bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Engineering of an enhanced synthetic Notch receptor by reducing ligand-independent activation
Authors: Yang Zi-jie , Yu Zi-yan , Cai Yi-ming , Du Rong-rong , Cai Liang 
Published: March 2020

AbstractNotch signaling is highly conserved in most animals and plays critical roles during neurogenesis as well as embryonic development. Synthetic Notch-based systems, modeled from Notch receptors, have been developed to sense and respond to a specific extracellular signal. Recent advancement of synNotch has shown promise for future use in cellular engineering to treat cancers. However, synNotch from Morsut et al. (2016) has a high level of ligand-independent activation, which limits its application. Here we show that adding an intracellular hydrophobic sequence (QHGQLWF, named as RAM7) present in native Notch, significantly reduced ligand-independent activation. Our enhanced synthetic Notch receptor (esNotch) demonstrates up to a 14.6-fold reduction in ligand-independent activation, without affecting its antigen-induced activation efficiency. Our work improves a previously reported transmembrane receptor and provides a powerful tool to develop better transmembrane signaling transduction modules for further advancement of eukaryotic synthetic biology.
Deep splicing plasticity of the human adenovirus type 5 transcriptome drives virus evolution
Authors: Donovan-Banfield I’ah , Turnell Andrew S. , Hiscox Julian A. , Leppard Keith N. , Matthews David A. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractViral genomes have high gene densities and complex transcription strategies rendering transcriptome analysis through short-read RNA-seq approaches problematic. Adenovirus transcription and splicing is especially complex. We used long-read direct RNA sequencing to study adenovirus transcription and splicing during infection. This revealed a previously unappreciated complexity of alternative splicing and potential for secondary initiating codon usage. Moreover, we find that most viral transcripts tend to shorten polyadenylation lengths as infection progresses. Development of an open reading frame centric bioinformatics analysis pipeline provided a deeper quantitative and qualitative understanding of adenovirus’s genetic potential. Across the viral genome adenovirus makes multiple distinctly spliced transcripts that code for the same protein. Over 11,000 different splicing patterns were recorded across the viral genome, most occurring at low levels. This low-level use of alternative splicing patterns potentially enables the virus to maximise its coding potential over evolutionary timescales.
Cholesteryl α-D-glucoside 6-acyltransferase enhances the adhesion of Helicobacter pylori to gastric epithelium
Authors: Jan Hau-Ming , Chen Yi-Chi , Yang Tsai-Chen , Ong Lih-Lih , Chang Chia-Chen , Muthusamy Sasikala , Abera Andualem Bahiru , Wu Ming-Shiang , Gervay-Hague Jacquelyn , Mong Kwok-Kong Tony , Lin Chun-Hung 
Published: March 2020

AbstractHelicobacter pylori, the most common etiologic agent of gastric diseases including gastric cancer, is auxotrophic for cholesterol and has to hijack it from gastric epithelia. Upon uptake, the bacteria convert cholesterol to cholesteryl 6′-O-acyl-α-D-glucopyranoside (CAG) to promote lipid raft clustering in the host cell membranes. However, how CAG appears in the host to exert the pathogenesis still remains ambiguous. Herein we identified hp0499 to be the gene of cholesteryl α-D-glucopyranoside acyltransferase (CGAT). Together with cholesteryl glucosyltransferase (catalyzing the prior step), CGAT is secreted via outer membrane vesicles to the host cells for direct synthesis of CAG. This significantly enhances lipid rafts clustering, gathers adhesion molecules (including Lewis antigens and integrins α5, β1), and promotes more bacterial adhesion. Furthermore, the clinically used drug amiodarone was shown as a potent inhibitor of CGAT to effectively reduce the bacterial adhesion, indicating that CGAT is a potential target of therapeutic intervention.
Identification and determination of selenocysteine, selenosugar, and other selenometabolites in turkey liver
Authors: Katarzyna Bierla , Taylor Rachel M , Szpunar Joanna , Lobinski Ryszard , Sunde Roger A 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Liver and other tissues accumulate selenium (Se) when animals are supplemented with high dietary Se as inorganic Se. To further study selenometabolites in Se-deficient, Se-adequate, and high-Se liver, turkey poults were fed 0, 0.4, and 5 μg Se g−1 diet as Na2SeO3 (Se(iv)) in a Se-deficient (0.005 μg Se g−1) diet for 28 days, and the effects of Se status determined using HPLC-ICP-MS and HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. No selenomethionine (SeMet) was detected in liver in turkeys fed either this true Se-deficient diet or supplemented with inorganic Se, showing that turkeys cannot synthesize SeMet de novo from inorganic Se. Selenocysteine (Sec) was also below the level of detection in Se-deficient liver, as expected in animals with negligible selenoprotein levels. Sec content in high Se liver only doubled as compared to Se-adequate liver, indicating that the 6-fold increase in liver Se was not due to increases in selenoproteins. What increased dramatically in high Se liver were low molecular weight (MW) selenometabolites: glutathione-, cysteine- and methyl-conjugates of the selenosugar, seleno-N-acetyl galactosamine (SeGalNac). Substantial Se in Se-adequate liver was present as selenosugars decorating general proteins via mixed-disulfide bonds. In high-Se liver, these “selenosugar-decorated” proteins comprised ∼50% of the Se in the water-soluble fraction, in addition to low MW selenometabolites. In summary, more Se is present as the selenosugar moiety in Se-adequate liver, mostly decorating general proteins, than is present as Sec in selenoproteins. With high Se supplementation, increased selenosugar formation occurs, further increasing selenosugar-decorated proteins, but also increasing selenosugar linked to low MW thiols.
Melanocortin therapy ameliorates podocytopathy and proteinuria in experimental focal segmental glomerulosclerosis involving a podocyte specific non-MC1R-mediated melanocortinergic signaling
Authors: Qiao Yingjin , Wang Pei , Chang Mingyang , Chen Bohan , Ge Yan , Malhotra Deepak K. , Dworkin Lance D. , Gong Rujun 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
The clinical effectiveness of adrenocorticotropin in inducing remission of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome points to a steroidogenic-independent anti-proteinuric activity of melanocortins. However, which melanocortin receptors (MCR) convey this beneficial effect and if systemic or podocyte-specific mechanisms are involved remain uncertain. In vivo, wild-type (WT) mice developed heavy proteinuria and kidney dysfunction following Adriamycin insult, concomitant with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and podocytopathy, marked by loss of podocin and synaptopodin, podocytopenia and extensive foot process effacement on electron microscopy. All these pathologic findings were prominently attenuated by NDP-MSH, a potent non-steroidogenic pan-MCR agonist. Surprisingly, MC1R deficiency in MC1R-null mice barely affected the severity of Adriamycin-elicited injury. Moreover, the beneficial effect of NDP-MSH was completely preserved in MC1R-null mice, suggesting that MC1R is likely non-essential for the protective action. A direct podocyte effect seems to contribute to the beneficial effect of NDP-MSH, because Adriamycin-inflicted cytopathic signs in primary podocytes prepared from WT mice were all mitigated by NDP-MSH, including apoptosis, loss of podocyte markers, de novo expression of the podocyte injury marker desmin, actin cytoskeleton derangement and podocyte hypermotility. Consistent with in vivo findings, the podoprotective activity of NDP-MSH was fully preserved in MC1R-null podocytes. Mechanistically, MC1R expression was predominantly distributed to glomerular endothelial cells in glomeruli but negligibly noted in podocytes in vivo and in vitro, suggesting that MC1R signaling is unlikely involved in direct podocyte protection. Ergo, melanocortin therapy protects against podocyte injury and ameliorates proteinuria and glomerulopathy in experimental FSGS, at least in part, via a podocyte-specific non-MC1R-mediated melanocortinergic signaling.
Soluble angiotensin-converting enzyme 2: a potential approach for coronavirus infection therapy?
Authors: Batlle Daniel , Wysocki Jan , Satchell Karla 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
A new coronavirus, referred to as SARS-CoV-2, is responsible for the recent outbreak of severe respiratory disease. This outbreak first detected in Wuhan, China in December 2019, has spread to other regions of China and to 25 other countries as of January, 2020. It has been known since the 2003 SARS epidemic that the receptor critical for SARS-CoV entry into host cells is the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The S1 domain of the spike protein of SARS-CoV attaches the virus to its cellular receptor ACE2 on the host cells. We thought that it is timely to explain the connection between the SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, ACE2 and the rationale for soluble ACE2 as a potential therapy.
Flexible bandwidth reduction technique for envelope tracking using low‐pass finite impulse response filters
Authors: Chen P. , Alsahali S. , Alt A. , Wang G. , Casbon M.A. , Lees J. , Tasker P.J. 
Published: March 2020

In this Letter, low‐pass finite impulse response filters are proposed to flexibly reduce the envelope bandwidth (BW) requirements for envelope tracking (ET) supply modulators. A second‐order power ET (PET) approach is used as a comparative study, and a ‘design zone’ for shaping function coefficients is identified for the first time. Proposed 20 and 10 MHz low‐pass filters (LPFs) are used to reduce the effective envelope BW in response to a 20 MHz long‐term evolution signal applied to a 10 W power amplifier (PA). Experimental results verify that in comparison with PET, the proposed LPF method has the benefit of allowing arbitrary BW reduction and is compatible with the use of customised shaping functions. It is also shown that significant memory effects can be introduced when the effective envelope BW is reduced to less than the RF BW. To investigate the linearisability of the ET PA, the linearity before and after digital pre‐distortion is also measured.
Extraction of Doppler signature of micro‐to‐macro rotations/motions using continuous wave radar‐assisted measurement system
Authors: Kumawat Harish C. , Bazil Raj Arockia 
Published: March 2020

Mechanical–structural vibration and/or rotational parts of the targets will induce micro‐Doppler frequency in addition to the main Doppler components. In the today's military era, detections, measurements and decision making have to be made after the thorough analysis of main and micro‐Doppler signatures of the targets to get their full profile particularly for defence applications. In addition, few of the low radar cross‐section targets can be detected only by extracting and processing the micro‐Doppler signatures corresponding to the rotations of their propellant rotor blades. Therefore, experimental studies to measure the micro‐to‐macro rotation/motion generated Doppler frequency and performing its associated measurements become significant. The authors built a C‐band (5.3 GHz) continuous wave radar and used it to measure the Doppler frequency generated by micro‐to‐macro rotations/motions. The detection and measurement accuracy of the developed radar is assessed by series of different open‐environment experimental case studies: revolution per minute measurement of rotating blades, separation of multiple rotating blades, oscillation per minute measurement of a swinging pendulum, detection of approaching/receding motion and the Doppler signature extraction of walking/jogging/cycling person. All these measurement values are validated against the standard master instrument readings and theoretical calculations. Finally, the limitations of this system and required near‐future research works to enhance its performance are listed.
Portable microcontroller‐based electrostimulation system for nerve conduction studies
Authors: Cossul Sandra , Rettore Andreis Felipe , Favretto Mateus André , de Castro Antonio Afrânio , Marques Jefferson Luiz Brum 
Published: March 2020

Despite nerve conduction study (NCS) being an established procedure in the evaluation of neuromuscular disorders, its utility has been restrained by commercially available products or approaches presented in the literature that are either costly, physically large, dependent on specialised medical personnel to operate or targeted to specific conditions, evaluating only one or two nerves. Therefore, the objective of this work was to develop a point‐of‐care device for NCS that can be used to evaluate several nerves, yet is still portable, low‐cost and easy to operate. The developed device is composed of three modules: (i) controller module and graphical user interface, responsible for system synchronisation and configuration, data management, graphical visualisation of the evoked action potential and stimulus voltage feedback (maximum error of 3.92%); (ii) stimulation module, which operates in a constant voltage mode and delivers a monophasic stimulus pulse with amplitudes between 0.84 and 230 V, with a discrete increment of 2.32 ± 0.64 V (mean ± SD) and duration of 100 or 200 µs; and (iii) data acquisition module, based on the ADS1298 front‐end that records the evoked action potentials after the stimulus, with a sample rate of 16 or 32 kHz, 24‐bit resolution and selectable voltage gain of 1 up to 12. Results demonstrated that the system could reliably deliver stimulation pulses through different loads (100 Ω, 1 kΩ and 10 kΩ) and accurately record data through frequencies of 10 Hz up to 10 kHz. Additionally, NCS of the ulnar motor nerve in a sample of healthy individuals showed that the device could effectively activate a peripheral nerve and record compound action potentials within normal limits established by the literature.
Statistical correlation technique for transient signal analysis during impulse testing of transformers
Authors: Garg Ankita , Sharma Tapan , Jain Apurti , Velandy Jeyabalan 
Published: March 2020

The reliable technique for identification of winding insulation faults in a transformer is necessary for a testing engineer during impulse test. In this study, a statistical correlation technique is proposed to estimate the ‘best correlation’ between transient signals for passed (withstood the impulse voltage) or failed (not withstood) conditions of the insulations. In this study, normalised reduced impulse voltage is considered initially as a reference signal. The next successive impulse test sequences due to rated test voltage are correlated as a test signal with a reference signal using a proposed technique. It makes a ‘good correlation value along with its directions’ between the reference signal and test signal based on measured the applied impulse voltage waveshape and its winding response. The fundamentals of the correlation coefficient, curve fitting techniques, conditional variance, normalisation and time delay index are integrated effectively to predict the characteristics (degree/magnitude and direction) of correlation between the signals. 2.5‐MVA 11/0.433 kV (distribution transformer), 0.3‐MVA 34.5/0.415 kV (earthing transformer) and 250‐MVA 500/275/33 kV (power transformer) are effectively utilised to validate proposed technique. The advantage of the proposed technique is validated with partial discharge detection in windings due to an impulse voltage application using an 11 kV single‐layer winding.
Hunting for hot corinos and WCCC sources in the OMC-2/3 filament
Authors: Bouvier M. , López-Sepulcre A. , Ceccarelli C. , Kahane C. , Imai M. , Sakai N. , Yamamoto S. , Dagdigian P. J. 
Published: March 2020

Context. Solar-like protostars are known to be chemically rich, but it is not yet clear how much their chemical composition can vary and why. So far, two chemically distinct types of Solar-like protostars have been identified: hot corinos, which are enriched in interstellar Complex Organic Molecules, such as methanol (CH3OH) or dimethyl ether (CH3OCH3), and warm carbon chain chemistry (WCCC) objects, which are enriched in carbon chain molecules, such as butadiynyl (C4H) or ethynyl radical (CCH). However, none of these have been studied so far in environments similar to that in which our Sun was born, that is, one that is close to massive stars.
Aims. In this work, we search for hot corinos and WCCC objects in the closest analogue to the Sun’s birth environment, the Orion Molecular Cloud 2/3 (OMC-2/3) filament located in the Orion A molecular cloud.
Methods. We obtained single-dish observations of CCH and CH3OH line emission towards nine Solar-like protostars in this region. As in other similar studies of late, we used the [CCH]/[CH3OH] abundance ratio in order to determine the chemical nature of our protostar sample.
Results. Unexpectedly, we found that the observed methanol and ethynyl radical emission (over a few thousands au scale) does not seem to originate from the protostars but rather from the parental cloud and its photo-dissociation region, illuminated by the OB stars of the region.
Conclusions. Our results strongly suggest that caution should be taken before using [CCH]/[CH3OH] from single-dish observations as an indicator of the protostellar chemical nature and that there is a need for other tracers or high angular resolution observations for probing the inner protostellar layers.
The properties of He IIλ1640 emitters at z ∼  2.5–5 from the VANDELS survey
Authors: Saxena A. , Pentericci L. , Mirabelli M. , Schaerer D. , Schneider R. , Cullen F. , Amorin R. , Bolzonella M. , Bongiorno A. , Carnall A. C. , Castellano M. , Cucciati O. , Fontana A. , Fynbo J. P. U. , Garilli B. , Gargiulo A. , Guaita L. , Hathi N. P. , Hutchison T. A. , Koekemoer A. M. , Marchi F. , McLeod D. J. , McLure R. J. , Papovich C. , Pozzetti L. , Talia M. , Zamorani G. 
Published: March 2020

Aims. Strong He II emission is produced by low-metallicity stellar populations. Here, we aim to identify and study a sample of He IIλ1640-emitting galaxies at redshifts of z ∼ 2.5 − 5 in the deep VANDELS spectroscopic survey.
Methods. We identified a total of 33 Bright He II emitters (S/N >  2.5) and 17 Faint emitters (S/N <  2.5) in the VANDELS survey and used the available deep multi-wavelength data to study their physical properties. After identifying seven potential AGNs in our sample and discarding them from further analysis, we divided the sample of Bright emitters into 20 Narrow (FWHM <  1000 km s−1) and 6 Broad (FWHM >  1000 km s−1) He II emitters. We created stacks of Faint, Narrow, and Broad emitters and measured other rest-frame UV lines such as O III] and C III] in both individual galaxies and stacks. We then compared the UV line ratios with the output of stellar population-synthesis models to study the ionising properties of He II emitters.
Results. We do not see a significant difference between the stellar masses, star-formation rates, and rest-frame UV magnitudes of galaxies with He II and no He II emission. The stellar population models reproduce the observed UV line ratios from metals in a consistent manner, however they under-predict the total number of He II ionising photons, confirming earlier studies and suggesting that additional mechanisms capable of producing He II are needed, such as X-ray binaries or stripped stars. The models favour subsolar metallicities (∼0.1 Z⊙) and young stellar ages (106 − 107 years) for the He II emitters. However, the metallicity measured for He II emitters is comparable to that of non-He II emitters at similar redshifts. We argue that galaxies with He II emission may have undergone a recent star-formation event, or may be powered by additional sources of He II ionisation.
Usefulness of Serum Calcitonin in Patients with Thyroid Nodules ≤ 1 cm Without an Indication for Fine-Needle Aspiration
Authors: Rosario Pedro Weslley , Mourão Gabriela Franco , Calsolari Maria Regina 
Published: March 2020

AbstractFine-needle aspiration (FNA) is not necessary in adults with nodules ≤ 1 cm without apparent extrathyroidal extension (ETE) or lymph node (LN) involvement on ultrasonography (US). In the absence of FNA and serum calcitonin (Ctn) measurement, medullary thyroid microcarcinomas (microMTC) are not diagnosed. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate Ctn levels in adults with a low clinical risk of MTC and nodules ≤ 1 cm without ETE or LN involvement on US. A total of 506 consecutively seen adults who had nodules with two or more suspicious features were included. Patients with elevated basal Ctn underwent a calcium stimulation test and FNA. Basal Ctn was normal in 490 patients (96.8%). In the 16 patients with elevated basal Ctn, FNA revealed MTC in only one patient and MTC was not suspected in the 15 patients with elevated basal Ctn. Three patients with stimulated Ctn<100 pg/ml and benign cytology were not submitted to surgery. MTC was excluded by histology in three patients with stimulated Ctn<100 pg/ml and indeterminate or suspicious cytology and in eight patients with stimulated Ctn>100 pg/ml. One patient with stimulated Ctn>100 pg/ml had MTC. Ctn was undetectable 6 months after surgery in two patients with MTC. Although uncommon, even subjects without a suspicious history and with nodules ≤ 1 cm without ETE or LN involvement on US, but with suspicious findings, can have microMTC. The measurement of Ctn permits the diagnosis of these cases.
In Vivo Biocompatibility, Mechanical, and Antibacterial Properties of Cements Modified with Propolis in Different Concentrations
Authors: Meneses Izaura Helena Chaves de , Sampaio Gêisa Aiane de Morais , Carvalho Fabiola Galbiatti de , Carlo Hugo Lemes , Münchow Eliseu Aldrighi , Pithon Matheus Melo , Alves Polliana Muniz , Lacerda-Santos Rogério 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Objectives The focus of this triple-blind randomized study was to evaluate the mechanical properties, antibacterial effect, and in vivo biocompatibility of glass ionomer cements (GICs) modified with ethanolic extracts of propolis (EEP).
Materials and Methods For biocompatibility tests, 135 male Wistar rats were used and divided into nine groups: Group C (control, polyethylene), Groups M, M10, M25, M50 (Meron; conventional, and modified with 10%, 25%, 50% EEP, respectively), Groups KC, KC10, KC25, KC50 (Ketac Cem; conventional, and modified with 10%, 25%, 50% EEP, respectively). The tissues were analyzed under an optical microscope for different cellular events in different time intervals. Shear bond strength test (SBST) on cementation of metal matrices (n = 10, per group), adhesive remnant index (ARI) in bovine incisors (n = 10, per group), and antibacterial properties by the agar diffusion test (n = 15, per group) were analyzed.
Statistical Analysis Data were analyzed by Kruskal–Wallis test followed by Dunn, and one-way analysis of variance test followed by Tukey’s test (p < 0.5).
Results Morphological evaluation demonstrated intense inflammatory infiltrate in Groups M10 and KC10 in the time intervals of 7 (p = 0.001) and 15 (p = 0.006) days. Multinucleated giant cells were shown to be more present in Group M1, with statistical difference from Control and KC50 Groups in the time interval of 7 days (p = 0.033). The SBST showed no statistical significance among the groups (p > 0.05). Antibacterial property showed a statistically significant difference between Meron and Meron 50%-EEP Groups, and between Ketac and Ketac 50%-EPP Groups (p = 0.001).
Conclusions The intensity of histological changes resulting from the cements was shown to be inversely proportional to the concentration of propolis added; Ketac 50%-EPP was the concentration that had the most favorable biocompatibility results. Addition of EEP to GIC did not negatively change the SBST and ARI. Antibacterial property demonstrated a concentration-dependent effect.