bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Primary phenotypical characterization of the Pirot sheep from Stara Planina, Republic of Serbia: can we save the forgotten zackel?
Authors: Stevanovic O.N. , Stojiljkovic M. , Trailovic R. , Ivanov S. , Nedic D.N. 
Published: September 2016

Summary
The Pirot sheep is a small Zackel that has been developed in the region of Pirot and the neighbouring municipalities in Serbia. Pirot sheep population has been reduced to only 60 animals in the Republic of Serbia. An overview of qualitative phenotypical and morphometrical characteristics of Pirot sheep from the Stara Planina is presented in this paper. The sheep included in this study belong to the last flock of the breed. The evaluation aims to obtain the phenotypical description of this indigenous breed as a phase of preservation strategy. Therefore, a total of 51 ewes and two rams were measured to obtain the detailed data concerning conformation. The phenotypical characteristics of animals included were also described. Based on the results, the Pirot sheep is a small breed with compact, slightly rectangular body frame (body length 115.40 percent of height at withers). The investigated sheep population was homogeneous, and morphological variations were limited to the data obtained in our research. The differences detected among different age groups were significant and reflected late maturing and slow growth of individuals. The comparison of the data determined by the evaluation of the modern population of Pirot sheep with the description from the older literature did not reveal that many significant changes of the morphological characteristics have occurred during the last 30 years. The small effective population and increasing inbreeding can threaten the efforts to preserve this sheep. The cultural heritage of the local community is also in danger due to the fact that the cornerstones of rural tradition in the area have been production of the three nationally important agricultural brands in Serbia – Pirot kilim (Pirot rug), Pirot/Stara Planina lamb and Pirot/Stara Planina Kachkaval cheese, all of which are depending on the Pirot sheep breeding. Additionally, some problems affecting the preservation of animal genetic resources in Serbia are reviewed with the focus on the Stara Planina. The research indicated that ex situ conservation should also be considered in the case of the Pirot sheep.
14-3-3ζ regulates the mitochondrial respiratory reserve linked to platelet phosphatidylserine exposure and procoagulant function
Authors: Schoenwaelder Simone M. , Darbousset Roxane , Cranmer Susan L. , Ramshaw Hayley S. , Orive Stephanie L. , Sturgeon Sharelle , Yuan Yuping , Yao Yu , Krycer James R. , Woodcock Joanna , Maclean Jessica , Pitson Stuart , Zheng Zhaohua , Henstridge Darren C. , van der Wal Dianne , Gardiner Elizabeth E. , Berndt Michael C. , Andrews Robert K. , James David E. , Lopez Angel F. , Jackson Shaun P. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe 14-3-3 family of adaptor proteins regulate diverse cellular functions including cell proliferation, metabolism, adhesion and apoptosis. Platelets express numerous 14-3-3 isoforms, including 14-3-3ζ, which has previously been implicated in regulating GPIbα function. Here we show an important role for 14-3-3ζ in regulating arterial thrombosis. Interestingly, this thrombosis defect is not related to alterations in von Willebrand factor (VWF)–GPIb adhesive function or platelet activation, but instead associated with reduced platelet phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure and procoagulant function. Decreased PS exposure in 14-3-3ζ-deficient platelets is associated with more sustained levels of metabolic ATP and increased mitochondrial respiratory reserve, independent of alterations in cytosolic calcium flux. Reduced platelet PS exposure in 14-3-3ζ-deficient mice does not increase bleeding risk, but results in decreased thrombin generation and protection from pulmonary embolism, leading to prolonged survival. Our studies define an important role for 14-3-3ζ in regulating platelet bioenergetics, leading to decreased platelet PS exposure and procoagulant function.
Programming temporal shapeshifting
Authors: Hu Xiaobo , Zhou Jing , Vatankhah-Varnosfaderani Mohammad , Daniel William F. M. , Li Qiaoxi , Zhushma Aleksandr P. , Dobrynin Andrey V. , Sheiko Sergei S. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractShapeshifting enables a wide range of engineering and biomedical applications, but until now transformations have required external triggers. This prerequisite limits viability in closed or inert systems and puts forward the challenge of developing materials with intrinsically encoded shape evolution. Herein we demonstrate programmable shape-memory materials that perform a sequence of encoded actuations under constant environment conditions without using an external trigger. We employ dual network hydrogels: in the first network, covalent crosslinks are introduced for elastic energy storage, and in the second one, temporary hydrogen-bonds regulate the energy release rate. Through strain-induced and time-dependent reorganization of the reversible hydrogen-bonds, this dual network allows for encoding both the rate and pathway of shape transformations on timescales from seconds to hours. This generic mechanism for programming trigger-free shapeshifting opens new ways to design autonomous actuators, drug-release systems and active implants.
Super-elastic and fatigue resistant carbon material with lamellar multi-arch microstructure
Authors: Gao Huai-Ling , Zhu Yin-Bo , Mao Li-Bo , Wang Feng-Chao , Luo Xi-Sheng , Liu Yang-Yi , Lu Yang , Pan Zhao , Ge Jin , Shen Wei , Zheng Ya-Rong , Xu Liang , Wang Lin-Jun , Xu Wei-Hong , Wu Heng-An , Yu Shu-Hong 
Published: September 2016

AbstractLow-density compressible materials enable various applications but are often hindered by structure-derived fatigue failure, weak elasticity with slow recovery speed and large energy dissipation. Here we demonstrate a carbon material with microstructure-derived super-elasticity and high fatigue resistance achieved by designing a hierarchical lamellar architecture composed of thousands of microscale arches that serve as elastic units. The obtained monolithic carbon material can rebound a steel ball in spring-like fashion with fast recovery speed (∼580 mm s−1), and demonstrates complete recovery and small energy dissipation (∼0.2) in each compress-release cycle, even under 90% strain. Particularly, the material can maintain structural integrity after more than 106 cycles at 20% strain and 2.5 × 105 cycles at 50% strain. This structural material, although constructed using an intrinsically brittle carbon constituent, is simultaneously super-elastic, highly compressible and fatigue resistant to a degree even greater than that of previously reported compressible foams mainly made from more robust constituents.
Carbene-catalysed reductive coupling of nitrobenzyl bromides and activated ketones or imines via single-electron-transfer process
Authors: Li Bao-Sheng , Wang Yuhuang , Proctor Rupert S. J. , Zhang Yuexia , Webster Richard D. , Yang Song , Song Baoan , Chi Yonggui Robin 
Published: September 2016

AbstractBenzyl bromides and related molecules are among the most common substrates in organic synthesis. They are typically used as electrophiles in nucleophilic substitution reactions. These molecules can also be activated via single-electron-transfer (SET) process for radical reactions. Representative recent progress includes α-carbon benzylation of ketones and aldehydes via photoredox catalysis. Here we disclose the generation of (nitro)benzyl radicals via N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalysis under reductive conditions. The radical intermediates generated via NHC catalysis undergo formal 1,2-addition with ketones to eventually afford tertiary alcohol products. The overall process constitutes a formal polarity-inversion of benzyl bromide, allowing a direct coupling of two initially electrophilic carbons. Our study provides a new carbene-catalysed reaction mode that should enable unconventional transformation of (nitro)benzyl bromides under mild organocatalytic conditions.
MicroRNA-155 influences B-cell function through PU.1 in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Alivernini Stefano , Kurowska-Stolarska Mariola , Tolusso Barbara , Benvenuto Roberta , Elmesmari Aziza , Canestri Silvia , Petricca Luca , Mangoni Antonella , Fedele Anna Laura , Di Mario Clara , Gigante Maria Rita , Gremese Elisa , McInnes Iain B. , Ferraccioli Gianfranco 
Published: September 2016

AbstractMicroRNA-155 (miR-155) is an important regulator of B cells in mice. B cells have a critical role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Here we show that miR-155 is highly expressed in peripheral blood B cells from RA patients compared with healthy individuals, particularly in the IgD-CD27- memory B-cell population in ACPA+ RA. MiR-155 is highly expressed in RA B cells from patients with synovial tissue containing ectopic germinal centres compared with diffuse synovial tissue. MiR-155 expression is associated reciprocally with lower expression of PU.1 at B-cell level in the synovial compartment. Stimulation of healthy donor B cells with CD40L, anti-IgM, IL-21, CpG, IFN-α, IL-6 or BAFF induces miR-155 and decreases PU.1 expression. Finally, inhibition of endogenous miR-155 in B cells of RA patients restores PU.1 and reduces production of antibodies. Our data suggest that miR-155 is an important regulator of B-cell activation in RA.
Shortcuts to adiabaticity by counterdiabatic driving for trapped-ion displacement in phase space
Authors: An Shuoming , Lv Dingshun , del Campo Adolfo , Kim Kihwan 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe application of adiabatic protocols in quantum technologies is severely limited by environmental sources of noise and decoherence. Shortcuts to adiabaticity by counterdiabatic driving constitute a powerful alternative that speed up time-evolution while mimicking adiabatic dynamics. Here we report the experimental implementation of counterdiabatic driving in a continuous variable system, a shortcut to the adiabatic transport of a trapped ion in phase space. The resulting dynamics is equivalent to a ‘fast-motion video’ of the adiabatic trajectory. The robustness of this protocol is shown to surpass that of competing schemes based on classical local controls and Fourier optimization methods. Our results demonstrate that shortcuts to adiabaticity provide a robust speedup of quantum protocols of wide applicability in quantum technologies.
The logarithmic relaxation process and the critical temperature of liquids in nano-confined states
Authors: Chen Changjiu , Wong Kaikin , Mole Richard A. , Yu Dehong , Chathoth Suresh M. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe logarithmic relaxation process is the slowest of all relaxation processes and is exhibited by only a few molecular liquids and proteins. Bulk salol, which is a glass-forming liquid, is known to exhibit logarithmic decay of intermediate scattering function for the β-relaxation process. In this article, we report the influence of nanoscale confinements on the logarithmic relaxation process and changes in the microscopic glass-transition temperature of salol in the carbon and silica nanopores. The generalized vibrational density-of-states of the confined salol indicates that the interaction of salol with ordered nanoporous carbon is hydrophilic in nature whereas the interaction with silica surfaces is more hydrophobic. The mode-coupling theory critical temperature derived from the QENS data shows that the dynamic transition occurs at much lower temperature in the carbon pores than in silica pores. The results of this study indicate that, under nano-confinements, liquids that display logarithmic β-relaxation phenomenon undergo a unique glass transition process.
The Evolution of Hyperedge Cardinalities and Bose-Einstein Condensation in Hypernetworks
Authors: Guo Jin-Li , Suo Qi , Shen Ai-Zhong , Forrest Jeffrey 
Published: September 2016

AbstractTo depict the complex relationship among nodes and the evolving process of a complex system, a Bose-Einstein hypernetwork is proposed in this paper. Based on two basic evolutionary mechanisms, growth and preference jumping, the distribution of hyperedge cardinalities is studied. The Poisson process theory is used to describe the arrival process of new node batches. And, by using the Poisson process theory and a continuity technique, the hypernetwork is analyzed and the characteristic equation of hyperedge cardinalities is obtained. Additionally, an analytical expression for the stationary average hyperedge cardinality distribution is derived by employing the characteristic equation, from which Bose-Einstein condensation in the hypernetwork is obtained. The theoretical analyses in this paper agree with the conducted numerical simulations. This is the first study on the hyperedge cardinality in hypernetworks, where Bose-Einstein condensation can be regarded as a special case of hypernetworks. Moreover, a condensation degree is also discussed with which Bose-Einstein condensation can be classified.
Coupling of radiofrequency with magnetic nanoparticles treatment as an alternative physical antibacterial strategy against multiple drug resistant bacteria
Authors: Chaurasia Akhilesh K. , Thorat Nanasaheb D. , Tandon Anshula , Kim Jin-Hahn , Park Sung Ha , Kim Kyeong Kyu 
Published: September 2016

AbstractAntibiotic resistant bacteria not only affect human health and but also threatens the safety in hospitals and among communities. However, the emergence of drug resistant bacteria is inevitable due to evolutionary selection as a consequence of indiscriminate antibiotic usage. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a novel strategy by which pathogenic bacteria can be eliminated without triggering resistance. We propose a novel magnetic nanoparticle-based physical treatment against pathogenic bacteria, which blocks biofilm formation and kills bacteria. In this approach, multiple drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus USA300 and uropathogenic Escherichia coli CFT073 are trapped to the positively charged magnetic core-shell nanoparticles (MCSNPs) by electrostatic interaction. All the trapped bacteria can be completely killed within 30 min owing to the loss of membrane potential and dysfunction of membrane-associated complexes when exposed to the radiofrequency current. These results indicate that MCSNP-based physical treatment can be an alternative antibacterial strategy without leading to antibiotic resistance, and can be used for many purposes including environmental and therapeutic applications.
SMAR1 binds to T(C/G) repeat and inhibits tumor progression by regulating miR-371-373 cluster
Authors: Mathai Jinumary , Mittal Smriti P. K. , Alam Aftab , Ranade Payal , Mogare Devraj , Patel Sonal , Saxena Smita , Ghorai Suvankar , Kulkarni Abhijeet P. , Chattopadhyay Samit 
Published: September 2016

AbstractChromatin architecture and dynamics are regulated by various histone and non-histone proteins. The matrix attachment region binding proteins (MARBPs) play a central role in chromatin organization and function through numerous regulatory proteins. In the present study, we demonstrate that nuclear matrix protein SMAR1 orchestrates global gene regulation as determined by massively parallel ChIP-sequencing. The study revealed that SMAR1 binds to T(C/G) repeat and targets genes involved in diverse biological pathways. We observe that SMAR1 binds and targets distinctly different genes based on the availability of p53. Our data suggest that SMAR1 binds and regulates one of the imperative microRNA clusters in cancer and metastasis, miR-371-373. It negatively regulates miR-371-373 transcription as confirmed by SMAR1 overexpression and knockdown studies. Further, deletion studies indicate that a ~200 bp region in the miR-371-373 promoter is necessary for SMAR1 binding and transcriptional repression. Recruitment of HDAC1/mSin3A complex by SMAR1, concomitant with alteration of histone marks results in downregulation of the miRNA cluster. The regulation of miR-371-373 by SMAR1 inhibits breast cancer tumorigenesis and metastasis as determined by in vivo experiments. Overall, our study highlights the binding of SMAR1 to T(C/G) repeat and its role in cancer through miR-371-373.
Expanded graphite embedded with aluminum nanoparticles as superior thermal conductivity anodes for high-performance lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Zhao Tingkai , She Shengfei , Ji Xianglin , Guo Xinai , Jin Wenbo , Zhu Ruoxing , Dang Alei , Li Hao , Li Tiehu , Wei Bingqing 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe development of high capacity and long-life lithium-ion batteries is a long-term pursuing and under a close scrutiny. Most of the researches have been focused on exploring electrode materials and structures with high store capability of lithium ions and at the same time with a good electrical conductivity. Thermal conductivity of an electrode material will also have significant impacts on boosting battery capacity and prolonging battery lifetime, which is, however, underestimated. Here, we present the development of an expanded graphite embedded with Al metal nanoparticles (EG-MNPs-Al) synthesized by an oxidation-expansion process. The synthesized EG-MNPs-Al material exhibited a typical hierarchical structure with embedded Al metal nanoparticles into the interspaces of expanded graphite. The parallel thermal conductivity was up to 11.6 W·m−1·K−1 with a bulk density of 453 kg·m−3 at room temperature, a 150% improvement compared to expanded graphite (4.6 W·m−1·K−1) owing to the existence of Al metal nanoparticles. The first reversible capacity of EG-MNPs-Al as anode material for lithium ion battery was 480 mAh·g−1 at a current density of 100 mA·g−1 and retained 84% capacity after 300 cycles. The improved cycling stability and system security of lithium ion batteries is attributed to the excellent thermal conductivity of the EG-MNPs-Al anodes.
Onset of nonlinearity in a stochastic model for auto-chemotactic advancing epithelia
Authors: Ben Amar Martine , Bianca Carlo 
Published: September 2016

AbstractWe investigate the role of auto-chemotaxis in the growth and motility of an epithelium advancing on a solid substrate. In this process, cells create their own chemoattractant allowing communications among neighbours, thus leading to a signaling pathway. As known, chemotaxis provokes the onset of cellular density gradients and spatial inhomogeneities mostly at the front, a phenomenon able to predict some features revealed in in vitro experiments. A continuous model is proposed where the coupling between the cellular proliferation, the friction on the substrate and chemotaxis is investigated. According to our results, the friction and proliferation stabilize the front whereas auto-chemotaxis is a factor of destabilization. This antagonist role induces a fingering pattern with a selected wavenumber k0. However, in the planar front case, the translational invariance of the experimental set-up gives also a mode at k = 0 and the coupling between these two modes in the nonlinear regime is responsible for the onset of a Hopf-bifurcation. The time-dependent oscillations of patterns observed experimentally can be predicted simply in this continuous non-linear approach. Finally the effects of noise are also investigated below the instability threshold.
Avian influenza A(H7N9) and (H5N1) infections among poultry and swine workers and the general population in Beijing, China, 2013–2015
Authors: Yang Peng , Ma Chunna , Cui Shujuan , Zhang Daitao , Shi Weixian , Pan Yang , Sun Ying , Lu Guilan , Peng Xiaomin , Zhao Jiachen , Liu Yimeng , Wang Quanyi 
Published: September 2016

AbstractAlthough several studies have reported seroprevalences of antibody against avian influenza A(H7N9) virus among poultry workers in southern China, results have varied and data in northern China are scarce. To understand risks of H7N9 and H5N1 virus infections in northern China, a serological cohort study was conducted. Poultry workers, swine workers and the general population in Beijing, China, were evaluated through three surveys in November 2013, April 2014 and April 2015. The highest seroprevalence to H7N9 virus among poultry workers was recorded in the April 2014 and April 2015 surveys (0.4%), while that to H5N1 clade 2.3.4 or clade 2.3.2.1 virus was noted in the April 2014 survey (1.6% and 0.2%, respectively). The incidence of H7N9 virus infections among poultry workers (1.6/1000 person-months) was significantly lower than that of H5N1 clade 2.3.4 infections (3.8/1000 person-months) but higher than that of H5N1 clade 2.3.2.1 infections (0.3/1000 person-months). Compared with the general population, poultry workers were at higher risk of contracting H7N9 virus (IRR: 34.90; p < 0.001) or H5N1 clade 2.3.4 virus (IRR: 10.58; p < 0.001). Although risks of H7N9 and H5N1 virus infections remain low in Beijing, continued preventive measures are warranted for poultry workers.
Matrix viscoplasticity and its shielding by active mechanics in microtissue models: experiments and mathematical modeling
Authors: Liu Alan S. , Wang Hailong , Copeland Craig R. , Chen Christopher S. , Shenoy Vivek B. , Reich Daniel H. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe biomechanical behavior of tissues under mechanical stimulation is critically important to physiological function. We report a combined experimental and modeling study of bioengineered 3D smooth muscle microtissues that reveals a previously unappreciated interaction between active cell mechanics and the viscoplastic properties of the extracellular matrix. The microtissues’ response to stretch/unstretch actuations, as probed by microcantilever force sensors, was dominated by cellular actomyosin dynamics. However, cell lysis revealed a viscoplastic response of the underlying model collagen/fibrin matrix. A model coupling Hill-type actomyosin dynamics with a plastic perfectly viscoplastic description of the matrix quantitatively accounts for the microtissue dynamics, including notably the cells’ shielding of the matrix plasticity. Stretch measurements of single cells confirmed the active cell dynamics and were well described by a single-cell version of our model. These results reveal the need for new focus on matrix plasticity and its interactions with active cell mechanics in describing tissue dynamics.
A systems biology approach to defining regulatory mechanisms for cartilage and tendon cell phenotypes
Authors: Mueller A. J. , Tew S. R. , Vasieva O. , Clegg P. D. , Canty-Laird E. G. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractPhenotypic plasticity of adult somatic cells has provided emerging avenues for the development of regenerative therapeutics. In musculoskeletal biology the mechanistic regulatory networks of genes governing the phenotypic plasticity of cartilage and tendon cells has not been considered systematically. Additionally, a lack of strategies to effectively reproduce in vitro functional models of cartilage and tendon is retarding progress in this field. De- and redifferentiation represent phenotypic transitions that may contribute to loss of function in ageing musculoskeletal tissues. Applying a systems biology network analysis approach to global gene expression profiles derived from common in vitro culture systems (monolayer and three-dimensional cultures) this study demonstrates common regulatory mechanisms governing de- and redifferentiation transitions in cartilage and tendon cells. Furthermore, evidence of convergence of gene expression profiles during monolayer expansion of cartilage and tendon cells, and the expression of key developmental markers, challenges the physiological relevance of this culture system. The study also suggests that oxidative stress and PI3K signalling pathways are key modulators of in vitro phenotypes for cells of musculoskeletal origin.