bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Possible role of the Nipah virus V protein in the regulation of the interferon beta induction by interacting with UBX domain-containing protein1
Authors: Uchida Shotaro , Horie Ryo , Sato Hiroki , Kai Chieko , Yoneda Misako 
Published: May 2018

AbstractNipah virus (NiV) is a highly pathogenic paramyxovirus that causes lethal encephalitis in humans. We previously reported that the V protein, one of the three accessory proteins encoded by the P gene, is one of the key determinants of the pathogenesis of NiV in a hamster infection model. Satterfield B.A. et al. have also revealed that V protein is required for the pathogenicity of henipavirus in a ferret infection model. However, the complete functions of NiV V have not been clarified. In this study, we identified UBX domain-containing protein 1 (UBXN1), a negative regulator of RIG-I-like receptor signaling, as a host protein that interacts with NiV V. NiV V interacted with the UBX domain of UBXN1 via its proximal zinc-finger motif in the C-terminal domain. NiV V increased the level of UBXN1 protein by suppressing its proteolysis. Furthermore, NiV V suppressed RIG-I and MDA5-dependent interferon signaling by stabilizing UBXN1 and increasing the interaction between MAVS and UBXN1 in addition to directly interrupting the activation of MDA5. Our results suggest a novel molecular mechanism by which the induction of interferon is potentially suppressed by NiV V protein via UBXN1.
Unsaturation of vapour pressure inside leaves of two conifer species
Authors: Cernusak Lucas A. , Ubierna Nerea , Jenkins Michael W. , Garrity Steven R. , Rahn Thom , Powers Heath H. , Hanson David T. , Sevanto Sanna , Wong Suan Chin , McDowell Nate G. , Farquhar Graham D. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractStomatal conductance (gs) impacts both photosynthesis and transpiration, and is therefore fundamental to the global carbon and water cycles, food production, and ecosystem services. Mathematical models provide the primary means of analysing this important leaf gas exchange parameter. A nearly universal assumption in such models is that the vapour pressure inside leaves (ei) remains saturated under all conditions. The validity of this assumption has not been well tested, because so far ei cannot be measured directly. Here, we test this assumption using a novel technique, based on coupled measurements of leaf gas exchange and the stable isotope compositions of CO2 and water vapour passing over the leaf. We applied this technique to mature individuals of two semiarid conifer species. In both species, ei routinely dropped below saturation when leaves were exposed to moderate to high air vapour pressure deficits. Typical values of relative humidity in the intercellular air spaces were as low 0.9 in Juniperus monosperma and 0.8 in Pinus edulis. These departures of ei from saturation caused significant biases in calculations of gs and the intercellular CO2 concentration. Our results refute the longstanding assumption of saturated vapour pressure in plant leaves under all conditions.
Optimal Design of Miniaturized Reflecting Metasurfaces for Ultra-Wideband and Angularly Stable Polarization Conversion
Authors: Borgese Michele , Costa Filippo , Genovesi Simone , Monorchio Agostino , Manara Giuliano 
Published: May 2018

AbstractAn ultra-wideband linear polarization converter based on a reflecting metasurface is presented. The polarizer is composed by a periodic arrangement of miniaturized metallic elements printed on a grounded dielectric substrate. In order to achieve broadband polarization converting properties, the metasurface is optimized by employing a genetic algorithm (GA) which imposes the minimization of the amplitude of the co-polar reflection coefficient over a wide frequency band. The enhanced angular stability of the polarization converter is due to the miniaturized unit cell which is obtained by imposing the maximum periodicity of the metasurface in the GA optimization process. The pixelated polarization converter obtained by the GA exhibits a relative bandwidth of 102% working from 8.12 GHz to 25.16 GHz. The analysis of the surface current distribution of the metasurface led to a methodology for refining the optimized GA solution based on the sequential removal of pixels of the unit cell on which surface currents are not excited. The relative bandwidth of the refined polarizer is extended up to 117.8% with a unit cell periodicity of 0.46 mm, corresponding to λ/20 at the maximum operating frequency. The performance of the proposed ultra-wideband polarization metasurface has been confirmed through full-wave simulations and measurements.
Antiretroviral Drugs Alter the Content of Extracellular Vesicles from HIV-1-Infected Cells
Authors: DeMarino Catherine , Pleet Michelle L. , Cowen Maria , Barclay Robert A. , Akpamagbo Yao , Erickson James , Ndembi Nicaise , Charurat Manhattan , Jumare Jibreel , Bwala Sunday , Alabi Peter , Hogan Max , Gupta Archana , Noren Hooten Nicole , Evans Michele K. , Lepene Benjamin , Zhou Weidong , Caputi Massimo , Romerio Fabio , Royal Walter , El-Hage Nazira , Liotta Lance A. , Kashanchi Fatah 
Published: May 2018

AbstractTo date, the most effective treatment of HIV-1 is a combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), which reduces viral replication and reverses pathology. We investigated the effect of cART (RT and protease inhibitors) on the content of extracellular vesicles (EVs) released from HIV-1-infected cells. We have previously shown that EVs contain non-coding HIV-1 RNA, which can elicit responses in recipient cells. In this manuscript, we show that TAR RNA levels demonstrate little change with the addition of cART treatment in cell lines, primary macrophages, and patient biofluids. We determined possible mechanisms involved in the selective packaging of HIV-1 RNA into EVs, specifically an increase in EV-associated hnRNP A2/B1. More recent experiments have shown that several other FDA-approved drugs have the ability to alter the content of exosomes released from HIV-1-infected cells. These findings on cART-altered EV content can also be applied to general viral inhibitors (interferons) which are used to treat other chronic infections. Additionally, we describe unique mechanisms of ESCRT pathway manipulation by antivirals, specifically the targeting of VPS4. Collectively, these data imply that, despite antiretroviral therapy, EVs containing viral products are continually released and may cause neurocognitive and immunological dysfunction.
In Utero and Postnatal Exposure to High Fat, High Sucrose Diet Suppressed Testis Apoptosis and Reduced Sperm Count
Authors: Mao Jiude , Pennington Kathleen A. , Talton Omonseigho O. , Schulz Laura C. , Sutovsky Miriam , Lin Yan , Sutovsky Peter 
Published: May 2018

AbstractObesity affects male fertility and maternal diabetes affects the offspring sperm epigenome. However, the effects of in utero exposure to maternal glucose intolerance in combination with postnatal high fat, high sucrose (HFHS) diet consumption on offspring spermatogenesis is not clear. The present study was designed to test these effects. One week before and during pregnancy, dams were fed either control or HFHS diet to induce gestational glucose intolerance, and returned to standard diet during lactation. Male offspring from each maternal group were split into control and HFHS-fed groups for eight weeks prior to sacrifice at 11, 19 or 31 weeks of age, and reproductive tissues were harvested for analysis of testicular germ cell apoptosis and sperm output. Postnatal HFHS diet suppressed spermatogonia apoptosis in all age groups and maternal HFHS diet reduced testosterone levels at 11 weeks. At 31 weeks of age, the postnatal HFHS diet increased body weight, and reduced epididymis weight and sperm count. The combination of in utero and postnatal exposure impacted sperm counts most significantly. In summary, HFHS diet during pregnancy puts male offspring at greater risk of infertility, particularly when combined with postnatal high fat diet feeding.
Electrically and Thermally Conductive Carbon Fibre Fabric Reinforced Polymer Composites Based on Nanocarbons and an In-situ Polymerizable Cyclic Oligoester
Authors: Jang Ji-un , Park Hyeong Cheol , Lee Hun Su , Khil Myung-Seob , Kim Seong Yun 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThere is growing interest in carbon fibre fabric reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites based on a thermoplastic matrix, which is easy to rapidly produce, repair or recycle. To expand the applications of thermoplastic CFRP composites, we propose a process for fabricating conductive CFRP composites with improved electrical and thermal conductivities using an in-situ polymerizable and thermoplastic cyclic butylene terephthalate oligomer matrix, which can induce good impregnation of carbon fibres and a high dispersion of nanocarbon fillers. Under optimal processing conditions, the surface resistivity below the order of 10+10 Ω/sq, which can enable electrostatic powder painting application for automotive outer panels, can be induced with a low nanofiller content of 1 wt%. Furthermore, CFRP composites containing 20 wt% graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) were found to exhibit an excellent thermal conductivity of 13.7 W/m·K. Incorporating multi-walled carbon nanotubes into CFRP composites is more advantageous for improving electrical conductivity, whereas incorporating GNPs is more beneficial for enhancing thermal conductivity. It is possible to fabricate the developed thermoplastic CFRP composites within 2 min. The proposed composites have sufficient potential for use in automotive outer panels, engine blocks and other mechanical components that require conductive characteristics.
Cu/Cu2O nanocomposite films as a p-type modified layer for efficient perovskite solar cells
Authors: Chen You-Jyun , Li Ming-Hsien , Huang Jung-Chun-Andrew , Chen Peter 
Published: May 2018

AbstractCu/Cu2O films grown by ion beam sputtering were used as p-type modified layers to improve the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with an n-i-p heterojunction structure. The ratio of Cu to Cu2O in the films can be tuned by the oxygen flow ratio (O2/(O2 + Ar)) during the sputtering of copper. Auger electron spectroscopy was performed to determine the elemental composition and chemical state of Cu in the films. Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy revealed that the valence band maximum of the p-type Cu/Cu2O matches well with the perovskite. The Cu/Cu2O film not only acts as a p-type modified layer but also plays the role of an electron blocking buffer layer. By introducing the p-type Cu/Cu2O films between the low-mobility hole transport material, spiro-OMeTAD, and the Ag electrode in the PSCs, the device durability and power conversion efficiency (PCE) were effectively improved as compared to the reference devices without the Cu/Cu2O interlayer. The enhanced PCE is mainly attributed to the high hole mobility of the p-type Cu/Cu2O film. Additionally, the Cu/Cu2O film serves as a protective layer against the penetration of humidity and Ag into the perovskite active layer.
Characterization of antennal chemosensilla and associated odorant binding as well as chemosensory proteins in the parasitoid wasp Microplitis mediator (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)
Authors: Wang Shan-Ning , Shan Shuang , Liu Jing-Tao , Li Rui-Jun , Lu Zi-Yun , Dhiloo Khalid Hussain , Khashaveh Adel , Zhang Yong-Jun 
Published: May 2018

AbstractOdorant binding proteins (OBPs) and chemosensory proteins (CSPs) expressed in antennal chemosensilla are believed to be important in insect chemoreception. In the current study, we fully described the morphological characteristics of the antennal sensilla in parasitoid wasp Microplitis mediator and analyzed the expression patterns of OBPs and CSPs within the antennae. In M. mediator, eight types of sensilla were observed on the antennae. Sensilla basiconica type 2 and s. placodea with wall pores may be involved in olfactory perception, whereas s. basiconica type 1 and type 3 with tip pores may play gustatory functions. Among the 18 OBPs and 3 CSPs in M. mediator, 10 OBPs and 2 CSPs were exclusively or primarily expressed in the antennae. In situ hybridization experiments indicated that the 12 antennae-enriched OBPs and CSPs were mapped to five morphological classes of antennal sensilla, including s. basiconica (type 1–3), s. placodea and s. coeloconica. Within the antennae, most of OBP and CSP genes were expressed only in one type of sensilla indicating their differentiated roles in detection of special type of chemical molecules. Our data will lay a foundation to further study the physiological roles of OBPs and CSPs in antennae of parasitoid wasps.
Touchscreen typing-pattern analysis for detecting fine motor skills decline in early-stage Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Iakovakis Dimitrios , Hadjidimitriou Stelios , Charisis Vasileios , Bostantzopoulou Sevasti , Katsarou Zoe , Hadjileontiadis Leontios J. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractParkinson’s disease (PD) is a degenerative movement disorder causing progressive disability that severely affects patients’ quality of life. While early treatment can produce significant benefits for patients, the mildness of many early signs combined with the lack of accessible high-frequency monitoring tools may delay clinical diagnosis. To meet this need, user interaction data from consumer technologies have recently been exploited towards unsupervised screening for PD symptoms in daily life. Similarly, this work proposes a method for detecting fine motor skills decline in early PD patients via analysis of patterns emerging from finger interaction with touchscreen smartphones during natural typing. Our approach relies on low-/higher-order statistical features of keystrokes timing and pressure variables, computed from short typing sessions. Features are fed into a two-stage multi-model classification pipeline that reaches a decision on the subject’s status (PD patient/control) by gradually fusing prediction probabilities obtained for individual typing sessions and keystroke variables. This method achieved an AUC = 0.92 and 0.82/0.81 sensitivity/specificity (matched groups of 18 early PD patients/15 controls) with discriminant features plausibly correlating with clinical scores of relevant PD motor symptoms. These findings suggest an improvement over similar approaches, thereby constituting a further step towards unobtrusive early PD detection from routine activities.
Ballasting by cryogenic gypsum enhances carbon export in a Phaeocystis under-ice bloom
Authors: Wollenburg J. E. , Katlein C. , Nehrke G. , Nöthig E.-M. , Matthiessen J. , Wolf- Gladrow D. A. , Nikolopoulos A. , Gázquez-Sanchez F. , Rossmann L. , Assmy P. , Babin M. , Bruyant F. , Beaulieu M. , Dybwad C. , Peeken I. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractMineral ballasting enhances carbon export from the surface to the deep ocean; however, little is known about the role of this process in the ice-covered Arctic Ocean. Here, we propose gypsum ballasting as a new mechanism that likely facilitated enhanced vertical carbon export from an under-ice phytoplankton bloom dominated by the haptophyte Phaeocystis. In the spring 2015 abundant gypsum crystals embedded in Phaeocystis aggregates were collected throughout the water column and on the sea floor at a depth below 2 km. Model predictions supported by isotopic signatures indicate that 2.7 g m−2 gypsum crystals were formed in sea ice at temperatures below −6.5 °C and released into the water column during sea ice melting. Our finding indicates that sea ice derived (cryogenic) gypsum is stable enough to survive export to the deep ocean and serves as an effective ballast mineral. Our findings also suggest a potentially important and previously unknown role of Phaeocystis in deep carbon export due to cryogenic gypsum ballasting. The rapidly changing Arctic sea ice regime might favour this gypsum gravity chute with potential consequences for carbon export and food partitioning between pelagic and benthic ecosystems.
Mathematical models of human mobility of relevance to malaria transmission in Africa
Authors: Marshall John M. , Wu Sean L. , Sanchez C. Hector M. , Kiware Samson S. , Ndhlovu Micky , Ouédraogo André Lin , Touré Mahamoudou B. , Sturrock Hugh J. , Ghani Azra C. , Ferguson Neil M. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractAs Africa-wide malaria prevalence declines, an understanding of human movement patterns is essential to inform how best to target interventions. We fitted movement models to trip data from surveys conducted at 3–5 sites throughout each of Mali, Burkina Faso, Zambia and Tanzania. Two models were compared in terms of their ability to predict the observed movement patterns – a gravity model, in which movement rates between pairs of locations increase with population size and decrease with distance, and a radiation model, in which travelers are cumulatively “absorbed” as they move outwards from their origin of travel. The gravity model provided a better fit to the data overall and for travel to large populations, while the radiation model provided a better fit for nearby populations. One strength of the data set was that trips could be categorized according to traveler group – namely, women traveling with children in all survey countries and youth workers in Mali. For gravity models fitted to data specific to these groups, youth workers were found to have a higher travel frequency to large population centers, and women traveling with children a lower frequency. These models may help predict the spatial transmission of malaria parasites and inform strategies to control their spread.
Simple analytical model of the effect of high pressure on the critical temperature and other thermodynamic properties of superconductors
Authors: Krzyzosiak Mateusz , Gonczarek Ryszard , Gonczarek Adam , Jacak Lucjan 
Published: May 2018

AbstractWithin the general conformal transformation method a simplified analytical model is proposed to study the effect of external hydrostatic pressure on low- and high-temperature superconducting systems. A single fluctuation in the density of states, placed away from the Fermi level, as well as external pressure are included in the model to derive equations for the superconducting gap, free energy difference, and specific heat difference. The zero- and sub-critical temperature limits are discussed by the method of successive approximations. The critical temperature is found as a function of high external pressure. It is shown that there are four universal types of the response of the system, in terms of dependence of the critical temperature on increasing external pressure. Some effects, which should be possible to be observed experimentally in s-wave superconductors, the cuprates (i.e. high-Tc superconductors) and other superconducting materials of the new generation such as two-gap superconductors, are revealed and discussed. An equation for the ratio $${{\boldsymbol{ {\mathcal R} }}}_{{\bf{1}}}$$

ℛ

1

≡ 2Δ(0)/Tc, as a function of the introduced parameters, is derived and solved numerically. Analysis of other thermodynamic quantities and the characteristic ratio $${{\boldsymbol{ {\mathcal R} }}}_{{\bf{2}}}$$

ℛ

2

≡ ΔC(Tc)/CN(Tc) is performed numerically, and mutual relations between the discussed quantities are investigated. The simple analytical model presented in the paper may turn out to be helpful in searching for novel superconducting components with higher critical temperatures induced by pressure effects.
Germline mutation in the TP53 gene in uveal melanoma
Authors: Hajkova Nikola , Hojny Jan , Nemejcova Kristyna , Dundr Pavel , Ulrych Jan , Jirsova Katerina , Glezgova Johana , Ticha Ivana 
Published: May 2018

AbstractWe performed comprehensive molecular analysis of five cases of metastasizing uveal malignant melanoma (UM) (fresh-frozen samples) with an NGS panel of 73 genes. A likely pathogenic germline TP53 mutation c.760A > G (p.I254V) was found in two tumor samples and matched nontumor tissue. In three cases, pathogenic BAP1 mutation was detected together with germline missense variants of uncertain significance in ATM. All cases carried recurrent activating GNAQ or GNA11 mutation. Moreover, we analyzed samples from another 16 patients with primary UM by direct Sanger sequencing focusing only on TP53 coding region. No other germline TP53 mutation was detected in these samples. Germline TP53 mutation, usually associated with Li-Fraumeni syndrome, is a rare event in UM. To the best of our knowledge, only one family with germline TP53 mutation has previously been described. In our study, we detected TP53 mutation in two patients without known family relationship. The identification of germline aberrations in TP53 or BAP1 is important to identify patients with Li-Fraumeni syndrome or BAP1 cancer syndrome, which is also crucial for proper genetic counseling.
Components of a new gene family of ferroxidases involved in virulence are functionally specialized in fungal dimorphism
Authors: Navarro-Mendoza María Isabel , Pérez-Arques Carlos , Murcia Laura , Martínez-García Pablo , Lax Carlos , Sanchis Marta , Capilla Javier , Nicolás Francisco E. , Garre Victoriano 
Published: May 2018

AbstractMucormycosis is an emerging angio-invasive infection caused by Mucorales that presents unacceptable mortality rates. Iron uptake has been related to mucormycosis, since serum iron availability predisposes the host to suffer this infection. In addition, iron uptake has been described as a limiting factor that determines virulence in other fungal infections, becoming a promising field to study virulence in Mucorales. Here, we identified a gene family of three ferroxidases in Mucor circinelloides, fet3a, fet3b and fet3c, which are overexpressed during infection in a mouse model for mucormycosis, and their expression in vitro is regulated by the availability of iron in the culture media and the dimorphic state. Thus, only fet3a is specifically expressed during yeast growth under anaerobic conditions, whereas fet3b and fet3c are specifically expressed in mycelium during aerobic growth. A deep genetic analysis revealed partially redundant roles of the three genes, showing a predominant role of fet3c, which is required for virulence during in vivo infections, and shared functional roles with fet3b and fet3c during vegetative growth in media with low iron concentration. These results represent the first described functional specialization of an iron uptake system during fungal dimorphism.
Intraoperative monitoring of neuromuscular function with soft, skin-mounted wireless devices
Authors: Liu Yuhao , Tian Limei , Raj Milan S. , Cotton Matthew , Ma Yinji , Ma Siyi , McGrane Bryan , Pendharkar Arjun V. , Dahaleh Nader , Olson Lloyd , Luan Haiwen , Block Orin , Suleski Brandon , Zhou Yadong , Jayaraman Chandrasekaran , Koski Tyler , Aranyosi A. J. , Wright John A. , Jayaraman Arun , Huang Yonggang , Ghaffari Roozbeh , Kliot Michel , Rogers John A. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractPeripheral nerves are often vulnerable to damage during surgeries, with risks of significant pain, loss of motor function, and reduced quality of life for the patient. Intraoperative methods for monitoring nerve activity are effective, but conventional systems rely on bench-top data acquisition tools with hard–wired connections to electrode leads that must be placed percutaneously inside target muscle tissue. These approaches are time and skill intensive and therefore costly to an extent that precludes their use in many important scenarios. Here we report a soft, skin-mounted monitoring system that measures, stores, and wirelessly transmits electrical signals and physical movement associated with muscle activity, continuously and in real-time during neurosurgical procedures on the peripheral, spinal, and cranial nerves. Surface electromyography and motion measurements can be performed non-invasively in this manner on nearly any muscle location, thereby offering many important advantages in usability and cost, with signal fidelity that matches that of the current clinical standard of care for decision making. These results could significantly improve accessibility of intraoperative monitoring across a broad range of neurosurgical procedures, with associated enhancements in patient outcomes.