bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Proteomic analysis of cholera toxin adjuvant-stimulated human monocytes identifies Thrombospondin-1 and Integrin-β1 as strongly upregulated molecules involved in adjuvant activity
Authors: Terrinoni Manuela , Holmgren Jan , Lebens Michael , Larena Maximilian 
Published: February 2019

AbstractCholera Toxin (CT) as well as its related non-toxic mmCT and dmLT mutant proteins have been shown to be potent adjuvants for mucosally administered vaccines. Their adjuvant activity involves activation of cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA) signaling and inflammasome/IL-1β pathways in antigen presenting cells (APC). To get a further understanding of the signal transduction and downstream pathways activated in APCs by this group of adjuvants we have, employing quantitative proteomic analytic tools, investigated human monocytes at various time points after treatment with CT. We report the activation of three main biological pathways among upregulated proteins, peaking at 16 hours of CT treatment: cellular organization, metabolism, and immune response. Specifically, in the further analyzed immune response pathway we note a strong upregulation of thrombospondin 1 (THBS1) and integrin β1 (ITGB1) in response to CT as well as to mmCT and dmLT, mediated via cAMP/PKA and NFKB signaling. Importantly, inhibitionin vitroof THSB1 and ITGB1 in monocytes or primary dendritic cells using siRNA abrogated the ability of the treated APCs to promote an adjuvant-stimulated Th17 cell response when co-cultured with peripheral blood lymphocytes indicating the involvement of these molecules in the adjuvant action on APCs by CT, mmCT and dmLT.
High Throughput Laser Process of Transparent Conducting Surfaces for Terahertz Bandpass Ultrathin Metamaterials
Authors: Wang Qinghua , Raglione Michaella , Li Baojia , Jin Xin , Toor Fatima , Arnold Mark , Ding Hongtao 
Published: February 2019

AbstractTerahertz (THz) imaging has attracted much attention within the past decade as an emerging nondestructive evaluation technique. In this paper, we present a novel Laser-based Metamaterial Fabrication (LMF) process for high-throughput fabrication of transparent conducting surfaces on dielectric substrates such as glass, quartz and polymers to achieve tunable THz bandpass characteristics. The LMF process comprises two steps: (1) applying ultrathin-film metal deposition, with a typical thickness of 10 nm, on the dielectric substrate; (2) creating a ~100-micron feature pattern on the metal film using nanosecond pulsed laser ablation. Our results demonstrate the use of laser-textured ultra-thin film with newly integrated functional capabilities: (a) highly conductive with ~20 Ω/sq sheet resistance, (b) optically transparent with ~70% transmittance within visible spectrum, and (c) tunable bandpass filtering effect in the THz frequency range. A numerical analysis is performed to help determine the fundamental mechanism of THz bandpass filtering for the LMF-built samples. The scientific findings from this work render an economical and scalable manufacturing technique capable of treating large surface area for multi-functional metamaterials.
Natural biocide disrupts nestmate recognition in honeybees
Authors: Cappa Federico , Petrocelli Iacopo , Dani Francesca Romana , Dapporto Leonardo , Giovannini Michele , Silva-Castellari Jeferson , Turillazzi Stefano , Cervo Rita 
Published: February 2019

AbstractHoneybee colonies are under the threat of many stressors, biotic and abiotic factors that strongly affect their survival. Recently, great attention has been directed at chemical pesticides, including their effects at sub-lethal doses on bee behaviour and colony success; whereas the potential side effects of natural biocides largely used in agriculture, such as entomopathogenic fungi, have received only marginal attention. Here, we report the impact of the fungus Beauveria bassiana on honeybee nestmate recognition ability, a crucial feature at the basis of colony integrity. We performed both behavioural assays by recording bee guards’ response towards foragers (nestmate or non-nestmate) either exposed to B. bassiana or unexposed presented at the hive entrance, and GC-MS analyses of the cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) of fungus-exposed versus unexposed bees. Our results demonstrated that exposed bees have altered cuticular hydrocarbons and are more easily accepted into foreign colonies than controls. Since CHCs are the main recognition cues in social insects, changes in their composition appear to affect nestmate recognition ability at the colony level. The acceptance of chemically unrecognizable fungus-exposed foragers could therefore favour forager drift and disease spread across colonies.
Initial findings of striatum tripartite model in OCD brain samples based on transcriptome analysis
Authors: Lisboa Bianca C. G. , Oliveira Katia C. , Tahira Ana Carolina , Barbosa André Rocha , Feltrin Arthur Sant’Anna , Gouveia Gisele , Lima Luzia , Feio dos Santos Ana Cecília , Martins David Correa , Puga Renato David , Moretto Ariane Cristine , De Bragança Pereira Carlos Alberto , Lafer Beny , Leite Renata Elaine Paraizo , Ferretti-Rebustini Renata Eloah De Lucena , Farfel Jose Marcelo , Grinberg Lea Tenenholz , Jacob-Filho Wilson , Miguel Euripedes Constantino , Hoexter Marcelo Queiroz , Brentani Helena 
Published: February 2019

AbstractObsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric disorder characterized by obsessions and/or compulsions. Different striatal subregions belonging to the cortico-striato-thalamic circuitry (CSTC) play an important role in the pathophysiology of OCD. The transcriptomes of 3 separate striatal areas (putamen (PT), caudate nucleus (CN) and accumbens nucleus (NAC)) from postmortem brain tissue were compared between 6 OCD and 8 control cases. In addition to network connectivity deregulation, different biological processes are specific to each striatum region according to the tripartite model of the striatum and contribute in various ways to OCD pathophysiology. Specifically, regulation of neurotransmitter levels and presynaptic processes involved in chemical synaptic transmission were shared between NAC and PT. The Gene Ontology terms cellular response to chemical stimulus, response to external stimulus, response to organic substance, regulation of synaptic plasticity, and modulation of synaptic transmission were shared between CN and PT. Most genes harboring common and/or rare variants previously associated with OCD that were differentially expressed or part of a least preserved coexpression module in our study also suggest striatum subregion specificity. At the transcriptional level, our study supports differences in the 3 circuit CSTC model associated with OCD.
Identification of Cytotoxic Flavor Chemicals in Top-Selling Electronic Cigarette Refill Fluids
Authors: Hua My , Omaiye Esther E. , Luo Wentai , McWhirter Kevin J. , Pankow James F. , Talbot Prue 
Published: February 2019

AbstractWe identified the most popular electronic cigarette (EC) refill fluids using an Internet survey and local and online sales information, quantified their flavor chemicals, and evaluated cytotoxicities of the fluids and flavor chemicals. “Berries/Fruits/Citrus” was the most popular EC refill fluid flavor category. Twenty popular EC refill fluids were purchased from local shops, and the ingredient flavor chemicals were identified and quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Total flavor chemical concentrations ranged from 0.6 to 27.9 mg/ml, and in 95% of the fluids, total flavor concentration was greater than nicotine concentration. The 20 most popular refill fluids contained 99 quantifiable flavor chemicals; each refill fluid contained 22 to 47 flavor chemicals, most being esters. Some chemicals were found frequently, and several were present in most products. At a 1% concentration, 80% of the refill fluids were cytotoxic in the MTT assay. Six pure standards of the flavor chemicals found at the highest concentrations in the two most cytotoxic refill fluids were effective in the MTT assay, and ethyl maltol, which was in over 50% of the products, was the most cytotoxic. These data show that the cytotoxicity of some popular refill fluids can be attributed to their high concentrations of flavor chemicals.
Gate-Tunable Plasmon-Induced Transparency Modulator Based on Stub-Resonator Waveguide with Epsilon-Near-Zero Materials
Authors: Tao Long , Anopchenko Aleksei , Gurung Sudip , Zhang Jinqiannan , Lee Ho Wai Howard 
Published: February 2019

AbstractWe demonstrate an electrically tunable ultracompact plasmonic modulator with large modulation strength (>10 dB) and a small footprint (~1 μm in length) via plasmon-induced transparency (PIT) configuration. The modulator based on a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) slot waveguide structure consists of two stubs embedded on the same side of a bus waveguide forming a coupled system. Heavily n-doped indium tin oxide (ITO) is used as the semiconductor in the MOS waveguide. A large modulation strength is realized due to the formation of the epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) layer at the ITO-oxide interface at the wavelength of the modulated signal. Numerical simulation results reveal that such a significant modulation can be achieved with a small applied voltage of ~3V. This result shows promise in developing nanoscale modulators for next generation compact photonic/plasmonic integrated circuits.
Genome-wide association study suggests impact of chromosome 10 rs139401390 on kidney function in patients with coronary artery disease
Authors: Schmitz Boris , Kleber Marcus E. , Lenders Malte , Delgado Graciela E. , Engelbertz Christiane , Huang Jie , Pavenstädt Hermann , Breithardt Günter , Brand Stefan-Martin , März Winfried , Brand Eva 
Published: February 2019

AbstractChronic kidney disease (CKD) is an independent risk factor for onset and progression of coronary artery disease (CAD). Discovery of predisposing loci for kidney function in CAD patients was performed using a genome-wide association approach. Inclusion criteria were CAD with ≥50% stenosis (≥1 coronary artery) and a creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 30–75 ml/min/1.73 m2. An association of rs139401390 located to a region 58.8 kb upstream of renalase (RNLS) with eGFR was detected in the Ludwigshafen Risk and Cardiovascular Health (LURIC) study (n = 499, p = 7.88 × 10−9, mean eGFR 60.7 ml/min/1.73 m2). Direct genotyping of rs139401390A > G suggested increased eGFR by 12.0 ml/min/1.73 m2 per A allele (p = 0.000004). Genome-wide replication of rs139401390A > G in the Coronary Artery Disease and Renal Failure (CAD-REF) registry with a mean eGFR of 47.8 ml/min/1.73 m2 (n = 574, p = 0.033) was only nominally significant. Comparison of rs139401390 genotypes for risk of reduced kidney function in the overall LURIC study revealed higher adjusted odds ratios (OR) for eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m2 for CAD patients (n = 1992, OR = 2.36, p = 0.008, G/A + G/G vs A/A) compared to patients with/without CAD (n = 2908, OR = 1.97, p = 0.014, G/A + G/G vs A/A). No significant risk elevation was detected in patients without CAD (n = 948, p = 0.571). rs139401390 may affect kidney function in CAD patients with mild reduction in eGFR.
SerpinB2 is involved in cellular response upon UV irradiation
Authors: Majoros Hajnalka , Ujfaludi Zsuzsanna , Borsos Barbara Nikolett , Hudacsek Viktória Vivien , Nagy Zita , Coin Frederic , Buzas Krisztina , Kovács Ilona , Bíró Tamás , Boros Imre Miklós , Pankotai Tibor 
Published: February 2019

AbstractUltraviolet light induced pyrimidine dimer is a helix distortion DNA damage type, which recruits repair complexes. However, proteins of these complexes that take part in both DNA damage recognition and repair have been well-described, the regulation of the downstream steps of nucleotide excision repair (NER) have not been clearly clarified yet. In a high-throughput screen, we identified SerpinB2 (SPB2) as one of the most dramatically upregulated gene in keratinocytes following UV irradiation. We found that both the mRNA and the protein levels of SPB2 were increased upon UV irradiation in various cell lines. Additionally, UV damage induced translocation of SPB2 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus as well as the damage induced foci formation of it. Here we show that SPB2 co-localizes with XPB involved in the NER pathway at UV-induced repair foci. Finally, we demonstrated that UV irradiation promoted the association of SPB2 with ubiquitylated proteins. In basal cell carcinoma tumour cells, we identified changes in the subcellular localization of SPB2. Based on our results, we conclude that SPB2 protein has a novel role in UV-induced NER pathway, since it regulates the removal of the repair complex from the damaged site leading to cancerous malformation.
Cavitation dose painting for focused ultrasound-induced blood-brain barrier disruption
Authors: Yang Yaoheng , Zhang Xiaohui , Ye Dezhuang , Laforest Richard , Williamson Jeffrey , Liu Yongjian , Chen Hong 
Published: February 2019

AbstractFocused ultrasound combined with microbubble for blood-brain barrier disruption (FUS-BBBD) is a promising technique for noninvasive and localized brain drug delivery. This study demonstrates that passive cavitation imaging (PCI) is capable of predicting the location and concentration of nanoclusters delivered by FUS-BBBD. During FUS-BBBD treatment of mice, the acoustic emissions from FUS-activated microbubbles were passively detected by an ultrasound imaging system and processed offline using a frequency-domain PCI algorithm. After the FUS treatment, radiolabeled gold nanoclusters, 64Cu-AuNCs, were intravenously injected into the mice and imaged by positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT). The centers of the stable cavitation dose (SCD) maps obtained by PCI and the corresponding centers of the 64Cu-AuNCs concentration maps obtained by PET coincided within 0.3 ± 0.4 mm and 1.6 ± 1.1 mm in the transverse and axial directions of the FUS beam, respectively. The SCD maps were found to be linearly correlated with the 64Cu-AuNCs concentration maps on a pixel-by-pixel level. These findings suggest that SCD maps can spatially “paint” the delivered nanocluster concentration, a technique that we named as cavitation dose painting. This PCI-based cavitation dose painting technique in combination with FUS-BBBD opens new horizons in spatially targeted and modulated brain drug delivery.
A role for Vibrio vulnificus PecS during hypoxia
Authors: Bhattacharyya Nabanita , Lemon Tiffany L. , Grove Anne 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThe genus Vibrio includes serious human pathogens, and mollusks are a significant reservoir for species such as V. vulnificus. Vibrio species encode PecS, a member of the multiple antibiotic resistance regulator (MarR) family of transcription factors; pecS is divergently oriented to pecM, which encodes an efflux pump. We report here that Vibrio species feature frequent duplications of pecS-pecM genes, suggesting evolutionary pressures to respond to distinct environmental situations. The single V. vulnificus PecS binds two sites within the pecS-pecM intergenic region with Kd = 0.3 ± 0.1 nM, a binding that is attenuated by the ligands xanthine and urate, except when promoter DNA is saturated with PecS. A unique target is found in the intergenic region between genes encoding the nitric oxide sensing transcription factor, NsrR, and nod; the nod-encoded nitric oxide dioxygenase is important for preventing nitric oxide stress. Reporter gene assays show that PecS-mediated repression of gene expression can be relieved in presence of ligand. Since xanthine and urate are produced as part of the oxidative burst during host defenses and under molluscan hypoxia, we propose that these intermediates in the host purine degradation pathway function to promote bacterial survival during hypoxia and oxidative stress.
Biomechanical properties of fishing lines of the glowworm Arachnocampa luminosa (Diptera; Keroplatidae)
Authors: von Byern Janek , Chandler Pete , Merritt David , Adlassnig Wolfram , Stringer Ian , Meyer-Rochow Victor Benno , Kovalev Alexander , Dorrer Victoria , Dimartino Simone , Marchetti-Deschmann Martina , Gorb Stanislav 
Published: February 2019

AbstractAnimals use adhesive secretions in highly diverse ways, such as for settlement, egg anchorage, mating, active or passive defence, etc. One of the most interesting functions is the use of bioadhesives to capture prey, as the bonding has to be performed within milliseconds and often under unfavourable conditions. While much is understood about the adhesive and biomechanical properties of the threads of other hunters such as spiders, barely anything is documented about those of the New Zealand glowwormArachnocampa luminosa. We analysed tensile properties of the fishing lines of the New Zealand glowwormArachnocampa luminosaunder natural and dry conditions and measured their adhesion energy to different surfaces. The capture system ofA.luminosais highly adapted to the prevailing conditions (13–15 °C, relative humidity of 98%) whereby the wet fishing lines only show a bonding ability at high relative humidity (>80%) with a mean adhesive energy from 20–45 N/m and a stronger adhesion to polar surfaces. Wet threads show a slightly higher breaking strain value than dried threads, whereas the tensile strength of wet threads was much lower. The analyses show that breaking stress and strain values inArachnocampa luminosawere very low in comparison to relatedArachnocampaspecies and spider silk threads but exhibit much higher adhesion energy values. While the mechanical differences between the threads of variousArachnocampaspecies might be consequence of the different sampling and handling of the threads prior to the tests, differences to spiders could be explained by habitat differences and differences in the material ultrastructure. Orb web spiders produce viscid silk consisting of β-pleated sheets, whereasArachnocampahas cross-β–sheet crystallites within its silk. As a functional explanation, the low tear strength forA.luminosacomprises a safety mechanism and ensures the entire nest is not pulled down by prey which is too heavy.
Phosphorylation Changes in Response to Kinase Inhibitor H89 in PKA-Null Cells
Authors: Limbutara Kavee , Kelleher Andrew , Yang Chin-Rang , Raghuram Viswanathan , Knepper Mark A. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractProtein phosphorylation, mediated by protein kinases, plays a crucial role in cellular regulation. One of the most important protein kinases is protein kinase A (PKA). N-[2-p-bromocinnamylamino-ethyl]-5-isoquinolinesulphonamide (H89) is often used as a “PKA specific inhibitor” to study the involvement of PKA in signaling pathways. However, evidence from cell-free experiments has suggested that H89 can also inhibit other protein kinases. In this study, previously generated PKA-null and PKA-intact mouse cell lines derived from mpkCCD cells were treated with H89 over a range of concentrations commonly used in the literature, followed by mass spectrometry-based phosphoproteomics to globally assess changes in phosphorylation. From a total of 14,139 phosphorylation sites quantified, we found that 571 and 263 phosphorylation sites with significant changes in abundance in PKA-intact and PKA-null cells, respectively. Analyses of sequence logos generated from significantly decreased phosphorylation sites in PKA-intact and PKA-null cells both revealed a preference for basic amino acids at position −3 and −2. Thus, H89 appears to inhibit basophilic kinases even in the absence of PKA. Likely H89 targets include basophilic protein kinases such as AKT, RSK, AMPK and ROCK. We conclude that, in intact cells, H89 can affect activities of protein kinases other than PKA, and therefore responses to H89 should not be regarded as sufficient evidence for PKA involvement in a signaling process.
Enduring rules of care within pairs - how blue tit parents resume provisioning behaviour after experimental disturbance
Authors: Iserbyt Arne , Griffioen Maaike , Eens Marcel , Müller Wendt 
Published: February 2019

AbstractSexual conflict over parental investment can result in suboptimal reproductive output. A recent hypothesis suggests that equality in investment, and hence conflict resolution, may be reached via coordination of parental activities like alternating nest visits. However, how robust patterns of care within couples are against temporal disturbances that create asymmetries in parental investment remains as yet to be shown. We here experimentally created such a social disturbance in a wild population of biparental blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) when provisioning their nestlings. We randomly caught and subsequently released one of the parents when nestlings were 6 and 12 days old respectively. On average, the parent that was caught did not resume care for nearly two hours. We then compared the levels of individual investment and within-pair coordination before, during and after the absence of the disturbed parent. We show that the remaining parent partially compensated by increasing its provisioning rate, but this compensatory response was strongest in females when nestlings were 6 days old. Once the caught parent returned to feed its nestlings, both parents resumed provisioning at a similar rate as before the disturbance. Likewise, the within-pair alternation level quickly resembled the pre-manipulated level, independent of nestling age or which sex was caught. Thus our experiment highlights the resilience of parental behaviour against temporal disturbances of individual parents.
Influence of obesity, parental history of diabetes, and genes in type 2 diabetes: A case-control study
Authors: Berumen Jaime , Orozco Lorena , Betancourt-Cravioto Miguel , Gallardo Héctor , Zulueta Mirella , Mendizabal Leire , Simon Laureano , Benuto Rosa Elba , Ramírez-Campos Elisa , Marin Melissa , Juárez Eligia , García-Ortiz Humberto , Martínez-Hernández Angélica , Venegas-Vega Carlos , Peralta-Romero Jesús , Cruz Miguel , Tapia-Conyer Roberto 
Published: February 2019

AbstractObesity, parental history (PH) of type 2 diabetes (T2D), and genes play an important role in T2D development. However, the influence of each factor on T2D variability is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the influence of obesity (body mass index [BMI], waist/hip ratio), PH, and 16 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with T2D on T2D variability in Mexico, comparing 1234 non-diabetic controls and 1219 diabetic patients. To replicate the data, a case-control (n = 2904) and a cross-sectional (n = 1901) study were also included. In a multivariate logistic regression model, all factors accounted for only 27.3% of T2D variability: SNPs (8.4%); PH (11.8%) and obesity (7.1%). These factors contributed more in men (33.2%) than in women (25%), specifically when the disease was diagnosed before the age of 46 (46.7% vs. 30%). Genes played a substantially more important role in men than in women (14.9% vs. 5.5%), while obesity and PH played a similar role in both genders. Genes and PH appeared to play a greater role than obesity in T2D. However, obesity contribution was calculated at the time of recruitment and may be underestimated in patients because the BMI decreased linearly with the number of years with the disease. The data suggest that sexual hormones may play important roles in genes that are associated with T2D.