bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sotetsuflavone suppresses invasion and metastasis in non-small-cell lung cancer A549 cells by reversing EMT via the TNF-α/NF-κB and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway
Authors: Wang Shaohui , Yan Yu , Cheng Zhekang , Hu Yanlan , Liu Tongxiang 
Published: February 2018

AbstractEpithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is associated with tumor invasion and metastasis, and offers insight into novel strategies for cancer treatment. Sotetsuflavone was isolated from Cycas revolute, which has excellent anticancer activity in the early stages. The present study aims to evaluate the anti-metastatic potential of sotetsuflavone in vitro. Our data demonstrated that sotetsuflavone inhibits metastasis of A549 cells, and EMT. This inhibition was reflected in the upregulation of E-cadherin, and downregulation of N-cadherin, vimentin, and Snail. Mechanistically, our study demonstrated that HIF-1α played an important role in the anti-metastatic effect of sotetsuflavone in non-small-cell lung cancer A549 cells. Sotetsuflavone not only mediated VEGF expression but also downregulated VEGF and upregulated angiostatin, and simultaneously affected the expression of MMPs and decreased MMP-9 and MMP-13 expression. More importantly, HIF-1α expression may be regulated by the inhibition of PI3K/AKT and TNF-α/NF-κB pathways. These results suggest that sotetsuflavone can reverse EMT, thereby inhibiting the migration and invasion of A549 cells. This process may be associated with both PI3K/AKT and TNF-α/NF-κB pathways, and sotetsuflavone may be efficacious in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer.
Gomesin peptides prevent proliferation and lead to the cell death of devil facial tumour disease cells
Authors: Fernandez-Rojo Manuel A. , Deplazes Evelyne , Pineda Sandy S. , Brust Andreas , Marth Tano , Wilhelm Patrick , Martel Nick , Ramm Grant A. , Mancera Ricardo L. , Alewood Paul F. , Woods Gregory M. , Belov Katherine , Miles John J. , King Glenn F. , Ikonomopoulou Maria P. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThe Tasmanian devil faces extinction due to devil facial tumour disease (DFTD), a highly transmittable clonal form of cancer without available treatment. In this study, we report the cell-autonomous antiproliferative and cytotoxic activities exhibited by the spider peptide gomesin (AgGom) and gomesin-like homologue (HiGom) in DFTD cells. Mechanistically, both peptides caused a significant reduction at G0/G1 phase, in correlation with an augmented expression of the cell cycle inhibitory proteins p53, p27, p21, necrosis, exacerbated generation of reactive oxygen species and diminished mitochondrial membrane potential, all hallmarks of cellular stress. The screening of a novel panel of AgGom-analogues revealed that, unlike changes in the hydrophobicity and electrostatic surface, the cytotoxic potential of the gomesin analogues in DFTD cells lies on specific arginine substitutions in the eight and nine positions and alanine replacement in three, five and 12 positions. In conclusion, the evidence supports gomesin as a potential antiproliferative compound against DFTD disease.
Near-100 MeV protons via a laser-driven transparency-enhanced hybrid acceleration scheme
Authors: Higginson A. , Gray R. J. , King M. , Dance R. J. , Williamson S. D. R. , Butler N. M. H. , Wilson R. , Capdessus R. , Armstrong C. , Green J. S. , Hawkes S. J. , Martin P. , Wei W. Q. , Mirfayzi S. R. , Yuan X. H. , Kar S. , Borghesi M. , Clarke R. J. , Neely D. , McKenna P. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThe range of potential applications of compact laser-plasma ion sources motivates the development of new acceleration schemes to increase achievable ion energies and conversion efficiencies. Whilst the evolving nature of laser-plasma interactions can limit the effectiveness of individual acceleration mechanisms, it can also enable the development of hybrid schemes, allowing additional degrees of control on the properties of the resulting ion beam. Here we report on an experimental demonstration of efficient proton acceleration to energies exceeding 94 MeV via a hybrid scheme of radiation pressure-sheath acceleration in an ultrathin foil irradiated by a linearly polarised laser pulse. This occurs via a double-peaked electrostatic field structure, which, at an optimum foil thickness, is significantly enhanced by relativistic transparency and an associated jet of super-thermal electrons. The range of parameters over which this hybrid scenario occurs is discussed and implications for ion acceleration driven by next-generation, multi-petawatt laser facilities are explored.
A neuronal mechanism underlying decision-making deficits during hyperdopaminergic states
Authors: Verharen Jeroen P. H. , de Jong Johannes W. , Roelofs Theresia J. M. , Huffels Christiaan F. M. , van Zessen Ruud , Luijendijk Mieneke C. M. , Hamelink Ralph , Willuhn Ingo , den Ouden Hanneke E. M. , van der Plasse Geoffrey , Adan Roger A. H. , Vanderschuren Louk J. M. J. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractHyperdopaminergic states in mental disorders are associated with disruptive deficits in decision making. However, the precise contribution of topographically distinct mesencephalic dopamine pathways to decision-making processes remains elusive. Here we show, using a multidisciplinary approach, how hyperactivity of ascending projections from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) contributes to impaired flexible decision making in rats. Activation of the VTA–nucleus accumbens pathway leads to insensitivity to loss and punishment due to impaired processing of negative reward prediction errors. In contrast, activation of the VTA–prefrontal cortex pathway promotes risky decision making without affecting the ability to choose the economically most beneficial option. Together, these findings show how malfunction of ascending VTA projections affects value-based decision making, suggesting a potential mechanism through which increased forebrain dopamine signaling leads to aberrant behavior, as is seen in substance abuse, mania, and after dopamine replacement therapy in Parkinson’s disease.
Nanoscale kinetic segregation of TCR and CD45 in engaged microvilli facilitates early T cell activation
Authors: Razvag Yair , Neve-Oz Yair , Sajman Julia , Reches Meital , Sherman Eilon 
Published: February 2018

AbstractT cells have a central function in mounting immune responses. However, mechanisms of their early activation by cognate antigens remain incompletely understood. Here we use live-cell multi-colour single-molecule localization microscopy to study the dynamic separation between TCRs and CD45 glycoprotein phosphatases in early cell contacts under TCR-activating and non-activating conditions. Using atomic force microscopy, we identify these cell contacts with engaged microvilli and characterize their morphology, rigidity and dynamics. Physical modelling and simulations of the imaged cell interfaces quantitatively capture the TCR–CD45 separation. Surprisingly, TCR phosphorylation negatively correlates with TCR–CD45 separation. These data support a refined kinetic-segregation model. First, kinetic-segregation occurs within seconds from TCR activation in engaged microvilli. Second, TCRs should be segregated, yet not removed too far, from CD45 for their optimal and localized activation within clusters. Our combined imaging and computational approach prove an important tool in the study of dynamic protein organization in cell interfaces.
Enhancing the brightness of electrically driven single-photon sources using color centers in silicon carbide
Authors: Khramtsov Igor A. , Vyshnevyy Andrey A. , Fedyanin Dmitry Yu. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractPractical applications of quantum information technologies exploiting the quantum nature of light require efficient and bright true single-photon sources which operate under ambient conditions. Currently, point defects in the crystal lattice of diamond known as color centers have taken the lead in the race for the most promising quantum system for practical non-classical light sources. This work is focused on a different quantum optoelectronic material, namely a color center in silicon carbide, and reveals the physics behind the process of single-photon emission from color centers in SiC under electrical pumping. We show that color centers in silicon carbide can be far superior to any other quantum light emitter under electrical control at room temperature. Using a comprehensive theoretical approach and rigorous numerical simulations, we demonstrate that at room temperature, the photon emission rate from a p–i–n silicon carbide single-photon emitting diode can exceed 5 Gcounts/s, which is higher than what can be achieved with electrically driven color centers in diamond or epitaxial quantum dots. These findings lay the foundation for the development of practical photonic quantum devices which can be produced in a well-developed CMOS compatible process flow.
Comparative regenerative mechanisms across different mammalian tissues
Authors: Iismaa Siiri E. , Kaidonis Xenia , Nicks Amy M. , Bogush Nikolay , Kikuchi Kazu , Naqvi Nawazish , Harvey Richard P. , Husain Ahsan , Graham Robert M. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractStimulating regeneration of complex tissues and organs after injury to effect complete structural and functional repair, is an attractive therapeutic option that would revolutionize clinical medicine. Compared to many metazoan phyla that show extraordinary regenerative capacity, which in some instances persists throughout life, regeneration in mammalians, particularly humans, is limited or absent. Here we consider recent insights in the elucidation of molecular mechanisms of regeneration that have come from studies of tissue homeostasis and injury repair in mammalian tissues that span the spectrum from little or no self-renewal, to those showing active cell turnover throughout life. These studies highlight the diversity of factors that constrain regeneration, including immune responses, extracellular matrix composition, age, injury type, physiological adaptation, and angiogenic and neurogenic capacity. Despite these constraints, much progress has been made in elucidating key molecular mechanisms that may provide therapeutic targets for the development of future regenerative therapies, as well as previously unidentified developmental paradigms and windows-of-opportunity for improved regenerative repair.
Winter Burst of Pristine Kashmir Valley Air
Authors: Hakim Zainab Q. , Beig Gufran , Reka Srinivas , Romshoo Shakil A. , Rashid Irfan 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThe Kashmir Valley in India is one of the world’s major tourist attractions and perceived as a pristine environment. Long term monitoring of fine particulate matter, PM2.5 (particles having aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 μm or less), responsible for deteriorating human health, has been done for the period 2013–14. Results indicate that air quality of the capital city Srinagar (34.1°N, 74.8°E) deteriorates significantly in particular during winter, where level of PM2.5 touches a peak value of 348 μg/m³ against the Indian permissible limit of 60 μg/m³. The emissions due to domestic coal usage are found to be 1246.4 tons/yr, which accounts for 84% of the total annual emissions. The on-line high-resolution weather research and forecasting model with embedded chemistry module (WRF-Chem), which accounts for emission inventory developed in this region reproduced the seasonal variability reasonably well. Cold temperatures with dry conditions along with elevated level of biofuel emissions from domestic sector are found to be the major processes responsible for winter period particulate pollution. The back trajectories show that westerly winds originating from Afghanistan and surrounding areas also contribute to the high PM2.5 levels.
Difficulties with tunneling of the cuffed catheter: a single-centre experience
Authors: Gołębiowski Tomasz , Kusztal Mariusz , Letachowicz Krzysztof , Garcarek Jerzy , Porażko Tomasz , Penar Jan , Krajewska Magdalena , Weyde Wacław , Klinger Marian 
Published: February 2018

AbstractTunneling of the cuffed catheter for hemodialysis is an important part of insertion procedure with faulty techniques being the cause of catheter dysfunctions. We retrospectively analyzed 737 double-lumen cuffed catheter procedures between 2008 and 2015 in patients aged 60 ± 15years, requiring renal replacement therapy. Complications of tunneling included kinking, bleeding and other problems. In 20 of 737 (2.7%) procedures, the catheter kinked, which was observed in 7.7% of silicone and 0.6% of polyurethane catheters. Repositioning was attempted in 4, but was successful in only 2 cases. Catheter exchange was necessary in 16 cases, but the function was adequate in 2 cases, despite radiological signs of kinking. In 6 cases (1 patient with diabetes, 2 with chest anatomy changes and medical devices, 2 with systemic sclerosis and 1 with greatly enlarged superficial jugular veins) we faced particular difficulties requiring an individual solution by tunneling; these are described in detail. The cumulative catheter patency rate were 69%, 52% and 37% at 3, 6 and 12 months, respectively. In conclusion, the most frequent complication of tunneling was kinking, usually necessitating catheter exchange. The silicon catheter kinked more often than the polyurethane one. An individual approach is sometimes needed by patients with diabetes and anatomical changes of the chest.
Multiresolution Consensus Clustering in Networks
Authors: Jeub Lucas G. S. , Sporns Olaf , Fortunato Santo 
Published: February 2018

AbstractNetworks often exhibit structure at disparate scales. We propose a method for identifying community structure at different scales based on multiresolution modularity and consensus clustering. Our contribution consists of two parts. First, we propose a strategy for sampling the entire range of possible resolutions for the multiresolution modularity quality function. Our approach is directly based on the properties of modularity and, in particular, provides a natural way of avoiding the need to increase the resolution parameter by several orders of magnitude to break a few remaining small communities, necessitating the introduction of ad-hoc limits to the resolution range with standard sampling approaches. Second, we propose a hierarchical consensus clustering procedure, based on a modified modularity, that allows one to construct a hierarchical consensus structure given a set of input partitions. While here we are interested in its application to partitions sampled using multiresolution modularity, this consensus clustering procedure can be applied to the output of any clustering algorithm. As such, we see many potential applications of the individual parts of our multiresolution consensus clustering procedure in addition to using the procedure itself to identify hierarchical structure in networks.
Strontium isotope ratios of human hair record intra-city variations in tap water source
Authors: Tipple Brett J. , Valenzuela Luciano O. , Ehleringer James R. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThe oxygen (18O/16O) isotope analysis of hair is commonly applied to reconstruct an individual’s residence history. However, region-of-origin as determined from oxygen isotope values (δ18O) alone is often spatially indistinct. Adding additional geochemical recorders can refine region-of-origin estimates. In this capacity, strontium (87Sr/86Sr) isotope analysis has attracted increased interest. While 87Sr/86Sr reflects the influences of local geology, 87Sr/86Sr of hair includes both external environmental signals as well as the internal dietary indicators. To better understand the impact of these contributions to the spatial signal encoded within 87Sr/86Sr of hair, human hair was collected from three locations within Salt Lake City, Utah along with the donor’s sex. The 87Sr/86Sr and δ18O of hair and local tap water were measured. There were no significant relationships between sex and either δ18O or 87Sr/86Sr of hair, nor between collection location and the δ18O of hair. However, we found significant associations between collection location and 87Sr/86Sr of hair. These findings suggest that interactions with local water may be an important source of Sr to human hair and that the 87Sr/86Sr of hair may have the capacity to record differences in 87Sr/86Sr of tap waters on small spatial scales.
QFMatch: multidimensional flow and mass cytometry samples alignment
Authors: Orlova Darya Y. , Meehan Stephen , Parks David , Moore Wayne A. , Meehan Connor , Zhao Qian , Ghosn Eliver E. B. , Herzenberg Leonore A. , Walther Guenther 
Published: February 2018

AbstractPart of the flow/mass cytometry data analysis process is aligning (matching) cell subsets between relevant samples. Current methods address this cluster-matching problem in ways that are either computationally expensive, affected by the curse of dimensionality, or fail when population patterns significantly vary between samples. Here, we introduce a quadratic form (QF)-based cluster matching algorithm (QFMatch) that is computationally efficient and accommodates cases where population locations differ significantly (or even disappear or appear) from sample to sample. We demonstrate the effectiveness of QFMatch by evaluating sample datasets from immunology studies. The algorithm is based on a novel multivariate extension of the quadratic form distance for the comparison of flow cytometry data sets. We show that this QF distance has attractive computational and statistical properties that make it well suited for analysis tasks that involve the comparison of flow/mass cytometry samples.
Social Observation Increases Functional Segregation between MPFC Subregions Predicting Prosocial Consumer Decisions
Authors: Jung Daehyun , Sul Sunhae , Lee Minwoo , Kim Hackjin 
Published: February 2018

AbstractAlthough it is now well documented that observation by others can be a powerful elicitor of prosocial behaviour, the underlying neural mechanism is yet to be explored. In the present fMRI study, we replicated the previously reported observer effect in ethical consumption, in that participants were more likely to purchase social products that are sold to support people in need than non-social products when being observed by others. fMRI data revealed that the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) encoded subject-specific value parameters of purchase decisions for social and non-social products, respectively, under social observation. The ACC showed strong functional coupling with the amygdala and the anterior insula when participants in the observation condition were making purchases of social versus non-social products. Finally, ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) activity predicted faster reaction time and increased prosocial behavior during decisions to purchase social versus non-social products, regardless of social observation. The present findings suggest that subregions of the mPFC, namely the dmPFC, ACC, and vmPFC, are hierarchically organized to encode different levels of decision values from the value of context-sensitive reputation to that of internalized prosociality.
Distinct macular thickness changes after femtosecond laser–assisted cataract surgery of age-related cataract and myopia with cataract
Authors: Wang Yong , Du Jun , Yang Mei , Xu Yi , Guan Huaijin , Wu Jian 
Published: February 2018

AbstractCataract surgery can cause macular thickness change. We used optical coherence tomography (OCT) to assess the macular thickness of different regions after femtosecond laser–assisted cataract surgery of age-related cataracts (ARC) and myopia cases with cataract (myopia group). Fifty eyes of 50 patients in ARC group and fifty eyes of 50 patients in myopia with cataract group were included. All study underwent femtosecond laser–assisted cataract surgery and macular thickness of was measured at pre-operation and 1 week, 1 month after surgery. There are significant differences of foveal thickness (P = 0.02), foveal volume (P = 0.02) and average retinal thickness (P = 0.02) between two groups before operation. In the myopia group, statistically significant differences were not found in postoperative macular thickness as compared with ARC group. There are differences in macular thickness between pre-operation and 1 month after operation when compared with nasal outer macular ring thickness (P = 0.022), foveal volume (P = 0.005) and average retinal thickness (P = 0.012) in ARC group. The study suggest that femtosecond laser–assisted cataract extraction is safe in myopia group that did not cause significant increase of macular thickness. However, an increased post-operative local macular thickness was recoded while comparing macular thickness with the baseline in ARC group.
Upregulation of SOX2-activated lncRNA ANRIL promotes nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell growth
Authors: Wu Jian-Hui , Tang Jian-Ming , Li Jia , Li Xiong-Wen 
Published: February 2018

AbstractRecent molecularly targeted approaches have gained advances in nasopharyngeal carcinoma treatment. However, the estimated five-year survival rate has not met the desired degree of improvement. Here, we report that upregulation of the expression of the SOX2-activated lncRNA ANRIL is involved in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. ANRIL has been found to be upregulated in clinical nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Using genetic approaches targeting ANRIL in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells, we found that the knockdown of ANRIL inhibits cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, SOX2 binds with ANRIL and increases its RNA level, which upregulates β-catenin signalling, resulting in enhanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma tumourigenesis. Expression levels of ANRIL are positively correlated with SOX2 and β-catenin in clinical nasopharyngeal carcinoma samples. Our findings demonstrate that the SOX2-ANRIL-β-catenin axis plays a critical role in nasopharyngeal carcinoma proliferation and provide a potential therapeutic approach for nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients.
Identification of stable reference genes for quantitative PCR in koalas
Authors: Sarker N. , Fabijan J. , Emes R. D. , Hemmatzadeh F. , Meers J. , Moreton J. , Owen H. , Seddon J. M. , Simmons G. , Speight N. , Trott D. , Woolford L. , Tarlinton R. E. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractTo better understand host and immune response to diseases, gene expression studies require identification of reference genes with stable expression for accurate normalisation. This study describes the identification and testing of reference genes with stable expression profiles in koala lymph node tissues across two genetically distinct koala populations. From the 25 most stable genes identified in transcriptome analysis, 11 genes were selected for verification using reverse transcription quantitative PCR, in addition to the commonly used ACTB and GAPDH genes. The expression data were analysed using stable genes statistical software - geNorm, BestKeeper, NormFinder, the comparative ΔCt method and RefFinder. All 13 genes showed relative stability in expression in koala lymph node tissues, however Tmem97 and Hmg20a were identified as the most stable genes across the two koala populations.