bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Contractibility for open global constraints
Authors: MAHER MICHAEL J. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractOpen forms of global constraints allow the addition of new variables to an argument during the execution of a constraint program. Such forms are needed for difficult constraint programming problems, where problem construction and problem solving are interleaved, and fit naturally within constraint logic programming. However, in general, filtering that is sound for a global constraint can be unsound when the constraint is open. This paper provides a simple characterization, called contractibility, of the constraints, where filtering remains sound when the constraint is open. With this characterization, we can easily determine whether a constraint has this property or not. In the latter case, we can use it to derive a contractible approximation to the constraint. We demonstrate this work on both hard and soft constraints. In the process, we formulate two general classes of soft constraints.
Impact of introduced parasitoid Cotesia vestalis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) and its parasitoid guild on kale in semi-arid areas in Kenya
Authors: Kahuthia-Gathu Ruth , Nyambo Brigitte , Subramanian Sevgan 
Published: June 2017

AbstractCotesia vestaliswas introduced into Kenya from South Africa in March 2003 for biological control ofPlutella xylostellawith initial release in 2004. To confirm establishment, the rate of spread beyond the release sites and parasitism rates byC. vestaliswere assessed between October 2011 and April 2012 in eastern and southeastern Kenya (Kitui, Mwingi/Yatta and Loitokitok areas). Monthly observations on kale infestation by diamondback moth, damage scores, parasitism and parasitoid guild were undertaken on 20 randomly selected plants in farmer-managed kale farms. Sampled larval and pupal stages were placed in containers and taken to the laboratory for parasitoid emergence. The infestation levels ranged from 0.4 to 2.5 DBM per plant, while damage scores ranged from 1.2 to 1.6, which correlated with the infestation levels.Cotesia vestaliswas not only the most abundant parasitoid, but it had also spread to new areas from the release sites. In December, the three sites recorded an average of 50% fromC. vestalis. Excluding the exotic parasitoidsC.vestalisandD. semiclausum, indigenous parasitoids accounted for less than 5% total parasitism. The parasitoid guild of the diamondback moth varied between months and study sites with January recording the highest species diversity and evenness of 1.15 and 0.63, 1.28 and 0.80, 1.08 and 0.47 in Loitokitok, Kitui and Mwingi/Matuu, respectively. Therefore,C.vestalishad an impact on the management of the DBM with parasitism rate of 35% to 88% and had spread beyond the release sites.
The Hidden Sufferers: Parental Reactions to Childhood Cancer during Treatment and at Survival
Authors: Castellano-Tejedor Carmina , Blasco-Blasco Tomás , Pérez-Campdepadrós Marta , Capdevila Lluis 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThis study was twofold: 1) to assess parental reactions to childhood cancer throughout the oncological experience and 2) to explore associations between parents’ reactions during treatment and cancer-related distress at survival. A cross-sectional descriptive study collecting data (at survival) from retrospective (perceived social support, optimism, distress, coping in the worst situation) and current variables (general stress, distress regarding cancer, benefit finding) was carried out. Forty-one parents of childhood cancer survivors were assessed. High levels of distress (M= 9.5,SD= 1.32, range 4-10) and self-reported efforts to overcome difficulties occurring during the hospitalization (M= 7.48,SD= 3.01, range 0-10) were found. However, parents received high social support from very different sources. This could explain the satisfactory levels of optimism found (43.9% of the sample,M≥ 16, range 9 – 24). Most parents reported to use engagement (M= 2.57,SD= 0.41, range 1-4) and help-seeking (M= 2.52,SD= 0.53, range 1-4) coping strategies to overcome difficulties. Some parents recognized to use psychological defenses when coping with the distress of cancer. However, this disengagement style was less preferred (M= 1.62,SD= 0.37, range 1-4). Finally, 22% of parents reported positive consequences and 60% reported positive and negative consequences too. When exploring how treatment experiences can influence cancer-related distress in survivorship, we observed that those who received less social support used more disengagement coping and referred higher efforts to overcome difficulties during treatment, displayed persistent distress at survival. These same parents showed higher scores on general stress. Besides, these results were not influenced by child’s sequelae at survival. These findings support the hypothesis that “the end of treatment is not the end”. Consequently, special attention should be placed in screening parents experiences throughout different milestones of cancer to design tailored interventions aimed at reducing persistent distress at survival.
Caffeine inhibits hypothalamic A1R to excite oxytocin neuron and ameliorate dietary obesity in mice
Authors: Wu Liufeng , Meng Jia , Shen Qing , Zhang Yi , Pan Susu , Chen Zhuo , Zhu Ling-Qiang , Lu Youming , Huang Yuan , Zhang Guo 
Published: June 2017

AbstractCaffeine, an antagonist of the adenosine receptor A1R, is used as a dietary supplement to reduce body weight, although the underlying mechanism is unclear. Here, we report that adenosine level in the cerebrospinal fluid, and hypothalamic expression of A1R, are increased in the diet-induced obesity (DIO) mouse. We find that mice with overexpression of A1R in the neurons of paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus are hyperphagic, have glucose intolerance and high body weight. Central or peripheral administration of caffeine reduces the body weight of DIO mice by the suppression of appetite and increasing of energy expenditure. We also show that caffeine excites oxytocin expressing neurons, and blockade of the action of oxytocin significantly attenuates the effect of caffeine on energy balance. These data suggest that caffeine inhibits A1Rs expressed on PVN oxytocin neurons to negatively regulate energy balance in DIO mice.
A dynamic and adaptive network of cytosolic interactions governs protein export by the T3SS injectisome
Authors: Diepold Andreas , Sezgin Erdinc , Huseyin Miles , Mortimer Thomas , Eggeling Christian , Armitage Judith P. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractMany bacteria use a type III secretion system (T3SS) to inject effector proteins into host cells. Selection and export of the effectors is controlled by a set of soluble proteins at the cytosolic interface of the membrane spanning type III secretion ‘injectisome’. Combining fluorescence microscopy, biochemical interaction studies and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, we show that in live Yersinia enterocolitica bacteria these soluble proteins form complexes both at the injectisome and in the cytosol. Binding to the injectisome stabilizes these cytosolic complexes, whereas the free cytosolic complexes, which include the type III secretion ATPase, constitute a highly dynamic and adaptive network. The extracellular calcium concentration, which triggers activation of the T3SS, directly influences the cytosolic complexes, possibly through the essential component SctK/YscK, revealing a potential mechanism involved in the regulation of type III secretion.
Exposure history determines pteropod vulnerability to ocean acidification along the US West Coast
Authors: Bednaršek N. , Feely R. A. , Tolimieri N. , Hermann A. J. , Siedlecki S. A. , Waldbusser G. G. , McElhany P. , Alin S. R. , Klinger T. , Moore-Maley B. , Pörtner H. O. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThe pteropod Limacina helicina frequently experiences seasonal exposure to corrosive conditions (Ωar  < 1) along the US West Coast and is recognized as one of the species most susceptible to ocean acidification (OA). Yet, little is known about their capacity to acclimatize to such conditions. We collected pteropods in the California Current Ecosystem (CCE) that differed in the severity of exposure to Ωar conditions in the natural environment. Combining field observations, high-CO2 perturbation experiment results, and retrospective ocean transport simulations, we investigated biological responses based on histories of magnitude and duration of exposure to Ωar < 1. Our results suggest that both exposure magnitude and duration affect pteropod responses in the natural environment. However, observed declines in calcification performance and survival probability under high CO2 experimental conditions do not show acclimatization capacity or physiological tolerance related to history of exposure to corrosive conditions. Pteropods from the coastal CCE appear to be at or near the limit of their physiological capacity, and consequently, are already at extinction risk under projected acceleration of OA over the next 30 years. Our results demonstrate that Ωar exposure history largely determines pteropod response to experimental conditions and is essential to the interpretation of biological observations and experimental results.
9-cis retinoic acid induces neurorepair in stroke brain
Authors: Yu Seong-Jin , Airavaara Mikko , Wu Kuo-Jen , Harvey Brandon K , Liu H. S. , Yang Yihong , Zacharek Alex , Chen Jieli , Wang Yun 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to examine the neurorestorative effect of delayed 9 cis retinoic acid (9cRA) treatment for stroke. Adult male rats received a 90-min right distal middle cerebral artery occlusion (dMCAo). Animals were separated into two groups with similar infarction sizes, based on magnetic resonance imaging on day 2 after dMCAo. 9cRA or vehicle was given via an intranasal route daily starting from day 3. Stroke rats receiving 9cRA post-treatment showed an increase in brain 9cRA levels and greater recovery in motor function. 9cRA enhanced the proliferation of bromodeoxyuridine (+) cells in the subventricular zone (SVZ) and lesioned cortex in the stroke brain. Using subventricular neurosphere and matrigel cultures, we demonstrated that proliferation and migration of SVZ neuroprogenitor cells were enhanced by 9cRA. Our data support a delayed and non-invasive drug therapy for stroke. Intranasal 9cRA can facilitate the functional recovery and endogenous repair in the ischemic brain.
E3 ubiquitin ligase Nedd4 inhibits AP-1 activity and TNF-α production through targeting p38α for polyubiquitination and subsequent degradation
Authors: Liu Qingjun , Zhang Shihui , Chen Gan , Zhou Hong 
Published: June 2017

Abstractp38α plays an important role in many inflammatory diseases, such as skin inflammation, endotoxic shock and arthritis. Ubiquitination is a vital posttranslational modification of proteins and plays a crucial regulatory role in inflammatory cells. It has been reported that ubiquitination of Tak1 and TAB1 upstream of p38α can regulate p38α activation respectively. However, p38α ubiquitination is not yet clear. In this paper, we showed that E3 ubiquitin ligase Nedd4 is a regulatory component of the p38α pathway and is responsible for polyubiquitination of p38α through K48-linked and K63-linked polyubiquitination. The levels of p38α and its downstream target TNF-α were increased in Nedd4 deficient macrophages response to LPS compared with wild-type cells. AP-1 activity and degradation of p38α were induced by Nedd4 in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, we found that phosphorylation of p38α is involved in the interactions between p38α and Nedd4 and subsequently promotes polyubiquitination of p38α, especially K48-linked polyubiquitination by Nedd4. The different conformation of two p38α isoforms (p38αV1 and p38αV2) might be the cause of their different interactions with Nedd4 and their polyubiquitination sites by Nedd4. Thus, NEDD4 is a previously unknown component of the p38α signaling complex necessary for TNF-α activation.
Commensal-to-pathogen transition: One-single transposon insertion results in two pathoadaptive traits in Escherichia coli -macrophage interaction
Authors: Proença João T. , Barral Duarte C. , Gordo Isabel 
Published: June 2017

AbstractEscherichia coli is both a harmless commensal in the intestines of many mammals, as well as a dangerous pathogen. The evolutionary paths taken by strains of this species in the commensal-to-pathogen transition are complex and can involve changes both in the core genome, as well in the pan-genome. One way to understand the likely paths that a commensal strain of E. coli takes when evolving pathogenicity is through experimentally evolving the strain under the selective pressures that it will have to withstand as a pathogen. Here, we report that a commensal strain, under continuous pressure from macrophages, recurrently acquired a transposable element insertion, which resulted in two key phenotypic changes: increased intracellular survival, through the delay of phagosome maturation and increased ability to escape macrophages. We further show that the acquisition of the pathoadaptive traits was accompanied by small but significant changes in the transcriptome of macrophages upon infection. These results show that under constant pressures from a key component of the host immune system, namely macrophage phagocytosis, commensal E. coli rapidly acquires pathoadaptive mutations that cause transcriptome changes associated to the host-microbe duet.
Syncytiotrophoblast derived extracellular vesicles transfer functional placental miRNAs to primary human endothelial cells
Authors: Cronqvist Tina , Tannetta Dionne , Mörgelin Matthias , Belting Mattias , Sargent Ian , Familari Mary , Hansson Stefan R. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractDuring the pregnancy associated syndrome preeclampsia (PE), there is increased release of placental syncytiotrophoblast extracellular vesicles (STBEVs) and free foetal haemoglobin (HbF) into the maternal circulation. In the present study we investigated the uptake of normal and PE STBEVs by primary human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC) and the effects of free HbF on this uptake. Our results show internalization of STBEVs into primary HCAEC, and transfer of placenta specific miRNAs from STBEVs into the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria of these recipient cells. Further, the transferred miRNAs were functional, causing a down regulation of specific target genes, including the PE associated gene fms related tyrosine kinase 1 (FLT1). When co-treating normal STBEVs with HbF, the miRNA deposition is altered from the mitochondria to the ER and the cell membrane becomes ruffled, as was also seen with PE STBEVs. These findings suggest that STBEVs may cause endothelial damage and contribute to the endothelial dysfunction typical for PE. The miRNA mediated effects on gene expression may contribute to the oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress described in PE, as well as endothelial reprogramming that may underlay the increased risk of cardiovascular disease reported for women with PE later in life.
Conformable Holographic Metasurfaces
Authors: Burch James , Wen Dandan , Chen Xianzhong , Di Falco Andrea 
Published: June 2017

AbstractMetasurface holograms are typically fabricated on rigid substrates. Here we experimentally demonstrate broadband, flexible, conformable, helicity multiplexed metasurface holograms operating in the visible range, offering increased potential for real life out-of-the-lab applications. Two symmetrically distributed holographic images are obtained when circularly polarized light impinges on the reflective-type metasurface positioned on non-planar targets. The two off-axis images with high fidelity are interchangeable by controlling the helicity of incident light. Our metasurface features the arrangement of spatially varying gold nanorods on a flexible, conformable epoxy resist membrane to realize a Pancharatnam-Berry phase profile. These results pave the way to practical applications including polarization manipulation, beam steering, novel lenses, and holographic displays.
Heterologous expression of the yeast Tpo1p or Pdr5p membrane transporters in Arabidopsis confers plant xenobiotic tolerance
Authors: Remy Estelle , Niño-González María , Godinho Cláudia P. , Cabrito Tânia R. , Teixeira Miguel C. , Sá-Correia Isabel , Duque Paula 
Published: June 2017

AbstractSoil contamination is a major hindrance for plant growth and development. The lack of effective strategies to remove chemicals released into the environment has raised the need to increase plant resilience to soil pollutants. Here, we investigated the ability of two Saccharomyces cerevisiae plasma-membrane transporters, the Major Facilitator Superfamily (MFS) member Tpo1p and the ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC) protein Pdr5p, to confer Multiple Drug Resistance (MDR) in Arabidopsis thaliana. Transgenic plants expressing either of the yeast transporters were undistinguishable from the wild type under control conditions, but displayed tolerance when challenged with the herbicides 2,4-D and barban. Plants expressing ScTPO1 were also more resistant to the herbicides alachlor and metolachlor as well as to the fungicide mancozeb and the Co2+, Cu2+, Ni2+, Al3+ and Cd2+ cations, while ScPDR5-expressing plants exhibited tolerance to cycloheximide. Yeast mutants lacking Tpo1p or Pdr5p showed increased sensitivity to most of the agents tested in plants. Our results demonstrate that the S. cerevisiae Tpo1p and Pdr5p transporters are able to mediate resistance to a broad range of compounds of agricultural interest in yeast as well as in Arabidopsis, underscoring their potential in future biotechnological applications.
Pancreatic cancer: Circulating Tumor Cells and Primary Tumors show Heterogeneous KRAS Mutations
Authors: Kulemann Birte , Rösch Stephanie , Seifert Sindy , Timme Sylvia , Bronsert Peter , Seifert Gabriel , Martini Verena , Kuvendjiska Jasmina , Glatz Torben , Hussung Saskia , Fritsch Ralph , Becker Heiko , Pitman Martha B. , Hoeppner Jens 
Published: June 2017

AbstractPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a devastating disease. Circulating tumor cells (CTC) in the blood are hypothesized as the means of systemic tumor spread. Blood obtained from healthy donors and patients with PDAC was therefore subject to size-based CTC-isolation. We additionally compared Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) mutations in pancreatic CTC and corresponding tumors, and evaluated their significance as prognostic markers. Samples from 68 individuals (58 PDAC patients, 10 healthy donors) were analyzed; CTCs were present in patients with UICC stage IA-IV tumors and none of the controls (p < 0.001). Patients with >3 CTC/ml had a trend for worse median overall survival (OS) than patients with 0.3–3 CTC/ml (P = 0.12). Surprisingly, CTCs harbored various KRAS mutations in codon 12 and 13. Patients with a KRASG12V mutation in their CTC (n = 14) had a trend to better median OS (24.5 months) compared to patients with other (10 months), or no detectable KRAS mutations (8 months; P = 0.04). KRAS mutations in CTC and corresponding tumor were discordant in 11 of 26 “tumor-CTC-pairs” (42%), while 15 (58%) had a matching mutation; survival was similar in both groups (P = 0.36). Genetic characterization, including mutations such as KRAS, may prove useful for prognosis and understanding of tumor biology.
The impact of the butterfly effect on human parainfluenza virus haemagglutinin-neuraminidase inhibitor design
Authors: Dirr Larissa , El-Deeb Ibrahim M. , Chavas Leonard M. G. , Guillon Patrice , Itzstein Mark von 
Published: June 2017

AbstractHuman parainfluenza viruses represent a leading cause of lower respiratory tract disease in children, with currently no available approved drug or vaccine. The viral surface glycoprotein haemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) represents an ideal antiviral target. Herein, we describe the first structure-based study on the rearrangement of key active site amino acid residues by an induced opening of the 216-loop, through the accommodation of appropriately functionalised neuraminic acid-based inhibitors. We discovered that the rearrangement is influenced by the degree of loop opening and is controlled by the neuraminic acid’s C-4 substituent’s size (large or small). In this study, we found that these rearrangements induce a butterfly effect of paramount importance in HN inhibitor design and define criteria for the ideal substituent size in two different categories of HN inhibitors and provide novel structural insight into the druggable viral HN protein.
Element-Specific Orbital Character in a Nearly-Free-Electron Superconductor Ag5Pb2O6 Revealed by Core-Level Photoemission
Authors: Sinn Soobin , Lee Kyung Dong , Won Choong Jae , Oh Ji Seop , Han Moonsup , Chang Young Jun , Hur Namjung , Park Byeong-Gyu , Kim Changyoung , Kim Hyeong-Do , Noh Tae Won 
Published: June 2017

AbstractAg5Pb2O6 has attracted attentions due to its novel nearly-free-electron superconductivity, but its electronic structure and orbital character of the Cooper-pair electrons remain controversial. Here, we present a method utilizing core-level photoemission to show that Pb 6s electrons dominate near the Fermi level. We observe a strongly asymmetric Pb 4 f7/2 core-level spectrum, while a Ag 3d5/2 spectrum is well explained by two symmetric peaks. The asymmetry in the Pb 4 f7/2 spectrum originates from the local attractive interaction between conducting Pb 6s electrons and a Pb 4 f7/2 core hole, which implies a dominant Pb 6s contribution to the metallic conduction. In addition, the observed Pb 4 f7/2 spectrum is not explained by the well-known Doniach-Šunjić lineshape for a simple metal. The spectrum is successfully generated by employing a Pb 6s partial density of states from local density approximation calculations, thus confirming the Pb 6s dominant character and free-electron-like density of states of Ag5Pb2O6.
Empathy skill-dependent modulation of working memory by painful scene
Authors: Chen Mo , Wang Yuan-Zheng , Ma Chen-Chen , Li Qi-Ze , Zhou Han , Fu Jie , Yang Qian-Qian , Zhang Yong-Mei , Liu Yu , Cao Jun-Li 
Published: June 2017

AbstractAs an important online information retaining and processing function, working memory plays critical roles in many other cognitive functions. Several long-term factors, such as age, addiction and diseases, have been affirmed to impair working memory, but whether or how the short-term factors, like painful stimuli or emotions, regulate the human working memory ability is not well explored. Here we investigated the influences of empathic pain on upcoming working memory and existing working memory, by presenting human subjects with the pictures depicting painful or neutral scene. After separating the subjects into two groups, the more empathic group and relatively indifferent group, according to a well-accepted questionnaire (the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI)), the modulatory effect emerged. Empathic pain might exerted either a facilitating effect or an impairing effect, which was closely correlated with the personal empathy skills. Meanwhile, different aspects of subjects’ empathy traits exerted distinct effects, and female subjects were more vulnerable than male subjects. Present study reveals a new modulatory manner of the working memory, via empathy skill-dependent painful experience.