bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of a dual function macrocyclase enables design and use of efficient macrocyclization substrates
Authors: Czekster Clarissa M. , Ludewig Hannes , McMahon Stephen A. , Naismith James H.
Published: October 2017

Peptide macrocycles are promising therapeutic molecules because they are protease resistant, structurally rigid, membrane permeable, and capable of modulating protein–protein interactions. Here, we report the characterization of the dual function macrocyclase-peptidase enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of the highly toxic amanitin toxin family of macrocycles. The enzyme first removes 10 residues from the N-terminus of a 35-residue substrate. Conformational trapping of the 25 amino-acid peptide forces the enzyme to release this intermediate rather than proceed to macrocyclization. The enzyme rebinds the 25 amino-acid peptide in a different conformation and catalyzes macrocyclization of the N-terminal eight residues. Structures of the enzyme bound to both substrates and biophysical analysis characterize the different binding modes rationalizing the mechanism. Using these insights simpler substrates with only five C-terminal residues were designed, allowing the enzyme to be more effectively exploited in biotechnology.
Genetic accommodation via modified endocrine signalling explains phenotypic divergence among spadefoot toad species
Authors: Kulkarni Saurabh S. , Denver Robert J. , Gomez-Mestre Ivan , Buchholz Daniel R.
Published: October 2017

Phenotypic differences among species may evolve through genetic accommodation, but mechanisms accounting for this process are poorly understood. Here we compare hormonal variation underlying differences in the timing of metamorphosis among three spadefoot toads with different larval periods and responsiveness to pond drying. We find that, in response to pond drying, Pelobates cultripes and Spea multiplicata accelerate metamorphosis, increase standard metabolic rate (SMR), and elevate whole-body content of thyroid hormone (the primary morphogen controlling metamorphosis) and corticosterone (a stress hormone acting synergistically with thyroid hormone to accelerate metamorphosis). In contrast, Scaphiopus couchii has the shortest larval period, highest whole-body thyroid hormone and corticosterone content, and highest SMR, and these trait values are least affected by pond drying among the three species. Our findings support that the atypically rapid and canalized development of S. couchii evolved by genetic accommodation of endocrine pathways controlling metamorphosis, showing how phenotypic plasticity within species may evolve into trait variation among species.
A parsimonious neutral model suggests Neanderthal replacement was determined by migration and random species drift
Authors: Kolodny Oren , Feldman Marcus W.
Published: October 2017

Most hypotheses in the heated debate about the Neanderthals’ replacement by modern humans highlight the role of environmental pressures or attribute the Neanderthals’ demise to competition with modern humans, who occupied the same ecological niche. The latter assume that modern humans benefited from some selective advantage over Neanderthals, which led to the their extinction. Here we show that a scenario of migration and selectively neutral species drift predicts the Neanderthals’ replacement. Our model offers a parsimonious alternative to those that invoke external factors or selective advantage, and represents a null hypothesis for assessing such alternatives. For a wide range of parameters, this hypothesis cannot be rejected. Moreover, we suggest that although selection and environmental factors may or may not have played a role in the inter-species dynamics of Neanderthals and modern humans, the eventual replacement of the Neanderthals was determined by the repeated migration of modern humans from Africa into Eurasia.
MiR-31 promotes mammary stem cell expansion and breast tumorigenesis by suppressing Wnt signaling antagonists
Authors: Lv Cong , Li Fengyin , Li Xiang , Tian Yuhua , Zhang Yue , Sheng Xiaole , Song Yongli , Meng Qingyong , Yuan Shukai , Luan Liming , Andl Thomas , Feng Xu , Jiao Baowei , Xu Mingang , Plikus Maksim V. , Dai Xing , Lengner Christopher , Cui Wei , Ren Fazheng , Shuai Jianwei , Millar Sarah E. , Yu Zhengquan
Published: October 2017

MicroRNA-mediated post-transcriptional regulation plays key roles in stem cell self-renewal and tumorigenesis. However, the in vivo functions of specific microRNAs in controlling mammary stem cell (MaSC) activity and breast cancer formation remain poorly understood. Here we show that miR-31 is highly expressed in MaSC-enriched mammary basal cell population and in mammary tumors, and is regulated by NF-κB signaling. We demonstrate that miR-31 promotes mammary epithelial proliferation and MaSC expansion at the expense of differentiation in vivo. Loss of miR-31 compromises mammary tumor growth, reduces the number of cancer stem cells, as well as decreases tumor-initiating ability and metastasis to the lung, supporting its pro-oncogenic function. MiR-31 modulates multiple signaling pathways, including Prlr/Stat5, TGFβ and Wnt/β-catenin. Particularly, it activates Wnt/β-catenin signaling by directly targeting Wnt antagonists, including Dkk1. Importantly, Dkk1 overexpression partially rescues miR31-induced mammary defects. Together, these findings identify miR-31 as the key regulator of MaSC activity and breast tumorigenesis.
Preclinical imaging methods for assessing the safety and efficacy of regenerative medicine therapies
Authors: Scarfe Lauren , Brillant Nathalie , Kumar J. Dinesh , Ali Noura , Alrumayh Ahmed , Amali Mohammed , Barbellion Stephane , Jones Vendula , Niemeijer Marije , Potdevin Sophie , Roussignol Gautier , Vaganov Anatoly , Barbaric Ivana , Barrow Michael , Burton Neal C. , Connell John , Dazzi Francesco , Edsbagge Josefina , French Neil S. , Holder Julie , Hutchinson Claire , Jones David R. , Kalber Tammy , Lovatt Cerys , Lythgoe Mark F. , Patel Sara , Patrick P. Stephen , Piner Jacqueline , Reinhardt Jens , Ricci Emanuelle , Sidaway James , Stacey Glyn N. , Starkey Lewis Philip J. , Sullivan Gareth , Taylor Arthur , Wilm Bettina , Poptani Harish , Murray Patricia , Goldring Chris E. P. , Park B. Kevin
Published: October 2017

Regenerative medicine therapies hold enormous potential for a variety of currently incurable conditions with high unmet clinical need. Most progress in this field to date has been achieved with cell-based regenerative medicine therapies, with over a thousand clinical trials performed up to 2015. However, lack of adequate safety and efficacy data is currently limiting wider uptake of these therapies. To facilitate clinical translation, non-invasive in vivo imaging technologies that enable careful evaluation and characterisation of the administered cells and their effects on host tissues are critically required to evaluate their safety and efficacy in relevant preclinical models. This article reviews the most common imaging technologies available and how they can be applied to regenerative medicine research. We cover details of how each technology works, which cell labels are most appropriate for different applications, and the value of multi-modal imaging approaches to gain a comprehensive understanding of the responses to cell therapy in vivo.
MAGT1-mediated disturbance of Mg2+ homeostasis lead to exhausted of HBV-infected NK and CD8+ T cells
Authors: Diao Bo , Huang Xiaoyong , Guo Shen , Yang Chengying , Liu Guosong , Chen Yongwen , Wu Yuzhang
Published: October 2017

The magnesium transporter 1 (MAGT1) is a critical regulator of basal intracellular free magnesium ([Mg2+]i) levels. It has been shown that MAGT1 was involved in the disorder in Mg2+ homeostasis after Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. Here, we identified the effects of MAGT1-mediated disturbance of Mg2+ homeostasis on chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected natural killer (NK) and CD8+ T cells. The expression of MAGT1 was gradually decreased with the increase of infected time in CD8+ T cells, but not with that in NK cells, of the patients. Decreased level of intracellular free Mg2+ ([Mg2+]i) leads to defective expression of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and the NK activating receptor (NKG2D) in NK and CD8+ T cells. Our data illustrate that [Mg2+]i plays a key role in control of HBV infection.
Carbon nanowalls as a platform for biological SERS studies
Authors: Dyakonov Pavel , Mironovich Kirill , Svyakhovskiy Sergey , Voloshina Olga , Dagesyan Sarkis , Panchishin Andrey , Suetin Nikolay , Bagratashvili Victor , Timashev Petr , Shirshin Evgeny , Evlashin Stanislav
Published: October 2017

Herein we report about developing new type of Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) substrates based on Au-decorated carbon nanowalls. The designed substrates possess high specific surface area and high sensitivity. Chemical stability of Au perfectly blends with electrical properties and high value of specific surface area of carbon nanowalls. Created structures were applied to detect signals of a typical molecule used for SERS substrates testing, rhodamine 6G, which exhibits electronic absorption in the visible area of spectrum, and biomacromolecules such as tryptophan, guanine, bovine serum albumin and keratin hydrolysates, whose electronic absorption is in the ultraviolet region of spectrum and lies far from the Au plasmonic resonance. The obtained signals for these compounds suggest that the developed substrate is a prominent platform for the detection of biological macromolecules. The properties of the substrate, including its morphology and Au film thickness, as well as the analyte deposition method, were optimized to achieve the optimum Raman signal enhancement. Electric field distribution in the designed structures was calculated to describe the observed dependence of SERS activity on the substrate morphology.
Biochemistry and adaptive colouration of an exceptionally preserved juvenile fossil sea turtle
Authors: Lindgren Johan , Kuriyama Takeo , Madsen Henrik , Sjövall Peter , Zheng Wenxia , Uvdal Per , Engdahl Anders , Moyer Alison E. , Gren Johan A. , Kamezaki Naoki , Ueno Shintaro , Schweitzer Mary H.
Published: October 2017

The holotype (MHM-K2) of the Eocene cheloniineTasbacka danicais arguably one of the best preserved juvenile fossil sea turtles on record. Notwithstanding compactional flattening, the specimen is virtually intact, comprising a fully articulated skeleton exposed in dorsal view. MHM-K2 also preserves, with great fidelity, soft tissue traces visible as a sharply delineated carbon film around the bones and marginal scutes along the edge of the carapace. Here we show that the extraordinary preservation of the type ofT.danicagoes beyond gross morphology to include ultrastructural details and labile molecular components of the once-living animal. Haemoglobin-derived compounds, eumelanic pigments and proteinaceous materials retaining the immunological characteristics of sauropsid-specific β-keratin and tropomyosin were detected in tissues containing remnant melanosomes and decayed keratin plates. The preserved organics represent condensed remains of the cornified epidermis and, likely also, deeper anatomical features, and provide direct chemical evidence that adaptive melanism – a biological means used by extant sea turtle hatchlings to elevate metabolic and growth rates – had evolved 54 million years ago.
The years of life lost on cardiovascular disease attributable to ambient temperature in China
Authors: Luan Guijie , Yin Peng , Li Tiantian , Wang Lijun , Zhou Maigeng
Published: October 2017

Few studies have examined the association between ambient temperature and years of life lost (YLL). We aim to explore the burden of cardiovascular disease attributed to non-optimum temperature in China. YLL provides a complementary measure for examining the burden of disease due to ambient temperature. Non-optimal temperature leads to the increase of YLL. The mortality of fourteen cities in China during 2008–2013 was included in this study. We used the Distributed Lag Non-linear Model (DLNM) to estimate the association between daily mean temperature and YLL, controlling for long term trends, day of the week, seasonality and relative humidity. The daily YLL varied from 807 in Changchun to 2751 in Chengdu, with males higher than females. Extreme high and low temperatures were associated with higher YLL. The attributable fraction (AF) to cold effect is from 2.67 (95%CI: −1.63, 6.70) to 8.55 (95%CI: 5.05, 11.90), while the AF to heat effect is from 0.16 (95%CI: 0.06, 0.26) to 2.29 (95%CI: 1.29, 3.19). Cold effect was significantly higher than heat effect on cardiovascular disease in both men and women and for different age groups.
The international staging system improves the IPI risk stratification in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with R-CHOP
Authors: Wei Xiaolei , Hao Xiaoxiao , Zhou Lizhi , Wei Qi , Zhang Yuankun , Huang Weimin , Song Jialin , Feng Ru , Wei Yongqiang
Published: October 2017

The international staging system (ISS), based on serum beta-2 microglobulin and albumin, is used to predict survival in multiple myeloma, but its prognostic significance in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) remains unknown. Herein, we retrospectively analyzed 215 de novo DLBCL patients. According to ISS, there were 90 of 215 (41.9%) patients in stage I, 98 of 215 (45.6%) in stage II and 27 of 215 (12.6%) in stage III group. Patients with ISS stage II/III showed shorter overall survival (OS) and event free survival (EFS) than those with stage I treated with R-CHOP (p = 0.012 and p = 0.043, respectively), but not those treated with CHOP regimen (p > 0.05). Multivariable analysis revealed that ISS, independent of IPI, indicated different survival in both OS (HR, 5.690; 95% CI, 1.270–25.495, p = 0.023) and EFS (HR, 2.116; 95% CI, 1.005–4.455, p = 0.049) in DLBCL patients treated with R-CHOP. ISS could identify patients with better outcome in intermediate-high/high IPI risk patients (p < 0.05). Our data suggests that advanced ISS stage is associated with inferior outcome in DLBCL patients treated with R-CHOP. ISS could identify a subgroup of DLBCL patients with superior outcome from high IPI risk patients, which may help to avoid intensive therapy.
Electron transfer pathways in a light, oxygen, voltage (LOV) protein devoid of the photoactive cysteine
Authors: Kopka Benita , Magerl Kathrin , Savitsky Anton , Davari Mehdi D. , Röllen Katrin , Bocola Marco , Dick Bernhard , Schwaneberg Ulrich , Jaeger Karl-Erich , Krauss Ulrich
Published: October 2017

Blue-light absorption by the flavin chromophore in light, oxygen, voltage (LOV) photoreceptors triggers photochemical reactions that lead to the formation of a flavin-cysteine adduct. While it has long been assumed that adduct formation is essential for signaling, it was recently shown that LOV photoreceptor variants devoid of the photoactive cysteine can elicit a functional response and that flavin photoreduction to the neutral semiquinone radical is sufficient for signal transduction. Currently, the mechanistic basis of the underlying electron- (eT) and proton-transfer (pT) reactions is not well understood. We here reengineered pT into the naturally not photoreducible iLOV protein, a fluorescent reporter protein derived from theArabidopsis thalianaphototropin-2 LOV2 domain. A single amino-acid substitution (Q489D) enabled efficient photoreduction, suggesting that an eT pathway is naturally present in the protein. By using a combination of site-directed mutagenesis, steady-state UV/Vis, transient absorption and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, we investigate the underlying eT and pT reactions. Our study provides strong evidence that several Tyr and Trp residues, highly conserved in all LOV proteins, constitute the eT pathway for flavin photoreduction, suggesting that the propensity for photoreduction is evolutionary imprinted in all LOV domains, while efficient pT is needed to stabilize the neutral semiquinone radical.
Sedum alfredii SaNramp6 Metal Transporter Contributes to Cadmium Accumulation in Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Chen Shuangshuang , Han Xiaojiao , Fang Jie , Lu Zhuchou , Qiu Wenmin , Liu Mingying , Sang Jian , Jiang Jing , Zhuo Renying
Published: October 2017

The plant natural resistance-associated macrophage protein (Nramp) family plays an important role in tolerance to heavy metal stress. However, few Nramps have been functionally characterized in the heavy metal-accumulating plant Sedum alfredii. Here, Nramp6 was cloned and identified from S. alfredii and its function analyzed in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana. SaNramp6 cDNA contains an open reading frame of 1, 638 bp encoding 545 amino acids. SaNramp6′s expression can be induced by cadmium (Cd) stress, and, after treatment, it peaked at one week and 12 h in the roots and leaves, respectively. SaNramp6 localized to the plasma membrane in protoplasts isolated from A. thaliana, Nicotiana benthamiana lower leaf and onion (Allium cepa) epidermal cells. The heterologous expression of SaNramp6 in the Δycf1 yeast mutant increased the Cd content in yeast cells. SaNramp6 also rescued the low Cd accumulation of the A. thaliana nramp1 mutant. Transgenic A. thaliana expressing SaNramp6 exhibited high Cd accumulation levels, as determined by a statistical analysis of the Cd concentration, translocation factors and net Cd2+ fluxes under Cd stress. Thus, SaNramp6 may play a significant role in improving Cd accumulation, and the gene may be useful for the biotechnological development of transgenic plants for phytoremediation.
Dynamic and Modularized MicroRNA Regulation and Its Implication in Human Cancers
Authors: Shu Jiang , Silva Bruno Vieira Resende e , Gao Tian , Xu Zheng , Cui Juan
Published: October 2017

MicroRNA is responsible for the fine-tuning of fundamental cellular activities and human disease development. The altered availability of microRNAs, target mRNAs, and other types of endogenous RNAs competing for microRNA interactions reflects the dynamic and conditional property of microRNA-mediated gene regulation that remains under-investigated. Here we propose a new integrative method to study this dynamic process by considering both competing and cooperative mechanisms and identifying functional modules where different microRNAs co-regulate the same functional process. Specifically, a new pipeline was built based on a meta-Lasso regression model and the proof-of-concept study was performed using a large-scale genomic dataset from ~4,200 patients with 9 cancer types. In the analysis, 10,726 microRNA-mRNA interactions were identified to be associated with a specific stage and/or type of cancer, which demonstrated the dynamic and conditional miRNA regulation during cancer progression. On the other hands, we detected 4,134 regulatory modules that exhibit high fidelity of microRNA function through selective microRNA-mRNA binding and modulation. For example, miR-18a-3p, −320a, −193b-3p, and −92b-3p co-regulate the glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and focal adhesion in cancers of kidney, liver, lung, and uterus. Furthermore, several new insights into dynamic microRNA regulation in cancers have been discovered in this study.
Electrocatalytic Performance of Chemically Synthesized PIn-Au-SGO Composite toward Mediated Biofuel Cell Anode
Authors: Perveen Ruma , Inamuddin  , ul Haque Sufia , Nasar Abu , Asiri Abdullah M. , Md Ashraf Ghulam
Published: October 2017

The proposed work intended to make an intellectual contribution to the domain of green nanotechnology which emphasizes the chemical synthesis of a conducting nanocomposite based on the incorporation of gold nanoparticles (Au) into the redox matrix of polyindole (PIn) along with the subsequent improvement in the overall properties of the composite by the addition of sulfonated graphene oxide (SGO). The bioanode was developed by the deposition of the PIn-Au-SGO nanocomposite with subsequent immobilization of ferritin (Frt) and glucose oxidase (GOx) on the glassy carbon electrode (GC). The successful application of the PIn-Au-SGO nanocomposite toward the development of a ferritin-mediated glucose biofuel cell anode was studied by the electrochemical characterization of the constructed bioanode (GC-PIn-Au-SGO/Frt/GOx) for the bioelectrocatalytic oxidation of glucose. The maximum current density obtained by the modified bioanode was found to be 17.8 mA cm−2 at the limiting glucose concentration of 50 mM in 0.1 M K4Fe(CN)6 at a scan rate of 100 mVs−1. The lifetime of the concerned bioelectrode when stored at 4 °C was estimated to be 53 days approximately. The appreciable results of the structural and electrochemical characterization of the PIn-Au-SGO based bioelectrode reveal its potential applications exclusively in implantable medical devices.
Cationic double K-hole pre-edge states of CS2 and SF6
Authors: Feifel R. , Eland J. H. D. , Carniato S. , Selles P. , Püttner R. , Koulentianos D. , Marchenko T. , Journel L. , Guillemin R. , Goldsztejn G. , Travnikova O. , Ismail I. , Miranda B. Cunha de , Lago A. F. , Céolin D. , Lablanquie P. , Penent F. , Piancastelli M. N. , Simon M.
Published: October 2017

Recent advances in X-ray instrumentation have made it possible to measure the spectra of an essentially unexplored class of electronic states associated with double inner-shell vacancies. Using the technique of single electron spectroscopy, spectra of states in CS2 and SF6 with a double hole in the K-shell and one electron exited to a normally unoccupied orbital have been obtained. The spectra are interpreted with the aid of a high-level theoretical model giving excellent agreement with the experiment. The results shed new light on the important distinction between direct and conjugate shake-up in a molecular context. In particular, systematic similarities and differences between pre-edge states near single core holes investigated in X-ray absorption spectra and the corresponding states near double core holes studied here are brought out.
The optimal window size for analysing longitudinal networks
Authors: Uddin Shahadat , Choudhury Nazim , Farhad Sardar M. , Rahman Md. Towfiqur
Published: October 2017

The time interval between two snapshots is referred to as the window size. A given longitudinal network can be analysed from various actor-level perspectives, such as exploring how actors change their degree centrality values or participation statistics over time. Determining the optimal window size for the analysis of a given longitudinal network from different actor-level perspectives is a well-researched network science problem. Many researchers have attempted to develop a solution to this problem by considering different approaches; however, to date, no comprehensive and well-acknowledged solution that can be applied to various longitudinal networks has been found. We propose a novel approach to this problem that involves determining the correct window size when a given longitudinal network is analysed from different actor-level perspectives. The approach is based on the concept of actor-level dynamicity, which captures variability in the structural behaviours of actors in a given longitudinal network. The approach is applied to four real-world, variable-sized longitudinal networks to determine their optimal window sizes. The optimal window length for each network, determined using the approach proposed in this paper, is further evaluated via time series and data mining methods to validate its optimality. Implications of this approach are discussed in this article.
Creating single Majorana type topological zero mode in superfluids of cold fermionic atoms
Authors: Ye Xiao-Shan , Liu Yong-Jun , Zhang Xiu Yun , Wu Guoqing
Published: October 2017

We explore the topological phase, which involves Majorana type topological zero mode fermions (MTZFs) at the edge, using d–wave superfluid with Rashba spin-orbit coupling (SOC) interactions. The self-Hermitian of this MTZF($${{\boldsymbol{\gamma }}}^{{\boldsymbol{\dagger }}}{\boldsymbol{(}}{\bf{k}}{\boldsymbol{)}}{\boldsymbol{=}}{\boldsymbol{\gamma }}{\boldsymbol{(}}{\bf{k}}{\boldsymbol{)}}$$

γ

†

(
k
)
=
γ
(
k
)
) is similar to that of the Majorana fermions (MFs) ($${{\boldsymbol{\gamma }}}^{{\boldsymbol{\dagger }}}={\boldsymbol{\gamma }}$$

γ

†

=
γ
). We show that, to realize a single MTZF at each edge in superfluid with d–wave pairing in a Majorana type Kramers Doublet (MTKD) state, it is important to lift both the spin and the Dirac Cones degeneracies. These non-Abelian anyons obey the non-Abelian statistics which may be useful to realize topological quantum computation. We suggest that the topological feature could be tested experimentally in superfluids of cold fermionic atoms with laser field induced spin orbit interactions. These studies give a new possible way to investigate the MTZFs in a two-dimensional (2D) system as compared to MFs in the one-dimensional (1D) nano-wire and 2D system, and enrich the theoretical research on finding non-Abelian anyons in topological system.
The potential for coral reef establishment through free-living stabilization
Authors: Hennige S. J. , Burdett H. L. , Perna G. , Tudhope A. W. , Kamenos N. A.
Published: October 2017

Corals thrive in a variety of environments, from low wave and tidal energy lagoons, to high energy tidal reef flats, but remain dependent upon suitable substrate. Herein we reviewed the phenomenon of free-living corals (coralliths), examined whether they have the capacity to create their own stable habitat in otherwise uninhabitable, poor substrate environments through ‘free-living stabilization’, and explore their potential ecological role on coral reefs. This stabilization could be achieved by coral settlement and survival on mobile substrate, with subsequent growth into free-living coralliths until a critical mass is reached that prevents further movement. This allows for secondary reef colonization by other coral species. To preliminarily test this hypothesis we provide evidence that the potential to support secondary coral colonisation increases with corallith size. Due to the limited diversity of corallith species observed here and in the literature, and the lack of physiological differences exhibited by coralliths here to static controls, it seems likely that only a small selection of coral species have the ability to form coralliths, and the potential to create their own stable habitat.
Roles of bulk and surface magnetic anisotropy on the longitudinal spin Seebeck effect of Pt/YIG
Authors: Kalappattil Vijaysankar , Das Raja , Phan Manh-Huong , Srikanth Hariharan
Published: October 2017

A clear understanding of the temperature evolution of the longitudinal spin Seebeck effect (LSSE) in the classic Pt/yttrium iron garnet (YIG) system and its association with magnetic anisotropy is essential towards optimization of its spin-caloric functionality for spintronics applications. We report here for the first time the temperature dependences of LSSE voltage (VLSSE), magnetocrystalline anisotropy field (HK) and surface perpendicular magnetic anisotropy field (HKS) in the same Pt/YIG system. We show that on lowering temperature, the sharp drop in VLSSE and the sudden increases in HK and HKS at ~175 K are associated with the spin reorientation due to single ion anisotropy of Fe2+ ions. The VLSSE peak at ~75 K is attributed to the HKS and MS (saturation magnetization) whose peaks also occur at the same temperature. The effects of surface and bulk magnetic anisotropies are corroborated with those of thermally excited magnon number and magnon propagation length to satisfactorily explain the temperature dependence of LSSE in the Pt/YIG system. Our study also emphasizes the important roles of bulk and surface anisotropies in the LSSE in YIG and paves a new pathway for developing novel spin-caloric materials.
Genome-wide identification of microRNAs responsive to Ectropis oblique feeding in tea plant (Camellia sinensis L.)
Authors: Jeyaraj Anburaj , Liu Shengrui , Zhang Xiao , Zhang Ran , Shangguan Mingzhu , Wei Chaoling
Published: October 2017

The tea plant (Camellia sinensis L.) is vulnerable to the geometrid Ectropis oblique; although microRNAs (miRNAs) are important for plant growth, development and stress response, the function of miRNAs in the response of C. sinensis to stress from E. oblique is unclear. To identify E. oblique stress-responsive miRNAs and their target genes in tea plant, three small RNA libraries were constructed from leaves subjected to mechanical wounding (MW), geometrid attack (GA) and from healthy control (CK) leaves. Using high-throughput sequencing, 130 known miRNAs and 512 novel miRNAs were identified; of these, differential expression under GA stress was observed for 36 known and 139 novel miRNAs. Furthermore, 169 GA-responsive and 173 MW-responsive miRNAs were detected by miRNA microarray. The expression patterns of six GA-responsive miRNAs were validated by qRT-PCR. Several target genes for these miRNAs encode various transcription factors, including ethylene-responsive transcription factors and squamosa promoter-binding-like proteins, which suggests that these miRNAs may regulate stress-responsive transcriptional processes in tea plant. The present findings provide novel insights into miRNA-mediated regulatory mechanisms underlying the response to GA stress, and also offer valuable information for development of pest resistance using RNA interference-based strategies in tea plants.
A new mode of contrast in biological second harmonic generation microscopy
Authors: Green Nicola H. , Delaine-Smith Robin M. , Askew Hannah J. , Byers Robert , Reilly Gwendolen C. , Matcher Stephen J.
Published: October 2017

Enhanced image contrast in biological second harmonic imaging microscopy (SHIM) has previously been reported via quantitative assessments of forward- to epi-generated signal intensity ratio and by polarization analysis. Here we demonstrate a new form of contrast: the material-specific, wavelength-dependence of epi-generated second harmonic generation (SHG) excitation efficiency, and discriminate collagen and myosin by ratiometric epi-generated SHG images at 920 nm and 860 nm. Collagen shows increased SHG intensity at 920 nm, while little difference is detected between the two for myosin; allowing SHIM to characterize different SHG-generating components within a complex biological sample. We propose that momentum-space mapping of the second-order non-linear structure factor is the source of this contrast and develop a model for the forward and epi-generated SHG wavelength-dependence. Our model demonstrates that even very small changes in the assumed material fibrillar structure can produce large changes in the wavelength-dependency of epi-generated SHG. However, in the case of forward SHG, although the same changes impact upon absolute intensity at a given wavelength, they have very little effect on wavelength-dependency beyond the expected monotonic fall. We also propose that this difference between forward and epi-generated SHG provides an explanation for many of the wavelength-dependency discrepancies in the published literature.
Transcription factors and stress response gene alterations in human keratinocytes following Solar Simulated Ultra Violet Radiation
Authors: Marais Thomas L. Des , Kluz Thomas , Xu Dazhong , Zhang Xiaoru , Gesumaria Lisa , Matsui Mary S. , Costa Max , Sun Hong
Published: October 2017

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from sunlight is the major effector for skin aging and carcinogenesis. However, genes and pathways altered by solar-simulated UVR (ssUVR), a mixture of UVA and UVB, are not well characterized. Here we report global changes in gene expression as well as associated pathways and upstream transcription factors in human keratinocytes exposed to ssUVR. Human HaCaT keratinocytes were exposed to either a single dose or 5 repetitive doses of ssUVR. Comprehensive analyses of gene expression profiles as well as functional annotation were performed at 24 hours post irradiation. Our results revealed that ssUVR modulated genes with diverse cellular functions changed in a dose-dependent manner. Gene expression in cells exposed to a single dose of ssUVR differed significantly from those that underwent repetitive exposures. While single ssUVR caused a significant inhibition in genes involved in cell cycle progression, especially G2/M checkpoint and mitotic regulation, repetitive ssUVR led to extensive changes in genes related to cell signaling and metabolism. We have also identified a panel of ssUVR target genes that exhibited persistent changes in gene expression even at 1 week after irradiation. These results revealed a complex network of transcriptional regulators and pathways that orchestrate the cellular response to ssUVR.
Knockout of maternal CD163 protects fetuses from infection with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV)
Authors: Prather Randall S. , Wells Kevin D. , Whitworth Kristin M. , Kerrigan Maureen A. , Samuel Melissa S. , Mileham Alan , Popescu Luca N. , Rowland Raymond R. R.
Published: October 2017

After infection of the porcine dam at about 90 days of gestation, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) crosses the placenta and begins to infect fetuses. Outcomes of include abortion, fetal death and respiratory disease in newborn piglets. CD163 is the receptor for the virus. In this study, CD163-positive fetuses, recovered between 109 days of gestation or 20 days after maternal infection, were completely protected from PRRSV in dams possessing a complete knockout of the CD163 receptor. The results demonstrate a practical means to eliminate PRRSV-associated reproductive disease, a major source of economic hardship to agriculture.
Giant Enhancement of Exchange Coupling in Entropy-Stabilized Oxide Heterostructures
Authors: Meisenheimer P. B. , Kratofil T. J. , Heron J. T.
Published: October 2017

Entropy-stabilized materials are stabilized by the configurational entropy of the constituents, rather than the enthalpy of formation of the compound. A unique benefit to entropy-stabilized materials is the increased solubility of elements, which opens a broad compositional space, with subsequent local chemical and structural disorder resulting from different atomic sizes and preferred coordinations of the constituents. Known entropy-stabilized oxides contain magnetically interesting constituents, however, the magnetic properties of the multi-component oxide have yet to be investigated. Here we examine the role of disorder and composition on the exchange anisotropy of permalloy/(Mg0.25(1-x)CoxNi0.25(1-x)Cu0.25(1-x)Zn0.25(1-x))O heterostructures. Anisotropic magnetic exchange and the presence of a critical blocking temperature indicates that the magnetic order of the entropy-stabilized oxides considered here is antiferromagnetic. Changing the composition of the oxide tunes the disorder, exchange field and magnetic anisotropy. Here, we exploit this tunability to enhance the strength of the exchange field by a factor of 10x at low temperatures, when compared to a permalloy/CoO heterostructure. Significant deviations from the rule of mixtures are observed in the structural and magnetic parameters, indicating that the crystal is dominated by configurational entropy. Our results reveal that the unique characteristics of entropy-stabilized materials can be utilized and tailored to engineer magnetic functional phenomena in oxide thin films.
Modeling the climatic suitability of leishmaniasis vector species in Europe
Authors: Koch Lisa K. , Kochmann Judith , Klimpel Sven , Cunze Sarah
Published: October 2017

Climate change will affect the geographical distribution of many species in the future. Phlebotomine sandflies are vector species for leishmaniasis, a tropical neglected disease. We applied an ensemble forecasting niche modeling approach to project future changes in climatic suitability for ten vector competent sandfly species in Europe. Whereas the main area of sandfly distribution currently lies in the Mediterranean region, models generally projected a northwards expansion of areas with suitable climatic conditions for most species (P.alexandri,P.neglectus,P.papatasi,P.perfiliewi,P.tobbi) in the future. The range of distribution for only two species (P.ariasi,P.mascittii) was projected to decline in the future. According to our results, a higher number of vector competent species in Central Europe can generally be expected, assuming no limitations to dispersal. We recommend monitoring for the establishment of vector species, especially in areas with projected climatic suitability for multiple vector species, as a precautious strategy. An increased number of vector species, or a higher abundance of a single species, might result in a higher transmission risk of leishmaniasis, provided that the pathogens follow the projected range shifts.
Giant direct and inverse magnetocaloric effect linked to the same forward martensitic transformation
Authors: Pérez-Landazábal J. I. , Recarte V. , Sánchez-Alarcos V. , Beato-López J. J. , Rodríguez-Velamazán J. A. , Sánchez-Marcos J. , Gómez-Polo C. , Cesari E.
Published: October 2017

Metamagnetic shape memory alloys have aroused considerable attraction as potential magnetic refrigerants due to the large inverse magnetocaloric effect associated to the magnetic-field-induction of a reverse martensitic transformation (martensite to austenite). In some of these alloys, the austenite phase can be retained on cooling under high magnetic fields, being the retained phase metastable after field removing. Here, we report a giant direct magnetocaloric effect linked to the anomalous forward martensitic transformation (austenite to martensite) that the retained austenite undergoes on heating. Under moderate fields of 10 kOe, an estimated adiabatic temperature change of 9 K has been obtained, which is (in absolute value) almost twice that obtained in the conventional transformation under higher applied fields. The observation of a different sign on the temperature change associated to the same austenite to martensite transformation depending on whether it occurs on heating (retained) or on cooling is attributed to the predominance of the magnetic or the vibrational entropy terms, respectively.
Synchrotron radiation circular dichroism spectroscopy reveals structural divergences in HDL-bound apoA-I variants
Authors: Giudice Rita Del , Nilsson Oktawia , Domingo-Espín Joan , Lagerstedt Jens O.
Published: October 2017

Apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) provides cardiovascular protection. Synchrotron radiation circular dichroism (SRCD) spectroscopy was used to analyze the dynamic solution structure of the apoA-I protein in the apo- and HDL-states and the protein structure conversion in HDL formation. Wild-type apoA-I protein was compared to human variants that either are protective (R173C, Milano) or lead to increased risk for ischaemic heart disease (A164S). Comparable secondary structure distributions in the HDL particles, including significant levels of beta strand/turn, were observed. ApoA-I Milano in HDL displayed larger size heterogeneity, increased protein flexibility, and an altered lipid-binding profile, whereas the apoA-I A164S in HDL showed decrease thermal stability, potentially linking the intrinsic HDL propensities of the variants to disease risk.
Unconscious avoidance of eye contact in autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Madipakkam Apoorva Rajiv , Rothkirch Marcus , Dziobek Isabel , Sterzer Philipp
Published: October 2017

Atypical responses to direct gaze are one of the most characteristic hallmarks of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The cause and mechanism underlying this phenomenon, however, have remained unknown. Here we investigated whether the atypical responses to eye gaze in autism spectrum disorder is dependent on the conscious perception of others’ faces. Face stimuli with direct and averted gaze were rendered invisible by interocular suppression and eye movements were recorded from participants with ASD and an age and sex matched control group. Despite complete unawareness of the stimuli, the two groups differed significantly in their eye movements to the face stimuli. In contrast to the significant positive saccadic index observed in the TD group, indicating an unconscious preference to the face with direct gaze, the ASD group had no such preference towards direct gaze and instead showed a tendency to prefer the face with averted gaze, suggesting an unconscious avoidance of eye contact. These results provide the first evidence that the atypical response to eye contact in ASD is an unconscious and involuntary response. They provide a better understanding of the mechanism of gaze avoidance in autism and might lead to new diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.
Isotopic compositions of 236U, 239Pu, and 240Pu in soil contaminated by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident
Authors: Yang Guosheng , Tazoe Hirofumi , Hayano Kazuhiko , Okayama Kumiko , Yamada Masatoshi
Published: October 2017

Six years after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident, data for 236U and 236U/238U have remained limited to a few heavily contaminated samples. In the present study, activities of 236U, 239Pu, and 240Pu, along with other U isotopes in 46 soil samples both heavily and lightly contaminated by this accident were measured by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and triple-quadrupole ICP-MS. The 236U activities and 236U/238U atom ratios in these soil samples were in the range of (0.469–24.4) × 10−5 Bq kg−1 and ((0.099–1.35) × 10−7), respectively. Higher 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios (0.245–0.312) and 238Pu/239+240Pu activity ratios (0.859–1.62) indicated Pu contamination originated from this accident and global fallout in some samples. For those soil samples along with black substances collected along roads in Fukushima Prefecture, high linear correlations were presented between 236U activities and 239+240Pu activities (Pearson’s r = 0.755, p < 0.01), and between 236U activities and 238Pu activities (Pearson’s r = 0.844, p < 0.01). The analysis of these soil samples confirmed the release of 236U, although in trace amounts, during the FDNPP accident.
Silicon Nitride Deposition for Flexible Organic Electronic Devices by VHF (162 MHz)-PECVD Using a Multi-Tile Push-Pull Plasma Source
Authors: Kim Ki Seok , Kim Ki Hyun , Ji You Jin , Park Jin Woo , Shin Jae Hee , Ellingboe Albert Rogers , Yeom Geun Young
Published: October 2017

Depositing a barrier film for moisture protection without damage at a low temperature is one of the most important steps for organic-based electronic devices. In this study, the authors investigated depositing thin, high-quality SiNx film on organic-based electronic devices, specifically, very high-frequency (162 MHz) plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (VHF-PECVD) using a multi-tile push-pull plasma source with a gas mixture of NH3/SiH4 at a low temperature of 80 °C. The thin deposited SiNx film exhibited excellent properties in the stoichiometry, chemical bonding, stress, and step coverage. Thin film quality and plasma damage were investigated by the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) and by electrical characteristics of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) devices deposited with SiNx, respectively. The thin deposited SiNx film exhibited a low WVTR of 4.39 × 10−4 g (m2 · day)−1 for a single thin (430 nm thick) film SiNx and the electrical characteristics of OLED devices before and after the thin SiNx film deposition on the devices did not change, which indicated no electrical damage during the deposition of SiNx on the OLED device.
Fibromodulin reduces scar formation in adult cutaneous wounds by eliciting a fetal-like phenotype
Authors: Zheng Zhong , James Aaron W , Li Chenshuang , Jiang Wenlu , Wang Joyce Z , Chang Grace X , Lee Kevin S , Chen Feng , Berthiaume Emily A , Chen Yao , Pan Hsin Chuan , Chen Eric C , Li Weiming , Zhao Zhihe , Zhang Xinli , Ting Kang , Soo Chia
Published: October 2017

Blocking transforming growth factor (TGF)β1 signal transduction has been a central strategy for scar reduction; however, this approach appears to be minimally effective. Here, we show that fibromodulin (FMOD), a 59-kD small leucine-rich proteoglycan critical for normal collagen fibrillogenesis, significantly reduces scar formation while simultaneously increasing scar strength in both adult rodent models and porcine wounds, which simulate human cutaneous scar repair. Mechanistically, FMOD uncouples pro-migration/contraction cellular signals from pro-fibrotic signaling by selectively enhancing SMAD3-mediated signal transduction, while reducing AP-1-mediated TGFβ1 auto-induction and fibrotic extracellular matrix accumulation. Consequently, FMOD accelerates TGFβ1-responsive adult fibroblast migration, myofibroblast conversion, and function. Furthermore, our findings strongly indicate that, by delicately orchestrating TGFβ1 activities rather than indiscriminately blocking TGFβ1, FMOD elicits fetal-like cellular and molecular phenotypes in adult dermal fibroblasts in vitro and adult cutaneous wounds in vivo, which is a unique response of living system undescribed previously. Taken together, this study illuminates the signal modulating activities of FMOD beyond its structural support functions, and highlights the potential for FMOD-based therapies to be used in cutaneous wound repair.
Branched polyethyleneimine-assisted boronic acid-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles for the selective enrichment of trace glycoproteins
Authors: Li Daojin , Bie Zijun
Published: October 2017

Boronate affinity materials, as efficient sorbents for extraction, separation and enrichment of glycoproteins, have attracted more and more attention in recent years.
Chromatographic unsupervised classification of olive and non-olive oil samples with the aid of graph theory
Authors: Kumar Keshav
Published: October 2017

Graph theory is introduced as a novel chemometric approach for classifying the samples in an unsupervised manner.
Oxygen plasma treatment of HKUST-1 for porosity retention upon exposure to moisture
Authors: Bae Jaeyeon , Jung Jin-Woo , Park Hyo Yul , Cho Chang-Hee , Park Jinhee
Published: October 2017

HKUST-1, a representative MOF, can be both regenerated and protected against moisture deactivation by treatment with O2 plasma.
Programmable fusion of liposomes mediated by lipidated PNA
Authors: Rabe A. , Löffler P. M. G. , Ries O. , Vogel S.
Published: October 2017

Lipidated peptide nucleic acids as tools for efficient liposome fusion at elevated temperatures – in a zipper and a double-zipper fusion design. An potent alternative to DNA-mediated membrane fusion.
A stretchable polysiloxane elastomer with self-healing capacity at room temperature and solvatochromic properties
Authors: Liu Lili , Liang Shuai , Huang Yawen , Hu Chengyao , Yang Junxiao
Published: October 2017

A stretchable silicon elastomer comprising cobalt ions in pyridine pendant polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was prepared.
Exploiting electronic strategies to stabilize a planar tetracoordinate carbon in cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Authors: Yañez O. , Vásquez-Espinal A. , Pino-Rios R. , Ferraro F. , Pan S. , Osorio E. , Merino G. , Tiznado W.
Published: October 2017

A new approach to stabilize compounds containing a planar tetracoordinate carbon (ptC), embedded in aromatic hydrocarbons, is presented herein.
Efficient and selective catalysis for hydrogenation and hydrosilation of alkenes and alkynes with PNP complexes of scandium and yttrium
Authors: Levine Daniel S. , Tilley T. Don , Andersen Richard A.
Published: October 2017

Scandium and yttrium congeneric complexes, supported by a monoanionic PNP ligand, were studied as catalysts for alkene hydrogenation and hydrosilation and alkyne semihydrogenation and semihydrosilation.
Th(iv) and Ce(iv) napthylsalophen sandwich complexes: characterization of unusual thorium fluorescence in solution and solid-state
Authors: Hardy E. E. , Wyss K. M. , Gorden J. D. , Ariyarathna I. R. , Miliordos E. , Gorden A. E. V.
Published: October 2017

The synthesis, characterization, and surprising electronic spectroscopy of two ML2 sandwich complexes, where M = Ce(iv) or Th(iv) and L = napthylsalophen2− are described.
Regiocontrolled direct C4 and C2-methyl thiolation of indoles under rhodium-catalyzed mild conditions
Authors: Maity Saurabh , Karmakar Ujjwal , Samanta Rajarshi
Published: October 2017

A straightforward and mild Rh(iii)-catalyzed remote C4 (sp2) and C2 (sp3)-methyl thiolation of an indole core was developed.