bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Triclosan Disrupts SKN-1/Nrf2-Mediated Oxidative Stress Response in C. elegans and Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Yoon Dong Suk , Choi Yoorim , Cha Dong Seok , Zhang Peng , Choi Seong Mi , Alfhili Mohammad Abdulmohsen , Polli Joseph Ryan , Pendergrass DeQwon , Taki Faten A. , Kapalavavi Brahmam , Pan Xiaoping , Zhang Baohong , Blackwell T. Keith , Lee Jin Woo , Lee Myon-Hee 
Published: September 2017

AbstractTriclosan (TCS), an antimicrobial chemical with potential endocrine-disrupting properties, may pose a risk to early embryonic development and cellular homeostasis during adulthood. Here, we show that TCS induces toxicity in both the nematode C. elegans and human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) by disrupting the SKN-1/Nrf2-mediated oxidative stress response. Specifically, TCS exposure affected C. elegans survival and hMSC proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Cellular analysis showed that TCS inhibited the nuclear localization of SKN-1/Nrf2 and the expression of its target genes, which were associated with oxidative stress response. Notably, TCS-induced toxicity was significantly reduced by either antioxidant treatment or constitutive SKN-1/Nrf2 activation. As Nrf2 is strongly associated with aging and chemoresistance, these findings will provide a novel approach to the identification of therapeutic targets and disease treatment.
Transcriptional Output Transiently Spikes Upon Mitotic Exit
Authors: Vaňková Hausnerová Viola , Lanctôt Christian 
Published: September 2017

AbstractThe pulsatile nature of gene activity has recently emerged as a general property of the transcriptional process. It has been shown that the frequency and amplitude of transcriptional bursts can be subjected to extrinsic regulation. Here we have investigated if these parameters were constant throughout the cell cycle using the single molecule RNA FISH technique. We found evidence of transcriptional spikes upon mitotic exit in three different human cell lines. Recording of cell growth prior to hybridization and immuno-RNA FISH analysis revealed that these spikes were short-lived and subsided before completion of cytokinesis. The transient post-mitotic increase in transcriptional output was found to be the result of cells displaying a higher number of active alleles and/or an increased number of nascent transcripts per active allele, indicating that both the burst fraction and the amplitude of individual bursts can be increased upon mitotic exit. Our results further suggest that distinct regulatory mechanisms are at work shortly after mitotic exit and during the rest of interphase. We speculate that transcriptional spikes are associated with chromatin decondensation, a hallmark of post-mitotic cells that might alter the dynamics of transcriptional regulators and effectors.
Embryological evidence substantiates the subcoxal theory on the origin of pleuron in insects
Authors: Mashimo Yuta , Machida Ryuichiro 
Published: September 2017

AbstractThe lateral body plate pleuron is a significant structure in insects that contributes to the development and elaboration of wings and limbs (appendages). Although the pleuron is thought to originate from the proximal-most appendicular segment, the subcoxa, details remain unclear, and the morphological boundary between the dorsal body plate tergum and appendage (BTA) has not been clearly specified. Employing low-vacuum scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the nano-suit method for SEM, we followed, in detail, the development of the thoracic segments of the two-spotted cricket Gryllus bimaculatus and succeeded in clearly defining the BTA. This study demonstrates the subcoxal origin of the pleuron, suggests the tergal origin of spiracles, and reveals that the wing proper originates exclusively from the tergum, whereas the wing hinge and direct muscles may be appendicular in origin, suggesting the dual origin (i.e., tergal plus appendicular origin) of wings.
Doping colloidal bcc crystals — interstitial solids and meta-stable clusters
Authors: Higler Ruben , Sprakel Joris 
Published: September 2017

AbstractThe addition of a small amount of dopant impurities to crystals is a common method to tune the properties of materials. Usually the doping grade is restricted by the low solubility of the dopants; increasing the doping concentration beyond this solubility limit leads to supersaturated solutions in which dopant clusters dominate the material properties, often leading to deterioration of strength and performance. Descriptions of doped solids often assume that thermal excitations of the on average perfect matrix are small. However, especially for bcc crystals close to their melting point it has recently become clear that the effects of thermal disorder are strong. Here we study the doping of weak bcc crystals of charged colloids via Brownian dynamics simulations. We find a complex phase diagram upon varying the dopant concentration. At low dopant concentrations we find an interstitial solid solution. As we increase the amount of dopants a complex meta-stable liquid-in-solid cluster phase emerges. Ultimately this phase becomes meta-stable with respect to macroscopic crystal-crystal coexistence. These results illustrate the complex behaviour that emerges when thermal excitations of the matrix drive impure crystals to a weak state.
Co@Carbon and Co 3 O4@Carbon nanocomposites derived from a single MOF for supercapacitors
Authors: Dai Engao , Xu Jiao , Qiu Junjie , Liu Shucheng , Chen Ping , Liu Yi 
Published: September 2017

AbstractDeveloping a composite electrode containing both carbon and transition metal/metal oxide as the supercapacitor electrode can combine the merits and mitigate the shortcomings of both the components. Herein, we report a simple strategy to prepare the hybrid nanostructure of Co@Carbon and Co3O4@Carbon by pyrolysis a single MOFs precursor. Co-based MOFs (Co-BDC) nanosheets with morphology of regular parallelogram slice have been prepared by a bottom-up synthesis strategy. One-step pyrolysis of Co-BDC, produces a porous carbon layer incorporating well-dispersed Co and Co3O4nanoparticles. The as-prepared cobalt-carbon composites exhibit the thin layer morphology and large specific surface area with hierarchical porosity. These features significantly improve the ion-accessible surface area for charge storage and shorten the ion transport length in thin dimension, thus contributing to a high specific capacitance. Improved capacitance performance was successfully realized for the asymmetric supercapacitors (ASCs) (Co@Carbon//Co3O4@Carbon), better than those of the symmetric supercapacitors (SSCs) based on Co@Carbon and Co3O4@Carbon materials (i.e., Co@Carbon//Co@Carbon and Co3O4@Carbon//Co3O4@Carbon). The working voltage of the ASCs can be extended to 1.5 V and show a remarkable high power capability in aqueous electrolyte. This work provides a controllable strategy for nanostructured carbon-metal and carbon-metal oxide composite electrodes from a single precursor.
Human intestinal organoids express histo-blood group antigens, bind norovirus VLPs, and support limited norovirus replication
Authors: Zhang Dongsheng , Tan Ming , Zhong Weiming , Xia Ming , Huang Pengwei , Jiang Xi 
Published: September 2017

AbstractThrough pluripotent stem cell (PSC) technology, human intestinal organoids (HIOs) with remarkably similarity to the fetal intestine in cellular composition, architecture, and absorptive/secretory functions have been successfully developed, providing a useful in vitro model system to study the structure and function of human congenital gut and intestinally related diseases. We report here the usefulness of HIOs as a model system to study intestinal carbohydrate expression, virus-host interaction, and replication of human noroviruses (huNoVs). We found that fully developed HIOs express effectively various types 1 and 2 HBGAs, including Lewis, secretor, and nonsecretor antigens, distributing on the glycocalyx. Selected huNoV-like particles (VLPs) bound the glycocalyx of HIOs with matched HBGA phenotypes. Using GII.4 huNoV positive stool filtrates, we demonstrated limited huNoV replication in HIOs with corresponding HBGAs through detection of viral RNAs by RT-PCR and capsid antigens by immunostaining methods. Our data suggested that, after further improvements, HIOs can be a useful model to study intestinal glycan expression, huNoV-intestine interaction, and huNoV infection in the intestine.
Role of autophagy in cell-penetrating peptide transfection model
Authors: Dowaidar Moataz , Gestin Maxime , Cerrato Carmine Pasquale , Jafferali Mohammed Hakim , Margus Helerin , Kivistik Paula Ann , Ezzat Kariem , Hallberg Einar , Pooga Margus , Hällbrink Mattias , Langel Ülo 
Published: September 2017

AbstractCell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) uptake mechanism is still in need of more clarification to have a better understanding of their action in the mediation of oligonucleotide transfection. In this study, the effect on early events (1 h treatment) in transfection by PepFect14 (PF14), with or without oligonucleotide cargo on gene expression, in HeLa cells, have been investigated. The RNA expression profile was characterized by RNA sequencing and confirmed by qPCR analysis. The gene regulations were then related to the biological processes by the study of signaling pathways that showed the induction of autophagy-related genes in early transfection. A ligand library interfering with the detected intracellular pathways showed concentration-dependent effects on the transfection efficiency of splice correction oligonucleotide complexed with PepFect14, proving that the autophagy process is induced upon the uptake of complexes. Finally, the autophagy induction and colocalization with autophagosomes have been confirmed by confocal microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. We conclude that autophagy, an inherent cellular response process, is triggered by the cellular uptake of CPP-based transfection system. This finding opens novel possibilities to use autophagy modifiers in future gene therapy.
Understanding contact gating in Schottky barrier transistors from 2D channels
Authors: Prakash Abhijith , Ilatikhameneh Hesameddin , Wu Peng , Appenzeller Joerg 
Published: September 2017

AbstractIn this article, a novel two-path model is proposed to quantitatively explain sub-threshold characteristics of back-gated Schottky barrier FETs (SB-FETs) from 2D channel materials. The model integrates the “conventional” model for SB-FETs with the phenomenon of contact gating – an effect that significantly affects the carrier injection from the source electrode in back-gated field effect transistors. The two-path model is validated by a careful comparison with experimental characteristics obtained from a large number of back-gated WSe2 devices with various channel thicknesses. Our findings are believed to be of critical importance for the quantitative analysis of many three-terminal devices with ultrathin body channels.
Age at menarche and prevalence of preterm birth: Results from the Healthy Baby Cohort study
Authors: Li Hui , Song Lulu , Shen Lijun , Liu Bingqing , Zheng Xiaoxuan , Zhang Lina , Li Yuanyuan , Xia Wei , Lu Bin , Zhang Bin , Zhou Aifen , Cao Zhongqiang , Wang Youjie , Xu Shunqing 
Published: September 2017

AbstractLittle is known about the impact of age at menarche on preterm birth. The aim of this study was to examine the association between age at menarche and preterm birth. A total of 11,016 Chinese women who gave birth to live singleton infants were recruited from the Healthy Baby Cohort between 2012 and 2014 in the province of Hubei, China. Age at menarche was reported via face-to-face interviews and was categorized into five groups (≤11, 12, 13, 14 and ≥15 years). Gestational age was estimated using maternal last menstrual period. Preterm birth was defined as delivering a live singleton infant at <37 weeks’ gestational age. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Earlier menarche (≤11 years) was associated with an increased prevalence of preterm birth (OR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.18, 2.36) compared with menarche age at 13 years after controlling for the potential confounders. The findings of our study suggested that a history of earlier menarche might be useful for identifying women at higher risk of preterm birth.
Nkx2.5+ Cardiomyoblasts Contribute to Cardiomyogenesis in the Neonatal Heart
Authors: Serpooshan Vahid , Liu Yuan-Hung , Buikema Jan W. , Galdos Francisco X. , Chirikian Orlando , Paige Sharon , Venkatraman Sneha , Kumar Anusha , Rawnsley David R. , Huang Xiaojing , Pijnappels Daniël A. , Wu Sean M. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractDuring normal lifespan, the mammalian heart undergoes limited renewal of cardiomyocytes. While the exact mechanism for this renewal remains unclear, two possibilities have been proposed: differentiated myocyte replication and progenitor/immature cell differentiation. This study aimed to characterize a population of cardiomyocyte precursors in the neonatal heart and to determine their requirement for cardiac development. By tracking the expression of an embryonic Nkx2.5 cardiac enhancer, we identified cardiomyoblasts capable of differentiation into striated cardiomyocytes in vitro. Genome-wide expression profile of neonatal Nkx2.5+ cardiomyoblasts showed the absence of sarcomeric gene and the presence of cardiac transcription factors. To determine the lineage contribution of the Nkx2.5+ cardiomyoblasts, we generated a doxycycline suppressible Cre transgenic mouse under the regulation of the Nkx2.5 enhancer and showed that neonatal Nkx2.5+ cardiomyoblasts mature into cardiomyocytes in vivo. Ablation of neonatal cardiomyoblasts resulted in ventricular hypertrophy and dilation, supporting a functional requirement of the Nkx2.5+ cardiomyoblasts. This study provides direct lineage tracing evidence that a cardiomyoblast population contributes to cardiogenesis in the neonatal heart. The cell population identified here may serve as a promising therapeutic for pediatric cardiac regeneration.
Insecticidal activity and the mechanism of action of three phenylpropanoids isolated from the roots of Piper sarmentosum Roxb
Authors: Hematpoor Arshia , Liew Sook Yee , Azirun Mohd Sofian , Awang Khalijah 
Published: September 2017

AbstractHexane, dichloromethane and methanol extracts of the roots of Piper sarmentosum Roxb. were screened for toxicity towards Sitophilus oryzae (L.), Rhyzopertha dominica (F.), and Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) and the hexane extract exhibited the highest mortality percentage. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the hexane extract resulted in the isolation of asaricin 1, isoasarone 2, and trans-asarone 3. Asaricin 1 and isoasarone 2 were the most toxic compounds to Sitophilus oryzae, Rhyzopertha dominica, and Plodia interpunctella. Sitophilus oryzae and Rhyzopertha dominica exposed to asaricin 1 and isoasarone 2 required the lowest median lethal time. Insecticidal activity of trans-asarone 3 showed consistent toxicity throughout the 60 days towards all three insects as compared to asaricin 1 and isoasarone 2. Asaricin 1 and isoasarone 2 at different doses significantly reduced oviposition and adult emergence of the three insects in treated rice. Trans-asarone 3 had lowest toxicity with highest LC and LT values in all tested insects relative to its mild oviposition inhibition and progeny activity. Moreover, asaricin 1 and isoasarone 2 significantly inhibited acetylcholinesterase in comparison with trans-asarone 3 and the control. Acetylcholinesterase inhibition of Rhyzopertha dominica and Plodia interpunctella by asaricin 1 and isoasarone 2 were lower than that of Sitophilus oryzae, which correlated with their higher resistance.
Discrimination of geographical origin of cultivated Polygala tenuifolia based on multi-element fingerprinting by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
Authors: Zhao Yunsheng , Ma Xiaofang , Fan Lingling , Mao Fuying , Tian Hongling , Xu Rui , Cao Zhe , Zhang Xinhui , Fu Xueyan , Sui Hong 
Published: September 2017

AbstractInorganic elements are important components of medicinal herbs, and provide valuable experimental evidence for the quality evaluation and control of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In this study, to investigate the relationship between the inorganic elemental fingerprint and geographical origin identification of cultivated Polygala tenuifolia, 41 elemental fingerprints of P. tenuifolia from four major polygala-producing regions (Shanxi, Hebei, Henan, and Shaanxi) were evaluated to determine the importance of inorganic elements to cultivated P. tenuifolia. A total of 15 elemental (B, Ca, Cl, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, N, Mo, S, Sr, P, and Zn) concentrations of cultivated P. tenuifolia were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). The element composition samples were classified by radar plot, elemental fingerprint, and multivariate data analyses, such as hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), principle component analysis (PCA), and discriminant analysis (DA). This study shows that radar plots and multivariate data analysis can satisfactorily distinguish the geographical origin of cultivated P. tenuifolia. Furthermore, PCA results revealed that N, Cu, K, Mo, Sr, Ca, and Zn are the characteristic elements of cultivated P. tenuifolia. Therefore, multi-element fingerprinting coupled with multivariate statistical techniques can be considered an effective tool to discriminate geographical origin of cultivated P. tenuifolia.
Sex steroid production associated with puberty is absent in germ cell-free salmon
Authors: Kleppe Lene , Andersson Eva , Skaftnesmo Kai Ove , Edvardsen Rolf B. , Fjelldal Per Gunnar , Norberg Birgitta , Bogerd Jan , Schulz Rüdiger W. , Wargelius Anna 
Published: September 2017

AbstractIn all vertebrates studied so far, germ cells are not required for pubertal maturation of the gonadal steroidogenic system, subsequent development of secondary sex characteristics and reproductive behavior. To explore if the absence of germ cells affects puberty or growth in Atlantic salmon, germ cell-free (GCF), dnd knockout and wild type (WT) postsmolts were stimulated to enter puberty. No GCF fish entered puberty, whereas 66.7% (males) and 30% (females) WT fish completed or entered puberty, respectively. Expression of genes related to steroidogenesis (star, cyp17a1, cyp11β, cyp19a1a), gonadal somatic cells (insl3, amh, igf3), oocytes (bmp15), gonadotropin receptors (fshr, lhcgr), and pituitary gonadotropic cells (fshb, lhb, gnrhr4) showed an immature status and failure to up-regulate gonadal sex steroid production in male and female GCF fish was also reflected in low or undetectable plasma sex steroids (11-ketotestosterone, estradiol-17β and testosterone). A gender difference (high in females, low in males) was found in the expression of star and cyp17a1 in GCF fish. No clear difference in growth was detected between GCF and immature WT fish, while growth was compromised in maturing WT males. We demonstrate for the first time in a vertebrate that germ cells are required for pubertal activation of the somatic steroidogenic cells.
Photocatalytic Properties of Tetraphenylporphyrins Immobilized on Calcium Alginate Aerogels
Authors: Solovieva Anna B. , Kopylov Alexander S. , Savko Marina A. , Zarkhina Tatiana S. , Lovskaya Darya D. , Lebedev Artyom E. , Menshutina Natalia V. , Krivandin Alexey V. , Shershnev Ilya V. , Kotova Svetlana L. , Timashev Peter S. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractWe have prepared photocatalytic systems based on tetraphenylporphyrins (TPP) immobilized on calcium alginate solid gels in the conditions of thermal drying on air (xerogel), freeze drying in vacuum (cryogel) and supercritical drying in the supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) medium (aerogel). As a test reaction to measure the prepared systems’ efficiency, we studied tryptophan photooxidation in the aqueous medium. We have demonstrated that the systems with aerogel as a carrier exhibited the highest photocatalytic efficiency. In that case, the rate constant for the test substrate (tryptophan) oxidation exceeds the corresponding rate constants of similar systems based on xerogel and cryogel by more than 5 times. Moreover, the aerogel-based photocatalytic systems demonstrated enhanced functional stability and a possibility of multiple use of such a catalyst in tryptophan oxidation. Based on the data of small-angle X-ray scattering and thermooxidative destruction, we have made a conclusion about the relationship between the high photocatalytic activity of aerogel-immobilized TPP and formation of a developed porous aerogel structure in the conditions of drying in the scCO2 medium, which is stabilized due to formation of additional complex bonds of calcium ions with fragments of glycoside rings.
Decreased Triple Network Connectivity in Patients with Recent Onset Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after a Single Prolonged Trauma Exposure
Authors: Liu Yang , Li Liang , Li Baojuan , Feng Na , Li Lihong , Zhang Xi , Lu Hongbing , Yin Hong 
Published: September 2017

AbstractThe triple network model provides a common framework for understanding affective and neurocognitive dysfunctions across multiple disorders, including central executive network (CEN), default mode network (DMN), and salience network (SN). Considering the effect of traumatic experience on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), this study aims to explore the alteration of triple network connectivity in a specific PTSD induced by a single prolonged trauma exposure. With an arterial spin labeling sequence, three networks were first identified using independent component analysis among 10 PTSD patients and 10 healthy survivors, who experienced the same coal mining flood disaster. Then, the triple network connectivity was analyzed and compared between PTSD and non-PTSD groups. In PTSD patients, decreased connectivity was identified in left middle frontal gyrus of CEN, left precuneus and bilateral superior frontal gyrus of DMN, and right anterior insula of SN. The decreased connectivity in left middle frontal gyrus of CEN was associated with clinical severity. Furthermore, no significant connection of SN with CEN and DMN was found in PTSD patients. The decreased triple network connectivity was found in this study, which not only supports the triple network model, but also suggests a possible neurobiological mechanism for cognitive dysfunction of this type of PTSD.
The neurotrophic effects of different human dental mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Kolar Mallappa K. , Itte Vinay N. , Kingham Paul J. , Novikov Lev N. , Wiberg Mikael , Kelk Peyman 
Published: September 2017

AbstractThe current gold standard treatment for peripheral nerve injury is nerve grafting but this has disadvantages such as donor site morbidity. New techniques focus on replacing these grafts with nerve conduits enhanced with growth factors and/or various cell types such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Dental-MSCs (D-MSCs) including stem cells obtained from apical papilla (SCAP), dental pulp stem cells (DPSC), and periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSC) are potential sources of MSCs for nerve repair. Here we present the characterization of various D-MSCs from the same human donors for peripheral nerve regeneration. SCAP, DPSC and PDLSC expressed BDNF, GDNF, NGF, NTF3, ANGPT1 and VEGFA growth factor transcripts. Conditioned media from D-MSCs enhanced neurite outgrowth in an in vitro assay. Application of neutralizing antibodies showed that brain derived neurotrophic factor plays an important mechanistic role by which the D-MSCs stimulate neurite outgrowth. SCAP, DPSC and PDLSC were used to treat a 10 mm nerve gap defect in a rat sciatic nerve injury model. All the stem cell types significantly enhanced axon regeneration after two weeks and showed neuroprotective effects on the dorsal root ganglia neurons. Overall the results suggested SCAP to be the optimal dental stem cell type for peripheral nerve repair.