bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Supramolecular copolymerization driven by integrative self-sorting of hydrogen-bonded rosettes
Authors: Aratsu Keisuke , Takeya Rika , Pauw Brian R. , Hollamby Martin J. , Kitamoto Yuichi , Shimizu Nobutaka , Takagi Hideaki , Haruki Rie , Adachi Shin-ichi , Yagai Shiki 
Published: April 2020

AbstractMolecular recognition to preorganize noncovalently polymerizable supramolecular complexes is a characteristic process of natural supramolecular polymers, and such recognition processes allow for dynamic self-alteration, yielding complex polymer systems with extraordinarily high efficiency in their targeted function. We herein show an example of such molecular recognition-controlled kinetic assembly/disassembly processes within artificial supramolecular polymer systems using six-membered hydrogen-bonded supramolecular complexes (rosettes). Electron-rich and poor monomers are prepared that kinetically coassemble through a temperature-controlled protocol into amorphous coaggregates comprising a diverse mixture of rosettes. Over days, the electrostatic interaction between two monomers induces an integrative self-sorting of rosettes. While the electron-rich monomer inherently forms toroidal homopolymers, the additional electrostatic interaction that can also guide rosette association allows helicoidal growth of supramolecular copolymers that are comprised of an alternating array of two monomers. Upon heating, the helicoidal copolymers undergo a catastrophic transition into amorphous coaggregates via entropy-driven randomization of the monomers in the rosette.
Modified Crushed Oyster Shells for Fluoride Removal from Water
Authors: Kim Woohang , Singh Rekha , Smith James A. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractElevated concentrations of fluoride ions (F−) in natural groundwater are a worldwide problem. Discarded oyster shells were ground to ≤100 µm particle size to produce oyster shell powder (OS). A subset of the OS was heated to produce calcined oyster shell (COS). A subset of the COS was further treated with 1 M phosphoric acid to produce phosphoric-acid-treated oyster shell (POS). OS and COS were combined with phosphoric acid (1.6 mM and 3.2 mM) to produce OS + P (oyster shell with phosphoric acid) and COS + P (calcined oyster shell with phosphoric acid). OS and COS removed 46% and 50% (10 g/L of sorbent dose) but POS, OS + P and COS + P removed 96%, 100% and 76% (1 g/L of sorbent dose) when the initial concentration of fluoride was 10 mg/L. The sorption kinetics of POS, OS + P and COS + P followed second-order reaction rates, and sorption isotherms of all sorbents were well-described by the Freundlich sorption isotherm. These results indicate that oyster shells can be an effective sorbent for fluoride removal, with the added benefit of re-use of a waste product.
Interaction between the scaffold proteins CBP by IQGAP1 provides an interface between gene expression and cytoskeletal activity
Authors: Kosol Simone , Contreras-Martos Sara , Piai Alessandro , Varadi Mihaly , Lazar Tamas , Bekesi Angela , Lebrun Pierre , Felli Isabella C. , Pierattelli Roberta , Tompa Peter 
Published: April 2020

AbstractCrosstalk between cellular pathways is often mediated through scaffold proteins that function as platforms for the assembly of signaling complexes. Based on yeast two-hybrid analysis, we report here the interaction between two complex scaffold proteins, CREB-binding protein (CBP) and the Ras GTPase-activating-like protein 1 (IQGAP1). Dissection of the interaction between the two proteins reveals that the central, thus far uncharacterized, region of IQGAP1 interacts with the HAT domain and the C-terminal intrinsically disordered region of CBP (termed ID5). Structural analysis of ID5 by solution NMR spectroscopy and SAXS reveals the presence of two regions with pronounced helical propensity. The ID5 region(s) involved in the interaction of nanomolar affinity were delineated by solution NMR titrations and pull-down assays. Moreover, we found that IQGAP1 acts as an inhibitor of the histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity of CBP. In in vitro assays, the CBP-binding region of IQGAP1 positively and negatively regulates the function of HAT proteins of different families including CBP, KAT5 and PCAF. As many signaling pathways converge on CBP and IQGAP1, their interaction provides an interface between transcription regulation and the coordination of cytoskeleton. Disruption or alteration of the interaction between these scaffold proteins may lead to cancer development or metastatic processes, highlighting the importance of this interaction.
Heterogeneity at the invasion front of triple negative breast cancer cells
Authors: Aw Yong Koh Meng , Ulintz Peter J. , Caceres Sara , Cheng Xu , Bao Liwei , Wu Zhifen , Jiagge Evelyn M. , Merajver Sofia D. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractIdentifying better predictive and prognostic biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is complicated by tumor heterogeneity ranging from responses to therapy, mutational burden, and clonal evolution. To overcome the gap in our understanding of tumor heterogeneity, we hypothesized that isolating and studying the gene expression profile of invasive tumor cell subpopulations would be a crucial step towards achieving this goal. In this report, we utilized a fluidic device previously reported to be capable of supporting long-term three-dimensional growth and invasion dynamics of cancer cells. Live invading and matched non-invading SUM149 inflammatory breast cancer cells were enriched using this device and these two functionally distinct subpopulations were tested for differences in gene expression using a gene expression microarray. 305 target genes were identified to have altered expression in the invading cells compared to the non-invading tumoroid cells. Gene ontology analysis of the gene panel identified multiple biological roles ranging from extracellular matrix reorganization to modulation of the immune response and Rho signaling. Interestingly, the genes associated with the invasion front differ between different samples, consistent with inter- and intra-tumor heterogeneity. This work suggests the impact of heterogeneity in biomarker discovery should be considered as cancer therapy increasingly heads towards a personalized approach.
Water Polishing improved controlled-release characteristics and fertilizer efficiency of castor oil-based polyurethane coated diammonium phosphate
Authors: Lu Hao , Tian Hongyu , Zhang Min , Liu Zhiguang , Chen Qi , Guan Rui , Wang Huaili 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe production cost of controlled-release fertilizers is an important factoring limiting their applications. To reduce the coating cost of diammonium phosphate (DAP) and improve its nutrition release characteristics, the fertilizer cores were modified by water polishing with three dosages at 1, 2, and 3%. The effects of modification were evaluated in terms of particle hardness, size distribution, angle of repose and specific surface area. Castor oil-based polyurethane was used as coating material for fertilizer performance evaluation. A pot experiment was conducted to verify the fertilizer efficiency of coated diammonium phosphate (CDAP) with maize. The results showed that polishing with 2% water reduced the angle of repose by 2.48–10.57% and specific surface area by 5.70–48.76%, making it more suitable for coating. The nutrient release period of CDAP was significantly prolonged by 5.36 times. Soil available phosphorous, enzyme activities, maize grain yield, and phosphorous use efficiency were all improved through the blending application of coated and normal phosphate fertilizer. This study demonstrated that water-based surface modification is a low-cost and effective method for improvement and promotion of controlled release P fertilizers.
The molecular etiology of deafness and auditory performance in the postlingually deafened cochlear implantees
Authors: Lee Sang-Yeon , Shim Ye Ji , Han Jin-Hee , Song Jae-Jin , Koo Ja-Won , Oh Seung Ha , Lee Seungmin , Oh Doo-Yi , Choi Byung Yoon 
Published: April 2020

AbstractRecent advances in molecular genetic testing (MGT) have improved identification of genetic aetiology of candidates for cochlear implantation (CI). However, whether genetic information increases CI outcome predictability in post-lingual deafness remains unclear. Therefore, we evaluated the outcomes of CI with respect to genetic aetiology and clinical predictors by comparing the data of study subjects; those with an identified genetic aetiology (GD group), and those without identifiable variants (GUD group). First, we identified the genetic aetiology in 21 of 40 subjects and also observed genetic etiologic heterogeneity. The GD group demonstrated significantly greater improvement in speech perception scores over a 1-year period than did the GUD group. Further, inverse correlation between deafness duration and the 1-year improvement in speech perception scores was tighter in the GD group than in the GUD group. The weak correlation between deafness duration and CI outcomes in the GUD group might suggest the pathophysiology underlying GUD already significantly involves the cortex, leading to lesser sensitivity to further cortex issues such as deafness duration. Under our MGT protocol, the correlation between deafness duration and CI outcomes were found to rely on the presence of identifiable genetic aetiology, strongly advocating early CI in individual with proven genetic aetiologies.
Health-related quality of life analysis in differentiated thyroid carcinoma patients after thyroidectomy
Authors: Li Jie , Zhang Bo , Bai Yang , Liu Yonghong , Zhang Buyong , Jin Jian 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAlthough differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) has a good prognosis and survival rate, long-term medication and recurrence monitoring might be needed. The factors that affect postoperative health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with DTC in different regions remain unclear or conflicting. The purpose of this study was to assess the factors that influence the HRQoL of DTC patients after surgery. This study selected 174 patients with DTC who underwent thyroidectomy. Additionally, 174 participants who were matched by age, gender, and socioeconomic status were recruited from the population as the control group. Both the DTC and control population groups were invited to answer the HRQoL questionnaire SF-36. Scores on seven domains of the HRQoL including role-physical (RP), bodily pain (BP), general health (GH), vitality (VT), social functioning (SF), role-emotional (RE), and mental health (MH), were significantly lower for DTC patients than for the control population. The patients with no comorbidities had much higher scores on the 8 domains of the SF-36 than DTC patients with two or more comorbidities (all P < 0.05). Hypertension, diabetes and depression were the predictive factors of a poor Physical Component Summary (PCS) score and diabetes and depression were predictive factors of the Mental Component Summary (MCS) score at one year of follow-up (all P < 0.05). HRQoL is significantly influenced by many sociodemographic and clinical factors. Hypertension, diabetes and depression had a negative impact on HRQoL in DTC patients. More attention and targeted intervention should be given to DTC patients after surgery to improve quality of life.
The Breakup of a Helium Cluster After Removing Attractive Interaction Among a Significant Number of Atoms in the Cluster
Authors: Pang Tao 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe breakup of a quantum liquid droplet is examined through a4He cluster by removing the attractive tail in the interaction between some of the atoms in the system with the diffusion quantum Monte Carlo simulation. The ground-state energy, kinetic energy, cluster size, and density profile of the cluster are evaluated against the percentage of the atoms without the attractive tail. The condition for the cluster to lose its ability to form a quantum liquid droplet at zero temperature is found and analyzed. The cluster is no longer able to form a quantum liquid droplet when about two-thirds of pairs of attractive interaction are removed. The findings are helpful to the current studies on the formation of quantum liquid droplets from cold atoms.
Reversible Photoalignment of Liquid Crystals: a Path toward the Creation of Rewritable Lenses
Authors: Quiroga Juan Antonio , Canga Ignacio , Alonso José , Crespo Daniel 
Published: April 2020

AbstractIn this work, we describe a new reversible photoalignment effect for the director in nematic liquid crystals that provides an approach for the creation of lenses whose optical power can be recorded and erased. The possibility of creating a rewritable lens has very important practical implications, for example, in the ophthalmic lens industry. A rewritable ophthalmic lens could be a convenient solution for patients whose compensation needs change over time due to age-related physiological changes, such as the onset and progression of presbyopia. Using rewritable lenses, small lens power corrections could be implemented through a rewriting procedure on the mounted lens without resurfacing or manufacturing and mounting a new lens. More generally, this new effect multiple potential applications in the creation of rewritable optical systems, such as reconfigurable optical networks, index-tunable antireflective coatings and optically rewritable phase gratings.
Cerebrospinal beta-amyloid peptides(1-40) and (1-42) in severe preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome – a pilot study
Authors: Lederer Wolfgang , Schaffenrath Helene , Alomar-Dominguez Cristina , Thaler Julia , Fantin Raffaella , Dostal Lucie , Putz Guenther , Humpel Christian 
Published: April 2020

AbstractDuring pregnancy, substantial alterations in cerebral plasticity, vascular remodeling and neuronal growth occur in the maternal brain. We investigated whether concentrations of selected neurodiagnostic biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid of women with preeclampsia/HELLP syndrome differ from those in healthy controls using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. We found that tau protein concentrations (p = 0.016) and phospho-tau/tau ratio (p < 0.001) in cerebrospinal fluid were significantly lower in 39 preeclamptic women compared to 44 healthy controls during third trimester of pregnancy. Beta-amyloid(1-40)/(1-42) ratio was significantly higher in HELLP syndrome than in severe preeclampsia (8.49 + 2.73 vs. 4.71 + 1.65; p = 0.007). We conclude that beta-amyloid(1-40)/(1-42) ratio in cerebrospinal fluid can discriminate severe preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome. High beta-amyloid peptide and low tau protein concentrations are associated with impaired development of the materno-feto-placental unit and correlate with placental dysfunction.
Effect of Bacillus subtilis on corrosion behavior of 10MnNiCrCu steel in marine environment
Authors: Wang Y. S. , Liu L. , Fu Q. , Sun J. , An Z. Y. , Ding R. , Li Y. , Zhao X. D. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBacillus widely exists in wet natural environment such as soil, water and air, and is often studied as one of representative microorganisms for microbiologically influenced corrosion(MIC) research. In this paper, the growth curve of Bacillus subtilis isolated from marine environment was determined by turbidimetry and its effect on corrosion behavior of 10MnNiCrCu steel was studied by open circuit potential, AC impedance, polarization curve and scanning electron microscopy(SEM). The results showed that with the change of the growth curve of Bacillus subtilis(BS), the open circuit potential(Eocp) shifted positively and then negatively, and the charge transfer resistance shown by AC impedance was much lower than that of the sterile system, increasing first and then decreasing. The polarization curves showed that the corrosion current density in BS medium was obviously higher than that in sterile system. The corrosion morphology observation showed that although a biofilm by BS developed on the steel surface, the localized corrosion of 10MnNiCrCu steel was aggravated due to the acidness of the metabolite itself and the biofilm with access for electrolyte ions.
Synthesis of Conductive Carbon Aerogels Decorated with β-Tricalcium Phosphate Nanocrystallites
Authors: Tevlek Atakan , Atya Abdulraheem M. N. , Almemar Muhannad , Duman Memed , Gokcen Dincer , Ganin Alexey Y. , Yiu Humphrey H. P. , Aydin Halil M. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThere has been substantial interest in research aimed at conductive carbon-based supports since the discovery that the electrical stimulus can have dramatic effect on cell behavior. Among these carbon-aerogels decorated with biocompatible polymers were suggested as future materials for tissue engineering. However, high reaction temperatures required for the synthesis of the aerogels tend to impair the stability of the polymeric networks. Herein, we report a synthetic route towards carbon-aerogel scaffolds decorated with biocompatible ceramic nanoparticles of tricalcium phosphate. The composites can be prepared at temperature as high as 1100 °C without significant effect on the morphology of the composite which is comparable with the original aerogel framework. Although the conductivity of the composites tends to decrease with the increasing ceramic content the measured conductivity values are similar to those previously reported on polymer-functionalized carbon-aerogels. The cell culture study revealed that the developed constructs support cell proliferation and provide good cell attachment suggesting them as potentially good candidates for tissue-engineering applications.
Subsequent outbursts of the same EXor source possibly present similar features
Authors: Giannini T. , Giunta A. , Lorenzetti D. , Altavilla G. , Antoniucci S. , Strafella F. , Testa V. 
Published: April 2020

Context. V1118 Ori is a classical EXor source whose light curve has been monitored, although not continuously, over the past 30 years. This source underwent a powerful outburst in 2005, followed by 10 years of quiescence and a less intense outburst in 2015. In 2019, a new intense brightness increase was observed (Δg ∼ 3 mag).
Aims. This new accretion episode offers the opportunity to compare the photometric and spectroscopic properties of multiple outbursts of the same source. This allows us to highlight the differences and similarities among various events by removing any possible bias related to the intrinsic properties of the star-disk system.
Methods. We discovered the 2019 V1118 Ori outburst by examining the g-band light curve acquired by the Zwicky Transient Facility and followed the declining phase with the Rapid Eye Mount telescope in the griz bands. Two near-infrared spectra were also acquired at different brightness stages with the Large Binocular Telescope.
Results. The last event shows the following characteristics: (1) an amplitude similar to that of 2015 and lower than that of 2005; (2) a duration of less than one year as in previous events; (3) a increasing (decreasing) speed of 0.018 (0.031) mag day−1, which is different from previous cases; (4) a gradually blueing of the [g − r] color is observed over time, while the [r − i] color remains roughly unchanged; (5) with few exceptions, the near-infrared lines (mainly H I recombination) are the same as those observed in 2015; and (6) the mass accretion rate peaks at Ṁacc ∼ 10−7 M⊙ yr−1 and decreases in about a month down to a few 10−8 M⊙ yr−1.
Conclusions. Our analysis shows that the comparison of data from different outbursts of the same source is a nontrivial exercise, which allows us to obtain important clues that are useful to drive theoretical efforts toward a better understanding of the EXor phenomenon.
The second u-band extension of the WINGS cluster survey
Authors: D’Onofrio M. , Grado A. , Bettoni D. , Fritz J. , Gullieuszik M. , Moretti A. , Omizzolo A. , Poggianti B. M. 
Published: April 2020

Context. This is the second u-band extension of the WIde-field Nearby Galaxy-cluster Survey (WINGS) whereby 39 clusters were imaged with the ESO-VLT survey telescope. This follows the first part of the survey which was performed with several telescopes of the northern hemisphere in the U Cousin–Bessel filter band covering 17 clusters.
Aims. The u-band data, in combination with those already collected by the WINGS survey, permit a detailed multi-wavelength investigation of the properties of the member galaxies from the cluster center out to the periphery.
Methods. We used SExtractor to derive the main properties of the galaxies in the observed fields and measure the u − V colors on circular apertures of increasing radius. The photometric accuracy of the magnitudes was calibrated with the standard stars and was tested by means of comparisons with the u-band data of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS).
Results. We present the catalogs of the photometric analysis performed by SExtractor. We also provide a brief analysis of the u − V versus V color–magnitude diagram of our clusters, the plots of the color as a function of the cluster-centric distance (for cluster members only), the mass–color relation and the correlation of the current star formation rate (SFR) with the absolute V and u magnitudes for the galaxies in the observed fields.
Cancer epithelia-derived mitochondrial DNA is a targetable initiator of a paracrine signaling loop that confers taxane resistance
Authors: Haldar Subhash , Mishra Rajeev , Billet Sandrine , Thiruvalluvan Manish , Placencio-Hickok Veronica R. , Madhav Anisha , Duong Frank , Angara Bryan , Agarwal Priyanka , Tighiouart Mourad , Posadas Edwin M. , Bhowmick Neil A. 
Published: April 2020

SignificanceThe work provides a conceptual advance in functionally defining the cross talk of tumor epithelia with cancer-associated fibroblastic cells contributing to tumor progression and therapeutic resistance. Independent of protein-based signaling molecules, prostate cancer cells secreted mitochondrial DNA to induce associated fibroblasts to generate anaphylatoxin C3a to support tumor progression in a positive feedback loop. Interestingly, the standard of care chemotherapy, docetaxel, used to treat castrate-resistant prostate cancer was found to further potentiate this paracrine-signaling axis to mediate therapeutic resistance. Blocking anaphylatoxin C3a signaling cooperatively sensitized prostate cancer tumors to docetaxel. We reveal that docetaxel resistance is not a cancer cell-autonomous phenomena and that targeting an immune modulator derived from cancer-associated fibroblasts can limit the expansion of docetaxel-resistant tumors.
Ribosome reactivates transcription by physically pushing RNA polymerase out of transcription arrest
Authors: Stevenson-Jones Flint , Woodgate Jason , Castro-Roa Daniel , Zenkin Nikolay 
Published: April 2020

Significance
Transcription and translation are coupled in bacteria, meaning that translation of the nascent mRNA by ribosome happens simultaneously with its synthesis by RNA polymerase (RNAP). Uncoupling of transcription from translation may lead to arrest of transcription via backtracking of RNAP along the template, leading to conflicts with DNA replication, although the molecular mechanisms involved are unclear. We assembled an in vitro coupled transcription–translation system in which both machineries can be controlled with single-nucleotide precision. We showed that through a direct interaction, the coupled ribosome, physically pushes RNAP from the backtracked state, thereby reactivating transcription. This rescue ability of the ribosome prevents inhibition of translation by transcriptional backtracking and mitigates conflicts of backtracked RNAPs with replication at protein-coding genes.