bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Disruption of STAT5A and NMI signaling axis leads to ISG20-driven metastatic mammary tumors
Authors: Alsheikh Heba Allah M. , Metge Brandon J. , Pruitt Hawley C. , Kammerud Sarah C. , Chen Dongquan , Wei Shi , Shevde Lalita A. , Samant Rajeev S. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractMolecular dynamics of developmental processes are repurposed by cancer cells to support cancer initiation and progression. Disruption of the delicate balance between cellular differentiation and plasticity during mammary development leads to breast cancer initiation and metastatic progression. STAT5A is essential for differentiation of secretory mammary alveolar epithelium. Active STAT5A characterizes breast cancer patients for favorable prognosis. N-Myc and STAT Interactor protein (NMI) was initially discovered as a protein that interacts with various STATs; however, the relevance of these interactions to normal mammary development and cancer was not known. We observe that NMI protein is expressed in the mammary ductal epithelium at the onset of puberty and is induced in pregnancy. NMI protein is decreased in 70% of patient specimens with metastatic breast cancer compared to primary tumors. Here we present our finding that NMI and STAT5A cooperatively mediate normal mammary development. Loss of NMI in vivo caused a decrease in STAT5A activity in normal mammary epithelial as well as breast cancer cells. Analysis of STAT5A mammary specific controlled genetic program in the context of NMI knockout revealed ISG20 (interferon stimulated exonuclease gene 20, a protein involved in rRNA biogenesis) as an unfailing negatively regulated target. Role of ISG20 has never been described in metastatic process of mammary tumors. We observed that overexpression of ISG20 is increased in metastases compared to matched primary breast tumor tissues. Our observations reveal that NMI-STAT5A mediated signaling keeps a check on ISG20 expression via miR-17–92 cluster. We show that uncontrolled ISG20 expression drives tumor progression and metastasis.
Childhood maltreatment predicts subsequent anxiety symptoms among Chinese adolescents: the role of the tendency of coping styles
Authors: Guo Lan , Wang Wanxin , Li Wenyan , Zhao Meijun , Wu Ruipeng , Lu Ciyong 
Published: June 2021

AbstractChildhood maltreatment may have an influence on anxiety symptoms and coping styles. This longitudinal study aimed to estimate the prospective associations between different types of childhood maltreatment and anxiety symptoms among Chinese adolescents, with a particular focus on investigating whether these associations vary by the tendency of coping styles. Data were from the Longitudinal Study of Adolescents’ Mental and Behavioral Well-being Research. The baseline sample included 1957 participants (response rate: 99.03%) and followed up at 1-year later (n = 1836, retention rate: 93.8%). Anxiety symptoms, childhood maltreatment, the tendency of coping styles, morning cortisol level, depressive symptoms, self-esteem, and other demographics were measured. Overall, the mean age of the baseline students was 13.6 (SD: 1.5) years. The final results showed that childhood emotional abuse (unstandardized β-estimate = 0.13, 95% CI = 0.07–0.18), physical abuse (unstandardized β-estimate = 0.08, 95% CI = 0.01–0.16), and sexual abuse (unstandardized β-estimate = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.04–0.29) were positively associated with anxiety symptoms at follow-up after adjusting for significant covariates at baseline. Additionally, the stratified analyses demonstrated that only among students with negative coping styles, childhood emotional abuse, physical abuse, and sexual abuse were associated with subsequent anxiety symptoms; the differences between the positive and negative coping style strata were significant (P < 0.05). Childhood maltreatment appears to be a predictor of anxiety symptoms among adolescents, and the tendency of coping styles may have a moderating role in these longitudinal associations. The efforts to prevent anxiety symptoms are recommended to be focused on adolescents with the experience of childhood maltreatment and negative coping styles.
Epigenetic reprogramming promotes the antiviral action of IFNα in HBV-infected cells
Authors: Gailhouste Luc , Sudoh Masayuki , Qin Xian-Yang , Watashi Koichi , Wakita Takaji , Ochiya Takahiro , Matsuura Tomokazu , Kojima Soichi , Furutani Yutaka 
Published: June 2021

AbstractChronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections remain a health burden affecting ~250 million people worldwide. Thus far, available interferon-alpha (IFNα)-based therapies have shown unsatisfactory cure rates, and alternative therapeutic molecules are still required. However, their development has been hampered because accessible cell models supporting relevant HBV replication and appropriate antiviral activity are lacking. Strategies that reverse epigenetic alterations offer a unique opportunity for cell reprogramming, which is valuable for restoring altered cellular functions in human cell lines. This work aimed to investigate the feasibility of converting HepG2 cells that stably overexpress the HBV entry receptor (sodium/taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide, NTCP) toward IFNα-responsive cells using epigenetic reprogramming. Herein, we showed that an epigenetic regimen with non-cytotoxic doses of the demethylating compound 5-azacytidine restored the anti-HBV action of IFNα in epigenetically reprogrammed HepG2-NTCP-C4 cells, named REP-HepG2-NTCP cells. Thus, a significant inhibition in HBV DNA levels was measured in REP-HepG2-NTCP cells after IFNα treatment. This inhibitory effect was associated with the enhancement of IFNα-mediated induction of critical interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), which was limited in non-reprogrammed cells. In particular, our data indicated that re-expression of 2’-5’-oligoadenylate synthetase 1 (OAS1) and interferon regulatory factor 9 (IRF9) was the result of an epigenetically driven unmasking of these genes in reprogrammed cells. At last, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of the IFN analog CDM-3008 in REP-HepG2-NTCP cells and demonstrated the efficiency of this chemical compound in triggering ISG induction and HBV inhibition. In summary, this study shows that epigenetic reprogramming promotes the IFNα response in HBV-infected cells and is potentially attractive for cell-based experimental screening of IFN-like compounds.
Bud endodormancy in deciduous fruit trees: advances and prospects
Authors: Yang Qinsong , Gao Yuhao , Wu Xinyue , Moriguchi Takaya , Bai Songling , Teng Yuanwen 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBud endodormancy is a complex physiological process that is indispensable for the survival, growth, and development of deciduous perennial plants. The timely release of endodormancy is essential for flowering and fruit production of deciduous fruit trees. A better understanding of the mechanism of endodormancy will be of great help in the artificial regulation of endodormancy to cope with climate change and in creating new cultivars with different chilling requirements. Studies in poplar have clarified the mechanism of vegetative bud endodormancy, but the endodormancy of floral buds in fruit trees needs further study. In this review, we focus on the molecular regulation of endodormancy induction, maintenance and release in floral buds of deciduous fruit trees. We also describe recent advances in quantitative trait loci analysis of chilling requirements in fruit trees. We discuss phytohormones, epigenetic regulation, and the detailed molecular network controlling endodormancy, centered on SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE (SVP) and Dormancy-associated MADS-box (DAM) genes during endodormancy maintenance and release. Combining previous studies and our observations, we propose a regulatory model for bud endodormancy and offer some perspectives for the future.
Computational screening study of double transition metal carbonitrides M′2M″CNO2-MXene as catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Zeng Zhoulan , Chen Xingzhu , Weng Kaiyi , Wu Yang , Zhang Peng , Jiang Jizhou , Li Neng 
Published: June 2021

AbstractTwo-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbonitrides (MXene) have attracted growing interest in electrocatalytic hydrogen production due to its structural and electronic properties. In this work, the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity of all 64 O-terminated ordered double transition metal carbonitrides in the form of M′2M″CNO2 (M′ = Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta; M″ = Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta) has been investigated by well-defined density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The results indicate that there are 11 M′2M″CNO2-MXene candidates whose HER performance is superior to that of Pt. Moreover, according to the stability screening, it is proved that Ti2NbCNO2, Mo2TiCNO2, and Ti2VCNO2 are more stable than other candidates. Especially, Ti2NbCNO2 have the potential to be perfect HER catalyst with the small Gibbs free energies of hydrogen adsorption (ΔGH) value of 0.02 eV, abundant catalytic sites on the C-side, and better stability. This work paves the way on designing excellent HER catalyst candidates based on M′2M″CNO2-MXenes.
A multiparametric study on the dissolution of synthetic brannerite
Authors: Lin Hantao , Szenknect Stéphanie , Mesbah Adel , Baron Fabien , Beaufort Daniel , Batonneau Yann , Mercadier Julien , Eglinger Aurélien , Turuani Marion , Seydoux-Guillaume Anne-Magali , Goncalves Philippe , Choulet Flavien , Chapon Virginie , Pagel Maurice , Dacheux Nicolas 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBrannerite, UTi2O6 is reported to occur in various uraniferous deposits worldwide. Natural brannerite specimens are found in the amorphous state and are usually considered to be refractory to dissolution due to the formation of TiO2 passivation layer. In the present work, brannerite was synthesized by wet chemistry route, then characterized prior the development of multiparametric dissolution experiments. The evolution of U and Ti concentrations was followed in 0.1–2 mol/L H2SO4 solutions, for temperatures ranging from 25 to 80 °C, in the presence (or not) of 2.8 g/L of dissolved Fe(III). The dissolution of synthetic brannerite was congruent in the whole experimental domain. The formation of Ti-enriched secondary phase at the surface of the brannerite grains was not evidenced. The dissolution rate constants, activation energies and partial orders of the overall dissolution reaction relative to proton activity were determined in the presence (or absence) of Fe(III). The introduction of Fe(III) in sulfuric acid solutions increased the dissolution rate constant by 5 orders of magnitude and induced significant modifications of the apparent activation energy (from 71 ± 4 to 91 ± 6 kJ/mol) and of the partial order relative to proton activity (from 0.42 ± 0.09 to 0.84 ± 0.08). This study suggested that the uncongruency of the brannerite dissolution and the changes usually observed in the rate-controlling step with temperature could be linked to the loss of the crystal structure in natural samples.
A conditionally replication-defective cytomegalovirus vaccine elicits potent and diverse functional monoclonal antibodies in a phase I clinical trial
Authors: Li Leike , Freed Daniel C. , Liu Yaping , Li Fengsheng , Barrett Diane F. , Xiong Wei , Ye Xiaohua , Adler Stuart P. , Rupp Richard E. , Wang Dai , Zhang Ningyan , Fu Tong-Ming , An Zhiqiang 
Published: June 2021

AbstractA conditionally replication-defective human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) vaccine, V160, was shown to be safe and immunogenic in a two-part, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase I clinical trial (NCT01986010). However, the specificities and functional properties of V160-elicited antibodies remain undefined. Here, we characterized 272 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) isolated from single memory B cells of six V160-vaccinated subjects. The mAbs bind to diverse HCMV antigens, including multiple components of the pentamer, gB, and tegument proteins. The most-potent neutralizing antibodies target the pentamer-UL subunits. The binding sites of the antibodies overlap with those of antibodies responding to natural HCMV infection. The majority of the neutralizing antibodies target the gHgL subunit. The non-neutralizing antibodies predominantly target the gB and pp65 proteins. Sequence analysis indicated that V160 induced a class of gHgL antibodies expressing the HV1-18/KV1-5 germline genes in multiple subjects. This study provides valuable insights into primary targets for anti-HCMV antibodies induced by V160 vaccination.
Intrinsic basis of thermostability of prolyl oligopeptidase from Pyrococcus furiosus
Authors: Banerjee Sahini , Gupta Parth Sarthi Sen , Islam Rifat Nawaz Ul , Bandyopadhyay Amal Kumar 
Published: June 2021

AbstractSalt-bridges play a key role in the thermostability of proteins adapted in stress environments whose intrinsic basis remains to be understood. We find that the higher hydrophilicity of PfP than that of HuP is due to the charged but not the polar residues. The primary role of these residues is to enhance the salt-bridges and their ME. Unlike HuP, PfP has made many changes in its intrinsic property to strengthen the salt-bridge. First, the desolvation energy is reduced by directing the salt-bridge towards the surface. Second, it has made bridge-energy more favorable by recruiting energetically advantageous partners with high helix-propensity among the six possible salt-bridge pairs. Third, ME-residues that perform intricate interactions have increased their energy contribution by making major changes in their binary properties. The use of salt-bridge partners as ME-residues, and ME-residues' overlapping usage, predominant in helices, and energetically favorable substitution are some of the favorable features of PfP compared to HuP. These changes in PfP reduce the unfavorable, increase the favorable ME-energy. Thus, the per salt-bridge stability of PfP is greater than that of HuP. Further, unfavorable target ME-residues can be identified whose mutation can increase the stability of salt-bridge. The study applies to other similar systems.
Isotonic quadriceps endurance is better associated with daily physical activity than quadriceps strength and power in COPD: an international multicentre cross-sectional trial
Authors: Frykholm Erik , Gephine Sarah , Saey Didier , Lemson Arthur , Klijn Peter , bij de Vaate Eline , Maltais François , van Hees Hieronymus , Nyberg André 
Published: June 2021

AbstractKnowledge about modifiable determinants of daily physical activity (PA) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is crucial to design effective PA interventions. The present study aimed to determine the contribution of quadriceps strength, power and endurance to daily PA in COPD. Additionally, for quadriceps endurance, we also aimed to determine to what extent the association varies according to the mode of movement (isotonic, isometric, or isokinetic). Using a multicentre cross-sectional trial design we determined the contribution of quadriceps function to daily PA (steps, sedentary time and time spent doing moderate-to-very-vigorous physical activity [MVPA]) using bivariate and partial Pearson correlation analysis (r) and multiple linear regression models (ΔR2). Pre-determined controlling factors were sex, age, body mass index (BMI), COPD-assessment test, forced expiratory volume in one second in percent of the predicted value (FEV1pred), and distance walked on the 6-minute walk test. Eighty-one patients with COPD (mean ± SD: age 67 ± 8 years, FEV1pred 57 ± 19%, daily steps 4968 ± 3319, daily sedentary time 1016 ± 305 min, and MVPA time 83 ± 45 min) were included. Small to moderate bivariate correlations (r = .225 to .452, p < .05) were found between quadriceps function and measures of PA. The best multiple linear regression models explained 38–49% of the variance in the data. Isotonic endurance was the only muscle contributor that improved all PA models; daily steps (ΔR2 = .04 [relative improvement 13%] p = .026), daily sedentary time (ΔR2 = .07 [23%], p = .005) and MVPA-minutes (ΔR2 = .08 [20%], p = .001). Isotonic endurance was also independently associated with most PA variables, even when controlling for strength, power or isometric-isokinetic endurance properties of the muscle (r = .246 to .384, p < .05). In contrast, neither strength, power, isometric-or isokinetic endurance properties of the muscle was independently associated with PA measures when controlling for isotonic endurance (r = .037 to .219, p > .05). To conclude, strength, power, and endurance properties of the quadriceps were low to moderately associated with PA in patients with COPD. Isotonic quadriceps endurance was the only quadriceps property that was independently associated with the different measures of PA after controlling for a basic set of known determinants of PA, quadriceps strength or power, or isometric or isokinetic quadriceps endurance. Future longitudinal studies should investigate its potential as a modifiable determinant of PA.
Cross-species gene enrichment revealed a single population of Hilsa shad (Tenualosa ilisha) with low genetic variation in Bangladesh waters
Authors: Sarker Anirban , Jiang Junlong , Naher Habibon , Huang Junman , Sarker Kishor Kumar , Yin Guoxing , Baki Mohammad Abdul , Li Chenhong 
Published: June 2021

AbstractTenualosa ilisha is a popular anadromous and significant trans-boundary fish. For sustainable management and conservation of this fish, drawing an appropriate picture reflecting population status of this species is very essential based on their all-strategic habitats in Bangladesh. In this study, 139 samples from 18 sites were collected and cross-species gene enrichment method was applied. Like most of the Clupeiforms, nucleotide diversity of this shad was very low (0.001245–0.006612). Population differences between most of the locations were low and not significant (P > 0.05). However, P values of a few locations were significant (P < 0.05) but their pairwise FST values were very poor (0.0042–0.0993), which is inadequate to recognize any local populations. Our study revealed that the presence of a single population in the Bangladesh waters with some admixtured individuals, which may contain partial genes from other populations. Most of the individuals were admixed without showing any precise grouping in the ML IQtree and Network, which might due to their highly migratory nature. Fishes from haors and small coastal rivers were not unique and no genetic differences between migratory cohorts. The hilsa shad fishery should be managed considering it as a single panmictic population in Bangladesh with low genetic diversity.
Defect-induced B4C electrodes for high energy density supercapacitor devices
Authors: Balcı Özge , Buldu Merve , Ammar Ameen Uddin , Kiraz Kamil , Somer Mehmet , Erdem Emre 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBoron carbide powders were synthesized by mechanically activated annealing process using anhydrous boron oxide (B2O3) and varying carbon (C) sources such as graphite and activated carbon: The precursors were mechanically activated for different times in a high energy ball mill and reacted in an induction furnace. According to the Raman analyses of the carbon sources, the I(D)/I(G) ratio increased from ~ 0.25 to ~ 0.99, as the carbon material changed from graphite to active carbon, indicating the highly defected and disordered structure of active carbon. Complementary advanced EPR analysis of defect centers in B4C revealed that the intrinsic defects play a major role in the electrochemical performance of the supercapacitor device once they have an electrode component made of bare B4C. Depending on the starting material and synthesis conditions the conductivity, energy, and power density, as well as capacity, can be controlled hence high-performance supercapacitor devices can be produced.
Leader-chasing behavior in negative artificial triggered lightning flashes
Authors: Wang Fukun , Wang Jianguo , Cai Li , Su Rui , Ding Wenhan , Xu Zhiling 
Published: June 2021

AbstractTwo special cases of dart leader propagation were observed by the high-speed camera in the leader/return stroke sequences of a classical triggered lightning flash and an altitude-triggered lightning flash, respectively. Different from most of the subsequent return strokes preceded by only one leader, the return stroke in each case was preceded by two leaders occurring successively and competing in the same channel, which herein is named leader-chasing behavior. In one case, the polarity of the latter leader was opposite to that of the former leader and these two combined together to form a new leader, which shared the same polarity with the former leader. In the other case, the latter leader shared the same polarity with the former leader and disappeared after catching up with the former leader. The propagation of the former leader in this case seems not to be significantly influenced by the existence of the latter leader.
Evaluation method for asymmetric uncertainty of quantitative polymerase chain reaction measurements of deoxyribonucleic acids with low copy number
Authors: Ki Unoh , Suzuki Takeru , Nakazawa Satoshi , Yonekawa Yuuki , Watanabe Kazuki , Hashimoto Michie , Hatada Shigeo , Unno Hirotaka 
Published: June 2021

AbstractRecently, in food safety and various other fields, qualitative and quantitative gene analysis using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method has become increasingly popular. The limit of detection (LOD) and quantifiable range for these measurements depends on the range and precision of DNA calibrators’ concentrations. Low-copy-number nucleic acid reference materials with low uncertainty produced by an inkjet system have been developed to allow for precise measurements in a low-copy-number region. However, when using a calibrator with a low copy number near one, the copy number distribution is asymmetric. Consequently, the confidence intervals of estimated copy numbers can include negative values when conventional methods of uncertainty estimation are used. A negative confidence interval is irrelevant in the context of copy number, which is always positive value or zero. Here, we propose a method to evaluate the uncertainty of real-time PCR measurements with representative values and an asymmetric 95% confidence interval. Moreover, we use the proposed method for the actual calculation of uncertainty of real-time PCR measurement results for low-copy-number DNA samples and demonstrate that the proposed method can evaluate the precision of real-time PCR measurements more appropriately in a low-copy-number region.
Passively mode locked thulium and thulium/holmium doped fiber lasers using MXene Nb2C coated microfiber
Authors: Ahmad H. , Ramli R. , Ismail N. N. , Aidit S. N. , Yusoff N. , Samion M. Z. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAs a result of the emergence of two-dimensional (2D) materials for various opto-electronics applications, a new class of materials named MXenes have been attracting interests due to their outstanding nonlinear properties. In this work, an MXene niobium carbide (Nb2C) was proposed and demonstrated as a saturable absorber to induce mode-locking in thulium- and thulium/holmium-doped fiber lasers. The Nb2C solution was first prepared using the liquid exfoliation technique, and then deposited onto a microfiber for integration into the laser cavity. Stable mode-locking operation was observed in both laser cavities, where the center wavelengths of the laser were recorded at 1944 nm for the TDFL and 1950 nm for the THDFL. The generated pulses in the TDFL and THDFL had repetition rates of 9.35 and 11.76 MHz respectively, while their corresponding pulse widths were 1.67 and 1.34 ps. Both of the lasers were highly stable, having SNR values of more than 52 dB and showed no major fluctuations when tested for their long-term stabilities. The results demonstrate an excellent performance of the Nb2C as a saturable absorber, offering opportunities to further explore MXenes for future photonics devices.