bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pharmacological enhancement of TFEB-mediated autophagy alleviated neuronal death in oxidative stress-induced Parkinson’s disease models
Authors: Zhuang Xu-Xu , Wang Sheng-Fang , Tan Yuan , Song Ju-Xian , Zhu Zhou , Wang Zi-Ying , Wu Ming-Yue , Cai Cui-Zan , Huang Zhi-Jian , Tan Jie-Qiong , Su Huan-Xing , Li Min , Lu Jia-Hong 
Published: February 2020

AbstractAutophagy, a conserved cellular degradation and recycling process, can be enhanced by nutrient depletion, oxidative stress or other harmful conditions to maintain cell survival. 6-Hydroxydopamine/ascorbic acid (6-OHDA/AA) is commonly used to induce experimental Parkinson’s disease (PD) lesions by causing oxidative damage to dopaminergic neurons. Activation of autophagy has been observed in the 6-OHDA-induced PD models. However, the mechanism and exact role of autophagy activation in 6-OHDA PD model remain inconclusive. In this study, we report that autophagy was triggered via mucolipin 1/calcium/calcineurin/TFEB (transcription factor EB) pathway upon oxidative stress induced by 6-OHDA/AA. Interestingly, overexpression of TFEB alleviated 6-OHDA/AA toxicity. Moreover, autophagy enhancers, Torin1 (an mTOR-dependent TFEB/autophagy enhancer) and curcumin analog C1 (a TFEB-dependent and mTOR-independent autophagy enhancer), significantly rescued 6-OHDA/AA-induced cell death in SH-SY5Y cells, iPSC-derived DA neurons and mice nigral DA neurons. The behavioral abnormality of 6-OHDA/AA-treated mice can also be rescued by Torin 1 or C1 administration. The protective effects of Torin 1 and C1 can be blocked by autophagy inhibitors like chloroquine (CQ) or by knocking down autophagy-related genes TFEB and ATG5. Taken together, this study supports that TFEB-mediated autophagy is a survival mechanism during oxidative stress and pharmacological enhancement of this process is a neuroprotective strategy against oxidative stress-associated PD lesions.
Silencing lncRNA Lfar1 alleviates the classical activation and pyoptosis of macrophage in hepatic fibrosis
Authors: Zhang Kun , Shi Zhemin , Zhang Mengxia , Dong Xueyi , Zheng Lina , Li Guantong , Han Xiaohui , Yao Zhi , Han Tao , Hong Wei 
Published: February 2020

AbstractHepatic fibrosis is a common pathological consequence of a sustained wound healing response to continuous liver injury, characterized by increased production and accumulation of extracellular matrix. If unresolved, the fibrotic process results in organ failure, and eventually death after the development of cirrhosis. It has been suggested that macrophages play central role in the progression of hepatic fibrosis, which is related to inflammation and pyroptosis, a novel programmed and proinflammatory cell death. However, it remains far less clear if, or how, lncRNAs regulates the activation and pyroptosis of macrophage in hepatic fibrosis. In the present study, we demonstrated that the liver-enriched lncRNA Lfar1, which has been reported to promote hepatic fibrosis through inducing hepatic stellate cells activation and hepatocytes apoptosis, was dysregulated during proinflammatory M1 activation and pyroptosis of macrophage. Our study revealed that silencing lnc-Lfar1 by a lentivirus-shRNA alleviated CCl4- and BDL-induced proinflammatory M1 macrophage activation and NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis. Furthermore, the in vitro experiments demonstrated that lnc-Lfar1 knockdown significantly suppressed LPS- and IFN-γ-induced proinflammatory activation of macrophages, and inhibited LPS/ATP- and LPS/Nigericin-induced NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis. Mechanistically, lnc-Lfar1 regulated LPS- and IFN-γ-induced proinflammatory activation of macrophages through the NF-ĸB pathway. All these data supported our conclusion that lnc-Lfar1 plays a vital role in controlling the activation and pyroptosis of macrophage, thus providing a possible therapeutic target against inflammation-related disorders including hepatic fibrosis.
Nutritional intervention with cyanidin hinders the progression of muscular dystrophy
Authors: Saclier Marielle , Bonfanti Chiara , Antonini Stefania , Angelini Giuseppe , Mura Giada , Zanaglio Federica , Taglietti Valentina , Romanello Vanina , Sandri Marco , Tonelli Chiara , Petroni Katia , Cassano Marco , Messina Graziella 
Published: February 2020

AbstractMuscular Dystrophies are severe genetic diseases due to mutations in structural genes, characterized by progressive muscle wasting that compromises patients’ mobility and respiratory functions. Literature underlined oxidative stress and inflammation as key drivers of these pathologies. Interestingly among different myofiber classes, type I fibers display a milder dystrophic phenotype showing increased oxidative metabolism. This work shows the benefits of a cyanidin-enriched diet, that promotes muscle fiber-type switch and reduced inflammation in dystrophic alpha-sarcoglyan (Sgca) null mice having, as a net outcome, morphological and functional rescue. Notably, this benefit is achieved also when the diet is administered in dystrophic animals when the signs of the disease are seriously evident. Our work provides compelling evidence that a cyanidin-rich diet strongly delays the progression of muscular dystrophies, paving the way for a combinatorial approach where nutritional-based reduction of muscle inflammation and oxidative stress facilitate the successful perspectives of definitive treatments.
Turning main-group element magnesium into a highly active electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction
Authors: Liu Shuai , Li Zedong , Wang Changlai , Tao Weiwei , Huang Minxue , Zuo Ming , Yang Yang , Yang Kang , Zhang Lijuan , Chen Shi , Xu Pengping , Chen Qianwang 
Published: February 2020

AbstractIt is known that the main-group metals and their related materials show poor catalytic activity due to a broadened single resonance derived from the interaction of valence orbitals of adsorbates with the broad sp-band of main-group metals. However, Mg cofactors existing in enzymes are extremely active in biochemical reactions. Our density function theory calculations reveal that the catalytic activity of the main-group metals (Mg, Al and Ca) in oxygen reduction reaction is severely hampered by the tight-bonding of active centers with hydroxyl group intermediate, while the Mg atom coordinated to two nitrogen atoms has the near-optimal adsorption strength with intermediate oxygen species by the rise of p-band center position compared to other coordination environments. We experimentally demonstrate that the atomically dispersed Mg cofactors incorporated within graphene framework exhibits a strikingly high half-wave potential of 910 mV in alkaline media, turning a s/p-band metal into a highly active electrocatalyst.
A lncRNA-SWI/SNF complex crosstalk controls transcriptional activation at specific promoter regions
Authors: Grossi Elena , Raimondi Ivan , Goñi Enrique , González Jovanna , Marchese Francesco P. , Chapaprieta Vicente , Martín-Subero José I. , Guo Shuling , Huarte Maite 
Published: February 2020

AbstractLncRNAs have been shown to be direct players in chromatin regulation, but little is known about their role at active genomic loci. We investigate the role of lncRNAs in gene activation by profiling the RNA interactome of SMARCB1-containing SWI/SNF complexes in proliferating and senescent conditions. The isolation of SMARCB1-associated transcripts, together with chromatin profiling, shows prevalent association to active regions where SMARCB1 differentially binds locally transcribed RNAs. We identify SWINGN, a lncRNA interacting with SMARCB1 exclusively in proliferating conditions, exerting a pro-oncogenic role in some tumor types. SWINGN is transcribed from an enhancer and modulates the activation of GAS6 oncogene as part of a topologically organized region, as well as a larger network of pro-oncogenic genes by favoring SMARCB1 binding. Our results indicate that SWINGN influences the ability of the SWI/SNF complexes to drive epigenetic activation of specific promoters, suggesting a SWI/SNF-RNA cooperation to achieve optimal transcriptional activation.
Confined water-mediated high proton conduction in hydrophobic channel of a synthetic nanotube
Authors: Otake Ken-ichi , Otsubo Kazuya , Komatsu Tokutaro , Dekura Shun , Taylor Jared M. , Ikeda Ryuichi , Sugimoto Kunihisa , Fujiwara Akihiko , Chou Chien-Pin , Sakti Aditya Wibawa , Nishimura Yoshifumi , Nakai Hiromi , Kitagawa Hiroshi 
Published: February 2020

AbstractWater confined within one-dimensional (1D) hydrophobic nanochannels has attracted significant interest due to its unusual structure and dynamic properties. As a representative system, water-filled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are generally studied, but direct observation of the crystal structure and proton transport is difficult for CNTs due to their poor crystallinity and high electron conduction. Here, we report the direct observation of a unique water-cluster structure and high proton conduction realized in a metal-organic nanotube, [Pt(dach)(bpy)Br]4(SO4)4·32H2O (dach: (1R, 2R)-(–)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane; bpy: 4,4’-bipyridine). In the crystalline state, a hydrogen-bonded ice nanotube composed of water tetramers and octamers is found within the hydrophobic nanochannel. Single-crystal impedance measurements along the channel direction reveal a high proton conduction of 10−2 Scm−1. Moreover, fast proton diffusion and continuous liquid-to-solid transition are confirmed using solid-state 1H-NMR measurements. Our study provides valuable insight into the structural and dynamical properties of confined water within 1D hydrophobic nanochannels.
Gut microbiota mediates intermittent-fasting alleviation of diabetes-induced cognitive impairment
Authors: Liu Zhigang , Dai Xiaoshuang , Zhang Hongbo , Shi Renjie , Hui Yan , Jin Xin , Zhang Wentong , Wang Luanfeng , Wang Qianxu , Wang Danna , Wang Jia , Tan Xintong , Ren Bo , Liu Xiaoning , Zhao Tong , Wang Jiamin , Pan Junru , Yuan Tian , Chu Chuanqi , Lan Lei , Yin Fei , Cadenas Enrique , Shi Lin , Zhao Shancen , Liu Xuebo 
Published: February 2020

AbstractCognitive decline is one of the complications of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Intermittent fasting (IF) is a promising dietary intervention for alleviating T2D symptoms, but its protective effect on diabetes-driven cognitive dysfunction remains elusive. Here, we find that a 28-day IF regimen for diabetic mice improves behavioral impairment via a microbiota-metabolites-brain axis: IF enhances mitochondrial biogenesis and energy metabolism gene expression in hippocampus, re-structures the gut microbiota, and improves microbial metabolites that are related to cognitive function. Moreover, strong connections are observed between IF affected genes, microbiota and metabolites, as assessed by integrative modelling. Removing gut microbiota with antibiotics partly abolishes the neuroprotective effects of IF. Administration of 3-indolepropionic acid, serotonin, short chain fatty acids or tauroursodeoxycholic acid shows a similar effect to IF in terms of improving cognitive function. Together, our study purports the microbiota-metabolites-brain axis as a mechanism that can enable therapeutic strategies against metabolism-implicated cognitive pathophysiologies.
Unveiling contextual realities by microscopically entangling a neutron
Authors: Shen J. , Kuhn S. J. , Dalgliesh R. M. , de Haan V. O. , Geerits N. , Irfan A. A. M. , Li F. , Lu S. , Parnell S. R. , Plomp J. , van Well A. A. , Washington A. , Baxter D. V. , Ortiz G. , Snow W. M. , Pynn R. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe development of qualitatively new measurement capabilities is often a prerequisite for critical scientific and technological advances. Here we introduce an unconventional quantum probe, an entangled neutron beam, where individual neutrons can be entangled in spin, trajectory and energy. The spatial separation of trajectories from nanometers to microns and energy differences from peV to neV will enable investigations of microscopic magnetic correlations in systems with strongly entangled phases, such as those believed to emerge in unconventional superconductors. We develop an interferometer to prove entanglement of these distinguishable properties of the neutron beam by observing clear violations of both Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt and Mermin contextuality inequalities in the same experimental setup. Our work opens a pathway to a future of entangled neutron scattering in matter.
Electrochemically-stable ligands bridge the photoluminescence-electroluminescence gap of quantum dots
Authors: Pu Chaodan , Dai Xingliang , Shu Yufei , Zhu Meiyi , Deng Yunzhou , Jin Yizheng , Peng Xiaogang 
Published: February 2020

AbstractColloidal quantum dots are promising emitters for quantum-dot-based light-emitting-diodes. Though quantum dots have been synthesized with efficient, stable, and high colour-purity photoluminescence, inheriting their superior luminescent properties in light-emitting-diodes remains challenging. This is commonly attributed to unbalanced charge injection and/or interfacial exciton quenching in the devices. Here, a general but previously overlooked degradation channel in light-emitting-diodes, i.e., operando electrochemical reactions of surface ligands with injected charge carriers, is identified. We develop a strategy of applying electrochemically-inert ligands to quantum dots with excellent luminescent properties to bridge their photoluminescence-electroluminescence gap. This material-design principle is general for boosting electroluminescence efficiency and lifetime of the light-emitting-diodes, resulting in record-long operational lifetimes for both red-emitting light-emitting-diodes (T95 > 3800 h at 1000 cd m−2) and blue-emitting light-emitting-diodes (T50 > 10,000 h at 100 cd m−2). Our study provides a critical guideline for the quantum dots to be used in optoelectronic and electronic devices.
Entanglement of propagating optical modes via a mechanical interface
Authors: Chen Junxin , Rossi Massimiliano , Mason David , Schliesser Albert 
Published: February 2020

AbstractMany applications of quantum information processing (QIP) require distribution of quantum states in networks, both within and between distant nodes. Optical quantum states are uniquely suited for this purpose, as they propagate with ultralow attenuation and are resilient to ubiquitous thermal noise. Mechanical systems are then envisioned as versatile interfaces between photons and a variety of solid-state QIP platforms. Here, we demonstrate a key step towards this vision, and generate entanglement between two propagating optical modes, by coupling them to the same, cryogenic mechanical system. The entanglement persists at room temperature, where we verify the inseparability of the bipartite state and fully characterize its logarithmic negativity by homodyne tomography. We detect, without any corrections, correlations corresponding to a logarithmic negativity of EN = 0.35. Combined with quantum interfaces between mechanical systems and solid-state qubit processors, this paves the way for mechanical systems enabling long-distance quantum information networking over optical fiber networks.
Pyridoxine induces glutathione synthesis via PKM2-mediated Nrf2 transactivation and confers neuroprotection
Authors: Wei Yao , Lu Ming , Mei Meng , Wang Haoran , Han Zhitao , Chen Miaomiao , Yao Hang , Song Nanshan , Ding Xiao , Ding Jianhua , Xiao Ming , Hu Gang 
Published: February 2020

AbstractOxidative stress is a major pathogenic mechanism in Parkinson’s disease (PD). As an important cellular antioxidant, glutathione (GSH) balances the production and incorporation of free radicals to protect neurons from oxidative damage. GSH level is decreased in the brains of PD patients. Hence, clarifying the molecular mechanism of GSH deficiency may help deepen our knowledge of PD pathogenesis. Here we report that the astrocytic dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) regulates GSH synthesis via PKM2-mediated Nrf2 transactivation. In addition we find that pyridoxine can dimerize PKM2 to promote GSH biosynthesis. Further experiments show that pyridoxine supplementation increases the resistance of nigral dopaminergic neurons to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced neurotoxicity in wild-type mice as well as in astrocytic Drd2 conditional knockout mice. We conclude that dimerizing PKM2 may be a potential target for PD treatment.
Engineering stable radicals using photochromic triggers
Authors: Chen Xuanying , Zhao Wandong , Baryshnikov Gleb , Steigerwald Michael L. , Gu Jian , Zhou Yunyun , Ågren Hans , Zou Qi , Chen Wenbo , Zhu Liangliang 
Published: February 2020

AbstractLong-standing radical species have raised noteworthy concerns in organic functional chemistry and materials. However, there remains a substantial challenge to produce long-standing radicals by light, because of the structural dilemmas between photoproduction and stabilization. Herein, we present a pyrrole and chloride assisted photochromic structure to address this issue. In this well-selected system, production and stabilization of a radical species were simultaneously found accompanied by a photochemical process in chloroform. Theoretical study and mechanism construction indicate that the designed π-system provides a superior spin-delocalization effect and a large steric effect, mostly avoiding possible consumptions and making the radical stable for hours even under an oxygen-saturated condition. Moreover, this radical system can be applied for a visualized and quantitative detection towards peroxides, such as 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl, hydrogen peroxide, and ozone. As the detection relies on a radical capturing mechanism, a higher sensing rate was achieved compared to traditional redox techniques for peroxide detection.
Magnetic electron collimation in three-dimensional semi-metals
Authors: Huang Xiangwei , Putzke Carsten , Guo Chunyu , Diaz Jonas , König Markus , Borrmann Horst , Nair Nityan L. , Analytis James G. , Moll Philip J. W. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractWhile electrons moving perpendicular to a magnetic field are confined to cyclotron orbits, they can move freely parallel to the field. This simple fact leads to complex current flow in clean, low carrier density semi-metals, such as long-ranged current jets forming along the magnetic field when currents pass through point-like constrictions. Occurring accidentally at imperfect current injection contacts, the phenomenon of "current jetting" plagues the research of longitudinal magneto-resistance, which is particularly important in topological conductors. Here we demonstrate the controlled generation of tightly focused electron beams in a new class of micro-devices machined from crystals of the Dirac semi-metal Cd3As2. The current beams can be guided by tilting a magnetic field and their range tuned by the field strength. Finite element simulations quantitatively capture the voltage induced at faraway contacts when the beams are steered towards them, supporting the picture of controlled electron jets. These experiments demonstrate direct control over the highly non-local signal propagation unique to 3D semi-metals in the current jetting regime, and may lead to applications akin to electron optics in free space.
Tesco Grocery 1.0, a large-scale dataset of grocery purchases in London
Authors: Aiello Luca Maria , Quercia Daniele , Schifanella Rossano , Del Prete Lucia 
Published: February 2020

AbstractWe present the Tesco Grocery 1.0 dataset: a record of 420 M food items purchased by 1.6 M fidelity card owners who shopped at the 411 Tesco stores in Greater London over the course of the entire year of 2015, aggregated at the level of census areas to preserve anonymity. For each area, we report the number of transactions and nutritional properties of the typical food item bought including the average caloric intake and the composition of nutrients. The set of global trade international numbers (barcodes) for each food type is also included. To establish data validity we: i) compare food purchase volumes to population from census to assess representativeness, and ii) match nutrient and energy intake to official statistics of food-related illnesses to appraise the extent to which the dataset is ecologically valid. Given its unprecedented scale and geographic granularity, the data can be used to link food purchases to a number of geographically-salient indicators, which enables studies on health outcomes, cultural aspects, and economic factors.
Nutritional quality, mineral and antioxidant content in lettuce affected by interaction of light intensity and nutrient solution concentration
Authors: Song Jiali , Huang Hui , Hao Yanwei , Song Shiwei , Zhang Yiting , Su Wei , Liu Houcheng 
Published: February 2020

AbstractLight and nutrient are important factors for vegetable production in plant factory or greenhouse. The total 12 treatments which contained the combination of four light intensity (150, 250, 350 and 450 μmol · m−2 · s−1) and three nutrient solution concentration (NSC) (1/4, 1/2, 3/4 strength NSC) were established for investigation of lettuce growth and quality in a growth chamber. The combination of light intensity and NSC exhibited significant effects on photosynthetic pigment, nutritional quality, mineral content and antioxidant capacity. That a higher light intensity were readily accessible to higher chlorophyll a/b showed in lettuce of treatment of 350 μmol · m−2 · s−1 × 3/4NSC and 450 μmol · m−2 · s−1 × 1/4NSC. Lower total N contents, higher content of soluble protein, vitamin C, soluble sugar and free amino acid exhibited in lettuce under treatment of 250 and 350 μmol · m−2 · s−1 × 1/4NSC or 3/4NSC. With increasing NSC and LED irradiance, the content of total P and K in lettuce increased and decreased, respectively. The highest and lowest total Ca content were found in treatment of 150 μmol · m−2 · s−1 × 1/4NSC and 450 μmol · m−2 · s−1 × 1/4NSC, respectively, and higher content of total Mg and Zn was observed under 250 μmol m−2 s−1 × 1/4NSC and 150 μmol · m−2 · s−1 × 3/4NSC, respectively. The antioxidant contents generally decreased with increasing NSC level. The higher antioxidant content and capacity occurred in lettuce of 350 μmol · m−2 · s−1 × 1/4NSC treatment. The interaction of 350 μmol · m−2 · s−1 × 1/4NSC might be the optimal condition for lettuce growth in plant factory.
Coupling Chlorin e6 to the surface of Nanoscale Gas Vesicles strongly enhances their intracellular delivery and photodynamic killing of cancer cells
Authors: Fernando Ann , Gariépy Jean 
Published: February 2020

AbstractProtein-based nanobubbles such as halophilic archaeabacterial gas vesicles (GVs) represent a new class of stable, homogeneous nanoparticles with acoustic properties that allow them to be visualized by ultrasound (US) waves. To design GVs as theranostic agents, we modified them to respond to light, with a view to locally generate reactive oxygen species that can kill cancer cells. Specifically, up to 60,000 photoreactive chlorin e6 (Ce6) molecules were chemically attached to lysine ε-amino groups present on the surface of each purified Halobacterium sp. NRC-1 GV. The resulting fluorescent NRC-1 Ce6-GVs have dimensions comparable to that of native GVs and were efficiently taken up by human breast [MCF-7] and human hypopharyngeal [FaDu-GFP] cancer cells as monitored by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. When exposed to light, internalized Ce6-GVs were 200-fold more effective on a molar basis than free Ce6 at killing cells. These results demonstrate the potential of Ce6-GVs as novel and promising nanomaterials for image-guided photodynamic therapy.