bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
LPS promotes a monocyte phenotype permissive for human cytomegalovirus immediate-early gene expression upon infection but not reactivation from latency
Authors: Kew V. G. , Wills M. R. , Reeves M. B. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractHuman cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection of myeloid cells is closely linked with the differentiation status of the cell. Haematopoietic progenitors and CD14+ monocytes are usually non-permissive for lytic gene expression which can lead to the establishment of latent infections. In contrast, differentiation to macrophage or dendritic cell (DC) phenotypes promotes viral reactivation or renders them permissive for lytic infection. The observation that high doses of Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) drove rapid monocyte differentiation in mice led us to investigate the response of human monocytes to HCMV following LPS stimulationin vitro. Here we report that LPS triggers a monocyte phenotype permissiveness for lytic infection directly correlating with LPS concentration. In contrast, addition of LPS directly to latently infected monocytes was not sufficient to trigger viral reactivation which is likely linked with the failure of the monocytes to differentiate to a DC phenotype. Interestingly, we observe that this effect on lytic infection of monocytes is transient, appears to be dependent on COX-2 activation and does not result in a full productive infection. Thus LPS stimulated monocytes are partially permissive lytic gene expression but did not have long term impact on monocyte identity regarding their differentiation and susceptibility for the full lytic cycle of HCMV.
Protein-coding genes in B chromosomes of the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans
Authors: Navarro-Domínguez Beatriz , Ruiz-Ruano Francisco J. , Cabrero Josefa , Corral José María , López-León María Dolores , Sharbel Timothy F. , Camacho Juan Pedro M. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractFor many years, parasitic B chromosomes have been considered genetically inert elements. Here we show the presence of ten protein-coding genes in the B chromosome of the grasshopperEyprepocnemis plorans. Four of these genes (CIP2A, GTPB6, KIF20A, andMTG1) were complete in the B chromosome whereas the six remaining (CKAP2, CAP-G, HYI, MYCB2, SLITandTOP2A) were truncated. Five of these genes (CIP2A, CKAP2, CAP-G, KIF20A, andMYCB2) were significantly up-regulated in B-carrying individuals, as expected if they were actively transcribed from the B chromosome. This conclusion is supported by three truncated genes (CKAP2, CAP-GandMYCB2) which showed up-regulation only in the regions being present in the B chromosome. Our results indicate that B chromosomes are not so silenced as was hitherto believed. Interestingly, the five active genes in the B chromosome code for functions related with cell division, which is the main arena where B chromosome destiny is played. This suggests that B chromosome evolutionary success can lie on its gene content.
Roles of Oxygen and Hydrogen in Crystal Orientation Transition of Copper Foils for High-Quality Graphene Growth
Authors: Hu Junxiong , Xu Jianbao , Zhao Yanfei , Shi Lin , Li Qi , Liu Fengkui , Ullah Zaka , Li Weiwei , Guo Yufen , Liu Liwei 
Published: April 2017

AbstractThe high-quality graphene film can be grown on single-crystal Cu substrate by seamlessly stitching the aligned graphene domains. The roles of O2 and H2 have been intensively studied in the graphene growth kinetics, including lowering the nucleation sites and tailoring the domain structures. However, how the O2 and H2 influence Cu orientations during recrystallization prior to growing graphene, still remains unclear. Here we report that the oxidation of Cu surface tends to stabilize the Cu(001) orientation while impedes the evolution of Cu(111) single domain during annealing process. The crystal orientation-controlled synthesis of aligned graphene seeds is further realized on the long-range ordered Cu(111) substrate. With decreasing the thickness of oxide layer on Cu surface by introducing H2, the Cu(001) orientation changes into Cu(111) orientation. Meanwhile, the average domain size of Cu foils is increased from 50 μm to larger than 1000 μm. The density functional theory calculations reveal that the oxygen increases the energy barrier for Cu(111) surface and makes O/Cu(001) more stable than O/Cu(111) structure. Our work can be helpful for revealing the roles of O2 and H2 in controlling the formation of Cu single-crystal substrate as well as in growing high-quality graphene films.
On the determination of elastic moduli of cells by AFM based indentation
Authors: Ding Yue , Xu Guang-Kui , Wang Gang-Feng 
Published: April 2017

AbstractThe atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been widely used to measure the mechanical properties of biological cells through indentations. In most of existing studies, the cell is supposed to be linear elastic within the small strain regime when analyzing the AFM indentation data. However, in experimental situations, the roles of large deformation and surface tension of cells should be taken into consideration. Here, we use the neo-Hookean model to describe the hyperelastic behavior of cells and investigate the influence of surface tension through finite element simulations. At large deformation, a correction factor, depending on the geometric ratio of indenter radius to cell radius, is introduced to modify the force-indent depth relation of classical Hertzian model. Moreover, when the indent depth is comparable with an intrinsic length defined as the ratio of surface tension to elastic modulus, the surface tension evidently affects the indentation response, indicating an overestimation of elastic modulus by the Hertzian model. The dimensionless-analysis-based theoretical predictions, which include both large deformation and surface tension, are in good agreement with our finite element simulation data. This study provides a novel method to more accurately measure the mechanical properties of biological cells and soft materials in AFM indentation experiments.
Fancd2 in vivo interaction network reveals a non-canonical role in mitochondrial function
Authors: Zhang Tingting , Du Wei , Wilson Andrew F. , Namekawa Satoshi H. , Andreassen Paul R. , Meetei Amom Ruhikanta , Pang Qishen 
Published: April 2017

AbstractFancd2 is a component of the Fanconi anemia (FA) DNA repair pathway, which is frequently found defective in human cancers. The full repertoire of Fancd2 functions in normal development and tumorigenesis remains to be determined. Here we developed a Flag- and hemagglutinin-tagged Fancd2 knock-in mouse strain that allowed a high throughput mass spectrometry approach to search for Fancd2-binding proteins in different mouse organs. In addition to DNA repair partners, we observed that many Fancd2-interacting proteins are mitochondrion-specific. Fancd2 localizes in the mitochondrion and associates with the nucleoid complex components Atad3 and Tufm. The Atad3-Tufm complex is disrupted in Fancd2−/− mice and those deficient for the FA core component Fanca. Fancd2 mitochondrial localization requires Atad3. Collectively, these findings provide evidence for Fancd2 as a crucial regulator of mitochondrion biosynthesis, and of a molecular link between FA and mitochondrial homeostasis.
A mitochondria-targeting artemisinin derivative with sharply increased antitumor but depressed anti-yeast and anti-malaria activities
Authors: Sun Chen , Cao Yu , Zhu Pan , Zhou Bing 
Published: April 2017

AbstractThe potent anti-malarial drug artemisinins are additionally anti-tumorigenic and inhibitory to yeast growth. The action mechanism of artemisinins, however, is not well understood. Heme and mitochondrial membrane are both suggested to be involved in the action of artemisinins. Because heme is also synthesized in the mitochondrion, mitochondria appear to be a critical organelle for artemisinins’ activities. In this study, we synthesized a mitochondria-targeting artemisinin derivative by conjugating triphenylphosphonium (TPP) to artelinic acid (ARTa). ARTa-TPP displays far more potent anti-tumorigenic activity than its parent compound. In contrast, ARTa-TPP is much less active against yeast respiration growth and malarial parasites. Notably, ARTa-TPP is also associated with increased toxicity to other kinds of control mammalian cells. These results suggest divergent action modes for artemisinins against cancer cells and malaria or yeast cells. We conclude that mitochondrial targeting could substantially elevate the anticancer potency of artemisinins, but the accompanied increased toxicity to normal cells raises an alert. The mechanism regarding the opposing effects of TPP conjugation to ARTa on its anticancer and anti-malarial/anti-yeast potencies is discussed based on our current understandings of artemisinins’ action.
Action potential initiation in a two-compartment model of pyramidal neuron mediated by dendritic Ca2+ spike
Authors: Yi Guosheng , Wang Jiang , Wei Xile , Deng Bin 
Published: April 2017

AbstractDendritic Ca2+spike endows cortical pyramidal cell with powerful ability of synaptic integration, which is critical for neuronal computation. Here we propose a two-compartment conductance-based model to investigate how the Ca2+activity of apical dendrite participates in the action potential (AP) initiation to affect the firing properties of pyramidal neurons. We have shown that the apical input with sufficient intensity triggers a dendritic Ca2+spike, which significantly boosts dendritic inputs as it propagates to soma. Such event instantaneously shifts the limit cycle attractor of the neuron and results in a burst of APs, which makes its firing rate reach a plateau steady-state level. Delivering current to two chambers simultaneously increases the level of neuronal excitability and decreases the threshold of input-output relation. Here the back-propagating APs facilitate the initiation of dendritic Ca2+spike and evoke BAC firing. These findings indicate that the proposed model is capable of reproducingin vitroexperimental observations. By determining spike initiating dynamics, we have provided a fundamental link between dendritic Ca2+spike and output APs, which could contribute to mechanically interpreting how dendritic Ca2+activity participates in the simple computations of pyramidal neuron.
Real-time iTRAQ-based proteome profiling revealed the central metabolism involved in nitrogen starvation induced lipid accumulation in microalgae
Authors: Rai Vineeta , Muthuraj Muthusivaramapandian , Gandhi Mayuri N. , Das Debasish , Srivastava Sanjeeva 
Published: April 2017

AbstractTo understand the post-transcriptional molecular mechanisms attributing to oleaginousness in microalgae challenged with nitrogen starvation (N-starvation), the longitudinal proteome dynamics of Chlorella sp. FC2 IITG was investigated using multipronged quantitative proteomics and multiple reaction monitoring assays. Physiological data suggested a remarkably enhanced lipid accumulation with concomitant reduction in carbon flux towards carbohydrate, protein and chlorophyll biosynthesis. The proteomics-based investigations identified the down-regulation of enzymes involved in chlorophyll biosynthesis (porphobilinogen deaminase) and photosynthetic carbon fixation (sedoheptulose-1,7 bisphosphate and phosphoribulokinase). Profound up-regulation of hydroxyacyl-ACP dehydrogenase and enoyl-ACP reductase ascertained lipid accumulation. The carbon skeletons to be integrated into lipid precursors were regenerated by glycolysis, β-oxidation and TCA cycle. The enhanced expression of glycolysis and pentose phosphate pathway enzymes indicates heightened energy needs of FC2 cells for the sustenance of N-starvation. FC2 cells strategically reserved nitrogen by incorporating it into the TCA-cycle intermediates to form amino acids; particularly the enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of glutamate, aspartate and arginine were up-regulated. Regulation of arginine, superoxide dismutase, thioredoxin-peroxiredoxin, lipocalin, serine-hydroxymethyltransferase, cysteine synthase, and octanoyltransferase play a critical role in maintaining cellular homeostasis during N-starvation. These findings may provide a rationale for genetic engineering of microalgae, which may enable synchronized biomass and lipid synthesis.
Tropical rainfall over the last two millennia: evidence for a low-latitude hydrologic seesaw
Authors: Lechleitner Franziska A. , Breitenbach Sebastian F. M. , Rehfeld Kira , Ridley Harriet E. , Asmerom Yemane , Prufer Keith M. , Marwan Norbert , Goswami Bedartha , Kennett Douglas J. , Aquino Valorie V. , Polyak Victor , Haug Gerald H. , Eglinton Timothy I. , Baldini James U. L. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractThe presence of a low- to mid-latitude interhemispheric hydrologic seesaw is apparent over orbital and glacial-interglacial timescales, but its existence over the most recent past remains unclear. Here we investigate, based on climate proxy reconstructions from both hemispheres, the inter-hemispherical phasing of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and the low- to mid-latitude teleconnections in the Northern Hemisphere over the past 2000 years. A clear feature is a persistent southward shift of the ITCZ during the Little Ice Age until the beginning of the 19th Century. Strong covariation between our new composite ITCZ-stack and North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) records reveals a tight coupling between these two synoptic weather and climate phenomena over decadal-to-centennial timescales. This relationship becomes most apparent when comparing two precisely dated, high-resolution paleorainfall records from Belize and Scotland, indicating that the low- to mid-latitude teleconnection was also active over annual-decadal timescales. It is likely a combination of external forcing, i.e., solar and volcanic, and internal feedbacks, that drives the synchronous ITCZ and NAO shifts via energy flux perturbations in the tropics.
Magnetism in the p-type Monolayer II-VI semiconductors SrS and SrSe
Authors: Lin Heng-Fu , Lau Woon-Ming , Zhao Jijun 
Published: April 2017

AbstractUsing density functional theory calculations, we study the electronic and magnetic properties of the p-type monolayer II-VI semiconductors SrX (X = S,Se). The pristine SrS and SrSe monolayers are large band gap semiconductor with a very flat band in the top valence band. Upon injecting hole uniformly, ferromagnetism emerges in those system in a large range of hole density. By varying hole density, the systems also show complicated phases transition among nonmagnetic semiconductor, half metal, magnetic semiconductor, and nonmagnetic metal. Furthermore, after introducing p-type dopants in SrS and SrSe via substitutionary inserting P (or As) dopants at the S (or Se) sites, local magnetic moments are formed around the substitutional sites. The local magnetic moments are stable with the ferromagnetic order with appreciable Curie temperature. The ferromagnetism originates from the instability of the electronic states in SrS and SrSe with the large density of states at the valence band edge, which demonstrates a useful strategy for realizing the ferromagnetism in the two dimensional semiconductors.
From Lark to Owl: developmental changes in morningness-eveningness from new-borns to early adulthood
Authors: Randler Christoph , Faßl Corina , Kalb Nadine 
Published: April 2017

AbstractMorningness-eveningness or chronotype changes significantly throughout the life span. This has been reported for the transition during adolescence in some studies, and to a lesser extent in early adulthood. Primary and pre-school children have been under investigation in fewer studies. This is the first comprehensive study covering the age range from very young children until early adulthood (0–30 years) based on the same measurement instrument. Here, we show that the turn towards eveningness starts at an early age in German children. Based on 26,214 cross-sectional data, we further show that at the end of adolescence, morningness-eveningness does not significantly change during early adulthood. Sex differences arise during puberty and remain until 30 years. The breaking point for the turn towards morningness is 15.7 years in girls and 17.2 boys. At the age of 0–1 years, there are about 70% morning types, and about 1% evening types, while at the age of 16 years, only 5% are morning types and 19% are evening types.
Basin stability measure of different steady states in coupled oscillators
Authors: Rakshit Sarbendu , Bera Bidesh K. , Majhi Soumen , Hens Chittaranjan , Ghosh Dibakar 
Published: April 2017

AbstractIn this report, we investigate the stabilization of saddle fixed points in coupled oscillators where individual oscillators exhibit the saddle fixed points. The coupled oscillators may have two structurally different types of suppressed states, namely amplitude death and oscillation death. The stabilization of saddle equilibrium point refers to the amplitude death state where oscillations are ceased and all the oscillators converge to the single stable steady state via inverse pitchfork bifurcation. Due to multistability features of oscillation death states, linear stability theory fails to analyze the stability of such states analytically, so we quantify all the states by basin stability measurement which is an universal nonlocal nonlinear concept and it interplays with the volume of basins of attractions. We also observe multi-clustered oscillation death states in a random network and measure them using basin stability framework. To explore such phenomena we choose a network of coupled Duffing-Holmes and Lorenz oscillators which are interacting through mean-field coupling. We investigate how basin stability for different steady states depends on mean-field density and coupling strength. We also analytically derive stability conditions for different steady states and confirm by rigorous bifurcation analysis.
Coseismic seafloor deformation in the trench region during the Mw8.8 Maule megathrust earthquake
Authors: Maksymowicz A. , Chadwell C. D. , Ruiz J. , Tréhu A. M. , Contreras-Reyes E. , Weinrebe W. , Díaz-Naveas J. , Gibson J. C. , Lonsdale P. , Tryon M. D. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractThe Mw 8.8 megathrust earthquake that occurred on 27 February 2010 offshore the Maule region of central Chile triggered a destructive tsunami. Whether the earthquake rupture extended to the shallow part of the plate boundary near the trench remains controversial. The up-dip limit of rupture during large subduction zone earthquakes has important implications for tsunami generation and for the rheological behavior of the sedimentary prism in accretionary margins. However, in general, the slip models derived from tsunami wave modeling and seismological data are poorly constrained by direct seafloor geodetic observations. We difference swath bathymetric data acquired across the trench in 2008, 2011 and 2012 and find ~3–5 m of uplift of the seafloor landward of the deformation front, at the eastern edge of the trench. Modeling suggests this is compatible with slip extending seaward, at least, to within ~6 km of the deformation front. After the Mw 9.0 Tohoku-oki earthquake, this result for the Maule earthquake represents only the second time that repeated bathymetric data has been used to detect the deformation following megathrust earthquakes, providing methodological guidelines for this relatively inexpensive way of obtaining seafloor geodetic data across subduction zone.
Two-Dimensional Large Gap Topological Insulators with Tunable Rashba Spin-Orbit Coupling in Group-IV films
Authors: Zhang Shou-juan , Ji Wei-xiao , Zhang Chang-wen , Li Ping , Wang Pei-ji 
Published: April 2017

AbstractThe coexistence of nontrivial topology and giant Rashba splitting, however, has rare been observed in two-dimensional (2D) films, limiting severely its potential applications at room temperature. Here, we through first-principles calculations to propose a series of inversion-asymmetric group-IV films, ABZ2 (A ≠ B = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb; Z = F, Cl, Br), whose stability are confirmed by phonon spectrum calculations. The analyses of electronic structures reveal that they are intrinsic 2D TIs with a bulk gap as large as 0.74 eV, except for GeSiF2, SnSiCl2, GeSiCl2 and GeSiBr2 monolayers which can transform from normal to topological phases under appropriate tensile strain of 4, 4, 5, and 4%, respectively. The nontrivial topology is identified by Z2 topological invariant together with helical edge states, as well as the berry curvature of these systems. Another prominent intriguing feature is the giant Rashba spin splitting with a magnitude reaching 0.15 eV, the largest value reported in 2D films so far. The tunability of Rashba SOC and band topology can be realized through achievable compressive/tensile strains (−4 ~ 6%). Also, the BaTe semiconductor is an ideal substrate for growing ABZ2 films without destroying their nontrivial topology.
A voltammetric determination of caffeic acid in red wines based on the nitrogen doped carbon modified glassy carbon electrode
Authors: Karikalan Natarajan , Karthik Raj , Chen Shen-Ming , Chen Hsi-An 
Published: April 2017

AbstractWe reported an electrochemical determination of caffeic acid (CA) based on the nitrogen doped carbon (NDC). The described sensor material was prepared by the flame synthesis method, which gave an excellent platform for the synthesis of carbon nanomaterials with the hetero atom dopant. The synthesized material was confirmed by various physical characterizations and it was further characterized by different electrochemical experiments. The NDC modified glassy carbon electrode (NDC/GCE) shows the superior electrocatalytic performance towards the determination of CA with the wide linear concentration range from 0.01 to 350 μM. It achieves the lowest detection limit of 0.0024 μM and the limit of quantification of 0.004 μM. The NDC/GCE-CA sensor reveals the good selectivity, stability, sensitivity and reproducibility which endorsed that the NDC is promising electrode for the determination of CA. In addition, NDC modified electrode is applied to the determination of CA in red wines and acquired good results.
Glypican 3 as a Serum Marker for Hepatoblastoma
Authors: Zhou Shengmei , O’Gorman Maurice R. G. , Yang Fusheng , Andresen Kevin , Wang Larry 
Published: April 2017

AbstractHepatoblastoma (HB) is the most common primary liver cancer in children. The conventional serum marker for HB, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), has its limitations. Novel serum markers need to be explored. Glypican 3 (GPC3) has been reported to be an excellent histological immunomarker for HB. However, the clinical value of serum GPC3 in patients with HB is unknown. A total of 184 serum samples were tested for both GPC3 by ELISA, and AFP by immunometric assay. Of these, 134 were from 32 patients with HB at three treatment stages, 30 from age-matched patients with benign hepatobiliary disorders (BHD) and 20 from age-matched “normal controls”(NC). We found that the GPC3 levels in HB pretreatment group were significantly higher than those in NC group and HB remission group but not statistically different from those in BHD group and HB during treatment group. In contrast, AFP showed significant differences among different groups. The areas under the receiver operating curve (AUROC) value, sensitivity and specificity of GPC3 for HB pretreatment group versus all controls were all significantly lower than those of AFP. Serum GPC3 levels were not associated with prognostic parameters. We concluded that GPC3 is inferior to AFP as a serum marker for HB.