bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An evolutionarily conserved SSNA1/DIP13 homologue is a component of both basal and apical complexes of Toxoplasma gondii
Authors: Lévêque Maude F. , Berry Laurence , Besteiro Sébastien 
Published: June 2016

AbstractMicrotubule-based cytoskeletal structures have fundamental roles in several essential eukaryotic processes, including transport of intracellular constituents as well as ciliary and flagellar mobility. Temporal and spatial organisation of microtubules is determined by microtubule organising centers and a number of appendages and accessory proteins. Members of the SSNA1/DIP13 family are coiled coil proteins that are known to localise to microtubular structures like centrosomes and flagella, but are otherwise poorly characterised. We have identified a homologue of SSNA1/DIP13 in the parasitic protist Toxoplasma gondii and found it localises to parasite-specific cytoskeletal structures: the conoid in the apical complex of mature and dividing cells and the basal complex in elongating daughter cells during cell division. This protein is dispensable for parasite growth in vitro. However, quite remarkably, this coiled coil protein is able to self-associate into higher order structures both in vitro and in vivo and its overexpression is impairing parasite division.
Metal organic frameworks as sorption media for volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds at ambient conditions
Authors: Vellingiri Kowsalya , Szulejko Jan E. , Kumar Pawan , Kwon Eilhann E. , Kim Ki-Hyun , Deep Akash , Boukhvalov Danil W. , Brown Richard J. C. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractIn this research, we investigated the sorptive behavior of a mixture of 14 volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds (four aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, p-xylene, and styrene), six C2-C5 volatile fatty acids (VFAs), two phenols, and two indoles) against three metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), i.e., MOF-5, Eu-MOF, and MOF-199 at 5 to 10 mPa VOC partial pressures (25 °C). The selected MOFs exhibited the strongest affinity for semi-volatile (polar) VOC molecules (skatole), whereas the weakest affinity toward was volatile (non-polar) VOC molecules (i.e., benzene). Our experimental results were also supported through simulation analysis in which polar molecules were bound most strongly to MOF-199, reflecting the presence of strong interactions of Cu2+ with polar VOCs. In addition, the performance of selected MOFs was compared to three well-known commercial sorbents (Tenax TA, Carbopack X, and Carboxen 1000) under the same conditions. The estimated equilibrium adsorption capacity (mg.g−1) for the all target VOCs was in the order of; MOF-199 (71.7) >Carboxen-1000 (68.4) >Eu-MOF (27.9) >Carbopack X (24.3) >MOF-5 (12.7) >Tenax TA (10.6). Hopefully, outcome of this study are expected to open a new corridor to expand the practical application of MOFs for the treatment diverse VOC mixtures.
Long-range wetting transparency on top of layered metal-dielectric substrates
Authors: Noginov M. A. , Barnakov Yuri A. , Liberman Vladimir , Prayakarao Srujana , Bonner Carl E. , Narimanov Evgenii E. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractIt has been recently shown that scores of physical and chemical phenomena (including spontaneous emission, scattering and Förster energy transfer) can be controlled by nonlocal dielectric environments provided by metamaterials with hyperbolic dispersion and simpler metal/dielectric structures. At this time, we have researched van der Waals interactions and experimentally studied wetting of several metallic, dielectric and composite multilayered substrates. We have found that the wetting angle of water on top of MgF2 is highly sensitive to the thickness of the MgF2 layer and the nature of the underlying substrate that could be positioned as far as ~100 nm beneath the water/MgF2 interface. We refer to this phenomenon as long range wetting transparency. The latter effect cannot be described in terms of the most basic model of dispersion van der Waals-London forces based on pair-wise summation of dipole-dipole interactions across an interface or a gap separating the two media. We infer that the experimentally observed gradual change of the wetting angle with increase of the thickness of the MgF2 layer can possibly be explained by the distance dependence of the Hamaker function (describing the strength of interaction), which originates from retardation of electromagnetic waves at the distances comparable to a wavelength.
Circulating follicular T helper cells and cytokine profile in humans following vaccination with the rVSV-ZEBOV Ebola vaccine
Authors: Farooq Fouzia , Beck Kevin , Paolino Kristopher M. , Phillips Revell , Waters Norman C. , Regules Jason A. , Bergmann-Leitner Elke S. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe most recent Zaire Ebolavirus (ZEBOV) outbreak was the largest and most widespread in recorded history, emphasizing the need for an effective vaccine. Here, we analyzed human cellular immune responses induced by a single dose of the rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine candidate, which showed significant protective efficacy in endemic populations in Guinea. This is the first in-depth characterization of ZEBOV-GP specific, circulating follicular T cells (cTfh). Since antibody titers correlated with protection in preclinical models of ZEBOV infection, Tfh were predicted to correlate with protection. Indeed, the ZEBOV-specific cTfh data correlated with antibody titers in human vaccines and unexpectedly with the Tfh17 subset. The combination of two cutting edge technologies allowed the immuno-profiling of rare cell populations and may help elucidate correlates of protection for a variety of vaccines.
Body surface area formulae: an alarming ambiguity
Authors: Redlarski Grzegorz , Palkowski Aleksander , Krawczuk Marek 
Published: June 2016

AbstractBody surface area (BSA) plays a key role in several medical fields, including cancer chemotherapy, transplantology, burn treatment and toxicology. BSA is often a major factor in the determination of the course of treatment and drug dosage. A series of formulae to simplify the process have been developed. Because easy-to-identify, yet general, body coefficient results of those formulae vary considerably, the question arises as to whether the choice of a particular formula is valid and safe for patients. Here we show that discrepancies between most of the known BSA formulae can reach 0.5 m2 for the standard adult physique. Although many previous studies have demonstrated that certain BSA formulae provide an almost exact fit with the patients examined, all of these studies have been performed on a limited and isolated group of people. Our analysis presents a broader perspective, considering 25 BSA formulae. The analysis revealed that the choice of a particular formula is a difficult task. Differences among calculations made by the formulae are so great that, in certain cases, they may considerably affect patients’ mortality, especially for people with an abnormal physique or for children.
Evolution of the EGFR pathway in Metazoa and its diversification in the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea
Authors: Barberán Sara , Martín-Durán José M. , Cebrià Francesc 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe EGFR pathway is an essential signaling system in animals, whose core components are the epidermal growth factors (EGF ligands) and their trans-membrane tyrosine kinase receptors (EGFRs). Despite extensive knowledge in classical model organisms, little is known of the composition and function of the EGFR pathway in most animal lineages. Here, we have performed an extensive search for the presence of EGFRs and EGF ligands in representative species of most major animal clades, with special focus on the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea. With the exception of placozoans and cnidarians, we found that the EGFR pathway is potentially present in all other analyzed animal groups and has experienced frequent independent expansions. We further characterized the expression domains of the EGFR/EGF identified in S. mediterranea, revealing a wide variety of patterns and localization in almost all planarian tissues. Finally, functional experiments suggest an interaction between one of the previously described receptors, Smed-egfr-5 and the newly found ligand Smed-egf-6. Our findings provide the most comprehensive overview to date of the EGFR pathway and indicate that the last common metazoan ancestor had an initial complement of one EGFR and one putative EGF ligand, which was often expanded or lost during animal evolution.
Differential effect of HLA class-I versus class-II transgenes on human T and B cell reconstitution and function in NRG mice
Authors: Majji Sai , Wijayalath Wathsala , Shashikumar Soumya , Pow-Sang Luis , Villasante Eileen , Brumeanu Teodor D. , Casares Sofia 
Published: June 2016

AbstractHumanized mice expressing Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) class I or II transgenes have been generated, but the role of class I vs class II on human T and B cell reconstitution and function has not been investigated in detail. Herein we show that NRG (NOD.RagKO.IL2RγcKO) mice expressing HLA-DR4 molecules (DRAG mice) and those co-expressing HLA-DR4 and HLA-A2 molecules (DRAGA mice) did not differ in their ability to develop human T and B cells, to reconstitute cytokine-secreting CD4 T and CD8 T cells, or to undergo immunoglobulin class switching. In contrast, NRG mice expressing only HLA-A2 molecules (A2 mice) reconstituted lower numbers of CD4 T cells but similar numbers of CD8 T cells. The T cells from A2 mice were deficient at secreting cytokines, and their B cells could not undergo immunoglobulin class switching. The inability of A2 mice to undergo immunoglobulin class switching is due to deficient CD4 helper T cell function. Upon immunization, the frequency and cytotoxicity of antigen-specific CD8 T cells in DRAGA mice was significantly higher than in A2 mice. The results indicated a multifactorial effect of the HLA-DR4 transgene on development and function of human CD4 T cells, antigen-specific human CD8 T cells, and immunoglobulin class switching.
Rapid and High-Efficiency Laser-Alloying Formation of ZnMgO Nanocrystals
Authors: Liu Peisheng , Wang Hao , Chen Jun , Li Xiaoming , Zeng Haibo 
Published: June 2016

AbstractApplications of ZnMgO nanocrystals (NCs), especially in photoelectric detectors, have significant limitations because of the unresolved phase separation in the synthesis process. Here, we propose a rapid and highly efficient ZnMgO NC alloying method based on pulsed laser ablation in liquid. The limit value of homogeneous magnesium (Mg) is pushed from 37% to 62% and the optical band gap is increased to 3.7 eV with high doping efficiency (>100%). Further investigations on the lattice geometry of ZnMgO NCs indicate that all ZnMgO NCs are hexagonal wurtzite structures and the (002) and (100) peaks shift to higher diffraction angles with the increase in Mg doping content. The calculated results of the lattice constants a and c slightly decrease based on Bragg’s law and lattice geometry equations. Furthermore, the relationship between annealing temperature and the limit value of homogeneous Mg is examined and the results reveal that the latter decreases with the former because of the phase separation of MgO. A probable mechanism of zinc magnesium alloy is introduced to expound on the details of the laser-alloying process.
A Panel of Serum MiRNA Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Severe to Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Humans
Authors: Bhomia Manish , Balakathiresan Nagaraja S. , Wang Kevin K. , Papa Linda , Maheshwari Radha K. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractMicroRNAs (MiRNAs) are small endogenous RNA molecules and have emerged as novel serum diagnostic biomarkers for several diseases due to their stability and detection at minute quantities. In this study, we have identified a serum miRNA signature in human serum samples of mild to severe TBI, which can be used for diagnosis of mild and moderate TBI (MMTBI). Human serum samples of MMTBI, severe TBI (STBI), orthopedic injury and healthy controls were used and miRNA profiling was done using taqman real time PCR. The real time PCR data for the MMTBI, STBI and orthopedic injury was normalized to the control samples which showed upregulation of 39, 37 and 33 miRNAs in MMTBI, STBI and orthopedic injury groups respectively. TBI groups were compared to orthopedic injury group and an up-regulation of 18 and 20 miRNAs in MMTBI and STBI groups was observed. Among these, a signature of 10 miRNAs was found to be present in both MMTBI and STBI groups. These 10 miRNAs were validated in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from STBI and four miRNAs were found to be upregulated in CSF. In conclusion, we identified a subset of 10 unique miRNAs which can be used for diagnosis of MMTBI and STBI.
Time-varying land subsidence detected by radar altimetry: California, Taiwan and north China
Authors: Hwang Cheinway , Yang Yuande , Kao Ricky , Han Jiancheng , Shum C. K. , Galloway Devin L. , Sneed Michelle , Hung Wei-Chia , Cheng Yung-Sheng , Li Fei 
Published: June 2016

AbstractContemporary applications of radar altimetry include sea-level rise, ocean circulation, marine gravity and icesheet elevation change. Unlike InSAR and GNSS, which are widely used to map surface deformation, altimetry is neither reliant on highly temporally-correlated ground features nor as limited by the available spatial coverage and can provide long-term temporal subsidence monitoring capability. Here we use multi-mission radar altimetry with an approximately 23 year data-span to quantify land subsidence in cropland areas. Subsidence rates from TOPEX/POSEIDON, JASON-1, ENVISAT and JASON-2 during 1992–2015 show time-varying trends with respect to displacement over time in California’s San Joaquin Valley and central Taiwan, possibly related to changes in land use, climatic conditions (drought) and regulatory measures affecting groundwater use. Near Hanford, California, subsidence rates reach 18 cm yr−1 with a cumulative subsidence of 206 cm, which potentially could adversely affect operations of the planned California High-Speed Rail. The maximum subsidence rate in central Taiwan is 8 cm yr−1. Radar altimetry also reveals time-varying subsidence in the North China Plain consistent with the declines of groundwater storage and existing water infrastructure detected by the Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites, with rates reaching 20 cm yr−1 and cumulative subsidence as much as 155 cm.
Phase Modulation of Photonic Band Gap Signal
Authors: Wang Zhiguo , Gao Mengqin , Mahesar Abdul Rasheed , Zhang Yanpeng 
Published: June 2016

AbstractWe first investigate the probe transmission signal (PTS) and the four wave mixing band gap signal (FWM BGS) modulated simultaneously by the relative phase and the nonlinear phase shift in the photonic band gap (PBG) structure. The switch between the absorption enhancement of PTS and the transmission enhancement of PTS with the help of changing the relative phase and the nonlinear phase shift is obtained in inverted Y-type four level atomic system experimentally and theoretically. The corresponding switch in PTS can be used to realize all optical switches. On other hand, the relative phase and the nonlinear phase shift also play the vital role to modulate the intensity of FWM BGS reflected from the PBG structure. And it can be potentially used to realize the optical amplifier.
Screening for protein-protein interactions using Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM)
Authors: Margineanu Anca , Chan Jia Jia , Kelly Douglas J. , Warren Sean C. , Flatters Delphine , Kumar Sunil , Katan Matilda , Dunsby Christopher W. , French Paul M. W. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractWe present a high content multiwell plate cell-based assay approach to quantify protein interactions directly in cells using Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) read out by automated fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM). Automated FLIM is implemented using wide-field time-gated detection, typically requiring only 10 s per field of view (FOV). Averaging over biological, thermal and shot noise with 100’s to 1000’s of FOV enables unbiased quantitative analysis with high statistical power. Plotting average donor lifetime vs. acceptor/donor intensity ratio clearly identifies protein interactions and fitting to double exponential donor decay models provides estimates of interacting population fractions that, with calibrated donor and acceptor fluorescence intensities, can yield dissociation constants. We demonstrate the application to identify binding partners of MST1 kinase and estimate interaction strength among the members of the RASSF protein family, which have important roles in apoptosis via the Hippo signalling pathway. KD values broadly agree with published biochemical measurements.
Anti-obesity effect of intranasal administration of galanin-like peptide (GALP) in obese mice
Authors: Kageyama Haruaki , Shiba Kanako , Hirako Satoshi , Wada Nobuhiro , Yamanaka Satoru , Nogi Yukinori , Takenoya Fumiko , Nonaka Naoko , Hirano Tsutomu , Inoue Shuji , Shioda Seiji 
Published: June 2016

AbstractGalanin-like peptide (GALP) has an anti-obesity effect in rats and mice. It has been reported that the uptake of GALP by the brain is higher after intranasal administration than with intravenous injection. This study therefore aimed to clarify the effect of intranasal administration of GALP on the feeding behavior of lean and obese mice. Autoradiography revealed the presence of 125I-GALP in the olfactory bulb and the brain microcirculation. The body weights of ob/ob mice gradually increased during vehicle treatment, but remained unchanged in response to repeated intranasal administration of GALP, with both ob/ob and diet-induced obese mice displaying significantly decreased food intake, water intake and locomotor activity when treated with GALP. These results suggest that intranasal administration is an effective route whereby GALP can exert its effect as an anti-obesity drug.
Heart rhythm complexity impairment in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis
Authors: Lin Yen-Hung , Lin Chen , Ho Yi-Heng , Wu Vin-Cent , Lo Men-Tzung , Hung Kuan-Yu , Liu Li-Yu Daisy , Lin Lian-Yu , Huang Jenq-Wen , Peng Chung-Kang 
Published: June 2016

AbstractCardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death in patients with advanced renal disease. The objective of this study was to investigate impairments in heart rhythm complexity in patients with end-stage renal disease. We prospectively analyzed 65 patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) without prior cardiovascular disease and 72 individuals with normal renal function as the control group. Heart rhythm analysis including complexity analysis by including detrended fractal analysis (DFA) and multiscale entropy (MSE) were performed. In linear analysis, the PD patients had a significantly lower standard deviation of normal RR intervals (SDRR) and percentage of absolute differences in normal RR intervals greater than 20 ms (pNN20). Of the nonlinear analysis indicators, scale 5, area under the MSE curve for scale 1 to 5 (area 1–5) and 6 to 20 (area 6–20) were significantly lower than those in the control group. In DFA anaylsis, both DFA α1 and DFA α2 were comparable in both groups. In receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, scale 5 had the greatest discriminatory power for two groups. In both net reclassification improvement model and integrated discrimination improvement models, MSE parameters significantly improved the discriminatory power of SDRR, pNN20, and pNN50. In conclusion, PD patients had worse cardiac complexity parameters. MSE parameters are useful to discriminate PD patients from patients with normal renal function.
Prognostic value of decreased expression of RBM4 in human gastric cancer
Authors: Yong Hongmei , Zhu Huijun , Zhang Shu , Zhao Wei , Wang Wei , Chen Chen , Ding Guipeng , Zhu Lun , Zhu Ziyuan , Liu Huaidong , Zhang Yongjie , Wen Jinbo , Kang Xing , Zhu Jin , Feng Zhenqing , Liu Baorui 
Published: June 2016

AbstractRNA-binding motif 4 (RBM4) is a multifunctional protein that participates in regulating alternative splicing and mRNA translation. Its reduced expression has been associated with poor overall survival in lung cancer, breast cancer and ovarian cancer. We assessed RBM4 protein expression levels with immunohistochemistry in tissue microarrays containing malignant gastric cancer tissues and benign tissues from 813 patients. We also examined the expression levels of RBM4 mRNA in twenty-five paired gastric cancer samples and adjacent noncancerous tissues. Both RBM4 protein and mRNA expression levels were significantly lower in gastric cancer tissues compared with the adjacent noncancerous tissues. There was a significant association between reduced RBM4 protein expression and differentiation (P < 0.001), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.026), TNM state (P = 0.014) and distant metastasis (P = 0.036).Patients with reduced RBM4 expression (P < 0.001, CI = 0.315–0.710) and TNM stage III and IV (P < 0.001, CI = 4.757–11.166) had a poor overall survival. These findings suggest that RBM4 is a new biomarker in gastric cancer, as the reduced expression of this protein is correlated with poor differentiation, lymph node status and distant metastasis. Further, lower RBM4 expression is an independent prognostic marker for gastric cancer.
A series of compact rejection filters based on the interaction between spoof SPPs and CSRRs
Authors: Zhang Qian , Zhang Hao Chi , Yin Jia Yuan , Pan Bai Cao , Cui Tie Jun 
Published: June 2016

AbstractWe propose a method to synthesize several band-rejection filters by etching split-ring resonators (SRRs) on the transmission line for spoof surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs), which is made of double-side or single-side corrugated metal strips. From dispersion relations, the corrugated strips can support spoof SPP modes when the operating frequency is less than the cutoff frequency. The electric field component perpendicular to the strip surface of the SPP modes can excite the complementary SRRs (CSRRs), leading to resonant modes preventing the SPP propagation near the resonant frequencies. Using this principle, single-frequency rejection filters, double-frequency rejection filters and broad band-stop filters with bandwidth of 1.5 GHz have been designed and fabricated using the single- and/or double-side corrugated strips. Both measured results and numerical simulations demonstrate the excellent filtering characteristics of all design, which are in good agreements. The isolation of all filters can be less than −20 dB and even reach to −38 dB at rejection frequencies. The proposed rejection and stop-band filters give important potentials to develop integrated plasmonic functional devices and circuits at microwave and terahertz frequencies.