bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Autophagy limits proliferation and glycolytic metabolism in acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Watson AS , Riffelmacher T , Stranks A , Williams O , De Boer J , Cain K , MacFarlane M , McGouran J , Kessler B , Khandwala S , Chowdhury O , Puleston D , Phadwal K , Mortensen M , Ferguson D , Soilleux E , Woll P , Jacobsen SEW , Simon AK
Published: August 2015

Decreased autophagy contributes to malignancies; however, it is unclear how autophagy has an impact on tumor growth. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an ideal model to address this as (i) patient samples are easily accessible, (ii) the hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) where transformation occurs is well characterized and (iii) loss of the key autophagy gene Atg7 in HSPCs leads to a lethal pre-leukemic phenotype in mice. Here we demonstrate that loss of Atg5 results in an identical HSPC phenotype as loss of Atg7, confirming a general role for autophagy in HSPC regulation. Compared with more committed/mature hematopoietic cells, healthy human and mouse HSPCs displayed enhanced basal autophagic flux, limiting mitochondrial damage and reactive oxygen species in this long-lived population. Taken together, with our previous findings these data are compatible with autophagy-limiting leukemic transformation. In line with this, autophagy gene losses are found within chromosomal regions that are commonly deleted in human AML. Moreover, human AML blasts showed reduced expression of autophagy genes and displayed decreased autophagic flux with accumulation of unhealthy mitochondria, indicating that deficient autophagy may be beneficial to human AML. Crucially, heterozygous loss of autophagy in an MLL–ENL model of AML led to increased proliferation in vitro, a glycolytic shift and more aggressive leukemias in vivo. With autophagy gene losses also identified in multiple other malignancies, these findings point to low autophagy, providing a general advantage for tumor growth.
Adoptive T‐cell therapy for fungal infections in haematology patients
Authors: Deo Shivashni S , Gottlieb David J
Published: August 2015

The prolonged immune deficiency resulting from haematopoietic stem cell transplant and chemotherapy predisposes to a high risk of invasive fungal infections. Despite the recent advances in molecular diagnostic testing, early initiation of pre‐emptive antifungal therapy and the use of combination pharmacotherapy, mortality from invasive mould infections remain high among recipients of allogeneic stem cell transplant. The increasing incidences of previously rare and drug‐resistant strains of fungi present a further clinical challenge. Therefore, there is a need for novel strategies to combat fungal infections in the immunocompromised. Adoptive therapy using in vitro‐expanded fungus‐specific CD4 cells of the Th‐1 type has shown clinical efficacy in murine studies and in a small human clinical study. Several techniques for the isolation and expansion of fungus‐specific T cells have been successfully applied. Here we discuss the incidence and changing patterns of invasive fungal diseases, clinical evidence supporting the role of T cells in fungal immunity, methods to expand fungus‐specific T cells in the laboratory and considerations surrounding the use of T cells for fungal immunotherapy.
Prolonged antibiotic treatment induces a diabetogenic intestinal microbiome that accelerates diabetes in NOD mice
Authors: Brown Kirsty , Godovannyi Artem , Ma Caixia , Zhang YiQun , Ahmadi-Vand Zahra , Dai Chaunbin , Gorzelak Monika A , Chan YeeKwan , Chan Justin M , Lochner Arion , Dutz Jan P , Vallance Bruce A , Gibson Deanna L
Published: August 2015

Accumulating evidence supports that the intestinal microbiome is involved in Type 1 diabetes (T1D) pathogenesis through the gut-pancreas nexus. Our aim was to determine whether the intestinal microbiota in the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse model played a role in T1D through the gut. To examine the effect of the intestinal microbiota on T1D onset, we manipulated gut microbes by: (1) the fecal transplantation between non-obese diabetic (NOD) and resistant (NOR) mice and (2) the oral antibiotic and probiotic treatment of NOD mice. We monitored diabetes onset, quantified CD4+T cells in the Peyer’s patches, profiled the microbiome and measured fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). The gut microbiota from NOD mice harbored more pathobionts and fewer beneficial microbes in comparison with NOR mice. Fecal transplantation of NOD microbes induced insulitis in NOR hosts suggesting that the NOD microbiome is diabetogenic. Moreover, antibiotic exposure accelerated diabetes onset in NOD mice accompanied by increased T-helper type 1 (Th1) and reduced Th17 cells in the intestinal lymphoid tissues. The diabetogenic microbiome was characterized by a metagenome altered in several metabolic gene clusters. Furthermore, diabetes susceptibility correlated with reduced fecal SCFAs. In an attempt to correct the diabetogenic microbiome, we administered VLS#3 probiotics to NOD mice but found that VSL#3 colonized the intestine poorly and did not delay diabetes. We conclude that NOD mice harbor gut microbes that induce diabetes and that their diabetogenic microbiome can be amplified early in life through antibiotic exposure. Protective microbes like VSL#3 are insufficient to overcome the effects of a diabetogenic microbiome.
Mechanical forces regulate the interactions of fibronectin and collagen I in extracellular matrix
Authors: Kubow Kristopher E. , Vukmirovic Radmila , Zhe Lin , Klotzsch Enrico , Smith Michael L. , Gourdon Delphine , Luna Sheila , Vogel Viola
Published: August 2015

Despite the crucial role of extracellular matrix (ECM) in directing cell fate in healthy and diseased tissues—particularly in development, wound healing, tissue regeneration and cancer—the mechanisms that direct the assembly and regulate hierarchical architectures of ECM are poorly understood. Collagen I matrix assembly in vivo requires active fibronectin (Fn) fibrillogenesis by cells. Here we exploit Fn-FRET probes as mechanical strain sensors and demonstrate that collagen I fibres preferentially co-localize with more-relaxed Fn fibrils in the ECM of fibroblasts in cell culture. Fibre stretch-assay studies reveal that collagen I’s Fn-binding domain is responsible for the mechano-regulated interaction. Furthermore, we show that Fn-collagen interactions are reciprocal: relaxed Fn fibrils act as multivalent templates for collagen assembly, but once assembled, collagen fibres shield Fn fibres from being stretched by cellular traction forces. Thus, in addition to the well-recognized, force-regulated, cell-matrix interactions, forces also tune the interactions between different structural ECM components.
Tectonic control on the persistence of glacially sculpted topography
Authors: Prasicek Günther , Larsen Isaac J. , Montgomery David R.
Published: August 2015

One of the most fundamental insights for understanding how landscapes evolve is based on determining the extent to which topography was shaped by glaciers or by rivers. More than 104 years after the last major glaciation the topography of mountain ranges worldwide remains dominated by characteristic glacial landforms such as U-shaped valleys, but an understanding of the persistence of such landforms is lacking. Here we use digital topographic data to analyse valley shapes at sites worldwide to demonstrate that the persistence of U-shaped valleys is controlled by the erosional response to tectonic forcing. Our findings indicate that glacial topography in Earth’s most rapidly uplifting mountain ranges is rapidly replaced by fluvial topography and hence valley forms do not reflect the cumulative action of multiple glacial periods, implying that the classic physiographic signature of glaciated landscapes is best expressed in, and indeed limited by, the extent of relatively low-uplift terrain.
Boundaries for martensitic transition of 7Li under pressure
Authors: Schaeffer Anne Marie , Cai Weizhao , Olejnik Ella , Molaison Jamie J. , Sinogeikin Stanislav , dos Santos Antonio M. , Deemyad Shanti
Published: August 2015

Physical properties of lithium under extreme pressures continuously reveal unexpected features. These include a sequence of structural transitions to lower symmetry phases, metal-insulator-metal transition, superconductivity with one of the highest elemental transition temperatures, and a maximum followed by a minimum in its melting line. The instability of the bcc structure of lithium is well established by the presence of a temperature-driven martensitic phase transition. The boundaries of this phase, however, have not been previously explored above 3 GPa. All higher pressure phase boundaries are either extrapolations or inferred based on indirect evidence. Here we explore the pressure dependence of the martensitic transition of lithium up to 7 GPa using a combination of neutron and X-ray scattering. We find a rather unexpected deviation from the extrapolated boundaries of the hR3 phase of lithium. Furthermore, there is evidence that, above ∼3 GPa, once in fcc phase, lithium does not undergo a martensitic transition.
Bax monomers form dimer units in the membrane that further self-assemble into multiple oligomeric species
Authors: Subburaj Yamunadevi , Cosentino Katia , Axmann Markus , Pedrueza-Villalmanzo Esteban , Hermann Eduard , Bleicken Stephanie , Spatz Joachim , García-Sáez Ana J.
Published: August 2015

Bax is a key regulator of apoptosis that mediates the release of cytochrome c to the cytosol via oligomerization in the outer mitochondrial membrane before pore formation. However, the molecular mechanism of Bax assembly and regulation by other Bcl-2 members remains obscure. Here, by analysing the stoichiometry of Bax oligomers at the single-molecule level, we find that Bax binds to the membrane in a monomeric state and then self-assembles in <1 min. Strikingly, active Bax does not exist in a unique oligomeric state, but as several different species based on dimer units. Moreover, we show that cBid activates Bax without affecting its assembly, while Bcl-xL induces the dissociation of Bax oligomers. On the basis of our experimental data and theoretical modelling, we propose a new mechanism for the molecular pathway of Bax assembly to form the apoptotic pore.
Specific Inhibition of Phosphodiesterase-4B Results in Anxiolysis and Facilitates Memory Acquisition
Authors: McGirr Alexander , Lipina Tatiana V , Mun Ho-Suk , Georgiou John , Al-Amri Ahmed H , Ng Enoch , Zhai Dongxu , Elliott Christina , Cameron Ryan T , Mullins Jonathan GL , Liu Fang , Baillie George S , Clapcote Steven J , Roder John C
Published: August 2015

Cognitive dysfunction is a core feature of dementia and a prominent feature in psychiatric disease. As non-redundant regulators of intracellular cAMP gradients, phosphodiesterases (PDE) mediate fundamental aspects of brain function relevant to learning, memory, and higher cognitive functions. Phosphodiesterase-4B (PDE4B) is an important phosphodiesterase in the hippocampal formation, is a major Disrupted in Schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) binding partner and is itself a risk gene for psychiatric illness. To define the effects of specific inhibition of the PDE4B subtype, we generated mice with a catalytic domain mutant form of PDE4B (Y358C) that has decreased ability to hydrolyze cAMP. Structural modeling predictions of decreased function and impaired binding with DISC1 were confirmed in cell assays. Phenotypic characterization of the PDE4BY358Cmice revealed facilitated phosphorylation of CREB, decreased binding to DISC1, and upregulation of DISC1 andβ-Arrestin in hippocampus and amygdala. In behavioral assays, PDE4BY358Cmice displayed decreased anxiety and increased exploration, as well as cognitive enhancement across several tests of learning and memory, consistent with synaptic changes including enhanced long-term potentiation and impaired depotentiationex vivo.PDE4BY358Cmice also demonstrated enhanced neurogenesis. Contextual fear memory, though intact at 24 h, was decreased at 7 days in PDE4BY358Cmice, an effect replicated pharmacologically with a non-selective PDE4 inhibitor, implicating cAMP signaling by PDE4B in a very late phase of consolidation. No effect of the PDE4BY358Cmutation was observed in the prepulse inhibition and forced swim tests. Our data establish specific inhibition of PDE4B as a promising therapeutic approach for disorders of cognition and anxiety, and a putative target for pathological fear memory.
Hybrid quantum gates between flying photon and diamond nitrogen-vacancy centers assisted by optical microcavities
Authors: Wei Hai-Rui , Lu Long Gui
Published: August 2015

Hybrid quantum gates hold great promise for quantum information processing since they preserve the advantages of different quantum systems. Here we present compact quantum circuits to deterministically implement controlled-NOT, Toffoli and Fredkin gates between a flying photon qubit and diamond nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers assisted by microcavities. The target qubits of these universal quantum gates are encoded on the spins of the electrons associated with the diamond NV centers and they have long coherence time for storing information and the control qubit is encoded on the polarizations of the flying photon and can be easily manipulated. Our quantum circuits are compact, economic and simple. Moreover, they do not require additional qubits. The complexity of our schemes for universal three-qubit gates is much reduced, compared to the synthesis with two-qubit entangling gates. These schemes have high fidelities and efficiencies and they are feasible in experiment.
Direct probing of contact electrification by using optical second harmonic generation technique
Authors: Chen Xiangyu , Taguchi Dai , Manaka Takaaki , Iwamoto Mitsumasa , Wang Zhong Lin
Published: August 2015

Contact electrification between two different materials is one of the oldest fields of study in solid-state physics. Here, we introduced an innovative system based on optical electric-field-induced second harmonic generation (EFI-SHG) technique that can directly monitor the dynamic performance of the contact electrification on the surface of polyimide film. After the contact, the EFI-SHG system visualized briefly three relaxations of the tribo-induced charges on the surface of a polyimide film, a fast relaxation within 3 min followed by two much slower relaxations, which were possibly related to different charge diffusion routes. The contact electrification under several special experimental conditions (wind, water and steam) was studied to demonstrate the high flexibility and material selectivity of the EFI-SHG. The EFI-SHG studies confirmed the motion of the water can remove the surface charge, while the appearance and the evaporation of a thin water layer cannot enhance the charge diffusion. We anticipate that this experimental technique will find a variety of applications in the field of contact electrification and the development of the recently invented triboelectric nano generator.
Generation of monoclonal antibodies against MGA and comparison of their application in breast cancer detection by immunohistochemistry
Authors: Duan Cuimi , Yang Xiqin , Zhang Xuhui , Feng Jiannan , Liu Zhiqiang , Que Haiping , Johnson Heather , Zhao Yanfeng , Fan Yawen , Lu Yinglin , Zhang Heqiu , Huang Yan , Xiu Bingshui , Feng Xiaoyan
Published: August 2015

Mammaglobin A (MGA) is an organ specific molecular biomarker for metastatic breast cancer diagnosis. However, there are still needs to develop optimal monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to detect MGA expression in breast carcinoma by immunohistochemistry. In this study, we first generated mAbs against MGA. Then, we used epitope prediction and computer-assisted structural analysis to screen five dominant epitopes and identified mAbs against five epitopes. Further immunohistochemical analysis on 42 breast carcinoma specimens showed that MHG1152 and MGD785 had intensive staining mainly in membrane, while CHH11617, CHH995 and MJF656 had more intensive staining within the cytoplasm. MGA scoring results showed that MJF656 had the highest rate (92.8%) of positive staining among five mAbs, including higher staining intensity when compared with that of MHG1152 (p < 0.01) and CHH995 (p < 0.05) and the highest the mean percentage of cells stained among mAbs. Furthermore, we analyzed the relationship of positive staining rate by mAbs with patient clinical characteristics. The results suggest that MJF656 was able to detect MGA expression, especially in early clinical stage, low grade and lymph node metastasis-negative breast carcinoma. In conclusion, our study generated five mAbs against MGA and identified the best candidate for detection of MGA expression in breast cancer tissues.
Synergistic Effect of Dual Electron-Cocatalysts for Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity: rGO as Electron-Transfer Mediator and Fe(III) as Oxygen-Reduction Active Site
Authors: Yu Huogen , Tian Jing , Chen Feng , Wang Ping , Wang Xuefei
Published: August 2015

For a high-performance cocatalyst-modified photocatalyst, an effective interfacial separation of photogenerated electron from its corresponding holes and its following reduction reaction at the active sites are highly required. However, it is difficult for a single-component cocatalyst to simultaneously realize the crucial functions. In this study, an effective interfacial transfer of photogenerated electrons and its following rapid oxygen-reduction can be easily realized in a dual electron-cocatalyst modified Fe(III)/rGO-TiO2 photocatalyst, where the rGO nanosheets function as an electron-transfer mediator for the effective transfer of photogenerated electrons from the TiO2 surface while the Fe(III) cocatalyst serves as an electron-reduction active site to promote the following interfacial oxygen reduction. In this case, the rGO nanosheets were firstly loaded on the TiO2 nanoparticle surface by a hydrothermal method and then the Fe(III) cocatalyst was further modified on the rGO nanosheets by an impregnation method to prepare the Fe(III)/rGO-TiO2 photocatalyst. It was found that the dual electron-cocatalyst modified Fe(III)/rGO-TiO2 photocatalyst showed an obviously higher photocatalytic performance than the naked TiO2 and single-cocatalyst modified photocatalysts (such as Fe(III)/TiO2 and rGO-TiO2) owing to the synergistic effect of rGO and Fe(III) bi-cocatalysts. The present work can provide some new insights for the smart design of high-efficiency photocatalytic materials.
Dirac directional emission in anisotropic zero refractive index photonic crystals
Authors: He Xin-Tao , Zhong Yao-Nan , Zhou You , Zhong Zhi-Chao , Dong Jian-Wen
Published: August 2015

A certain class of photonic crystals with conical dispersion is known to behave as isotropic zero-refractive-index medium. However, the discrete building blocks in such photonic crystals are limited to construct multidirectional devices, even for high-symmetric photonic crystals. Here, we show multidirectional emission from low-symmetric photonic crystals with semi-Dirac dispersion at the zone center. We demonstrate that such low-symmetric photonic crystal can be considered as an effective anisotropic zero-refractive-index medium, as long as there is only one propagation mode near Dirac frequency. Four kinds of Dirac multidirectional emitters are achieved with the channel numbers of five, seven, eleven and thirteen, respectively. Spatial power combination for such kind of Dirac directional emitter is also verified even when multiple sources are randomly placed in the anisotropic zero-refractive-index photonic crystal.
Strong textured SmCo5 nanoflakes with ultrahigh coercivity prepared by multistep (three steps) surfactant-assisted ball milling
Authors: Zuo Wen-Liang , Zhao Xin , Xiong Jie-Fu , Zhang Ming , Zhao Tong-Yun , Hu Feng-Xia , Sun Ji-Rong , Shen Bao-Gen
Published: August 2015

The high coercivity of 26.2 kOe for SmCo5 nanoflakes are obtained by multistep (three steps) surfactant-assisted ball milling. The magnetic properties, phase structure and morphology are studied by VSM, XRD and SEM, respectively. The results demonstrate that the three step ball-milling can keep more complete crystallinity (relatively less defects) during the process of milling compared with one step high energy ball-milling, which enhances the texture degree and coercivity. In addition, the mechanism of coercivity are also studied by the temperature dependence of demagnetization curves for aligned SmCo5 nanoflakes/resin composite, the result indicates that the magnetization reversal could be controlled by co-existed mechanisms of pinning and nucleation.
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase dependent angiogenesis revealed by a bioengineered macrolide inhibitor
Authors: Mirando Adam C. , Fang Pengfei , Williams Tamara F. , Baldor Linda C. , Howe Alan K. , Ebert Alicia M. , Wilkinson Barrie , Lounsbury Karen M. , Guo Min , Francklyn Christopher S.
Published: August 2015

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (AARSs) catalyze an early step in protein synthesis, but also regulate diverse physiological processes in animal cells. These include angiogenesis and human threonyl-tRNA synthetase (TARS) represents a potent pro-angiogenic AARS. Angiogenesis stimulation can be blocked by the macrolide antibiotic borrelidin (BN), which exhibits a broad spectrum toxicity that has discouraged deeper investigation. Recently, a less toxic variant (BC194) was identified that potently inhibits angiogenesis. Employing biochemical, cell biological and biophysical approaches, we demonstrate that the toxicity of BN and its derivatives is linked to its competition with the threonine substrate at the molecular level, which stimulates amino acid starvation and apoptosis. By separating toxicity from the inhibition of angiogenesis, a direct role for TARS in vascular development in the zebrafish could be demonstrated. Bioengineered natural products are thus useful tools in unmasking the cryptic functions of conventional enzymes in the regulation of complex processes in higher metazoans.
Rapid and efficient genome-wide characterization of Xanthomonas TAL effector genes
Authors: Yu Yan-Hua , Lu Ye , He Yong-Qiang , Huang Sheng , Tang Ji-Liang
Published: August 2015

Xanthomonas TALE transcriptional activators act as virulence or avirulence factors by activating host disease susceptibility or resistance genes. Their specificity is determined by a tandem repeat domain. Some Xanthomonas pathogens contain 10–30 TALEs per strain. Although TALEs play critical roles in pathogenesis, their studies have so far been limited to a few examples, due to their highly repetitive gene structure and extreme similarity among different members, which constrict sequencing and assembling. To facilitate TALE studies, we developed an efficient and rapid pipeline for genome-wide cloning of tal genes as many as possible from a strain. Here, we report the pipeline and its use to identify all 18 tal genes from a newly isolated strain of the rice pathogen Xathomonas oryzae. Target prediction revealed a number of potential rice targets including several notable genes such as genes encoding SWEET, WRKY, Hen1 and BAK1 proteins, which provide candidates for further experimental functional analysis of the TALEs.
UPRT, a suicide-gene therapy candidate in higher eukaryotes, is required for Drosophila larval growth and normal adult lifespan
Authors: Ghosh Arpan C. , Shimell MaryJane , Leof Emma R. , Haley Macy J. , O’Connor Michael B.
Published: August 2015

Uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (UPRT) is a pyrimidine salvage pathway enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of uracil to uridine monophosphate (UMP). The enzyme is highly conserved from prokaryotes to humans and yet phylogenetic evidence suggests that UPRT homologues from higher-eukaryotes, including Drosophila, are incapable of binding uracil. Purified human UPRT also do not show any enzymatic activity in vitro, making microbial UPRT an attractive candidate for anti-microbial drug development, suicide-gene therapy and cell-specific mRNA labeling techniques. Nevertheless, the enzymatic site of UPRT remains conserved across the animal kingdom indicating an in vivo role for the enzyme. We find that the Drosophila UPRT homologue, krishah (kri), codes for an enzyme that is required for larval growth, pre-pupal/pupal viability and long-term adult lifespan. Our findings suggest that UPRT from all higher eukaryotes is likely enzymatically active in vivo and challenges the previous notion that the enzyme is non-essential in higher eukaryotes and cautions against targeting the enzyme for therapeutic purposes. Our findings also suggest that expression of the endogenous UPRT gene will likely cause background incorporation when using microbial UPRT as a cell-specific mRNA labeling reagent in higher eukaryotes.
An assessment of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for non-communicable diseases (NCDs): more and higher quality research is required in less developed countries
Authors: Fan Hong , Song Fujian
Published: August 2015

Research is crucial to implement evidence-based health interventions for control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This study aims to assess main features of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for control of NCDs and to identify gaps in clinical research on NCDs between high-income and less developed countries. The study included 1177 RCTs in 82 Cochrane Systematic reviews (CSRs) and evaluated interventions for adults with hypertension, diabetes, stroke, or heart diseases. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore factors associated with risk of bias in included RCTs. We found that 78.2% of RCTs of interventions for major NCDs recruited patients in high-income countries. The number of RCTs included in the CSRs was increasing over time and the increasing speed was more noticeable for RCTs conducted in middle-income countries. RCTs conducted in less developed countries tended to be more recently published, less likely to be published in English, with smaller sample sizes and at a higher risk of bias. In conclusion, there is still a lack of research evidence for control of NCDs in less developed countries. To brace for rising NCDs and avoid waste of scarce research resources, not only more but also higher quality clinical trials are required in low-and-middle-income countries.
Blocking Endogenous Leukemia Inhibitory Factor During Placental Development in Mice Leads to Abnormal Placentation and Pregnancy Loss
Authors: Winship Amy , Correia Jeanne , Krishnan Tara , Menkhorst Ellen , Cuman Carly , Zhang Jian-Guo , Nicola Nicos A. , Dimitriadis Evdokia
Published: August 2015

The placenta forms the interface between the maternal and fetal circulation and is critical for the establishment of a healthy pregnancy. Specialized trophoblast cells derived from the embryonic trophectoderm play a pivotal role in the establishment of the placenta. Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is one of the predominant cytokines present in the placenta during early pregnancy. LIF has been shown to regulate trophoblast adhesion and invasion in vitro, however its precise role in vivo is unknown. We hypothesized that LIF would be required for normal placental development in mice. LIF and LIFRα were immunolocalized to placental trophoblasts and fetal vessels in mouse implantation sites during mid-gestation. Temporally blocking LIF action during specific periods of placental development via intraperitoneal administration of our specific LIFRα antagonist, PEGLA, resulted in abnormal placental trophoblast and vascular morphology and reduced activated STAT3 but not ERK. Numerous genes regulating angiogenesis and oxidative stress were altered in the placenta in response to LIF inhibition. Pregnancy viability was also significantly compromised in PEGLA treated mice. Our data suggest that LIF plays an important role in placentation in vivo and the maintenance of healthy pregnancy.
The phospholipid-binding protein SESTD1 negatively regulates dendritic spine density by interfering with Rac1-Trio8 signaling pathway
Authors: Lee Cheng-Che , Huang Chiung-Chun , Hsu Kuei-Sen
Published: August 2015

Dendritic spines are actin-rich protrusions from neuronal dendrites that harbor the majority of excitatory synapses. The balance of spine formation and retraction may influence dendritic integrity. While knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that promote dendritic spine formation has accumulated, little is known about the factors that limit spine formation. Here, we show that SESTD1, a phospholipid-binding protein containing a lipid-binding SEC14-like domain and two spectrin-repeat cytoskeleton interaction domains, negatively regulates dendritic spine density in cultured hippocampal neurons. Overexpression of SESTD1 decreases dendritic spine density in neurons by interfering with the interaction between Rac1 and its guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) Trio8. Conversely, knockdown of SESTD1 increases dendritic spine density. Further analysis reveals that the SPEC1 domain-mediated interaction with Rac1 is required for SESTD1 activity toward a decrease in dendritic spine density. Transfection of GEF domain of Trio8 into neurons rescues SESTD1-mediated decrease in dendritic spine density. More importantly, overexpression of SESTD1 results in a decrease in the frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs), whereas SESTD1 knockdown increases the mEPSC frequency. These results suggest that SESTD1 may act as a negative regulator of the Rac1-Trio8 signaling pathway to reduce dendritic spine density and lower excitatory synaptic transmission in hippocampal neurons.
A learnable parallel processing architecture towards unity of memory and computing
Authors: Li H. , Gao B. , Chen Z. , Zhao Y. , Huang P. , Ye H. , Liu L. , Liu X. , Kang J.
Published: August 2015

Developing energy-efficient parallel information processing systems beyond von Neumann architecture is a long-standing goal of modern information technologies. The widely used von Neumann computer architecture separates memory and computing units, which leads to energy-hungry data movement when computers work. In order to meet the need of efficient information processing for the data-driven applications such as big data and Internet of Things, an energy-efficient processing architecture beyond von Neumann is critical for the information society. Here we show a non-von Neumann architecture built of resistive switching (RS) devices named “iMemComp”, where memory and logic are unified with single-type devices. Leveraging nonvolatile nature and structural parallelism of crossbar RS arrays, we have equipped “iMemComp” with capabilities of computing in parallel and learning user-defined logic functions for large-scale information processing tasks. Such architecture eliminates the energy-hungry data movement in von Neumann computers. Compared with contemporary silicon technology, adder circuits based on “iMemComp” can improve the speed by 76.8% and the power dissipation by 60.3%, together with a 700 times aggressive reduction in the circuit area.
An electrochemical DNA sensor based on polyaniline/graphene: high sensitivity to DNA sequences in a wide range
Authors: Zheng Qing , Wu Hao , Shen Zongxu , Gao Wenyu , Yu Yu , Ma Yuehui , Guang Weijun , Guo Quangui , Yan Rui , Wang Junzhong , Ding Kejian
Published: August 2015

In the platform constructed by a polyaniline/graphene composite, double-stranded DNA, resulting from hybridization of a DNA probe, was escaping from or remaining on the sensor surface.
Solution processable, cross-linked sulfur polymers as solid electrolytes in dye-sensitized solar cells
Authors: Liu Peng , Gardner James M. , Kloo Lars
Published: August 2015

Utilization of soluble cross-linked polymeric sulfur as hole conductor in solid state dye sensitized solar cells.
Green approaches to late-stage fluorination: radiosyntheses of 18F-labelled radiopharmaceuticals in ethanol and water
Authors: Stewart Megan N. , Hockley Brian G. , Scott Peter J. H.
Published: August 2015

Green strategies for late-stage fluorination with 18F, in which ethanol and water are the only solvents used throughout the entire radiolabeling process, have been developed and applied to the radiosyntheses of a range of radiopharmaceuticals commonly employed in clinical PET imaging.
NHC-catalyzed activation of α,β-unsaturated N-acyltriazoles: an easy access to dihydropyranones
Authors: Ni Qijian , Xiong Jiawen , Song Xiaoxiao , Raabe Gerhard , Enders Dieter
Published: August 2015

Employing the NHC-catalyzed activation of α,β-unsaturated N-acyltriazoles an efficient enantioselective synthesis of dihydropyranones via a formal [3+3] cycloaddition with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds is described.
Unsaturated acyl chains dramatically enhanced cellular uptake by direct translocation of a minimalist oligo-arginine lipopeptide
Authors: Swiecicki J.-M. , Di Pisa M. , Lippi F. , Chwetzoff S. , Mansuy C. , Trugnan G. , Chassaing G. , Lavielle S. , Burlina F.
Published: August 2015

Unsaturated acyl chain favours direct translocation of short cationic NBD-labelled peptide.
NIR light-directing self-organized 3D photonic superstructures loaded with anisotropic plasmonic hybrid nanorods
Authors: Wang Ling , Gutierrez-Cuevas Karla G. , Bisoyi Hari Krishna , Xiang Jie , Singh Gautam , Zola Rafael S. , Kumar Satyendra , Lavrentovich Oleg D. , Urbas Augustine , Li Quan
Published: August 2015

Self-organized 3D superstructures loaded with plasmonic hybrid nanorods undergo structural transformation from body-centered cubic to simple cubic upon NIR-light irradiation resulting from the “photothermal effect” of gold nanorods.
Acid loaded porphyrin-based metal–organic framework for ammonia uptake
Authors: Wilcox Oliver T. , Fateeva Alexandra , Katsoulidis Alexandros P. , Smith Martin W. , Stone Corinne A. , Rosseinsky Matthew J.
Published: August 2015

A porphyrin-based metal–organic framework is shown to be structurally stable towards acid loading using either hydrochloric or formic acid.
Observation of anatase nanograins crystallizing from anodic amorphous TiO2 nanotubes
Authors: Park Ik Jae , Kim Dong Hoe , Seong Won Mo , Han Byung Suh , Han Gill Sang , Jung Hyun Suk , Yang Mengjin , Fan Wen , Lee Sangwook , Lee Jung-Kun , Hong Kug Sun
Published: August 2015

Water content in an anodic electrolyte affects the crystallization route of anodic TiO2 nanotube arrays during annealing, which determines the crystallographic orientation of the nanotubes.
Direct co-crystal assembly from synthesis to co-crystallization
Authors: Lee Hung Lin , Lee Tu
Published: August 2015

The ternary phase diagram for the direct assembly of a 2 : 1 co-crystal of benzoic acid–sodium benzoate was illustrated. Benzoic acid acted as a reactant and underwent neutralization to produce sodium benzoate. The excessive amount of benzoic acid as an API can interact with the product, sodium benzoate as another API, to undertake API–API co-crystallization by cooling.
Water structure and solvation of osmolytes at high hydrostatic pressure: pure water and TMAO solutions at 10 kbar versus 1 bar
Authors: Imoto Sho , Forbert Harald , Marx Dominik
Published: August 2015

Solvation structures of trimethylamine N-oxide change drastically due to the increase in the hydrostatic pressure.
Characterization of the phase behaviour of a novel polymerizable lyotropic ionic liquid crystal
Authors: Goujon Nicolas , Forsyth Maria , Dumée Ludovic F. , Bryant Gary , Byrne Nolene
Published: August 2015

Impact of polymerizable moiety on the phase behaviour of imidazolium based ionic liquid crystal as a function of water content.
Theoretical kinetic study for methyl levulinate: oxidation by OH and CH3 radicals and further unimolecular decomposition pathways
Authors: Thion S. , Zaras A. M. , Szőri M. , Dagaut P.
Published: August 2015

Biofuels may represent a promising alternative in terms of energy sustainability and emission control.
Highly conductive and stable polysiloxane-modified perylenebisimide nanosheets and nanowires by self-assembly and subsequent condensation
Authors: Zhang Tingjie , Ren Zhongjie , Sun Xiaoli , Yan Shouke
Published: August 2015

Perylenebisimide (PBI) nanowires and nanosheets with high chemical and mechanical stability are prepared by a simple way.
π–π interactions in carbon nanostructures
Authors: Pérez Emilio M. , Martín Nazario
Published: August 2015

A concise tutorial review on the basic concepts of π–π interactions involving fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, and graphene.
Fabrication of flexible and self-standing inorganic–organic three phase magneto-dielectric PVDF based multiferroic nanocomposite films through a small loading of graphene oxide (GO) and Fe3O4nanoparticles
Authors: Jayakumar O. D. , Abdelhamid Ehab H. , Kotari Vasundhara , Mandal Balaji P. , Rao Rekha , Jagannath Jagannath , Naik Vaman M. , Naik Ratna , Tyagi A. K.
Published: August 2015

Nanocomposite films PVDF, PVDF-GO, PVDF-Fe3O4and PVDF-GO- Fe3O4were prepared by a solvent casting route.
Stable semi-transparent CH3NH3PbI3planar sandwich solar cells
Authors: Heo Jin Hyuck , Han Hye Ji , Lee Minho , Song Myungkwan , Kim Dong Ho , Im Sang Hyuk
Published: August 2015

Semi-transparent MAPbI3planar sandwich solar cells were fabricated by simply laminating an F doped tin oxide/TiO2/MAPbI3/wet hole transporting material with additives and PEDOT:PSS/indium tin oxide (ITO).
Balancing the bioeconomy: supporting biofuels and bio-based materials in public policy
Authors: Philp Jim
Published: August 2015

Key objectives for a bioeconomy are now embedded in the strategic activities of more than 30 countries, with an increasing number developing a national bioeconomy strategy.
Macrokinetic effects in perhydro-N-ethylcarbazole dehydrogenation and H2productivity optimization by using egg-shell catalysts
Authors: Peters Willi , Seidel Alexander , Herzog Stefan , Bösmann Andreas , Schwieger Wilhelm , Wasserscheid Peter
Published: August 2015

This contribution deals with pore diffusion influences on the dehydrogenation kinetics of perhydro-N-ethylcarbazole (H12-NEC).
Inorganic engineered nanoparticles in drinking water treatment: a critical review
Authors: Simeonidis Konstantinos , Mourdikoudis Stefanos , Kaprara Efthimia , Mitrakas Manassis , Polavarapu Lakshminarayana
Published: August 2015

This review summarizes the recent research in the field of inorganic engineered nanoparticle development with direct or potential interest for drinking water treatment.
Beyond the flavour: a de-flavoured polyphenol rich extract of clove buds (Syzygium aromaticum L) as a novel dietary antioxidant ingredient
Authors: NM Johannah , RM Renny , G Gopakumar , Maliakel Balu , D Sureshkumar , IM Krishnakumar
Published: August 2015

A popular kitchen spice, clove bud (Syzygium aromaticumL), was selected to derive a de-flavoured extract with a standardised polyphenolic profile (Clovinol) and was incorporated into various foods.
Shading in TXRF: calculations and experimental validation using a color X-ray camera
Authors: Menzel Magnus , Scharf Oliver , Nowak Stanisław H. , Radtke Martin , Reinholz Uwe , Hischenhuber Peter , Buzanich Günter , Meyer Andreas , Lopez Velma , McIntosh Kathryn , Streli Christina , Havrilla George Joseph , Adriane Fittschen Ursula Elisabeth
Published: August 2015

Absorption effects in total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) analysis are important to consider, especially if external calibration is to be applied.
A new high-precision method for determining stable chlorine isotopes in halite and igneous rock samples using UV-femtosecond laser ablation multiple Faraday collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
Authors: Toyama Chiaki , Kimura Jun-Ichi , Chang Qing , Vaglarov Bogdan Stefanov , Kuroda Junichiro
Published: August 2015

A new analytical protocol for measurement of stable chlorine isotopes was proposed for LA-MFC-ICPMS.
Synthesis and electronic properties of π-extended flavins
Authors: Mataranga-Popa L. N. , Torje I. , Ghosh T. , Leitl M. J. , Späth A. , Novianti M. L. , Webster R. D. , König B.
Published: August 2015

Three flavins with extended aromatic systems were synthesized in moderate to good yields by condensation of the corresponding amines with violuric acid. The compounds are highly fluorescent, show quantum yields of up to 80% and redox mechanisms similar to riboflavin.
Pb2+binding to lentil lectin and its influence on the protein aggregation
Authors: Thawari Atul Gajanan , Tabbasum Khatija , Hinge Vijaya Kumar , Rao Chebrolu Pulla
Published: August 2015

The Pb2+binds through the side chain carboxylate and imidazole moieties of the lentil lectin by bringing somesecondarystructural changes. As a result of this the original aggregates of the simple protein disaggregates upon binding to Pb2+.
Albumin stabilized silver nanoparticles–clotrimazole β-cyclodextrin hybrid nanocomposite for enriched anti-fungal activity in normal and drug resistant Candida cells
Authors: Gaurav Chauhan , Nikhil Gupta , Deepti Sehrawat , Kalra Sourav , Goutam Rath , Amit Goyal K.
Published: August 2015

Nanohybrid based strategy to counter the problem of drug resistance inCandidacells.
Identification of disulfide isomerase ERp57 as a target for small molecule cardioprotective agents
Authors: Cui Guozhen , Shan Luchen , Chu Ivan Keung , Li Guohui , Heng Leung George Pak , Wang Yuqiang , Wa KWAN Yiu , Wan CHAN Shun , Man Hoi Maggie Pui , Yuen Lee Simon Ming
Published: August 2015

Compound BAA exhibited protective effect against oxidative stress-induced cells injury in H9c2 cardiomyoblast. Chemical proteomic approach identified ERp57 as the specific target for BAA. Furthermore, BAA displayed potent inhibitory effect on the catalytic activity of ERp57.
High hydrophilicity and excellent adsorption ability of a stretched polypropylene/graphene oxide composite membrane achieved by plasma assisted surface modification
Authors: Dai Jian , Liu Xiao-hao , Xiao Yan-jun , Yang Jing-hui , Qi Peng-kai , Wang Jin , Wang Yong , Zhou Zuo-wan
Published: August 2015

Through a plasma treatment, a PP-based composite membrane with a high hydrophilicity and an excellent adsorption ability was developed.
Synthesis of new porphyrin/4-quinolone conjugates and evaluation of their efficiency in the photoinactivation of Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Batalha Pedro N. , Gomes Ana T. P. C. , Forezi Luana S. M. , Costa Liliana , de Souza Maria Cecília B. V. , Boechat Fernanda da C. S. , Ferreira Vitor F. , Almeida Adelaide , Faustino Maria A. F. , Neves Maria G. P. M. S. , Cavaleiro José A. S.
Published: August 2015

The synthesis of new porphyrin/4-quinolone conjugates and their evaluation as potential photosensitizers in the photoinactivation of Staphylococcus aureus is described.
Study on the room temperature synthesis of highly photoluminescent and temperature-sensitive CDs/PNIPAM hybrid hydrogels and their properties
Authors: Zhang Ye-Yun , He Xi-Wen , Li Wen-You
Published: August 2015

Highly photoluminescent and temperature-sensitive CDs/PNIPAM hybrid hydrogel was synthesized at room temperature by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP).
Heteroleptic copper(i) sensitizers with one versus two hole-transporting units in functionalized 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline ancillary ligands
Authors: Fürer Sebastian O. , Bozic-Weber Biljana , Neuburger Markus , Constable Edwin C. , Housecroft Catherine E.
Published: August 2015

Tuning of phen-based ancillary ligands in [Cu(Lanchor)(Lancillary)]+dyes leads to DSCs with efficiencies of 33.9% relative to N719 (set at 100%).
Hierarchical porous carbon derived from recycled waste filter paper as high-performance supercapacitor electrodes
Authors: Chang Binbin , Guo Yanzhen , Li Yanchun , Yang Baocheng
Published: August 2015

Hierarchical activated porous carbon (APC) was synthesized through convenient chemical activation with ZnCl2 using recycled waste filter paper as the carbon precursor.
Tailoring mechanical response through coronal layer overlap in tethered micelle hydrogel networks
Authors: Guo Chen , Bailey Travis S.
Published: August 2015

Changing tether length in melt-assembled hydrogel networks formed by sphere-forming AB and ABA block copolymer blends provides broad control over resultant swelling and mechanical properties.
Metal–organic framework deposition on dealloyed substrates
Authors: Campagnol Nicolò , Stassen Ivo , Binnemans Koen , de Vos Dirk E. , Fransaer Jan
Published: August 2015

Dealloyed structures are used as substrates to grow MOFs electrochemically. The resulting layers have high surface areas and are resistant to scratches.
Sol–gel fabrication of a non-laminated graphene oxide membrane for oil/water separation
Authors: Huang Tiefan , Zhang Lin , Chen Huanlin , Gao Congjie
Published: August 2015

A non-laminated graphene oxide membrane with superhydrophilic and underwater superoleophobic properties was fabricated by a sol–gel process for effective oil/water separation.
Dual catalytic behavior of a soluble ferrocene as an electrocatalyst and in the electrochemistry for Na–air batteries
Authors: Yin Wen-Wen , Yue Ji-Li , Cao Ming-Hui , Liu Wen , Ding Jing-Jing , Ding Fei , Sang Lin , Fu Zheng-Wen
Published: August 2015

The ferrocene has dual catalytic activities for the decomposition of Na2O2 in sodium air batteries.
A bi-functional metal-free catalyst composed of dual-doped graphene and mesoporous carbon for rechargeable lithium–oxygen batteries
Authors: Kim Jae-Hong , Kannan Aravindaraj G. , Woo Hyun-Sik , Jin Dae-Gun , Kim Wonkeun , Ryu Kyounghan , Kim Dong-Won
Published: August 2015

Nitrogen and sulfur co-doped graphene/mesoporous carbon exhibited high bi-functional catalytic activity toward oxygen reduction and evolution reactions.
Facile solvothermal synthesis of ultrathin LiFexMn1−xPO4 nanoplates as advanced cathodes with long cycle life and superior rate capability
Authors: Liao Longhuan , Wang Hongtao , Guo Hui , Zhu Peiyi , Xie Jian , Jin Chuanhong , Zhang Shichao , Cao Gaoshao , Zhu Tiejun , Zhao Xinbing
Published: August 2015

LiFexMn1−xPO4 exhibits excellent rate capability and superior cycling stability due to its small size, ultrathin structure and uniform Fe doping.
Construction of sandwiched graphene paper@Fe3O4 nanorod array@graphene for large and fast lithium storage with an extended lifespan
Authors: Guo Jinxue , Zhu Haifeng , Sun Yanfang , Zhang Xiao
Published: August 2015

Sandwiched graphene paper@Fe3O4 nanorod array@graphene is constructed as a binder-free integrated electrode with a high reversible capacity, stable cycling performance, an ultralong cycle life of over 1450 cycles and a high-rate capability.
Designing high-voltage carbonyl-containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon cathode materials for Li-ion batteries guided by Clar's theory
Authors: Wu Dihua , Xie Zhaojun , Zhou Zhen , Shen Panwen , Chen Zhongfang
Published: August 2015

We examined the correlation between the electron delocalization (aromaticity) and the lithiation voltage of carbonyl-containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by computations.
Introduction of VEGF or RGD sequences improves revascularization properties of Bombyx mori silk fibroin produced by transgenic silkworm
Authors: Saotome Toshiki , Hayashi Haruki , Tanaka Ryo , Kinugasa Atsushi , Uesugi Shouji , Tatematsu Ken-ichiro , Sezutsu Hideki , Kuwabara Nobuo , Asakura Tetsuo
Published: August 2015

Transgenic silk fibroins incorporated the VEGF and RGD were prepared. The VEGF SF showed lower platelet adhesion than the RGD SF and WT SF. Anin vivoimplantation study supported thesein vitroresults.