bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Scaling of soaring seabirds and its implication for the maximum size of flying pterosaurs
Authors: Sato Katsufumi , Sakamoto Kentaro , Watanuki Yutaka , Takahashi Akinori , Katsumata Nobuhiro , Bost Charles-Andre , Weimerskirch Henri 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThe flight ability of animals is restricted by the scaling effects imposed by physical and physiological factors. In comparisons of the power available from muscle and the mechanical power required to fly, theoretical studies have predicted that the margin between the powers should decrease with body size and that flying animals have a maximum body size. However, predicting an absolute value of this upper limit has been difficult because wing morphology and flight styles vary among species. Albatrosses and petrels have long, narrow, aerodynamically efficient wings and are considered to be soaring birds. Here, using animal-borne accelerometers, we show that scaling analyses of wing-flapping frequencies in these seabirds indicate that the maximum size limit for soaring animals is a body mass of 41 kg and a wingspan of 5.1 m. Soaring seabirds were observed to have two modes of flapping frequencies: vigorous flapping during takeoff and sporadic flapping during cruising flight. In these species, high and low flapping frequencies were found to scale with body mass (mass ^-0.30^ and mass ^-0.18^) in a manner similar to the predictions from biomechanical flight models (mass ^-1/3^ and mass ^-1/6^). The scaling relationships predicted that animals larger than the limit will not be able to flap fast enough to stay aloft under unfavourable wind conditions. Our result therefore casts doubt on the flying ability of large, extinct pterosaurs. The largest extant soarer, the wandering albatross, weighs about 10 kg, which might be a pragmatic limit to maintain a safety margin for sustainable flight and to survive in a variable environment.
Ageing as a price of cooperation and complexity: Self-organization of complex systems causes the ageing of constituent networks
Authors: Kiss Huba , Mihalik Ágoston , Nánási Tibor , Őry Bálint , Spiró Zoltán , Sőti Csaba , Csermely Peter 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThe analysis of network topology and dynamics is increasingly used for the description of the structure, function and evolution of complex systems. Here we summarize key aspects of the evolvability and robustness of the hierarchical network-set of macromolecules, cells, organisms, and ecosystems. Listing the costs and benefits of cooperation as a necessary behaviour to build this network hierarchy, we outline the major hypothesis of the paper: the emergence of hierarchical complexity needs cooperation leading to the ageing of the constituent networks. Local cooperation in a stable environment may lead to over-optimization developing an ‘always-old’ network, which ages slowly, and dies in an apoptosis-like process. Global cooperation by exploring a rapidly changing environment may cause an occasional over-perturbation exhausting system-resources, causing rapid degradation, ageing and death of an otherwise ‘forever-young’ network in a necrosis-like process. Giving a number of examples we explain how local and global cooperation can both evoke and help successful ageing. Finally, we show how various forms of cooperation and consequent ageing emerge as key elements in all major steps of evolution from the formation of protocells to the establishment of the globalized, modern human society. Thus, ageing emerges as a price of complexity, which is going hand-in-hand with cooperation enhancing each other in a successful community.
Three Dimensional Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationships of Sulfonamides Binding Monoclonal Antibody by Comparative Molecular Field Analysis
Authors: Wang Zhanhui , Cao Xingyuan , Kai Zhenpeng , Beier Ross , Wu Congming , Jiang Haiyang , Cheng Linli , Shen Jianzhong , Yang Xinling 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThe three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) model of sulfonamide analogs binding a monoclonal antibody (MabSMR) produced against sulfamerazine, was carried out by comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA). The affinities of MabSMR, expressed as Log10IC50, for 17 sulfonamide analogs were determined by competitive fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA). Removal of two outliers from the initial set of 17 sulfonamide analogs improved the predictability of the models. The 3D-QSAR model of 15 sulfonamides resulted in q2cv values of 0.600, and r2 values of 0.995, respectively. This novel study combining FPIA with CoMFA demonstrates that multidisciplinary research can be used as a useful tool to investigate antigen-antibody interactions and provide information required for design of novel haptens, which may result in new antibodies with properties already optimized by an antibody-based immunoassay.
Stronger inflammatory/cytotoxic T cell response in women identified by microarray analysis
Authors: Hewagama Anura , Patel Dipak , Yarlagadda Sushma , Strickland Faith , Richardson Bruce 
Published: July 2019

AbstractWomen develop chronic inflammatory autoimmune diseases like lupus more often than men. The mechanisms causing the increased susceptibility are incompletely understood, although estrogen is believed to contribute. Chronic immune stimulation characterizes many autoimmune disorders. We hypothesized that repeated stimulation may cause a different T cell immune response in women than men. Microarray approaches were used to compare gene expression in T cells from healthy men and women with and without repeated stimulation. Four days following a single stimulation only 25% of the differentially expressed, gender-biased genes were expressed at higher levels in the women. In contrast, following restimulation 72% were more highly expressed in women. Immune response genes were significantly over-represented among the genes upregulated in women, and among the immune response genes, the inflammatory/cytotoxic effector genes interferon gamma (IFNG), lymphotoxin beta (LTB), granzyme A (GZMA), interleukin-12 receptor beta2 (IL12RB2), and granulysin (GNLY) were among those overexpressed to the greatest degree. In contrast, IL17A was the only effector gene more highly expressed in men. Estrogen response elements were identified in the promoters of half of the overexpressed immune genes in women, and in &lt;10% of the male biased genes. The differential expression of inflammatory/cytotoxic effector molecules in restimulated female T cells may contribute to the differences in autoimmune diseases between women and men.
Micro-magnetic resonance imaging (micro-MRI) study on the sepsis effected eyeball of zebrafish
Authors: Sarkar Bimal Kumar , Zen Wu , Ding Shangwu , Hsu C. H. , Wen Z.H. , Lin C. S. , Chakraborty Chiranjib 
Published: July 2019

AbstractWe have studied the normal and sepsis effected zebrafish eyeball with micro-magnetic resonance imaging (micro-MRI). T2 weighted image was studied and pixel-wise T2 maps were co registered among the normal and sepsis effected eye. From the micro-image the sepsis effect in the eye has been demonstrated. The pixel-wise brightness distribution is not so scattered in the normal eyeball image, whereas it is very scattered in case of sepsis affected eyeball image. Also the T2 mapping on the eye has given valuable information that would be a potential tool for the study of diseased organ in the micro level. From T2 mapping, it has shown that the T2 in normal eyeball have low values in comparison to the sepsis affected eyeball.
Heat shock transcription factor 1 preserves cardiac angiogenesis and adaptation during pressure overload
Authors: Li Jiming , Ge Junbo , Yuan Jie , Jiang Hong , Ma Hong , Liang Yanyan , Niu Yuhong , Gong Hui , Zhou Ning , Guan Aili , Ma Zhen , Yuan Lingyan , Sun Aijun , Wang Yuqi , Nakai Akira , Komuro Issei , Zou Yunzeng 
Published: July 2019

AbstractTo examine how heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1) protects against maladaptive hypertrophy during pressure overload, we subjected HSF1 transgenic (TG), knockout (KO) and wild type (WT) mice to a constriction of transverse aorta (TAC), and found that cardiac hypertrophy, functions and angiogenesis were well preserved in TG mice but were decreased in KO mice compared to WT ones at 4 weeks, which was related to HIF-1 and p53 expression. Inhibition of angiogenesis suppressed cardiac adaptation in TG mice while overexpression of angiogenesis factors improved maladaptive hypertrophy in KO mice. In vitro formation of vasculatures by microvascular endothelial cells was higher in TG mice but lower in KO mice than in WT ones. A siRNA of p53 but not a HIF-1 gene significantly reversed maladaptive hypertrophy in KO mice whereas a siRNA of HIF-1 but not a p53 gene induced maladaptive hypertrophy in TG mice. Heart microRNA analysis showed that miR-378 and miR-379 were differently changed among the three mice after TAC, and miR-378 or siRNA of miR-379 could maintain cardiac adaptation in WT mice. These results indicate that HSF1 preserves cardiac adaptation during pressure overload through p53-HIF-1-associated angiogenesis, which is controlled by miR-378 and miR-379.
The Entropic Landscape of proteins revealing protein folding mechanism
Authors: Onizuka Kentaro 
Published: July 2019

AbstractIt has long since been a mystery why most proteins fold within a flash of time into particular structures out of astronomically large numbers of possible conformations. Even more confusing is that protein folding in vivo is played out in rich solution containing various organic and non-organic, big and small molecules and ions which would potentially bind the protein molecules and prevent them folding. A possible answer to these mysteries might be, "Nature have favoured such proteins that quickly fold in rich solution through natural selection". Then what mechanism of folding has been favoured? Here I show how to decipher protein sequences to reveal the folding mechanism. The entropic landscape of a protein sequence tells which region of the sequence sets out to fold first which next and last. Each step of the folding procedure is programmed in the sequence. This make it clear why proteins fold quickly and escape from surrounding molecules and ions. The folding pathways represented by the entropic landscape agree with the pathways experimentally proposed. Besides, the simulation of protein folding scheduled by the entropic landscape generates native-like conformations, where the lower the entropy of a sequential region is the earlier its conformation is optimized in terms of energy minimization. The attempt to simulate protein folding gives further insights into the folding mechanism.
The Multigeneic Rhg1 Locus: A Model For The Effects on Root Development, Nematode Resistance and Recombination Suppression.
Authors: Lightfoot David , Srour Ali , Afzal Jawad , Saini Navinder 
Published: July 2019

AbstractSoybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) resistance to populations (HgType) of Heterodera glycines I., the soybean cyst nematode (SCN), requires a functional allele at rhg1. An apoptosis-like response in the giant cells formed around the nematode results 24-48 h after feeding commences. This study aimed to identify the role of the three genes within the rhg1 locus, a receptor like kinase (RLK), a laccase and an ion anti-porter. Used were near isogeneic lines (NILs) that contrasted at their rhg1 alleles. Features of the rhg1 locus, the candidate genes and their nascent transcripts and proteins in roots were elucidated. First, evidence for a syntenic gene cluster was found and the effectiveness of SNP probes for distinguishing the homeolog sequence variant on linkage group (Lg) B1 from alleles at the rhg1 locus on Lg G was shown. Analysis of plant s heterozygous at rhg1 showed that the allele for resistance was dominant. The absence of recombination events among the NILs between the RLK and other 2 genes eliminated the possibility of a monogeneic rhg1 locus. Finally, an effect on root development was discovered. A model for multigeneic resistance based on developmental control of root growth including a mechanism for segregation distortion is presented.
Cattle Egrets and dry fish business in coastal areas
Authors: Seedikkoya Kotta , Azeez PA 
Published: July 2019

AbstractCattle Egret is one of the common wetland birds in India known for its efficiency to make use of human interfered habitats. The present study is an attempt to document maggots of houseflies and calliphorids in the coastal sun drying fish yards and the role of the species in containing the vector species. The number of flies and maggots were found related with the visit of cattle egrets, demonstrating the importance of the species in controlling the vectors.
B6 deficient feeding or homocysteic acid induces the earlier Alzheimer's pathological change in normal C57BL male mice
Authors: Hasegawa Tohru , Mikoda Nobuyuki , Kitazawa Masashi , LaFerla Frank 
Published: July 2019

AbstractIt is the first report that the earlier Alzheimer's pathological changes can be induced in normal C57BL mice, by B6 deficient feeding for 3 month, and this pathological changes were completely inhibited by anti-homocysteic acid antibody. According to Koch's postulate, if a pathogen of Alzheimer's disease is administrated to the normal animal, we would observe the Alzheimer's pathology in the normal animal. We actually have observed this pathology in normal C57BL male mice.
Proof of principle for shotgun DNA mapping by unzipping
Authors: Herskowitz Lawrence , Salvagno Anthony , Maloney R. Andy , Le Linh , Koch Steven 
Published: July 2019

AbstractAbility to map polymerases and nucleosomes on chromatin is important for understanding the impact of chromatin remodeling on key cellular processes. Current methods (such as ChIP and ChIP-chip) have produced a wealth of information that demonstrates this importance, but key information is elusive in these ensemble methods. We’re pursuing a new single-molecule chromatin mapping method based on unzipping native chromatin molecules with optical tweezers. The first step we are taking towards this ability is shotgun DNA mapping (SDM). This is the ability to identify the genomic location of a random DNA fragment based on its naked DNA unzipping forces compared with simulated unzipping forces of a published genome. We show that ~32 separate experimental unzipping curves for pBR322 were correctly matched to their simulated unzipping curves hidden in a background of the ~2700 sequences neighboring XhoI sites in the S. cerevisiae (yeast) genome. We describe this method and characterize its robustness as well as discuss future applications.
Deficiency of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist causes spontaneous femoral artery aneurysms
Authors: Isoda Kikuo , Niida Tomiharu , Kondo Harumi , Ohsuzu Fumikaka 
Published: July 2019

AbstractInterleukin (IL) -1, a proinflammatory cytokine, increases in aneurysm, and the IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) modulates IL-1 activity endogenously. We show here that IL-1Ra-deficiency in hematopoietic cells disrupts immune system homeostasis and causes spontaneous femoral artery aneurysms in mice lacking interventions such as drugs or surgery. Thus, IL-1Ra-deficient mice provide easy observations with age and diminish mortality that typically follows surgical procedures. Furthermore, since IL-1Ra-deficient mice contain the entire spectrum of lesions observed during inflammatory aneurysm, this mouse model likely will provide numerous opportunities to study the pathogenesis and therapy of inflammatory aneurysm.
Activation of an Estrogen/ Estrogen Receptor Signaling by BIG3 Through Its Inhibitory Effect on Nuclear Transport of PHB2/REA in Breast Cancer
Authors: Kim Jung-Won , Akiyama Miki , Park Jae-Hyun , Lin Meng-Lay , Shimo Arata , Ueki Tomomi , Daigo Yataro , Tsunoda Tatsuhiko , Nishidate Toshihiko , Nakamura Yusuke , Katagiri Toyomasa 
Published: July 2019

AbstractBreast cancer is known to be a hormone-dependent disease, and estrogens through an interaction with estrogen receptor (ER) enhance the proliferative and metastatic activity of breast tumor cells. Here we show a critical role of transactivation of BIG3, brefeldin A-inhibited guanine nucleotide-exchange protein 3, in activation of the estrogen/ER signaling in breast cancer cells. Knocking-down of BIG3 expression with small-interfering RNA (siRNA) drastically suppressed the growth of breast cancer cells. Subsequent co-immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting assays revealed an interaction of BIG3 with prohibitin 2/repressor of estrogen receptor activity (PHB2/REA). When BIG3 was absent, stimulation of estradiol caused the translocation of PHB2/REA to the nucleus, enhanced the interaction of PHB2/REA and ER[alpha], and resulted in suppression of the ER[alpha]; transcriptional activity. On the other hand, when BIG3 was present, BIG3 trapped PHB2/REA in cytoplasm and inhibited its nuclear translocation, and caused enhancement of ER[alpha]; transcriptional activity. Our results imply that BIG3 overexpression is one of the important mechanisms causing the activation of the estrogen/ER[alpha]; signaling pathway in the hormone-related growth of breast cancer cells.
Effect of Stimulators upon Human Hepatic Adenylate Cyclase Activity: A Tool of Nitroimidazole Cytotoxicity Assessment
Authors: Sharma Rakesh , Kwon Soonjo 
Published: July 2019

AbstractNitroimidazole is an antibiotic and radiosensitizer chemical with great potentials in imaging. The hepato-cytoxicity evaluation of nitroimidazole and possible energy status changes in liver cells due to its anti-inflammatory characteristics are crucial in tumor imaging and chemotherapy. Adenylate cyclase is key enzyme to cause energy imbalance leading to cytotoxicity. To evaluate energy status in hepatocytes and Kupffer cells, adenylate cyclase activities in isolated liver cells were compared in presence of stimulators. To evaluate the effect of effectors on adenylate cyclase in cultured hepatocyte cells, adenylate cyclase enzyme was stimulated by different GITP, GTP, progesterone and nitroimidazole effectors. In cultured Kupffer cells, prostaglandin E~2~ and F~2[alpha]~ were used as effectors. The results showed that nitroimidazole decreased adenylate cyclase specific activity in dose-dependent manner after pre-incubation of hepatocytes with the nitroimidazole in medium. Nitroimidazole stimulated adenylate cyclase activities in hepatocytes were mediated by cAMP and determined by cAMP mesurement. The stimulatory effect of nitroimidazole on adenylate cyclase was independent of the GTP presence in the assay system perhaps due to a direct effect on the catalytic subunit of adenylate cyclase enzyme. In addition, basal cAMP generation in hepatocyte cells was efficiently suppressed by the nitroimidazole. In conclusion, nitroimidazole exhibits direct effect on the catalytic subunit of the adenylate cyclase system. The adenylate cyclase was hormone sensitive in liver cells.
Optimal control circuitry design for the digital p53 dynamics in cancer cell and apoptosis
Authors: Ardito Marretta Rosario 
Published: July 2019

AbstractExperimental work and theoretical models deduce a "digital" response of the p53 transcription factor when genomic integrity is damaged. The mutual influence of p53 and its antagonist, the Mdm2 oncogene, is closed in feedback. This paper proposes an aerospace architecture for translating the p53/Mdm2/DNA damage network into a digital circuitry in which the optimal control theory is applied for obtaining the requested dynamic evolutions of some considered cell species for repairing a DNA damage. The purpose of this paper is not to improve the analysis of the actual mathematical models but to demonstrate the usefulness of such digital circuitry design capable to predict and detect the cell species dynamics for finding more information regarding the inner mechanism of the cell components.The cell fate is newly conceived by the modified pulsing mechanism of p53 and other apoptotic species when the digital optimal control is applied to an apoptosis wiring diagram.
Functional presynaptic [alpha]6-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors participate in nicotine reward in the VTA: where and how
Authors: Yang Kechun , Buhlman Lori , Gao Ming , Khan Ghous , Nichols Robert , DeChon Jamie , Jin Guozhang , Whiteaker Paul , Lukas Ronald , Wu Jie 
Published: July 2019

AbstractIn the ventral tegmental area (VTA), [alpha]6-nAChRs express abundantly, but their location, function, pharmacology, and roles in cholinergic modulation of dopaminergic (DA) neurons remain elusive. Using a VTA neuron-adherent bouton preparation, we report that functional [alpha]6-nAChRs are located on GABAergic presynaptic boutons, where they mediate cholinergic modulation of GABA release onto DA neurons. Smoking-relevant concentrations of nicotine desensitize [alpha]6-nAChRs, cause a disinhibition in DA neurons and consequently mediate nicotine reward.
Large-scale imaging of brain network activity from >10,000 neocortical cells
Authors: Namiki Shigehiro , Matsuki Norio , Ikegaya Yuji 
Published: July 2019

AbstractLarge-scale recording from populations of neurons is a promising strategy in the study of complex brain function. Here we introduce a simple optical technique that simultaneously probes the calcium activity of ~10,000 cells at the single cell resolution in vitro. We employed a combination of a low-magnification objective lens and an electron-multiplying charge-coupled device megapixel camera to achieve large-view-field and high-resolution imaging.
The Antarctic 'ozone hole' combined with no sea ice causes severe oxidative damage in echinoid embryos
Authors: Lister Kathryn , Lamare Miles , Burritt David 
Published: July 2019

AbstractOver the past three decades, the 'ozone hole' has caused a transient increase in the levels of ultraviolet B radiation (UV-B, 280 to 320 nm) reaching Antarctic coastal marine ecosystems^1^. The direct effect of this enhanced UV-B on pelagic organisms remains unclear, for few studies have examined in situ the responses of Antarctic marine organisms in direct relation to the 'ozone hole'. Here we show that the presence of the 'ozone hole' over McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, during a two-week period in 2008 resulted in unequivocal increases in oxidative damage and developmental abnormality in embryos of the sea urchin Sterechinus neumayeri Meissner (Echinoidea: Echinidae) growing in open waters. We show that although embryos have a limited capacity to increase the activities of protective antioxidant enzymes, increased UV-B exposure caused a very large increase in oxidative damage to proteins and lipids. Importantly, we show that embryo damage, resulting from the presence of the 'ozone hole', is largely mitigated by sea ice, with embryos beneath the ice protected from UV-B and hence oxidative damage. As the ozone hole is now expected to persist for a further 80 years^2^, during which time significant reductions in sea ice coverage are expected around the Antarctic continent due to global warming^3^, our findings sound a warning that the coincidence of the two phenomena (high UV-B and open water conditions) will provide a window when significant damage to marine ecosystems may occur.
Delayed-Type hypersensitivity to latex: Computational prediction of MHC class II epitopes on latex allergens
Authors: Eapen Bell 
Published: July 2019

AbstractDelayed type hypersensitivity to natural rubber latex is rare compared to IgE mediated immediate reactions. Binding of allergens to MHC Class II is a crucial step in the presentation of antigens to CD4+ T Cells responsible for delayed reactions. Computational prediction of MHC class II epitopes on thirteen known latex allergens using SMM-align method revealed strong binding with several alleles. This shows that latex allergens are capable of initiating delayed type hypersensitivity in susceptible individuals.