bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of Melatonin on the stability and expression of reference genes in Catharanthus roseus
Authors: Sheshadri S. A. , Nishanth M. J. , Yamine V. , Simon Bindu 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe role of Melatonin in influencing diverse genes in plants has gained momentum in recent years and many reports have employed qRT-PCR for their quantification. Relative quantification of gene expression relies on accurate normalization of qRT-PCR data against a stably-expressing internal reference-gene. Although researchers have been using commonly available reference-genes to assess Melatonin-induced gene expression, but to-date, there have been no attempts to validate the reference-gene stability under Melatonin-supplementationin planta. In this study, we performed stability assessment of common reference-genes under Melatonin-supplementation and abiotic stress in leaves and seedlings ofCatharanthus roseususing geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, ΔCt and RefFinder algorithms. Nine candidate reference-genes were tested for stability inC.roseus(FBOX,CACS,TIP,RSP9,EXP,EXPR,SAND,F17M5,ACT) and our study inferred that whileEXPandEXPRwere the most-stable,F17M5was the lowest-stable gene in the leaf-fed samples. Among seedlings ofC.roseus,F17M5andTIPwere the most, whileACTwas the least-stable gene. The suitability of selected stable reference-gene pairs was demonstrated by assessing the transcript levels of the Melatonin-biosynthesis geneSNATunder same conditions. Our study is the first to comprehensively analyze the stability of commonly-used reference-genes under Melatonin-induced conditions inC.roseus.
Simultaneous electroporation and dielectrophoresis in non-electrolytic micro/nano-electroporation
Authors: Lyu Chenang , Wang Jianping , Powell-Palm Matthew , Rubinsky Boris 
Published: January 2018

AbstractIt was recently shown that electrolysis may play a substantial detrimental role in microfluidic electroporation. To overcome this problem, we have developed a non-electrolytic micro/nano electroporation (NEME) electrode surface, in which the metal electrodes are coated with a dielectric. A COMSOL based numerical scheme was used to simultaneously calculate the excitation frequency and dielectric material properties dependent electric field delivered across the dielectric, fluid flow, electroporation field and Clausius-Mossotti factor for yeast and E. coli cells flowing in a channel flow across a NEME surface. A two-layer model for yeast and a three-layer model for E. coli was used. The numerical analysis shows that in NEME electroporation, the electric fields could induce electroporation and dielectrophoresis simultaneously. The simultaneous occurrence of electroporation and dielectrophoresis gives rise to several interesting phenomena. For example, we found that a certain frequency exists for which an intact yeast cell is drawn to the NEME electrode, and once electroporated, the yeast cell is pushed back in the bulk fluid. The results suggest that developing electroporation technologies that combine, simultaneously, electroporation and dielectrophoresis could lead to new applications. Obviously, this is an early stage numerical study and much more theoretical and experimental research is needed.
Ormeloxifene-induced unfolded protein response contributes to autophagy-associated apoptosis via disruption of Akt/mTOR and activation of JNK
Authors: Bhattacharjee Arindam , Hasanain Mohammad , Kathuria Manoj , Singh Akhilesh , Datta Dipak , Sarkar Jayanta , Mitra Kalyan 
Published: January 2018

AbstractAutophagy, a regulated nutrient recycling program can affect both cell survival and cell death. Here, we show that Ormeloxifene (ORM), a selective estrogen receptor modulator approved for oral contraceptive use induces autophagic flux in ovarian cancer cells, which is activated by an ER stress response upstream of autophagy. The ER stress response is characterized by activation of IRE1α, PERK and ATF6 and is under regulation of JNK. Pharmacological inhibition of either autophagy or ER stress increased cell survival, as did silencing of autophagy proteins LC3 and Beclin 1, implying that ORM-induced autophagy is pro-death in nature. Ultrastructural observations of treated cells confirmed stages of autophagic maturation. Caspase-dependent apoptosis succeeded these events and was characterized by generation of reactive oxygen species and disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential. A concomitant inhibition of the Akt/mTOR axis was also observed with possible regulation of Akt by ORM. ORM inhibited tumor growth in ovarian xenograft model and displayed autophagic activity. In summary, in vitro and in vivo results reveal that ORM induces autophagy-associated cell death to attenuate proliferation of ovarian cancer cells. Our results demonstrate that using ORM in combination with ER stress and autophagy modulators could offer better therapeutic outcome in ovarian cancer.
Broadband single-phase hyperbolic elastic metamaterials for super-resolution imaging
Authors: Dong Hao-Wen , Zhao Sheng-Dong , Wang Yue-Sheng , Zhang Chuanzeng 
Published: January 2018

AbstractHyperbolic metamaterials, the highly anisotropic subwavelength media, immensely widen the engineering feasibilities for wave manipulation. However, limited by the empirical structural topologies, the reported hyperbolic elastic metamaterials (HEMMs) suffer from the limitations of the relatively narrow frequency width, inflexible adjustable operating subwavelength scale and difficulty to further improve the imaging resolution. Here, we show an inverse-design strategy for HEMMs by topology optimization. We design broadband single-phase HEMMs supporting multipolar resonances at different prescribed deep-subwavelength scales, and demonstrate the super-resolution imaging for longitudinal waves. Benefiting from the extreme enhancement of the evanescent waves, an optimized HEMM at an ultra-low frequency can yield an imaging resolution of ~λ/64, representing the record in the field of elastic metamaterials. The present research provides a novel and general design methodology for exploring the HEMMs with unrevealed mechanisms and guides the ultrasonography and general biomedical applications.
Microbial ecology of full-scale wastewater treatment systems in the Polar Arctic Circle: Archaea, Bacteria and Fungi
Authors: Gonzalez-Martinez Alejandro , Sihvonen Maija , Muñoz-Palazon Barbara , Rodriguez-Sanchez Alejandro , Mikola Anna , Vahala Riku 
Published: January 2018

AbstractSeven full-scale biological wastewater treatment systems located in the Polar Arctic Circle region in Finland were investigated to determine their Archaea, Bacteria and Fungi community structure, and their relationship with the operational conditions of the bioreactors by the means of quantitative PCR, massive parallel sequencing and multivariate redundancy analysis. The results showed dominance of Archaea and Bacteria members in the bioreactors. The activated sludge systems showed strong selection of Bacteria but not for Archaea and Fungi, as suggested by diversity analyses. Core OTUs in influent and bioreactors were classified as Methanobrevibacter, Methanosarcina, Terrestrial Group Thaumarchaeota and unclassified Euryarchaeota member for Archaea; Trichococcus, Leptotrichiaceae and Comamonadaceae family, and Methylorosula for Bacteria and Trichosporonaceae family for Fungi. All influents shared core OTUs in all domains, but in bioreactors this did not occur for Bacteria. Oligotype structure of core OTUs showed several ubiquitous Fungi oligotypes as dominant in sewage and bioreactors. Multivariate redundancy analyses showed that the majority of core OTUs were related to organic matter and nutrients removal. Also, there was evidence of competition among Archaea and Fungi core OTUs, while all Bacteria OTUs were positively correlated among them. The results obtained highlighted interesting features of extremely cold temperature bioreactors.
A mosaic genetic structure of the human population living in the South Baltic region during the Iron Age
Authors: Stolarek Ireneusz , Juras Anna , Handschuh Luiza , Marcinkowska-Swojak Malgorzata , Philips Anna , Zenczak Michal , Dębski Artur , Kóčka-Krenz Hanna , Piontek Janusz , Kozlowski Piotr , Figlerowicz Marek 
Published: January 2018

AbstractDespite the increase in our knowledge about the factors that shaped the genetic structure of the human population in Europe, the demographic processes that occurred during and after the Early Bronze Age (EBA) in Central-East Europe remain unclear. To fill the gap, we isolated and sequenced DNAs of 60 individuals from Kowalewko, a bi-ritual cemetery of the Iron Age (IA) Wielbark culture, located between the Oder and Vistula rivers (Kow-OVIA population). The collected data revealed high genetic diversity of Kow-OVIA, suggesting that it was not a small isolated population. Analyses of mtDNA haplogroup frequencies and genetic distances performed for Kow-OVIA and other ancient European populations showed that Kow-OVIA was most closely linked to the Jutland Iron Age (JIA) population. However, the relationship of both populations to the preceding Late Neolithic (LN) and EBA populations were different. We found that this phenomenon is most likely the consequence of the distinct genetic history observed for Kow-OVIA women and men. Females were related to the Early-Middle Neolithic farmers, whereas males were related to JIA and LN Bell Beakers. In general, our findings disclose the mechanisms that could underlie the formation of the local genetic substructures in the South Baltic region during the IA.
Spin-orbit coupling and electric-dipole spin resonance in a nanowire double quantum dot
Authors: Liu Zhi-Hai , Li Rui , Hu Xuedong , You J. Q. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractWe study the electric-dipole transitions for a single electron in a double quantum dot located in a semiconductor nanowire. Enabled by spin-orbit coupling (SOC), electric-dipole spin resonance (EDSR) for such an electron can be generated via two mechanisms: the SOC-induced intradot pseudospin states mixing and the interdot spin-flipped tunneling. The EDSR frequency and strength are determined by these mechanisms together. For both mechanisms the electric-dipole transition rates are strongly dependent on the external magnetic field. Their competition can be revealed by increasing the magnetic field and/or the interdot distance for the double dot. To clarify whether the strong SOC significantly impact the electron state coherence, we also calculate relaxations from excited levels via phonon emission. We show that spin-flip relaxations can be effectively suppressed by the phonon bottleneck effect even at relatively low magnetic fields because of the very large g-factor of strong SOC materials such as InSb.
The effect of constitutive representations and structural constituents of ligaments on knee joint mechanics
Authors: Orozco Gustavo A. , Tanska Petri , Mononen Mika E. , Halonen Kimmo S. , Korhonen Rami K. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractLigaments provide stability to the human knee joint and play an essential role in restraining motion during daily activities. Compression-tension nonlinearity is a well-known characteristic of ligaments. Moreover, simpler material representations without this feature might give reasonable results because ligaments are primarily in tension during loading. However, the biomechanical role of different constitutive representations and their fibril-reinforced poroelastic properties is unknown. A numerical knee model which considers geometric and material nonlinearities of meniscus and cartilages was applied. Five different constitutive models for the ligaments (spring, elastic, hyperelastic, porohyperelastic, and fibril-reinforced porohyperelastic (FRPHE)) were implemented. Knee joint forces for the models with elastic, hyperelastic and porohyperelastic properties showed similar behavior throughout the stance, while the model with FRPHE properties exhibited lower joint forces during the last 50% of the stance phase. The model with ligaments as springs produced the lowest joint forces at this same stance phase. The results also showed that the fibril network contributed substantially to the knee joint forces, while the nonfibrillar matrix and fluid had small effects. Our results indicate that simpler material models of ligaments with similar properties in compression and tension can be used when the loading is directed primarily along the ligament axis in tension.
Intestinal microbiota development and gestational age in preterm neonates
Authors: Korpela Katri , Blakstad Elin W. , Moltu Sissel J. , Strømmen Kenneth , Nakstad Britt , Rønnestad Arild E. , Brække Kristin , Iversen Per O. , Drevon Christian A. , de Vos Willem 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe intestinal microbiota is an important contributor to the health of preterm infants, and may be destabilized by a number of environmental factors and treatment modalities. How to promote the development of a healthy microbiota in preterm infants is largely unknown. We collected fecal samples from 45 breastfed preterm very low birth weight (birth weight < 1500 g) infants from birth until 60 days postnatal age to characterize the intestinal microbiota development during the first weeks of life in preterm infants. Fecal microbiota composition was determined by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. The main driver of microbiota development was gestational age; antibiotic use had strong but temporary effects and birth mode had little influence. Microbiota development proceeded in four phases indicated by the dominance of Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, Enterobacter, and finally Bifidobacterium. The Enterococcus phase was only observed among the extremely premature infants and appeared to delay the microbiota succession. The results indicate that hospitalized preterm infants receiving breast milk may develop a normal microbiota resembling that of term infants.
The optical properties of galaxies in the Ophiuchus cluster
Authors: Durret F. , Wakamatsu K. , Adami C. , Nagayama T. , Omega Muleka Mwewa Mwaba J. M. 
Published: January 2018

Context. Ophiuchus is one of the most massive clusters known, but due to its low Galactic latitude its optical properties remain poorly known.
Aims. We investigate the optical properties of Ophiuchus to obtain clues on the formation epoch of this cluster, and compare them to those of the Coma cluster, which is comparable in mass to Ophiuchus but much more dynamically disturbed.
Methods. Based on a deep image of the Ophiuchus cluster in the r′ band obtained at the Canada France Hawaii Telescope with the MegaCam camera, we have applied an iterative process to subtract the contribution of the numerous stars that, due to the low Galactic latitude of the cluster, pollute the image, and have obtained a photometric catalogue of 2818 galaxies fully complete at r′ = 20.5 mag and still 91% complete at r′ = 21.5 mag. We use this catalogue to derive the cluster Galaxy Luminosity Function (GLF) for the overall image and for a region (hereafter the “rectangle” region) covering exactly the same physical size as the region in which the GLF of the Coma cluster was previously studied. We then compute density maps based on an adaptive kernel technique, for different magnitude limits, and define three circular regions covering 0.08, 0.08, and 0.06 deg2, respectively, centred on the cluster (C), on northwest (NW) of the cluster, and southeast (SE) of the cluster, in which we compute the GLFs.
Results. The GLF fits are much better when a Gaussian is added to the usual Schechter function, to account for the excess of very bright galaxies. Compared to Coma, Ophiuchus shows a strong excess of bright galaxies.
Conclusions. The properties of the two nearby very massive clusters Ophiuchus and Coma are quite comparable, though they seem embedded in different large-scale environments. Our interpretation is that Ophiuchus was built up long ago, as confirmed by its relaxed state (see paper I) while Coma is still in the process of forming.
The contact binary VW Cephei revisited: surface activity and period variation
Authors: Mitnyan T. , Bódi A. , Szalai T. , Vinkó J. , Szatmáry K. , Borkovits T. , Bíró B. I. , Hegedüs T. , Vida K. , Pál A. 
Published: January 2018

Context. Despite the fact that VW Cephei is one of the most well-studied contact binaries in the literature, there is no fully consistent model available that can explain every observed property of this system.
Aims. Our aims are to obtain new spectra along with photometric measurements, to analyze what kind of changes may have happened in the system in the past two decades, and to propose new ideas for explaining them.
Methods. For the period analysis we determined ten new times of minima from our light curves, and constructed a new O–C diagram of the system. Radial velocities of the components were determined using the cross-correlation technique. The light curves and radial velocities were modeled simultaneously with the PHOEBE code. All observed spectra were compared to synthetic spectra and equivalent widths (EWs) of the Hα line were measured on their differences.
Results. We re-determine the physical parameters of the system according to our new light curve and spectral models. We confirm that the primary component is more active than the secondary, and there is a correlation between spottedness and the chromospheric activity. We propose that the flip-flop phenomenon occurring on the primary component could be a possible explanation of the observed nature of the activity. To explain the period variation of VW Cep, we test two previously suggested scenarios: the presence of a fourth body in the system, and the Applegate-mechanism caused by periodic magnetic activity. We conclude that although none of these mechanisms can be ruled out entirely, the available data suggest that mass transfer with a slowly decreasing rate provides the most likely explanation for the period variation of VW Cep.
Yet another UFO in the X-ray spectrum of a high-z lensed QSO
Authors: Dadina M. , Vignali C. , Cappi M. , Lanzuisi G. , Ponti G. , Torresi E. , De Marco B. , Chartas G. , Giustini M. 
Published: January 2018

Aim. Ultra-fast outflows (UFO) appear to be common in local active galactic nuclei (AGN) and may be powerful enough (Ėkin ≥ 1% of Lbol) to effectively quench the star formation in their host galaxies. To test feedback models based on AGN outflows, it is mandatory to investigate UFOs near the peak of AGN activity, that is, at high-z where only a few studies are available to date.
Methods. UFOs produce Fe resonant absorption lines measured above ≈7 keV. The most critical problem in detecting such features in distant objects is the difficulty in obtaining X-ray data with sufficient signal-to-noise. We therefore selected a distant QSO that gravitational lensing made bright enough for these purposes, the z = 2.64 QSO MG J0414+0534, and observed it with XMM-Newton for ≈78 ks.
Results. The X-ray spectrum of MG J0414+0534 is complex and shows signatures of cold absorption (NH ≈ 4 × 1022 cm−2) and of the presence of an iron emission line (E ≈ 6.4 keV, EW = 95 ± 53 eV) consistent with it originating in the cold absorber. Our main result, however, is the robust detection (more than 5σ) of an absorption line at Eint ≈ 9.2 keV (Eobs ≈ 2.5 keV observer frame). If interpreted as due to FeXXVI, it implies gas outflowing at vout ≈ 0.3c. To our knowledge, this is the first detection of an UFO in a radio-loud quasar at z ≥ 1.5. We estimated that the UFO mechanical output is Ėkin ≈ 2.5Lbol with ṗout∕ṗrad ≈ 17 indicating that it is capable of installing significant feedback between the super-massive black hole and the bulge of the host galaxy. We argue that this also suggests a magnetic driving origin of the UFO.
Comparison of satisfaction with happiness in families with children between the Czech ‒ Latvian people
Authors: Stasova L. , Vilka L. 
Published: January 2018

It is an assumed opinion that the family is the main unit of society. The society and the family are in reciprocal influence: the healthier the families are, the healthierthe society and vice versa. Subjective wellbeing and satisfaction with life are important factors in family stability. Feeling of happiness and the image of a happy family in contemporary Czech and Latvian society are the focus of the research. In the research the data from an international survey on the lifestyle of contemporary families that have been collected during 2013 – 2014 in the Czech Republic and Latvia were used. A self-administered questionnaire data were collected in both countries as well. A mixed approach with emphasis on the quantitative approach to research was used in data analysis. The results showed a significant similarity, although the ‘feeling of happiness’ differed and varied in each specific family. So it was possible to use the same categories of „a happy family“ that had been found in both samples of data (Czech and Latvian)material, and they were: financial prosperity, good relationships and success in the family, cohesion within the family, doing things and spending leisure time together and a healthy family.The research results allow us to conclude that the family has a high value in people’s minds despite the rapid changes in the family structure and de facto high rate of divorce in both countries.
Male-specific IL-33 expression regulates sex-dimorphic EAE susceptibility
Authors: Russi Abigail E. , Ebel Mark E. , Yang Yuchen , Brown Melissa A. 
Published: January 2018

SignificanceWomen are much more likely to develop autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematous, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. Sex hormones, including estrogen and testosterone, clearly influence disease susceptibility, but the precise cellular and molecular targets of these hormones have remained unexplained. While most studies have focused on what causes the damaging inflammation in females, there is also much to be learned by studying the factors that confer protection to males. Using a mouse model of multiple sclerosis, a CNS demyelinating disease, we identified a testosterone-driven pathway mediated by mast cell-dependent IL-33 expression that limits the development of a destructive immune response in males. The identification of such pathways has important therapeutic implications.
Neutrophils recruited through high endothelial venules of the lymph nodes via PNAd intercept disseminatingStaphylococcus aureus
Authors: Bogoslowski Ania , Butcher Eugene C. , Kubes Paul 
Published: January 2018

SignificanceStaphylococcus aureusis a bacterium causing many community-acquired skin infections. However, as dissemination from skin infections is rare, we were interested in understanding what mechanisms the body has in place to prevent escape of bacteria from skin infections via lymphatics to the rest of the body. We found that after infection, neutrophils were almost immediately recruited to the lymph nodes via specialized blood vessels to cut bacteria off at the pass. Neutrophils worked together with resident macrophages to preventS. aureusspread, as removing both these immune cells from the lymph nodes resulted in bacterial dissemination to peripheral organs. This study demonstrates the importance of the lymph node neutrophils in early infection to prevent systemic dissemination of bacteria.