bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Niche change analysis as a tool to inform management of two invasive species in Eastern Africa
Authors: Eckert Sandra , Hamad Amina , Kilawe Charles Joseph , Linders Theo E. W. , Ng Wai‐Tim , Mbaabu Purity Rima , Shiferaw Hailu , Witt Arne , Schaffner Urs 
Published: February 2020

AbstractSignificant progress has been made in providing guidelines and recommendations for assessing the ecological niche, stage of invasion, and probability of invasive alien plant species (IAPS) potential distribution in space and time. We followed these recommendations by developing and comparing ordination and species distribution models (SDMs) of two important woody IAPS in Eastern Africa,Prosopis julifloraandLantana camara, and interpreting the results to inform IAPS management. The two species differ in their invasion history in Eastern Africa; whileL. camarawas widely introduced there in the 19th century,P. juliflorawas only planted at selected locations in the 1970s and 1980s. For the SDMs, machine learning algorithms were used to generate one ensemble model each forP. julifloraandL. camara. For ordination, we used bioclimatic variables, performed a principal component analysis, and compared the native and global niches of the species with the Eastern African niche. Niches varied substantially depending on the percentage of marginal climates excluded from the models. Additional analysis of the local niches surrounding the originalP. julifloraplantations showed that they are complementary, which may have led to an overestimation of regional niche filling. While niche expansion was absent or small depending on the percentage of marginal climates excluded, analysis of the stages of invasion suggested thatP. julifloramay have started to adapt to novel climatic conditions and thatL. camarais approaching a pseudo‐stable equilibrium in Eastern Africa. The SDMs showed that large areas in Eastern Africa that have not yet been invaded byP. julifloraare suitable or will become suitable with climate change. ForL. camara, the global SDM predicted a considerably larger suitable area than the Eastern African one, raising uncertainty about the areas to be included in a regional management strategy. Thus, combining ordination and SDMs and integrating a geographic component into ordination is useful in assessing IAPS invasion stages and potential niche shifts, and the results help inform IAPS policy and management. The combined approach can also serve to guide experimental studies addressing divergences between results generated with the different approaches.
Loss of NKG2D in murine NK cells leads to increased perforin production upon long‐term stimulation with IL‐2
Authors: Prinz Daniela , Klein Klara , List Julia , Knab Vanessa M. , Menzl Ingeborg , Leidenfrost Nicoletta , Heller Gerwin , Polić Bojan , Putz Eva Maria , Witalisz‐Siepracka Agnieszka , Sexl Veronika , Gotthardt Dagmar 
Published: February 2020

AbstractNK cells are innate lymphocytes responsible for lysis of pathogen‐infected and transformed cells. One of the major activating receptors required for target cell recognition is the NK group 2D (NKG2D) receptor. Numerous reports show the necessity of NKG2D for effective tumor immune surveillance. Further studies identified NKG2D as a key element allowing tumor immune escape. We here use a mouse model with restricted deletion of NKG2D in mature NKp46+ cells (NKG2DΔNK). NKG2DΔNK NK cells develop normally, have an unaltered IFN‐γ production but kill tumor cell lines expressing NKG2D ligands (NKG2DLs) less efficiently. However, upon long‐term stimulation with IL‐2, NKG2D‐deficient NK cells show increased levels of the lytic molecule perforin. Thus, our findings demonstrate a dual function of NKG2D for NK cell cytotoxicity; while NKG2D is a crucial trigger for cytotoxicity of tumor cells expressing activating ligands it is also capable to limit perforin production in IL‐2 activated NK cells.
Retracted: Circular RNA ciRS‐7 promotes tube formation in microvascular endothelial cells through downregulation of miR‐26a‐5p
Authors: Cui Ming , Shen Wenjia , Qin Weiwei , Wang Xu , Li Yanhua , Xu Fei , Xin Zhenlei 
Published: February 2020

AbstractAtherosclerosis is one of the most common and crucial heart diseases involving the heart and brain. At present, atherosclerosis and its major complications comprise the leading causes of death worldwide. Our purpose was to identify the role of ciRS‐7 in atherosclerosis. Tubulogenesis of HMEC‐1 cell was evaluated utilizing tube formation assay. Cell Counting Kit‐8 assay and flow cytometry were utilized to test viability and apoptosis. Migration assay was utilized to determine the migration capacity of experimental cells. Western blot was applied to examine apoptosis and tube formation‐associated protein expression. In addition, the above experiments were repeated when silencing ciRS‐7, overexpressing ciRS‐7, and upregulating miR‐26a‐5p. HMEC‐1 cells formed tube‐like structures over time. Silencing ciRS‐7 suppressed viability, migration, and tube formation but promoted apoptosis. Oppositely, overexpressing ciRS‐7 reversed the effect in HMEC‐1 cells. miR‐26a‐5p expression was elevated by silencing ciRS‐7 and reduced by overexpressing ciRS‐7. Moreover, overexpressing ciRS‐7 facilitated viability, migration, and tube formation via upregulating miR‐26a‐5p. Conclusively, overexpressing ciRS‐7 mobilized phosphoinositide 3‐kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathway and suppressed c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK)/p38 pathway. ciRS‐7 exerted influence on apoptosis, viability, migration, and tube formation through mediating PI3K/AKT and JNK/p38 pathways by miR‐26a‐5p downregulation in HMEC‐1 cells.
T‐cell blast crisis of chronic myelogenous leukemia presented with coexisting p210 and p190 BCR‐ABL transcripts and t(10;11)(q11;p15)
Authors: Xia Ting , Yang Yuchao , Li Guoxia , Chang Jianmei , Li Jianlan , Ren Fanggang , Ren Weixiao , Wang Hongwei , Xu Zhifang 
Published: February 2020

AbstractBackgroundBlast transformation of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) to T lymphoblastic lymphoma/acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T‐LBL/ALL) is rare, and the molecular mechanism is still unclear.Case reportA 28‐year‐old woman who developed T‐ALL with coexpressing both p210 and p190 BCR‐ABL transcripts five years after the initial diagnosis of CML in chronic phase. The proliferation of bone marrow was extremely active with blast cells over 20%. Chromosome analysis revealed t(9;22)(q34;q11) and t(10;11)(q25;p15). Flow immunophenotyping showed that blasts expressed CD4, CD7, CD11b, CD38, CD34, CD33, and cCD3.ConclusionIt is the first T‐cell blast of CML case with coexisting p210 and p190 as well as additional chromosome translocations. Through review this case and previous reports, we will reveal that CML patients with T‐lymphocyte transformation depend on potential molecular and pathological mechanism.
The relevance of soluble CD137 in the regulation of immune responses and for immunotherapeutic intervention
Authors: Luu Khang , Shao Zhe , Schwarz Herbert 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
CD137 is a potent costimulatory receptor. Several agonistic anti-CD137 antibodies are currently in clinical trials for tumor immunotherapy. Soluble forms of CD137 (sCD137) are generated by differential splicing and antagonize the activities of membrane-bound CD137 (mCD137) and of therapeutic CD137 agonists. sCD137 is found in sera of patients suffering from autoimmune diseases where it is a natural regulator of immune responses, and which has therapeutic potential for immune-mediated diseases. This review summarizes the current knowledge on sCD137, highlights its potential role in immunotherapy against cancer and in autoimmune diseases, and presents important issues to be addressed by future research.
Multivariate image analysis–quantitative structure‐retention relationship study of polychlorinated biphenyls using partial least squares and radial basis function neural networks
Authors: Jalili‐Jahani Nasser , Fatehi Azadeh 
Published: February 2020

AbstractPolychlorinated biphenyls belong to a class of hazardous and environmental pollutants. Gas chromatography separation and experimental relative retention time evaluation of these compounds on a poly (94% methyl/5% phenyl) silicone‐based capillary non‐bonded and cross‐linked column are time consuming and expensive. In this study, relative retention times were estimated using two‐dimensional images of molecules based on a newly implemented rapid and simple quantitative structure retention relationship methodology. The resulting descriptors were subjected to partial least square and principal component‐radial basis function neural networks as linear and nonlinear models, respectively, to attain a statistical explanation of the retention behavior of the molecules. The high numerical values of correlation coefficients and low root mean square errors in the case of the partial least square model, confirm the supremacy of this model as well as the linear dependency of images of molecules to their relative retention times. Evaluation of the best correlation model performed using internal and external tests and its good applicability domain was checked using a distance to the model in the X‐Space plot. This study provides a practical and effective method for analytical chemists working with chromatographic platforms to improve predictive confidence of studies that seek to identify unknown molecules or impurities.
An Insight into Phenomenology of Polytrimethylene Terephthalate Fibrillation
Authors: Hajiraissi Roozbeh 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe objective of this work is to analyze the effect of the processing temperature on fibrillation of the dispersed phase and to correlate melt viscoelastic responses to formed morphologies. A blend system of polypropylene (PP)/polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT) with varying ratios (PP/PTT: 99/1, 94/6, 90/10, and 80/20) is prepared on a co‐rotating twin screw extruder, and then pelletized blend samples are fed into a laboratory mixing extruder to spin monofilaments at three different orifice temperatures of 180, 195, and 240 °C. As revealed by scanning electron microscopy, a nano‐fibrillar morphology forms after employing spinning. Rheological approach performed in the linear region shows a transition from terminal trend into non‐terminal trend in the low‐frequency region when the fibrillar morphology forms, the magnitude and width of which are reflective of the fibril growth. Transient stress measurements prove its capability to enable the blend system to show potentials of morphology development during dynamic tests. Startup of steady shear flow shows that after reaching the percolation concentration of dispersed phase, fibril–fibril coalescence leads to the formation of long fibrils whose contribution to the blend system increases the elasticity of the blend fibers.
Registration of two confection sunflower germplasms, HA‐DM5 and HA‐DM6, resistant to sunflower downy mildew
Authors: Qi L. L. , Ma G. J. , Seiler G. J. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractDowny mildew (DM) is a primary biotic threat to sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) production worldwide, negatively impacting yield. Germplasms HA‐DM5 (Reg. no. GP‐367, PI 687025) and HA‐DM6 (Reg. no. GP‐368, PI 691507) were developed and released through the collaboration of the USDA‐ARS and the North Dakota State University as new sources of resistance to downy mildew for confection sunflower. The backcross breeding method and DNA marker‐assisted selection were used to develop HA‐DM5 and HA‐DM6. HA‐DM5 is a BC2F3‐derived BC2F4 maintainer selection from the cross of CONFSCLB1*2//CMS CONFSCLB1/ PI 435414 with the DM resistance transferred from a wild H. annuus PI 435414. Phenotypic/molecular characterizations confirmed the presence of the DM resistance gene Pl19 located on sunflower chromosome 4 derived from PI 435414 in HA‐DM5. HA‐DM6 is a composite of seed from individual BC2F4 plants from the cross of CONFSCLB1*2//CMS CONFSCLB1/ PI 494576. The DM resistance in HA‐DM6 is controlled by a single dominant gene Pl35 located on chromosome 1 derived from wild H. argophyllus PI 494576. Both HA‐DM5 and HA‐DM6 confer resistance to several modern P. halstedii races currently identified in the United States and Europe. They provide new genetic diversity in addition to the few currently used DM‐resistant inbred lines in confection sunflower ensuring protection from yield loss.
A roadmap for neurodevelopmental disease modeling for non-stem cell biologists
Authors: Ernst Carl 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Stem and derivative cells induced from somatic tissues are a critical tool for disease modeling but significant technical hurdles hamper their use. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of pitfalls and mitigation strategies for the nonstem cell biologist using induced pluripotent stem cells and investigating neurodevelopmental disorders. What sample sizes are reasonable? What derivation and purification protocols should be used to make human neurons? In what way should gene editing technologies be used to support discoveries? What kinds of preclinical studies are the most feasible? It is hoped that this roadmap will provide the necessary details for experimental planning and execution for those less familiar in the area of stem cell disease modeling. High-quality human preclinical models will allow for the discovery of molecular and cellular phenotypes specific to different neurodevelopmental disorders, and may provide the assays to advance translational medicine for unmet medical needs.
Functionalized Alpha‐lactalbumin Conjugated with Gold Nanoparticle for Targeted Drug Delivery
Authors: Waghmare Manik N. , Qureshi Tazeen S. , Shaikh Afrin N. , Khade Bipin S. , Murali Krishna C. , Dongre Prabhakar M. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe protein‐nanoparticles conjugate has been developed as a targeted drug delivery system which selectively and preferentially delivers the therapeutic agents. Here, the alpha‐lactalbumin (ALA) was purified by size exclusion chromatography and confirmed by gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry (MS). Functionalization of gold nanoparticles (AuNP, ∼29 nm) with ALA was optimized by light scattering and zeta potential measurements. The nanoconjugates (AuNP‐ALA) and ALA showed strong binding and affinity with curcumin and gemcitabine studied using biophysical analysis. The presence of native form of curcumin with ALA was investigated by MS. 8‐anilino‐1‐naphthalenesulfonic acid binding assay showed 95 % surface hydrophilicity of ALA. Circular dichroism and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis shows increased alpha‐helicity due to the binding of drugs, revealed large increase in non‐covalent interaction. Vesicular membrane interaction with ALA and nanoconjugate exhibited strong interaction at the vesicles surface. The alpha‐lactalbumin‐nanoparticle conjugate in combination with drugs, could be exploited to establish a targeted drug delivery system.
Co–Catalyzed Oxidative Alkylation between Styrenes and Cyclic Ethers via sp3 C−H Functionalization
Authors: Chen Rongxiang , Wang Kai‐Kai , Wang Zhan‐Yong , Ma Xueji , Wang Doudou , Zhang An‐an , Liu Lantao 
Published: February 2020

AbstractA new cobalt‐catalyzed oxidative alkylation from readily available styrenes and ethers has been disclosed for a rapid and highly efficient construction of C−C bond via sp3 C−H bond functionalization. Various substituted styrenes and cyclic ethers are well investigated and give satisfactory results. Preliminary mechanism studies suggested that this transformation may involve a radical process. This methodology was demonstrated by good yields and functional group compatibility with simple operation, easily available starting materials and low catalyst loadings.
Synthesis, Biological Activity, and Molecular Docking Studies of Novel 5‐Substituted‐1,2,4‐Triazole‐3‐thione Derivatives
Authors: Qi Le , Wu Shao‐Jie , Li Mou‐Cui , Bai Jia‐Chao , Ma Hai‐Xia , Ren Ying‐Hui 
Published: February 2020

AbstractSeven Schiff base compounds were synthesized via the nucleophilic condensation of 5‐substituted‐3‐thione‐1,2,4‐triazole and 2,4,6‐trimethyl benzaldehyde. All of the synthesized compounds (A1–A3 and B1–B4) were thoroughly characterized by using spectroscopic and physical analytical methods. The in vitro antifungal activities of the prepared compounds were studied, and results showed that A2, B1, B2, and B3 have good biological activity. Molecular docking was used to predict the binding modes of the ligands to 6CR2 protein, and the reasons behind the excellent activities of A2 and B2 were explored. Finally,the highest occupied molecular orbital, lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, and natural bonding orbital of the compounds were calculated by using density functional theory at the B3LYP/6‐31G level.
A multicriteria optimization model for cloud service provider selection in multicloud environments
Authors: Mohamed Amany M. , Abdelsalam Hisham M. 
Published: February 2020

SummaryMulticloud computing is a strategy that helps customers to reduce reliance on any single cloud provider (known as the vendor lock‐in problem). The value of such strategy increases with proper selection of qualified service providers. In this paper, a constrained multicriteria multicloud provider selection mathematical model is proposed. Three metaheuristics algorithms (simulated annealing [SA], genetic algorithm [GA], and particle swarm optimization algorithm [PSO]) were implemented to solve the model, and their performance was studied and compared using a hypothetical case study. For the sake of comparison, Taguchi's robust design method was used to select the algorithms' parameters values, an initial feasible solution was generated using analytic hierarchy process (AHP)—as the most used method to solve the cloud provider selection problem in the literature, all three algorithms used that solution and, in order to avoid AHP limitations, another initial solution was generated randomly and used by the three algorithm in a second set of performance experiments. Results showed that SA, GA, PSO improved the AHP solution by 53.75%, 60.41%, and 60.02%, respectively, SA and PSO are robust because of reaching the same best solution in spite of the initial solution.
Photosensitizing proteins for antibacterial photodynamic inactivation
Authors: Hally Cormac , Delcanale Pietro , Nonell Santi , Viappiani Cristiano , Abbruzzetti Stefania 
Published: February 2020

AbstractWe review recent applications of water‐soluble proteins as carriers for photosensitizing molecules in antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT). The low water solubility of photosensitizers and their tendency to aggregate often impair their photophysics, thus resulting in lower bioavailability of the compounds. Taking advantage of the spontaneous interaction between water soluble proteins endowed with hydrophobic cavities and the otherwise insoluble photosensitizing compounds, it is possible to obtain efficient delivery systems to be applied inaPDT. These self‐assembled structures are endowed with good photosensitizing and fluorescence emission properties (comparable to those of monomerized photosensitizers) with high biocompatibility and warrant good bioavailability of the photoactive drug. The proteins used so far comprise serum albumins, β‐lactoglobulin, and apomyoglobin, while photosensitizers considered up to now have been hypericin, curcumin, Zn‐protoporphyrin IX, and Zn‐phthalocyanine. Furthermore, mutants of fluorescent proteins derived from GFP‐like systems or from flavin binding proteins complete the array of available photosensitizing proteins for aPDT.
The soft drop groomed jet radius at NLL
Authors: Kang Zhong-Bo , Lee Kyle , Liu Xiaohui , Neill Duff , Ringer Felix 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
We present results for the soft drop groomed jet radius Rg at next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy. The radius of a groomed jet which corresponds to the angle between the two branches passing the soft drop criterion is one of the characteristic observables relevant for the precise understanding of groomed jet substructure. We establish a factorization formalism that allows for the resummation of all relevant large logarithms, which is based on demonstrating the all order equivalence to a jet veto in the region between the boundaries of the groomed and ungroomed jet. Non-global logarithms including clustering effects due to the Cambridge/Aachen algorithm are resummed to all orders using a suitable Monte Carlo algorithm. We perform numerical calculations and find a very good agreement with Pythia 8 simulations. We provide theoretical predictions for the LHC and RHIC.
NNLO QCD corrections to three-photon production at the LHC
Authors: Chawdhry Herschel A. , Czakon Michal , Mitov Alexander , Poncelet Rene 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
We compute the NNLO QCD corrections to three-photon production at the LHC. This is the first NNLO QCD calculation for a 2 → 3 process. Our calculation is exact, except for the scale-independent part of the two-loop finite remainder which is included in the leading color approximation. We estimate the size of the missing two-loop corrections and find them to be phenomenologically negligible. We compare our predictions with available 8 TeV measurement from the ATLAS collaboration. We find that the inclusion of the NNLO corrections eliminates the existing significant discrepancy with respect to NLO QCD predictions, paving the way for precision phenomenology in this process.
On-shell constructibility of Born amplitudes in spontaneously broken gauge theories
Authors: Franken Robert , Schwinn Christian 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
We perform a comprehensive study of on-shell recursion relations for Born amplitudes in spontaneously broken gauge theories and identify the minimal shifts required to construct amplitudes with a given particle content and spin quantum numbers. We show that two-line or three-line shifts are sufficient to construct all amplitudes with five or more particles, apart from amplitudes involving longitudinal vector bosons or scalars, which may require at most five-line shifts. As an application, we revisit selection rules for multi-boson amplitudes using on-shell recursion and little-group transformations.
Complete prepotential for 5d $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 1 superconformal field theories
Authors: Hayashi Hirotaka , Kim Sung-Soo , Lee Kimyeong , Yagi Futoshi 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
For any 5d $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 1 superconformal field theory, we propose a “complete” prepotential which reduces to the perturbative prepotential for any of its possible gauge theory realizations, manifests its global symmetry when written in terms of the invariant Coulomb branch parameters, and is valid for the whole parameter region. As concrete examples, we consider SU(2) gauge theories with up to 7 flavors, Sp(2) gauge theories with up to 9 flavors, and Sp(2) gauge theories with 1 antisymmetric tensor and up to 7 flavors, as well as their dual gauge theories.