bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Antidiabetic, Anti-hyperlipidemic & Hepatoprotective effect of a Polyherbal Unani formulation “Qurs Tabasheer” in STZ-diabetic wistar rats
Authors: Ahmed Danish , Sharma Manju , Mukerjee Alok , Kant Raja Kamal , Kumar Vikas 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThe present study was undertaken to evaluate the antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic and hepatoprotective effect of a traditional unani formulation “Qurs Tabasheer” in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic wistar rats. Up until now, no study was undertaken to appraise the efficacy of “Qurs Tabasheer” in the diabetic rats. Qurs Tabasheer is a unani formulation restraining preparations from six various herbs namely Tukhme Khurfa (Portulaca oleracea seed), Gule Surkh (Rosa damascena flower), Gile armani (Arminium bole), Gulnar (Punica granatum flower), Tabasheer (Bambusa arundinasia dried exudate on node), Tukhme Kahu (Lactuca sativa Linn seed). The effect of Qurs Tabasheer was assessed in STZ (60 mg/kg, i.p single shot) induced diabetic wistar rats. STZ produced a marked increase in the serum glucose, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol, triglycerides and trimmed down the HDL level. We have weighed the effect of Qurs Tabasheer on hepatic activity through estimating levels of various liver enzymes viz. Hexokinase, Glucose-6-Phosphatase and Fructose-1-6-biphosphatase in STZ diabetic wistar rats. In STZ-induced diabetic wistar rats the level of Hexokinase, and Glucose-6-Phosphatase was decreased to a significant level while the level of fructose-1-6-biphophatase was augmented. Therapy with Qurs Tabasheer for 30 days to STZ-induced diabetic rats significantly reduces the level of serum glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-1-6-biphosphatase, while magnitude of HDL cholesterol and hexokinase was amplified. Antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic activity of Qurs Tabasheer suspension in STZ- induced wistar rats was found to be more effective than oral hypoglycemic drug Glimepiride.
Quantum Genetics and Quantum Automata Models of Quantum-Molecular Evolution Involved in the Evolution of Organisms and Species
Authors: Baianu I. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractPrevious theoretical or general approaches to the problems of Quantum Genetics and Molecular Evolution are considered in this article from the point of view of Quantum Automata Theory first published by the author in 1971 and further developed in several recent articles. The representation of genomes and Interactome networks in categories of many-valued logic LMn –algebras that are naturally transformed during biological evolution, or evolve through interactions with the environment provide a new insight into the mechanisms of molecular evolution, as well as organismal evolution, in terms of sequences of quantum automata. Phenotypic changes are expressed only when certain environmentally-induced quantum-molecular changes are coupled with an internal re-structuring of major submodules of the genome and Interactome networks related to cell cycling and cell growth. Contrary to the commonly held view of `standard’ Darwinist models of evolution, the evolution of organisms and species occurs through coupled multi-molecular transformations induced not only by the environment but actually realized through internal re-organizations of genome and interactome networks. The biological, evolutionary processes involve certain epigenetic transformations that are responsible for phenotypic expression of the genome and Interactome transformations initiated at the quantum-molecular level. It can thus be said that only quantum genetics can provide correct explanations of evolutionary processes that are initiated at the quantum--multi-molecular levels and propagate to the higher levels of organismal and species evolution.Biological evolution should be therefore regarded as a multi-scale process which is initiated by underlying quantum (coupled) multi-molecular transformations of the genomic and interactomic networks, followed by specific phenotypic transformations at the level of organism and the variable biogroupoids associated with the evolution of species which are essential to the survival of the species. The theoretical framework introduced in this article also paves the way to a Quantitative Biology approach to biological evolution at the quantum-molecular, as well as at the organismal and species levels. This is quite a substantial modification of the 'established’ modern Darwinist, and also of several so-called `molecular evolution’ theories.
Mechanistic mechanisms of competition and biodiversity
Authors: Kalmykov Lev , Kalmykov Vyacheslav 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThe nature of competition and biodiversity are open basic questions since Darwin. To investigate mechanisms of interspecific competition and their contribution in biodiversity as closely as possible we offer a white-box modelling method based on physically interpreted ecological axioms. These models are implemented as deterministic individual-based cellular automata and able to give a direct physico-mechanistic insight into studied phenomena. Competition of two trophically identical but fitness different species, competing for one limiting resource in one stable uniform habitat (which is closed for immigration, emigration, predation, herbivory and parasitism) has been investigated in conditions, which are the most unfavourable for their coexistence. The species are per capita identical in fecundity, ontogeny, regeneration features of microhabitats, and in habitat requirements. We have modelled following 8 mechanistic mechanisms of interspecific competition:1.	A case of the competitive exclusion when competing species differ only in fitness.2.	Coexistence based on periodic dominance changeovers as a consequence of environmental changes. Competing species differ only in fitness.3.	A strong violation of the competitive exclusion principle due to the lowered fecundity of both competitors. Competing species differ only in fitness.4.	Coexistence based on the competition–colonisation trade-off when greater fitness is compensated by r-strategy.5.	A competition–colonisation trade-off based on differences in ontogeny.6.	Competitive exclusion when recessive species drives out the dominant one having four times greater fecundity than the dominant one in stable environment (the greater fitness cannot compensate r-strategy).7.	An inverted competitive exclusion when recessive species drives out the dominant one by strategy of anticipatory deprivation of resources for competitor’s offsprings propagation. Recessive species drives out the dominant one in stable environment and both competing species have identical fecundity (tripod neighbourhood). Paradoxically, but the greater fitness cannot save the dominant species when the all other parameters of the species are equal.8.	Both competing species die because the regeneration of a limiting environmental resource takes too much time and they cannot propagate.The revealed mechanisms of competition can be useful not only in conservation biology, but also in economics and politics. Additionally, we speculate that the simplest way to maintain biodiversity is a controlled reduction of human fertility as the decrease in biodiversity occurs largely due to humankind overloading of biosphere resources.
Chloroplast and Cell Imaging at Submicron Resolution by Two-Photon Excitation
Authors: Baianu I 
Published: July 2019

AbstractNovel, two-photon NIR excitation fluorescence correlation microspectroscopy tests and preliminary results were presented in this article with submicron resolution for concentrated suspensions of functional cells and chloroplast membranes. Related developments of these technique involve applications of Fluorescence Cross-Correlation Spectroscopy (FCCS) detection to monitoring:DNA- telomerase interactions, DNA hybridization kinetics, ligand-receptor interactions, and HIV-HBV testing.
The Kindlin2-p53-SerpinB2 signaling axis is required for cellular senescence in breast cancer
Authors: Sossey-Alaoui Khalid , Pluskota Elzbieta , Szpak Dorota , Plow Edward F. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractIn cancer, cellular senescence is a complex process that leads to inhibition of proliferation of cells that may develop a neoplastic phenotype. A plethora of signaling pathways, when dysregulated, have been shown to elicit a senescence response. Two well-known tumor suppressor pathways, controlled by the p53 and retinoblastoma proteins, have been implicated in maintaining the cellular senescence phenotype. Kindlin-2, a member of an actin cytoskeleton organizing and integrin activator proteins, has been shown to play a key role in the regulation of several hallmarks of several cancers, including breast cancer (BC). The molecular mechanisms whereby Kindlin-2 regulates cellular senescence in BC tumors remains largely unknown. Here we show that Kindlin-2 regulates cellular senescence in part through its interaction with p53, whereby it regulates the expression of the p53-responsive genes; i.e., SerpinB2 and p21, during the induction of senescence. Our data show that knockout of Kindlin-2 via CRISPR/Cas9 in several BC cell lines significantly increases expression levels of both SerpinB2 and p21 resulting in the activation of hallmarks of cellular senescence. Mechanistically, interaction between Kindlin-2 and p53 at the promotor level is critical for the regulated expression of SerpinB2 and p21. These findings identify a previously unknown Kindlin-2/p53/SerpinB2 signaling axis that regulates cellular senescence and intervention in this axis may serve as a new therapeutic window for BCs treatment.
DNA translocation mechanism of the MCM complex and implications for replication initiation
Authors: Meagher Martin , Epling Leslie B. , Enemark Eric J. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThe DNA translocation activity of the minichromosome maintenance (MCM) complex powers DNA strand separation of the replication forks of eukaryotes and archaea. Here we illustrate an atomic level mechanism for this activity with a crystal structure of an archaeal MCM hexamer bound to single-stranded DNA and nucleotide cofactors. Sequence conservation indicates this rotary mechanism is fully possible for all eukaryotes and archaea. The structure definitively demonstrates the ring orients during translocation with the N-terminal domain leading, indicating that the translocation activity could also provide the physical basis of replication initiation where a double-hexamer idly encircling double-stranded DNA transforms to single-hexamers that encircle only one strand. In this mechanism, each strand binds to the N-terminal tier of one hexamer and the AAA+ tier of the other hexamer such that one ring pulls on the other, aligning equivalent interfaces to enable each hexamer to pull its translocation strand outside of the opposing hexamer.
Immunological evidence for in vivo production of novel advanced glycation end-products from 1,5-anhydro-D-fructose, a glycogen metabolite
Authors: Sakasai-Sakai Akiko , Takata Takanobu , Suzuki Hirokazu , Maruyama Ikuro , Motomiya Yoshihiro , Takeuchi Masayoshi 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThe anhydrofructose pathway is an alternate pathway for glycogen degradation by α-1,4-glucan lyase. The sugar 1,5-anhydro-D-fructose (1,5-AF) acts as the central intermediate of this pathway, but its physiological role of in mammals is unclear. Glycation reactions forming advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) are important in the development of complications of diabetes mellitus. We hypothesized that 1,5-AF may contribute to cellular damage by forming 1,5-AF-derived AGEs (AF-AGEs) with intracellular proteins. To clarify the role of 1,5-AF in protein modification, we created a novel antibody targeting AF-AGEs. Serum albumin modified by AF-AGEs was prepared by incubating rabbit serum albumin (RSA) or bovine serum albumin (BSA) with 1,5-AF. After immunizing rabbits with AF-AGEs-RSA, affinity chromatography of anti-AF-AGE antiserum was performed on a Sepharose 4B column coupled with AF-AGEs-BSA or N-(carboxymethyl)/N-(carboxyethyl)lysine-BSA. A novel immunopurified anti-AF-AGE antibody was obtained and was characterized using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Then an AF-AGEs assay was established using this immunopurified antibody. This assay was able to detect AF-AGEs in human and animal serum samples. Finally, intracellular accumulation of AF-AGEs was shown to be associated with damage to cultured hepatocytes (HepG2 cells). This is the first report about in vivo detection of AF-AGEs with a novel structural epitope.
New fossil cichlid from the middle Miocene of East Africa revealed as oldest known member of the Oreochromini
Authors: Penk Stefanie B. R. , Altner Melanie , F. Cerwenka Alexander , Schliewen Ulrich K. , Reichenbacher Bettina 
Published: July 2019

AbstractA new genus and species of fossil cichlid fishes of middle Miocene age (12.5 Ma) is described from the Ngorora fish Lagerstätte (Tugen Hills, Kenya) in the East African Rift Valley. Parsimony analysis of morphological characters using published phylogenetic frameworks for extant cichlids combined with the application of a comprehensive best-fit approach based on morphology was employed to place the new fossil taxon in the phylogenetic context of the African cichlids. The data reveal that the fossil specimens can be assigned to the tribe Oreochromini within the haplotilapiines. †Oreochromimos kabchorensis gen. et sp. nov. shows a mosaic set of characters bearing many similarities to the almost pan-African Oreochromis and the East African lake-endemic Alcolapia. As the striking diversity of present-day African cichlids, with 1100 recognised species, has remained largely invisible in the fossil record, the material described here adds significantly to our knowledge of the Miocene diversity of the group. It effectively doubles the age of a fossil calibration point, which has hitherto been used to calibrate divergence times of the East African cichlids in molecular phylogenetic investigations. Furthermore, the comparative dataset derived from extant cichlids presented here will greatly facilitate the classification of fossil cichlids in future studies.
Enhancement of Cardiac Store Operated Calcium Entry (SOCE) within Novel Intercalated Disk Microdomains in Arrhythmic Disease
Authors: Bonilla Ingrid M. , Belevych Andriy E. , Baine Stephen , Stepanov Andrei , Mezache Louisa , Bodnar Tom , Liu Bin , Volpe Pompeo , Priori Silvia , Weisleder Noah , Sakuta Galina , Carnes Cynthia A. , Radwański Przemysław B. , Veeraraghavan Rengasayee , Gyorke Sandor 
Published: July 2019

AbstractStore-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE), a major Ca2+ signaling mechanism in non-myocyte cells, has recently emerged as a component of Ca2+ signaling in cardiac myocytes. Though it has been reported to play a role in cardiac arrhythmias and to be upregulated in cardiac disease, little is known about the fundamental properties of cardiac SOCE, its structural underpinnings or effector targets. An even greater question is how SOCE interacts with canonical excitation-contraction coupling (ECC). We undertook a multiscale structural and functional investigation of SOCE in cardiac myocytes from healthy mice (wild type; WT) and from a genetic murine model of arrhythmic disease (catecholaminergic ventricular tachycardia; CPVT). Here we provide the first demonstration of local, transient Ca2+entry (LoCE) events, which comprise cardiac SOCE. Although infrequent in WT myocytes, LoCEs occurred with greater frequency and amplitude in CPVT myocytes. CPVT myocytes also evidenced characteristic arrhythmogenic spontaneous Ca2+ waves under cholinergic stress, which were effectively prevented by SOCE inhibition. In a surprising finding, we report that both LoCEs and their underlying protein machinery are concentrated at the intercalated disk (ID). Therefore, localization of cardiac SOCE in the ID compartment has important implications for SOCE-mediated signaling, arrhythmogenesis and intercellular mechanical and electrical coupling in health and disease.
Facile synthesis of g-C3N4(0.94)/CeO2(0.05)/Fe3O4(0.01) nanosheets for DFT supported visible photocatalysis of 2-Chlorophenol
Authors: Rashid Jamshaid , Parveen Nadia , Iqbal Aneela , Awan Saif Ullah , Iqbal Naseem , Talib Shamraiz Hussain , Hussain Naveed , Akram Bilal , Ulhaq Ata , Ahmed Bilal , Xu Ming 
Published: July 2019

AbstractVisible light active g-C3N4(0.94)/CeO2(0.05)/Fe3O4(0.01)ternary composite nanosheets were fabricated by facile co-precipitation routes. The density functional theory (DFT) computations investigated changes in geometry and electronic character of g-C3N4with CeO2and Fe3O4addition. Chemical and surface characterizations were explored with XRD, XPS, SEM, TEM, PL, DRS and Raman measurements. DRS and PL spectroscopy evidenced the energy band gap tailoring from 2.68 eV for bulk g-C3N4and 2.92 eV for CeO2to 2.45 eV for the ternary nanocomposite. Efficient electron/hole pair separation, increase in red-ox species and high exploitation of solar spectrum due to band gap tailoring lead to higher degradation efficiency of g-C3N4(0.94)/CeO2(0.05)/Fe3O4(0.01). Superior sun light photocatalytic breakdown of 2-Chlorophenol was observed with g-C3N4having CeO2loading up to 5 wt%. In case of ternary nanocomposites deposition of 1 wt% Fe3O4over g-C3N4/CeO2binary composite not only showed increment in visible light catalysis as predicted by the DFT studies, but also facilitated magnetic recovery. The g-C3N4(0.94)/CeO2(0.05)/Fe3O4(0.01)nanosheets showed complete mineralization of 25 mg.L−12-CP(aq)within 180 min exposure to visible portion of sun light and retained its high activity for 3 consecutive reuse cycles. The free radical scavenging showed superoxide ions and holes played a significant role compared to hydroxyl free radicals while chromatographic studies helped establish the 2-CP degradation mechanism. The kinetics investigations revealed 2.55 and 4.04 times increased rate of reactions compared to pristine Fe3O4and CeO2, showing highest rate constant value of 18.2 × 10−3 min−1for the ternary nanocomposite. We present very persuasive results that can be beneficial for exploration of further potential ofg-C3N4(0.94)/CeO2(0.05)/Fe3O4(0.01)in advance wastewater treatment systems.
Towards understanding the effects of heat and humidity on ageing of a NASA standard pyrotechnic igniter
Authors: Oh Juyoung , Jang Seung-gyo , Yoh Jack J. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractAgeing of pyrotechnic substance, primarily fuel oxidisation, can cause changes in composition that degrade their performance. This study investigates the effect of ageing on zirconium potassium perchlorate (ZPP), a widely used NASA Standard Initiator. Although prior studies have investigated the effects of accelerated ageing on ZPP, this is the first to conduct kinetic analyses at different relative humidity (RH) levels. Here, both thermal and kinetic analyses are conducted for a variety of hygrothermal ageing cases in order to replicate the natural ageing process. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results reveal that oxidant levels drop and zirconium dioxide levels rise as ZPP ages. Lower heats of reaction and increases in activation energy were also observed under the RH conditions. Calculations using van’t Hoff equation indicate that moisture shortened the lifespan of the unaged ZPP up to about 85% under extreme RH conditions, while significantly deteriorating the heat of reaction, sensitivity, and thus increased the risk of a misfire.
Decreased sound tolerance associated with blast exposure
Authors: Theodoroff Sarah M. , Reavis Kelly M. , Griest Susan E. , Carlson Kathleen F. , Hammill Tanisha L. , Henry James A. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractCurrent research on blast and other injuries sustained by United States Service members and Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars reveals a multitude of auditory complaints linked to exposures experienced during these conflicts. Among these complaints is decreased sound tolerance, which refers to a class of auditory-related problems including physical and/or psychological reactions to aspects of everyday sounds. Limited attention has been given to the possible relationship between blast exposure and decreased sound tolerance in Service members and Veterans, which is the purpose of this report. Baseline data were gathered and analyzed from 426 Service members (n = 181) and Veterans (n = 245) who participated in the Noise Outcomes in Servicemembers Epidemiology (NOISE) Study. Logistic regression analyses were performed to generate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each group, adjusted for age and sex. Of those who reported blast exposure, 33% of Service members (adjusted OR = 1.4; CI = 0.7–2.8) and 48% of Veterans (adjusted OR = 1.9; CI = 1.1–3.3) reported decreased sound tolerance. Among Service members and Veterans who did not report blast exposure, 28% and 34% respectively, also reported decreased sound tolerance. Overall, blast exposure increased the likelihood of participants reporting decreased sound tolerance. The strength of this association was significant in Veterans.
Transcriptome analysis of rice (Oryza sativa L.) shoots responsive to cadmium stress
Authors: Sun Lijuan , Wang Jun , Song Ke , Sun Yafei , Qin Qin , Xue Yong 
Published: July 2019

AbstractCadmium (Cd) is highly toxic to living organisms. This study aimed to elucidate the regulation of gene expression in rice shoots under Cd stress. Rice plants were exposed to 0, 50, 75, 100 μmol/L CdCl2 in hydroponic culture for 7 d. Transcriptional changes in rice shoots were examined by transcriptome sequencing techniques. A total of 2197 DEGs (987 up-regulated and 1210 down-regulated) were detected in rice shoots under the exposure of 75 μmol/L CdCl2. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses showed that genes encoding auxin-responsive protein IAA and peroxidase were up-regulated, while genes encoding proteins involved in signal transduction, including TIFY family, ERF and bZIP were down-regulated. Abundant ROS related terms were also identified and grouped into significantly differentially expressed GO terms, including oxidoreductase activity, catalytic activity, oxidation-reduction process, confirming the enhanced oxidative stress of Cd. Genes encoding photosystem I reaction center subunit and photosynthetic NDH subunit of luminal location were up-regulated in pathway of energy metabolism, suggesting an interference of photosynthesis by Cd stress. Our results improve the understanding of the complex molecular responsive mechanisms of rice shoots under Cd stress.