bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Influence of ionic liquid and ionic salt on protein against the reactive species generated using dielectric barrier discharge plasma
Authors: Attri Pankaj , Sarinont Thapanut , Kim Minsup , Amano Takaaki , Koga Kazunori , Cho Art E. , Ha Choi Eun , Shiratani Masaharu 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThe presence of salts in biological solution can affect the activity of the reactive species (RS) generated by plasma and so they can also have an influence on the plasma-induced sterilization. In this work, we assess the influence that diethylammonium dihydrogen phosphate (DEAP), an ionic liquid (IL) and sodium chloride (NaCl), an ionic salt (IS), have on the structural changes in hemoglobin (Hb) in the presence of RS generated using dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma in the presence of various gases [O2, N2, Ar, He, NO (10%) + N2 and Air]. We carry out fluorescence spectroscopy to verify the generation of •OH with or without the presence of DEAP IL and IS and we use electron spin resonance (ESR) to check the generation of H• and •OH. In addition, we verified the structural changes in the Hb structure after treatment with DBD in presence and absence of IL and IS. We then assessed the structural stability of the Hb in the presence of IL and IS by using molecular dynamic (MD) simulations. Our results indicate that the IL has a strong effect on the conservation of the Hb structure relative to that of IS against RS generated by plasma.
Thermodynamic consequences of the kinetic nature of the glass transition
Authors: Koperwas Kajetan , Grzybowski Andrzej , Tripathy Satya N. , Masiewicz Elzbieta , Paluch Marian 
Published: December 2015

AbstractIn this paper, we consider the glass transition as a kinetic process and establish one universal equation for the pressure coefficient of the glass transition temperature, dTg/dp, which is a thermodynamic characteristic of this process. Our findings challenge the common previous expectations concerning key characteristics of the transformation from the liquid to the glassy state, because it suggests that without employing an additional condition, met in the glass transition, derivation of the two independent equations for dTg/dp is not possible. Hence, the relation among the thermodynamic coefficients, which could be equivalent to the well-known Prigogine-Defay ratio for the process under consideration, cannot be obtained. Besides, by comparing the predictions of our universal equation for dTg/dp and Ehrenfest equations, we find the aforementioned supplementary restriction, which must be met to use the Prigogine-Defay ratio for the glass transition.
Reactivity of Metal-Free and Metal-Associated Amyloid-β with Glycosylated Polyphenols and Their Esterified Derivatives
Authors: Korshavn Kyle J. , Jang Milim , Kwak Yeon Ju , Kochi Akiko , Vertuani Silvia , Bhunia Anirban , Manfredini Stefano , Ramamoorthy Ayyalusamy , Lim Mi Hee 
Published: December 2015

AbstractBoth amyloid-β (Aβ) and transition metal ions are shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), though the importance of their interactions remains unclear. Multifunctional molecules, which can target metal-free and metal-bound Aβ and modulate their reactivity (e.g., Aβ aggregation), have been developed as chemical tools to investigate their function in AD pathology; however, these compounds generally lack specificity or have undesirable chemical and biological properties, reducing their functionality. We have evaluated whether multiple polyphenolic glycosides and their esterified derivatives can serve as specific, multifunctional probes to better understand AD. The ability of these compounds to interact with metal ions and metal-free/-associated Aβ and further control both metal-free and metal-induced Aβ aggregation was investigated through gel electrophoresis with Western blotting, transmission electron microscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and NMR spectroscopy. We also examined the cytotoxicity of the compounds and their ability to mitigate the toxicity induced by both metal-free and metal-bound Aβ. Of the polyphenols investigated, the natural product (Verbascoside) and its esterified derivative (VPP) regulate the aggregation and cytotoxicity of metal-free and/or metal-associated Aβ to different extents. Our studies indicate Verbascoside represents a promising structure for further multifunctional tool development against both metal-free Aβ and metal-Aβ.
Upregulation of Phosphodiesterase type 5 in the Hyperplastic Prostate
Authors: Zhang Wenhao , Zang Ning , Jiang Yaoming , Chen Ping , Wang Xinghuan , Zhang Xinhua 
Published: December 2015

AbstractBoth erectile dysfunction (ED) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)/benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are common in the aging male. Numerous clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5-Is) for treating LUTS/BPH with/without ED. However, the influence of BPH on prostatic PDE5 expression has never been studied. A testosterone-induced rat model of BPH was developed and human hyperplastic prostate specimens were harvested during cystoprostatectomy. PDE5, nNOS, eNOS and α1-adrenoreceptor subtypes (α1aARs, α1bARs and α1dARs) were determined with real-time RT-PCR for rat tissues whilst PDE5 and α1-adrenoreceptor subtypes were determined in human samples. PDE5 was further analyzed with Western-blot and histological examination. Serum testosterone was measured with ELISA. The rat BPH model was validated as having a significantly enlarged prostate. PDE5 localized mainly in fibromuscular stroma in prostate. Our data showed a significant and previously undocumented upregulation of PDE5 in both rat and human BPH, along with increased expression of nNOS and α1dARs for rat tissues and α1aARs for human BPH. The upregulation of PDE5 in the hyperplastic prostate could explain the mechanism and contribute to the high effectiveness of PDE5-Is for treating LUTS/BPH. Fibromuscular stroma could be the main target for PDE5-Is within prostate.
Climate Change and the Evolution and Fate of the Tangier Islands of Chesapeake Bay, USA
Authors: Schulte David M. , Dridge Karin M. , Hudgins Mark H. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractClimate change and associated sea level rise (SLR) are already impacting low-lying coastal areas, including islands, throughout the world. Many of these areas are inhabited, many will need to be abandoned in coming decades as SLR continues. We examine the evolution (1850-2013) of the last inhabited offshore island in Virginia waters of Chesapeake Bay USA, the Tangier Islands. Three SLR scenarios, a low, mid and high, were considered. Since 1850, 66.75% of the islands landmass has been lost. Under the mid-range SLR scenario, much of the remaining landmass is expected to be lost in the next 50 years and the Town will likely need to be abandoned. The high SLR scenario will accelerate the land loss and subsidence, such that the Town may need to be abandoned in as few as 25 years. We propose a conceptual plan that would significantly extend the lifespan of the islands and Town.
GaN Haeckelite Single-Layered Nanostructures: Monolayer and Nanotubes
Authors: Camacho-Mojica Dulce C. , López-Urías Florentino 
Published: December 2015

AbstractNowadays, III-V semiconductors are interesting candidate materials for the tailoring of two dimensional (2D) graphene-like structures. These new 2D materials have attracted profound interest opening the possibility to find semiconductor materials with unexplored properties. First-principles density functional theory calculations are performed in order to investigate the electronic properties of GaN planar and nanotube morphologies based on Haeckelite structures (containing octagonal and square membered rings). Optimized geometries, band-structures, phonon dispersion, binding energies, transmission electron microscopy images simulations, x-ray diffraction patterns, charge densities and electronic band gaps are calculated. We demonstrated that GaN Haeckelite structures are stable exhibiting a semiconducting behavior with an indirect band gap. Furthermore, it was found that GaN Haeckelite nanotubes are semiconductor with a band gap nature (direct or indirect) that depends of the nanotube´s chirality and diameter. In addition, it was demonstrated that surface passivation and the interaction with hydrazine, water, ammonia and carbon monoxide molecules can change the band-gap nature. Our results are compared with the corresponding GaN hexagonal honeycomb structures.
The baseline characteristics and interim analyses of the high-risk sentinel cohort of the Vietnam Initiative on Zoonotic InfectiONS (VIZIONS)
Authors: Carrique-Mas Juan J. , Tue Ngo T. , Bryant Juliet E. , Saylors Karen , Cuong Nguyen V. , Hoa Ngo T. , An Nguyen N. , Hien Vo B. , Lao Pham V. , Tu Nguyen C. , Chuyen Nguyen K. , Chuc Nguyen T.K. , Tan Dinh V. , Duong Hoang Van V. , Toan Tran K. , Chi Nguyen T.Y. , Campbell James , Rabaa Maia A. , Nadjm Behzad , Woolhouse Mark , Wertheim Heiman , Thwaites Guy , Baker Stephen 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThe Vietnam Initiative for Zoonotic Infections (VIZIONS) includes community-based ‘high-risk sentinel cohort’ (HRSC) studies investigating individuals at risk of zoonotic infection due to occupational or residential exposure to animals. A total of 852 HRSC members were recruited between March 2013 and August 2014 from three provinces (Ha Noi, Dak Lak and Dong Thap). The most numerous group (72.8%) corresponded to individuals living on farms, followed by slaughterers (16.3%) and animal health workers (8.5%). Nasal/pharyngeal and rectal swabs were collected from HRSC members at recruitment and after notifying illness. Exposure to exotic animals (including wild pigs, porcupine, monkey, civet, bamboo rat and bat) was highest for the Dak Lak cohort (53.7%), followed by Ha Noi (13.7%) and Dong Thap (4.0%). A total of 26.8% of individuals reported consumption of raw blood over the previous year; 33.6% slaughterers reported no use of protective equipment at work. Over 686 person-years of observation, 213 episodes of suspect infectious disease were notified, equivalent of 0.35 reports per person-year. Responsive samples were collected from animals in the farm cohort. There was noticeable time and space clustering of disease episodes suggesting that the VIZIONS set up is also suitable for the formal epidemiological investigation of disease outbreaks.
Strain induced topological phase transitions in monolayer honeycomb structures of group-V binary compounds
Authors: Nie Yaozhuang , Rahman Mavlanjan , Wang Daowei , Wang Can , Guo Guanghua 
Published: December 2015

AbstractWe present first-principles calculations of electronic structures of a class of two-dimensional (2D) honeycomb structures of group-V binary compounds. Our results show these new 2D materials are stable semiconductors with direct or indirect band gaps. The band gap can be tuned by applying lattice strain. During their stretchable regime, they all exhibit metal-indirect gap semiconductor-direct gap semiconductor-topological insulator (TI) transitions with increasing strain from negative (compressive) to positive (tensile) values. The topological phase transition results from the band inversion at the Γ point which is due to the evolution of bonding and anti-bonding states under lattice strain.
Cartilage development requires the function of Estrogen-related receptor alpha that directly regulates sox9 expression in zebrafish
Authors: Kim Yong-Il , No Lee Joon , Bhandari Sushil , Nam In-Koo , Yoo Kyeong-Won , Kim Se-Jin , Oh Gi-Su , Kim Hyung-Jin , So Hong-Seob , Choe Seong-Kyu , Park Raekil 
Published: December 2015

AbstractEstrogen-related receptor alpha (ESRRa) regulates a number of cellular processes including development of bone and muscles. However, direct evidence regarding its involvement in cartilage development remains elusive. In this report, we establish an in vivo role of Esrra in cartilage development during embryogenesis in zebrafish. Gene expression analysis indicates that esrra is expressed in developing pharyngeal arches where genes necessary for cartilage development are also expressed. Loss of function analysis shows that knockdown of esrra impairs expression of genes including sox9, col2a1, sox5, sox6, runx2 and col10a1 thus induces abnormally formed cartilage in pharyngeal arches. Importantly, we identify putative ESRRa binding elements in upstream regions of sox9 to which ESRRa can directly bind, indicating that Esrra may directly regulate sox9 expression. Accordingly, ectopic expression of sox9 rescues defective formation of cartilage induced by the knockdown of esrra. Taken together, our results indicate for the first time that ESRRa is essential for cartilage development by regulating sox9 expression during vertebrate development.
Correlative cryo-fluorescence and cryo-scanning electron microscopy as a straightforward tool to study host-pathogen interactions
Authors: Strnad Martin , Elsterová Jana , Schrenková Jana , Vancová Marie , Rego Ryan O. M. , Grubhoffer Libor , Nebesářová Jana 
Published: December 2015

AbstractCorrelative light and electron microscopy is an imaging technique that enables identification and targeting of fluorescently tagged structures with subsequent imaging at near-to-nanometer resolution. We established a novel correlative cryo-fluorescence microscopy and cryo-scanning electron microscopy workflow, which enables imaging of the studied object of interest very close to its natural state, devoid of artifacts caused for instance by slow chemical fixation. This system was tested by investigating the interaction of the zoonotic bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi with two mammalian cell lines of neural origin in order to broaden our knowledge about the cell-association mechanisms that precedes the entry of the bacteria into the cell. This method appears to be an unprecedentedly fast (<3 hours), straightforward and reliable solution to study the finer details of pathogen-host cell interactions and provides important insights into the complex and dynamic relationship between a pathogen and a host.
Proteome Analysis of Renoprotection Mediated by a Novel Cyclic Helix B Peptide in Acute Kidney Injury
Authors: Yang Cheng , Liu Junjun , Li Long , Hu Meiyu , Long Yaqiu , Liu Xiaohui , Zhu Tongyu , Huang Xiao , Zhao Shouliang , Liu Shangfeng , Rong Ruiming 
Published: December 2015

AbstractWe developed a novel, erythropoietin-derived, non-erythropoiesis, cyclic helix B peptide (CHBP) that displays potent renoprotection against acute kidney injury (AKI). To determine the mechanism of CHBP-mediated protection, we investigated the proteomic profile of mice treated with CHBP in a kidney ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury model. The isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-labeled samples were analyzed using a QSTAR XL LC/MS system. In total, 38 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were shared by all experimental groups, while 3 DEPs were detected specifically in the IR + CHBP group. Eight significant pathways were identified and oxidative phosphorylation was shown to be the most important pathway in CHBP-mediated renoprotection. The significant DEPs in the oxidative phosphorylation pathway elicited by CHBP are NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase Fe-S protein 6 (NDUFS6), alpha-aminoadipic semialdehyde synthase (AASS) and ATP-binding cassette sub-family D member 3 (ABCD3). The DEPs mentioned above were verified by RT-qPCR and immunostaining in mouse kidneys. We tested 6 DEPs in human biopsy samples from kidney transplant recipients. The trend of differential expression was consistent with that in the murine model. In conclusion, this study helps to elucidate the pharmacological mechanisms of CHBP before clinical translation.
Is overexpression of TWIST, a transcriptional factor, a prognostic biomarker of head and neck carcinoma? Evidence from fifteen studies
Authors: Zhuo Xianlu , Luo Huanli , Chang Aoshuang , Li Dairong , Zhao Houyu , Zhou Qi 
Published: December 2015

AbstractTWIST, a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, has been indicated to play a critical role in the progression of numerous malignant disorders. Published data on the significance of TWIST expression in head and neck carcinoma (HNC) risk have yielded conflicting results. Thus, we conducted a quantitative meta-analysis to obtain a precise estimate of this subject. After systematic searching and screening, a total of fifteen studies using immunohistochemistry for TWIST detection were included. The results showed that TWIST positive expression rate in HNC tissues was higher than that in normal tissues. TWIST expression might have a correlation with clinical features such as low differentiation, advanced clinical stage, presence of lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis and local recurrence (P < 0.05) , but not with age, gender, T stage and smoking as well as drinking (P > 0.05). In addition, over-expression of TWIST was a prognostic factor for HNC (HR = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.13–3.25). The data suggested that TWIST might play critical roles in cancer progression and act as a prognostic factor for HNC patients.
Transgenic banana plants expressing Xanthomonas wilt resistance genes revealed a stable non-target bacterial colonization structure
Authors: Nimusiima Jean , Köberl Martina , Tumuhairwe John Baptist , Kubiriba Jerome , Staver Charles , Berg Gabriele 
Published: December 2015

AbstractAfrica is among the continents where the battle over genetically modified crops is currently being played out. The impact of GM in Africa could potentially be very positive. In Uganda, researchers have developed transgenic banana lines resistant to bananaXanthomonaswilt. The transgenic lines expressinghrapandpflpcan provide a timely solution to the pandemic. However, the impact of the transgenes expression on non-target microorganisms has not yet been investigated. To study this effect, transgenic and control lines were grown under field conditions and their associated microbiome was investigated by 16S rRNA gene profiling combining amplicon sequencing and molecular fingerprinting. Three years after sucker planting, no statistically significant differences between transgenic lines and their non-modified predecessors were detected for their associated bacterial communities. The overall gammaproteobacterial rhizosphere microbiome was highly dominated byXanthomonadales, whilePseudomonadalesandEnterobacterialeswere accumulated in the pseudostem. Shannon indices revealed much higher diversity in the rhizosphere than in the pseudostem endosphere. However, the expression of the transgenes did not result in changes in the diversity ofGammaproteobacteria, the closest relatives of the target pathogen. In this field experiment, the expression of the resistance genes appears to have no consequences for non-target rhizobacteria and endophytes.
A single-nucleotide exon found in Arabidopsis
Authors: Guo Lei , Liu Chun-Ming 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThe presence of introns in gene-coding regions is one of the most mysterious evolutionary inventions in eukaryotic organisms. It has been proposed that, although sequences involved in intron recognition and splicing are mainly located in introns, exonic sequences also contribute to intron splicing. The smallest constitutively spliced exon known so far has 6 nucleotides and the smallest alternatively spliced exon has 3 nucleotides. Here we report that the Anaphase Promoting Complex subunit 11 (APC11) gene in Arabidopsis thaliana carries a constitutive single-nucleotide exon. In vivo transcription and translation assays performed using APC11-Green Fluorescence Protein (GFP) fusion constructs revealed that intron splicing surrounding the single-nucleotide exon is effective in both Arabidopsis and rice. This discovery warrants attention to genome annotations in the future.
Effective Energy Transfer via Plasmon-Activated High-Energy Water Promotes Its Fundamental Activities of Solubility, Ionic Conductivity and Extraction at Room Temperature
Authors: Yang Chih-Ping , Chen Hsiao-Chien , Wang Ching-Chiung , Tsai Po-Wei , Ho Chia-Wen , Liu Yu-Chuan 
Published: December 2015

AbstractWater is a ubiquitous solvent in biological, physical and chemical processes. Unique properties of water result from water’s tetrahedral hydrogen-bonded (HB) network (THBN). The original THBN is destroyed when water is confined in a nanosized environment or localized at interfaces, resulting in corresponding changes in HB-dependent properties. In this work, we present an innovative idea to validate the reserve energy of high-energy water and applications of high-energy water to promote water’s fundamental activities of solubility, ionic conductivity and extraction at room temperature. High-energy water with reduced HBs was created by utilizing hot electrons with energies from the decay of surface plasmon excited at gold (Au) nanoparticles (NPs). Compared to conventional deionized (DI) water, solubilities of alkali metal-chloride salts in high-energy water were significantly increased, especially for salts that release heat when dissolved. The ionic conductivity of NaCl in high-energy water was also markedly higher, especially when the electrolyte’s concentration was extremely low. In addition, antioxidative components, such as polyphenols and 2,3,5,4’-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-beta-d-glucoside (THSG) from teas and Polygonum multiflorum (PM), could more effectively be extracted using high-energy water. These results demonstrate that high-energy water has emerged as a promising innovative solvent for promoting water’s fundamental activities via effective energy transfer.
Cdk5-mediated inhibition of APC/C-Cdh1 switches on the cyclin D1-Cdk4-pRb pathway causing aberrant S-phase entry of postmitotic neurons
Authors: Veas-Pérez de Tudela Miguel , Maestre Carolina , Delgado-Esteban María , Bolaños Juan P. , Almeida Angeles 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThe anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that regulates cell cycle progression in proliferating cells. To enter the S-phase, APC/C must be inactivated by phosphorylation of its cofactor, Cdh1. In post-mitotic cells such as neurons APC/C-Cdh1 complex is highly active and responsible for the continuous degradation of mitotic cyclins. However, the specific molecular pathway that determines neuronal cell cycle blockade in post-mitotic neurons is unknown. Here, we show that activation of glutamatergic receptors in rat cortical primary neurons endogenously triggers cyclin-dependent kinase-5 (Cdk5)-mediated phosphorylation of Cdh1 leading to its cytoplasmic accumulation and disassembly from the APC3 core protein, causing APC/C inactivation. Conversely, pharmacological or genetic inhibition of Cdk5 promotes Cdh1 ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. Furthermore, we show that Cdk5-mediated phosphorylation and inactivation of Cdh1 leads to p27 depletion, which switches on the cyclin D1-cyclin-dependent kinase-4 (Cdk4)-retinoblastoma protein (pRb) pathway to allow the S-phase entry of neurons. However, neurons do not proceed through the cell cycle and die by apoptosis. These results indicate that APC/C-Cdh1 actively suppresses an aberrant cell cycle entry and death of neurons, highlighting its critical function in neuroprotection.