bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Facile transformation of FeO/Fe3O4 core-shell nanocubes to Fe3O4 via magnetic stimulation
Authors: Lak Aidin , Niculaes Dina , Anyfantis George C. , Bertoni Giovanni , Barthel Markus J. , Marras Sergio , Cassani Marco , Nitti Simone , Athanassiou Athanassia , Giannini Cinzia , Pellegrino Teresa 
Published: September 2016

AbstractHere, we propose the use of magnetic hyperthermia as a means to trigger the oxidation of Fe1−xO/Fe3−δO4 core-shell nanocubes to Fe3−δO4 phase. As a first relevant consequence, the specific absorption rate (SAR) of the initial core-shell nanocubes doubles after exposure to 25 cycles of alternating magnetic field stimulation. The improved SAR value was attributed to a gradual transformation of the Fe1−xO core to Fe3−δO4, as evidenced by structural analysis including high resolution electron microscopy and Rietveld analysis of X-ray diffraction patterns. The magnetically oxidized nanocubes, having large and coherent Fe3−δO4 domains, reveal high saturation magnetization and behave superparamagnetically at room temperature. In comparison, the treatment of the same starting core-shell nanocubes by commonly used thermal annealing process renders a transformation to γ-Fe2O3. In contrast to other thermal annealing processes, the method here presented has the advantage of promoting the oxidation at a macroscopic temperature below 37 °C. Using this soft oxidation process, we demonstrate that biotin-functionalized core-shell nanocubes can undergo a mild self-oxidation transformation without losing their functional molecular binding activity.
Simultaneous steering and imaging of magnetic particles using MRI toward delivery of therapeutics
Authors: Felfoul Ouajdi , Becker Aaron T. , Fagogenis Georgios , Dupont Pierre E. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractMagnetic resonance navigation (MRN) offers the potential for real-time steering of drug particles and cells to targets throughout the body. In this technique, the magnetic gradients of an MRI scanner perform image-based steering of magnetically-labelled therapeutics through the vasculature and into tumours. A major challenge of current techniques for MRN is that they alternate between pulse sequences for particle imaging and propulsion. Since no propulsion occurs while imaging the particles, this results in a significant reduction in imaging frequency and propulsive force. We report a new approach in which an imaging sequence is designed to simultaneously image and propel particles. This sequence provides a tradeoff between maximum propulsive force and imaging frequency. In our reported example, the sequence can image at 27 Hz while still generating 95% of the force produced by a purely propulsive pulse sequence. We implemented our pulse sequence on a standard clinical scanner using millimetre-scale particles and demonstrated high-speed (74 mm/s) navigation of a multi-branched vascular network phantom. Our study suggests that the magnetic gradient magnitudes previously demonstrated to be sufficient for pure propulsion of micron-scale therapeutics in magnetic resonance targeting (MRT) could also be sufficient for real-time steering of these particles.
Atomistic determinants of co-enzyme Q reduction at the Qi-site of the cytochrome bc1 complex
Authors: Postila Pekka A. , Kaszuba Karol , Kuleta Patryk , Vattulainen Ilpo , Sarewicz Marcin , Osyczka Artur , Róg Tomasz 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe cytochrome (cyt) bc1 complex is an integral component of the respiratory electron transfer chain sustaining the energy needs of organisms ranging from humans to bacteria. Due to its ubiquitous role in the energy metabolism, both the oxidation and reduction of the enzyme’s substrate co-enzyme Q has been studied vigorously. Here, this vast amount of data is reassessed after probing the substrate reduction steps at the Qi-site of the cyt bc1 complex of Rhodobacter capsulatus using atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. The simulations suggest that the Lys251 side chain could rotate into the Qi-site to facilitate binding of half-protonated semiquinone – a reaction intermediate that is potentially formed during substrate reduction. At this bent pose, the Lys251 forms a salt bridge with the Asp252, thus making direct proton transfer possible. In the neutral state, the lysine side chain stays close to the conserved binding location of cardiolipin (CL). This back-and-forth motion between the CL and Asp252 indicates that Lys251 functions as a proton shuttle controlled by pH-dependent negative feedback. The CL/K/D switching, which represents a refinement to the previously described CL/K pathway, fine-tunes the proton transfer process. Lastly, the simulation data was used to formulate a mechanism for reducing the substrate at the Qi-site.
Sporicidal performance induced by photocatalytic production of organic peroxide under visible light irradiation
Authors: Yamaguchi Yuichi , Shimodo Takahito , Chikamori Noriyasu , Usuki Sho , Kanai Yoshihiro , Endo Takeshi , Katsumata Ken-ichi , Terashima Chiaki , Ikekita Masahiko , Fujishima Akira , Suzuki Tomonori , Sakai Hideki , Nakata Kazuya 
Published: September 2016

AbstractBacteria that cause serious food poisoning are known to sporulate under conditions of nutrient and water shortage. The resulting spores have much greater resistance to common sterilization methods, such as heating at 100 °C and exposure to various chemical agents. Because such bacteria cannot be inactivated with typical alcohol disinfectants, peroxyacetic acid (PAA) often is used, but PAA is a harmful agent that can seriously damage human health. Furthermore, concentrated hydrogen peroxide, which is also dangerous, must be used to prepare PAA. Thus, the development of a facile and safe sporicidal disinfectant is strongly required. In this study, we have developed an innovative sporicidal disinfection method that employs the combination of an aqueous ethanol solution, visible light irradiation and a photocatalyst. We successfully produced a sporicidal disinfectant one hundred times as effective as commercially available PAA, while also resolving the hazards and odor problems associated with PAA. The method presented here can potentially be used as a replacement for the general disinfectants employed in the food and health industries.
Polyoxazoline multivalently conjugated with indocyanine green for sensitive in vivo photoacoustic imaging of tumors
Authors: Kanazaki Kengo , Sano Kohei , Makino Akira , Homma Tsutomu , Ono Masahiro , Saji Hideo 
Published: September 2016

AbstractPhotoacoustic imaging, which enables high-resolution imaging in deep tissues, has lately attracted considerable attention. For tumor imaging, photoacoustic probes have been proposed to enhance the photoacoustic effect to improve detection sensitivity. Here, we evaluated the feasibility of using a biocompatible hydrophilic polymer, polyoxazoline, conjugated with indocyanine green (ICG) as a tumor-targeted photoacoustic probe via enhanced permeability and retention effect. ICG molecules were multivalently conjugated to partially hydrolyzed polyoxazoline, thereby serving as highly sensitive photoacoustic probes. Interestingly, loading multiple ICG molecules to polyoxazoline significantly enhanced photoacoustic signal intensity under the same ICG concentration. In vivo biodistribution studies using tumor bearing mice demonstrated that 5% hydrolyzed polyoxazoline (50 kDa) conjugated with ICG (ICG/polyoxazoline = 7.8), P14-ICG7.8, showed relatively high tumor accumulation (9.4%ID/g), resulting in delivery of the highest dose of ICG among the probes tested. P14-ICG7.8 enabled clear visualization of the tumor regions by photoacoustic imaging 24 h after administration; the photoacoustic signal increased in proportion with the injected dose. In addition, the signal intensity in blood vessels in the photoacoustic images did not show much change, which was attributed to the high tumor-to-blood ratios of P14-ICG7.8. These results suggest that polyoxazoline-ICG would serve as a robust probe for sensitive photoacoustic tumor imaging.
Exploring functional roles of TRPV1 intracellular domains with unstructured peptide-insertion screening
Authors: Ma Linlin , Yang Fan , Vu Simon , Zheng Jie 
Published: September 2016

AbstractTRPV1 is a polymodal nociceptor for diverse physical and chemical stimuli that interact with different parts of the channel protein. Recent cryo-EM studies revealed detailed channel structures, opening the door for mapping structural elements mediating activation by each stimulus. Towards this goal, here we have combined unstructured peptide-insertion screening (UPS) with electrophysiological and fluorescence recordings to explore structural and functional roles of the intracellular regions of TRPV1 in mediating various activation stimuli. We found that most of the tightly packed protein regions did not tolerate structural perturbation by UPS when tested, indicating that structural integrity of the intracellular region is critical. In agreement with previous reports, Ca2+-dependent desensitization is strongly dependent on both intracellular N- and C-terminal domains; insertions of an unstructured peptide between these domains and the transmembrane core domain nearly eliminated Ca2+-dependent desensitization. In contrast, channel activations by capsaicin, low pH, divalent cations, and even heat are mostly intact in mutant channels containing the same insertions. These observations suggest that the transmembrane core domain of TRPV1, but not the intracellular domains, is responsible for sensing these stimuli.
Humanization of high-affinity antibodies targeting glypican-3 in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Yi-Fan , Ho Mitchell 
Published: September 2016

AbstractGlypican-3 (GPC3) is a cell-surface heparan sulfate proteoglycan highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We have generated a group of high-affinity mouse monoclonal antibodies targeting GPC3. Here, we report the humanization and testing of these antibodies for clinical development. We compared the affinity and cytotoxicity of recombinant immunotoxins containing mouse single-chain variable regions fused with a Pseudomonas toxin. To humanize the mouse Fvs, we grafted the combined KABAT/IMGT complementarity determining regions (CDR) into a human IgG germline framework. Interestingly, we found that the proline at position 41, a non-CDR residue in heavy chain variable regions (VH), is important for humanization of mouse antibodies. We also showed that two humanized anti-GPC3 antibodies (hYP7 and hYP9.1b) in the IgG format induced antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and complement-dependent-cytotoxicity in GPC3-positive cancer cells. The hYP7 antibody was tested and showed inhibition of HCC xenograft tumor growth in nude mice. This study successfully humanizes and validates high affinity anti-GPC3 antibodies and sets a foundation for future development of these antibodies in various clinical formats in the treatment of liver cancer.
An ab initio study of the polytypism in InP
Authors: Dacal Luis C. O. , Cantarero A. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe existence of polytypism in semiconductor nanostructures gives rise to the appearance of stacking faults which many times can be treated as quantum wells. In some cases, despite of a careful growth, the polytypism can be hardly avoided. In this work, we perform an ab initio study of zincblende stacking faults in a wurtzite InP system, using the supercell approach and taking the limit of low density of narrow stacking faults regions. Our results confirm the type II band alignment between the phases, producing a reliable qualitative description of the band gap evolution along the growth axis. These results show an spacial asymmetry in the zincblende quantum wells, that is expected due to the fact that the wurtzite stacking sequence (ABAB) is part of the zincblende one (ABCABC), but with an unexpected asymmetry between the valence and the conduction bands. We also present results for the complex dielectric function, clearly showing the influence of the stacking on the homostructure values and surprisingly proving that the correspondent bulk results can be used to reproduce the polytypism even in the limit we considered.
Enhancement of trichothecene mycotoxins of Fusarium oxysporum by ferulic acid aggravates oxidative damage in Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch
Authors: Li Zhen Fang , He Chen Ling , Wang Ying , Li Ming Jie , Dai Ya Jing , Wang Tong , Lin Wenxiong 
Published: September 2016

AbstractRehmannia glutinosa is an important medicinal herb that cannot be replanted in the same field due to the effects of autotoxic substances. The effects of these substances on R. glutinosa in continuous cropping systems are unknown. In the present study, bioassays revealed that R. glutinosa exhibited severe growth restriction and higher disease indices in the FO+FA (F.oxysporum pretreated with ferulic acid) treatment. The increases in the contents of MDA and H2O2 were greater in the FA+FO treatment than in the FA or FO only treatments, respectively. Consistent with this result, the enzyme activities in the seedlings increased with treatment time. To identify the main factor underlying the increased pathogenicity of FO, macroconidia and trichothecene mycotoxins coproduced by FO were separated and used to treat R. glutinosa seedlings. The MDA and H2O2 contents were similar in the seedlings treated with deoxynivalenol and in the FA+FO treatment. Quantification of the relative expression of certain genes involved in Ca2+ signal transduction pathways suggested that trichothecene mycotoxins play an important role in the increased pathogenicity of FO. In conclusion, FA not only directly enhances oxidative damage in R. glutinosa but also increases wilting symptom outbreaks by promoting the secretion of trichothecene mycotoxins by FO.
A naturally occurring bovine APOBEC3 confers resistance to bovine lentiviruses: implication for the co-evolution of bovids and their lentiviruses
Authors: Yamada Eri , Yoshikawa Rokusuke , Nakano Yusuke , Misawa Naoko , Kobayashi Tomoko , Ren Fengrong , Izumi Taisuke , Miyazawa Takayuki , Koyanagi Yoshio , Sato Kei 
Published: September 2016

AbstractMammals have co-evolved with lentiviruses for a long time. As evidence, viral infectivity factor (Vif), encoded by lentiviruses, antagonizes the anti-viral action of cellular APOBEC3 of their hosts. Here, we address the co-evolutionary dynamics of bovine APOBEC3 and the following two bovine lentiviruses: bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV) and Jembrana disease virus (JDV). We determined the sequences of threeAPOBEC3genes of bovids belonging to the generaBosandBisonand showed that bovineAPOBEC3Z3is under a strong positive selection. We found that APOBEC3Z3 of gaur, a bovid in the genusBos, acquired resistance to JDV Vif-mediated degradation after diverging from the other bovids through conversion of the structural composition of the loop 1 domain. Interestingly, the resistance of gaur APOBEC3Z3 can be attributed to the positive selection of residue 62. This study provides the first evidence, suggesting that a co-evolutionary arms race between bovids and lentiviruses occurred in Asia.
Gender effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms and miRNAs targeting clock-genes in metastatic colorectal cancer patients (mCRC)
Authors: Garufi Carlo , Giacomini Elisa , Torsello Angela , Sperduti Isabella , Melucci Elisa , Mottolese Marcella , Zeuli Massimo , Ettorre Giuseppe Maria , Ricciardi Teresa , Cognetti Francesco , Magnani Mauro , Ruzzo Annamaria 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe circadian system is composed of a set of clock-genes including PERIOD, CLOCK, BMAL1 and CRY. Disrupting this system promotes cancer development and progression. The expression levels of miR-206, miR-219, miR-192, miR-194 and miR-132 regulating clock-genes and three functional polymorphisms rs11133373 C/G, rs1801260 T/C, rs11133391 T/C in CLOCK sequence were associated with the survival of 83 mCRC patients (50 males and 33 females). Longer overall survival (OS) was observed in women compared to men, 50 versus 31 months. This difference was associated with rs11133373 C/C genotype (p = 0.01), rs1801260 T/C+C/C genotype (p = 0.06) and rs11133391 T/T genotype (p = 0.06). Moreover women expressing high levels (H) of miR-192 (p = 0.03), miR-206 (p = 0.003), miR-194 (p = 0.02) and miR-219 (p = 0.002) had a longer OS compared to men. In women longer OS was reinforced by the simultaneous presence of two or more H-miR, 58 months versus 15 months (p = 0.0008); in this group of women an OS of 87 months was reached with the additional presence of rs11133391T/T genotype (p = 0.02). In this study we identified a subgroup of female patients who seems to have a better prognosis. Personalized medicine should prospectively take into account both genetic and gender differences.
Large area Germanium Tin nanometer optical film coatings on highly flexible aluminum substrates
Authors: Jin Lichuan , Zhang Dainan , Zhang Huaiwu , Fang Jue , Liao Yulong , Zhou Tingchuan , Liu Cheng , Zhong Zhiyong , Harris Vincent G. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractGermanium Tin (GeSn) films have drawn great interest for their visible and near-infrared optoelectronics properties. Here, we demonstrate large area Germanium Tin nanometer thin films grown on highly flexible aluminum foil substrates using low-temperature molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Ultra-thin (10–180 nm) GeSn film-coated aluminum foils display a wide color spectra with an absorption wavelength ranging from 400–1800 nm due to its strong optical interference effect. The light absorption ratio for nanometer GeSn/Al foil heterostructures can be enhanced up to 85%. Moreover, the structure exhibits excellent mechanical flexibility and can be cut or bent into many shapes, which facilitates a wide range of flexible photonics. Micro-Raman studies reveal a large tensile strain change with GeSn thickness, which arises from lattice deformations. In particular, nano-sized Sn-enriched GeSn dots appeared in the GeSn coatings that had a thickness greater than 50 nm, which induced an additional light absorption depression around 13.89 μm wavelength. These findings are promising for practical flexible photovoltaic and photodetector applications ranging from the visible to near-infrared wavelengths.
High-speed microscopy of continuously moving cell culture vessels
Authors: Schenk Friedrich Walter , Brill Nicolai , Marx Ulrich , Hardt Daniel , König Niels , Schmitt Robert 
Published: September 2016

AbstractWe report a method of high-speed phase contrast and bright field microscopy which permits large cell culture vessels to be scanned at much higher speed (up to 30 times faster) than when conventional methods are used without compromising image quality. The object under investigation moves continuously and is captured using a flash illumination which creates an exposure time short enough to prevent motion blur. During the scan the object always stays in focus due to a novel hardware-autofocus system.
DNA barcoding reveals that the common cupped oyster in Taiwan is the Portuguese oyster Crassostrea angulata (Ostreoida; Ostreidae), not C. gigas
Authors: Hsiao Sheng-Tai , Chuang Shin-Chang , Chen Kao-Sung , Ho Ping-Ho , Wu Chi-Lun , Chen Chaolun Allen 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe Pacific cupped oyster, Crassostrea gigas, is one of the major aquacultural shellfish species that has been introduced to Europe and America from its native source in the West Pacific. In Taiwan, the cultivated cupped oysters along the west coast have been identified as C. gigas for over centuries; however, several molecular phylogenetic studies have cast doubt upon the existence of this species in Taiwan and adjacent waters. Indeed, our analyses of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) sequences from 313 Crassostrea collected from 12 locations along Taiwanese and southern Chinese coastlines confirm that all samples were the Portuguese oyster, C. angulata, rather than C. gigas. Multiple lines of evidence, including haplotypic and nucleotide diversity of the COI gene, demographic history and population genetics, suggest that Taiwanese C. angulata is unique, probably experienced a sudden population expansion after the Last Glacial Maxima around 20,000 years ago and has a significantly limited genetic connectivity across the Taiwan Strait. Our study applies an extended sampling and DNA barcoding to confirm the absence of C. gigas in natural and cultivated populations in Taiwan and southern China, where we only found C. angulata. We highlight the importance of conserving the gene pool of the C. angulata population in Taiwan, particularly considering the current threats by large-scale environmental disturbances such as marine pollution, habitat destruction and climate change.
Multi-functional nano silver: A novel disruptive and theranostic agent for pathogenic organisms in real-time
Authors: Gopinath Ponnusamy Manogaran , Ranjani Anandan , Dhanasekaran Dharumadurai , Thajuddin Nooruddin , Archunan Govindaraju , Akbarsha Mohammad Abdulkader , Gulyás Balázs , Padmanabhan Parasuraman 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe present study was aimed at evaluating the fluorescence property, sporicidal potency against Bacillus and Clostridium endospores, and surface disinfecting ability of biogenic nano silver. The nano silver was synthesized using an actinobacterial cell-filtrate. The fluorescence property as well as imaging facilitator potency of this nano silver was verified adopting spectrofluorometer along with fluorescent and confocal laser scanning microscope wherein strong emission and bright green fluorescence, respectively, on the entire spore surface was observed. Subsequently, the endospores of B. subtilis, B. cereus, B. amyloliquefaciens, C. perfringens and C. difficile were treated with physical sporicides, chemical sporicides and nano silver, in which the nano silver brought about pronounced inhibition even at a very low concentration. Finally, the environmental surface-sanitizing potency of nano silver was investigated adopting cage co-contamination assay, wherein vital organs of mice exposed to the nano silver-treated cage did not show any signs of pathological lesions, thus signifying the ability of nano silver to completely disinfect the spore or reduce the count required for infection. Taken these observations together, we have shown the multi-functional biological properties of the nano silver, synthesized using an actinobacterial cell-filtrate, which could be of application in advanced diagnostics, biomedical engineering and therapeutics in the near future.
Mechanism of metamifop inhibition of the carboxyltransferase domain of acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase in Echinochloa crus-galli
Authors: Xia Xiangdong , Tang Wenjie , He Shun , Kang Jing , Ma Hongju , Li Jianhong 
Published: September 2016

AbstractAcetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase) plays crucial roles in fatty acid metabolism and is an attractive target for herbicide discovery. Metamifop is a novel ACCase-inhibiting herbicide that can be applied to control sensitive weeds in paddy fields. In this study, the effects of metamifop on the chloroplasts, ACCase activity and carboxyltransferase (CT) domain gene expression in Echinochloa crus-galli were investigated. The results showed that metamifop interacted with the CT domain of ACCase in E. crus-galli. The three-dimensional structure of the CT domain of E. crus-galli ACCase in complex with metamifop was examined by homology modelling, molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Metamifop has a different mechanism of inhibiting the CT domain compared with other ACCase inhibitors as it interacted with a different region in the active site of the CT domain. The protonation of nitrogen in the oxazole ring of metamifop plays a crucial role in the interaction between metamifop and the CT domain. The binding mode of metamifop provides a foundation for elucidating the molecular mechanism of target resistance and cross-resistance among ACCase herbicides and for designing and optimizing ACCase inhibitors.