bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Food Water Contribution to the Oxygen Isotope Composition of Land Snail Body Water and Its Environmental Implication
Authors: Zhang N. , Yamada K. , Yoshida N. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThis is the first study focused on the oxygen isotope composition (δ18O) of laboratory‐cultivated land snails. Land snails were raised under various controlled environmental parameters, permitting an evaluation of the effectiveness of the flux balance model developed by Balakrishnan and Yapp (). The slope of body water δ18O values vs. provided water δ18O values, suggest that food water is an important source (19‐37%) of land snail body water. However, the flux balance model does not account for this water source. We suggest a revised framework to understand the sources and controlling factors of the land snail body fluid, which should be helpful to future studies on paleo‐environment reconstruction using land snail fossils. This investigation also indicates that snails living in non‐optimal conditions (e.g. low temperature) can adapt their biological behaviors to the environment, which will in turn affect the δ18O values of both body fluid and shells, giving rise to δ18O values which deviate from those of snails living at optimal temperatures.
Impact of California Fires on Local and Regional Air Quality: The Role of a Low‐Cost Sensor Network and Satellite Observations
Authors: Gupta P. , Doraiswamy P. , Levy R. , Pikelnaya O. , Maibach J. , Feenstra B. , Polidori Andrea , Kiros F. , Mills K. C. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractPM2.5, or fine particulate matter, is a category of air pollutant consisting of particles with effective aerodynamic diameter equal to or less than 2.5 μm. These particles have been linked to human health impacts as well as regional haze, visibility, and climate change issues. Due to cost and space restrictions, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency monitoring network remains spatially sparse. To increase the spatial resolution of monitoring, previous studies have used satellite data to estimate ground‐level PM concentrations, despite these estimates being associated with moderate to large uncertainties when relating a column measure of aerosol (aerosol optical depth) with surface measurements. To this end, we discuss a low‐cost air quality monitor (LCAQM) network deployed in California. In this study, we present an application of LCAQM and satellite data for quantifying the impact of wildfires in California during October 2017. The impacts of fires on PM2.5 concentration at varying temporal (hourly, daily, and weekly) and spatial (local to regional) scales have been evaluated. Comparison between low‐cost air quality sensors and reference‐grade air quality instruments shows expected performance with moderate to high uncertainties. The LCAQM measurements, in the absence of federal equivalent method data, were also found to be very useful in developing statistical models to convert aerosol optical depth into PM2.5 with performance of satellite‐derived PM2.5, similar to that obtained using the federal equivalent method data. This paper also highlights challenges associated with both LCAQM and satellite‐based PM2.5 measurements, which require further investigation and research.
Stringent Emission Control Policies Can Provide Large Improvements in Air Quality and Public Health in India
Authors: Conibear Luke , Butt Edward W. , Knote Christoph , Arnold Stephen R. , Spracklen Dominick V. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractExposure to high concentrations of ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a leading risk factor for public health in India causing a large burden of disease. Business‐as‐usual economic and industrial growth in India is predicted to increase emissions, worsen air quality, and increase the associated disease burden in future decades. Here we use a high‐resolution online‐coupled model to estimate the impacts of different air pollution control pathways on ambient PM2.5 concentrations and human health in India. We find that with no change in emissions, the disease burden from exposure to ambient PM2.5 in 2050 will increase by 75% relative to 2015, due to population aging and growth increasing the number of people susceptible to air pollution. We estimate that the International Energy Agencies New Policy Scenario (NPS) and Clean Air Scenario (CAS) in 2050 can reduce ambient PM2.5 concentrations below 2015 levels by 9% and 68%, respectively, offsetting 61,000 and 610,000 premature mortalities a year, which is 9% and 91% of the projected increase in premature mortalities due to population growth and aging. Throughout India, the CAS stands out as the most effective scenario to reduce ambient PM2.5 concentrations and the associated disease burden, reducing the 2050 mortality rate per 100,000 below 2015 control levels by 15%. However, even under such stringent emission control policies, population growth and aging results in premature mortality estimates from exposure to particulate air pollution to increase by 7% compared to 2015, highlighting the challenge facing efforts to improve public health in India.
On the Use of Repeat Leveling for the Determination of Vertical Land Motion: Artifacts, Aliasing, and Extrapolation Errors
Authors: Lyon T. J. , Filmer M. S. , Featherstone W. E. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractLeveling remains the most precise technique for measuring changes in heights. However, for the purposes of determining vertical land motion (VLM), a time series of repeat leveling measurements is susceptible to artifacts and aliasing that may arise due to systematic errors, seasonal surface fluctuations, motions occurring during a survey, and any inconsistencies in the observation conditions among epochs. Using measurements from 10 repeat leveling surveys conducted twice yearly along a profile spanning ~40 km across the Perth Basin, Western Australia, we describe the observation, processing, and analysis methods required to mitigate these potential error sources. We also demonstrate how these issues may lead to misinterpretation of the VLM derived from repeat leveling and may contribute to discrepancies between geologically inferred rates of ground motion or those derived from other geodetic measurement techniques. Finally, we employ historical (~40‐year‐old) leveling data in order to highlight the errors that can arise when attempting to extrapolate VLM derived from a geodetic time series, particularly in cases where the long‐term motion may be nonlinear.
Horizontal operon transfer, plasmids, and the evolution of photosynthesis in Rhodobacteraceae
Authors: Brinkmann Henner , Göker Markus , Koblížek Michal , Wagner-Döbler Irene , Petersen Jörn 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
The capacity for anoxygenic photosynthesis is scattered throughout the phylogeny of the Proteobacteria. Their photosynthesis genes are typically located in a so-called photosynthesis gene cluster (PGC). It is unclear (i) whether phototrophy is an ancestral trait that was frequently lost or (ii) whether it was acquired later by horizontal gene transfer. We investigated the evolution of phototrophy in 105 genome-sequenced Rhodobacteraceae and provide the first unequivocal evidence for the horizontal transfer of the PGC. The 33 concatenated core genes of the PGC formed a robust phylogenetic tree and the comparison with single-gene trees demonstrated the dominance of joint evolution. The PGC tree is, however, largely incongruent with the species tree and at least seven transfers of the PGC are required to reconcile both phylogenies. The origin of a derived branch containing the PGC of the model organism Rhodobacter capsulatus correlates with a diagnostic gene replacement of pufC by pufX. The PGC is located on plasmids in six of the analyzed genomes and its DnaA-like replication module was discovered at a conserved central position of the PGC. A scenario of plasmid-borne horizontal transfer of the PGC and its reintegration into the chromosome could explain the current distribution of phototrophy in Rhodobacteraceae.
Reduced levels of miRNAs 449 and 34 in sperm of mice and men exposed to early life stress
Authors: Dickson David A. , Paulus Jessica K. , Mensah Virginia , Lem Janis , Saavedra-Rodriguez Lorena , Gentry Adrienne , Pagidas Kelly , Feig Larry A. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractExposure of male mice to early life stress alters the levels of specific sperm miRNAs that promote stress-associated behaviors in their offspring. To begin to evaluate whether similar phenomena occur in men, we searched for sperm miRNA changes that occur in both mice and men exposed to early life stressors that have long-lasting effects. For men, we used the Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) questionnaire. It reveals the degree of abusive and/or dysfunctional family experiences when young, which increases risks of developing future psychological and physical disorders. For male mice, we used adolescent chronic social instability (CSI) stress, which not only enhances sociability defects for >1 year, but also anxiety and defective sociability in female offspring for multiple generations through the male lineage. Here we found a statistically significant inverse correlation between levels of multiple miRNAs of the miR-449/34 family and ACE scores of Caucasian males. Remarkably, we found members of the same sperm miRNA family are also reduced in mice exposed to CSI stress. Thus, future studies should be designed to directly test whether reduced levels of these miRNAs could be used as unbiased indicators of current and/or early life exposure to severe stress. Moreover, after mating stressed male mice, these sperm miRNA reductions persist in both early embryos through at least the morula stage and in sperm of males derived from them, suggesting these miRNA changes contribute to transmission of stress phenotypes across generations. Since offspring of men exposed to early life trauma have elevated risks for psychological disorders, these findings raise the possibility that a portion of this risk may be derived from epigenetic regulation of these sperm miRNAs.
Nogo-C regulates post myocardial infarction fibrosis through the interaction with ER Ca2+ leakage channel Sec61α in mouse hearts
Authors: Weng Lin , Jia Shi , Xu Chunling , Ye Jingjing , Cao Yangpo , Liu Yingying , Zheng Ming 
Published: May 2018

AbstractCardiac fibrosis is an independent risk factor for heart failure and even the leading cause of death in myocardial infarction patients. However, molecular mechanisms associated with the pathogenesis of cardiac fibrosis following myocardial infarction are not yet fully understood. Nogo-C protein ubiquitously expresses in tissues including in the heart. Our previous study found that Nogo-C regulated cardiomyocyte apoptosis during myocardial infarction. In the present study, we found that Nogo-C was upregulated in fibrotic hearts after myocardial infarction and in Ang II- or TGF-β1-stimulated cardiac fibroblasts. Overexpression of Nogo-C in cardiac fibroblasts increased expression of pro-fibrogenic proteins, while knockdown of Nogo-C inhibited the fibrotic responses of cardiac fibroblasts to Ang II- or TGF-β1 stimulation. Functionally, Nogo-C deficiency suppressed pro-fibrogenic proteins in post-myocardial infarction hearts and ameliorated post-myocardial infarction cardiac function. Mechanistically, we found that Nogo-C increased intracellular Ca2+ concentration and buffering Ca2+ totally abolished Nogo-C-induced fibrotic responses. Moreover, overexpression of Nogo-C caused increased Sec61α, the Ca2+ leakage channel on endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Nogo-C interacted with Sec61α on endoplasmic reticulum and stabilized Sec61α protein by inhibiting its ubiquitination. Inhibition or knockdown of Sec61α blocked Nogo-C-induced increase of cytosolic Ca2+ concentration and inhibited Nogo-C- and TGF-β1-induced fibrotic responses in cardiac fibroblasts, suggesting that Nogo-C regulates cardiac fibrosis through interacting with Sec61α to mediate the Ca2+ leakage from endoplasmic reticulum. Thus, our results reveal a novel mechanism underlying cardiac fibrosis following myocardial infarction, and provide a therapeutic strategy for cardiac remodeling related heart diseases.
Inhibition of LCMR1 and ATG12 by demethylation-activated miR-570-3p is involved in the anti-metastasis effects of metformin on human osteosarcoma
Authors: Bao Xing , Zhao Libo , Guan Hanfeng , Li Feng 
Published: May 2018

AbstractEpidemiological studies have demonstrated that metformin could mitigate the progression of several tumors. Although it has been proved that metformin could cause demethylation of DNA and lead to up-regulation of some encoding genes and non-coding RNAs, there is little data about the effects of metformin on metastasis, and the interaction between metastasis and autophagy in human osteosarcoma cells. Here, we found miR-570-3p was significantly down-regulated in human metastatic osteosarcoma tissues but not in non-metastatic osteosarcoma tissues. Metformin attenuates the metastasis and autophagy in osteosarcoma. Interestingly, this autophagy favors osteosarcoma cells invasion. Moreover, reduction of metformin-induced inhibition of autophagy could reverse the invasion suppression in osteosarcoma. Mechanistically, metformin increases miR-570-3p by the demethylation of DNA, and the upregulation of miR-570-3p repressed the translation of its target, LCMR1 and ATG12. Our results, for the first time, presents evidence that the miR-570-3p-mediated suppression of LCMR1 and ATG12 is involved in the metformin-induced inhibition of metastasis in osteosarcoma cells.
Laminin γ3 plays an important role in retinal lamination, photoreceptor organisation and ganglion cell differentiation
Authors: Dorgau Birthe , Felemban Majed , Sharpe Alexander , Bauer Roman , Hallam Dean , Steel David H. , Lindsay Susan , Mellough Carla , Lako Majlinda 
Published: May 2018

AbstractLaminins are heterotrimeric glycoproteins of the extracellular matrix. Eleven different laminin chains have been identified in vertebrates. They are ubiquitously expressed in the human body, with a distinct tissue distribution. Laminin expression in neural retina and their functional role during human retinogenesis is still unknown. This study investigated the laminin expression in human developing and adult retina, showing laminin α1, α5, β1, β2 and γ1 to be predominantly expressed in Bruch’s membrane and the inner limiting membrane. Laminin-332 and laminin γ3 expression were mainly observed in the neural retina during retinal histogenesis. These expression patterns were largely conserved in pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal organoids. Blocking of laminin γ3 function in retinal organoids resulted in the disruption of laminar organisation and synapse formation, the loss of photoreceptor organisation and retinal ganglion cells. Our data demonstrate a unique temporal and spatial expression for laminins and reveal a novel role for laminin γ3 during human retinogenesis.
Dasatinib reduces 5-Fu-triggered apoptosis in colon carcinoma by directly modulating Src-dependent caspase-9 phosphorylation
Authors: Fu Yang , Yang Ge , Xue Peipei , Guo Luwei , Yin Yuhan , Ye Zhiqiang , Peng Sanfei , Qin Yanru , Duan Qiuhong , Zhu Feng 
Published: May 2018

AbstractPreclinical data have revealed the inhibitory effect of dasatinib on colon cancer. However, a combination of dasatinib and conventional chemotherapy has failed to show any meaningful outcome in a series of clinical trials. We, therefore, wondered whether Src kinase inhibitors were suitable for treating colon cancer in combination with chemotherapy drugs. This study was designed to explore whether dasatinib disturbed 5-Fu-triggered apoptosis in colon carcinoma. As a result, we established that Src was able to directly phosphorylate caspase-9 at tyrosine 251, leading to elevated caspase-9 activity. Dasatinib dramatically decreased 5-Fu triggered apoptosis in colon carcinoma via suppression of Src activation. Our findings may have partially explained why dasatinib combined with FOLFOX failed to show a meaningful clinical response in mCRC.
Chemically activating MoS2 via spontaneous atomic palladium interfacial doping towards efficient hydrogen evolution
Authors: Luo Zhaoyan , Ouyang Yixin , Zhang Hao , Xiao Meiling , Ge Junjie , Jiang Zheng , Wang Jinlan , Tang Daiming , Cao Xinzhong , Liu Changpeng , Xing Wei 
Published: May 2018

AbstractLacking strategies to simultaneously address the intrinsic activity, site density, electrical transport, and stability problems of chalcogels is restricting their application in catalytic hydrogen production. Herein, we resolve these challenges concurrently through chemically activating the molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) surface basal plane by doping with a low content of atomic palladium using a spontaneous interfacial redox technique. Palladium substitution occurs at the molybdenum site, simultaneously introducing sulfur vacancy and converting the 2H into the stabilized 1T structure. Theoretical calculations demonstrate the sulfur atoms next to the palladium sites exhibit low hydrogen adsorption energy at –0.02 eV. The final MoS2 doped with only 1wt% of palladium demonstrates exchange current density of 805 μA cm−2 and 78 mV overpotential at 10 mA cm−2, accompanied by a good stability. The combined advantages of our surface activating technique open the possibility of manipulating the catalytic performance of MoS2 to rival platinum.
Tumour-associated missense mutations in the dMi-2 ATPase alters nucleosome remodelling properties in a mutation-specific manner
Authors: Kovač Kristina , Sauer Anja , Mačinković Igor , Awe Stephan , Finkernagel Florian , Hoffmeister Helen , Fuchs Andreas , Müller Rolf , Rathke Christina , Längst Gernot , Brehm Alexander 
Published: May 2018

AbstractATP-dependent chromatin remodellers are mutated in more than 20% of human cancers. The consequences of these mutations on enzyme function are poorly understood. Here, we characterise the effects of CHD4 mutations identified in endometrial carcinoma on the remodelling properties of dMi-2, the highly conserved Drosophila homologue of CHD4. Mutations from different patients have surprisingly diverse defects on nucleosome binding, ATPase activity and nucleosome remodelling. Unexpectedly, we identify both mutations that decrease and increase the enzyme activity. Our results define the chromodomains and a novel regulatory region as essential for nucleosome remodelling. Genetic experiments in Drosophila demonstrate that expression of cancer-derived dMi-2 mutants misregulates differentiation of epithelial wing structures and produces phenotypes that correlate with their nucleosome remodelling properties. Our results help to define the defects of CHD4 in cancer at the mechanistic level and provide the basis for the development of molecular approaches aimed at restoring their activity.
Induction of anergic or regulatory tumor-specific CD4+ T cells in the tumor-draining lymph node
Authors: Alonso Ruby , Flament Héloïse , Lemoine Sébastien , Sedlik Christine , Bottasso Emanuel , Péguillet Isabel , Prémel Virginie , Denizeau Jordan , Salou Marion , Darbois Aurélie , Núñez Nicolás Gonzalo , Salomon Benoit , Gross David , Piaggio Eliane , Lantz Olivier 
Published: May 2018

AbstractCD4+T cell antitumor responses have mostly been studied in transplanted tumors expressing secreted model antigens (Ags), while most mutated proteins in human cancers are not secreted. The fate of Ag-specific CD4+T cells recognizing a cytoplasmic Ag in mice bearing autochthonous tumors is still unclear. Here we show, using a genetically engineered lung adenocarcinoma mouse model, that naive tumor-specific CD4+T cells are activated and proliferate in the tumor-draining lymph node (TdLN) but do not differentiate into effectors or accumulate in tumors. Instead, these CD4+T cells are driven toward anergy or peripherally-induced Treg (pTreg) differentiation, from the early stage of tumor development. This bias toward immune suppression is restricted to the TdLN, and is maintained by Tregs enriched in the tumor Ag-specific cell population. Thus, tumors may enforce a dominant inhibition of the anti-tumor CD4 response in the TdLN by recapitulating peripheral self-tolerance mechanisms.
Nonlinear optical components for all-optical probabilistic graphical model
Authors: Babaeian Masoud , Blanche Pierre-A. , Norwood Robert A. , Kaplas Tommi , Keiffer Patrick , Svirko Yuri , Allen Taylor G. , Chen Vincent W. , Chi San-Hui , Perry Joseph W. , Marder Seth R. , Neifeld Mark A. , Peyghambarian N. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe probabilistic graphical models (PGMs) are tools that are used to compute probability distributions over large and complex interacting variables. They have applications in social networks, speech recognition, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and many more areas. Here, we present an all-optical implementation of a PGM through the sum-product message passing algorithm (SPMPA) governed by a wavelength multiplexing architecture. As a proof-of-concept, we demonstrate the use of optics to solve a two node graphical model governed by SPMPA and successfully map the message passing algorithm onto photonics operations. The essential mathematical functions required for this algorithm, including multiplication and division, are implemented using nonlinear optics in thin film materials. The multiplication and division are demonstrated through a logarithm-summation-exponentiation operation and a pump-probe saturation process, respectively. The fundamental bottlenecks for the scalability of the presented scheme are discussed as well.
Sonochemical synthesis of cellulose/hydroxyapatite nanocomposites and their application in protein adsorption
Authors: Fu Lian-Hua , Qi Chao , Liu Yan-Jun , Cao Wen-Tao , Ma Ming-Guo 
Published: May 2018

AbstractHydroxyapatite (HA) is the main mineral constituent in the hard tissue of vertebrate, which is recognized as an important biomedical material owing to its excellent bioactivity and biocompatibility. Herein, we report a facile and green sonochemical route for the rapid synthesis of cellulose/HA nanocomposites in NaOH/urea aqueous solution. The in vitro behavior of the cellulose/HA nanocomposites was studied to evaluate the biological response of the nanocomposites following immersion in simulated body fluid for various periods (maximum of 28 days). The HA crystals formed on the surface of the nanocomposites were carbonate-containing apatite, which is similar to the naturally occurring calcium phosphate materials. The HA nanosheets (assembly of nanorods) were mineralized on the surface of the nanocomposites, and maximum mass of the nanocomposites was reached 1.82 times of initial mass after 28 days of soaking. Moreover, the as-prepared cellulose/HA nanocomposites have good cytocompatibility, and show a relatively high protein adsorption ability using hemoglobin as a model protein. These results indicate that the as-prepared cellulose/HA nanocomposites are promising for applications in various biomedical fields such as tissue engineering and protein/drug delivery.