bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lasing optical cavities based on macroscopic scattering elements
Authors: Consoli Antonio , López Cefe 
Published: January 2017

AbstractTwo major elements are required in a laser device: light confinement and light amplification. Light confinement is obtained in optical cavities by employing a pair of mirrors or by periodic spatial modulation of the refractive index as in photonic crystals and Bragg gratings. In random lasers, randomly placed nanoparticles embedded in the active material provide distributed optical feedback for lasing action. Recently, we demonstrated a novel architecture in which scattering nanoparticles and active element are spatially separated and random lasing is observed. Here we show that this approach can be extended to scattering media with macroscopic size, namely, a pair of sand grains, which act as feedback elements and output couplers, resulting in lasing emission. We demonstrate that the number of lasing modes depends on the surface roughness of the sand grains in use which affect the coherent feedback and thus the emission spectrum. Our findings offer a new perspective of material science and photonic structures, facilitating a novel and simple approach for the realization of new photonics devices based on natural scattering materials.
Covalent modification of pericardial patches for sustained rapamycin delivery inhibits venous neointimal hyperplasia
Authors: Bai Hualong , Lee Jung Seok , Chen Elizabeth , Wang Mo , Xing Ying , Fahmy Tarek M. , Dardik Alan 
Published: January 2017

AbstractProsthetic grafts and patches are commonly used in cardiovascular surgery, however neointimal hyperplasia remains a significant concern, especially under low flow conditions. We hypothesized that delivery of rapamycin from nanoparticles (NP) covalently attached to patches allows sustained site-specific delivery of therapeutic agents targeted to inhibit localized neointimal hyperplasia. NP were covalently linked to pericardial patches using EDC/NHS chemistry and could deliver at least 360 ng rapamycin per patch without detectable rapamycin in serum; nanoparticles were detectable in the liver, kidney and spleen but no other sites within 24 hours. In a rat venous patch angioplasty model, control patches developed robust neointimal hyperplasia on the patch luminal surface characterized by Eph-B4-positive endothelium and underlying SMC and infiltrating cells such as macrophages and leukocytes. Patches delivering rapamycin developed less neointimal hyperplasia, less smooth muscle cell proliferation, and had fewer infiltrating cells but retained endothelialization. NP covalently linked to pericardial patches are a novel composite delivery system that allows sustained site-specific delivery of therapeutics; NP delivering rapamycin inhibit patch neointimal hyperplasia. NP linked to patches may represent a next generation of tissue engineered cardiovascular implants.
Loss of Coupling Distinguishes GJB1 Mutations Associated with CNS Manifestations of CMT1X from Those Without CNS Manifestations
Authors: Abrams Charles K. , Goman Mikhail , Wong Sarah , Scherer Steven S. , Kleopa Kleopas A. , Peinado Alejandro , Freidin Mona M. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractCMT1X, an X-linked inherited neuropathy, is caused by mutations in GJB1, which codes for Cx32, a gap junction protein expressed by Schwann cells and oligodendrocytes. Many GJB1 mutations cause central nervous system (CNS) abnormality in males, including stable subclinical signs and, less often, short-duration episodes characterized by motor difficulties and altered consciousness. However, some mutations have no apparent CNS effects. What distinguishes mutations with and without CNS manifestations has been unclear. Here we studied a total of 14 Cx32 mutations, 10 of which are associated with florid episodic CNS clinical syndromes in addition to peripheral neuropathy. The other 4 mutations exhibit neuropathy without clinical or subclinical CNS abnormalities. These “PNS-only” mutations (Y151C, V181M, R183C and L239I) form gap junction plaques and produce levels of junctional coupling similar to those for wild-type Cx32. In contrast, mutants with CNS manifestations (F51L, E102del, V139M, R142Q, R142W, R164W T55I, R164Q and C168Y) either form no morphological gap junction plaques or, if they do, produce little or no detectable junctional coupling. Thus, PNS and CNS abnormalities may involve different aspects of connexin function.
Platelet to lymphocyte ratio in the prediction of adverse outcomes after acute coronary syndrome: a meta-analysis
Authors: Li Wenzhang , Liu Qianqian , Tang Yin 
Published: January 2017

AbstractRecent studies have shown platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) to be a potential inflammatory marker in cardiovascular diseases. We performed a meta-analysis to systematically evaluate the prognostic role of PLR in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). A comprehensive literature search up to May 18, 2016 was conducted from PUBMED, EMBASE and Web of science to identify related studies. The risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was extracted or calculated for effect estimates. Totally ten studies involving 8932 patients diagnosed with ACS were included in our research. We demonstrated that patients with higher PLR level had significantly higher risk of in-hospital adverse outcomes (RR = 2.24, 95%CI = 1.81–2.77) and long-term adverse outcomes (RR = 2.32, 95%CI = 1.64–3.28). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the stability of our results. We didn’t detect significant publication bias by Begg’s and Egger’s test (p > 0.05). In conclusion, our meta-analysis revealed that PLR is promising biomarker in predicting worse prognosis in ACS patients. The results should be validated by future large-scale, standard investigations.
Fatty acid synthase 2 contributes to diapause preparation in a beetle by regulating lipid accumulation and stress tolerance genes expression
Authors: Tan Qian-Qian , Liu Wen , Zhu Fen , Lei Chao-Liang , Wang Xiao-Ping 
Published: January 2017

AbstractDiapause, also known as dormancy, is a state of arrested development that allows insects to survive unfavorable environmental conditions. Diapause-destined insects store large amounts of fat when preparing for diapause. However, the extent to which these accumulated fat reserves influence diapause remains unclear. To address this question, we investigated the function of fatty acid synthase (FAS), which plays a central role in lipid synthesis, in stress tolerance, the duration of diapause preparation, and whether insects enter diapause or not. In diapause-destined adult female cabbage beetles, Colaphellus bowringi, FAS2 was more highly expressed than FAS1 at the peak stage of diapause preparation. FAS2 knockdown suppressed lipid accumulation and subsequently affected stress tolerance genes expression and water content. However, silencing FAS2 had no significant effects on the duration of diapause preparation or the incidence of diapause. FAS2 transcription was suppressed by juvenile hormone (JH) and the JH receptor methoprene-tolerant (Met). These results suggest that the absence of JH-Met induces FAS2 expression, thereby promoting lipid storage in diapause-destined female beetles. These results demonstrate that fat reserves regulate stress tolerance genes expression and water content, but have no significant effect on the duration of diapause preparation or the incidence of diapause.
Efficient biosynthesis of a Cecropin A-melittin mutant in Bacillus subtilis WB700
Authors: Ji Shengyue , Li Weili , Baloch Abdul Rasheed , Wang Meng , Li Hengxin , Cao Binyun , Zhang Hongfu 
Published: January 2017

AbstractThe efficient production of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) for clinical applications has attracted the attention of the scientific community. To develop a novel microbial cell factory for the efficient biosynthesis of a cecropin A-melittin mutant (CAM-W), a recombinant Bacillus subtilis WB700 expression system was genetically modified with a novel vector, including a fusion gene encoding CAM-W, the autoprotease EDDIE and the signal peptide SacB under the control of the maltose-inducible promoter Pglv. A total of 159 mg of CAM-W was obtained from 1 L of fermentation supernatant. The purified CAM-W showed a consistent size with the expected molecular weight of 3.2 kDa. Our findings suggest that this novel expression system can be used as a powerful tool for the efficient production of CAM-W.
Functional neuroimaging effects of recently discovered genetic risk loci for schizophrenia and polygenic risk profile in five RDoC subdomains
Authors: Erk S , Mohnke S , Ripke S , Lett T A , Veer I M , Wackerhagen C , Grimm O , Romanczuk-Seiferth N , Degenhardt F , Tost H , Mattheisen M , Mühleisen T W , Charlet K , Skarabis N , Kiefer F , Cichon S , Witt S H , Nöthen M M , Rietschel M , Heinz A , Meyer-Lindenberg A , Walter H 
Published: January 2017

AbstractRecently, 125 loci with genome-wide support for association with schizophrenia were identified. We investigated the impact of these variants and their accumulated genetic risk on brain activation in five neurocognitive domains of the Research Domain Criteria (working memory, reward processing, episodic memory, social cognition and emotion processing). In 578 healthy subjects we tested for association (i) of a polygenic risk profile score (RPS) including all single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) reaching genome-wide significance in the recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) meta-analysis and (ii) of all independent genome-wide significant loci separately that showed sufficient distribution of all allelic groups in our sample (105 SNPs). The RPS was nominally associated with perigenual anterior cingulate and posterior cingulate/precuneus activation during episodic memory (PFWE(ROI)=0.047) and social cognition (PFWE(ROI)=0.025), respectively. Single SNP analyses revealed that rs9607782, located near EP300, was significantly associated with amygdala recruitment during emotion processing (PFWE(ROI)=1.63 × 10−4, surpassing Bonferroni correction for the number of SNPs). Importantly, this association was replicable in an independent sample (N=150; PFWE(ROI)<0.025). Other SNP effects previously associated with imaging phenotypes were nominally significant, but did not withstand correction for the number of SNPs tested. To assess whether there was true signal within our data, we repeated single SNP analyses with 105 randomly chosen non-schizophrenia-associated variants, observing fewer significant results and lower association probabilities. Applying stringent methodological procedures, we found preliminary evidence for the notion that genetic risk for schizophrenia conferred by rs9607782 may be mediated by amygdala function. We critically evaluate the potential caveats of the methodological approaches employed and offer suggestions for future studies.
American soft power and public diplomacy in the Arab world
Authors: Rugh William 
Published: January 2017

AbstractThis position article applies the concept of soft power as developed by Joseph Nye to the Arab world and US public diplomacy in that area. Evaluating public opinion and the challenges of public diplomacy in the Arab world is difficult because of the absence of hard data on polling and public diplomacy issues. However, American diplomats who have served in the Arab world, including this author, know that most Arabs are critical of US foreign policy but that they have positive attitudes towards America as a country, due in part to American cultural and commercial products and education. This essay first discusses the impact of the digital revolution on the American public diplomacy effort and on soft power. The expansion of private communication channels has provided challenges to the US effort and has impacted its soft power. Many Arabs have exaggerated expectations about America’s ability to solve their problems. Sometimes the behaviour of private American citizens has created new challenges for our public diplomacy and damaged our soft power. This essay then analyzes several other new issues that have arisen recently affecting American soft power. One is the private dissemination of American cultural products abroad. Another is the question of whether foreign audiences still regard the US political system as a model, which they once did. A third is the exchange of persons programme, which remains an important vehicle for soft power, but which is underfunded. New security measures made necessary by terrorism also impact US soft power and public diplomacy. Futhermore, the Pentagon’s communications “mission creep” competes with the State’s public diplomacy. At the end of the essay the author takes issue with the thesis that American power generally has declined. This article is published as part of a collection on soft power.
First-passage time approach to controlling noise in the timing of intracellular events
Authors: Ghusinga Khem Raj , Dennehy John J. , Singh Abhyudai 
Published: January 2017

Significance
Understanding how randomness in the timing of intracellular events is buffered has important consequences for diverse cellular processes, where precision is required for proper functioning. To investigate event timing in noisy biochemical systems, we develop a first-passage time framework in which an event is triggered when a regulatory protein accumulates up to a critical level. Formulas quantifying event-timing fluctuations in stochastic models of protein synthesis with feedback regulation are developed. Formulas shed counterintuitive insights into regulatory mechanisms essential for scheduling an event at a precise time with minimal fluctuations. These results uncover various features in the biochemical pathways used by phages to lyse individually infected bacterial cells at an optimal time, despite stochastic expression of lysis proteins.
Ambivalent stereotypes link to peace, conflict, and inequality across 38 nations
Authors: Durante Federica , Fiske Susan T. , Gelfand Michele J. , Crippa Franca , Suttora Chiara , Stillwell Amelia , Asbrock Frank , Aycan Zeynep , Bye Hege H. , Carlsson Rickard , Björklund Fredrik , Dagher Munqith , Geller Armando , Larsen Christian Albrekt , Latif Abdel-Hamid Abdel , Mähönen Tuuli Anna , Jasinskaja-Lahti Inga , Teymoori Ali 
Published: January 2017

Significance
Stereotypes reflect a society’s inequality and conflict, providing a diagnostic map of intergroup relations. This stereotype map’s fundamental dimensions depict each group’s warmth (friendly, sincere) and competence (capable, skilled). Some societies cluster groups as high on both (positive “us”) vs. low on both (negative “them”). Other societies, including the United States, have us-them clusters but add ambivalent ones (high on one dimension, low on the other). This cross-national study shows peace-conflict predicts ambivalence. Extremely peaceful and conflictual nations both display unambivalent us-them patterns, whereas intermediate peace-conflict predicts high ambivalence. Replicating previous work, higher inequality predicts more ambivalent stereotype clusters. Inequality and intermediate peace-conflict each use ambivalent stereotypes, explaining complicated intergroup relations and maintaining social system stability.
Properdin binding to complement activating surfaces depends on initial C3b deposition
Authors: Harboe Morten , Johnson Christina , Nymo Stig , Ekholt Karin , Schjalm Camilla , Lindstad Julie K. , Pharo Anne , Hellerud Bernt Christian , Nilsson Ekdahl Kristina , Mollnes Tom Eirik , Nilsson Per H. 
Published: January 2017

SignificanceThe role of properdin in stabilization of the alternative pathway C3 convertase is indisputable, whereas its role as pattern recognition molecule remains controversial. Properdin lacks the structural homology shared by other pattern recognition molecules of the complement system, and has its major function in stabilizing the C3bBb convertase. We found that properdin binding was completely abolished by C3 inhibition after the exposure of human serum to myeloperoxidase, human umbilical vein endothelial cells, andNeisseria meningitidis, showing that properdin is not a pattern recognition molecule for these targets. We therefore challenge the view of properdin as a pattern recognition molecule, and argue that properdin typically binds a complement-activating surface subsequent to C3b to stabilize the alternative pathway C3 convertase.
Charge-altering releasable transporters (CARTs) for the delivery and release of mRNA in living animals
Authors: McKinlay Colin J. , Vargas Jessica R. , Blake Timothy R. , Hardy Jonathan W. , Kanada Masamitsu , Contag Christopher H. , Wender Paul A. , Waymouth Robert M. 
Published: January 2017

Significance
Protein expression using mRNA has the potential to transform many areas of life science research and affect the prevention, detection, and treatment of disease. However, realizing this potential requires the development of readily accessible, efficacious, and safe delivery systems that can functionally deliver mRNA to cells in culture and in vivo. A class of materials developed for mRNA delivery is described that operates through an unprecedented self-immolation mechanism. These materials are accessed in two steps through an organocatalytic oligomerization. They noncovalently complex, protect, deliver, and release mRNA with >99% transfection efficiency in cultured cells and with robust protein expression in mice using multiple routes of administration. This mRNA delivery technology should be broadly applicable to numerous research and therapeutic applications.
Dual role of ALCAM in neuroinflammation and blood–brain barrier homeostasis
Authors: Lécuyer Marc-André , Saint-Laurent Olivia , Bourbonnière Lyne , Larouche Sandra , Larochelle Catherine , Michel Laure , Charabati Marc , Abadier Michael , Zandee Stephanie , Haghayegh Jahromi Neda , Gowing Elizabeth , Pittet Camille , Lyck Ruth , Engelhardt Britta , Prat Alexandre 
Published: January 2017

Significance
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disorder characterized by multifocal lesions in the central nervous system. These lesions are caused by infiltrating leukocytes that take advantage and/or actively participate in the disruption of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). In this study, the specific role of the adhesion molecule ALCAM (activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule) present on BBB endothelial cells was assessed. We demonstrated that ALCAM knockout mice develop a more severe experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, the mouse model of MS, due to an increased permeability of the BBB. This phenotypic change is caused by a dysregulation of junctional molecules with which ALCAM indirectly binds, suggesting that in addition to its role in leukocyte transmigration, ALCAM regulates and maintains tight junction stability by acting as an adaptor molecule.
A paradox of transcriptional and functional innate interferon responses of human intestinal enteroids to enteric virus infection
Authors: Saxena Kapil , Simon Lukas M. , Zeng Xi-Lei , Blutt Sarah E. , Crawford Sue E. , Sastri Narayan P. , Karandikar Umesh C. , Ajami Nadim J. , Zachos Nicholas C. , Kovbasnjuk Olga , Donowitz Mark , Conner Margaret E. , Shaw Chad A. , Estes Mary K. 
Published: January 2017

Significance
Understanding host–enteric virus interactions has been limited by the inability to culture nontransformed small intestinal epithelial cells and to infect animal models with human viruses. We report epithelial responses in human small intestinal enteroid cultures from different individuals following infection with human rotavirus (HRV), a model enteric pathogen. RNA-sequencing and functional assays revealed type III IFN as the dominant transcriptional response that activates interferon-stimulated genes, but antagonism of the IFN response negates restriction of HRV replication. Exogenously added IFNs reduce HRV replication, with type I IFN being most effective. This highlights a paradox between the strong type III transcriptional response and the weaker functional role of type III IFN in human enteric viral restriction in human small intestinal cultures.
Shuttling along DNA and directed processing of D-loops by RecQ helicase support quality control of homologous recombination
Authors: Harami Gábor M. , Seol Yeonee , In Junghoon , Ferencziová Veronika , Martina Máté , Gyimesi Máté , Sarlós Kata , Kovács Zoltán J. , Nagy Nikolett T. , Sun Yuze , Vellai Tibor , Neuman Keir C. , Kovács Mihály 
Published: January 2017

SignificanceRecQ helicase and its eukaryotic homologs are thought to play crucial roles in the quality control of homologous recombination (HR)-based DNA repair. These enzymes have multiple functions in processes that can either promote or suppress HR. A major role suggested for RecQ is the selective inhibition of illegitimate recombination events that could lead to loss of genome integrity. How can RecQ enzymes perform an exceptionally wide range of activities and selectively inhibit potentially harmful recombination events? Here, we propose a model in which the conserved domain architecture of RecQ senses and responds to the geometry of DNA substrates to achieve HR quality control.
Inherited human IRAK-1 deficiency selectively impairs TLR signaling in fibroblasts
Authors: Della Mina Erika , Borghesi Alessandro , Zhou Hao , Bougarn Salim , Boughorbel Sabri , Israel Laura , Meloni Ilaria , Chrabieh Maya , Ling Yun , Itan Yuval , Renieri Alessandra , Mazzucchelli Iolanda , Basso Sabrina , Pavone Piero , Falsaperla Raffaele , Ciccone Roberto , Cerbo Rosa Maria , Stronati Mauro , Picard Capucine , Zuffardi Orsetta , Abel Laurent , Chaussabel Damien , Marr Nico , Li Xiaoxia , Casanova Jean-Laurent , Puel Anne 
Published: January 2017

SignificanceWe report the discovery of complete human interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R)-associated kinase 1 (IRAK-1) deficiency resulting from a de novo Xq28 microdeletion encompassingMECP2andIRAK1in a boy. Like many boys with MECP2 defects, this patient died very early. IRAK-1 is a component of the Toll-like receptor (TLR)/IL-1R (TIR) signaling pathway. Unlike patients with autosomal-recessive complete deficiency of MyD88 or IRAK-4, two other components of the TIR pathway, this patient presented no invasive bacterial infections. We analyzed the impact of human IRAK-1 deficiency in fibroblasts and leukocytes. The role of IRAK-1 in signaling downstream from IL-1R and TLRs differed according to cell type. These findings reveal similarities and differences in the role of IRAK-1 in the TLR and IL-1R pathways between mice and humans.