bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Author Correction: CLE peptide-encoding gene families in Medicago truncatula and Lotus japonicus, compared with those of soybean, common bean and Arabidopsis
Authors: Hastwell April H. , de Bang Thomas C. , Gresshoff Peter M. , Ferguson Brett J.
Published: November 2017

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML version of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.
Effect of short-term exposure to ambient air particulate matter on incidence of delirium in a surgical population
Authors: Che Lu , Li Yan , Gan Cheng
Published: November 2017

Delirium remains an independent risk factor for morbidity and mortality among older surgical adults. Recent research has shed light on the relationship between pollution and dementia, yet little is known about the health impacts of particulate matter (PM) on delirium. Therefore, we aim to further explore association of PM and delirium among surgical population. We conducted a time-stratified case-crossover study. Electronic hospitalization summary reports derived from 26 major cities in China between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2015 were used. Conditional logistic regression were applied to explore the association between perioperative PM exposure and delirium. A total of 559 surgical patients with delirium were identified. Both PM2.5 and SO2 on the day of surgery had a negative impact, with an interquartile range (IQR) increase in PM2.5 (47.5 μg/m3) and SO2 (22.2 μg/m3) significantly associated with an 8.79% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.01–18.47%, P < 0.05) and 16.83% (95% CI, 0.10–36.35%, P < 0.05) increase in incidence of delirium, respectively. PM on other days during the perioperative period showed no significant impact. The present study showed that short-term exposure to ambient air PM on the day of surgery increased the incidence of delirium in a surgical population during hospitalization.
Essential role of mitochondrial Stat3 in p38MAPK mediated apoptosis under oxidative stress
Authors: Cheng Xinlai , Peuckert Christiane , Wölfl Stefan
Published: November 2017

Stat3 is an oncogene, frequently associated with malignant transformation. A body of evidence implicates that phospho-Stat3Y705 contributes to its nucleic translocation, while phospho-Stat3S727 leads to the accumulation in mitochondria. Both are of importance for tumor cell proliferation. In comparison to well-characterized signaling pathways interplaying with Stat3Y705, little is known about Stat3S727. In this work, we studied the influence of Stat3 deficiency on the viability of cells exposed to H2O2 or hypoxia using siRNA and CRISPR/Cas9 genome-editing. We found dysregulation of mitochondrial activity, which was associated with excessive ROS formation and reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, and observed a synergistic effect for oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis in Stat3-KD cells or cells carrying Stat3Y705F, but not Stat3S727D, suggesting the importance of functional mitochondrial Stat3 in this context. We also found that ROS-mediated activation of ASK1/p38MAPK was involved and adding antioxidants, p38MAPK inhibitor, or genetic repression of ASK1 could easily rescue the cellular damage. Our finding reveals a new role of mitochondrial Stat3 in preventing ASK1/p38MAPK-mediated apoptosis, wich further support the notion that selective inhibition mitochondrial Stat3 could provide a primsing target for chemotherapy.
Integrating SANS and fluid-invasion methods to characterize pore structure of typical American shale oil reservoirs
Authors: Zhao Jianhua , Jin Zhijun , Hu Qinhong , Jin Zhenkui , Barber Troy. J. , Zhang Yuxiang , Bleuel Markus
Published: November 2017

An integration of small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), low-pressure N2 physisorption (LPNP), and mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP) methods was employed to study the pore structure of four oil shale samples from leading Niobrara, Wolfcamp, Bakken, and Utica Formations in USA. Porosity values obtained from SANS are higher than those from two fluid-invasion methods, due to the ability of neutrons to probe pore spaces inaccessible to N2 and mercury. However, SANS and LPNP methods exhibit a similar pore-size distribution, and both methods (in measuring total pore volume) show different results of porosity and pore-size distribution obtained from the MICP method (quantifying pore throats). Multi-scale (five pore-diameter intervals) inaccessible porosity to N2 was determined using SANS and LPNP data. Overall, a large value of inaccessible porosity occurs at pore diameters <10 nm, which we attribute to low connectivity of organic matter-hosted and clay-associated pores in these shales. While each method probes a unique aspect of complex pore structure of shale, the discrepancy between pore structure results from different methods is explained with respect to their difference in measurable ranges of pore diameter, pore space, pore type, sample size and associated pore connectivity, as well as theoretical base and interpretation.
Effect of soy on bone turn-over markers in men with type 2 diabetes and hypogonadism – a randomised controlled study
Authors: Sathyapalan T. , Aye M. , Rigby A. S. , Fraser W. D. , Kilpatrick E. S. , Atkin S. L.
Published: November 2017

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is associated with increased risk of fractures. Soy supplementation has been shown to have a beneficial effect on bone turnover markers (BTM) in postmenopausal women. However, the effect of soy supplementation on BTM in T2DM and particularly in men is unclear. We performed an analysis of a randomized double blind parallel study of 200 men with T2DM treated with soy, either with or without isoflavones. Outcome measures were type I collagen crosslinked beta C-telopeptide (βCTX), and type 1 procollagen-N-propeptide (P1NP). The men, with a total testosterone <12 nmol/L, were treated with 15 g soy protein containing 66 mg of isoflavones (SPI) or 15 g soy protein alone without isoflavones (SP) daily for three months. There was a 15% reduction in βCTX after three months of SPI compared to SP supplementation. There was no significant difference in P1NP with either SPI or SP supplementation. There was a significant linear correlation between the reduction in βCTX in the SPI group with the reduction in HbA1c (r2 = 0.42; p = 0.04) and HOMA-IR (r2 = 0.54; p = 0.02). Our study indicates that there was a significant reduction in bone resorption following 3 months of SPI supplementation that correlated with an improvement of glycemic control in men with T2DM.
Antennal transcriptome analysis and expression profiles of olfactory genes in Anoplophora chinensis
Authors: Wang Jingzhen , Hu Ping , Gao Peng , Tao Jing , Luo Youqing
Published: November 2017

Olfaction in insects is essential for host identification, mating and oviposition, in which olfactory proteins are responsible for chemical signaling. Here, we determined the transcriptomes of male and female adult antennae of Anoplophora chinensis, the citrus longhorned beetle. Among 59,357 unigenes in the antennal assembly, we identified 46 odorant-binding proteins, 16 chemosensory proteins (CSPs), 44 odorant receptors, 19 gustatory receptors, 23 ionotropic receptors, and 3 sensory neuron membrane proteins. Among CSPs, AchiCSP10 was predominantly expressed in antennae (compared with legs or maxillary palps), at a significantly higher level in males than in females, suggesting that AchiCSP10 has a role in reception of female sex pheromones. Many highly expressed genes encoding CSPs are orthologue genes of A. chinensis and Anoplophora glabripennis. Notably, AchiPBP1 and AchiPBP2 showed 100% and 96% identity with AglaPBP1 and AglaPBP2 from A. glabripennis, with similar expression profiles in the two species; PBP2 was highly expressed in male antennae, whereas PBP1 was expressed in all three tissues in both males and females. These results provide a basis for further studies on the molecular chemoreception mechanisms of A. chinensis, and suggest novel targets for control of A. chinensis.
A conserved stem of the Myxococcus xanthus sRNA Pxr controls sRNA accumulation and multicellular development
Authors: Yu Yuen-Tsu N. , Cooper Elizabeth , Velicer Gregory J.
Published: November 2017

The small RNA (sRNA) Pxr negatively controls multicellular fruiting body formation in the bacterium Myxococcus xanthus, inhibiting the transition from growth to development when nutrients are abundant. Like many other prokaryotic sRNAs, Pxr is predicted to fold into three stem loops (SL1-SL3). SL1 and SL2 are highly conserved across the myxobacteria, whereas SL3 is much more variable. SL1 is necessary for the regulatory function of Pxr but the importance of SL3 in this regard is unknown. To test for cis genetic elements required for Pxr function, we deleted the entire pxr gene from a developmentally defective strain that fails to remove Pxr-mediated blockage of development and reintroduced variably truncated fragments of the pxr region to test for their ability to block development. These truncations demonstrated that SL3 is necessary for Pxr function in the defective strain. We further show that a highly conserved eight-base-pair segment of SL3 is not only necessary for Pxr to block development in the defective strain under starvation conditions, but is also required for Pxr to prevent fruiting body development by a developmentally proficient wild-type strain under high-nutrient conditions. This conserved segment of SL3 is also necessary for detectable levels of Pxr to accumulate, suggesting that this segment either stabilizes Pxr against premature degradation during vegetative growth or positively regulates its transcription.
Identification of miRNA-mediated drought responsive multi-tiered regulatory network in drought tolerant rice, Nagina 22
Authors: Balyan Sonia , Kumar Mukesh , Mutum Roseeta Devi , Raghuvanshi Utkarsh , Agarwal Priyanka , Mathur Saloni , Raghuvanshi Saurabh
Published: November 2017

Comparative characterization of microRNA-mediated stress regulatory networks in contrasting rice cultivars is critical to decipher plant stress response. Consequently, a multi-level comparative analysis, using sRNA sequencing, degradome analysis, enzymatic and metabolite assays and metal ion analysis, in drought tolerant and sensitive rice cultivars was conducted. The study identified a group of miRNAs “Cultivar-specific drought responsive” (CSDR)-miRNAs (osa-miR159f, osa-miR1871, osa-miR398b, osa-miR408-3p, osa-miR2878-5p, osa-miR528-5p and osa-miR397a) that were up-regulated in the flag-leaves of tolerant cultivar, Nagina 22 (N22) and Vandana, but down-regulated in the sensitive cultivar, Pusa Basmati 1 (PB1) and IR64, during drought. Interestingly, CSDR-miRNAs target several copper-protein coding transcripts like plantacyanins, laccases and Copper/Zinc superoxide dismutases (Cu/Zn SODs) and are themselves found to be similarly induced under simulated copper-starvation in both N22 and PB1. Transcription factor OsSPL9, implicated in Cu-homeostasis also interacted with osa-miR408-3p and osa-miR528-5p promoters. Further, N22 flag leaves showed lower SOD activity, accumulated ROS and had a higher stomata closure. Interestingly, compared to PB1, internal Cu levels significantly decreased in the N22 flag-leaves, during drought. Thus, the study identifies the unique drought mediated dynamism and interplay of Cu and ROS homeostasis, in the flag leaves of drought tolerant rice, wherein CSDR-miRNAs play a pivotal role.
A novel cytotherapy device for rapid screening, enriching and combining mesenchymal stem cells into a biomaterial for promoting bone regeneration
Authors: Zhuang Yifu , Gan Yaokai , Shi Dingwei , Zhao Jie , Tang Tingting , Dai Kerong
Published: November 2017

Bone defects are a common challenge in clinic, usually warranting bone grafts. However, current strategies to obtain effective graft materials have many drawbacks. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapy is a promising alternative. We designed an innovative appliance named the stem cell screen–enrich–combine(-biomaterials) circulating system (SECCS). In this study, 42 patients who required bone graft underwent SECCS-based treatment. Their bone marrow samples and beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) granules were processed in the SECCS for 10–15 minutes, to produce MSC/β-TCP composites. These composites were grafted back into bone defect sites. The results showed 85.53% ± 7.95% autologous MSCs were successfully screened, enriched, and seeded on the β-TCP scaffolds synchronously. The cell viability remained unchanged after SECCS processing. Clinically, all patients obtained satisfactory bone healing. Thus, without in vitro culture, the SECCS can produce bioactive MSC/β-TCP composites for bone regeneration during surgery. The SECCS represents a convenient, rapid, low-cost, and safe method for bone regeneration.
Differential responses of body growth to artificial warming between parasitoids and hosts and the consequences for plant seed damage
Authors: Xi Xinqiang , Yang Yangheshan , Yang Xiaocheng , Nylin Sören , Eisenhauer Nico , Sun Shucun
Published: November 2017

Temperature increase may disrupt trophic interactions by differentially changing body growth of the species involved. In this study, we tested whether the response of body growth to artificial warming (~2.2 °C) of a solitary koinobiont endo-parasitoid wasp (Pteromalus albipennis, Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) differed from its main host tephritid fly (Tephritis femoralis, Diptera: Tephritidae; pre-dispersal seed predator), and whether the plant seed damage caused by wasp-parasitized and unparasitized maggots (larval flies) were altered by warming. In contrast to the significant and season-dependent effects of warming on body growth of the host tephritid fly reported in one of our previous studies, the effect of artificial warming on body growth was non-significant on the studied wasp. Moreover, the warming effect on seed damage due to unparasitized maggots was significant and varied with season, but the damage by parasitized maggots was not altered by warming. Distinct responses of body growth to warming between parasitoids studied here and hosts assessed in a previous study indicate that temperature increase may differentially affect life history traits of animals along food chains, which is likely to affect trophic interactions.
Exploration of Antifungal and Immunomodulatory Potentials of a Furanone Derivative to Rescue Disseminated Cryptococosis in Mice
Authors: Rathore Sudarshan Singh , Isravel Muthukrishnan , Vellaisamy Sridharan , Chellappan David Raj , Cheepurupalli Lalitha , Raman Thiagarajan , Ramakrishnan Jayapradha
Published: November 2017

Cryptococcus neoformans infection is quite complex with both host-pathogen interaction and host immune profile determining disease progress and therapeutic outcome. Hence in the present study, the potential utility of (E)-5-benzylidenedihydrofuran-2(3 H)-one (compound-6) was explored as an effective anticryptococcal compound with immunomodulatory potential. The efficacy of compound-6 in pulmonary cryptococosis model using H99 strain was investigated. The effective dose was found to provide 100% survival, with a significant reduction of yeast burden in lungs and brain. The biodistribution analysis provided evidence for the presence of higher concentration of compound-6 in major organs including lungs and brain. In addition, compound-6 treated mice had significantly higher expression of IL-6, IL-4 and IFN-γ in lung and brain. Similarly, elevated expression of TNF-α, IL-β1 and IL-12 were observed in lungs, suggesting the protective host response against C. neoformans. The reduction and clearance of fungal load in systemic organs and mouse survival are notable results to confirm the ability of compound-6 to treat cryptococcosis. In conclusion, the low molecular weight (174 Da), lipophilicity, its ability to cross blood brain barrier, and facilitating modulation of cytokine expression are the added advantages of compound-6 to combat against disseminated cryptococosis.
Stromatolites on the rise in peat-bound karstic wetlands
Authors: Proemse Bernadette C. , Eberhard Rolan S. , Sharples Chris , Bowman John P. , Richards Karen , Comfort Michael , Barmuta Leon A.
Published: November 2017

Stromatolites are the oldest evidence for life on Earth, but modern living examples are rare and predominantly occur in shallow marine or (hyper-) saline lacustrine environments, subject to exotic physico-chemical conditions. Here we report the discovery of living freshwater stromatolites in cool-temperate karstic wetlands in the Giblin River catchment of the UNESCO-listed Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, Australia. These stromatolites colonize the slopes of karstic spring mounds which create mildly alkaline (pH of 7.0-7.9) enclaves within an otherwise uniformly acidic organosol terrain. The freshwater emerging from the springs is Ca-HCO3 dominated and water temperatures show no evidence of geothermal heating. Using 16 S rRNA gene clone library analysis we revealed that the bacterial community is dominated by Cyanobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria and an unusually high proportion of Chloroflexi, followed by Armatimonadetes and Planctomycetes, and is therefore unique compared to other living examples. Macroinvertebrates are sparse and snails in particular are disadvantaged by the development of debilitating accumulations of carbonate on their shells, corroborating evidence that stromatolites flourish under conditions where predation by metazoans is suppressed. Our findings constitute a novel habitat for stromatolites because cool-temperate freshwater wetlands are not a conventional stromatolite niche, suggesting that stromatolites may be more common than previously thought.
Gastric microbiome of Indian patients with Helicobacter pylori infection, and their interaction networks
Authors: Das Anubhav , Pereira Verima , Saxena Shruti , Ghosh Tarini Shankar , Anbumani D. , Bag Satyabrata , Das Bhabatosh , Nair G. Balakrish , Abraham Philip , Mande Sharmila S.
Published: November 2017

The gastric microbiome is suspected to have a role in the causation of diseases by Helicobacter pylori. Reports on their relative abundance vis-à-vis H. pylori are available from various ethnic and geographic groups, but little is known about their interaction patterns. Endoscopic mucosal biopsy samples from the gastric antrum and corpus of 39 patients with suspected H. pylori infection were collected and microbiomes were analyzed by 16S rDNA profiling. Four groups of samples were identified, which harbored Helicobacter as well as a diverse group of bacteria including Lactobacillus, Halomonas and Prevotella. There was a negative association between the microbiome diversity and Helicobacter abundance. Network analyses showed that Helicobacter had negative interactions with members of the gastric microbiome, while other microbes interacted positively with each other, showing a higher tendency towards intra-cluster co-occurrence/co-operation. Cross-geographic comparisons suggested the presence of region-specific microbial abundance profiles. We report the microbial diversity, abundance variation and interaction patterns of the gastric microbiota of Indian patients with H. pylori infection and present a comparison of the same with the gastric microbial ecology in samples from different geographic regions. Such microbial abundance profiles and microbial interactions can help in understanding the pathophysiology of gastric ailments and can thus help in development of new strategies to curb it.
Site-specific phosphorylation regulates the structure and function of an intrinsically disordered domain of the glucocorticoid receptor
Authors: Khan Shagufta H. , McLaughlin William A. , Kumar Raj
Published: November 2017

Intrinsically disordered (ID) regions of the transcription factor proteins have much larger frequency of phosphorylation sites than ordered regions, suggesting an important role in their regulatory capacity. Consistent with this phenomenon, most of the functionally known phosphorylation sites in the steroid receptor family of transcription factors are located in the ID N-terminal domain that contains a powerful activation function (AF1) region. In this study, we determined the structural and functional consequences of functionally known phosphorylation residues (Ser203, 211, and 226) located in the human glucocorticoid receptor’s (GR’s) ID AF1 domain. We report the relative importance of each phosphorylation site in inducing a functionally active ordered conformation in GR’s ID AF1 domain. Our data demonstrate a mechanism through which ID domain of the steroid receptors and other similar transcription factors may adopt a functionally active conformation under physiological conditions.
Animal multicellularity and polarity without Wnt signaling
Authors: Schenkelaars Quentin , Pratlong Marine , Kodjabachian Laurent , Fierro-Constain Laura , Vacelet Jean , Le Bivic André , Renard Emmanuelle , Borchiellini Carole
Published: November 2017

Acquisition of multicellularity is a central event in the evolution of Eukaryota. Strikingly, animal multicellularity coincides with the emergence of three intercellular communication pathways – Notch, TGF-β and Wnt – all considered as hallmarks of metazoan development. By investigating Oopsacas minuta and Aphrocallistes vastus, we show here that the emergence of a syncytium and plugged junctions in glass sponges coincides with the loss of essential components of the Wnt signaling (i.e. Wntless, Wnt ligands and Disheveled), whereas core components of the TGF-β and Notch modules appear unaffected. This suggests that Wnt signaling is not essential for cell differentiation, polarity and morphogenesis in glass sponges. Beyond providing a comparative study of key developmental toolkits, we define here the first case of a metazoan phylum that maintained a level of complexity similar to its relatives despite molecular degeneration of Wnt pathways.
Copper (II) binding of NAD(P)H- flavin oxidoreductase (NfoR) enhances its Cr (VI)-reducing ability
Authors: Han Huawen , Ling Zhenmin , Zhou Tuoyu , Xu Rong , He Yongxing , Liu Pu , Li Xiangkai
Published: November 2017

Microbes can reduce hexavalent chromium Cr (VI) to the less toxic and soluble trivalent Cr (III). Copper stimulates microbial reduction of Cr (VI) by the Bacillus, Ochrobactrum, and Gluconobacter species; however, the mechanism remains unclear. In our study, the rate of Cr (VI) reduction by Staphylococcus aureus LZ-01 was increased by 210 % when supplemented with 60 μM Cu (II). A putative NAD(P)H-flavin oxidoreductase gene (nfoR) was upregulated under Cr (VI) stress. NfoR-knockout mutant displayed impaired reduction of Cr (VI) and Cu (II)-enhanced Cr (VI) reduction by nfoR isogenic mutant was attenuated in the presence of Cu (II). In vitro tests showed an increased V
max
value of 25.22 μM min−1 mg−1 NfoR in the presence of Cu (II). Together, these results indicate that NfoR is responsible for Cu (II) enhancement. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) assays confirmed the interaction of NfoR with Cu (II) at the dissociation constant of 85.5 μM. Site-directed mutagenesis indicates that His100, His128, and Met165 residues may be important for Cu (II) binding, while Cys163 is necessary for the FMN binding of NfoR. These findings show that Cu (II)-enhanced NfoR belongs to a new branch of Cr (VI) reductases and profoundly influences Cr (VI) reduction.
Innate Cell-Mediated Cytotoxic Activity of European Sea Bass Leucocytes Against Nodavirus-Infected Cells: A Functional and RNA-seq Study
Authors: Chaves-Pozo Elena , Valero Yulema , Esteve-Codina Anna , Gómez-Garrido Jèssica , Dabad Marc , Alioto Tyler , Meseguer José , Esteban M. Ángeles , Cuesta Alberto
Published: November 2017

Nervous necrosis virus (NNV) causes high mortalities in several marine species. We aimed to evaluate the innate cell-mediated cytotoxic (CMC) activity of head-kidney leucocytes (HKLs) isolated from naïve European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), a very susceptible and resistant fish species to NNV, respectively, against fish cell lines infected with NNV. Seabream HKLs showed significantly increased innate CMC activity against NNV-infected cells, compared to those uninfected, while sea bass HKLs failed to do so. Thus, we performed a RNA-seq study to identify genes related to the CMC activity of sea bass leucocytes. Thus, we found that sea bass HKLs incubated with DLB-1 cells alone (CMC_DLB1) or with NNV-infected DLB-1 cells (CMC_DLB1-NNV) showed very similar transcriptomic profiles and the GO analysis revealed that most of the up-regulated genes were related to immunity. Strikingly, when the CMC samples with and without NNV were compared, GO analysis revealed that most of the up-regulated genes in CMC_DLB1-NNV samples were related to metabolism and very few to immunity. This is also in agreement with the functional data. These data point to the escape of CMC activity by NNV infection as an important factor involved in the high susceptibility to nodavirus infections of European sea bass.
Random protein sequences can form defined secondary structures and are well-tolerated in vivo
Authors: Tretyachenko Vyacheslav , Vymětal Jiří , Bednárová Lucie , Kopecký Vladimír , Hofbauerová Kateřina , Jindrová Helena , Hubálek Martin , Souček Radko , Konvalinka Jan , Vondrášek Jiří , Hlouchová Klára
Published: November 2017

The protein sequences found in nature represent a tiny fraction of the potential sequences that could be constructed from the 20-amino-acid alphabet. To help define the properties that shaped proteins to stand out from the space of possible alternatives, we conducted a systematic computational and experimental exploration of random (unevolved) sequences in comparison with biological proteins. In our study, combinations of secondary structure, disorder, and aggregation predictions are accompanied by experimental characterization of selected proteins. We found that the overall secondary structure and physicochemical properties of random and biological sequences are very similar. Moreover, random sequences can be well-tolerated by living cells. Contrary to early hypotheses about the toxicity of random and disordered proteins, we found that random sequences with high disorder have low aggregation propensity (unlike random sequences with high structural content) and were particularly well-tolerated. This direct structure content/aggregation propensity dependence differentiates random and biological proteins. Our study indicates that while random sequences can be both structured and disordered, the properties of the latter make them better suited as progenitors (in both in vivo and in vitro settings) for further evolution of complex, soluble, three-dimensional scaffolds that can perform specific biochemical tasks.
The effects of sociability on exploratory tendency and innovation repertoires in wild Sumatran and Bornean orangutans
Authors: Schuppli Caroline , Forss Sofia , Meulman Ellen , Atmoko Suci Utami , van Noordwijk Maria , van Schaik Carel
Published: November 2017

It has been hypothesized that opportunities for social learning affect the size and complexity of the adult skill set of birds and mammals, their learning ability, and thus ultimately also their innovation frequency. To test these predictions we compared rates of social learning, rates of independent exploration (independent learning) and innovation repertoires between individuals of a highly sociable population ofPongo abeliiat Suaq Balimbing and a less sociable population ofPongo pygmaeus wurmbiiat Tuanan. Suaq immatures showed significantly higher rates of peering, even after controlling for differences in association time and diet complexity, implying that they make disproportionally greater use of their increased opportunities for social learning. As predicted, we found that immatures and adults at Suaq also showed significantly higher rates of exploratory behaviour. The difference between the individuals of the two popuations remained when controlling for association time, suggesting persistent developmental effects, intrinsic differences, or both. Accordingly, Suaq animals had a larger set of learned skills and a higher mean dietary complexity. Our findings show that population level sociability, individual rates of exploration and population-wide repertoires of innovations are positively linked, as predicted.
Early Postnatal Cardiomyocyte Proliferation Requires High Oxidative Energy Metabolism
Authors: de Carvalho Ana Elisa Teófilo Saturi , Bassaneze Vinícius , Forni Maria Fernanda , Keusseyan Aline Alfonso , Kowaltowski Alicia Juliana , Krieger José Eduardo
Published: November 2017

Cardiac energy metabolism must cope with early postnatal changes in tissue oxygen tensions, hemodynamics, and cell proliferation to sustain development. Here, we tested the hypothesis that proliferating neonatal cardiomyocytes are dependent on high oxidative energy metabolism. We show that energy-related gene expression does not correlate with functional oxidative measurements in the developing heart. Gene expression analysis suggests a gradual overall upregulation of oxidative-related genes and pathways, whereas functional assessment in both cardiac tissue and cultured cardiomyocytes indicated that oxidative metabolism decreases between the first and seventh days after birth. Cardiomyocyte extracellular flux analysis indicated that the decrease in oxidative metabolism between the first and seventh days after birth was mostly related to lower rates of ATP-linked mitochondrial respiration, suggesting that overall energetic demands decrease during this period. In parallel, the proliferation rate was higher for early cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, in vitro nonlethal chemical inhibition of mitochondrial respiration reduced the proliferative capacity of early cardiomyocytes, indicating a high energy demand to sustain cardiomyocyte proliferation. Altogether, we provide evidence that early postnatal cardiomyocyte proliferative capacity correlates with high oxidative energy metabolism. The energy requirement decreases as the proliferation ceases in the following days, and both oxidative-dependent metabolism and anaerobic glycolysis subside.
Longrange PCR-based next-generation sequencing in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics study of propofol among patients under general anaesthesia
Authors: Zakerska-Banaszak Oliwia , Skrzypczak-Zielinska Marzena , Tamowicz Barbara , Mikstacki Adam , Walczak Michal , Prendecki Michal , Dorszewska Jolanta , Pollak Agnieszka , Lechowicz Urszula , Oldak Monika , Huminska-Lisowska Kinga , Molinska-Glura Marta , Szalata Marlena , Slomski Ryszard
Published: November 2017

The individual response of patients to propofol results from the influence of genetic factors. However, the state of knowledge in this matter still remains insufficient. The aim of our study was to determine genetic predictors of variable pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of propofol within selected 9 genes coding for propofol biotransformation enzymes, receptors and transporters. Our studies are the first extensive pharmaocgenetics research of propofol using high throughput sequencing technology. After the design and optimization of long range PCR-based next-generation sequencing experiment, we screened promoter and coding sequences of all genes analyzed among 87 Polish patients undergoing general anaesthesia with propofol. Initially we found that two variants, c.516 G > T in the CYP2B6 gene and c.2677 T > G in the ABCB1 gene, significantly correlate with propofol’s metabolic profile, however after Bonferroni correction the P-values were not statistically significant. Our results suggest, that variants within the CYP2B6 and ABCB1 genes correlate stronger with propofol’s metabolic profile compared to other 7 genes. CYP2B6 and ABCB1 variants can play a potentially important role in response to this anaesthetic and they are promising object for further studies.
Divergent roles for Clusterin in Lung Injury and Repair
Authors: Habiel David M. , Camelo Ana , Espindola Milena , Burwell Timothy , Hanna Richard , Miranda Elena , Carruthers Alan , Bell Matthew , Coelho Ana Lucia , Liu Hao , Pilataxi Fernanda , Clarke Lori , Grant Ethan , Lewis Arthur , Moore Bethany , Knight Darryl A. , Hogaboam Cory M. , Murray Lynne A.
Published: November 2017

Lung fibrosis is an unabated wound healing response characterized by the loss and aberrant function of lung epithelial cells. Herein, we report that extracellular Clusterin promoted epithelial cell apoptosis whereas intracellular Clusterin maintained epithelium viability during lung repair. Unlike normal and COPD lungs, IPF lungs were characterized by significantly increased extracellular Clusterin whereas the inverse was evident for intracellular Clusterin. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that extracellular Clusterin promoted epithelial cell apoptosis while intercellular Clusterin modulated the expression of the DNA repair proteins, MSH2, MSH6, OGG1 and BRCA1. The fibrotic response in Clusterin deficient (CLU−/−) mice persisted after bleomycin and it was associated with increased DNA damage, reduced DNA repair responses, and elevated cellular senescence. Remarkably, this pattern mirrored that observed in IPF lung tissues. Together, our results show that cellular localization of Clusterin leads to divergent effects on epithelial cell regeneration and lung repair during fibrosis.
Contrasting runoff trends between dry and wet parts of eastern Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Wang Yuanyuan , Zhang Yongqiang , Chiew Francis H. S. , McVicar Tim R. , Zhang Lu , Li Hongxia , Qin Guanghua
Published: November 2017

As the “Asian Water Tower”, the Tibetan Plateau (TP) provides water resources for more than 1.4 billion people, but suffers from climatic and environmental changes, followed by the changes in water balance components. We used state-of-the-art satellite-based products to estimate spatial and temporal variations and trends in annual precipitation, evapotranspiration and total water storage change across eastern TP, which were then used to reconstruct an annual runoff variability series for 2003–2014. The basin-scale reconstructed streamflow variability matched well with gauge observations for five large rivers. Annual runoff increased strongly in dry part because of increases in precipitation, but decreased in wet part because of decreases in precipitation, aggravated by noticeable increases in evapotranspiration in the north of wet part. Although precipitation primarily governed temporal-spatial pattern of runoff, total water storage change contributed greatly to runoff variation in regions with wide-spread permanent snow/ice or permafrost. Our study indicates that the contrasting runoff trends between the dry and wet parts of eastern TP requires a change in water security strategy, and attention should be paid to the negative water resources impacts detected for southwestern part which has undergone vast glacier retreat and decreasing precipitation.
Past emergent phase of Shatsky Rise deep-marine igneous plateau
Authors: Yasuhara Moriaki , Ando Atsushi , Iba Yasuhiro
Published: November 2017

The Cretaceous Period stands out in Earth’s geologic history by ubiquitous and sustained massive eruption of lava, forming several enormous igneous plateaus in the ocean basins worldwide. It has been proposed that the subaerial phases of Cretaceous oceanic plateau formation spurred the global environmental deterioration, yet this view is supported by patchy fossil and/or rock evidence for uplifting of the plateau summits above the sea level. Reported here is by far the most comprehensive case of Cretaceous plateau emergence at northern Shatsky Rise, Northwest Pacific, based on the integration of unique micropalaeontological and seismic evidence. From just above the flat-topped igneous edifice, recent Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (at Site U1346) recovered early Cretaceous (Hauterivian) ostracod and foraminiferal assemblages showing marked shallow-marine preferences. Most intriguing discovery is an ostracod taxon with well-developed eye tubercles, which serves as compelling palaeobiological evidence for a very shallow, euphotic setting. By linking the nearshore biofacies (<20 m water depth) to the basement topography undoubtedly shaped by subaerial weathering and/or erosion, it is obvious that northern Shatsky Rise was remarkably emergent during its final emplacement phase. We suggest that early Cretaceous surface environments might have been affected, at least in part, by Shatsky Rise subaerial volcanism.
Oxygen Evolution Reaction at Microporous Pt Layers: Differentiated Electrochemical Activity between Acidic and Basic Media
Authors: Lim Taejung , Sung Moonchang , Kim Jongwon
Published: November 2017

Nanoporous electrodes have received great attention because of their unique electrochemical properties. Here, the electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activities at porous Pt layers with pore dimensions in the microporous range were examined. The OER activity of the porous Pt layers in acidic media increased as the porosity of the Pt layers increased, and the highest OER activity possessed an overpotential that was 270 mV lower than that of a bulk flat electrode. The porous Pt layers did not exhibit electrocatalytic enhancement for OER in basic media, wherein the surface area of the pores was not utilized for OER. The differentiated OER activity of the porous Pt layers demonstrated the different accessibility of reactants in OER: water and hydrated hydroxide ions. The roles of the pores in the Pt layers during OER were investigated using different Pt structures. The work will give insight into the electrochemistry of microporous electrode structures.
From harmful Microcystis blooms to multi-functional core-double-shell microsphere bio-hydrochar materials
Authors: Bi Lei , Pan Gang
Published: November 2017

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) induced by eutrophication is becoming a serious global environmental problem affecting public health and aquatic ecological sustainability. A novel strategy for the utilization of biomass from HABs was developed by converting the algae cells into hollow mesoporous bio-hydrochar microspheres via hydrothermal carbonization method. The hollow microspheres were used as microreactors and carriers for constructing CaO2 core-mesoporous shell-CaO2 shell microspheres (OCRMs). The CaO2 shells could quickly increase dissolved oxygen to extremely anaerobic water in the initial 40 min until the CaO2 shells were consumed. The mesoporous shells continued to act as regulators restricting the release of oxygen from CaO2 cores. The oxygen-release time using OCRMs was 7 times longer than when directly using CaO2. More interestingly, OCRMs presented a high phosphate removal efficiency (95.6%) and prevented the pH of the solution from rising to high levels in comparison with directly adding CaO2 due to the OH− controlled-release effect of OCRMs. The distinct core-double-shell micro/nanostructure endowed the OCRMs with triple functions for oxygen controlled-release, phosphorus removal and less impact on water pH. The study is to explore the possibility to prepare smarter bio-hydrochar materials by utilizing algal blooms.
Alignment of Multiple Electrospun Piezoelectric Fiber Bundles Across Serrated Gaps at an Incline: A Method to Generate Textile Strain Sensors
Authors: Hsu Yu-Hsiang , Chan Chen-Hao , Tang William C.
Published: November 2017

In this paper, we report a new type of electrospinning collector that allows simultaneous collection and alignment of multiple poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) piezoelectric fiber bundles with a controlled separation. The key enabling feature is the serrated teeth along the edges across an inclined gap as a part of the conductive collector. As a result, the electrical field across the gap is shaped to direct the electrospun fibers to merge into multiple bundles. The sharp points on the serrated teeth provide favorable charge dissipation points and thus fibers are preferentially formed bridging two closest sharp points across the gap. To investigate the effectiveness of serrated teeth on the formation of multiple fiber bundles, three-dimensional finite element simulations are conducted. The corresponding collectors are implemented to experimentally study the resulting electrospun fibers. Both simulation and experimental results suggest that multiple fiber bundles can be formed under the condition of a low teeth pitch to gap distance ratio. Furthermore, a sharper tooth angle results in a higher preferential formation of fiber bundles. Finally, the total electrospinning time should be less than 60 seconds to maintain favorable electric field profile. We also demonstrate that these piezoelectric fiber bundles can serve as ultra-flexible textile sensors.
Can 129I track 135Cs, 236U, 239Pu, and 240Pu apart from 131I in soil samples from Fukushima Prefecture, Japan?
Authors: Yang Guosheng , Tazoe Hirofumi , Yamada Masatoshi
Published: November 2017

In the present study, 129I activities and 129I/127I atom ratios were measured in 60 soil samples contaminated by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident. The 127I concentrations, 129I activities, and 129I/127I atom ratios in dry-weight were observed to be 0.121–23.6 mg kg−1, 0.962–275 mBq kg−1, and (0.215–79.3) × 10−7, respectively. The maximum values of both 129I activities and 129I/127I atom ratios in Japanese soil increased about three orders of magnitude due to this accident. The equation logy = 0.877logx + 0.173 (Pearson’s r = 0.936; x, 129I concentration; y, 131I concentration; decay-corrected to March 11, 2011) instead of a simple constant may be a better way to express the relationship between 129I and 131I in Japanese soil affected by both global fallout and FDNPP accident fallout. In addition, a moderate correlation was observed between 129I and 135Cs (logy = 0.624logx + 1.01, Pearson’s r = 0.627; x, 129I activity; y, 135Cs activity). However, 129I presented larger fractionations with less volatile radionuclides, such as 236U, 239Pu, and 240Pu. These findings indicated 135Cs could be roughly estimated from 129I or 131I; this is advantageous as fewer 135Cs data are available and 135Cs/137Cs is being considered a promising tracer during radiocesium source identification.
Searching for prostate cancer by fully automated magnetic resonance imaging classification: deep learning versus non-deep learning
Authors: Wang Xinggang , Yang Wei , Weinreb Jeffrey , Han Juan , Li Qiubai , Kong Xiangchuang , Yan Yongluan , Ke Zan , Luo Bo , Liu Tao , Wang Liang
Published: November 2017

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a major cause of death since ancient time documented in Egyptian Ptolemaic mummy imaging. PCa detection is critical to personalized medicine and varies considerably under an MRI scan. 172 patients with 2,602 morphologic images (axial 2D T2-weighted imaging) of the prostate were obtained. A deep learning with deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) and a non-deep learning with SIFT image feature and bag-of-word (BoW), a representative method for image recognition and analysis, were used to distinguish pathologically confirmed PCa patients from prostate benign conditions (BCs) patients with prostatitis or prostate benign hyperplasia (BPH). In fully automated detection of PCa patients, deep learning had a statistically higher area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) than non-deep learning (P = 0.0007 < 0.001). The AUCs were 0.84 (95% CI 0.78–0.89) for deep learning method and 0.70 (95% CI 0.63–0.77) for non-deep learning method, respectively. Our results suggest that deep learning with DCNN is superior to non-deep learning with SIFT image feature and BoW model for fully automated PCa patients differentiation from prostate BCs patients. Our deep learning method is extensible to image modalities such as MR imaging, CT and PET of other organs.
Distinct roles of NMB and GRP in itch transmission
Authors: Wan Li , Jin Hua , Liu Xian-Yu , Jeffry Joseph , Barry Devin M. , Shen Kai-Feng , Peng Jia-Hang , Liu Xue-Ting , Jin Jin-Hua , Sun Yu , Kim Ray , Meng Qing-Tao , Mo Ping , Yin Jun , Tao Ailin , Bardoni Rita , Chen Zhou-Feng
Published: November 2017

A key question in our understanding of itch coding mechanisms is whether itch is relayed by dedicated molecular and neuronal pathways. Previous studies suggested that gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) is an itch-specific neurotransmitter. Neuromedin B (NMB) is a mammalian member of the bombesin family of peptides closely related to GRP, but its role in itch is unclear. Here, we show that itch deficits in mice lacking NMB or GRP are non-redundant and Nmb/Grp double KO (DKO) mice displayed additive deficits. Furthermore, both Nmb/Grp and Nmbr/Grpr DKO mice responded normally to a wide array of noxious stimuli. Ablation of NMBR neurons partially attenuated peripherally induced itch without compromising nociceptive processing. Importantly, electrophysiological studies suggested that GRPR neurons receive glutamatergic input from NMBR neurons. Thus, we propose that NMB and GRP may transmit discrete itch information and NMBR neurons are an integral part of neural circuits for itch in the spinal cord.
Photoacoustic and modulated reflectance studies of indirect and direct band gap in van der Waals crystals
Authors: Zelewski Szymon J. , Kudrawiec Robert
Published: November 2017

Photoacoustic (PA) and modulated reflectance (MR) spectroscopy have been applied to study the indirect and direct band gap for van der Waals (vdW) crystals: dichalcogenides (MoS2, MoSe2, MoTe2, HfS2, HfSe2, WS2, WSe2, ReS2, ReSe2, SnS2 and SnSe2) and monochalcogenides (GaS, GaSe, InSe, GeS, and GeSe). It is shown that the indirect band gap can be determined by PA technique while the direct band gap can be probed by MR spectroscopy which is not sensitive to indirect optical transitions. By measuring PA and MR spectra for a given compound and comparing them with each other it is easy to conclude about the band gap character in the investigated compound and the energy difference between indirect and direct band gap. In this work such measurements, comparisons, and analyses have been performed and chemical trends in variation of indirect and direct band gap with the change in atom sizes have been discussed for proper sets of vdW crystals. It is shown that both indirect and direct band gap in vdW crystals follow the well-known chemical trends in semiconductor compounds.
A necessary criterion for obtaining accurate lattice parameters by Rietveld method
Authors: Tsubota Masami , Kitagawa Jiro
Published: November 2017

To obtain the lattice parameters accurately by the Rietveld method, the relationship between the lattice parameters and the peak-shift, which is the deviation in diffraction angle from the theoretical Bragg position, was studied. We show that the fitting accuracy of lattice parameters is related directly to the well reproducibility of the peak-shift. This study unveils that the peak-shift consists of the experimental and the analytical ones. The analytical peak-shift erroneously lowers a reliability factorRwp, which has, so far, been the conventional criterion of fit. The conventional Rietveld method obtains a unit-cell which is a homothetic (proportional) unit-cell of the true one. We propose an additional criterion based on the peak-shift to obtain the true lattice parameters accurately. Our criterion can achieve reproducibility reasonably well for the experimental peak-shift, leading to highly improved accuracy of the lattice parameters.