bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Power of Ensemble Diversity and Randomization for Energy Aggregation
Authors: Métivier David , Luchnikov Ilia , Chertkov Michael 
Published: April 2019

AbstractWe study an ensemble of diverse (inhomogeneous) thermostatically controlled loads aggregated to provide the demand response (DR) services in a district-level energy system. Each load in the ensemble is assumed to be equipped with a random number generator switching heating/cooling on or off with a Poisson rate, r, when the load leaves the comfort zone. Ensemble diversity is modeled through inhomogeneity/disorder in the deterministic dynamics of loads. Approached from the standpoint of statistical physics, the ensemble represents a non-equilibrium system driven away from its natural steady state by the DR. The ability of the ensemble to recover by mixing faster to the steady state after its DR’s use is advantageous. The trade-off between the level of the aggregator’s control, commanding the devices to lower the rate r, and the phase-space-oscillatory deterministic dynamics is analyzed. Then, we study the effect of the load diversity, investigating four different disorder probability distributions (DPDs) ranging from the case of the Gaussian DPD to the case of the uniform with finite support DPD. We show that stronger regularity of the DPD results in faster mixing, which is similar to the Landau damping in plasma physics. Our theoretical analysis is supported by extensive numerical validation.
TGFβ2-induced senescence during early inner ear development
Authors: Gibaja Alejandro , Aburto María R. , Pulido Sara , Collado Manuel , Hurle Juan M. , Varela-Nieto Isabel , Magariños Marta 
Published: April 2019

AbstractEmbryonic development requires the coordinated regulation of apoptosis, survival, autophagy, proliferation and differentiation programs. Senescence has recently joined the cellular processes required to master development, in addition to its well-described roles in cancer and ageing. Here, we show that senescent cells are present in a highly regulated temporal pattern in the developing vertebrate inner ear, first, surrounding the otic pore and, later, in the otocyst at the endolymphatic duct. Cellular senescence is associated with areas of increased apoptosis and reduced proliferation consistent with the induction of the process when the endolymphatic duct is being formed. Modulation of senescence disrupts otic vesicle morphology. Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) signaling interacts with signaling pathways elicited by insulin-like growth factor type 1 (IGF-1) to jointly coordinate cellular dynamics required for morphogenesis and differentiation. Taken together, these results show that senescence is a natural occurring process essential for early inner ear development.
Shift in soil organic carbon and nitrogen pools in different reclaimed lands following intensive coastal reclamation on the coasts of eastern China
Authors: Yang Wen , Xia Lu , Zhu Zhihong , Jiang Lifen , Cheng Xiaoli , An Shuqing 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe impacts of coastal reclamation on carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) sinks of coastal wetlands remain unclearly understood. This study was conducted to investigate the alterations of soil organic C and N (SOC and SON) pools following conversion of Phragmites australis salt marsh into fishpond, wheat and rapeseed fields and town construction land through reclamation along Jiangsu coast in eastern China. Coastal reclamation significantly increased stocks of soil total, labile and recalcitrant organic C and N (SLOC, SLON, SROC, and SRON), and concentrations of water-soluble organic C (WSOC), microbial biomass C and N (SMBC and SMBN), cumulative CO2-C mineralization (MINC) following conversion of P. australis salt marsh into fishpond, wheat and rapeseed fields. However, coastal reclamation reduced SOC, SLOC, SROC, SRON, WSOC, SMBC, SMBN, and MINC following conversion of P. australis salt marsh into town construction land. Our results suggest that coastal reclamation affects C and N sinks of coastal wetlands by changing SOC and SON pools size, stability and dynamics changes following conversion of P. australis salt marsh into other land use types. This finding were primarily attributed to alterations in quantity and quality of exogenous materials returning the soil, and soil physiochemical properties as affected by coastal reclamation.
STING agonists activate latently infected cells and enhance SIV-specific responses ex vivo in naturally SIV controlled cynomolgus macaques
Authors: Yamamoto Takuya , Kanuma Tomohiro , Takahama Shokichi , Okamura Tomotaka , Moriishi Eiko , Ishii Ken J. , Terahara Kazutaka , Yasutomi Yasuhiro 
Published: April 2019

AbstractTo achieve a functional cure for HIV, treatment regimens that eradicate latently HIV-infected cells must be established. For this, many groups have attempted to reactivate latently-infected cells to induce cytopathic effects and/or elicit cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)/NK cell-mediated immune responses to kill these cells. We believe that not only the reactivation of latently-infected cells, but also the induction of strong CTL responses, would be required for this. Here, we used typical immune activators that target pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). For our experimental model, we identified eight SIV-infected cynomolgus monkeys that became natural controllers of viremia. Although plasma viral loads were undetectable, we could measure SIV-DNA by qPCR in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Using these PBMCs, we screened 10 distinct PRR ligands to measure IFN-α and IFN-γ production. Among these, STING ligands, cGAMP and c-di-AMP, and the TLR7/8 agonist R848 markedly increased cytokine levels. Both R848 and STING ligands could reactivate latently-infected cells in both cynomolgus monkeys and human PBMCs in vitro. Furthermore, c-di-AMP increased the frequency of SIV Gag-specific CD8+ T cells including polyfunctional CD8+ T cells, as compared to that in untreated control or R848-treated cells. Together, STING ligands might be candidates for HIV treatment.
Diagnostic value of procalcitonin, C-reactive protein and lactate dehydrogenase in paediatric malignant solid tumour concurrent with infection and tumour progression
Authors: Li Fan , Zhang Weiling , Hu Huimin , Zhang Yi , Huang Dongsheng 
Published: April 2019

AbstractInfection is a fatal complication in cancer patients that sometimes is not distinguished from tumour progression. We compared the diagnostic value of procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in paediatric malignant solid tumour concurrent with infection and tumour progression. The 152 children enrolled were divided into infection and control groups. Each group was divided further into stable and progression groups. An intergroup comparison was made in terms of serum PCT, CRP and LDH in all children. PCT, CRP and LDH levels were significantly higher in the infection than in the control groups (P < 0.05). Among the controls, PCT, CRP and LDH levels were significantly higher in the progression than in the stable groups (P < 0.05). In diagnosing infection, the sensitivity and specificity of PCT and CRP at the cutoff values of 0.296 ng/mL and 28.13 mg/L were relatively better than those at 0.5 ng/mL and 10 mg/L, respectively. LDH had the highest correlation with tumour progression, whereas PCT had the lowest (LDH, r = 0.684; CRP, r = 0.570; PCT, r = 0.322). Thus, PCT has the highest value in diagnosing infection and is less susceptible to tumour progression than CRP. LDH has obvious advantages in judging tumour progression.
Methionine Oxidation Changes the Mechanism of Aβ Peptide Binding to the DMPC Bilayer
Authors: Lockhart Christopher , Smith Amy K. , Klimov Dmitri K. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractUsing all-atom explicit solvent replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations with solute tempering, we study the effect of methionine oxidation on Aβ10–40 peptide binding to the zwitterionic DMPC bilayer. By comparing oxidized and reduced peptides, we identified changes in the binding mechanism caused by this modification. First, Met35 oxidation unravels C-terminal helix in the bound peptides. Second, oxidation destabilizes intrapeptide interactions and expands bound peptides. We explain these outcomes by the loss of amphiphilic character of the C-terminal helix due to oxidation. Third, oxidation “polarizes” Aβ binding to the DMPC bilayer by strengthening the interactions of the C-terminus with lipids while largely releasing the rest of the peptide from bilayer. Fourth, in contrast to the wild-type peptide, oxidized Aβ induces significantly smaller bilayer thinning and drop in lipid density within the binding footprint. These observations are the consequence of mixing oxidized peptide amino acids with lipids promoted by enhanced Aβ conformational fluctuations. Fifth, methionine oxidation reduces the affinity of Aβ binding to the DMPC bilayer by disrupting favorable intrapeptide interactions upon binding, which offset the gains from better hydration. Reduced binding affinity of the oxidized Aβ may represent the molecular basis for its reduced cytotoxicity.
Itaconic acid inhibits growth of a pathogenic marine Vibrio strain: A metabolomics approach
Authors: Nguyen Thao Van , Alfaro Andrea C. , Young Tim , Green Saras , Zarate Erica , Merien Fabrice 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe antimicrobial role of itaconic acid (ITA) has been recently discovered in mammalian cells. In our previous studies, we discovered that marine molluscs biosynthesise substantial quantities of ITA when exposed to marine pathogens, but its antimicrobial function to Vibrio bacteria is currently unknown. Thus, in this study, we used an untargeted gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) platform to identify metabolic changes of Vibrio sp. DO1 (V. corallyliticus/neptunius-like isolate) caused by ITA exposure. Vibrio sp. DO1 was cultured in Luria-Bertani broth supplemented with 3 mM sodium acetate and with different concentrations of ITA (0, 3 and 6 mM) for 24 h. The results showed that ITA completely inhibited Vibrio sp. growth at 6 mM and partially inhibited the bacterial growth at 3 mM. A principal component analysis (PCA) revealed a clear separation between metabolite profiles of Vibrio sp. DO1 in the 3 mM ITA treatment and the control, which were different in 25 metabolites. Among the altered metabolites, the accumulation of glyoxylic acid and other metabolites in glyoxylate cycle (cis-aconitic acid, isocitric acid and fumaric acid) together with the increase of isocitrate lyase (ICL) activity in the 3 mM ITA treatment compared to the control suggest that ITA inhibited Vibrio sp. growth via disruption of central carbon metabolism.
Spin-polarized localization in a magnetized chain
Authors: Benini Leonardo , Mukherjee Amrita , Chakrabarti Arunava , Römer Rudolf A. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractWe investigate a simple tight-binding Hamiltonian to understand the stability of spin-polarized transport of states with an arbitrary spin content in the presence of disorder. The general spin state is made to pass through a linear chain of magnetic atoms, and the localization lengths are computed. Depending on the value of spin, the chain of magnetic atoms unravels a hidden transverse dimensionality that can be exploited to engineer energy regimes where only a selected spin state is allowed to retain large localization lengths. We carry out a numerical anmalysis to understand the roles played by the spin projections in different energy regimes of the spectrum. For this purpose, we introduce a new measure, dubbed spin-resolved localization length. We study uncorrelated disorder in the potential profile offered by the magnetic substrate or in the orientations of the magnetic moments concerning a given direction in space. Our results show that the spin filtering effect is robust against weak disorder and hence the proposed system should be a good candidate model for experimental realizations of spin-selective transport devices.
Causal Interactions in Human Amygdala Cortical Networks across the Lifespan
Authors: Jiang Yuhao , Tian Yin , Wang Zhongyan 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThere is growing evidence that the amygdala serves as the base for dealing with complex human social communication and emotion. Although amygdalar networks plays a central role in these functions, causality connectivity during the human lifespan between amygdalar subregions and their corresponding perception network (PerN), affiliation network (AffN) and aversion network (AveN) remain largely unclear. Granger causal analysis (GCA), an approach to assess directed functional interactions from time series data, was utilized to investigated effective connectivity between amygdalar subregions and their related networks as a function of age to reveal the maturation and degradation of neural circuits during development and ageing in the present study. For each human resting functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) dataset, the amygdala was divided into three subareas, namely ventrolateral amygdala (VLA), medial amygdala (MedA) and dorsal amygdala (DorA), by using resting-state functional connectivity, from which the corresponding networks (PerN, AffN and AveN) were extracted. Subsequently, the GC interaction of the three amygdalar subregions and their associated networks during life were explored with a generalised linear model (GLM). We found that three causality flows significantly varied with age: the GC of VLA → PerN showed an inverted U-shaped trend with ageing; the GC of MedA→ AffN had a U-shaped trend with ageing; and the GC of DorA→ AveN decreased with ageing. Moreover, during ageing, the above GCs were significantly correlated with Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) scores. In short, PerN, AffN and AveN associated with the amygdalar subregions separately presented different causality connectivity changes with ageing. These findings provide a strong constituent framework for normal and neurological diseases associated with social disorders to analyse the neural basis of social behaviour during life.
Delivery of pancreatic digestive enzymes into the gastrointestinal tract by pancreatic exocrine tissue transplant
Authors: Ito Kyoji , Matsuura Katsuhisa , Mihara Yuichiro , Sakamoto Yoshihiro , Hasegawa Kiyoshi , Kokudo Norihiro , Shimizu Tatsuya 
Published: April 2019

AbstractExocrine pancreatic insufficiency, caused by disease-induced loss of pancreatic exocrine cells, may be treated through regenerative stem cell technologies that facilitate the production of pancreatic exocrine cells from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). However, delivering the digestive enzymes produced in the transplanted cells to the gastrointestinal tract remains a challenge. To generate an allogenic transplantation rat model, minced pancreas was transplanted into the gastric submucosal space with ablation of muscularis mucosa. In the allogenic transplantation, transplanted pancreatic cells were engrafted. Elevated amylase was detected in gastric juice, while transplanted cells disappeared through auto-digestion when the muscularis mucosa was not eliminated. Human iPSCs were differentiated into pancreatic exocrine cells by stage-specific treatment with growth factors and chemical compounds, and the differentiated pancreatic cells were implanted into the gastric submucosal space of nude rats. The transplanted cells were engrafted, and amylase was detected in the gastric juice in some cases. These findings suggest that transplantation of pancreatic exocrine cells into the gastric submucosal space with muscularis mucosa elimination will contribute to a regenerative approach for pancreatic exocrine insufficiency.
PfMSA180 is a novel Plasmodium falciparum vaccine antigen that interacts with human erythrocyte integrin associated protein (CD47)
Authors: Nagaoka Hikaru , Sasaoka Chisa , Yuguchi Takaaki , Kanoi Bernard N. , Ito Daisuke , Morita Masayuki , Udomsangpetch Rachanee , Sattabongkot Jetsumon , Ishino Tomoko , Tsuboi Takafumi , Takashima Eizo 
Published: April 2019

AbstractMalaria symptoms and pathology are initiated by invasion of host erythrocytes by Plasmodium merozoites in a complex process that involves interactions between parasite and host erythrocyte proteins. Erythrocyte invasion presents attractive targets for malaria vaccine and drug development. Recently it was observed that antibodies against PfMSA180 (PF3D7_1014100) are associated with protection from symptomatic malaria, suggesting that this protein is a target of naturally acquired protective antibodies. Here we characterize PfMSA180, a ~170 kDa merozoite surface antigen that is potentially involved in erythrocyte invasion. PfMSA180 synthesized by the wheat germ cell-free system was used to raise antibodies in rabbits. Growth inhibition assays revealed that parasite invasion is inhibited by antibodies to the PfMSA180 C-terminal region, which contains an erythrocyte-binding domain. Surface plasmon resonance analysis showed that PfMSA180 specifically interacts with human erythrocyte integrin associated protein (CD47), suggesting that PfMSA180 plays a role during merozoite invasion of erythrocytes. Polymorphism analysis revealed that pfmsa180 is highly conserved among field isolates. We show that naturally acquired PfMSA180-specific antibodies responses are associated with protective immunity in a malaria-exposed Thai population. In sum, the data presented here supports further evaluation of the conserved erythrocyte-binding C-terminal region of PfMSA180 as an asexual blood-stage malaria vaccine candidate.
CMR derived left ventricular septal convexity in carriers of the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy-causing MYBPC3-Q1061X mutation
Authors: Tarkiainen Mika , Sipola Petri , Jalanko Mikko , Heliö Tiina , Jääskeläinen Pertti , Kivelä Kati , Laine Mika , Lauerma Kirsi , Kuusisto Johanna 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThis manuscript has not been published before and is not currently being considered for publication elsewhere. Increased septal convexity of left ventricle has been described in subjects with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) -causing mutations without left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Our objective was to study septal convexity by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in subjects with the Finnish founder mutation Q1016X in the myosin-binding protein C gene (MYBPC3). Septal convexity was measured in end-diastolic 4-chamber CMR image in 67 study subjects (47 subjects with the MYBPC3-Q1061X mutation and 20 healthy relatives without the mutation). Septal convexity was significantly increased in subjects with the MYBPC3-Q1061X mutation and LVH (n = 32) compared to controls (11.4 ± 4.3 vs 2.7 ± 3.2 mm, P < 0.001). In mutation carriers without LVH, there was a trend for increased septal convexity compared to controls (4.9 ± 2.5 vs 2.7 ± 3.2 mm, P = 0.074). When indexed for BSA, septal convexity in mutation carriers without LVH was 2.8 ± 1.4 mm/m2 and 1.5 ± 1.6 mm/m2 in controls (P = 0.036). In all mutation carriers, septal convexity correlated significantly with body surface area, age, maximal LV wall thickness, LV mass, and late gadolinium enhancement. Subjects with the MYBPC3–Q10961X mutation have increased septal convexity irrespective of the presence of LVH. Septal convexity appears to reflect septal remodeling, and could be useful in recognizing LVH negative mutation carriers.
Comparative RNA sequencing reveals that HPV16 E6 abrogates the effect of E6*I on ROS metabolism
Authors: Paget-Bailly Philippe , Meznad Koceila , Bruyère Diane , Perrard Jérôme , Herfs Michael , Jung Alain C. , Mougin Christiane , Prétet Jean-Luc , Baguet Aurélie 
Published: April 2019

AbstractHigh-risk Human Papillomavirus infections are responsible for anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers. Alternative splicing is an important mechanism controlling HPV16 gene expression. Modulation in the splice pattern leads to polycistronic HPV16 early transcripts encoding a full length E6 oncoprotein or truncated E6 proteins, commonly named E6*. Spliced E6*I transcripts are the most abundant RNAs produced in HPV-related cancers. To date, the biological function of the E6*I isoform remains controversial. In this study, we identified, by RNA sequencing, cellular targets deregulated by E6*I, among which genes related to ROS metabolism. Concomitantly, E6*I-overexpressing cells display high levels of ROS. However, co-overexpression of both E6 and E6*I has no effect on ROS production. In HPV16-infected cells expressing different E6/E6*I levels, we show that the newly identified targets CCL2 and RAC2 are increased by E6*I but decreased by E6 expression, suggesting that E6 abrogates the effect of E6*I. Taken together, these data support the idea that E6*I acts independently of E6 to increase ROS production and that E6 has the ability to counteract the effects of E6*I. This asks the question of how E6*I can be considered separately of E6 in the natural history of HPV16 infection.
MtGA2ox10 encoding C20-GA2-oxidase regulates rhizobial infection and nodule development in Medicago truncatula
Authors: Kim Goon-Bo , Son Seong-Uk , Yu Hee-Ju , Mun Jeong-Hwan 
Published: April 2019

AbstractGibberellin (GA) plays a controversial role in the legume-rhizobium symbiosis. Recent studies have shown that the GA level in legumes must be precisely controlled for successful rhizobial infection and nodule organogenesis. However, regulation of the GA level via catabolism in legume roots has not been reported to date. Here, we investigate a novel GA inactivating C20-GA2-oxidase gene MtGA2ox10 in Medicago truncatula. RNA sequencing analysis and quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed that MtGA2ox10 was induced as early as 6 h post-inoculation (hpi) of rhizobia and reached peak transcript abundance at 12 hpi. Promoter::β-glucuronidase fusion showed that the promoter activity was localized in the root infection/differentiation zone during the early stage of rhizobial infection and in the vascular bundle of the mature nodule. The CRISPR/Cas9-mediated deletion mutation of MtGA2ox10 suppressed infection thread formation, which resulted in reduced development and retarded growth of nodules on the Agrobacterium rhizogenes-transformed roots. Over-expression of MtGA2ox10 in the stable transgenic plants caused dwarfism, which was rescued by GA3 application, and increased infection thread formation but inhibition of nodule development. We conclude that MtGA2ox10 plays an important role in the rhizobial infection and the development of root nodules through fine catabolic tuning of GA in M. truncatula.