bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Perturbation of the yeast mitochondrial lipidome and associated membrane proteins following heterologous expression of Artemia-ANT
Authors: Chen Emily , Kiebish Michael A. , McDaniel Justice , Niedzwiecka Katarzyna , Kucharczyk Roza , Ravasz Dora , Gao Fei , Narain Niven R. , Sarangarajan Rangaprasad , Seyfried Thomas N. , Adam-Vizi Vera , Chinopoulos Christos 
Published: April 2018

AbstractHeterologous expression is a landmark technique for studying a protein itself or its effect on the expression host, in which membrane-embedded proteins are a common choice. Yet, the impact of inserting a foreign protein to the lipid environment of host membranes, has never been addressed. Here we demonstrated that heterologous expression of the Artemia franciscana adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT) in yeasts altered lipidomic composition of their inner mitochondrial membranes. Along with this, activities of complex II, IV and ATP synthase, all membrane-embedded components, were significantly decreased while their expression levels remained unaffected. Although the results represent an individual case of expressing a crustacean protein in yeast inner mitochondrial membranes, it cannot be excluded that host lipidome alterations is a more widespread epiphenomenon, potentially biasing heterologous expression experiments. Finally, our results raise the possibility that not only lipids modulate protein function, but also membrane-embedded proteins modulate lipid composition, thus revealing a reciprocal mode of regulation for these two biomolecular entities.
Microporous carbons derived from melamine and isophthalaldehyde: One-pot condensation and activation in a molten salt medium for efficient gas adsorption
Authors: Rehman Adeela , Park Soo-Jin 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIn the present work, mixture of melamine and isophthalaldehyde undergo simultaneous polymerization, carbonization, and in situ activation in the presence of molten salt media through a single all-in-one route to design microporous carbons with high specific surface areas (~3000 m2/g). The effect of the activation temperature and molten salts on the polymerization process and final texture of the carbon was explored. Carbon materials prepared at 700 °C, in the presence of KOH (referred as MIK-700), exhibited a narrower pore-size distribution ~1.05 nm than those prepared in the presence of the eutectic KOH-NaOH mixture (MIKN). Additionally, MIK-700 possesses an optimum micropore volume (1.33 cm3/g) along with a high nitrogen content (2.66 wt%), resulting in the excellent CO2 adsorption capacity of 9.7 mmol/g at 273 K and 1 bar. Similarly, the high specific area and highest total pore volume play an important role in H2 storage at 77 K, with 4.0 wt% uptake by MIKN-800 (specific surface area and pore volume of 2984 m2/g and 1.98 cm3/g, respectively.) Thus, the facile one-step solvent-free synthesis and activation strategy is an economically favorable avenue for designing microporous carbons as an efficient gas adsorbents.
Muscle synergies are consistent across level and uphill treadmill running
Authors: Saito Akira , Tomita Aya , Ando Ryosuke , Watanabe Kohei , Akima Hiroshi 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThis study aimed to identify muscle synergies of the lower limb during treadmill running on level and inclined ground. Eight subjects ran on a treadmill at three speeds (2.5, 3.3, and 4.1 m/s) and two grades (level and 10% grade). Surface electromyographic (EMG) signals were recorded from 10 muscles of the lower limb, including deeper muscles such as vastus intermedius, adductor magnus, and adductor longus. Muscle synergies were extracted applying a non-negative matrix factorization algorithm, and relative co-activations across muscles and the temporal recruitment pattern were identified by muscle synergy vector and synergy activation coefficient, respectively. The scalar product between pairs of synergy vectors and synergy activation coefficients during level and uphill running conditions were analyzed as a similarity index, with values above 0.8 recognized as similar. Approximately 4 muscle synergies controlled the majority of variability in 10 EMGs during running, and were common between level and uphill conditions. At each running speed, inter-condition similarity was observed in synergy vector (r > 0.83) and synergy activation coefficients (r > 0.84) at each type of synergy. These results suggest that types of synergy are consistent between level and uphill running.
Deciphering the mechanism of action of 089, a compound impairing the fungal cell cycle
Authors: Stefanini Irene , Rizzetto Lisa , Rivero Damariz , Carbonell Silvia , Gut Marta , Heath Simon , Gut Ivo G. , Trabocchi Andrea , Guarna Antonio , Ben Ghazzi Nagwa , Bowyer Paul , Kapushesky Misha , Cavalieri Duccio 
Published: April 2018

AbstractFungal infections represent an increasingly relevant clinical problem, primarily because of the increased survival of severely immune-compromised patients. Despite the availability of active and selective drugs and of well-established prophylaxis, classical antifungals are often ineffective as resistance is frequently observed. The quest for anti-fungal drugs with novel mechanisms of action is thus important. Here we show that a new compound, 089, acts by arresting fungal cells in the G2 phase of the cell cycle through targeting of SWE1, a mechanism of action unexploited by current anti-fungal drugs. The cell cycle impairment also induces a modification of fungal cell morphology which makes fungal cells recognizable by immune cells. This new class of molecules holds promise to be a valuable source of novel antifungals, allowing the clearance of pathogenic fungi by both direct killing of the fungus and enhancing the recognition of the pathogen by the host immune system.
The cognitive complexity of concurrent cognitive-motor tasks reveals age-related deficits in motor performance
Authors: Oliveira Anderson Souza , Reiche Mikkel Staall , Vinescu Cristina Ioana , Thisted Sif Amalie Halkjær , Hedberg Carina , Castro Miguel Nobre , Jørgensen Martin Gronbech 
Published: April 2018

AbstractAging reduces cognitive functions, and such impairments have implications in mental and motor performance. Cognitive function has been recently linked to the risk of falls in older adults. Physical activities have been used to attenuate the declines in cognitive functions and reduce fall incidence, but little is known whether a physically active lifestyle can maintain physical performance under cognitively demanding conditions. The aim of this study was to verify whether physically active older adults present similar performance deficits during upper limb response time and precision stepping walking tasks when compared to younger adults. Both upper limb and walking tasks involved simple and complex cognitive demands through decision-making. For both tasks, decision-making was assessed by including a distracting factor to the execution. The results showed that older adults were substantially slower than younger individuals in the response time tasks involving decision-making. Similarly, older adults walked slower and extended the double support periods when precision stepping involved decision-making. These results suggest that physically active older adults present greater influence of cognitive demanding contexts to perform a motor task when compared to younger adults. These results underpin the need to develop interventions combining cognitive and motor contexts.
Defect-engineered TiO2 Hollow Spiny Nanocubes for Phenol Degradation under Visible Light Irradiation
Authors: Kang Xiaolan , Song Xue-Zhi , Han Ying , Cao Junkai , Tan Zhenquan 
Published: April 2018

AbstractHerein, we mainly report a strategy for the facile synthesis of defect-engineered F-doped well-defined TiO2 hollow spiny nanocubes, constructed from NH4TiOF3 as precursor. The topological transformation of NH4TiOF3 mesocrystal is accompanied with fluorine anion releasing, which can be used as doping source to synthesize F-doped TiO2. Our result shows that the introduction of oxygen vacancies (Vo’s) and F dopant can be further achieved by a moderate photoreduction process. The as prepared sample is beneficial to improve photocatalystic degradation and Photoelectrochemical (PEC) efficiency under visible light irradiation. And this improvement in photocatalytic and photoelectrocatalytic performance can be ascribed to the significant enhancement of visible light absorption and separation of excited charges resulted from the presence of oxygen vacancies, F− ions and hollow structure of TiO2.
Effect of Concentrated Growth Factor (CGF) on the Promotion of Osteogenesis in Bone Marrow Stromal Cells (BMSC) in vivo
Authors: Chen Xia , Wang Jian , Yu Li , Zhou Jia , Zheng Danning , Zhang Bo 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe therapeutic method traditionally used in bone defect reconstruction is autologous bone grafting. The most common problems affecting this type of repair approach are bone absorption and donor trauma. The approach taken in this study overcomes these problems. Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) provided the crucial seed cells. Fibrin biological scaffolds were formed by combining the BMSCs with concentrated growth factor (CGF). BMSCs were isolated from Wistar rat femurs; CGF was prepared from rat heart blood. Five repair groups were created for comparative purposes: (A) CGF + BMSCs; (B) CGF; (C) collagen + BMSCs; (D) collagen; (E) blank. After three months, the rats were sacrificed, and histopathology and three-dimensional CT images produced. Bone regeneration was significantly higher in the (A) CGF + BMSC group; osteogenesis was lower in the (B) CGF and (C) collagen + BMSC groups, at very similar levels; the (D) collagen and (E) blank groups scored the lowest results. Our research suggests that combining CGF with BMSCs leads to the formation of fibrin scaffolds that have a powerful effect on osteogenesis as well as a subsidiary angiogenic effect. SEM images of the CGF scaffolds cultured with BMSCs confirmed good CGF biocompatibility. The superior osteoinductive activity of the CGF + BMSC combination makes it an excellent biomaterial for bone regeneration.
Persistence of the ABCC6 genes and the emergence of the bony skeleton in vertebrates
Authors: Parreira Bruna , Cardoso João C. R. , Costa Rita , Couto Ana Rita , Bruges-Armas Jácome , Power Deborah M. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe ATP-binding cassette transporter 6 (ABCC6) gene encodes a cellular transmembrane protein transporter (MRP6) that is involved in the regulation of tissue calcification in mammals. Mutations in ABCC6 are associated with human ectopic calcification disorders. To gain insight into its evolution and involvement in tissue calcification we conducted a comparative analysis of the ABCC6 gene and the related gene ABCC1 from invertebrates to vertebrates where a bony endoskeleton first evolved. Taking into consideration the role of ABCC6 in ectopic calcification of human skin we analysed the involvement of both genes in the regeneration of scales, mineralized structures that develop in fish skin. The ABCC6 gene was only found in bony vertebrate genomes and was absent from Elasmobranchs, Agnatha and from invertebrates. In teleost fish the abcc6 gene duplicated but the two genes persisted only in some teleost genomes. Six disease causing amino acid mutations in human MRP6 are a normal feature of abcc6 in fish, suggesting they do not have a deleterious effect on the protein. After scale removal the abcc6 (5 and 10 days) and abcc1 (10 days) gene expression was up-regulated relative to the intact control skin and this coincided with a time of intense scale mineralization.
Social thermoregulation as a potential mechanism linking sociality and fitness: Barbary macaques with more social partners form larger huddles
Authors: Campbell Liz A. D. , Tkaczynski Patrick J. , Lehmann Julia , Mouna Mohamed , Majolo Bonaventura 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIndividuals with more or stronger social bonds experience enhanced survival and reproduction in various species, though the mechanisms mediating these effects are unclear. Social thermoregulation is a common behaviour across many species which reduces cold stress exposure, body heat loss, and homeostatic energy costs, allowing greater energetic investment in growth, reproduction, and survival, with larger aggregations providing greater benefits. If more social individuals form larger thermoregulation aggregations due to having more potential partners, this would provide a direct link between sociality and fitness. We conducted the first test of this hypothesis by studying social relationships and winter sleeping huddles in wild Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus), wherein individuals with more social partners experience greater probability of winter survival. Precipitation and low temperature increased huddle sizes, supporting previous research that huddle size influences thermoregulation and energetics. Huddling relationships were predicted by social (grooming) relationships. Individuals with more social partners therefore formed larger huddles, suggesting reduced energy expenditure and exposure to environmental stressors than less social individuals, potentially explaining how sociality affects survival in this population. This is the first evidence that social thermoregulation may be a direct proximate mechanism by which increased sociality enhances fitness, which may be widely applicable across taxa.
Break the Interacting Bridge between Eu3+ Ions in the 3D Network Structure of CdMoO4: Eu3+ Bright Red Emission Phosphor
Authors: Ran Weiguang , Noh Hyeon Mi , Park Sung Heum , Moon Byung Kee , Jeong Jung Hyun , Kim Jung Hwan , Shi Jinsheng 
Published: April 2018

AbstractEu3+ doped CdMoO4 super red emission phosphors with charge compensation were prepared by the traditional high temperature solid-state reaction method in air atmosphere. The interrelationships between photoluminescence properties and crystalline environments were investigated in detail. The 3D network structure which composed by CdO8 and MoO4 polyhedra can collect and efficiently transmit energy to Eu3+ luminescent centers. The relative distance between Eu3+ ions decreased and energy interaction increased sharply with the appearance of interstitial occupation of O2− ions ($${O^{\prime\prime} }_{i}$$

O

″

i

). Therefore, fluorescence quenching occurs at the low concentration of Eu3+ ions in the 3D network structure. Fortunately, the charge compensator will reduce the concentration of $${O^{\prime\prime} }_{i}$$

O

″

i

which can break the energetic interaction between Eu3+ ions. The mechanism of different charge compensators has been studied in detail. The strong excitation band situated at ultraviolet and near-ultraviolet region makes it a potential red phosphor candidate for n-UV based LED.
First-Principle Study of the Optical Properties of Dilute-P GaN1−xPx Alloys
Authors: Borovac Damir , Tan Chee-Keong , Tansu Nelson 
Published: April 2018

AbstractAn investigation on the optical properties of dilute-P GaN1−xPx alloys by First-Principle Density Functional Theory (DFT) methods is presented, for phosphorus (P) content varying from 0% up to 12.5%. Findings on the imaginary and real part of the dielectric function are analyzed and the results are compared with previously reported theoretical works on GaN. The complex refractive index, normal-incidence reflectivity and birefringence are presented and a difference in the refractive index in the visible regime between GaN and GaNP alloys of ~0.3 can be engineered by adding minute amounts of phosphorus, indicating strong potential for refractive index tunability. The optical properties of the GaN1−xPx alloys indicate their strong potential for implementation in various III-nitride-based photonic waveguide applications and Distributed Bragg Reflectors (DBR).
Hippophae rhamnoides as novel phytogenic feed additive for broiler chickens at high altitude cold desert
Authors: Kalia Sahil , Bharti Vijay K. , Giri Arup , Kumar Bhuvnesh , Arora Achin , Balaje S. S. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractExtremes of climate and hypobaric hypoxia cause poor growth performance in broiler chickens at high altitude. The present study examined the potential ofHippophae rhamnoidesextract as phytogenic feed additive for broilers reared at 3500 m above mean sea level (MSL). Higher content of phytomolecules were recorded during characterization of the extract. Immunomodulatory activity of extract was observed in chicken lymphocytes throughin-vitrostudies. Thereafter, forin vivostudy, 105 day old Rhode Island Red (RIR) Cross-bred chicks were randomly distributed in to control and treatments T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, and T6 which were supplemented withH. rhamnoidesaqueous extract along with basal diet, at level of 100, 150, 200, 300, 400, and 800 mg/kg body weight of chicken, respectively. Among the experimental groups, birds in the T3 group represent the highest body weight. Furthermore, treatment group birds had shown better physio-biochemical indices as compared to control group birds. Interestingly, lower mortality rate due to ascites and coccidiosis was recorded in treatment groups and therefore, higher net return was observed. Hence, present investigation demonstrated the beneficial effect ofH. rhamnoidesextract (@200 mg/kg) at high altitude and therefore, may be used in formulation of feed additive for poultry ration.
Regions of open water and melting sea ice drive new particle formation in North East Greenland
Authors: Dall´Osto M. , Geels C. , Beddows D. C. S. , Boertmann D. , Lange R. , Nøjgaard J. K. , Harrison Roy. M. , Simo R. , Skov H. , Massling A. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractAtmospheric new particle formation (NPF) and growth significantly influences the indirect aerosol-cloud effect within the polar climate system. In this work, the aerosol population is categorised via cluster analysis of aerosol number size distributions (9–915 nm, 65 bins) taken at Villum Research Station, Station Nord (VRS) in North Greenland during a 7 year record (2010–2016). Data are clustered at daily averaged resolution; in total, we classified six categories, five of which clearly describe the ultrafine aerosol population, one of which is linked to nucleation events (up to 39% during summer). Air mass trajectory analyses tie these frequent nucleation events to biogenic precursors released by open water and melting sea ice regions. NPF events in the studied regions seem not to be related to bird colonies from coastal zones. Our results show a negative correlation (r = −0.89) between NPF events and sea ice extent, suggesting the impact of ultrafine Arctic aerosols is likely to increase in the future, given the likely increased sea ice melting. Understanding the composition and the sources of Arctic aerosols requires further integrated studies with joint multi-component ocean-atmosphere observation and modelling.
Episodic records of jellyfish ingestion of plastic items reveal a novel pathway for trophic transference of marine litter
Authors: Macali A. , Semenov A. , Venuti V. , Crupi V. , D’Amico F. , Rossi B. , Corsi I. , Bergami E. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractInvertebrates represent the most plentiful component of marine biodiversity. To date, only few species have been documented for marine litter intake. Here, we report for the first time the presence of macroplastic debris in a jellyfish species. Such novel target to plastic pollution highlights an under studied vector of marine litter along marine trophic web, raising further concern over the impact on marine wildlife.
Icosahedra clustering and short range order in Ni-Nb-Zr amorphous membranes
Authors: Sarker S. , Isheim D. , King G. , An Q. , Chandra D. , Morozov S. I. , Page K. , Wermer J. N. , Seidman D. N. , Dolan M. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractCrystalline Pd/Pd-Ag membranes are widely used for hydrogen separation from CO2 and other gases in power generation applications. To substitute these high cost noble metal alloy membranes, the Ni-Nb-Zr amorphous alloys are being developed that exhibit relatively high permeability of hydrogen between 200–400 °C. Atom probe tomography (APT) experiments performed on these ribbons revealed nm-scale Nb-rich and Zr-rich regions (clusters) embedded in a ternary matrix, indicating phase separation within the Ni-Nb-Zr amorphous alloy. Density functional theory (DFT) simulations have predicted that these clusters are composed of icosahedral coordination polyhedra. The interatomic distances and correlation lengths of the short range order of these alloys were determined by neutron total scattering which match well with our DFT based molecular dynamics (DFT-MD) simulations.
Attenuated DNA damage responses and increased apoptosis characterize human hematopoietic stem cells exposed to irradiation
Authors: Biechonski Shahar , Olender Leonid , Zipin-Roitman Adi , Yassin Muhammad , Aqaqe Nasma , Marcu-Malina Victoria , Rall-Scharpf Melanie , Trottier Magan , Meyn M. Stephen , Wiesmüller Lisa , Beider Katia , Raz Yael , Grisaru Dan , Nagler Arnon , Milyavsky Michael 
Published: April 2018

AbstractFailure to precisely repair DNA damage in self-renewing Hematopoietic Stem and early Progenitor Cells (HSPCs) can disrupt normal hematopoiesis and promote leukemogenesis. Although HSPCs are widely considered a target of ionizing radiation (IR)-induced hematopoietic injury, definitive data regarding cell death, DNA repair, and genomic stability in these rare quiescent cells are scarce. We found that irradiated HSPCs, but not lineage-committed progenitors (CPs), undergo rapid ATM-dependent apoptosis, which is suppressed upon interaction with bone-marrow stroma cells. Using DNA repair reporters to quantify mutagenic Non-Homologous End Joining (NHEJ) processes, we found that HSPCs exhibit reduced NHEJ activities in comparison with CPs. HSPC-stroma interactions did not affect the NHEJ capacity of HSPCs, emphasizing its cell autonomous regulation. We noted diminished expression of multiple double strand break (DSB) repair transcripts along with more persistent 53BP1 foci in irradiated HSPCs in comparison with CPs, which can account for low NHEJ activity and its distinct control in HSPCs. Finally, we documented clonal chromosomal aberrations in 10% of IR-surviving HSPCs. Taken together, our results revealed potential mechanisms contributing to the inherent susceptibility of human HSPC to the cytotoxic and mutagenic effects of DNA damage.
APOBEC3-mediated restriction of RNA virus replication
Authors: Milewska Aleksandra , Kindler Eveline , Vkovski Philip , Zeglen Slawomir , Ochman Marek , Thiel Volker , Rajfur Zenon , Pyrc Krzysztof 
Published: April 2018

AbstractAPOBEC3 family members are cytidine deaminases with roles in intrinsic responses to infection by retroviruses and retrotransposons, and in the control of other DNA viruses, such as herpesviruses, parvoviruses and hepatitis B virus. Although effects of APOBEC3 members on viral DNA have been demonstrated, it is not known whether they edit RNA genomes through cytidine deamination. Here, we investigated APOBEC3-mediated restriction of Coronaviridae. In experiments in vitro, three human APOBEC3 proteins (A3C, A3F and A3H) inhibited HCoV-NL63 infection and limited production of progeny virus, but did not cause hypermutation of the coronaviral genome. APOBEC3-mediated restriction was partially dependent on enzyme activity, and was reduced by the use of enzymatically inactive APOBEC3. Moreover, APOBEC3 proteins bound to the coronaviral nucleoprotein, and this interaction also affected viral replication. Although the precise molecular mechanism of deaminase-dependent inhibition of coronavirus replication remains elusive, our results further our understanding of APOBEC-mediated restriction of RNA virus infections.