bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and implication of novel poly(acrylic acid)/nanosorbent embedded hydrogel composite for lead ion removal
Authors: Bhatia Mayuri , Rajulapati Satish Babu , Sonawane Shirish , Girdhar Amandeep 
Published: November 2017

AbstractLead stands second among the deadly heavy metal pollutants owing to the incompetent mechanism possessed by the human body for its removal. A polymeric hydrogel in the form of composite was prepared using acrylic acid (monomer) and novel nanofiller that possess super adsorbent properties with restricted gel seepage into flowing ionic liquid. The filler used is an adsorbent which is biocompatible, biodegradable, economical, abundant, non-hazardous and easy to synthesize. The invariably porous nanofiller, the Nanobentonite(clay), was synthesized using ion exchange reaction by creating acidic environment for accelerated dispersion with exfoliation by CTAB to enhance cation exchange capacity. NanobentoFnite was capable of removing >97% lead ion in batch adsorption study and followed pseudo-second order kinetic model. Freundlich isotherm suggested a removal capacity of ~20 mg/g. Thus, the successfully experimented adsorbent was implicated as filler to form polyacrylic acid nanoclay hydrogel polymerized in ultrasonic bath. The amount of filler was varied from 0.25 to 2 wt% to get 94% removal, analyzed using ICP-OES. The prepared adsorbents were characterized before and after adsorption using TEM, FESEM, XRD, FTIR and DSC to understand the structural changes and metal-sorbent interaction. Thus, the novel nanosorbent/composite are promiscuous and competent in terms of availability, reusability and longevity to remove heavy metal ions.
Metabolic regulatory oscillations in intertidal green seaweed Ulva lactuca against tidal cycles
Authors: Gupta Vishal , Kushwaha Hemant R 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe survival of wetland plant species largely relies on physiological adaptations essential for submergence and desiccation. Intertidal seaweeds, unlike terrestrial plants, have unique adaptations to submergence and can also sustain desiccation arising from tidal rhythms. This study determined the differential metabolic regulations in the inter-tidal seaweed species Ulva lactuca against the submergence and desiccation. During desiccation, the relative water content of the algal thalli declined with concomitant increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation. Nevertheless, the trends reversed during recovery on re-submergence and attained homeostasis. Metabolite profiling of U. lactuca revealed desiccation induced balance in energy reserve utilization by adjusting carbohydrate metabolism and switch over to ammonia metabolism. Upon re-submergence, thalli showed an increase in fermentative metabolites, pyruvate-alanine conversion, and the GABA shunt. Prolonged submergence induced substrate level phosphorylation mediated sugar biosynthesis while continuing the alternative carbon flux through fermentative metabolism, an increase in osmoprotectants glycine and betaine, sulfur bearing compounds cysteine and hypotaurine, and phenolic compound coniferaldehyde. The determined metabolic regulations in U. lactuca for submergence tolerance provide insights into potential evolutionarily conserved protective mechanisms across the green lineage and also highlights the possible role of sulfur oxoforms as strong free radical scavengers.
Features of reactive cysteines discovered through computation: from kinase inhibition to enrichment around protein degrons
Authors: Fowler Nicholas J. , Blanford Christopher F. , de Visser Sam P. , Warwicker Jim 
Published: November 2017

AbstractLarge-scale characterisation of cysteine modification is enabling study of the physicochemical determinants of reactivity. We find that location of cysteine at the amino terminus of an α-helix, associated with activity in thioredoxins, is under-represented in human protein structures, perhaps indicative of selection against background reactivity. An amino-terminal helix location underpins the covalent linkage for one class of kinase inhibitors. Cysteine targets for S-palmitoylation, S-glutathionylation, and S-nitrosylation show little correlation with pKa values predicted from structures, although flanking sequences of S-palmitoylated sites are enriched in positively-charged amino acids, which could facilitate palmitoyl group transfer to substrate cysteine. A surprisingly large fraction of modified sites, across the three modifications, would be buried in native protein structure. Furthermore, modified cysteines are (on average) closer to lysine ubiquitinations than are unmodified cysteines, indicating that cysteine redox biology could be associated with protein degradation and degron recognition.
Specific Features of SVZ Neurogenesis After Cortical Ischemia: a Longitudinal Study
Authors: Palma-Tortosa S. , García-Culebras A. , Moraga A. , Hurtado O. , Perez-Ruiz A. , Durán-Laforet V. , Parra J. de la , Cuartero M. I. , Pradillo J. M. , Moro M. A. , Lizasoain I. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractStroke is a devastating disease with an increasing prevalence. Part of the current development in stroke therapy is focused in the chronic phase, where neurorepair mechanisms such as neurogenesis, are involved. In the adult brain, one of the regions where neurogenesis takes place is the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricles. Given the possibility to develop pharmacological therapies to stimulate this process, we have performed a longitudinal analysis of neurogenesis in a model of cortical ischemia in mice. Our results show an initial decrease of SVZ proliferation at 24 h, followed by a recovery leading to an increase at 14d and a second decrease 28d after stroke. Coinciding with the 24 h proliferation decrease, an increase in the eutopic neuroblast migration towards the olfactory bulb was observed. The analysis of the neuroblast ectopic migration from the SVZ toward the lesion showed an increase in this process from day 14 after the insult. Finally, our data revealed an increased number of new cortical neurons in the peri-infarct cortex 65d after the insult. In summary, we report here critical check-points about post-stroke neurogenesis after cortical infarcts, important for the pharmacological modulation of this process in stroke patients.
Quantitative analysis of intra- and inter-individual variability of human beta-cell mass
Authors: Olehnik Scott K. , Fowler Jonas L. , Avramovich Gil , Hara Manami 
Published: November 2017

AbstractPancreatic beta-cell mass is a critical determinant of the progression of diabetes. The loss of beta-cells in various types of diabetes has been documented in comparison to age, sex and body mass index (BMI) matched control subjects. However, the underlying heterogeneity of beta-cell mass in healthy individuals has not been considered. In this study, the inter-individual heterogeneity in beta-cell/islet mass was examined among 10 cases of age-matched non-diabetic male subjects in relation to BMI, pancreas weight, and the percent ratio, volume and number of islets in the whole pancreas. Beta-cell/islet mass was measured using a large-scale unbiased quantification method. In contrast to previous studies, we found no clinically relevant correlation between beta-cell/islet mass and age, BMI or pancreas weight, with large differences in beta-cell/islet mass and islet number among the individuals. Our method extracts the comprehensive information out of individual pancreas providing multifaceted parameters to study the intrinsic heterogeneity of the human pancreas.
Circulating microparticles in acute diabetic Charcot foot exhibit a high content of inflammatory cytokines, and support monocyte-to-osteoclast cell induction
Authors: Pasquier Jennifer , Thomas Binitha , Hoarau-Véchot Jessica , Odeh Tala , Robay Amal , Chidiac Omar , Dargham Soha R. , Turjoman Rebal , Halama Anna , Fakhro Khalid , Menzies Robert , Jayyousi Amin , Zirie Mahmoud , Al Suwaidi Jassim , Rafii Arash , Malik Rayaz A. , Talal Talal , Abi Khalil Charbel 
Published: November 2017

AbstractCirculating microparticles (MPs) are major mediators in cardiovascular complications of type 2 diabetes (T2D); however, their contribution to Charcot foot (CF) disease is not known. Here, we purified and assessed the origin, concentration and content of circulating MPs from 33 individuals: 11 with T2D and acute CF, 11 T2D patients with equivalent neuropathy and 11 non-diabetic controls. First, we demonstrated that there were no differences in the distribution of MPs of endothelial, platelet origin among the 3 groups. However, MPs from leukocytes and monocytes origin were increased in CF patients. Moreover, we demonstrated that monocytes-derived MPs originated more frequently from intermediate and non-classical monocytes in CF patients. Five cytokines (G-CSF, GM-CSF, IL-1-ra, IL-2 and IL-16) were significantly increased in MPs from acute CF patients. Applying ingenuity pathways analysis, we found that those cytokines interacted well and induced the activation of pathways that are involved in osteoclast formation. Further, we treated THP-1 monocytes and monocytes sorted from healthy patients with CF-derived MPs during their differentiation into osteoclasts, which increased their differentiation into multinucleated osteoclast-like cells. Altogether, our study suggests that circulating MPs in CF disease have a high content of inflammatory cytokines and could increase osteoclast differentiation in vitro.
SNX27 links DGKζ to the control of transcriptional and metabolic programs in T lymphocytes
Authors: Tello-Lafoz M. , Rodríguez-Rodríguez C. , Kinna G. , Loo L. S. , Hong W. , Collins B. M. , Teasdale R. D. , Mérida I. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractSorting nexin 27 (SNX27) recycles PSD-95, Dlg1, ZO-1 (PDZ) domain-interacting membrane proteins and is essential to sustain adequate brain functions. Here we define a fundamental SNX27 function in T lymphocytes controlling antigen-induced transcriptional activation and metabolic reprogramming. SNX27 limits the activation of diacylglycerol (DAG)-based signals through its high affinity PDZ-interacting cargo DAG kinase ζ (DGKζ). SNX27 silencing in human T cells enhanced T cell receptor (TCR)-stimulated activator protein 1 (AP-1)- and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB)-mediated transcription. Transcription did not increase upon DGKζ silencing, suggesting that DGKζ function is dependent on SNX27. The enhanced transcriptional activation in SNX27-silenced cells contrasted with defective activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. The analysis ofSnx27−/−mice supported a role for SNX27 in the control of T cell growth. This study broadens our understanding of SNX27 as an integrator of lipid-based signals with the control of transcription and metabolic pathways.
STRT-seq-2i: dual-index 5ʹ single cell and nucleus RNA-seq on an addressable microwell array
Authors: Hochgerner Hannah , Lönnerberg Peter , Hodge Rebecca , Mikes Jaromir , Heskol Abeer , Hubschle Hermann , Lin Philip , Picelli Simone , La Manno Gioele , Ratz Michael , Dunne Jude , Husain Syed , Lein Ed , Srinivasan Maithreyan , Zeisel Amit , Linnarsson Sten 
Published: November 2017

AbstractSingle-cell RNA-seq has become routine for discovering cell types and revealing cellular diversity, but archived human brain samples still pose a challenge to current high-throughput platforms. We present STRT-seq-2i, an addressable 9600-microwell array platform, combining sampling by limiting dilution or FACS, with imaging and high throughput at competitive cost. We applied the platform to fresh single mouse cortical cells and to frozen post-mortem human cortical nuclei, matching the performance of a previous lower-throughput platform while retaining a high degree of flexibility, potentially also for other high-throughput applications.
A new A-P compartment boundary and organizer in holometabolous insect wings
Authors: Abbasi Roohollah , Marcus Jeffrey M. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractDecades of research on the highly modified wings of Drosophila melanogaster has suggested that insect wings are divided into two Anterior-Posterior (A-P) compartments separated by an axis of symmetry. This axis of symmetry is created by a developmental organizer that establishes symmetrical patterns of gene expression that in turn pattern the A-P axis of the wing. Butterflies possess more typical insect wings and butterfly wing colour patterns provide many landmarks for studies of wing structure and development. Using eyespot colour pattern variation in Vanessa butterflies, here we show an additional A-P axis of symmetry running between wing sectors 3 and 4. Boundaries of Drosophila mitotic clones suggest the existence of a previously undetected Far-Posterior (F-P) compartment boundary that coincides with this additional A-P axis. A similar compartment boundary is evident in butterfly mosaic gynandromorphs. We suggest that this additional compartment boundary and its associated developmental organizer create an axis of wing colour pattern symmetry and a gene expression-based combinatorial code, permitting each insect wing compartment to acquire a unique identity and allowing for the individuation of butterfly eyespots.
Genetic Architecture and Candidate Genes Identified for Follicle Number in Chicken
Authors: Shen Manman , Sun Hongyan , Qu Liang , Ma Meng , Dou Taocun , Lu Jian , Guo Jun , Hu Yuping , Wang Xingguo , Li Yongfeng , Wang Kehua , Yang Ning 
Published: November 2017

AbstractFollicular development has a major impact on reproductive performance. Most previous researchers focused on molecular mechanisms of follicular development. The genetic architecture underlying the number of follicle, however, has yet not to be thoroughly defined in chicken. Here we report a genome-wide association study for the genetic architecture determining the numbers of follicles in a large F2 resource population. The results showed heritability were low to moderate (0.05–0.28) for number of pre-ovulatory follicles (POF), small yellow follicles (SYF) and atresia follicles (AF). The highly significant SNPs associated with SYF were mainly located on GGA17 and GGA28. Only four significant SNPs were identified for POF on GGA1. The variance partitioned across chromosomes and chromosome lengths had a linear relationship for SYF (R2 = 0.58). The enriched genes created by the closest correspondent significant SNPs were found to be involved in biological pathways related to cell proliferation, cell cycle and cell survival. Two promising candidate genes, AMH and RGS3, were suggested to be prognostic biomarkers for SYF. In conclusion, this study offers the first evidence of genetic variance and positional candidate genes which influence the number of SYF in chicken. These identified informative SNPs may facilitate selection for an improved reproductive performance of laying hens.
A new structural arrangement in proteins involving lysine NH3
+ group and carbonyl
Authors: Rogacheva Olga N. , Izmailov Sergei A. , Slipchenko Lyudmila V. , Skrynnikov Nikolai R. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractScreening of the Protein Data Bank led to identification of a recurring structural motif where lysine NH3+ group interacts with backbone carbonyl. This interaction is characterized by linear atom arrangement, with carbonyl O atom positioned on the three-fold symmetry axis of the NH3+ group (angle Cε-Nζ-O close to 180°, distance Nζ-O ca. 2.7-3.0 Å). Typically, this linear arrangement coexists with three regular hydrogen bonds formed by lysine NH3+ group (angle Cε-Nζ-acceptor atom close to 109°, distance Nζ-acceptor atom ca. 2.7-3.0 Å). Our DFT calculations using polarizable continuum environment suggest that this newly identified linear interaction makes an appreciable contribution to protein’s energy balance, up to 2 kcal/mol. In the context of protein structure, linear interactions play a role in capping the C-termini of α-helices and 310-helices. Of note, linear interaction involving conserved lysine is consistently found in the P-loop of numerous NTPase domains, where it stabilizes the substrate-binding conformation of the P-loop. Linear interaction NH3+ – carbonyl represents an interesting example of ion-dipole interactions that has so far received little attention compared to ion-ion interactions (salt bridges) and dipole-dipole interactions (hydrogen bonds), but nevertheless represents a distinctive element of protein architecture.
A sensitive and rapid immunoassay for Mycoplasma pneumoniae in children with pneumonia based on single-walled carbon nanotubes
Authors: Song Ming , Zhang Ying , Li Shi , Zhang Chunsheng , Tao Mingming , Tang Ying , Jiang Zhuquan , Cai Sulan , Xu Wei , Xu Weizhuo 
Published: November 2017

AbstractMycoplasma pneumoniae(MP) is a leading pathogen of respiratory infection, especially community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), in children worldwide. However, its diagnosis is frequently ineffective because bacterial culture and serology test are usually positive 1–2 weeks or more after the disease onset. To achieve a better detection efficiency, the single-walled carbon nanotubes(SWCNT) were coupled with the colloidal gold-monoclonal antibody immunochromatographic strips(CGIC). Interestingly, the SWCNT/CGIC assay allowed MP identification, with a detection limit of 1 × 102 copies/ml. Using referenced throat swabs of 97 MP and 40 non-MP cases, the assay yielded 72.2% sensitivity, 100.0% specificity, 100.0% positive predictive value (PPV), 59.7% negative predictive value (NPV). In summary, our assay was far more effective than any conventional methods for the diagnosis of acute MP. The ease of use, rapid and stability further enhance its feasibility for clinical use on-site.
Risk of non-cardiac surgery after percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents
Authors: Park Sun-Kyung , Jung Dhong Eun , Jung Sung Ae , Kim Won Ho , Bahk Jae-Hyon 
Published: November 2017

AbstractElective non-cardiac surgery (NCS) should optimally be delayed one year after implantation of a drug-eluting stent (DES). Dual antiplatelet therapy or at least aspirin is recommended to be continued considering the relative risk of stent thrombosis especially during the 4 weeks after DES implantation. However, these recommendations were supported by insufficient evidence. We investigated predictors for postoperative major adverse cardiovascular and cerebral event (MACCE) in 1582 patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery after DES implantation. 96 patients (6.1%) developed postoperative MACCE. In the propensity score-matched analysis, aspirin maintenance was not associated with MACCE (odds ratio [OR] 0.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.48–1.27, P = 0.320) and was associated with increased risk of major bleeding (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.02–3.32, P = 0.044). When patients who underwent NCS within one month after DES implantation were matched with those who underwent NCS thereafter, the risk of MACCE was higher when surgery was done within 30 days after PCI (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.05–4.66, P = 0.036). Maintenance of aspirin did not decrease MACCE after NCS in patients with DES and only increased the risk of major bleeding. NCS within one month after DES implantation was associated with higher incidence of MACCE. However, prospective trials are required to validate our results.
Subcutaneous white adipocytes express a light sensitive signaling pathway mediated via a melanopsin/TRPC channel axis
Authors: Ondrusova Katarina , Fatehi Mohammad , Barr Amy , Czarnecka Zofia , Long Wentong , Suzuki Kunimasa , Campbell Scott , Philippaert Koenraad , Hubert Matthew , Tredget Edward , Kwan Peter , Touret Nicolas , Wabitsch Martin , Lee Kevin Y. , Light Peter E. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractSubcutaneous white adipose tissue (scWAT) is the major fat depot in humans and is a central player in regulating whole body metabolism. Skin exposure to UV wavelengths from sunlight is required for Vitamin D synthesis and pigmentation, although it is plausible that longer visible wavelengths that penetrate the skin may regulate scWAT function. In this regard, we discovered a novel blue light-sensitive current in human scWAT that is mediated by melanopsin coupled to transient receptor potential canonical cation channels. This pathway is activated at physiological intensities of light that penetrate the skin on a sunny day. Daily exposure of differentiated adipocytes to blue light resulted in decreased lipid droplet size, increased basal lipolytic rate and alterations in adiponectin and leptin secretion. Our results suggest that scWAT function may be directly under the influence of ambient sunlight exposure and may have important implications for our current understanding of adipocyte biology. (150 words)
A fast approach to detect gene–gene synergy
Authors: Xing Pengwei , Chen Yuan , Gao Jun , Bai Lianyang , Yuan Zheming 
Published: November 2017

AbstractSelecting informative genes, including individually discriminant genes and synergic genes, from expression data has been useful for medical diagnosis and prognosis. Detecting synergic genes is more difficult than selecting individually discriminant genes. Several efforts have recently been made to detect gene-gene synergies, such as dendrogram-based I(X1; X2; Y) (mutual information), doublets (gene pairs) and MIC(X1; X2; Y) based on the maximal information coefficient. It is unclear whether dendrogram-based I(X1; X2; Y) and doublets can capture synergies efficiently. Although MIC(X1; X2; Y) can capture a wide range of interaction, it has a high computational cost triggered by its 3-D search. In this paper, we developed a simple and fast approach based on abs conversion type (i.e. Z = |X1 − X2|) and t-test, to detect interactions in simulation and real-world datasets. Our results showed that dendrogram-based I(X1; X2; Y) and doublets are helpless for discovering pair-wise gene interactions, our approach can discover typical pair-wise synergic genes efficiently. These synergic genes can reach comparable accuracy to the individually discriminant genes using the same number of genes. Classifier cannot learn well if synergic genes have not been converted properly. Combining individually discriminant and synergic genes can improve the prediction performance.
Persistent inhibition of pore-based cell migration by sub-toxic doses of miuraenamide, an actin filament stabilizer
Authors: Moser Christina , Rüdiger Daniel , Förster Florian , von Blume Julia , Yu Peng , Kuster Bernhard , Kazmaier Uli , Vollmar Angelika M. , Zahler Stefan 
Published: November 2017

AbstractOpposed to tubulin-binding agents, actin-binding small molecules have not yet become part of clinical tumor treatment, most likely due to the fear of general cytotoxicity. Addressing this problem, we investigated the long-term efficacy of sub-toxic doses of miuraenamide, an actin filament stabilizing natural compound, on tumor cell (SKOV3) migration. No cytotoxic effects or persistent morphological changes occurred at a concentration of miuraenamide of 20 nM. After 72 h treatment with this concentration, nuclear stiffness was increased, causing reduced migration through pores in a Boyden chamber, while cell migration and chemotaxis per se were unaltered. A concomitant time-resolved proteomic approach showed down regulation of a protein cluster after 56 h treatment. This cluster correlated best with the Wnt signaling pathway. A further analysis of the actin associated MRTF/SRF signaling showed a surprising reduction of SRF-regulated proteins. In contrast to acute effects of actin-binding compounds on actin at high concentrations, long-term low-dose treatment elicits much more subtle but still functionally relevant changes beyond simple destruction of the cytoskeleton. These range from biophysical parameters to regulation of protein expression, and may help to better understand the complex biology of actin, as well as to initiate alternative regimes for the testing of actin-targeting drugs.