bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Anti-survivin effect of the small molecule inhibitor YM155 in RCC cells is mediated by time-dependent inhibition of the NF-κB pathway
Authors: Sim Mei Yi , Yuen John Shyi Peng , Go Mei Lin 
Published: July 2018

AbstractConstitutive activation of the NF-κB signaling cascade is associated with tumourigenesis and poor prognosis in many human cancers including RCC. YM155, a small molecule inhibitor of survivin, was previously shown to potently inhibit the viability of immortalized and patient derived renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cell lines. Here we investigated the role of NF-κB signaling to the anti-cancer properties of YM155 in RCC786.0 cells. YM155 diminished nuclear levels of p65 and phosphorylated p65 and attenuated the transcriptional competencies of the p65/p50 heterodimers. Accordingly, we found that YM155 diminished the transcription of NF-κB target gene survivin. Events that led to the interception of the nuclear translocation of p65/p50 were the activation of the deubiquinating enzyme CYLD by YM155, which led to the inhibition of IKKβ, stabilization of IκBα and retention of NF-κB heterodimers in the cytosol. Importantly, the suppressive effects of YM155 were time-dependent and observed at the 24 h time point, and not earlier. TNF-α, a stimulator of NF-κB signaling did not affect its inhibitory properties. The ability of YM155 to intercept a major transcriptional pathway like NF-κB, would have important ramifications on the pharmacodynamics effects elicited by this unusual molecule.
Moth oviposition shapes the species-specific transcriptional and phytohormonal response of Nicotiana attenuata to larval feeding
Authors: Drok Sylvia , Bandoly Michele , Stelzer Sandra , Lortzing Tobias , Steppuhn Anke 
Published: July 2018

AbstractOviposition by lepidopteran herbivores on Nicotiana attenuata primes plant defence responses that are induced by the feeding larvae. While oviposition by both the generalist Spodoptera exigua and the specialist Manduca sexta primes the production of defensive phenylpropanoids, their larvae are differentially affected. We investigate here the impact of prior oviposition on the transcriptome and phytohormone levels of plants that were later attacked by larvae to find regulatory signals of this priming. In a full-factorial design, we evaluated the effects of oviposition and herbivory by both species. Oviposition alone had only subtle effects at the transcriptional level. Laval feeding alone induced species-specific plant responses. Larvae of the generalist regulated phytohormones and gene expression stronger than larvae of the specialist. A day after larvae started to feed, we detected no significant alterations of the plant’s response to larval feeding due to prior oviposition by conspecific moths. Yet, oviposition by each of the species profoundly influenced the plant’s transcriptional and phytohormonal response to feeding larvae of the other species. Remarkably, the species-specific plant responses to larval feeding shifted towards the response normally elicited by larvae of the ovipositing species. Thus, plants may already recognise an insect’s identity upon its oviposition.
Plasma-Induced Phase Transformation of SnS2 to SnS
Authors: Kim Jung Ho , Yun Seok Joon , Lee Hyun Seok , Zhao Jiong , Bouzid Houcine , Lee Young Hee 
Published: July 2018

AbstractLayered van der Waals materials have recently attracted attention owing to their exceptional electrical and optical properties in thin layer form. One way to extend their utility is to form a heterostructure which combines various properties of layered materials to reveal intriguing behavior. Conventional heterostructure synthesis methods are difficult to develop and the heterostructure formed can be limited to a small area. Here, we investigate the phase transformation of SnS2 to SnS by removing sulfur atoms at the top surface using Ar plasma. By varying the plasma power and exposure time, we observed that SnS is subsequently formed on top of the mogul-like structure of SnS2. Since SnS is a p-type semiconductor and SnS2 is an n-type semiconductor, we naturally formed a vertical p-n junction. By using graphene at the top and bottom as transparent electrodes, a vertical p-n diode device is constructed. The device demonstrates good rectifying behavior and large photocurrent generation under white light. This method can be applied to large-area heterostructure synthesis using plasma via phase transformation of various metal dichalcogenides to metal monochalcogenides.
A compact diffractive sorter for high-resolution demultiplexing of orbital angular momentum beams
Authors: Ruffato Gianluca , Girardi Marcello , Massari Michele , Mafakheri Erfan , Sephton Bereneice , Capaldo Pietro , Forbes Andrew , Romanato Filippo 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe design and fabrication of a compact diffractive optical element is presented for the sorting of beams carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) of light. The sorter combines a conformal mapping transformation with an optical fan-out, performing demultiplexing with unprecedented levels of miniaturization and OAM resolution. Moreover, an innovative configuration is proposed which simplifies alignment procedures and further improves the compactness of the optical device. Samples have been fabricated in the form of phase-only diffractive optics with high-resolution electron-beam lithography (EBL) over a glass substrate. A soft-lithography process has been optimized for fast and cheap replica production of the EBL masters. Optical tests with OAM beams confirm the designed performance, showing excellent efficiency and low cross-talk, with high fidelity even with multiplexed input beams. This work paves the way for practical OAM multiplexing and demultiplexing devices for use in classical and quantum communication.
Iron-Overload triggers ADAM-17 mediated inflammation in Severe Alcoholic Hepatitis
Authors: Maras Jaswinder Singh , Das Sukanta , Sharma Sachin , Sukriti Sukriti , kumar Jitendra , Vyas Ashish Kumar , Kumar Dhananjay , Bhat Adil , Yadav Gaurav , Choudhary Manish Chandra , Sharma Shvetank , kumar Guresh , Bihari Chhagan , Trehanpati Nirupma , Maiwall Rakhi , Sarin Shiv Kumar 
Published: July 2018

AbstractSevere alcoholic hepatitis (SAH) is associated with iron accumulation in hepatocytes/macrophages. This possibly correlates with inflammation and stress but the exact mechanism still remains obscure. To understand the role of iron and the mechanisms of systemic iron-overload, a transcriptomic study of liver and Peripheral Blood -Mononuclear-Cells (PBMCs) was undertaken in SAH patients, with and without hepatic iron-overload. Our results show that iron-overload in hepatocytes/macrophages is due to an increased expression of iron-loading receptors and CD163 signaling cascade. Increase in labile iron pool induces expression of iron-loading, oxidative-stress and inflammatory genes along with expression of CD163 and ADAM17. Increased liver iron correlated with circulatory iron, TNF-α, macrophage activation (sCD163) and peroxide-stress in CD163+macrophages in patients who were iron-overloaded and died. Circulatory TNF-α and sCD163 levels were associated with poor outcome. Temporal iron/Fenton stress induced in healthy monocyte-derived-macrophage (MDM)/Tohoku-Hospital-Pediatrics-1(THP1) cells showed higher expression of iron-regulatory, inflammatory and oxidative-stress genes. These genes could be suppressed by iron-chelation. These results suggest that iron mediates inflammation through ADAM17 induction, resulting in macrophage activation and increased shedding of TNF-α and sCD163. These events could be inhibited with iron chelation or with ADAM17-blockade, postulating a therapeutic strategy for SAH patients with iron overload.
Spinal PKCα inhibition and gene-silencing for pain relief: AMPAR trafficking at the synapses between primary afferents and sensory interneurons
Authors: Kopach Olga , Krotov Volodymyr , Shysh Angela , Sotnic Andrij , Viatchenko-Karpinski Viacheslav , Dosenko Victor , Voitenko Nana 
Published: July 2018

AbstractUpregulation of Ca2+-permeable AMPA receptors (CP-AMPARs) in dorsal horn (DH) neurons has been causally linked to persistent inflammatory pain. This upregulation, demonstrated for both synaptic and extrasynaptic AMPARs, depends on the protein kinase C alpha (PKCα) activation; hence, spinal PKC inhibition has alleviated peripheral nociceptive hypersensitivity. However, whether targeting the spinal PKCα would alleviate both pain development and maintenance has not been explored yet (essential to pharmacological translation). Similarly, if it could balance the upregulated postsynaptic CP-AMPARs also remains unknown. Here, we utilized pharmacological and genetic inhibition of spinal PKCα in various schemes of pain treatment in an animal model of long-lasting peripheral inflammation. Pharmacological inhibition (pre- or post-treatment) reduced the peripheral nociceptive hypersensitivity and accompanying locomotive deficit and anxiety in rats with induced inflammation. These effects were dose-dependent and observed for both pain development and maintenance. Gene-therapy (knockdown of PKCα) was also found to relieve inflammatory pain when applied as pre- or post-treatment. Moreover, the revealed therapeutic effects were accompanied with the declined upregulation of CP-AMPARs at the DH synapses between primary afferents and sensory interneurons. Our results provide a new focus on the mechanism-based pain treatment through interference with molecular mechanisms of AMPAR trafficking in central pain pathways.
Comparative and phylogenetic analysis of a novel family of Enterobacteriaceae-associated genomic islands that share a conserved excision/integration module
Authors: Piña-Iturbe Alejandro , Ulloa-Allendes Diego , Pardo-Roa Catalina , Coronado-Arrázola Irenice , Salazar-Echegarai Francisco J. , Sclavi Bianca , González Pablo A. , Bueno Susan M. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractGenomic Islands (GIs) are DNA regions acquired through horizontal gene transfer that encode advantageous traits for bacteria. Many GIs harbor genes that encode the molecular machinery required for their excision from the bacterial chromosome. Notably, the excision/integration dynamics of GIs may modulate the virulence of some pathogens. Here, we report a novel family of GIs found in plant and animal Enterobacteriaceae pathogens that share genes with those found in ROD21, a pathogenicity island whose excision is involved in the virulence of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis. In these GIs we identified a conserved set of genes that includes an excision/integration module, suggesting that they are excisable. Indeed, we found that GIs within carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae ST258 KP35 and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli O127:H6 E2348/69 are excised from the bacterial genome. In addition to putative virulence factors, these GIs encode conjugative transfer-related proteins and short and full-length homologues of the global transcriptional regulator H-NS. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that the identified GIs likely originated in phytopathogenic bacteria. Taken together, our findings indicate that these GIs are excisable and may play a role in bacterial interactions with their hosts.
Listening to earthworms burrowing and roots growing - acoustic signatures of soil biological activity
Authors: Lacoste Marine , Ruiz Siul , Or Dani 
Published: July 2018

AbstractWe report observations of acoustic emissions (AE) from growing plant roots and burrowing earthworms in soil, as a noninvasive method for monitoring biophysical processes that modify soil structure. AE emanating from earthworm and plants root activity were linked with time-lapse imaging in glass cells. Acoustic waveguides where installed in soil columns to monitor root growth in real time (mimicking field application). The cumulative AE events were in correlation with earthworm burrow lengths and with root growth. The number of AE events recorded from the soil columns with growing maize roots were several orders of magnitude larger than AE emanating from bare soil under similar conditions. The results suggest that AE monitoring may offer a window into largely unobservable dynamics of soil biomechanical processes such as root growth or patterns of earthworm activity - both important soil structure forming processes.
TLR10 and NFKBIA contributed to the risk of hip osteoarthritis: systematic evaluation based on Han Chinese population
Authors: Tang Hongtao , Cheng Zhenzhen , Ma Wenlong , Liu Youwen , Tong Zhaofang , Sun Ruibo , Liu Hongliang 
Published: July 2018

AbstractMultiple lines of evidence have confirmed the importance of genetic factors for hip osteoarthritis (HOA). Our study aimed to investigate the associations of TLR10 and NFKBIA with respect to the HOA risk in Han Chinese individuals. A total of 1,043 HOA patients and 2,664 controls were recruited. Then, 23 tag single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the TLR10 and NFKBIA genes were selected for genotyping. Genetic association analyses were conducted in both single-marker and haplotype-based ways. Gene by gene, two-way interactions were analysed using a case-only method. Multiple bioinformatics tools were utilised to examine the potential functional significance of the SNPs. Two significant SNPs, rs11096957 (OR = 1.26, P = 1.35 × 10−5) and rs2273650 (OR = 1.2, P = 1.57 × 10−3), were significantly associated with HOA risk. Rs11096957 was also associated with the severity of the HOA. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that the allele T of rs2273650 would create new miRNA/SNP target duplexes, which suggests that rs2273650 could alter the NFKBIA expression by affecting the miRNA/SNP target duplexes. Our study identified significant association signals from NFKBIA with HOA for the first time, and it also confirmed the contribution of TLR10 to the HOA risk. These findings would provide clues for identifying individuals at high risk of HOA.
Change in the magnetic configurations of tubular nanostructures by tuning dipolar interactions
Authors: Salinas H. D. , Restrepo J. , Iglesias Òscar 
Published: July 2018

AbstractWe have investigated the equilibrium states of ferromagnetic single wall nanotubes by means of atomistic Monte Carlo simulations of a zig-zag lattice of Heisenberg spins on the surface of a cylinder. The main focus of our study is to determine how the competition between short-range exchange (J) and long-range dipolar (D) interactions influences the low temperature magnetic order of the nanotubes as well as the thermal-driven transitions involved. Apart from the uniform and vortex states occurring for dominant J or D, we find that helical states become stable for a range of intermediate values of γ = D/J that depends on the radius and length of the nanotube. Introducing a vorticity order parameter to better characterize helical and vortex states, we find the pseudo-critical temperatures for the transitions between these states and we establish the magnetic phase diagrams of their stability regions as a function of the nanotube aspect ratio. Comparison of the energy of the states obtained by simulation with those of simpler theoretical structures that interpolate continuously between them, reveals a high degree of metastability of the helical structures that might be relevant for their reversal modes.
Understanding the indirect DNA read-out specificity of I-CreI Meganuclease
Authors: Prieto Jesús , Redondo Pilar , López-Méndez Blanca , D’Abramo Marco , Merino Nekane , Blanco Francisco J. , Duchateau Phillipe , Montoya Guillermo , Molina Rafael 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe high DNA specificity of homing endonucleases makes them a powerful protein scaffold to engineer enzymes for genome manipulation. Understanding their molecular recognition of DNA is an important prerequisite to generate engineered enzymes able to cleave DNA in specific desired genome sites. Protein-DNA recognition studies have been mostly focused on specific direct contacts between amino acid side chains and bases to redesign the binding interface. However, the important role of indirect readout in the central region of the target DNA of the homing endonuclease I-CreI suggested that indirect readout may play a key role in the redesign of protein-DNA interactions. The sequences of the I-CreI central substrate region, 2NN, along with the adjacent 5NNN, are key for substrate cleavage. Here, we analyse the mechanism of target discrimination at the 5NNN region by the I-CreI protein, revealing its critical role in the location and occupancy of the catalytic metal ions, which is crucial for cleavage. Our data highlight the importance of indirect readout for target DNA cleavage, thus aiding I-CreI engineering when targeting new DNA sequences.
Seasonal changes in the diversity and composition of the litter fauna in native forests and rubber plantations
Authors: Beng Kingsly C. , Corlett Richard T. , Tomlinson Kyle W. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe litter layer of tropical forests supports a significant fraction of total arthropod diversity and decomposition of this layer is the main pathway by which nutrients are returned to the soil and CO2to the atmosphere. Conversion of tropical forests to agriculture is the main threat to biodiversity and ecosystem services, and understanding effects on the litter layer is important for understanding and mitigating these impacts. We used high through-put DNA sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene to assess seasonal changes in the diversity and composition of the litter fauna at five matched pairs of native forests and rubber plantations in tropical SW China every month for a year, and measured the environmental factors expected to drive intra-annual variation. Forests and rubber had very different arthropod assemblages throughout the year, with forests more species-rich than rubber in all months except February. Very high rates of intra-annual turnover in species composition in both forests and rubber were associated with seasonality in environmental variables, with the influence of particular variables differing among taxa. Tropical arthropods are very sensitive to seasonality and sampling at only one time of the year captures only a subset of the total community.
Spatial-temporal characteristics and the epidemiology of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome from 2007 to 2016 in Zhejiang Province, China
Authors: Wu Haocheng , Wang XinYi , Xue Ming , Wu Chen , Lu Qinbao , Ding Zheyuan , Zhai Yujia , Lin Junfen 
Published: July 2018

AbstractZhejiang Province is one of the six provinces in China that has the highest incidence of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). Data on HFRS cases in Zhejiang Province from January 2007 to July 2017 were obtained from the China Information Network System of Disease Prevention and Control. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to observe the trend of the incidence rate of HFRS. The monthly incidence rate was predicted by autoregressive integrated moving average(ARIMA) models. Spatial autocorrelation analysis was performed to detect geographic clusters. A multivariate time series model was employed to analyze heterogeneous transmission of HFRS. There were a total of 4,836 HFRS cases, with 15 fatal cases reported in Zhejiang Province, China in the last decade. Results show that the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of the modelling performance and the forecasting performance of the ARIMA model were 27.53% and 16.29%, respectively. Male farmers and middle-aged patients account for the majority of the patient population. There were 54 high-high clusters and 1 high-low cluster identified at the county level. The random effect variance of the autoregressive component is 0.33; the spatio-temporal component is 1.30; and the endemic component is 2.45. According to the results, there was obvious spatial heterogeneity in the endemic component and spatio-temporal component but little spatial heterogeneity in the autoregressive component. A significant decreasing trend in the incidence rate was identified, and obvious clusters were discovered. Spatial heterogeneity in the factors driving HFRS transmission was discovered, which suggested that a targeted preventive effort should be considered in different districts based on their own main factors that contribute to the epidemics.
Intramuscular infiltration of a local anesthetic, lidocaine, does not result in adverse behavioural side effects in rainbow trout
Authors: Chatigny F. , Creighton C. M. , Stevens E. D. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractFish are a useful animal model for research, but our improvement in some aspects of their welfare has not kept pace with their increased popularity for this use. For example, researchers rarely use analgesics. We evaluated the side effects of lidocaine, a local anesthetic widely used in human and veterinary medicine. We infiltrated lidocaine on each side of the dorsal fin (total 20 mg/kg) of young rainbow trout (15 fish per group) compared with infiltration with an equal volume of saline. We monitored behaviour of individual trout during the 4-hour trial. Food was presented 5 times during the trial (30 min, 1 h, 2 h, 3 h, 4 h after infiltration) and we analyzed behaviour for 1 minute before and after food presentation. Behaviour of Saline-Infiltrated trout compared with trout that received no infiltration showed that infiltration in and of itself had no statistically significant effects on trout behaviour. However, there were many statistically significant effects of Lidocaine-Infiltrated trout compared with Saline-Infiltrated trout; none of the side-effects were adverse.
One-time root-zone N fertilization increases maize yield, NUE and reduces soil N losses in lime concretion black soil
Authors: Jiang Chaoqiang , Lu Dianjun , Zu Chaolong , Shen Jia , Wang Shiji , Guo Zhibin , Zhou Jianmin , Wang Huoyan 
Published: July 2018

AbstractExcess N-fertilizer application and inappropriate fertilization methods have led to low N use efficiency (NUE) and high N leaching. A field experiment was performed in a typical lime concretion black soil area to compare N application methods: split surface broadcasting (SSB) and one-time root-zone fertilization (RZF) on grain yield, NUE, the fate of 15N urea and soil N loss during the 2015 and 2016 maize growing seasons. Each application method was tested at N rates of 135 and 180 kg N ha−1, and a control (CK) with no N fertilizer. The RZF treatment remarkably increased grain yield by 7.0% compared with SSB treatment under 180 kg N ha−1, and significantly increased N derived from fertilizer by 28.5%. The residual 15N in the 0–80 cm soil layer was 40.6–47.6% after harvest, 61.8–70.9% of which was retained in 0–20 cm. The RZF remarkably increased the 15N recovery in maize by 28.7%, while significantly decreased the potential N losses by 30.2% compared with SSB in both seasons. In conclusion, one-time RZF of urea is recommended for obtaining high yields, increasing NUE, and minimizing N losses in maize, which deserves more attention for developing and applying in the future.
TUG1 promotes prostate cancer progression by acting as a ceRNA of miR-26a
Authors: Yang Bin , Tang Xiaodi , Wang Zhixin , Sun Daju , Wei Xin , Ding Youpeng 
Published: July 2018

Previous studies have demonstrated that taurine-upregulated gene 1 (TUG1) was aberrantly expressed and involved in multiple types of cancer; however, the expression profile and potential role of TUG1 in prostate cancer (PCa) remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression and function of TUG1 in PCa. In the present study, we analyzed TUG1 expression levels of PCa patients in tumor and adjacent normal tissue by real-time quantitative PCR. Knockdown of TUG1 by RNAi was performed to explore its roles in cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Here we report, for the first time, that TUG1 promotes tumor cell migration, invasion, and proliferation in PCa by working in key aspects of biological behaviors. TUG1 could negatively regulate the expression of miR-26a in PCa cells. The bioinformatics prediction revealed putative miR-26a-binding sites within TUG1 transcripts. In conclusion, our study suggests that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) TUG1 acts as a functional oncogene in PCa development.