bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Detection of Burkholderia pseudomallei toxin-mediated inhibition of protein synthesis using a Caenorhabditis elegans ugt–29 biosensor
Authors: Wong Rui-Rui , Kong Cin , Lee Song-Hua , Nathan Sheila 
Published: June 2016

AbstractToxins are believed to play a crucial role inBurkholderia pseudomalleipathogenicity, however to date, only a few have been identified. The discovery of additional toxic molecules is limited by the lack of a sensitive indicator ofB. pseudomalleitoxicity. Previously, from a whole genome transcriptome analysis ofB. pseudomallei-infectedCaenorhabditis elegans, we noted significant overexpression of a number of worm genes encoding detoxification enzymes, indicating the host’s attempt to clear bacterial toxic molecules. One of these genes,ugt–29, a family member of UDP-glucuronosyltransferases, was the most robustly induced phase II detoxification gene. In this study, we show that strong induction ofugt–29is restricted to infections by the most virulent species among the pathogens tested. We also noted thatugt–29is activated upon disruption of host protein synthesis. Hence, we propose that UGT–29 could be a promising biosensor to detectB. pseudomalleitoxins that compromise host protein synthesis. The identification of bactobolin, a polyketide-peptide hybrid molecule, as a toxic molecule ofB. pseudomalleifurther verifies the utilization of this surveillance system to search for bacterial toxins. Hence, augt–29based reporter should be useful in screening for other molecules that inhibit host protein synthesis.
Serum stress responsive gene EhslncRNA of Entamoeba histolytica is a novel long noncoding RNA
Authors: Saha Arpita , Bhattacharya Sudha , Bhattacharya Alok 
Published: June 2016

AbstractNon coding RNAs are known to play important roles in regulating gene expression at the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels in metazoans. There is very little information available about non coding RNAs in protists such as Entamoeba histolytica. Antisense and micro RNAs have been reported in E. histolytica, however no long non coding RNAs has been reported yet. Here, we report our findings on an in vitro serum stress-inducible gene EhslncRNA, a member of B1 transmembrane kinase family of E. histolytica. EhslncRNA encodes a transcript of 2.6 kb and sequence analysis revealed that there is no ORF >150 bp within this transcript. The transcript was found to be polyadenylated and mainly associated with monosomes in the cytoplasm under serum starvation. In normal proliferating cells this RNA is mainly present in the nucleus. The promoter element was mapped between 437 to 346 nucleotides upstream of transcriptional start site and has both positive and negative regulatory elements. Deletion of the negative element converted the promoter to serum inducible type. Oxygen and heat stress also increased expression levels of EhslncRNA. These observations suggest that EhslncRNA may be a long non coding RNA and likely to help cells withstand stressful conditions in the host.
CdGAP/ARHGAP31, a Cdc42/Rac1 GTPase regulator, is critical for vascular development and VEGF-mediated angiogenesis
Authors: Caron Christine , DeGeer Jonathan , Fournier Patrick , Duquette Philippe M. , Luangrath Vilayphone , Ishii Hidetaka , Karimzadeh Fereshteh , Lamarche-Vane Nathalie , Royal Isabelle 
Published: June 2016

AbstractMutations in the CdGAP/ARHGAP31 gene, which encodes a GTPase-activating protein for Rac1 and Cdc42, have been reported causative in the Adams-Oliver developmental syndrome often associated with vascular defects. However, despite its abundant expression in endothelial cells, CdGAP function in the vasculature remains unknown. Here, we show that vascular development is impaired in CdGAP-deficient mouse embryos at E15.5. This is associated with superficial vessel defects and subcutaneous edema, resulting in 44% embryonic/perinatal lethality. VEGF-driven angiogenesis is defective in CdGAP−/− mice, showing reduced capillary sprouting from aortic ring explants. Similarly, VEGF-dependent endothelial cell migration and capillary formation are inhibited upon CdGAP knockdown. Mechanistically, CdGAP associates with VEGF receptor-2 and controls VEGF-dependent signaling. Consequently, CdGAP depletion results in impaired VEGF-mediated Rac1 activation and reduced phosphorylation of critical intracellular mediators including Gab1, Akt, PLCγ and SHP2. These findings are the first to demonstrate the importance of CdGAP in embryonic vascular development and VEGF-induced signaling and highlight CdGAP as a potential therapeutic target to treat pathological angiogenesis and vascular dysfunction.
Cryosurgery would be An Effective Option for Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer: A Meta-analysis and Systematic Review
Authors: Gao Liang , Yang Lu , Qian Shengqiang , Tang Zhuang , Qin Feng , Wei Qiang , Han Ping , Yuan Jiuhong 
Published: June 2016

AbstractCryosurgery (CS) has been used on patients with clinically localized PCa for more than 10 years. However, clinical studies evaluating its effectiveness and safety have reported conflicting results. This systematic assessment was performed to obtain comprehensive evidence regarding the potential benefits and safety of CS compared with those of radiotherapy (RT) and radical prostatectomy (RP), respectively. All controlled trials comparing CS with RT or RP and single-arm studies reporting results of CS therapy were identified through comprehensive searches of PubMed, the Cochrane Library and Embase. Ten publications from seven trials, with totally 1252 patients, were included in the meta-analysis, which revealed no significant differences in comparisons of CS vs RT and CS vs RP for overall survival and disease specific survival. However, a significantly lower disease-free survival could be observed for CS than RP. Moreover, a systematic review of literature focusing on comparative data of databases and materials of single-arm trials revealed satisfactory survival results in both primary and salvage CS. Our results showed that cryosurgery would be a relatively effective method for clinically localized prostate cancer with survival results comparable to radiotherapy and radical prostatectomy. However, the large percentage of complications caused by cryosurgery should be carefully monitored.
Facile synthesis of sewage sludge-derived in-situ multi-doped nanoporous carbon material for electrocatalytic oxygen reduction
Authors: Yuan Shi-Jie , Dai Xiao-Hu 
Published: June 2016

AbstractDeveloping efficient, low-cost and stable carbon-based catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) to replace the expensive platinum-based electrocatalysts remains a major challenge that hamper the practical application of fuel cells. Here, we report that N, Fe and S co-doped nanoporous carbon material, derived via a facile one-step pyrolysis of sewage sludge, the major byproduct of wastewater treatment, can serve as an effective electrocatalyst for ORR. Except for the comparable catalytic activity with commercial 20% Pt/C via a nearly four-electron transfer pathway in both alkaline and acid medium, the as-synthesized co-doped electrocatalyst also exhibits excellent methanol crossover resistance and outstanding long-term operation stability. The organic compounds in sewage sludge act as the carbon source and the in-situ N and S dopant in the fabrication, while the inorganic compounds serve as the in-built template and the in-situ Fe dopant. Our protocol demonstrates a new approach in the economic and eco-friendly benign reuse of sewage sludge and also provides a straightforward route for synthesizing excellent carbon-based electrocatalysts as promising candidates for ORR directly from a type of waste/pollution.
Assessment of Heterotrophic Growth Supported by Soluble Microbial Products in Anammox Biofilm using Multidimensional Modeling
Authors: Liu Yiwen , Sun Jing , Peng Lai , Wang Dongbo , Dai Xiaohu , Ni Bing-Jie 
Published: June 2016

AbstractAnaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) is known to autotrophically convert ammonium to dinitrogen gas with nitrite as the electron acceptor, but little is known about their released microbial products and how these are relative to heterotrophic growth in anammox system. In this work, we applied a mathematical model to assess the heterotrophic growth supported by three key microbial products produced by bacteria in anammox biofilm (utilization associated products (UAP), biomass associated products (BAP), and decay released substrate). Both One-dimensional and two-dimensional numerical biofilm models were developed to describe the development of anammox biofilm as a function of the multiple bacteria–substrate interactions. Model simulations show that UAP of anammox is the main organic carbon source for heterotrophs. Heterotrophs are mainly dominant at the surface of the anammox biofilm with small fraction inside the biofilm. 1-D model is sufficient to describe the main substrate concentrations/fluxes within the anammox biofilm, while the 2-D model can give a more detailed biomass distribution. The heterotrophic growth on UAP is mainly present at the outside of anammox biofilm, their growth on BAP (HetB) are present throughout the biofilm, while the growth on decay released substrate (HetD) is mainly located in the inner layers of the biofilm.
Dicer functions as an antiviral system against human adenoviruses via cleavage of adenovirus-encoded noncoding RNA
Authors: Machitani Mitsuhiro , Sakurai Fuminori , Wakabayashi Keisaku , Tomita Kyoko , Tachibana Masashi , Mizuguchi Hiroyuki 
Published: June 2016

AbstractIn various organisms, including nematodes and plants, RNA interference (RNAi) is a defense system against virus infection; however, it is unclear whether RNAi functions as an antivirus system in mammalian cells. Rather, a number of DNA viruses, including herpesviruses, utilize post-transcriptional silencing systems for their survival. Here we show that Dicer efficiently suppresses the replication of adenovirus (Ad) via cleavage of Ad-encoding small RNAs (VA-RNAs), which efficiently promote Ad replication via the inhibition of eIF2α phosphorylation, to viral microRNAs (mivaRNAs). The Dicer knockdown significantly increases the copy numbers of VA-RNAs, leading to the efficient inhibition of eIF2α phosphorylation and the subsequent promotion of Ad replication. Conversely, overexpression of Dicer significantly inhibits Ad replication. Transfection with mivaRNA does not affect eIF2α phosphorylation or Ad replication. These results indicate that Dicer-mediated processing of VA-RNAs leads to loss of activity of VA-RNAs for enhancement of Ad replication and that Dicer functions as a defence system against Ad in mammalian cells.
Electroconvulsive therapy and structural neuroplasticity in neocortical, limbic and paralimbic cortex
Authors: Pirnia T , Joshi S H , Leaver A M , Vasavada M , Njau S , Woods R P , Espinoza R , Narr K L 
Published: June 2016

AbstractElectroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a highly effective and rapidly acting treatment for severe depression. To understand the biological bases of therapeutic response, we examined variations in cortical thickness from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data in 29 patients scanned at three time points during an ECT treatment index series and in 29 controls at two time points. Changes in thickness across time and with symptom improvement were evaluated at high spatial resolution across the cortex and within discrete cortical regions of interest. Patients showed increased thickness over the course of ECT in the bilateral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), inferior and superior temporal, parahippocampal, entorhinal and fusiform cortex and in distributed prefrontal areas. No changes across time occurred in controls. In temporal and fusiform regions showing significant ECT effects, thickness differed between patients and controls at baseline and change in thickness related to therapeutic response in patients. In the ACC, these relationships occurred in treatment responders only, and thickness measured soon after treatment initiation predicted the overall ECT response. ECT leads to widespread neuroplasticity in neocortical, limbic and paralimbic regions and changes relate to the extent of antidepressant response. Variations in ACC thickness, which discriminate treatment responders and predict response early in the course of ECT, may represent a biomarker of overall clinical outcome. Because post-mortem studies show focal reductions in glial density and neuronal size in patients with severe depression, ECT-related increases in thickness may be attributable to neuroplastic processes affecting the size and/or density of neurons and glia and their connections.
A mega-analysis of fixed-dose trials reveals dose-dependency and a rapid onset of action for the antidepressant effect of three selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
Authors: Hieronymus F , Nilsson S , Eriksson E 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe possible dose-dependency for the antidepressant effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) remains controversial. We believe we have conducted the first comprehensive patient-level mega-analysis exploring this issue, one incentive being to address the possibility that inclusion of low-dose arms in previous meta-analyses may have caused an underestimation of the efficacy of these drugs. All company-sponsored, acute-phase, placebo-controlled, fixed-dose trials using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and conducted to evaluate the effect of citalopram, paroxetine or sertraline in adult major depression were included (11 trials, n=2859 patients). The single-item depressed mood, which has proven a more sensitive measure to detect an antidepressant signal than the sum score of all HDRS items, was designated the primary effect parameter. Doses below or at the lower end of the usually recommended dose range (citalopram: 10–20 mg, paroxetine: 10 mg; sertraline: 50 mg) were superior to placebo but inferior to higher doses, hence confirming a dose-dependency to be at hand. In contrast, among doses above these, there was no indication of a dose–response relationship. The effect size (ES) after exclusion of suboptimal doses was of a more respectable magnitude (0.5) than that usually attributed to the antidepressant effect of the SSRIs. In conclusion, the observation that low doses are less effective than higher ones challenges the oft-cited view that the effect of the SSRIs is not dose-dependent and hence not caused by a specific, pharmacological antidepressant action. Moreover, we suggest that inclusion of suboptimal doses in previous meta-analyses has led to an underestimation of the efficacy of these drugs.
Severe psychosocial deprivation in early childhood is associated with increased DNA methylation across a region spanning the transcription start site of CYP2E1
Authors: Kumsta R , Marzi S J , Viana J , Dempster E L , Crawford B , Rutter M , Mill J , Sonuga-Barke E J S 
Published: June 2016

AbstractExposure to adverse rearing environments including institutional deprivation and severe childhood abuse is associated with an increased risk for mental and physical health problems across the lifespan. Although the mechanisms mediating these effects are not known, recent work in rodent models suggests that epigenetic processes may be involved. We studied the impact of severe early-life adversity on epigenetic variation in a sample of adolescents adopted from the severely depriving orphanages of the Romanian communist era in the 1980s. We quantified buccal cell DNA methylation at ~400 000 sites across the genome in Romanian adoptees exposed to either extended (6–43 months; n=16) or limited duration (<6 months; n=17) of severe early-life deprivation, in addition to a matched sample of UK adoptees (n=16) not exposed to severe deprivation. Although no probe-wise differences remained significant after controlling for the number of probes tested, we identified an exposure-associated differentially methylated region (DMR) spanning nine sequential CpG sites in the promoter-regulatory region of the cytochrome P450 2E1 gene (CYP2E1) on chromosome 10 (corrected P=2.98 × 10−5). Elevated DNA methylation across this region was also associated with deprivation-related clinical markers of impaired social cognition. Our data suggest that environmental insults of sufficient biological impact during early development are associated with long-lasting epigenetic changes, potentially reflecting a biological mechanism linking the effects of early-life adversity to cognitive and neurobiological phenotypes.
Low‐cost feeding antenna using a shorted patch and rectangular waveguide
Authors: Oh S.‐S. , Choi J.‐W. , Park W.‐K. 
Published: June 2016

A feeding antenna that uses a rectangular waveguide with a patch on it to equalise the principle planes is proposed. The patch is printed on a substrate grounded with shorting pins. Typically, corrugated horn antennas are used for feeding antennas, but they are expensive because of the complex fabrication process. In comparison, the proposed antenna is inexpensive because it uses a rectangular waveguide and a dielectric substrate. The simulation and experimental results gave similar 10 dB beamwidths, while the beamwidth of the conventional waveguide was markedly different. The proposed antenna could be used as a feeding antenna for reflectors at low cost.
Design of minimum order equiripple programmable band pass filter for transreceiver circuits
Authors: Mehra P. , Shiwani S. , Hemrajani N. , Gupta R.P. 
Published: June 2016

This Letter presents the design of minimum order programmable bandpass filter for transreceiver circuits. The designed filter covers a wide range of 10–40 MHz which covers a variety of digital wireless applications. The wide bandwidth covers multiple wireless standards from TETRA, IS‐95, GSM to TACS. The magnitude responses of the designed filter for various bandwidths are also discussed.
Performance enhancement of OCDMA systems for LAN consideration
Authors: Mrabet Hichem , Mthali Sofien 
Published: June 2016

In this study, the performance of optical code‐division‐multiple‐access (OCDMA) systems using 2D optical codes, taking into account an optical channel in local area network context is investigated. The authors demonstrate that one can enhance the 3‐dB multi‐mode fibre baseband bandwidth up to 4 GHz by exciting only two mode groups with the optimal axial launching. It has been demonstrated, that the OCDMA system performance can achieve a very low bit‐error‐rates in the range of −9 dBm. Furthermore, a large number of simultaneous users can be supported. In the authors’ treatment, the effect of both multiple access interference and modal dispersion are considered. Nonetheless, an OCDMA successive interference cancellation receiver is used to foster a better system performance.
Structural Ultrasound of the Medial Temporal Lobe in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Yilmaz Rezzak , Pilotto Andrea , Roeben Benjamin , Preische Oliver , Suenkel Ulrike , Heinzel Sebastian , Metzger Florian , Laske Christoph , Maetzler Walter , Berg Daniela 
Published: June 2016

Abstract
Purpose One of the anatomical hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the atrophy of the medial temporal lobe (MTL), yet cost-effective and broadly available methodological alternatives to the current imaging tools for screening of this brain area are not currently available.
Materials and Methods Using structural transcranial ultrasound (TCS), we attempted to visualize and measure the MTL, and compared the results of 32 AD patients and 84 healthy controls (HC). The MTL and the surrounding space were defined in the coronal plane on TCS. A ratio of the height of the MTL/height of the choroidal fissure (M/F) was calculated in order to obtain a regional proportion.
Results An insufficient temporal bone window was identified in 22 % of the AD patients and 12 % of the HCs. The results showed that the ratio of M/F was significantly smaller in the AD group on both sides (p = 0.004 right, p = 0.007 left side). Furthermore, the M/F ratio made it possible to discriminate AD patients from HCs with a sensitivity of 83 % (right)/73 % (left) and a specificity of 76 % (right)/72 % (left) which is basically comparable to results published for magnetic resonance imaging. The measurements showed substantial intra/interrater reliability (ICC:0.79/0.69).
Conclusion These results suggest that utilization of structural TCS may possibly constitute a cheap and easy-to-use supplement to other techniques for the diagnosis of AD. It may be especially useful as a screening tool in the large population of individuals with cognitive decline. Further studies are needed to validate this novel method.
The evolving role of the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in providing science and technology policy advice to the US government
Authors: Blair Peter D 
Published: June 2016

AbstractFor over a century and a half the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine have been called upon frequently by federal executive agencies of government and the U.S. Congress to empanel widely recognized experts as study committees that provide independent, objective, science-based advice on important and at times critical issues affecting the nation. The manner in which the Academies assemble such advice has evolved steadily over decades to accommodate different kinds of government needs. In the last 20 years, in particular, significant federal court decisions, legislation and executive orders, as well as changing sponsor needs have all contributed to changes in how the Academies operate in fulfilling their mission. This article chronicles the historical beginnings of the Academies’ role in providing science advice to the nation; describes significant changes in this role over the past two decades; probes some implications of the changing role; and recaps several new types of Academies convening activities that supplement traditional Academies reports as a means of providing advice to the government. These new types of activities are being utilized increasingly to better meet the needs of sponsors for more timely advice when timing is an imperative. This article is published as part of a thematic collection dedicated to scientific advice to governments.
Neural mechanisms underlying the impact of daylong cognitive work on economic decisions
Authors: Blain Bastien , Hollard Guillaume , Pessiglione Mathias 
Published: June 2016

Significance
In evolved species, resisting the temptation of immediate rewards is a critical ability for the achievement of long-term goals. This self-control ability was found to rely on the lateral prefrontal cortex (LPFC), which also is involved in executive control processes such as working memory or task switching. Here we show that self-control capacity can be altered in healthy humans at the time scale of a workday, by performing difficult executive control tasks. This fatigue effect manifested in choice impulsivity was linked to reduced excitability of the LPFC following its intensive utilization over the day. Our findings might have implications for designing management strategies that would prevent daylong cognitive work from biasing economic decisions.