bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genetic Contributions to The Association Between Adult Height and Head and Neck Cancer: A Mendelian Randomization Analysis
Authors: Pastorino Roberta , Puggina Anna , Carreras-Torres Robert , Lagiou Pagona , Holcátová Ivana , Richiardi Lorenzo , Kjaerheim Kristina , Agudo Antonio , Castellsagué Xavier , Macfarlane Tatiana V. , Barzan Luigi , Canova Cristina , Thakker Nalin S. , Conway David I. , Znaor Ariana , Healy Claire M. , Ahrens Wolfgang , Zaridze David , Szeszenia-Dabrowska Neonilia , Lissowska Jolanta , Fabianova Eleonora , Mates Ioan Nicolae , Bencko Vladimir , Foretova Lenka , Janout Vladimir , Brennan Paul , Gaborieau Valérie , McKay James D. , Boccia Stefania 
Published: March 2018

AbstractWith the aim to dissect the effect of adult height on head and neck cancer (HNC), we use the Mendelian randomization (MR) approach to test the association between genetic instruments for height and the risk of HNC. 599 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified as genetic instruments for height, accounting for 16% of the phenotypic variation. Genetic data concerning HNC cases and controls were obtained from a genome-wide association study. Summary statistics for genetic association were used in complementary MR approaches: the weighted genetic risk score (GRS) and the inverse-variance weighted (IVW). MR-Egger regression was used for sensitivity analysis and pleiotropy evaluation. From the GRS analysis, one standard deviation (SD) higher height (6.9 cm; due to genetic predisposition across 599 SNPs) raised the risk for HNC (Odds ratio (OR), 1.14; 95% Confidence Interval (95%CI), 0.99–1.32). The association analyses with potential confounders revealed that the GRS was associated with tobacco smoking (OR = 0.80, 95% CI (0.69–0.93)). MR-Egger regression did not provide evidence of overall directional pleiotropy. Our study indicates that height is potentially associated with HNC risk. However, the reported risk could be underestimated since, at the genetic level, height emerged to be inversely associated with smoking.
Vacuum induced transparency and photon number resolved Autler-Townes splitting in a three-level system
Authors: Ding Jiang-hao , Huai Sai-nan , Ian Hou , Liu Yu-xi 
Published: March 2018

AbstractWe study the absorption spectrum of a probe field by a Λ-type three-level system, which is coupled to a quantized control field through the two upper energy levels. The probe field is applied to the ground and the second excited states. When the quantized control field is in vacuum, we derive a threshold condition to discern vacuum induced transparency (VIT) and vacuum induced Autler-Townes splitting (ATS). We also find that the parameter changing from VIT to vacuum induced ATS is very similar to that from broken PT symmetry to PT symmetry. Moreover, we find the photon number resolved spectrum in the parameter regime of vacuum induced ATS when the mean photon number of the quantized control field is changed from zero (vacuum) to a finite number. However, there is no photon number resolved spectrum in the parameter regime of VIT even that the quantized control field contains the finite number of photons. Finally, we further discuss possible experimental realization.
Dopamine D1 receptor density in the mPFC responds to cognitive demands and receptor turnover contributes to general cognitive ability in mice
Authors: Wass Christopher , Sauce Bruno , Pizzo Alessandro , Matzel Louis D. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractIn both humans and mice, performance on tests of intelligence or general cognitive ability (GCA) is related to dopamine D1 receptor-mediated activity in the prelimbic cortex, and levels of DRD1 mRNA predict the GCA of mice. Here we assessed the turnover rate of D1 receptors as well as the expression level of the D1 chaperone protein (DRiP78) in the medial PPC (mPFC) of mice to determine whether rate of receptor turnover was associated with variations in the GCA of genetically heterogeneous mice. Following assessment of GCA (aggregate performance on four diverse learning tests) mice were administered an irreversible dopamine receptor antagonist (EEDQ), after which the density of new D1 receptors were quantified. GCA was positively correlated with both the rate of D1 receptor recovery and levels of DRiP78. Additionally, the density of D1 receptors was observed to increase within 60 min (or less) in response to intense demands on working memory, suggesting that a pool of immature receptors was available to accommodate high cognitive loads. These results provide evidence that innate general cognitive abilities are related to D1 receptor turnover rates in the prefrontal cortex, and that an intracellular pool of immature D1 receptors are available to accommodate cognitive demands.
High-mobility group box 1 facilitates migration of neural stem cells via receptor for advanced glycation end products signaling pathway
Authors: Xue Xin , Chen Xingxing , Fan Weili , Wang Guan , Zhang Liang , Chen Zongfeng , Liu Peng , Liu Mingyong , Zhao Jianhua 
Published: March 2018

AbstractHigh-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) facilitates neural stem cells (NSCs) proliferation and differentiation into neuronal linage. However, the effect of HMGB1 on NSCs migration is still elusive. The present study is to investigate the corelation between HMGB1 and NSCs migration and the potential mechanism. The results indicated that 1 ng/ml HMGB1 promoted NSCs proliferation using CCK8 assays. Moreover, data showed that 1 ng/ml HMGB1 facilitated NSCs migration via filopodia formation using phase-contrast and transwell assays. Furthermore, 1 ng/ml HMGB1 upregulated the expression of RAGE, one of the HMGB1 receptor, using western blotting assays and immunofluorescence staining. In addition, 1 ng/ml HMGB1 increased the percentage of filopodia formation using phalloidin staining. Meanwhile, the enhanced migration effect could be abrogated by 50 nM FPS-ZM1, one of the RAGE antagonist, and RAGE-specific siRNA through immunofluorescence and phalloidin staining. Together, our data demonstrate that HMGB1/RAGE axis facilitates NSCs migration via promoting filopodia formation, which might serve as a candidate for central nervous system (CNS) injury treatment and/or a preconditioning method for NSCs implantation.
Modeling and Optimizing the Synthesis of Urea-formaldehyde Fertilizers and Analyses of Factors Affecting these Processes
Authors: Guo Yanle , Zhang Min , Liu Zhiguang , Tian Xiaofei , Zhang Shugang , Zhao Chenhao , Lu Hao 
Published: March 2018

AbstractPrevious research into the synthesis of urea-formaldehyde fertilizers was mostly based on orthogonal experimental designs or single factor tests; this led to low precision for synthesis and relatively large ranges of parameters for these processes. To obtain mathematical response models for the synthesis of urea-formaldehyde fertilizers with different nitrogen release properties, a central composite design (CCD) of response surface methodology was used in our research to examine the effects of different reaction times, temperatures, and molar ratios on nitrogen insoluble in either hot or cold water. Our results showed that nitrogen insoluble in cold or hot water from urea-formaldehyde fertilizers were mainly affected by urea: formaldehyde molar ratios. Also, quadratic polynomial mathematical models were established for urea-formaldehyde. According to the models, the optimal process parameters which maximize cold-water-insoluble nitrogen and minimize hot-water-insoluble nitrogen for the synthesis of urea formaldehyde were as follows urea: formaldehyde molar ratio was 1.33, reaction temperature was 43.5 °C, and reaction time was 1.64 h. Under these conditions, the content of cold-water-insoluble nitrogen was 22.14%, and hot-water-insoluble nitrogen was 9.87%. The model could be an effective tool for predicting properties of urea-formaldehyde slow release fertilizers if the experimental conditions were held within the design limits.
miR-3140 suppresses tumor cell growth by targeting BRD4 via its coding sequence and downregulates the BRD4-NUT fusion oncoprotein
Authors: Tonouchi Erina , Gen Yasuyuki , Muramatsu Tomoki , Hiramoto Hidekazu , Tanimoto Kousuke , Inoue Jun , Inazawa Johji 
Published: March 2018

AbstractBromodomain Containing 4 (BRD4) mediates transcriptional elongation of the oncogene MYC by binding to acetylated histones. BRD4 has been shown to play a critical role in tumorigenesis in several cancers, and the BRD4-NUT fusion gene is a driver of NUT midline carcinoma (NMC), a rare but highly lethal cancer. microRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous small non-coding RNAs that suppress target gene expression by binding to complementary mRNA sequences. Here, we show that miR-3140, which was identified as a novel tumor suppressive miRNA by function-based screening of a library containing 1090 miRNA mimics, directly suppressed BRD4 by binding to its coding sequence (CDS). miR-3140 concurrently downregulated BRD3 by bind to its CDS as well as CDK2 and EGFR by binding to their 3’ untranslated regions. miR-3140 inhibited tumor cell growth in vitro in various cancer cell lines, including EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor-resistant cells. Interestingly, we found that miR-3140 downregulated the BRD4-NUT fusion protein and suppressed in vitro tumor cell growth in a NMC cell line, Ty-82 cells. Furthermore, administration of miR-3140 suppressed in vivo tumor growth in a xenograft mouse model. Our results suggest that miR-3140 is a candidate for the development of miRNA-based cancer therapeutics.
Structural changes in hand related cortical areas after median nerve injury and repair
Authors: Nordmark Per F. , Ljungberg Christina , Johansson Roland S. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractTransection of the median nerve typically causes lifelong restriction of fine sensory and motor skills of the affected hand despite the best available surgical treatment. Inspired by recent findings on activity-dependent structural plasticity of the adult brain, we used voxel-based morphometry to analyze the brains of 16 right-handed adults who more than two years earlier had suffered injury to the left or right median nerve followed by microsurgical repair. Healthy individuals served as matched controls. Irrespective of side of injury, we observed gray matter reductions in left ventral and right dorsal premotor cortex, and white matter reductions in commissural pathways interconnecting those motor areas. Only left-side injured participants showed gray matter reduction in the hand area of the contralesional primary motor cortex. We interpret these effects as structural manifestations of reduced neural processing linked to restrictions in the diversity of the natural manual dexterity repertoire. Furthermore, irrespective of side of injury, we observed gray matter increases bilaterally in a motion-processing visual area. We interpret this finding as a consequence of increased neural processing linked to greater dependence on vision for control of manual dexterity after median nerve injury because of a compromised somatosensory innervation of the affected hand.
VKORC1 sequence variants associated with resistance to anticoagulant rodenticides in Irish populations of Rattus norvegicus and Mus musculus domesticus
Authors: Mooney Jean , Lynch Mark R. , Prescott Colin V. , Clegg Tracy , Loughlin Michael , Hannon Bernard , Moore Colm , Faulkner Richard 
Published: March 2018

AbstractWhile resistance to anticoagulant rodenticides is known to occur in many European populations of Norway rat and house mouse, to-date no data is available on the occurrence in Ireland of such resistance. No genetic evidence for the occurrence of resistance was found in 65 Norway rat samples analysed, indicative of an absence, or low prevalence, of resistance in rats in at least the Eastern region of the island of Ireland. The presence of two of the most commonly found amino acid substitutions Leu128Ser and Tyr139Cys associated with house mouse resistance to anticoagulant rodenticides was confirmed. The occurrence of two such mutations is indicative of the occurrence of resistance to anticoagulant rodenticides in house mice in the Eastern region of the island of Ireland.
Genome analysis reveals evolutionary mechanisms of adaptation in systemic dimorphic fungi
Authors: Muñoz José F. , McEwen Juan G. , Clay Oliver K. , Cuomo Christina A. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractDimorphic fungal pathogens cause a significant human disease burden and unlike most fungal pathogens affect immunocompetent hosts. To examine the origin of virulence of these fungal pathogens, we compared genomes of classic systemic, opportunistic, and non-pathogenic species, includingEmmonsiaand two basal branching, non-pathogenic species in the Ajellomycetaceae,Helicocarpus griseusandPolytolypa hystricis. We found that gene families related to plant degradation, secondary metabolites synthesis, and amino acid and lipid metabolism are retained inH.griseusandP.hystricis. While genes involved in the virulence of dimorphic pathogenic fungi are conserved in saprophytes, changes in the copy number of proteases, kinases and transcription factors in systemic dimorphic relative to non-dimorphic species may have aided the evolution of specialized gene regulatory programs to rapidly adapt to higher temperatures and new nutritional environments. Notably, both of the basal branching, non-pathogenic species appear homothallic, with both mating type locus idiomorphs fused at a single locus, whereas all related pathogenic species are heterothallic. These differences revealed that independent changes in nutrient acquisition capacity have occurred in the Onygenaceae and Ajellomycetaceae, and underlie how the dimorphic pathogens have adapted to the human host and decreased their capacity for growth in environmental niches.
Laser damage resistance of polystyrene opal photonic crystals
Authors: Pan Lei , Xu Hongbo , Lv Ruizhen , Qiu Jun , Zhao Jiupeng , Li Yao 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe laser damage behavior of three-dimensional photonic crystals (3D-PCs) with an opal structure is investigated using both experimental and simulation methods. Polystyrene (PS) colloidal crystals films with a reflection peak at 1064 nm are used as the model material. Disordered films (DF) are fabricated with PS microspheres as contrast samples. The laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) of 3D-PCs is tested, which is as 2.35 times high as the LIDT of DF. All laser damages are derived from defects in 3D-PCs, implying that the LIDT of ideal 3D-PCs will be significantly increased. The simulation results show that the electric field is contained in the pores of 3D-PCs while it is reduced in the PS microspheres, which may decrease the absorption of laser energy by 3D-PCs. In contrast, the electric field distribution is irregular in DF. Enhanced electric field areas are located in both the pores and microspheres of DF. Considering higher electric field intensity causes more energy absorption and higher temperature, the DF have a lower LIDT. The 3D-PCs structure uses ordered vacancy to contain and strike back laser energy and can increase the LIDT without changing the chemical composition of materials.
Acrolein-stressed threshold adaptation alters the molecular and metabolic bases of an engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae to improve glutathione production
Authors: Zhou Wenlong , Yang Yan , Tang Liang , Cheng Kai , Li Changkun , Wang Huimin , Liu Minzhi , Wang Wei 
Published: March 2018

AbstractAcrolein (Acr) was used as a selection agent to improve the glutathione (GSH) overproduction of the prototrophic strain W303-1b/FGPPT. After two rounds of adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE), an unexpected result was obtained wherein identical GSH production was observed in the selected isolates. Then, a threshold selection mechanism of Acr-stressed adaption was clarified based on the formation of an Acr-GSH adduct, and a diffusion coefficient (0.36 ± 0.02 μmol·min−1·OD600−1) was calculated. Metabolomic analysis was carried out to reveal the molecular bases that triggered GSH overproduction. The results indicated that all three precursors (glutamic acid (Glu), glycine (Gly) and cysteine (Cys)) needed for GSH synthesis were at a relativity higher concentration in the evolved strain and that the accumulation of homocysteine (Hcy) and cystathionine might promote Cys synthesis and then improve GSH production. In addition to GSH and Cys, it was observed that other non-protein thiols and molecules related to ATP generation were at obviously different levels. To divert the accumulated thiols to GSH biosynthesis, combinatorial strategies, including deletion of cystathionine β-lyase (STR3), overexpression of cystathionine γ-lyase (CYS3) and cystathionine β-synthase (CYS4), and reduction of the unfolded protein response (UPR) through up-regulation of protein disulphide isomerase (PDI), were also investigated.
Membrane-association of EMR2/ADGRE2-NTF is regulated by site-specific N-glycosylation
Authors: Huang Yi-Shu , Chiang Nien-Yi , Chang Gin-Wen , Lin Hsi-Hsien 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe evolutionarily conserved adhesion G protein-coupled receptors (aGPCRs) play critical roles in biological processes as diverse as brain development, cell polarity and innate immune functions. A defining feature of aGPCRs is the GPCR autoproteolysis inducing (GAIN) domain capable of self-catalytic cleavage, resulting in the generation of an extracellular N-terminal fragment (NTF) and a seven-transmembrane C-terminal fragment (CTF) involved in the cellular adhesion and signaling functions, respectively. Interestingly, two different NTF subtypes have previously been identified, namely an NTF that couples non-covalently with the CTF and a membrane-associated NTF that tethers on cell surface independently. The two NTF subtypes are expected to regulate aGPCR signaling via distinct mechanisms however their molecular characteristics are largely unknown. Herein, the membrane-associated NTF of EMR2/ADGRE2 is investigated and found to be modified by differential N-glycosylation. The membrane association of EMR2-NTF occurs in post-ER compartments and site-specific N-glycosylation in the GAIN domain is involved in modulating its membrane-association ability. Finally, a unique amphipathic α-helix in the GAIN domain is identified as a putative membrane anchor of EMR2-NTF. These results provide novel insights into the complex interaction and activation mechanisms of aGPCRs.
Sediment disturbance by Ediacaran bulldozers and the roots of the Cambrian explosion
Authors: Buatois Luis A. , Almond John , Mángano M. Gabriela , Jensen Sören , Germs Gerard J. B. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractTrace fossils of sediment bulldozers are documented from terminal Ediacaran strata of the Nama Group in Namibia, where they occur in the Spitskop Member of the Urusis Formation (Schwarzrand Subgroup). They consist of unilobate to bilobate horizontal to subhorizontal trace fossils describing scribbles, circles and, more rarely, open spirals and meanders, and displaying an internal structure indicative of active fill. Their presence suggests that exploitation of the shallow infaunal ecospace by relatively large bilaterians was already well underway at the dawn of the Phanerozoic. Efficient burrowing suggests coelom development most likely linked to metazoan body-size increase. These trace fossils are the earliest clear representatives so far recorded of sediment bulldozing, an activity that may have had a negative impact on suspension-feeding and/or osmotroph communities, as well as on matgrounds, representing early examples of ecosystem engineering and trophic-group amensalism. The occurrence of sediment bulldozers may have promoted the establishment of gradients in horizontal and vertical distribution of organic material in connection with spatially heterogeneous environments on the sea floor at a critical time in Earth evolution.
Invariant errors reveal limitations in motor correction rather than constraints on error sensitivity
Authors: Kim Hyosub E. , Morehead J. Ryan , Parvin Darius E. , Moazzezi Reza , Ivry Richard B. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractImplicit sensorimotor adaptation is traditionally described as a process of error reduction, whereby a fraction of the error is corrected for with each movement. Here, in our study of healthy human participants, we characterize two constraints on this learning process: the size of adaptive corrections is only related to error size when errors are smaller than 6°, and learning functions converge to a similar level of asymptotic learning over a wide range of error sizes. These findings are problematic for current models of sensorimotor adaptation, and point to a new theoretical perspective in which learning is constrained by the size of the error correction, rather than sensitivity to error.
Structure and dynamics of triplet-exciton pairs generated from singlet fission studied via magnetic field effects
Authors: Wakasa Masanobu , Yago Tomoaki , Sonoda Yoriko , Katoh Ryuzi 
Published: March 2018

AbstractSinglet fission is the conversion of a singlet exciton to a pair of triplet excitons followed by a diffusion process to form two free triplet excitons. The quantum yield of singlet fission per photon can exceed 100%. Singlet fission is thus an attractive way to enhance solar-cell performance. However, singlet fission events are not well characterized. In particular, the structure and diffusion pathways of triplet-exciton pairs, which strongly affect the efficiency of the singlet fission event, are unclear. Here we study the magnetic field effects (MFEs) on the singlet fission of diphenylhexatriene (DPH) and fluorinated DPHs crystals. Their fluorescence intensities show clear MFEs and the shape of the MFE curve depends on the crystal structure. Analysis of MFEs with the stochastic Liouville equation reproduces the MFE curve well. This use of MFEs allows one to determine the structure and diffusion pathways of triplet-exciton pairs, and to predict the efficiency of singlet fission events.
Optimising regulation of aggregated thermostatically controlled loads based on multi‐swarm PSO
Authors: Ma Kai , Yuan Chenliang , Xu Xia , Yang Jie , Liu Zhixin 
Published: March 2018

Thermostatically controlled loads (TCLs) have been shown to be able to provide regulation service in ancillary service markets. In this work, an online optimisation model of TCLs was established to track the automatic generation control signal. In the optimisation model, the TCLs are regulated with different control commands, and the cluster‐based control structure of the TCLs is proposed for implementation. To solve the optimisation problem, a mapping between the temperature setpoint variation and the on/off state of TCLs was established. Hence, the problem was transformed into a 0–1 non‐linear programming, which can be solved by the binary dynamic multi‐swarm particle swarm optimisation with cooperative learning strategy (DMS‐PSO‐CLS). Simulation results demonstrate that the binary DMS‐PSO‐CLS algorithm is an efficient method to solve the optimisation problem. It is promising to control the TCLs individually to serve for the frequency regulation in power grid.