bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Different mitogenomic codon usage patterns between damselflies and dragonflies and nine complete mitogenomes for odonates
Authors: Guan De-Long , Qian Zeng-Qiang , Ma Li-Bin , Bai Yi , Xu Sheng-Quan 
Published: January 2019

AbstractDamselflies and dragonflies, of the order Odonata, have distinct body plans and predatory abilities. Knowledge of their various evolutionary histories will allow for an understanding of the genetic and phenotypic evolution of insects. Mitogenomes are suitable materials to elucidate this, but the mitogenome of only a few odonates have been annotated. Herein, we report the complete mitogenome of nine odonates, including seven dragonflies and two damselflies, and a comprehensive analysis of the codon usage in 31 Odonata mitogenomes with the aim to estimate their evolutionary characteristics. Overall, a weak codon bias exists among odonate mitogenomes, although this favours AT-ending codons. Damselflies have a weaker codon usage bias than dragonflies, and 37 codons have significantly different usages. Both directional mutation and purifying selection shape damselfly and dragonfly mitogenomes. Although inevitable, directional mutation bias plays a minor role, whereas purifying selection pressure is the dominant evolutionary force. A higher selection pressure is observed in dragonflies than in damselflies, but it mainly acts on codon usage patterns rather than amino acid translation. Our findings suggest that dragonflies might have more efficient mitochondrial gene expression levels than damselflies, producing more proteins that support their locomotion and predatory abilities.
A large explosive silicic eruption in the British Palaeogene Igneous Province
Authors: Troll Valentin R. , Emeleus C. Henry , Nicoll Graeme R. , Mattsson Tobias , Ellam Robert M. , Donaldson Colin H. , Harris Chris 
Published: January 2019

AbstractLarge-volume pyroclastic eruptions are not known from the basalt-dominated British Palaeogene Igneous Province (BPIP), although silicic magmatism is documented from intra-caldera successions in central volcanoes and from small-volume ash-layers in the associated lava fields. Exceptions are the Sgùrr of Eigg (58.7 Ma) and Òigh-sgeir pitchstones in the Inner Hebrides (>30 km apart), which have been conjectured to represent remnants of a single large silicic event. Currently available major element data from these outcrops differ, however, creating a need to test if the two pitchstones are really related. We employ a systematic array of methods ranging from mineralogy to isotope geochemistry and find that samples from the two outcrops display identical mineral textures and compositions, major- and trace elements, and Sr-Nd-Pb-O isotope ratios, supporting that the two outcrops represent a single, formerly extensive, pyroclastic deposit. Available isotope constraints suggest a vent in the Hebridean Terrane and available radiometric ages point to Skye, ~40 km to the North. A reconstructed eruption volume of ≥5km3 DRE is derived, suggesting a VEI 5 event or larger. We therefore argue, contrary to long-held perception, that large-volume silicic volcanism and its associated climatic effects were likely integral to the BPIP during the opening of the North Atlantic.
Social bonding drives vocal exchanges in Bonobos
Authors: Levréro Florence , Touitou Sonia , Frédet Julia , Nairaud Baptiste , Guéry Jean-Pascal , Lemasson Alban 
Published: January 2019

AbstractThe origin of human speech is still a hotly debated topic in science. Evidence of socially-guided acoustic flexibility and proto-conversational rules has been found in several monkey species, but is lacking in social and cooperative great apes. Here we investigated spontaneous vocal interactions within a peaceful context in captive bonobos to reveal that vocal interactions obey temporally and social rules. Dyadic vocal interactions were characterized by call overlap avoidance and short inter-call intervals. Bonobos preferentially responded to conspecifics with whom they maintained close bonds. We also found that vocal sharing rate (production rate of shared acoustic variants within each given dyad) was mostly explained by the age difference of callers, as other individual characteristics (sex, kinship) and social parameters (affinity in spatial proximity and in vocal interactions) were not. Our results show that great apes spontaneously display primitive conversation rules guided by social bonds. The demonstration that such coordinated vocal interactions are shared between monkeys, apes and humans fills a significant gap in our knowledge of vocal communication within the primate phylogeny and highlights the universal feature of social influence in vocal interactions.
PD-L1 Expression in Circulating Tumor Cells Increases during Radio(chemo)therapy and Indicates Poor Prognosis in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Wang Yang , Kim Tae Hyun , Fouladdel Shamileh , Zhang Zhuo , Soni Payal , Qin Angel , Zhao Lili , Azizi Ebrahim , Lawrence Theodore S. , Ramnath Nithya , Cuneo Kyle C. , Nagrath Sunitha 
Published: January 2019

AbstractPreclinical studies demonstrated that radiation up-regulates PD-L1 expression in tumor cells, providing a rationale for combining PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors with radiation. However this has not been validated in patients with non-small cell lung cancer due to the difficulty to obtain serial biopsies. Measuring PD-L1 expression in circulating tumor cells (CTCs), may allow real-time monitoring of immune activation in tumor. In this study, whole blood from non-metastatic NSCLC patients was collected before, during, and after radiation or chemoradiation using a microfluidic chip. PD-L1 expression in CTCs was assessed by immunofluorescence and qPCR and monitored through the course of treatment. Overall, PD-L1(+) CTCs were detected in 25 out of 38 samples (69.4%) with an average of 4.5 cells/ml. After initiation of radiation therapy, the proportion of PD-L1(+) CTCs increased significantly (median 0.7% vs. 24.7%, P < 0.01), indicating up-regulation of PD-L1 in tumor cells in response to radiation. In addition, patients positive for PD-L1 (≥5% of CTCs positive for PD-L1) at baseline had shorter PFS. Gene expression analysis revealed that higher levels of PD-L1 were associated with poor prognosis. Therefore, CTCs can be used to monitor dynamic changes of PD-L1 during radiation therapy which is potentially prognostic of response to treatment.
Transcriptome analysis identifies strong candidate genes for ginsenoside biosynthesis and reveals its underlying molecular mechanism in Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer
Authors: Zhao Mingzhu , Lin Yanping , Wang Yanfang , Li Xiangyu , Han Yilai , Wang Kangyu , Sun Chunyu , Wang Yi , Zhang Meiping 
Published: January 2019

AbstractGinseng, Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, is one of the most important medicinal herbs for human health and medicine in which ginsenosides are known to play critical roles. The genes from the cytochrome P450 (CYP) gene superfamily have been shown to play important roles in ginsenoside biosynthesis. Here we report genome-wide identification of the candidate PgCYP genes for ginsenoside biosynthesis, development of functional SNP markers for its manipulation and systems analysis of its underlying molecular mechanism. Correlation analysis identified 100 PgCYP genes, including all three published ginsenoside biosynthesis PgCYP genes, whose expressions were significantly correlated with the ginsenoside contents. Mutation association analysis identified that six of these 100 PgCYP genes contained SNPs/InDels that were significantly associated with ginsenosides biosynthesis (P ≤ 1.0e-04). These six PgCYP genes, along with all ten published ginsenoside biosynthesis genes from the PgCYP and other gene families, formed a strong co-expression network, even though they varied greatly in spatio-temporal expressions. Therefore, this study has identified six new ginsenoside biosynthesis candidate genes, provided a genome-wide insight into how they are involved in ginsenoside biosynthesis and developed a set of functional SNP markers useful for enhanced ginsenoside biosynthesis research and breeding in ginseng and related species.
Analysis of Spatial Pattern Evolution and Influencing Factors of Regional Land Use Efficiency in China Based on ESDA-GWR
Authors: Cao Xiaoshu , Liu Yongwei , Li Tao , Liao Wang 
Published: January 2019

AbstractIn order to give an in-depth understanding of the contradictions arising from the land resource supply and demand, this study selected 30 provinces (some are autonomous regions or municipalities) in China to be the research unit, used the carbon emission as an undesirable output, and adopted the Super-SBM DEA model and ESDA-GWR method to research the evolution characteristics and influencing factors of land use efficiency in China in 2003–2013. The results indicated that: (1) The land use efficiency in China overall was moderately ineffective and the overall utilization level was low; (2) The Global Spatial Autocorrelation was instable and had maintained a high level; (3) The “hot spots” mainly being distributed in the southeast coastal regions and “cold spots” being found in the central and western regions, so that as time goes on, the pattern of “high in the east and low in the west” has been gradually formed and stabilized. (4) The GWR model analysis showed that the natural factors such as NDVI, DMSP/OLS and DEM have a significant impact on land use efficiency, thereby providing an important contribution to this study. For the eastern coastal areas, the emphasis should be improving their OT, PF and PGDP, for the western region, should focus on improving its comprehensive economic development level to improve the DMSP/OLS, while strengthening the ecological environment to improve the level of NDVI.
A Novel Supplementation Approach to Enhance Host Response to Sublingual Vaccination
Authors: Rowe John C. , Attia Zayed , Kim Eunsoo , Cormet-Boyaka Estelle , Boyaka Prosper N. 
Published: January 2019

AbstractSublingual immunization is emerging as an alternative to nasal immunization and induction of mucosal IgA responses. UsingBacillus anthracisedema toxin (EdTx) as an adjuvant, we previously showed that innate responses triggered after sublingual immunization could limit generation of IgA responses. We tested whether co-administration of a neutrophil elastase inhibitor (NEI) could rescue the ability of EdTx to induce broad antibody responses, including mucosal IgA. NEI supplementation of sublingual vaccines containing EdTx promoted antigen-specific serum IgA responses but also enhanced serum IgG1, and IgG2b responses. This enhancing effect of NEI did not extend to all antibody isotypes and IgG sublclasses, since NEI reduced serum IgE responses and did not affect IgG2a/c and IgG3 responses. NEI supplementation also promoted anti-Bacillus anthracisprotective antigen (PA) neutralizing antibodies and enhanced high affinity IgG1 and IgA antibodies. In addition to serum IgA, NEI supplementation stimulated antigen-specific mucosal IgA responses in the GI tract, and enhanced antigen-specific IgG responses in vaginal washes. Analysis of CD4+T helper cell responses revealed that co-administration of NEI broadened the profile of cytokine responses, by stimulating Th1, Th2, Th17, and Tfh cytokines. We also noted that NEI had a higher stimulatory effect on IL-5, IL-10, IL-17 responses.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Facile design of an ultra-thin broadband metamaterial absorber for C-band applications
Authors: Hoa Nguyen Thi Quynh , Tuan Tran Sy , Hieu Lam Trung , Giang Bach Long 
Published: January 2019

AbstractWe report a facile design of an ultra-thin broadband metamaterial absorber (MA) for C-band applications by utilizing a single layer of a metal-dielectric-metal structure of FR-4 substrate. The absorption performances are characterized using a numerical method. The proposed MA exhibits the broadband absorption response over the entire C-band spectrum range from 4.0 GHz to 8.0 GHz with absorptivity above 90% and the high absorptivity is remained over 80% for a large incident angle up to 40° under both transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) polarizations over the band. The origin of absorption mechanism is explained by the electric and surface current distributions, which is also supported by the retrieved constitutive electromagnetic parameters, significantly affected by magnetic resonance. In addition, compared with the previous reports, the proposed MA presents a greater practical feasibility in term of low-profile and wide incident angle insensitivity, suggesting that the proposed absorber is a promising candidate for C-band applications.
ES-mediated chimera analysis revealed requirement of DDX6 for NANOS2 localization and function in mouse germ cells
Authors: Shimada Ryuki , Kiso Makoto , Saga Yumiko 
Published: January 2019

AbstractIn embryonic male germ cells, the RNA-binding protein NANOS2 recruits its target RNAs to processing bodies (P-bodies), where they are repressed. This process is necessary to promote male-type germ cell differentiation. However, it remains unclear whether all NANOS2 functions depend on P-bodies. To address this question, we established ES cell lines containing a germ cell-specific inducible Cre and reporter together with the floxed Ddx6 allele. We deleted the Ddx6 gene by administering tamoxifen to chimeric embryos containing germ cells derived from recombinant ES cells. DDX6-null germ cells exhibited both similar and distinct defects from those observed in NANOS2-null germ cells. These results demonstrate that NANOS2 function is carried out via both P-body-dependent and -independent mechanisms. RNA-seq analyses further supported the phenotypic differences between DDX6-null and NANOS2-null germ cells, and indicated distinct molecular cascades involved in NANOS2-mediated gene regulation.
Face perception influences the programming of eye movements
Authors: Kauffmann Louise , Peyrin Carole , Chauvin Alan , Entzmann Léa , Breuil Camille , Guyader Nathalie 
Published: January 2019

AbstractPrevious studies have shown that face stimuli elicit extremely fast and involuntary saccadic responses toward them, relative to other categories of visual stimuli. In the present study, we further investigated to what extent face stimuli influence the programming and execution of saccades examining their amplitude. We performed two experiments using a saccadic choice task: two images (one with a face, one with a vehicle) were simultaneously displayed in the left and right visual fields of participants who had to initiate a saccade toward the image (Experiment 1) or toward a cross in the image (Experiment 2) containing a target stimulus (a face or a vehicle). Results revealed shorter saccades toward vehicle than face targets, even if participants were explicitly asked to perform their saccades toward a specific location (Experiment 2). Furthermore, error saccades had smaller amplitude than correct saccades. Further analyses showed that error saccades were interrupted in mid-flight to initiate a concurrently-programmed corrective saccade. Overall, these data suggest that the content of visual stimuli can influence the programming of saccade amplitude, and that efficient online correction of saccades can be performed during the saccadic choice task.
Multiple stochastic pathways in forced peptide-lipid membrane detachment
Authors: Utjesanovic Milica , Matin Tina R. , Sigdel Krishna P. , King Gavin M. , Kosztin Ioan 
Published: January 2019

AbstractWe have used high resolution AFM based dynamic force spectroscopy to investigate peptide-lipid membrane interactions by measuring the detachment (last-rupture) force distribution, P(F), and the corresponding force dependent rupture rate, k(F), for two different peptides and lipid bilayers. The measured quantities, which differed considerably for different peptides, lipid-membranes, AFM tips (prepared under identical conditions), and retraction speeds of the AFM cantilever, could not be described in terms of the standard theory, according to which detachment occurs along a single pathway, corresponding to a diffusive escape process across a free energy barrier. In particular, the prominent retraction speed dependence of k(F) was a clear indication that peptide-lipid membrane dissociation occurs stochastically along several detachment pathways. Thereby, we have formulated a general theoretical approach for describing P(F) and k(F), by assuming that peptide detachment from lipid membranes occurs, with certain probability, along a few dominant diffusive pathways. This new method was validated through a consistent interpretation of the experimental data. Furthermore, we have found that for moderate retraction speeds at intermediate force values, k(F) exhibits catch-bond behavior (i.e. decreasing detachment rate with increasing force). According to the proposed model this behavior is due to the stochastic mixing of individual detachment pathways which do not convert or cross during rupture. To our knowledge, such catch-bond mechanism has not been proposed and demonstrated before for a peptide-lipid interaction.
Ultra Wideband Radar Cross Section Reduction by Using Polarization Conversion Metasurfaces
Authors: Ameri Edris , Esmaeli Seyed Hassan , Sedighy Seyed Hassan 
Published: January 2019

AbstractIn this paper, a polarization conversion metasurface (PCM) is designed for ultra wideband radar cross section (RCS) reduction. The proposed polarization conversion metasurface consists of double-heads arrow unit cell with its 90°, 180° and 270° rotated ones to create the destructive interferences cancellation and radar cross section (RCS) reduction, consequently. The proposed metasurface demonstrates ultra-wide band 10-dB RCS reduction from 9 to 40 GHz (126.5%) for normally TM- and TE- polarized incident waves. The good agreement between the simulation and measurement results at 0°, 20° and 40° incident angles prove the idea, also. The ultra wideband RCS reduction of the proposed metasurface as well as its low profile, light weight and low cost prove its high capability compared with the state of the art references.
Beneficial effects of murtilla extract and madecassic acid on insulin sensitivity and endothelial function in a model of diet-induced obesity
Authors: Arancibia-Radich Jorge , González-Blázquez Raquel , Alcalá Martín , Martín-Ramos Miriam , Viana Marta , Arribas Silvia , Delporte Carla , Fernández-Alfonso María S. , Somoza Beatriz , Gil-Ortega Marta 
Published: January 2019

AbstractInfusions of murtilla leaves exhibit antioxidant, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Several compounds that are structurally similar to madecassic acid (MA), a component of murtilla leaf extract (ethyl acetate extract, EAE), have been shown to inhibit protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1P). The aim of this study was to evaluate if EAE and two compounds identified in EAE (MA and myricetin [MYR]) could have a beneficial effect on systemic and vascular insulin sensitivity and endothelial function in a model of diet-induced obesity. Experiments were performed in 5-week-old male C57BL6J mice fed with a standard (LF) or a very high-fat diet (HF) for 4 weeks and treated with EAE, MA, MYR, or the vehicle as control (C). EAE significantly inhibited PTP1B. EAE and MA, but not MYR, significantly improved systemic insulin sensitivity in HF mice and vascular relaxation to Ach in aorta segments, due to a significant increase of eNOS phosphorylation and enhanced nitric oxide availability. EAE, MA, and MYR also accounted for increased relaxant responses to insulin in HF mice, thus evidencing that the treatments significantly improved aortic insulin sensitivity. This study shows for the first time that EAE and MA could constitute interesting candidates for treating insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction associated with obesity.
Quantum-dot micropillar lasers subject to coherent time-delayed optical feedback from a short external cavity
Authors: Holzinger Steffen , Schneider Christian , Höfling Sven , Porte Xavier , Reitzenstein Stephan 
Published: January 2019

AbstractWe investigate the mode-switching dynamics of an electrically driven bimodal quantum-dot micropillar laser when subject to delayed coherent optical feedback from a short external cavity. We experimentally characterize how the external cavity length, being on the same order than the microlaser’s coherence length, influences the spectral and dynamical properties of the micropillar laser. Moreover, we determine the relaxation oscillation frequency of the micropillar by superimposing optical pulse injection to a dc current. It is found that the optical pulse can be used to disturb the feedback-coupled laser within one roundtrip time in such a way that it reaches the same output power as if no feedback was present. Our results do not only expand the understanding of microlasers when subject to optical feedback from short external cavities, but pave the way towards tailoring the properties of this key nanophotonic system for studies in the quantum regime of self-feedback and its implementation to integrated photonic circuits.
Dissipation of mesoscale eddies and its contribution to mixing in the northern South China Sea
Authors: Yang Qingxuan , Nikurashin Maxim , Sasaki Hideharu , Sun Hui , Tian Jiwei 
Published: January 2019

AbstractIt is reported that turbulent mixing is enhanced in the South China Sea (SCS), and it is highly variable in both space and time. Generation and breaking of internal tides has been identified as the main process to drive turbulent mixing in the SCS, while the contributions from other processes are not clear enough. Here we investigate the potential contribution from mesoscale eddies to turbulent mixing in the SCS using a high resolution numerical simulation. Our results show that mesoscale eddies in the SCS effectively dissipate over complex rough topography and indicate that the generation of submesoscale motions and lee waves are two pathways for the transfer of mesoscale eddy energy down to small dissipation scales. The energy loss from mesoscale eddies near the Xisha Islands is estimated to be sufficient to sustain turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rate of O (10−8) W/kg. This study suggests an alternative and potentially efficient mechanism to internal tides for the local maintenance of turbulent mixing in the SCS.
Near-field optical trapping in a non-conservative force field
Authors: Zaman Mohammad Asif , Padhy Punnag , Hesselink Lambertus 
Published: January 2019

AbstractThe force-field generated by a near-field optical trap is analyzed. A C-shaped engraving on a gold film is considered as the trap. By separating out the conservative component and the solenoidal component of the force-field using Helmholtz-Hodge decomposition, it was found that the force is non-conservative. Conventional method of calculating the optical potential from the force-field is shown to be inaccurate when the trapping force is not purely conservative. An alternative method is presented to accurately estimate the potential. The positional statistics of a trapped nanoparticle in this non-conservative field is calculated. A model is proposed that relates the position distribution to the conservative component of the force. The model is found to be consistent with numerical and experimental results. In order to show the generality of the approach, the same analysis is repeated for a plasmonic trap consisting of a gold nanopillar. Similar consistency is observed for this structure as well.