bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Seismic Anisotropy and Its Geodynamic Implications in Iran, the Easternmost Part of the Tethyan Belt
Authors: Sadeghi‐Bagherabadi Amir , Margheriti Lucia , Aoudia Abdelkrim , Sobouti Farhad 
Published: November 2018

AbstractIn this study, we use the results of seismic anisotropy as inferred from shear wave splitting analyses of SKS phases to propose a geodynamical model of the Arabia‐Eurasia collision zone. A detailed analysis of the 202 non‐null splitting and 196 null splitting measurements obtained from a dense temporary network are utilized to investigate the possibility of lateral and vertical variations in the anisotropic parameters and the hypothesis of a dipping anisotropic layer. A 2‐D geodynamical model of the western part of the collision zone is constructed. The preferred 2‐D model suggests that the belt‐parallel orientation of fast axes in the western Zagros originates from a lithospheric transpressional deformation. The plate motion‐parallel pattern in central Iran and western Alborz coincides with the decrease in the lithospheric thickness. Thus, we believe this trend has its origin in the asthenosphere. A combination of the keel effect of the thickened Zagros lithosphere, the asthenospheric edge‐driven convection flow and the lithospheric deformation in the shear zones can cause the NW‐SE‐oriented splitting pattern reported in some parts of central Iran. The asthenospheric flow beneath the thinner lithosphere to the south of the Bitlis suture in northern Iraq is likely the causative mechanism for our observed plate motion‐parallel splittings there. The variation of the convergence obliquity along the Alborz and Zagros inferred from analysis of geodetic data implies that a change in the pattern of lithospheric deformation and the consequent anisotropy is expected.
Sugar-based bactericides targeting phosphatidylethanolamine-enriched membranes
Authors: Dias Catarina , Pais João P. , Nunes Rafael , Blázquez-Sánchez Maria-Teresa , Marquês Joaquim T. , Almeida Andreia F. , Serra Patrícia , Xavier Nuno M. , Vila-Viçosa Diogo , Machuqueiro Miguel , Viana Ana S. , Martins Alice , Santos Maria S. , Pelerito Ana , Dias Ricardo , Tenreiro Rogério , Oliveira Maria C. , Contino Marialessandra , Colabufo Nicola A. , de Almeida Rodrigo F. M. , Rauter Amélia P. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractAnthrax is an infectious disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, a bioterrorism agent that develops resistance to clinically used antibiotics. Therefore, alternative mechanisms of action remain a challenge. Herein, we disclose deoxy glycosides responsible for specific carbohydrate-phospholipid interactions, causing phosphatidylethanolamine lamellar-to-inverted hexagonal phase transition and acting over B. anthracis and Bacillus cereus as potent and selective bactericides. Biological studies of the synthesized compound series differing in the anomeric atom, glycone configuration and deoxygenation pattern show that the latter is indeed a key modulator of efficacy and selectivity. Biomolecular simulations show no tendency to pore formation, whereas differential metabolomics and genomics rule out proteins as targets. Complete bacteria cell death in 10 min and cellular envelope disruption corroborate an effect over lipid polymorphism. Biophysical approaches show monolayer and bilayer reorganization with fast and high permeabilizing activity toward phosphatidylethanolamine membranes. Absence of bacterial resistance further supports this mechanism, triggering innovation on membrane-targeting antimicrobials.
Ecology and evolution of facilitation among symbionts
Authors: Zélé Flore , Magalhães Sara , Kéfi Sonia , Duncan Alison B. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractFacilitation occurs when one species positively impacts the fitness of another, and has predominantly been studied in free-living species like plants. Facilitation can also occur among symbiont (mutualistic or parasitic) species or strains, but equivalent studies are scarce. To advance an integrated view of the effect of facilitation on symbiont ecology and evolution, we review empirical evidence and their underlying mechanisms, explore the factors favouring its emergence, and discuss its consequences for virulence and transmission. We argue that the facilitation concept can improve understanding of the evolutionary forces shaping symbiont communities and their effects on hosts.
Shockwave generates < 100 > dislocation loops in bcc iron
Authors: Peng Qing , Meng Fanjiang , Yang Yizhong , Lu Chenyang , Deng Huiqiu , Wang Lumin , De Suvranu , Gao Fei 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThe formation mechanism of < 100 > interstitial dislocation loops in ferritic steels stemming from irradiation remains elusive, as their formations are either too short for experiments, or too long for molecular dynamics simulations. Here, we report on the formation of both interstitial and vacancy dislocation loops in high energy displacement cascades using large-scale molecular dynamics simulations with up to 220 million atoms. Riding the supersonic shockwave generated in the cascade, self-interstitial atoms are punched out to form < 100 > dislocation loops in only a few picoseconds during one single cascade event, which is several orders of magnitude faster than any existing mechanisms. The energy analysis suggests that the formation of the interstitial loops depends on kinetic energy redistribution, where higher incidence energy or larger atom mass could improve the probability of the direct nucleation of interstitial dislocation loops.
Orthogonal Cas9–Cas9 chimeras provide a versatile platform for genome editing
Authors: Bolukbasi Mehmet Fatih , Liu Pengpeng , Luk Kevin , Kwok Samantha F. , Gupta Ankit , Amrani Nadia , Sontheimer Erik J. , Zhu Lihua Julie , Wolfe Scot A. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThe development of robust, versatile and accurate toolsets is critical to facilitate therapeutic genome editing applications. Here we establish RNA-programmable Cas9-Cas9 chimeras, in single- and dual-nuclease formats, as versatile genome engineering systems. In both of these formats, Cas9-Cas9 fusions display an expanded targeting repertoire and achieve highly specific genome editing. Dual-nuclease Cas9-Cas9 chimeras have distinct advantages over monomeric Cas9s including higher target site activity and the generation of predictable precise deletion products between their target sites. At a therapeutically relevant site within theBCL11Aerythroid enhancer, Cas9-Cas9 nucleases produced precise deletions that comprised up to 97% of all sequence alterations. Thus Cas9-Cas9 chimeras represent an important tool that could be particularly valuable for therapeutic genome editing applications where a precise cleavage position and defined sequence end products are desirable.
Hydrogen production by Sulfurospirillum species enables syntrophic interactions of Epsilonproteobacteria
Authors: Kruse Stefan , Goris Tobias , Westermann Martin , Adrian Lorenz , Diekert Gabriele 
Published: November 2018

AbstractHydrogen-producing bacteria are of environmental importance, since hydrogen is a major electron donor for prokaryotes in anoxic ecosystems. Epsilonproteobacteria are currently considered to be hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria exclusively. Here, we report hydrogen production upon pyruvate fermentation for free-living Epsilonproteobacteria, Sulfurospirillum spp. The amount of hydrogen produced is different in two subgroups of Sulfurospirillum spp., represented by S. cavolei and S. multivorans. The former produces more hydrogen and excretes acetate as sole organic acid, while the latter additionally produces lactate and succinate. Hydrogen production can be assigned by differential proteomics to a hydrogenase (similar to hydrogenase 4 from E. coli) that is more abundant during fermentation. A syntrophic interaction is established between Sulfurospirillum multivorans and Methanococcus voltae when cocultured with lactate as sole substrate, as the former cannot grow fermentatively on lactate alone and the latter relies on hydrogen for growth. This might hint to a yet unrecognized role of Epsilonproteobacteria as hydrogen producers in anoxic microbial communities.
Signal peptide represses GluK1 surface and synaptic trafficking through binding to amino-terminal domain
Authors: Duan Gui-Fang , Ye Yaxin , Xu Sha , Tao Wucheng , Zhao Shiping , Jin Tengchuan , Nicoll Roger A. , Shi Yun Stone , Sheng Nengyin 
Published: November 2018

AbstractKainate-type glutamate receptors play critical roles in excitatory synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity in the brain. GluK1 and GluK2 possess fundamentally different capabilities in surface trafficking as well as synaptic targeting in hippocampal CA1 neurons. Here we find that the excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) are significantly increased by the chimeric GluK1(SPGluK2) receptor, in which the signal peptide of GluK1 is replaced with that of GluK2. Coexpression of GluK1 signal peptide completely suppresses the gain in trafficking ability of GluK1(SPGluK2), indicating that the signal peptide represses receptor trafficking in a trans manner. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the signal peptide directly interacts with the amino-terminal domain (ATD) to inhibit the synaptic and surface expression of GluK1. Thus, we have uncovered a trafficking mechanism for kainate receptors and propose that the cleaved signal peptide behaves as a ligand of GluK1, through binding with the ATD, to repress forward trafficking of the receptor.
Personality Traits in Patients with Neuroepithelial Tumors – A Prospective Study
Authors: Gempt Jens , Bette Stefanie , Albertshauser Jennifer , Cammardella Jasmin Hernandez , Gradtke Corinna , Wiestler Benedikt , Schirmer Lucas , Ryang Yu-Mi , Meyer Bernhard , Ringel Florian 
Published: November 2018

AbstractAim of this study was to analyze personality traits in patients with neuroepithelial brain tumors. Personality alteration is a common feature in brain tumor patients, but not much is known about associations between specific personality changes and brain tumors. We assessed potential factors influencing personality such as tumor location, tumor grade and tumor volume. Mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Beck’s Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), and the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) for the five factors of personality were acquired. Patients had lower scores regarding the factor openness and higher scores regarding the BDI-II compared to the norm population. No significant influencing factors (tumor entity, location) were found regarding personality traits. Neuroticism was associated with depression, whereas extraversion showed an opposed association. Patients with intrinsic brain tumors have differences in personality traits compared to the control population, with an emphasis on the factor openness. No significant confounding factors like tumor grade, entity, or location were found for personality traits.
Convective forces increase CXCR4-dependent glioblastoma cell invasion in GL261 murine model
Authors: Cornelison R. Chase , Brennan Caroline E. , Kingsmore Kathryn M. , Munson Jennifer M. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractGlioblastoma is the most common and malignant form of brain cancer. Its invasive nature limits treatment efficacy and promotes inevitable recurrence. Previous in vitro studies showed that interstitial fluid flow, a factor characteristically increased in cancer, increases glioma cell invasion through CXCR4-CXCL12 signaling. It is currently unknown if these effects translate in vivo. We used the therapeutic technique of convection enhanced delivery (CED) to test if convective flow alters glioma invasion in a syngeneic GL261 mouse model of glioblastoma. The GL261 cell line was flow responsive in vitro, dependent upon CXCR4 and CXCL12. Additionally, transplanting GL261 intracranially increased the populations of CXCR4+ and double positive cells versus 3D culture. We showed that inducing convective flow within implanted tumors indeed increased invasion over untreated controls, and administering the CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100 (5 mg/kg) effectively eliminated this response. These data confirm that glioma invasion is stimulated by convective flow in vivo and depends on CXCR4 signaling. We also showed that expression of CXCR4 and CXCL12 is increased in patients having received standard therapy, when CED might be elected. Hence, targeting flow-stimulated invasion may prove beneficial as a second line of therapy, particularly in patients chosen to receive treatment by convection enhanced delivery.
Automatic detection of major depressive disorder using electrodermal activity
Authors: Kim Ah Young , Jang Eun Hye , Kim Seunghwan , Choi Kwan Woo , Jeon Hong Jin , Yu Han Young , Byun Sangwon 
Published: November 2018

AbstractMajor depressive disorder (MDD) is a common psychiatric disorder and the leading cause of disability worldwide. However, current methods used to diagnose depression mainly rely on clinical interviews and self-reported scales of depressive symptoms, which lack objectivity and efficiency. To address this challenge, we present a machine learning approach to screen for MDD using electrodermal activity (EDA). Participants included 30 patients with MDD and 37 healthy controls. Their EDA was measured during five experimental phases consisted of baseline, mental arithmetic task, recovery from the stress task, relaxation task, and recovery from the relaxation task, which elicited multiple alterations in autonomic activity. Selected EDA features were extracted from each phase, and differential EDA features between two distinct phases were evaluated. By using these features as input data and performing feature selection with SVM-RFE, 74% accuracy, 74% sensitivity, and 71% specificity could be achieved by our decision tree classifier. The most relevant features selected by SVM-RFE included differential EDA features and features from the stress and relaxation tasks. These findings suggest that automatic detection of depression based on EDA features is feasible and that monitoring changes in physiological signal when a subject is experiencing autonomic arousal and recovery may enhance discrimination power.
Genetic and pharmacological validation of TAK1 inhibition in macrophages as a therapeutic strategy to effectively inhibit TNF secretion
Authors: Scarneo Scott A. , Mansourati Antoine , Eibschutz Liesl S. , Totzke Juliane , Roques Jose R. , Loiselle David , Carlson David , Hughes Philip , Haystead Timothy A. J. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractImmune challenge of invading macrophages at sites of infection is associated with release of TNF, which triggers a local cytokine storm as part of the normal inflammatory response. Whereas this response maybe beneficial in fighting off infections, similar responses triggered in autoimmune diseases contribute significantly to the underlying damaging pathology associated with these diseases. Here we show that Takinib, a highly discriminatory inhibitor of transforming growth factor Beta- activated kinase 1 (TAK1), selectively and potently reduces TNF production in pro-inflammatory THP-1 macrophages. A complete survey of 110 cytokines, showed robust loss of proinflammatory cytokine responsiveness to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon gamma (IFNγ) challenge in response to Takinib. The mechanisms of action of Takinib was recapitulated in TAK1 KO macrophages. TAK1 KO cells showed significant loss of TNF production as well as release of IL-6 in response to LPS challenge. Furthermore, Takinib blocked the ability of exogenously added LPS to promote phosphorylation of, c-Jun, p38 protein kinases as well as downstream transcription factors regulated by nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NFκB). In a mouse LPS challenge model, Takinib significantly reduced TNF serum levels. Our findings demonstrate that Takinib has utility in the treatment inflammatory disease by locally suppressing TNF production from invading macrophages.
Observing the devastating coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) inside the coffee berry using micro-computed tomography
Authors: Alba-Alejandre Ignacio , Alba-Tercedor Javier , Vega Fernando E. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThe coffee berry borer is the most devastating insect pest of coffee throughout the world. The insect spends most of its life cycle inside the coffee berry, which makes it quite difficult to observe its behaviour. Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) was used to observe all developmental stages of the coffee berry borer inside coffee berries (Coffea canephora). An interesting oviposition pattern involving a sequential placement of eggs starting in the periphery of the seed and moving inwards was observed. Micro-CT should be useful in elucidating unknown life history aspects of other seed-feeding bark beetles as well as of bark and ambrosia beetles in general.
Extracellular microRNAs profile in human follicular fluid and IVF outcomes
Authors: Martinez Rosie M. , Liang Liming , Racowsky Catherine , Dioni Laura , Mansur Abdallah , Adir Michal , Bollati Valentina , Baccarelli Andrea A. , Hauser Russ , Machtinger Ronit 
Published: November 2018

AbstractEncapsulated microRNAs (i.e., miRNAs within the extracellular vesicles, i.e., EV-miRNAs) have been detected in follicular fluid in both animal and human studies and different profiles have been associated with IVF cycle characteristics. However, limited studies to date have investigated other IVF outcomes, including fertilization status and embryo quality on day three”. In this cohort, we performed a cross-sectional analysis on 126 women who contributed follicular fluid from a single follicle during a single IVF cycle. One hundred and ninety-two EV-miRNAs were assessed by univariable fold-change and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Hsa-miR-92a and hsa-miR-130b, were over-expressed in follicular fluid samples from oocytes that failed to fertilize compared to those that were normally fertilized. Additionally, hsa-miR-888 was over-expressed and hsa-miR-214 and hsa-miR-454 were under-expressed in samples that resulted in impaired day-3 embryo quality compared to top-quality day-3 embryos. After adjusting for confounders as BMI, smoking and total motile sperm, associations of these EV-miRNAs remained significant. In-silico KEGG pathway analyses assigned the identified EV-miRNAs to pathways of follicular growth and development, cellular signaling, oocyte meiosis, and ovarian function. Our findings suggest that EV-miRNAs may play a role in pathways of ovarian function and follicle development, which could be essential for understanding the molecular mechanisms that could lead to a successful pregnancy and birth.
Study on Nature-inspired Fractal Design-based Flexible Counter Electrodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Fabricated using Additive Manufacturing
Authors: James Sagil , Contractor Rinkesh 
Published: November 2018

AbstractDye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSC) are third generation solar cells used as an alternative to traditional silicon solar cells. DSSCs are characterized by their durability, easy handling and ability to perform better under diverse lighting conditions which makes them an ideal choice for indoor applications. However, DSSCs suffer from several limitations including low efficiencies, susceptibility to electrolyte leakage under extreme weather conditions, and the need for expensive materials and fabrication techniques which limits their large-scale industrial applications. Addressing these limitations through efficient design and manufacturing techniques are critical in ensuring that the DSSCs transform from the current small-scale laboratory levels to sizeable industrial production. This research attempts to address some of these significant limitations by introducing the concepts of nature-inspired fractal-based design followed by the additive manufacturing process to fabricate cost-effective, flexible counter electrodes for DSSCs. The new conceptual fractal-based design counter electrodes overcome the limitations of conventional planar designs by significantly increasing the number of active reaction sites which enhances the catalytic activity thereby improving the performance. The fabrication of these innovative fractal designs is realized through cost-effective manufacturing techniques including additive manufacturing and selective electrochemical co-deposition processes. The results of the study suggest that the fractal-based counter electrodes perform better than conventional designs. Additionally, the fractal designs and additive manufacturing technology help in addressing the problems of electrolyte leakage, cost of fabrication, and scalability of DSSCs.
Peculiar features of the plastids of the colourless alga Euglena longa and photosynthetic euglenophytes unveiled by transcriptome analyses
Authors: Záhonová Kristína , Füssy Zoltán , Birčák Erik , Novák Vanclová Anna M. G. , Klimeš Vladimír , Vesteg Matej , Krajčovič Juraj , Oborník Miroslav , Eliáš Marek 
Published: November 2018

AbstractEuglenophytes are a familiar algal group with green alga-derived secondary plastids, but the knowledge of euglenophyte plastid function and evolution is still highly incomplete. With this in mind we sequenced and analysed the transcriptome of the non-photosynthetic species Euglena longa. The transcriptomic data confirmed the absence of genes for the photosynthetic machinery, but provided candidate plastid-localised proteins bearing N-terminal bipartite topogenic signals (BTSs) of the characteristic euglenophyte type. Further comparative analyses including transcriptome assemblies available for photosynthetic euglenophytes enabled us to unveil salient aspects of the basic euglenophyte plastid infrastructure, such as plastidial targeting of several proteins as C-terminal translational fusions with other BTS-bearing proteins or replacement of the conventional eubacteria-derived plastidial ribosomal protein L24 by homologs of archaeo-eukaryotic origin. Strikingly, no homologs of any key component of the TOC/TIC system and the plastid division apparatus are discernible in euglenophytes, and the machinery for intraplastidial protein targeting has been simplified by the loss of the cpSRP/cpFtsY system and the SEC2 translocon. Lastly, euglenophytes proved to encode a plastid-targeted homolog of the termination factor Rho horizontally acquired from a Lambdaproteobacteria-related donor. Our study thus further documents a substantial remodelling of the euglenophyte plastid compared to its green algal progenitor.
Zika virus infection perturbs osteoblast function
Authors: Mumtaz Noreen , Koedam Marijke , van den Doel Petra B. , van Leeuwen Johannes P. T. M. , Koopmans Marion P. G. , van der Eerden Bram C. J. , Rockx Barry 
Published: November 2018

AbstractZika virus (ZIKV) infection is typically characterized by a mild self-limiting disease presenting with fever, rash, myalgia and arthralgia and severe fetal complications during pregnancy such as microcephaly, subcortical calcifications and arthrogyropsis. Virus-induced arthralgia due to perturbed osteoblast function has been described for other arboviruses. In case of ZIKV infection, the role of osteoblasts in ZIKV pathogenesis and bone related pathology remains unknown. Here, we study the effect of ZIKV infection on osteoblast differentiation, maturation and function by quantifying activity and gene expression of key biomarkers, using human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs, osteoblast precursors). MSCs were induced to differentiate into osteoblasts and we found that osteoblasts were highly susceptible to ZIKV infection. While infection did not cause a cytopathic effect, a significant reduction of key osteogenic markers such asALP,RUNX2, calcium contents and increased expression of IL6 in ZIKV-infected MSCs implicated a delay in osteoblast development and maturation, as compared to uninfected controls. In conclusion, we have developed and characterized a newin vitromodel to study the role of bone development in ZIKV pathogenesis, which will help to identify possible new targets for developing therapeutic and preventive measures.