bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Targeted delivery of nanomaterials with chemical cargoes in plants enabled by a biorecognition motif
Authors: Santana Israel , Wu Honghong , Hu Peiguang , Giraldo Juan Pablo 
Published: April 2020

AbstractCurrent approaches for nanomaterial delivery in plants are unable to target specific subcellular compartments with high precision, limiting our ability to engineer plant function. We demonstrate a nanoscale platform that targets and delivers nanomaterials with biochemicals to plant photosynthetic organelles (chloroplasts) using a guiding peptide recognition motif. Quantum dot (QD) fluorescence emission in a low background window allows confocal microscopy imaging and quantitative detection by elemental analysis in plant cells and organelles. QD functionalization with β-cyclodextrin molecular baskets enables loading and delivery of diverse chemicals, and nanoparticle coating with a rationally designed and conserved guiding peptide targets their delivery to chloroplasts. Peptide biorecognition provides high delivery efficiency and specificity of QD with chemical cargoes to chloroplasts in plant cells in vivo (74.6 ± 10.8%) and more specific tunable changes of chloroplast redox function than chemicals alone. Targeted delivery of nanomaterials with chemical cargoes guided by biorecognition motifs has a broad range of nanotechnology applications in plant biology and bioengineering, nanoparticle-plant interactions, and nano-enabled agriculture.
Bidimensional lamellar assembly by coordination of peptidic homopolymers to platinum nanoparticles
Authors: Manai Ghada , Houimel Hend , Rigoulet Mathilde , Gillet Angélique , Fazzini Pier-Francesco , Ibarra Alfonso , Balor Stéphanie , Roblin Pierre , Esvan Jérôme , Coppel Yannick , Chaudret Bruno , Bonduelle Colin , Tricard Simon 
Published: April 2020

AbstractA key challenge for designing hybrid materials is the development of chemical tools to control the organization of inorganic nanoobjects at low scales, from mesoscopic (~µm) to nanometric (~nm). So far, the most efficient strategy to align assemblies of nanoparticles consists in a bottom-up approach by decorating block copolymer lamellae with nanoobjects. This well accomplished procedure is nonetheless limited by the thermodynamic constraints that govern copolymer assembly, the entropy of mixing as described by the Flory–Huggins solution theory supplemented by the critical influence of the volume fraction of the block components. Here we show that a completely different approach can lead to tunable 2D lamellar organization of nanoparticles with homopolymers only, on condition that few elementary rules are respected: 1) the polymer spontaneously allows a structural preorganization, 2) the polymer owns functional groups that interact with the nanoparticle surface, 3) the nanoparticles show a surface accessible for coordination.
Endothelial E-selectin inhibition improves acute myeloid leukaemia therapy by disrupting vascular niche-mediated chemoresistance
Authors: Barbier Valerie , Erbani Johanna , Fiveash Corrine , Davies Julie M. , Tay Joshua , Tallack Michael R. , Lowe Jessica , Magnani John L. , Pattabiraman Diwakar R. , Perkins Andrew C. , Lisle Jessica , Rasko John E. J. , Levesque Jean-Pierre , Winkler Ingrid G. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe endothelial cell adhesion molecule E-selectin is a key component of the bone marrow hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) vascular niche regulating balance between HSC self-renewal and commitment. We now report in contrast, E-selectin directly triggers signaling pathways that promote malignant cell survival and regeneration. Using acute myeloid leukemia (AML) mouse models, we show AML blasts release inflammatory mediators that upregulate endothelial niche E-selectin expression. Alterations in cell-surface glycosylation associated with oncogenesis enhances AML blast binding to E-selectin and enable promotion of pro-survival signaling through AKT/NF-κB pathways. In vivo AML blasts with highest E-selectin binding potential are 12-fold more likely to survive chemotherapy and main contributors to disease relapse. Absence (in Sele−/− hosts) or therapeutic blockade of E-selectin using small molecule mimetic GMI-1271/Uproleselan effectively inhibits this niche-mediated pro-survival signaling, dampens AML blast regeneration, and strongly synergizes with chemotherapy, doubling the duration of mouse survival over chemotherapy alone, whilst protecting endogenous HSC.
Engineered niches support the development of human dendritic cells in humanized mice
Authors: Anselmi Giorgio , Vaivode Kristine , Dutertre Charles-Antoine , Bourdely Pierre , Missolo-Koussou Yoann , Newell Evan , Hickman Oliver , Wood Kristie , Saxena Alka , Helft Julie , Ginhoux Florent , Guermonprez Pierre 
Published: April 2020

AbstractClassical dendritic cells (cDCs) are rare sentinel cells specialized in the regulation of adaptive immunity. Modeling cDC development is crucial to study cDCs and harness their therapeutic potential. Here we address whether cDCs could differentiate in response to trophic cues delivered by mesenchymal components of the hematopoietic niche. We find that mesenchymal stromal cells engineered to express membrane-bound FLT3L and stem cell factor (SCF) together with CXCL12 induce the specification of human cDCs from CD34+hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). Engraftment of engineered mesenchymal stromal cells (eMSCs) together with CD34+HSPCs creates an in vivo synthetic niche in the dermis of immunodeficient mice driving the differentiation of cDCs and CD123+AXL+CD327+pre/AS-DCs. cDC2s generated in vivo display higher levels of resemblance with human blood cDCs unattained by in vitro-generated subsets. Altogether, eMSCs provide a unique platform recapitulating the full spectrum of cDC subsets enabling their functional characterization in vivo.
Universally autonomous self-healing elastomer with high stretchability
Authors: Guo Hongshuang , Han Yi , Zhao Weiqiang , Yang Jing , Zhang Lei 
Published: April 2020

AbstractDeveloping autonomous self-healing materials for applications in harsh conditions is challenging because the reconstruction of interaction in material for self-healing will experience significant resistance and fail. Herein, a universally self-healing and highly stretchable supramolecular elastomer is designed by synergistically incorporating multi-strength H-bonds and disulfide metathesis in polydimethylsiloxane polymers. The resultant elastomer exhibits high stretchability for both unnotched (14000%) and notched (1300%) samples. It achieves fast autonomous self-healing under universal conditions, including at room temperature (10 min for healing), ultralow temperature (−40 °C), underwater (93% healing efficiency), supercooled high-concentrated saltwater (30% NaCl solution at −10 °C, 89% efficiency), and strong acid/alkali environment (pH = 0 or 14, 88% or 84% efficiency). These properties are attributable to synergistic interaction of the dynamic strong and weak H-bonds and stronger disulfide bonds. A self-healing and stretchable conducting device built with the developed elastomer is demonstrated, thereby providing a direction for future e-skin applications.
The BRCA2-MEILB2-BRME1 complex governs meiotic recombination and impairs the mitotic BRCA2-RAD51 function in cancer cells
Authors: Zhang Jingjing , Gurusaran Manickam , Fujiwara Yasuhiro , Zhang Kexin , Echbarthi Meriem , Vorontsov Egor , Guo Rui , Pendlebury Devon F. , Alam Intekhab , Livera Gabriel , Emmanuelle Martini , Wang P. Jeremy , Nandakumar Jayakrishnan , Davies Owen R. , Shibuya Hiroki 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBreast cancer susceptibility gene II (BRCA2) is central in homologous recombination (HR). In meiosis, BRCA2 binds to MEILB2 to localize to DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Here, we identify BRCA2 and MEILB2-associating protein 1 (BRME1), which functions as a stabilizer of MEILB2 by binding to an α-helical N-terminus of MEILB2 and preventing MEILB2 self-association. BRCA2 binds to the C-terminus of MEILB2, resulting in the formation of the BRCA2-MEILB2-BRME1 ternary complex. In Brme1 knockout (Brme1−/−) mice, the BRCA2-MEILB2 complex is destabilized, leading to defects in DSB repair, homolog synapsis, and crossover formation. Persistent DSBs in Brme1−/− reactivate the somatic-like DNA-damage response, which repairs DSBs but cannot complement the crossover formation defects. Further, MEILB2-BRME1 is activated in many human cancers, and somatically expressed MEILB2-BRME1 impairs mitotic HR. Thus, the meiotic BRCA2 complex is central in meiotic HR, and its misregulation is implicated in cancer development.
Photonic curing of solution-deposited ZrO2 dielectric on PEN: a path towards high-throughput processing of oxide electronics
Authors: Daunis Trey B. , Schroder Kurt A. , Hsu Julia W. P. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractHigh-throughput manufacturing of oxide electronics will enable new applications ranging from large-area displays to flexible medical devices and low-cost solar panels. However, high-quality oxide films from solution-based precursors typically require 20 min or more of thermal annealing at high temperature (>250 °C) for each layer, severely limiting both the throughput and substrate choice. Here, we report high-speed photonic curing of ZrO2dielectric thin films on flexible plastic substrates. The curing and patterning processes can be achieved simultaneously by using shadow mask patterning or adjusting conditions to convert oxide only on top of underlying metal contacts, i.e. self-aligned patterning. Metal–insulator–metal capacitors using two layers of ZrO2films photonically cured in just 100 s per layer show non-dispersive capacitance–frequency behaviour from 102to 106 Hz, high areal capacitance of 200 nF/cm2and low dissipation factor of 0.03 at 105 Hz, leakage current density of ~10−7 A/cm2at an applied field of 2 MV/cm, and a breakdown field of nearly 8 MV/cm. Using an upgraded tool, similar dielectric properties are achieved in as short as 100 ms using a single pulse of light, revealing a pathway to oxide film processing beyond 30 m/min.
Water supply and sanitation services in small towns in rural–urban transition zones: The case of Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality, Uganda
Authors: Marks Sara J. , Clair-Caliot Guillaume , Taing Lina , Bamwenda James Tayebwa , Kanyesigye Christopher , Rwendeire Namanya Ernest , Kemerink-Seyoum Jeltsje Sanne , Kansiime Frank , Batega Dauda Waiswa , Ferrero Giuliana 
Published: April 2020

AbstractSmall towns lag behind cities in drinking water and sanitation access globally. Closing this gap requires developing service models for areas with both urban and rural characteristics. This study assessed Bushenyi-Ishaka, a municipality in Uganda situated at the rural–urban transition, with a focus on service ladder indictors. Data sources included household interviews (n = 500) and water quality samples from sources and storage containers. Households in more urban (as compared to rural) cells were more likely to use improved water sources (including piped water on-premises), make regular payments for water, rely on shared sanitation facilities, and make use of manual sludge emptying services. Most households (72%) used an unlined pit latrine not intended for emptying and reuse. These findings suggest that small town servicing models should prioritize non-sewered sanitation management, including incentives for safe excreta containment and disposal opportunities. This study also highlights a need for integrated services models to expand rural–urban water and sanitation coverage.
Improved viability and fertility of frozen-thawed dog sperm using adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Qamar Ahmad Yar , Fang Xun , Kim Min Jung , Cho JongKi 
Published: April 2020

AbstractCryopreservation procedures negatively affect the quality traits of sperm, causing certain changes at structural and molecular levels due to thermal, mechanical, osmotic, and oxidative damage. The objective of this study was to examine the potential of canine adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (Ad-MSCs) for providing protection to the dog sperm against cryo-damage. Canine Ad-MSCs were selected on the basis of the significantly higher gene expression for different proteins actively involved in the cell repair including annexin 1 (ANX1), histone H3 (H3) and high mobility group B (HMGB) protein compared to skin fibroblasts. Semen was collected from four healthy dogs by digital manipulation. The washed pooled ejaculates were diluted with buffer 2 (extender) supplemented without Ad-MSCs (Control), with 2.5 × 106Ad-MSCs/mL (Group 1) or with 5 × 106Ad-MSCs/mL (Group 2). Group 1 exhibited significantly higher post-thaw motility, live sperm, intact plasma membrane and normal acrosomes than the other groups. Additionally, Group 1 showed significantly higher expression levels of genes related to the repair of membranes (ANX1, dysferlin;DYSF, and fibronectin;FN1) and chromatin material (H3andHMGB). Protein expression of ANX1, H 3, and FN1 was also statistically more in Group 1 than in Control. The results confirm that canine Ad-MSCs can effectively preserve the quality of frozen-thawed sperm by a reduction in cryoinjury. At an appropriate concentration, Ad-MSCs significantly improve the quality of post-thaw dog sperm.
Closing the sea surface mixed layer temperature budget from in situ observations alone: Operation Advection during BoBBLE
Authors: Vijith V. , Vinayachandran P. N. , Webber Benjamin G. M. , Matthews Adrian J. , George Jenson V. , Kannaujia Vijay Kumar , Lotliker Aneesh A. , Amol P. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractSea surface temperature (SST) is a fundamental driver of tropical weather systems such as monsoon rainfall and tropical cyclones. However, understanding of the factors that control SST variability is lacking, especially during the monsoons when in situ observations are sparse. Here we use a ground-breaking observational approach to determine the controls on the SST variability in the southern Bay of Bengal. We achieve this through the first full closure of the ocean mixed layer energy budget derived entirely from in situ observations during the Bay of Bengal Boundary Layer Experiment (BoBBLE). Locally measured horizontal advection and entrainment contribute more significantly than expected to SST evolution and thus oceanic variability during the observation period. These processes are poorly resolved by state-of-the-art climate models, which may contribute to poor representation of monsoon rainfall variability. The novel techniques presented here provide a blueprint for future observational experiments to quantify the mixed layer heat budget on longer time scales and to evaluate these processes in models.
Dynamic network properties of the interictal brain determine whether seizures appear focal or generalised
Authors: Woldman Wessel , Schmidt Helmut , Abela Eugenio , Chowdhury Fahmida A. , Pawley Adam D. , Jewell Sharon , Richardson Mark P. , Terry John R. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractCurrent explanatory concepts suggest seizures emerge from ongoing dynamics of brain networks. It is unclear how brain network properties determine focal or generalised seizure onset, or how network properties can be described in a clinically-useful manner. Understanding network properties would cast light on seizure-generating mechanisms and allow to quantify to which extent a seizure is focal or generalised. Functional brain networks were estimated in segments of scalp-EEG without interictal discharges (68 people with epilepsy, 38 controls). Simplified brain dynamics were simulated using a computer model. We introduce: Critical Coupling (Cc), the ability of a network to generate seizures; Onset Index (OI), the tendency of a region to generate seizures; and Participation Index (PI), the tendency of a region to become involved in seizures. Cc was lower in both patient groups compared with controls. OI and PI were more variable in focal-onset than generalised-onset cases. In focal cases, the regions with highest OI and PI corresponded to the side of seizure onset. Properties of interictal functional networks from scalp EEG can be estimated using a computer model and used to predict seizure likelihood and onset patterns. This may offer potential to enhance diagnosis through quantification of seizure type using inter-ictal recordings.
An investigation of commercial carbon air cathode structure in ionic liquid based sodium oxygen batteries
Authors: Ha The An , Pozo-Gonzalo Cristina , Nairn Kate , MacFarlane Douglas R. , Forsyth Maria , Howlett Patrick C. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractIn order to bridge the gap between theoretical and practical energy density in sodium oxygen batteries challenges need to be overcome. In this work, four commercial air cathodes were selected, and the impacts of their morphologies, structure and chemistry on their performance with a pyrrolidinium-based ionic liquid electrolyte are evaluated. The highest discharge capacity was found for a cathode with a pore size ca. 6 nm; this was over 100 times greater than that delivered by a cathode with a pore size less than 2 nm. The air cathode with the highest specific surface area and the presence of a microporous layer (BC39) exhibited the highest specific capacity (0.53 mAh cm−2).
Novel ACTG1 mutations in patients identified by massively parallel DNA sequencing cause progressive hearing loss
Authors: Miyajima Hiroki , Moteki Hideaki , Day Timothy , Nishio Shin-ya , Murata Takaaki , Ikezono Tetsuo , Takeda Hidehiko , Abe Satoko , Iwasaki Satoshi , Takahashi Masahiro , Naito Yasushi , Yamazaki Hiroshi , Kanda Yukihiko , Kitajiri Shin-ichiro , Usami Shin-ichi 
Published: April 2020

AbstractHuman ACTG1 mutations are associated with high-frequency hearing loss, and patients with mutations in this gene are good candidates for electric acoustic stimulation. To better understand the genetic etiology of hearing loss cases, massively parallel DNA sequencing was performed on 7,048 unrelated Japanese hearing loss probands. Among 1,336 autosomal dominant hearing loss patients, we identified 15 probands (1.1%) with 13 potentially pathogenic ACTG1 variants. Six variants were novel and seven were previously reported. We collected and analyzed the detailed clinical features of these patients. The average progression rate of hearing deterioration in pure-tone average for four frequencies was 1.7 dB/year from 0 to 50 years age, and all individuals over 60 years of age had severe hearing loss. To better understand the underlying disease-causing mechanism, intracellular localization of wild-type and mutant gamma-actins were examined using the NIH/3T3 fibroblast cell line. ACTG1 mutants p.I34M p.M82I, p.K118M and p.I165V formed small aggregates while p.R37H, p.G48R, p.E241K and p.H275Y mutant gamma-actins were distributed in a similar manner to the WT. From these results, we believe that some part of the pathogenesis of ACTG1 mutations may be driven by the inability of defective gamma-actin to be polymerized into F-actin.
Gene expression network analysis of lymph node involvement in colon cancer identifies AHSA2, CDK10, and CWC22 as possible prognostic markers
Authors: Han Sung Won , Ahn Ji Young , Lee Soobin , Noh Young Seon , Jung Hee Chan , Lee Min Hyung , Park Hae Jun , Chun Hoon Jai , Choi Seong Ji , Kim Eun Sun , Lee Ji-Yun 
Published: April 2020

AbstractColon cancer has been well studied using a variety of molecular techniques, including whole genome sequencing. However, genetic markers that could be used to predict lymph node (LN) involvement, which is the most important prognostic factor for colon cancer, have not been identified. In the present study, we compared LN(+) and LN(−) colon cancer patients using differential gene expression and network analysis. Colon cancer gene expression data were obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas and divided into two groups, LN(+) and LN(−). Gene expression networks were constructed using LASSO (Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator) regression. We identified hub genes, such as APBB1, AHSA2, ZNF767, and JAK2, that were highly differentially expressed. Survival analysis using selected hub genes, such as AHSA2, CDK10, and CWC22, showed that their expression levels were significantly associated with the survival rate of colon cancer patients, which indicates their possible use as prognostic markers. In addition, protein-protein interaction network, GO enrichment, and KEGG pathway analysis were performed with selected hub genes from each group to investigate the regulatory relationships between hub genes and LN involvement in colon cancer; these analyses revealed differences between the LN(−) and LN(+) groups. Our network analysis may help narrow down the search for novel candidate genes for the treatment of colon cancer, in addition to improving our understanding of the biological processes underlying LN involvement. All R implementation codes are available at journal website as Supplementary Materials.
Discrimination of entangled photon pair from classical photons by de Broglie wavelength
Authors: Mitev Valentin , Balet Laurent , Torcheboeuf Nicolas , Renevey Philippe , Boiko Dmitri L. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractQuantum optics largely relies on the fundamental concept that the diffraction and interference patterns of a multi-partite state are determined by its de Broglie wavelength. In this paper we show that this is still true for a mixed state with one sub-system being in a classical coherent state and one being in entangled state. We demonstrate the quantum-classical light discrimination using de Broglie wavelength for the states with all classical parameters being the same.
Increased Prediction Accuracy Using Combined Genomic Information and Physiological Traits in A Soft Wheat Panel Evaluated in Multi-Environments
Authors: Guo Jia , Pradhan Sumit , Shahi Dipendra , Khan Jahangir , Mcbreen Jordan , Bai Guihua , Murphy J. Paul , Babar Md Ali 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAn integration of field-based phenotypic and genomic data can potentially increase the genetic gain in wheat breeding for complex traits such as grain and biomass yield. To validate this hypothesis in empirical field experiments, we compared the prediction accuracy between multi-kernel physiological and genomic best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) model to a single-kernel physiological or genomic BLUP model for grain yield (GY) using a soft wheat population that was evaluated in four environments. The physiological data including canopy temperature (CT), SPAD chlorophyll content (SPAD), membrane thermostability (MT), rate of senescence (RS), stay green trait (SGT), and NDVI values were collected at four environments (2016, 2017, and 2018 at Citra, FL; 2017 at Quincy, FL). Using a genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) approach, a total of 19,353 SNPs were generated and used to estimate prediction model accuracy. Prediction accuracies of grain yield evaluated in four environments improved when physiological traits and/or interaction effects (genotype × environment or physiology × environment) were included in the model compared to models with only genomic data. The proposed multi-kernel models that combined physiological and genomic data showed 35 to 169% increase in prediction accuracy compared to models with only genomic data included when heading date was used as a covariate. In general, higher response to selection was captured by the model combing effects of physiological and genotype × environment interaction compared to other models. The results of this study support the integration of field-based physiological data into GY prediction to improve genetic gain from selection in soft wheat under a multi-environment context.