bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sequence-controlled supramolecular terpolymerization directed by specific molecular recognitions
Authors: Hirao Takehiro , Kudo Hiroaki , Amimoto Tomoko , Haino Takeharu 
Published: September 2017

AbstractNature precisely manipulates primary monomer sequences in biopolymers. In synthetic polymer sequences, this precision has been limited because of the lack of polymerization techniques for conventional polymer synthesis. Engineering the primary monomer sequence of a polymer main chain represents a considerable challenge in polymer science. Here, we report the development of sequence-controlled supramolecular terpolymerization via a self-sorting behavior among three sets of monomers possessing mismatched host–guest pairs. Complementary biscalix[5]arene-C60, bisporphyrin-trinitrofluorenone (TNF), and Hamilton’s bis(acetamidopyridinyl)isophthalamide-barbiturate hydrogen-bonding host–guest complexes are separately incorporated into heteroditopic monomers that then generate an ABC sequence-controlled supramolecular terpolymer. The polymeric nature of the supramolecular terpolymer is confirmed in both solution and solid states. Our synthetic methodology may pave an avenue for constructing polymers with tailored sequences that are associated with advanced functions.
Interlayer excitons in a bulk van der Waals semiconductor
Authors: Arora Ashish , Drüppel Matthias , Schmidt Robert , Deilmann Thorsten , Schneider Robert , Molas Maciej R. , Marauhn Philipp , Michaelis de Vasconcellos Steffen , Potemski Marek , Rohlfing Michael , Bratschitsch Rudolf 
Published: September 2017

AbstractBound electron–hole pairs called excitons govern the electronic and optical response of many organic and inorganic semiconductors. Excitons with spatially displaced wave functions of electrons and holes (interlayer excitons) are important for Bose–Einstein condensation, superfluidity, dissipationless current flow, and the light-induced exciton spin Hall effect. Here we report on the discovery of interlayer excitons in a bulk van der Waals semiconductor. They form due to strong localization and spin-valley coupling of charge carriers. By combining high-field magneto-reflectance experiments and ab initio calculations for 2H-MoTe2, we explain their salient features: the positive sign of the g-factor and the large diamagnetic shift. Our investigations solve the long-standing puzzle of positive g-factors in transition metal dichalcogenides, and pave the way for studying collective phenomena in these materials at elevated temperatures.
IgG1 memory B cells keep the memory of IgE responses
Authors: He Jin-Shu , Subramaniam Sharrada , Narang Vipin , Srinivasan Kandhadayar , Saunders Sean P. , Carbajo Daniel , Wen-Shan Tsao , Hidayah Hamadee Nur , Lum Josephine , Lee Andrea , Chen Jinmiao , Poidinger Michael , Zolezzi Francesca , Lafaille Juan J. , Curotto de Lafaille Maria A. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractThe unique differentiation of IgE cells suggests unconventional mechanisms of IgE memory. IgE germinal centre cells are transient, most IgE cells are plasma cells, and high affinity IgE is produced by the switching of IgG1 cells to IgE. Here we investigate the function of subsets of IgG1 memory B cells in IgE production and find that two subsets of IgG1 memory B cells, CD80+CD73+and CD80−CD73−, contribute distinctively to the repertoires of high affinity pathogenic IgE and low affinity non-pathogenic IgE. Furthermore, repertoire analysis indicates that high affinity IgE and IgG1 plasma cells differentiate from rare CD80+CD73+high affinity memory clones without undergoing further mutagenesis. By identifying the cellular origin of high affinity IgE and the clonal selection of high affinity memory B cells into the plasma cell fate, our findings provide fundamental insights into the pathogenesis of allergies, and on the mechanisms of antibody production in memory B cell responses.
Very-Low-Density Lipoprotein of Metabolic Syndrome Modulates Gap Junctions and Slows Cardiac Conduction
Authors: Lee Hsiang-Chun , Chen Chih-Chieh , Tsai Wei-Chung , Lin Hsin-Ting , Shiao Yi-Lin , Sheu Sheng-Hsiung , Wu Bin-Nan , Chen Chu-Huang , Lai Wen-Ter 
Published: September 2017

AbstractVery-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) is a hallmark of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and each manifestation of MetS is related to atrial fibrillation (AF) risks. Slowed atrial conduction is a mechanism of AF in MetS. We hypothesized that VLDL can modulate and reduce atrial gap junctions. VLDLs were separated from normal (Normal-VLDL) and MetS (MetS-VLDL) individuals. VLDLs (15 µg/g) and equivalent volumes of saline (CTL) were injected respectively to C57BL/6 mice for 6 weeks. Electrocardiograms demonstrated that MetS-VLDL induced prolongation of P wave (P = 0.041), PR intervals (P = 0.014), QRS duration and QTc interval (both P = 0.003), but Normal-VLDL did not. Optical mapping of perfused hearts confirmed slowed conduction on atria and ventricles of MetS-VLDL mice. Slowed cardiac conduction was associated with significant atrial and ventricular remodeling, along with systolic dysfunction and comparable intra-cardiac fibrosis. MetS-VLDL induced downregulation of Cx40 and Cx43 at transcriptional, translational and tissue levels, and it also enhanced O-GlcNAcylation of Cx40 and Cx43. Protein structure analyses predicted O-GlcNAcylation at serine 18 of Cx40 and Cx43 which may impair stability of gap junctions. In conclusion, MetS-VLDL modulates gap junctions and delays both atrial and ventricular conduction. VLDL may contribute to the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation and ventricular arrhythmias in MetS.
Microfluidic manipulation of magnetic flux domains in type-I superconductors: droplet formation, fusion and fission
Authors: Berdiyorov G. R. , Milošević M. V. , Hernández-Nieves A. D. , Peeters F. M. , Domínguez D. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractThe magnetic flux domains in the intermediate state of type-I superconductors are known to resemble fluid droplets, and their dynamics in applied electric current is often cartooned as a “dripping faucet”. Here we show, using the time-depended Ginzburg-Landau simulations, that microfluidic principles hold also for the determination of the size of the magnetic flux-droplet as a function of the applied current, as well as for the merger or splitting of those droplets in the presence of the nanoengineered obstacles for droplet motion. Differently from fluids, the flux-droplets in superconductors are quantized and dissipative objects, and their pinning/depinning, nucleation, and splitting occur in a discretized form, all traceable in the voltage measured across the sample. At larger applied currents, we demonstrate how obstacles can cause branching of laminar flux streams or their transformation into mobile droplets, as readily observed in experiments.
Importance of time in therapeutic range on bleeding risk prediction using clinical risk scores in patients with atrial fibrillation
Authors: Rivera-Caravaca José Miguel , Roldán Vanessa , Esteve-Pastor María Asunción , Valdés Mariano , Vicente Vicente , Lip Gregory Y. H. , Marín Francisco 
Published: September 2017

AbstractBleeding risk with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) is closely related to the quality of anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients, reflected by time in therapeutic range (TTR). Here we compared the discrimination performance of different bleeding risk scores and investigated if adding TTR would improve their predictive value and clinical usefulness. We included 1361 AF patients stables on VKA for at least 6 months. Bleeding risk was assessed by the HAS-BLED, ATRIA, ORBIT and HEMORR2HAGES scores. Major bleeding events were recorded after a median of 6.5 years follow-up. In this period 250 patients suffered major bleeds. Comparison of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves demonstrated that HAS-BLED had the best discrimination performance, but adding the ‘labile INR’ criteria (i.e. TTR <65%) to ATRIA, ORBIT and HEMORR2HAGES increased their ability of discrimination and predictive value, with significant improvements in reclassification and discriminatory performance. Decision curve analyses (DCA) showed improvements of the clinical usefulness and a net benefit of the modified risk scores. In summary, in AF patients taking VKAs, the HAS-BLED score had the best predictive ability. Adding ‘labile INR’ to ATRIA, ORBIT and HEMORR2HAGES improved their predictive value for major bleeding leading to improved clinical usefulness compared to the original scores.
High levels of ammonia do not raise fine particle pH sufficiently to yield nitrogen oxide-dominated sulfate production
Authors: Guo Hongyu , Weber Rodney J. , Nenes Athanasios 
Published: September 2017

AbstractHigh levels of ammonia (NH3) have been suggested to elevate ambient particle pH levels to near neutral acidity (pH = 7), a condition that promotes rapid SO2 oxidation by NO2 to form aerosol sulfate concentration consistent with “London fog” levels. This postulation is tested using aerosol data from representative sites around the world to conduct a thorough thermodynamic analysis of aerosol pH and its sensitivity to NH3 levels. We find that particle pH, regardless of ammonia levels, is always acidic even for the unusually high NH3 levels found in Beijing (pH = 4.5) and Xi’an (pH = 5), locations where sulfate production from NO
x
is proposed. Therefore, major sulfate oxidation through a NO2-mediated pathway is not likely in China, or any other region of the world (e.g., US, Mediterranean) where the aerosol is consistently more acidic. The limited alkalinity from the carbonate buffer in dust and seasalt can provide the only likely set of conditions where NO2-mediated oxidation of SO2 outcompetes with other well-established pathways. The mildly acidic levels associated with excessive amounts of ammonia can promote high rates of SO2 oxidation through transition metal chemistry, this may be an alternative important aerosol chemical contributor to the extreme pollution events.
Concordant and discordant gene expression patterns in mouse strains identify best-fit animal model for human tuberculosis
Authors: Domaszewska Teresa , Scheuermann Lisa , Hahnke Karin , Mollenkopf Hans , Dorhoi Anca , Kaufmann Stefan H. E. , Weiner January 
Published: September 2017

AbstractImmunity in infection, inflammation and malignancy differs markedly in man and mouse. Still, we learn about human immunity in large extent from experimental mouse models. We propose a novel data integration approach which identifies concordant and discordant gene expression patterns of the immune responses in heterologous data sets. We have conducted experiments to compare human and murine transcriptional responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection in whole blood (WB) as well as macrophages and compared them with simulated as well as publicly available data. Our results indicate profound differences between patterns of gene expression in innate and adaptive immunity in man and mouse upon Mtb infection. We characterized differential expression of T-cell related genes corresponding to the differences in phenotype between tuberculosis (TB) highly and low susceptible mouse strains. Our approach is general and facilitates the choice of optimal animal model for studies of the human immune response to a particular disease.
Muscle hypertrophy in hypoxia with inflammation is controlled by bromodomain and extra-terminal domain proteins
Authors: Chabert Clovis , Khochbin Saadi , Rousseaux Sophie , Furze Rebecca , Smithers Nicholas , Prinjha Rab , Schlattner Uwe , Pison Christophe , Dubouchaud Hervé 
Published: September 2017

AbstractSome of the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients engaged in exercise-based muscle rehabilitation programs are unresponsive. To unravel the respective role of chronic hypoxia and pulmonary inflammation on soleus muscle hypertrophic capacities, we challenged male Wistar rats to repeated lipopolysaccharide instillations, associated or not with a chronic hypoxia exposure. Muscle hypertrophy was initiated by bilateral ablation of soleus agonists 1 week before sacrifice. To understand the role played by the histone acetylation, we also treated our animals with an inhibitor of bromodomains and extra terminal proteins (I-BET) during the week after surgery. Pulmonary inflammation totally inhibited this hypertrophy response under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions (26% lower than control surgery, p < 0.05), consistent with the S6K1 and myogenin measurements. Changes in histone acetylation and class IIa histone deacetylases expression, following pulmonary inflammation, suggested a putative role for histone acetylation signaling in the altered hypertrophy response. The I-BET drug restored the hypertrophy response suggesting that the non-response of muscle to a hypertrophic stimulus could be modulated by epigenetic mechanisms, including histone-acetylation dependant pathways. Drugs targeting such epigenetic mechanisms may open therapeutic perspectives for COPD patients with systemic inflammation who are unresponsive to rehabilitation.
MircroRNA-19a promotes vascular inflammation and foam cell formation by targeting HBP-1 in atherogenesis
Authors: Chen Heming , Li Xiaoyi , Liu Shuiyi , Gu Lu , Zhou Xinmin 
Published: September 2017

AbstractAtherosclerosis, a serious threat to human cardiovascular health, involves inflammation throughout its various stages of development. MicroRNAs play an important regulatory role in macrophages that respond to inflammation, but the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. In this work, we study the impact of miR-19a in macrophage-derived foam cell formation during atherogenesis. A microarray-based analysis of serums from patients with coronary heart disease in comparison with healthy controls reveals a significant enrichment of miR-19a in the serums of atherosclerosis patients. A higher level of miR-19a is also observed in atherosclerosis-prone ascending aortic wall tissues than in internal mammary artery amongst patients with coronary heart disease. We identify HMG-Box Transcription Factor 1 (HBP-1) as a target gene of miR-19a. HBP1 is repressor of macrophage migration inhibiting factor (MIF) and overexpression of miR-19a increases MIF expression. By administering a miR-19a antagonist to the caudal vein, we found a decrease in atherosclerotic plaques and lipids load in apoE-null mice fed with high-fat diet. These results support inhibition of miR-19a reduces inflammatory reaction and constitutes a potent therapeutic approach against atherosclerosis.
Location of Cerebral Microbleeds And Their Association with Carotid Intima-media Thickness: A Community-based Study
Authors: Chung Chih-Ping , Chou Kun-Hsien , Chen Wei-Ta , Liu Li-Kuo , Lee Wei-Ju , Huang An-Chun , Chen Liang-Kung , Lin Ching-Po , Wang Pei-Ning 
Published: September 2017

AbstractTo assess whether high cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are associated with carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), a marker of systemic atherosclerosis, we cross-sectionally evaluated participants from a community-based study, the I-Lan Longitudinal Aging Study. The participants’ demographics and cardiovascular risk factors were determined by questionnaire and/or laboratory measurements. CIMT was measured by ultrasonography. CMBs were assessed by susceptibility-weighted-imaging on 3 T MRI. Of the 962 subjects [62.5(8.6) years, 44.2% men] included, CMBs were found in 134(14.0%) subjects. Among the subjects with identified CMB’s, 85(63.4%) had deep or infratentorial (DI) and 49(36.6%) had strictly lobar(SL) CMBs. After the results were adjusted for age and sex, the analysis revealed that hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity, and higher triglyceride levels correlated with DI but not SL CMBs. The subjects with DI CMBs also had a higher mean CIMT and higher prevalence of top quartile CIMT. The multivariate analysis demonstrated that high CIMT (top quartile) significantly predicted the presence of DI CMBs (odds ratio = 2.1; 95% confidence interval = 1.3–3.4; P = 0.004), independent of age, sex, cardiovascular risk factors, and other cerebral small vessel diseases, lacune, and white matter hyperintensity. There was no association between CIMT and SL CMBs. Our results support that there are distinct pathogenesis in DI and SL CMBs.
Ex Vivo Expanded Human NK Cells Survive and Proliferate in Humanized Mice with Autologous Human Immune Cells
Authors: Vahedi Fatemeh , Nham Tina , Poznanski Sophie M. , Chew Marianne V. , Shenouda Mira M. , Lee Dean , Ashkar Ali A. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractAdoptive immune cell therapy is emerging as a promising immunotherapy for cancer. Particularly, the adoptive transfer of NK cells has garnered attention due to their natural cytotoxicity against tumor cells and safety upon adoptive transfer to patients. Although strategies exist to efficiently generate large quantities of expanded NK cells ex vivo, it remains unknown whether these expanded NK cells can persist and/or proliferate in vivo in the absence of exogenous human cytokines. Here, we have examined the adoptive transfer of ex vivo expanded human cord blood-derived NK cells into humanized mice reconstituted with autologous human cord blood immune cells. We report that ex vivo expanded NK cells are able to survive and possibly proliferate in vivo in humanized mice without exogenous cytokine administration, but not in control mice that lack human immune cells. These findings demonstrate that the presence of autologous human immune cells supports the in vivo survival of ex vivo expanded human NK cells. These results support the application of ex vivo expanded NK cells in cancer immunotherapy and provide a translational humanized mouse model to test the lifespan, safety, and functionality of adoptively transferred cells in the presence of autologous human immune cells prior to clinical use.
S100A4 contributes to colitis development by increasing the adherence of Citrobacter rodentium in intestinal epithelial cells
Authors: Zhang Jinhua , Jiao Ying , Hou Shasha , Tian Tian , Yuan Qi , Hao Huaijie , Wu Zhenlong , Bao Xuexiang 
Published: September 2017

AbstractS100A4 has been implicated in cancer and several inflammatory diseases, but its role in inflammatory bowel disease has not been well investigated. Here, upon infection with Citrobacter rodentium, a model for enteropathogenic Escherichia coli infection in humans, induced the infiltration of a large number of S100A4+ cells into the colon in wild type (WT) mice. Deficiency of S100A4 reduced weight loss, bacterial colonization and colonic pathology. Furthermore, the expression of inflammatory cytokines and the recruitment of macrophages and neutrophils also decreased significantly in S100A4 knock out (S100A4−/−) mice. In vitro, soluble S100A4 directly up-regulated expression of integrin β−1 in intestinal epithelial cells and significantly increased the adherence of C. rodentium to intestinal epithelial cells. Additionally, the effects of S100A4 on the adherence of C. rodentium to epithelial cells could be abolished by a receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE)-specific inhibitor (FPS-ZM1). Therefore, these data indicate a novel mechanism for S100A4 that promotes colitis development by enhancing host adhesion and colonization of Citrobacter rodentium through the S100A4-mediated host inflammatory responses.
Polystyrene nanoplastics inhibit reproduction and induce abnormal embryonic development in the freshwater crustacean Daphnia galeata
Authors: Cui Rongxue , Kim Shin Woong , An Youn-Joo 
Published: September 2017

AbstractWe assayed the toxicity of polystyrene nanoparticles (PS-NP, 52 nm) to Daphnia galeata. Survival and reproduction were significantly decreased in individuals exposed to 5 mg/L of PS-NP for 5 days, and embryos showed abnormal development, including a low hatching rate. Using fluorescence confocal microscopy, we recorded the transfer of PS-NP from the external surface of the body to the internal organs, including the thoracic appendices, ovaries, caudal appendices, and brood chamber, as well as PS-NP storage in lipid droplets. Although embryos were exposed to PS-NP in the brood chamber, they did not internalize PS-NP. Exposed D. galeata adults that were not pregnant stored significantly fewer lipid droplets than did the control group, and the lipid droplets that they did store were smaller; meanwhile, there were no significant changes in lipid storage in exposed pregnant individuals. Some embryos showed a high level of lipid storage, a response that occurs when embryos experience an abnormal state, and these embryos showed a very low hatching rate. However, the offspring of exposed adults showed normal survival and lipid storage. This study provides visual evidence that confirms the transfer and effects of PS-NP in Daphnia species, and suggests a relationship between toxicity and lipid storage.
Chromosomal microarray analysis in a cohort of underrepresented population identifies SERINC2 as a novel candidate gene for autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Hnoonual Areerat , Thammachote Weerin , Tim-Aroon Thipwimol , Rojnueangnit Kitiwan , Hansakunachai Tippawan , Sombuntham Tasanawat , Roongpraiwan Rawiwan , Worachotekamjorn Juthamas , Chuthapisith Jariya , Fucharoen Suthat , Wattanasirichaigoon Duangrurdee , Ruangdaraganon Nichara , Limprasert Pornprot , Jinawath Natini 
Published: September 2017

AbstractChromosomal microarray (CMA) is now recognized as the first-tier genetic test for detection of copy number variations (CNVs) in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The aims of this study were to identify known and novel ASD associated-CNVs and to evaluate the diagnostic yield of CMA in Thai patients with ASD. The Infinium CytoSNP-850K BeadChip was used to detect CNVs in 114 Thai patients comprised of 68 retrospective ASD patients (group 1) with the use of CMA as a second line test and 46 prospective ASD and developmental delay patients (group 2) with the use of CMA as the first-tier test. We identified 7 (6.1%) pathogenic CNVs and 22 (19.3%) variants of uncertain clinical significance (VOUS). A total of 29 patients with pathogenic CNVs and VOUS were found in 22% (15/68) and 30.4% (14/46) of the patients in groups 1 and 2, respectively. The difference in detected CNV frequencies between the 2 groups was not statistically significant (Chi square = 1.02, df = 1, P = 0.31). In addition, we propose one novel ASD candidate gene, SERINC2, which warrants further investigation. Our findings provide supportive evidence that CMA studies using population-specific reference databases in underrepresented populations are useful for identification of novel candidate genes.
Model-based vascular elastography improves the detection of flow-induced carotid artery remodeling in mice
Authors: Korshunov Vyacheslav A. , Wang Hexuan , Ahmed Rifat , Mickelsen Deanne M. , Zhou Qian , Yan Chen , Doyley Marvin M. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractIncreased arterial thickness measured with ultrasound correlates with future cardiovascular events, but conventional ultrasound imaging techniques cannot distinguish between intima, media, or atherosclerotic plaque in the carotid artery. In this work, we evaluated how well vascular elastography can detect intimal changes in a mouse model of carotid remodeling. We ligated the left external and internal branches of the carotid artery of male FVB mice and performed sham operations for 2 weeks. High-resolution ultrasound imaging accurately detected lower blood velocities and low blood volume flow in the carotid arteries after ligation in FVB mice. However, ultrasound could not detect differences in the carotid wall even at 2 weeks post-surgery. The Young’s modulus was measured based on displacements of the carotid artery wall, and Young’s modulus was 2-fold greater in shams at 1 week post ligation, and 3-fold greater 2 weeks after ligation. Finally, the higher Young’s modulus was most associated with higher intimal thickness but not medial or adventitial thickness as measured by histology. In conclusion, we developed a robust ultrasound-based elastography method for early detection of intimal changes in small animals.