bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Response to Alternating Electric Fields of Tubulin Dimers and Microtubule Ensembles in Electrolytic Solutions
Authors: Santelices Iara B. , Friesen Douglas E. , Bell Clayton , Hough Cameron M. , Xiao Jack , Kalra Aarat , Kar Piyush , Freedman Holly , Rezania Vahid , Lewis John D. , Shankar Karthik , Tuszynski Jack A. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractMicrotubules (MTs), which are cylindrical protein filaments that play crucial roles in eukaryotic cell functions, have been implicated in electrical signalling as biological nanowires. We report on the small-signal AC (“alternating current”) conductance of electrolytic solutions containing MTs and tubulin dimers, using a microelectrode system. We find that MTs (212 nM tubulin) in a 20-fold diluted BRB80 electrolyte increase solution conductance by 23% at 100 kHz, and this effect is directly proportional to the concentration of MTs in solution. The frequency response of MT-containing electrolytes exhibits a concentration-independent peak in the conductance spectrum at 111 kHz (503 kHz FWHM that decreases linearly with MT concentration), which appears to be an intrinsic property of MT ensembles in aqueous environments. Conversely, tubulin dimers (42 nM) decrease solution conductance by 5% at 100 kHz under similar conditions. We attribute these effects primarily to changes in the mobility of ionic species due to counter-ion condensation effects, and changes in the solvent structure and solvation dynamics. These results provide insight into MTs’ ability to modulate the conductance of aqueous electrolytes, which in turn, has significant implications for biological information processing, especially in neurons, and for intracellular electrical communication in general.
Feeling stiffness in the back: a protective perceptual inference in chronic back pain
Authors: Stanton Tasha R. , Moseley G. Lorimer , Wong Arnold Y. L. , Kawchuk Gregory N. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractDoes feeling back stiffness actually reflect having a stiff back? This research interrogates the long-held question of what informs our subjective experiences of bodily state. We propose a new hypothesis: feelings of back stiffness are a protective perceptual construct, rather than reflecting biomechanical properties of the back. This has far-reaching implications for treatment of pain/stiffness but also for our understanding of bodily feelings. Over three experiments, we challenge the prevailing view by showing that feeling stiff does not relate to objective spinal measures of stiffness and objective back stiffness does not differ between those who report feeling stiff and those who do not. Rather, those who report feeling stiff exhibit self-protective responses: they significantly overestimate force applied to their spine, yet are better at detecting changes in this force than those who do not report feeling stiff. This perceptual error can be manipulated: providing auditory input in synchrony to forces applied to the spine modulates prediction accuracy in both groups, without altering actual stiffness, demonstrating that feeling stiff is a multisensory perceptual inference consistent with protection. Together, this presents a compelling argument against the prevailing view that feeling stiff is an isomorphic marker of the biomechanical characteristics of the back.
Proteomic and network analysis of human serum albuminome by integrated use of quick crosslinking and two-step precipitation
Authors: Liu Zhao , Li Shuiming , Wang Haiyang , Tang Min , Zhou Mi , Yu Jia , Bai Shunjie , Li Pengfei , Zhou Jian , Xie Peng 
Published: August 2017

AbstractAffinity- and chemical-based methods are usually employed to prepare human serum albuminome; however, these methods remain technically challenging. Herein, we report the development of a two-step precipitation (TSP) method by combined use of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and ethanol. PEG precipitation was newly applied to remove immunoglobulin G for albuminome preparation, which is simple, cost effective, efficient and compatible with downstream ethanol precipitation. Nonetheless, chemical extraction using TSP may disrupt weak and transient protein interactions with human serum albumin (HSA) leading to an incomplete albuminome. Accordingly, rapid fixation based on formaldehyde crosslinking (FC) was introduced into the TSP procedure. The developed FC-TSP method increased the number of identified proteins, probably by favouring real-time capture of weakly bound proteins in the albuminome. A total of 171 proteins excluding HSA were identified from the fraction obtained with FC-TSP. Further interaction network and cluster analyses revealed 125 HSA-interacting proteins and 14 highly-connected clusters. Compared with five previous studies, 55 new potential albuminome proteins including five direct and 50 indirect binders were only identified by our strategy and 12 were detected as common low-abundance proteins. Thus, this new strategy has the potential to effectively survey the human albuminome, especially low-abundance proteins of clinical interest.
Observation of Third-order Nonlinearities in Graphene Oxide Film at Telecommunication Wavelengths
Authors: Xu Xiaochuan , Zheng Xiaorui , He Feng , Wang Zheng , Subbaraman Harish , Wang Yaguo , Jia Baohua , Chen Ray T. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractAll-optical switches have been considered as a promising solution to overcome the fundamental speed limit of the current electronic switches. However, the lack of a suitable third-order nonlinear material greatly hinders the development of this technology. Here we report the observation of ultrahigh third-order nonlinearity about 0.45 cm2/GW in graphene oxide thin films at the telecommunication wavelength region, which is four orders of magnitude higher than that of single crystalline silicon. Besides, graphene oxide is water soluble and thus easy to process due to the existence of oxygen containing groups. These unique properties can potentially significantly advance the performance of all-optical switches.
Neural glycoprotein M6a is released in extracellular vesicles and modulated by chronic stressors in blood
Authors: Monteleone Melisa C. , Billi Silvia C. , Brocco Marcela A. , Frasch Alberto C. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractMembrane neuronal glycoprotein M6a is highly expressed in the brain and contributes to neural plasticity promoting neurite growth and spine and synapse formation. We have previously showed that chronic stressors alter hippocampal M6a mRNA levels in rodents and tree shrews. We now show that M6a glycoprotein can be detected in mouse blood. M6a is a transmembrane glycoprotein and, as such, unlikely to be free in blood. Here we demonstrate that, in blood, M6a is transported in extracellular vesicles (EVs). It is also shown that M6a-containing EVs are delivered from cultured primary neurons as well as from M6a-transfected COS-7 cells. Released EVs containing M6a can be incorporated into COS-7 cells changing its phenotype through formation of membrane protrusions. Thus, M6a-containing EVs might contribute to maintain cellular plasticity. M6a presence in blood was used to monitor stress effects. Chronic restraint stress modulated M6a protein level in a sex dependent manner. Analysis of individual animals indicated that M6a level variations depend on the stressor applied. The response to stressors in blood makes M6a amenable to further studies in the stress disorder field.
Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) reverses the amyloid state of fibrin seen in plasma of type 2 diabetics with cardiovascular co-morbidities
Authors: Pretorius Etheresia , Mbotwe Sthembile , Kell Douglas B. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractType 2 diabetes (T2D) has many cardiovascular complications, including a thrombotic propensity. Many such chronic, inflammatory diseases are accompanied (and may be exacerbated, and possibly even largely caused) by amyloid fibril formation. Recognising that there are few strong genetic associations underpinning T2D, but that amyloidogenesis of amylin is closely involved, we have been seeking to understand what might trigger the disease. Serum levels of bacterial lipopolysaccharide are raised in T2D, and we recently showed that fibrin(ogen) polymerisation during blood clotting can be affected strongly by LPS. The selectivity was indicated by the regularisation of clotting by lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP). Since coagulopathies are a hallmark of T2D, we wondered whether they might too be caused by LPS (and reversed by LBP). We show here, using SEM and confocal microscopy, that platelet-poor-plasma from subjects with T2D had a much greater propensity for hypercoagulability and for amyloidogenesis, and that these could both be reversed by LBP. These data imply that coagulopathies are an important feature of T2D, and may be driven by ‘hidden’ LPS. Given the prevalence of amyloid formation in the sequelae of diabetes, this opens up novel strategies for both the prevention and treatment of T2D.
Effects of H2 High-pressure Annealing on HfO2/Al2O3/In0.53Ga0.47As Capacitors: Chemical Composition and Electrical Characteristics
Authors: Choi Sungho , An Youngseo , Lee Changmin , Song Jeongkeun , Nguyen Manh-Cuong , Byun Young-Chul , Choi Rino , McIntyre Paul C. , Kim Hyoungsub 
Published: August 2017

AbstractWe studied the impact of H2 pressure during post-metallization annealing on the chemical composition of a HfO2/Al2O3 gate stack on a HCl wet-cleaned In0.53Ga0.47As substrate by comparing the forming gas annealing (at atmospheric pressure with a H2 partial pressure of 0.04 bar) and H2 high-pressure annealing (H2-HPA at 30 bar) methods. In addition, the effectiveness of H2-HPA on the passivation of the interface states was compared for both p- and n-type In0.53Ga0.47As substrates. The decomposition of the interface oxide and the subsequent out-diffusion of In and Ga atoms toward the high-k film became more significant with increasing H2 pressure. Moreover, the increase in the H2 pressure significantly improved the capacitance‒voltage characteristics, and its effect was more pronounced on the p-type In0.53Ga0.47As substrate. However, the H2-HPA induced an increase in the leakage current, probably because of the out-diffusion and incorporation of In/Ga atoms within the high-k stack.
Correlation between particle size/domain structure and magnetic properties of highly crystalline Fe3O4 nanoparticles
Authors: Li Qing , Kartikowati Christina W. , Horie Shinji , Ogi Takashi , Iwaki Toru , Okuyama Kikuo 
Published: August 2017

AbstractHighly crystalline single-domain magnetite Fe3O4nanoparticles (NPs) are important, not only for fundamental understanding of magnetic behaviour, but also for their considerable potential applications in biomedicine and industry. Fe3O4NPs with sizes of 10–300 nm were systematically investigated to reveal the fundamental relationship between the crystal domain structure and the magnetic properties. The examined Fe3O4NPs were prepared under well-controlled crystal growth conditions using a large-scale liquid precipitation method. The crystallite size of cube-like NPs estimated from X-ray diffraction pattern increased linearly as the particle size (estimated by transmission electron microscopy) increased from 10 to 64.7 nm, which indicates that the NPs have a single-domain structure. This was further confirmed by the uniform lattice fringes. The critical size of approximately 76 nm was obtained by correlating particle size with both crystallite size and magnetic coercivity; this was reported for the first time in this study. The coercivity of cube-like Fe3O4NPs increased to a maximum of 190 Oe at the critical size, which suggests strong exchange interactions during spin alignment. Compared with cube-like NPs, sphere-like NPs have lower magnetic coercivity and remanence values, which is caused by the different orientations of their polycrystalline structure.
Melatonin ameliorates restraint stress-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in testicular cells via NF-κB/iNOS and Nrf2/ HO-1 signaling pathway
Authors: Guo Ying , Sun Junyan , Li Ting , Zhang Qiuwan , Bu Shixia , Wang Qian , Lai Dongmei 
Published: August 2017

AbstractDecline in semen quality has become a global public health concern. Psychological stress is common in the current modern society and is associated with semen decline. Increasing evidence demonstrated that melatonin has anti-apoptotic and antioxidant functions. Whether melatonin can ameliorate the damage in testes induced by psychological stress has never been investigated. Here, a mouse model of restraint stress demonstrated that melatonin normalized the sperm density decline, testicular cells apoptosis, and testicular oxidative stress in stressed male mice. Melatonin decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) activities, and downregulated inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) activities in stressed mice testes. Furthermore, melatonin reduced the stress-induced activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway by decreasing the phosphorylation of nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor, alpha (IκBα) and p65 nuclear translocation. In addition, melatonin upregulated the expression of anti-oxidant proteins including nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Meanwhile,in vitrostudies also demonstrated melatonin could reduce oxidative apoptosis of testicular cells. Collectively, melatonin mitigated psychological stress-induced spermatogenic damage, which provides evidence for melatonin as a therapy against sperm impairment associated with psychological stress.
A rapid evaluation of acute hydrogen sulfide poisoning in blood based on DNA-Cu/Ag nanocluster fluorescence probe
Authors: Ding Yanjun , Li Xingmei , Chen Ceng , Ling Jiang , Li Weichen , Guo Yadong , Yan Jie , Zha Lagabaiyla , Cai Jifeng 
Published: August 2017

AbstractHydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a highly toxic gas as a cause of inhalational death. Accurate detection of H2S poisoning concentration is valuable and vital for forensic workers to estimate the cause of death. But so far, it is no uniform and reliable standard method to measure sulfide concentrations in H2S poisoning blood for forensic identification. This study introduces a fluorescence sensing technique into forensic research, in which a DNA-templated copper/silver nanocluster (DNA-Cu/AgNCs) fluorescence probe has been proposed to selective detection of S2−. Under an optimized condition, the proposed method can allow for determination of S2− in the concentration range of 10 pM to 1 mM with a linear equation: y = −0.432 lg[S2−] + 0.675 (R2 = 0.9844), with the limit of detection of 3.75 pM. Moreover, acute H2S poisoning mouse models were established by intraperitoneally injected different doses of Na2S, and the practical feasibility of the proposed fluorescence sensor has been demonstrated by 35 poisoning blood samples. This proposed method is proved to be quite simple and straightforward for the detection of H2S poisoning blood. Also it may provide a basis ﻿for sulfide metabolizing study in body﻿, and it woul﻿d be m﻿eaningful to further pus﻿h﻿ forensic toxicology identification and clinical laboratory research.
The histidine-rich peptide LAH4-L1 strongly promotes PAMAM-mediated transfection at low nitrogen to phosphorus ratios in the presence of serum
Authors: Liu Nan , Bechinger Burkhard , Süss Regine 
Published: August 2017

AbstractNon-viral vectors are widely used and investigated for the delivery of genetic material into cells. However, gene delivery barriers like lysosomal degradation, serum inhibition and transient gene expression so far still limit their clinical applications. Aiming to overcome these limitations, a pH-sensitive hybrid gene vector (PSL complex) was designed by self-assembly of poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers, the histidine-rich peptide LAH4-L1 and the sleeping beauty transposon system (SB transposon system, a plasmid system capable of efficient and precise genomic insertion). Transfection studies revealed that PSL complexes achieved excellent efficiency in all investigated cell lines (higher than 90% in HeLa cells and over 30% in MDCK cells, a difficult-to-transfect cell line). Additionally, the PSL complexes showed high serum tolerance and exhibited outstanding transfection efficiency even in medium containing 50% serum (higher than 90% in HeLa cells). Moreover, a high level of long-term gene expression (over 30% in HeLa cells) was observed. Furthermore, PSL complexes not only resulted in high endocytosis, but also showed enhanced ability of endosomal escape compared to PAMAM/DNA complexes. These results demonstrate that simple association of PAMAM dendrimers, LAH4-L1 peptides and the SB transposon system by self-assembly is a general and promising strategy for efficient and safe gene delivery.
Multipoint Tissue Circulation Monitoring with a Flexible Optical Probe
Authors: Tomioka Yoko , Enomoto Shintaro , Gu Jian , Kaneko Akiko , Saito Itsuro , Inoue Yusuke , Woo Taeseong , Koshima Isao , Yoshimura Kotaro , Someya Takao , Sekino Masaki 
Published: August 2017

AbstractCompromised circulation is a potential complication during the postoperative period following tissue transplantation. The use of a monitoring device allows physicians to detect compromised circulation immediately. Such monitoring devices need to be continuously usable, wearable, and area-detectable. However, existing devices fail to satisfy all of these requirements simultaneously. We developed a wearable, multipoint pulse wave-monitoring device. An array of reflective optical sensors implemented on a thin film substrate was used as a lightweight and flexible probe. As a model of tissue transplantation, an inguinal flap in a Wistar rat was dissected and freed from all subcutaneous tissue. By ligating the artery or vein, ischemia or congestion was induced in the tissue. In a human study, ischemia or congestion was induced in the palm by pressing the feeding artery or cutaneous vein, respectively. The amplitude of the pulse wave was evaluated using the power spectrum of Fourier transformed signals. Pulse wave amplitude significantly decreased under compromised circulation in both animal and human models. Moreover, we accomplished 1 week of continuous wireless monitoring in healthy subjects. These results demonstrated the potential utility of the developed device in postoperative blood-flow monitoring to improve the rescue rate of transplanted tissue.
TGF-β participates choroid neovascularization through Smad2/3-VEGF/TNF-α signaling in mice with Laser-induced wet age-related macular degeneration
Authors: Wang Xiaolei , Ma Wei , Han Song , Meng Zhaoyang , Zhao Lu , Yin Yi , Wang Yanling , Li Junfa 
Published: August 2017

AbstractChoroidal neovascularization(CNV) is the most severe complication in Age-related macular degeneration(AMD) and the most common cause of irreversible blindness in the elderly in developed world. The aim of this study was to identify the effect of transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β) and Smad2/3-VEGF/TNF-α signaling on CNV angiopoiesis, and to explore TGF-β inhibitors on the development of CNV in a CNV mouse model. Fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA) was used to evaluate the laser-induced CNV formation. The histology of CNV lesions stained with hematoxylin-eosin(HE) was obtained. The immunofluorescent staining was performed to determine TGF-β protein expression. The expressions of TGF-β, phosphorylated Smad2/3, VEGF and TNF-α were determined by using Western blot analysis. The CNV areas were analyzed by using fluorescein stain on RPE/choroid-sclera flat mounts. We found the levels of TGF-β protein expression increasingly reached the peak till 3rd week during the CNV development. The protein levels of VEGF and TNF-α also increased significantly in CNV mice, which were inhibited by a synthetic TGF-β inhibitor LY2157299 or a natural TGF-β inhibitor Decorin. The phosphorylated Smad2/3 levels increased significantly in CNV mice, but this response was profoundly suppressed by the TGF-β inhibitors. Here we have demonstrated that TGF-β/Smad signaling plays an important role in Laser-induced CNV formation through down-regulation of VEGF and TNF-α expressions, suggesting TGF-β inhibitors may provide an alternative to traditional methods in wet AMD treatment.
CD271 determines migratory properties of melanoma cells
Authors: Radke Josefine , Roßner Florian , Redmer Torben 
Published: August 2017

AbstractMelanoma cell expression of the nerve growth factor receptor CD271 is associated with stem-like properties. However, the contributing role of the receptor in melanoma cell migration is elusive. Here, we explored extracranial (skin, soft tissue, lymph node and liver, n = 13) and matched brain metastases (BM, n = 12) and observed a heterogeneous distribution of phenotypically distinct subsets of CD271+ cells. In addition, we observed that CD271 expression gradually rises along with melanoma progression and metastasis by exploration of publicly available expression data of nevi, primary melanoma (n = 31) and melanoma metastases (n = 54). Furthermore, we observed highest levels of CD271 in BM. Sub-clustering identified 99 genes differentially expressed among CD271high and CD271low (p < 0.05) BM-subgroups. Comparative analysis of subsets revealed increased ( ≥ 1.5fold, log2) expression of migration-associated genes and enrichment of CD271-responsible genes involved in DNA-repair and stemness. Live cell-imaging based scratch-wound assays of melanoma cells with stable knock-down of CD271 revealed a significantly reduced cell migration (3.9fold, p = 1.2E-04) and a reduced expression of FGF13, CSPG4, HMGA2 and AKT3 major candidate regulatory genes of melanoma cell migration. In summary, we provide new insights in melanoma cell migration and suggest that CD271 serves as a candidate regulator, sufficient to determine cellular properties of melanoma brain metastatic cells.
Sensitivity-controllable refractive index sensor based on reflective θ-shaped microfiber resonator cooperated with Vernier effect
Authors: Xu Zhilin , Luo Yiyang , Liu Deming , Shum Perry Ping , Sun Qizhen 
Published: August 2017

AbstractIn this paper, we report a sensitivity-controllable refractive index (RI) sensor based on a reflective θ-shaped microfiber resonator cooperated with Vernier effect. The θ-shaped microfiber resonator is a reflective all-fiber device with comb spectrum under weak coupling condition. By cascading it with a fiber Fabry-Perot interferometer, Vernier effect is generated to demodulate surrounding RI with enhanced sensitivity. Theoretical analysis reveals that RI sensitivity of the combined structure with Vernier effect is m times higher than the sensitivity of singular θ-shaped microfiber resonator. Moreover, by adjusting cavity length of the θ-shaped microfiber resonator, magnification factor M = (m + 1) can be tuned which enables the RI sensitivity to be controlled. Experimental result demonstrates that the RI sensitivity can be widely tuned from 311.77 nm/RIU (Reflective index unit) to 2460.07 nm/RIU when the cavity length of the θ-shaped microfiber resonator is adjusted from 9.4 mm to 8.7 mm. The θ-shaped microfiber resonator based all-fiber RI sensor featuring controllable sensitivity and compact size can be widely used for chemical and biological detections. The proposed scheme of generating Vernier effect also offers a universal idea to increase measurement sensitivity for optical fiber sensing structures with comb spectrum.