compact (75 mm × 30 mm × 10 mm), low-cost ($60), and battery-powered (10-hour autonomy) device communicating with a smartphone. We demonstrated the concept using a capillary-driven microfluidic chip comprising two equivalent flow paths, each with a total volume of 420 nL. Capacitance measurements from a pair of electrodes patterned longitudinally along the flow paths yielded 17 pL resolution in monitoring liquid displacement at a sampling rate of 1 data/s (~1 nL/min resolution in the flow rate). We characterized the system using human serum, biological buffers, and water, and implemented an algorithm to provide real-time information on flow conditions occurring in a microfluidic chip and interactive guidance to the user.
Damage to the myogenic differentiation of C2C12 cells by heat stress is associated with up-regulation of several selenoproteins
Authors: Tang Jiayong , He Aihua , Yan Hui , Jia Gang , Liu Guangmang , Chen Xiaoling , Cai Jingyi , Tian Gang , Shang Haiying , Zhao Hua
Published: July 2018

This study was conducted to profile the selenoprotein encoding genes or proteins in mouse C2C12 cells and integrate their roles in the skeletal cell damage induced by heat stress (HS). Cells were cultured at 37.0 °C or 41.5 °C for 4, 6 or 8 days. The mRNA expression of 24 selenoprotein encoding genes and abundance of 5 selenoproteins were investigated. HS suppressed myogenic differentiation and impaired the development of muscle myotubes. HS down-regulated (P < 0.01) mRNA abundance of MYOD and MYOGENIN, and decreased (P < 0.01) MYOGENIN protein expression, HS elevated (P < 0.01) HSP70 and (P < 0.01) the ratio of BCL-2 to BAX at both mRNA and protein level. Meanwhile, HS up-regulated (P < 0.01–0.05) expressions of 18, 11 and 8 selenoprotein encoding genes after 4, 6 and 8 days of hyperthermia, and only down-regulated (P < 0.01) DIO2 after 6 and 8 days of hyperthermia, respectively. Furthermore, HS influenced expression of selenoproteins and up-regulated (P < 0.01–0.05) GPX1, GPX4 and SEPN1 after 6 days of HS. The damage to development of mouse skeletal muscle myotubes by HS accompanied with the up-regulation of both selenoprotein encoding genes and proteins, which suggested a potential protective effect of selenoprotein on hyperthermia associated damage in C2C12 cells.
Long-term in vivo biodistribution and toxicity study of functionalized near-infrared persistent luminescence nanoparticles
Authors: Sun Xia , Shi Junpeng , Fu Xiaoyan , Yang Yi , Zhang Hongwu
Published: July 2018

Near-infrared (NIR) persistent luminescence nanoparticles (NPLNPs) have become one of the most promising candidates for bioimaging. Different from the other fluorescence nanoprobes, the NIR persistent luminescence of NPLNPs can last for a long time after excitation, double exposure that is nanoparticles and light exist during the long-term bioimaging. However, to date, the potential risk of nanoparticles and NIR persistent luminescence of NPLNPs is still unknown. In this study, Cr3 + -doped zinc gallate, Zn1.1Ga1.8Sn0.1O4:Cr3+ (ZGO), the most promising NPLNPs in bioimaging, was chosen as a representative for potential risk assessment. We evaluated the potential risk of nanoparticles and NIR persistent luminescence of ZGO for a long period of time. In vitro study showed that the ZGO possessed a low cytotoxicity. In vivo biodistribution results showed that the ZGO mainly accumulated in the reticuloendothelial system after intravenous injection and could be gradually cleared from the body by digestive system. In addition, the ZGO did not exhibit appreciable toxicity in mice over a period of 60 days. It’s also worth mentioning that long-term NIR persistent luminescence of ZGO did not exhibit obvious toxicities both in vitro and in vivo. Our results provide important information with regards to the risk of NPLNPs in long-term bioimaging.
Genetic markers associated to arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization in durum wheat
Authors: De Vita Pasquale , Avio Luciano , Sbrana Cristiana , Laidò Giovanni , Marone Daniela , Mastrangelo Anna M. , Cattivelli Luigi , Giovannetti Manuela
Published: July 2018

In this work we investigated the variability and the genetic basis of susceptibility to arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization of wheat roots. The mycorrhizal status of wild, domesticated and cultivated tetraploid wheat accessions, inoculated with the AM speciesFunneliformis mosseae, was evaluated. In addition, to detect genetic markers in linkage with chromosome regions involved in AM root colonization, a genome wide association analysis was carried out on 108 durum wheat varieties and two AM fungal species (F.mosseaeandRhizoglomus irregulare). Our findings showed that a century of breeding on durum wheat and the introgression ofReduced height(Rht) genes associated with increased grain yields did not select against AM symbiosis in durum wheat. Seven putative Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) linked with durum wheat mycorrhizal susceptibility in both experiments, located on chromosomes 1A, 2B, 5A, 6A, 7A and 7B, were detected. The individual QTL effects (r2) ranged from 7 to 16%, suggesting a genetic basis for this trait. Marker functional analysis identified predicted proteins with potential roles in host-parasite interactions, degradation of cellular proteins, homeostasis regulation, plant growth and disease/defence. The results of this work emphasize the potential for further enhancement of root colonization exploiting the genetic variability present in wheat.
Carbohydrate Syntrophy enhances the establishment of Bifidobacterium breve UCC2003 in the neonatal gut
Authors: O’Connell Motherway Mary , O’Brien Frances , O’Driscoll Tara , Casey Patrick G. , Shanahan Fergus , van Sinderen Douwe
Published: July 2018

The non-digestible oligosaccharide fraction of maternal milk represents an important of carbohydrate and energy source for saccharolytic bifidobacteria in the gastrointestinal tract during early life. However, not all neonatal bifidobacteria isolates can directly metabolise the complex sialylated, fucosylated, sulphated and/or N-acetylglucosamine-containing oligosaccharide structures present in mothers milk. For some bifidobacterial strains, efficient carbohydrate syntrophy or crossfeeding is key to their establishment in the gut. In this study, we have adopted advanced functional genomic approaches to create single and double in-frame deletions of the N-acetyl glucosamine 6-phosphate deacetylase encoding genes, nagA1 and nagA2, of B. breve UCC2003. In vitro phenotypic analysis followed by in vivo studies on co-colonisation, mother to infant transmission, and evaluation of the relative co-establishment of B. bifidum and B. breve UCC2003 or UCC2003ΔnagA1ΔnagA2 in dam-reared neonatal mice demonstrates the importance of crossfeeding on sialic acid, fucose and N-acetylglucosamine-containing oligosaccharides for the establishment of B. breve UCC2003 in the neonatal gut. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis of in vivo gene expression shows upregulation of genes associated with the utilisation of lactose, sialic acid, GlcNAc-6-S and fucose in B. breve UCC2003, while for UCC2003ΔnagA1ΔnagA2 only genes for lactose metabolism were upregulated.
Exploring hidden diversity in Southeast Asia’s Dermogenys spp. (Beloniformes: Zenarchopteridae) through DNA barcoding
Authors: Nurul Farhana Samsudin , Muchlisin Zainal Abidin , Duong Thuy Yen , Tanyaros Suwat , Page Larry M. , Zhao Yahui , Adamson Eleanor A. S. , Khaironizam Md. Zain , de Bruyn Mark , Siti Azizah Mohd Nor
Published: July 2018

Members of the freshwater halfbeak genusDermogenysare hard to identify to the species level, despite several previous attempts to isolate fixed meristic, morphometric and colour pattern differences. This has led to ongoing confusion in scientific literature, records of species occurrence, and entries in museum collections. Here, a DNA barcoding study was conducted on the genus to gain further understanding of its taxonomic status across the Southeast Asian region. Fish were collected from 33 localities, spanning freshwater and brackish habitats in Malaysia, Western Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. In total, 290 samples ofDermogenysspp. were amplified for a 651 base pair fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidasecsubunit I (COI) gene. Analysis was able to successfully differentiate the three species:D.collettei,D.siamensis,D.sumatrana; reveal the presence of a new putative species,Dermogenyssp., that was sampled in sympatry withD.colletteiat three locations; as well as uncovering two genetic lineages of a fifth species,D.bispina, that display non-overlapping geographical distributions in drainages of northern Borneo; Kudat and Sandakan. This study expands the barcode library for Zenarchopteridae, demonstrates the efficacy of DNA barcoding techniques for differentiatingDermogenysspecies, and the potential thereof in species discovery.
Materials and Chemistry of Stimuli-responsive Drug Delivery Systems
Authors: Rawal Meghana
Published: July 2018

Nanomaterials as a drug delivery platform have received a great deal of interest and the research has picked up momentum in the last decade. In particular, stimuli-responsive nanosystems provide the advantage of not only being target-specific but also less cytotoxic. This chapter deals with some of the chemistry behind how these smart materials are encoded to interact with their environment in a predetermined fashion. Three basic stimuli are identified: physical, chemical and biological. A representative set of stimuli are identified and the chemistry of the response is discussed based on the specific stimulus.
pH-responsive Drug Delivery Systems
Authors: Wang Zhaohui , Zhang Xinyi , Huang Gang , Gao Jinming
Published: July 2018

Acidic microenvironments exist in selected organs, tissues, and subcellular compartments, as well as in many dysregulated pathological states. A continuous effort has been made to harness the unique acidic properties of biological tissues for site-specific delivery of drugs. Various pH-responsive drug delivery systems have been designed and developed with improved spatio-temporal control of payload delivery with enhanced efficacy. This chapter will focus on the recent advances in the development of pH-sensitive materials, mechanisms of payload release, and pH-triggered drug targeting in various biomedical applications.
Magnetically-responsive DDS
Authors: Guisasola E. , Baeza A. , Vallet M.
Published: July 2018

Magnetic-responsive drug delivery systems have received great attention due to the possibility of building theranostic systems. The application of a non-invasive external stimuli as a magnetic field that also allows the imaging and localization of the devices and the release of therapeutic drugs means a great opportunity for the development of new treatments to prevent diseases such as cancer. This chapter will focus on smart materials based on magnetic nanoparticles that have been studied for the formulation of such delivery systems and their synergic effect in combination with drugs for potential applications in the biomedical field. In addition, the possibility of applying hyperthermia at the macro and nanoscale levels and their implications will be discussed.
Light-responsive Drug Delivery Systems
Authors: Tan X. , Burchfield E. L. , Zhang K.
Published: July 2018

Materials that interact with light and subsequently change their physicochemical properties are of great interest for drug delivery. The human body is semitransparent to light of the near-infrared (NIR) region, which makes it possible to use light as an external stimulus to trigger drug release. In this chapter, we review light-triggered drug release systems of both photochemical and photothermal mechanisms. We explore recent literature on a variety of light-responsive materials for drug delivery, including organic, inorganic, and hybrid systems, which collectively embody the strategies for synergizing light responsiveness for controlled drug release/activation with other drug delivery techniques.
Carbodiimides as energy materials: which directions for a reasonable future?
Authors: Sougrati Moulay T. , Arayamparambil Jeethu J. , Liu Xiaohui , Mann Markus , Slabon Adam , Stievano Lorenzo , Dronskowski Richard
Published: July 2018

Transition-metal carbodiimides have emerged as energy materials, both as anodes in rechargeable batteries and as catalysts in photochemical water oxidation.
Ambient N2 fixation to NH3 electrocatalyzed by a spinel Fe3O4 nanorod
Authors: Liu Qin , Zhang Xiaoxue , Zhang Bing , Luo Yonglan , Cui Guanwei , Xie Fengyu , Sun Xuping
Published: July 2018

A spinel Fe3O4 nanorod on a Ti mesh is a superior catalyst for electrochemical N2 fixation to NH3 in 0.1 M Na2SO4, achieving a high FE of 2.6% with a NH3 yield of 5.6 × 10−11 mol s−1 cm−2 at a potential of −0.4 V vs. a reversible hydrogen electrode.
The effect of fluorination on chain transfer reactions in the radical polymerization of oligo ethylene glycol ethenesulfonate monomers
Authors: Burchardt-Tofaute Hubertus , Thelakkat Mukundan
Published: July 2018

The polymerization details of new ethenesulfonate monomers with pendant fluorinated oligo ethylene glycol side-chains are reported.
Strategies to combine ROP with ATRP or RAFT polymerization for the synthesis of biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles for biomedical applications
Authors: Capasso Palmiero Umberto , Sponchioni Mattia , Manfredini Nicolò , Maraldi Matteo , Moscatelli Davide
Published: July 2018

The available strategies to combine CRPs and ROP in the synthesis of highly engineered polymer nanoparticles are here critically discussed.
Synthesis of polyolefin elastomers from unsymmetrical α-diimine nickel catalyzed olefin polymerization
Authors: Fang Jun , Sui Xuelin , Li Yougui , Chen Changle
Published: July 2018

Due to a unique chain walking process, α-diimine nickel catalysts produce variously branched polyolefins using only ethylene as the feedstock.
Phase-controlled synthesis of bismuth oxide polymorphs for photocatalytic applications
Authors: Selvamani Thangavel , Anandan Sambandam , Granone Luis , Bahnemann Detlef W. , Ashokkumar Muthupandian
Published: July 2018

Bismuth oxide polymorphs (β-Bi2O3 nanoparticles and α-Bi2O3 coral-like morphology) were synthesized and they show an enhanced efficacy for the degradation of rhodamine B and acid orange 7 as compared to that of methylene blue and methyl orange under simulated solar illumination.
Evaluation of superficially and fully porous particles for HILIC separation of lanthanide–polyaminocarboxylic species and simultaneous coupling to ESIMS and ICPMS
Authors: Blanchard E. , Nonell A. , Chartier F. , Rincel A. , Bresson C.
Published: July 2018

Application of sustainable chromatographic strategies to reduce effluent volumes generated by HILIC separation of lanthanide–polyaminocarboxylic acid species.
Hydrophilic and antimicrobial core–shell nanoparticles containing guanidine groups for ultrafiltration membrane modification
Authors: Gao Yongqiang , Liang Lei , Zhao Song , Qi Yunlong , Zhang Wen , Sun Xuefei , Wang Zhi , Wang Jixiao , Song Baodong
Published: July 2018

Hydrophilic and antimicrobial core–shell nanoparticles containing guanidine groups (SNP@PG) were applied to fabricate membranes with improved water flux and fouling resistance.
Molecular simulations of the piezoionic effect
Authors: Triandafilidi Vasilii , Hatzikiriakos Savvas G. , Rottler Jörg
Published: July 2018

The piezoionic effect is studied with molecular simulations of two coupled polyelectrolyte gels with different degrees if ionization.
Differential long noncoding RNA expressions in peripheral blood mononuclear cells for detection of acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Deng Qi-Wen , Li Shuo , Wang Huan , Sun Hui-Ling , Zuo Lei , Gu Zheng-Tian , Lu Guo , Sun Cai-Zhi , Zhang Han-Qing , Yan Fu-Ling
Published: July 2018

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been highlighted to be involved in the pathological process of ischemic stroke (IS). The purpose of the present study was to investigate the expression profile of lncRNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of acute IS patients and to explore their utility as biomarkers of IS. Distinctive expression patterns of PBMC lncRNAs were identified by an lncRNA microarray and individual quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) in four independent sets for 206 IS, 179 healthy controls (HCs), and 55 patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA). A biomarker panel (lncRNA-based combination index) was established using logistic regression. LncRNA microarray analysis showed 70 up-regulated and 128 down-regulated lncRNAs in IS patients. Individual qRT-PCR validation demonstrated that three lncRNAs (linc-DHFRL1-4, SNHG15, and linc-FAM98A-3) were significantly up-regulated in IS patients compared with HCs and TIA patients. Longitudinal analysis of lncRNA expression up to 90 days after IS showed that linc-FAM98A-3 normalized to control levels by day 7, while SNHG15 remained increased, indicating the ability of lncRNAs to monitor IS dynamics. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the lncRNA-based combination index outperformed serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurone-specific enolase (NSE) in distinguishing IS patients from TIA patients and HCs with areas under ROC curve of more than 0.84. Furthermore, the combination index increased significantly after treatment and was correlated with neurological deficit severity of IS. The panel of these altered lncRNAs was associated with acute IS and could serve as a novel diagnostic method.
V902 Monocerotis: A likely disc-accreting intermediate polar
Authors: Worpel H. , Schwope A. D. , Traulsen I. , Mukai K. , Ok S.
Published: July 2018

Aims. We aim to confirm whether the eclipsing cataclysmic variable (CV) V902 Mon is an intermediate polar (IP), to characterise its X-ray spectrum and flux, and to refine its orbital ephemeris and spin period.

Methods. We performed spectrographic observations of V902 Mon in 2016 with the 2.2 m Calar Alto telescope, and X-ray photometry and spectroscopy with XMM-Newton in October 2017. This data was supplemented by several years of AAVSO visual photometry.

Results. We confirmed V902 Mon as an IP based on detecting the spin period, which has a value of 2208 s, at multiple epochs. Spectroscopy of the donor star and Gaia parallax yield a distance of 3.5−0.9+1.3 kpc, suggesting an X-ray luminosity one or two orders of magnitude lower than the 1033 erg s−1 typical of previously known IPs. The X-ray to optical flux ratio is also very low. The inclination of the system is more than 79°, and is most likely a value of around 82°. We have refined the eclipse ephemeris, stable over 14 000 cycles. The Hα line is present throughout the orbital cycle and is clearly present during eclipse, suggesting an origin distant from the white dwarf, and shows radial velocity variations at the orbital period. The amplitude and overall recessional velocity seem inconsistent with an origin in the disc. The XMM-Newton observation reveals a partially absorbed plasma model typical of magnetic CVs, that has a fluorescent iron line at 6.4 keV showing a large equivalent width of 1.4 keV.

Conclusions. V902 Mon is an IP, and probably a member of the hypothesized X-ray underluminous class of IPs. It is likely to be a disc accretor, although the radial velocity behaviour of the Hα line remains puzzling. The large equivalent width of the fluorescent iron line, the small FX/Fopt ratio, and the only marginal detection of X-ray eclipses suggests that the X-ray emission arises from scattering.
L’incise médiative dans la presse française : étude de ses propriétés syntaxiques et sémantiques
Authors: Lacaze Grégoire
Published: July 2018

La présente étude s’attache à décrire les propriétés syntaxiques et sémantiques d’un type particulier de propositions incises qui apparaissent préférentiellement dans les articles de presse. Tout en empruntant la forme syntaxique d’une incise de discours rapporté, une incise médiative met en relation un contenu propositionnel avec une source énonciative qui ne désigne généralement pas un locuteur animé humain. Cette recherche propose également une classification sémantique des noms recteurs des incises médiatives ainsi qu’une analyse stylistique des collocations entre noms recteurs et verbes introducteurs.
À la recherche de nouveaux marqueurs évidentiels : le cas de à vue d’oeil
Authors: Dendale Patrick , Vanderheyden Anne
Published: July 2018

À vue d’oeilest une locution adverbiale qui a échappé à l’attention des linguistes, malgré une polysémie riche et variée et des problèmes intéressants qu’elle pose. Si nous avons choisi de l’étudier ici, c’est en premier lieu parce qu’elle a des acceptions qui nous paraissent relever de l’évidentialité lexicale – dont l’étude est très populaire parmi les linguistes depuis une bonne décennie – plus précisément del’évidentialité inférentielle. Nous présentons ici les deux grands types d’opérations inférentielles auxquelles la locution, selon le type de contenu propositionnel qu’elle qualifie, peut renvoyer comme marqueur évidentiel, et que nous appelons : l’«analyse» et l’«estimation», qui s’articulent elles-mêmes chacune en trois ou quatre opérations inférentielles plus spécifiques. Nous montrons comment ces opérations inférentielles se retrouvent,mutatis mutandis, dans l’une des trois acceptions de l’emploi « endophrastique » de la locution, où celle-ci est syntaxiquement incidente à des verbes qui décrivent explicitement ces opérations d’« acquisition d’information » (compter, mesurer, calculerouidentifier). Nous situons cette acception dans la polysémie de la locution. Dans la dernière partie, nous examinons et comparons la valeur et le statut évidentiel des deux acceptions exophrastiques de la locution.
Donnez votre Français à la Science !Internet et la documentation de la diversité linguistique : présentation de la plateforme et premiers résultats
Authors: Glikman Julie , Benzitoun Christophe , Goldman Jean-Philippe , Scherrer Yves , Avanzi Mathieu , Boula de Mareüil Philippe
Published: July 2018

La plateforme de production participative (crowdsourcing) Donnez votre Français à la Science (DFS) vise à collecter des données linguistiques en mettant l’accent sur la variation en français européen. Les données recueillies dans le cadre d’un projet de production participative sont utiles pour une meilleure connaissance des différents usages de la langue, mais cela permet également de tisser des liens entre communauté scientifique et grand public en rendant ces derniers acteurs de la recherche et en les encourageant à suivre les enquêtes à venir. Les deux principales activités décrites ici sont : 1. une étude linguistique sur la connaissance de la variation lexicale régionale avec une rétroaction immédiate et 2. un système de géolocalisation des locuteurs, à savoir un quiz dont l’objectif est de deviner l'origine géographique du participant sur la base de la comparaison de ses réponses aux données précédemment recueillies dans d’autres enquêtes. Les évolutions de la plateforme, en cours de développement, sont également évoquées en conclusion.
Structurations formelle et conceptuelle des articles de dictionnaires : l’émergence du troisième modèle de codification des articles des dictionnaires Larousse
Authors: Corbin Pierre , Gasiglia Nathalie
Published: July 2018

Cette étude est la troisième d’un ensemble retraçant l’histoire des codifications utilisées depuis 1856 dans les dictionnaires Larousse pour distinguer, hiérarchiser et ordonner les informations figurant dans leurs articles. La période couverte ici est celle des premières utilisations à partir de 1960, dans des dictionnaires novateurs, des symboles alphanumériques, dont l’usage s’est ensuite diffusé dans la production de l’éditeur et qui sont désormais perçus comme incarnant la codification “normale” des articles.