bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Water as an agent for the morphology modification of metal oxalate materials on the nanoscale: from sheets to rods
Authors: Kim Minog , Kim YooJin , Kwon WonJong , Yoon Sungho 
Published: January 2016

AbstractA number of approaches have been used to control the shape of metal oxalates, which often used as precursors for metal oxide nanomaterials. However, attempts to use water as a regulator have not been reported. Here in we report systematic studies on related topics: nanosheets, composed of 1-dimensional [M(C2O4)(EG)] (M = Zn or Co) polymeric structure, could be transformed into nanorods by using water as a shape-shifting agent because water can readily substitute EG ligand, leading alternation of inter-chain hydrogen bonding interactions. In addition, heat-treatment of these nanomaterials with diverse morphologies resulted in porous metal oxides with high degrees of shape retention.
Dietary component isorhamnetin is a PPARγ antagonist and ameliorates metabolic disorders induced by diet or leptin deficiency
Authors: Zhang Yu , Gu Ming , Cai Wujie , Yu Lijing , Feng Li , Zhang Lu , Zang Qingqing , Wang Yahui , Wang Dongshan , Chen Hui , Tong Qingchun , Ji Guang , Huang Cheng 
Published: January 2016

AbstractStudies on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ ligands have been focused on agonists. However, PPARγ activation may induce obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), one of the most challenging medical conditions. Here, we identified that isorhamnetin, a naturally occurring compound in fruits and vegetables and the metabolite of quercetin, is a novel antagonist of PPARγ. Isorhamnetin treatment inhibited the adipocyte differentiation induced by the PPARγ agonist rosiglitazone, reduced obesity development and ameliorated hepatic steatosis induced by both high-fat diet treatment and leptin deficiency. Our results suggest that dietary supplement of isorhamnetin may be beneficial to prevent obesity and steatosis and PPARγ antagonists may be useful to treat hepatic steatosis.
Cysteine Dioxygenase Type 1 Inhibits Osteogenesis by Regulating Wnt Signaling in Primary Mouse Bone Marrow Stromal Cells
Authors: Zhao Xuefeng , Deng Peng , Feng Jie , Wang Zheng , Xiang Zichao , Han Xianglong , Bai Ding , Pae Eung-Kwon 
Published: January 2016

AbstractMesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells, which can give rise to variety of cell types, including adipocytes and osteoblasts. Previously, we have shown that cysteine dioxygenase type 1 (Cdo1) promoted adipogenesis of primary mouse bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes via interaction with Pparγ. However, the role of Cdo1 in osteogenesis remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that expression of Cdo1 was elevated during osteoblastic differentiation of BMSCs in vitro. Interestingly, knockdown of Cdo1 by siRNA led to an increased expression of osteogenic related genes, elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and enhanced mineralization. Overexpression of Cdo1 in BMSCs inversely suppressed the osteogenesis. Furthermore, we found that overexpression of Cdo1 impaired Wnt signaling and restricted the Wnt3a induced expression of osteogenic transcriptional factors, such as Runx2 and Dlx5. Collectively, our findings indicate Cdo1 suppresses osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs, through a potential mechanism which involves in Wnt signaling reduction concomitantly.
Interplay Between Intracellular Ca2+ Oscillations and Ca2+-stimulated Mitochondrial Metabolism
Authors: Wacquier Benjamin , Combettes Laurent , Van Nhieu Guy Tran , Dupont Geneviève 
Published: January 2016

AbstractOscillations of cytosolic Ca2+ concentration are a widespread mode of signalling. Oscillatory spikes rely on repetitive exchanges of Ca2+ between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the cytosol, due to the regulation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors. Mitochondria also sequester and release Ca2+, thus affecting Ca2+ signalling. Mitochondrial Ca2+ activates key enzymes involved in ATP synthesis. We propose a new integrative model for Ca2+ signalling and mitochondrial metabolism in electrically non-excitable cells. The model accounts for (1) the phase relationship of the Ca2+ changes in the cytosol, the ER and mitochondria, (2) the dynamics of mitochondrial metabolites in response to cytosolic Ca2+ changes and (3) the impacts of cytosol/mitochondria Ca2+ exchanges and of mitochondrial metabolism on Ca2+ oscillations. Simulations predict that as expected, oscillations are slowed down by decreasing the rate of Ca2+ efflux from mitochondria, but also by decreasing the rate of Ca2+ influx through the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU). These predictions were experimentally validated by inhibiting MCU expression. Despite the highly non-linear character of Ca2+ dynamics and mitochondrial metabolism, bioenergetics were found to be robust with respect to changes in frequency and amplitude of Ca2+ oscillations.
NRF2 Is a Key Target for Prevention of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss by Reducing Oxidative Damage of Cochlea
Authors: Honkura Yohei , Matsuo Hirotaka , Murakami Shohei , Sakiyama Masayuki , Mizutari Kunio , Shiotani Akihiro , Yamamoto Masayuki , Morita Ichiro , Shinomiya Nariyoshi , Kawase Tetsuaki , Katori Yukio , Motohashi Hozumi 
Published: January 2016

AbstractNoise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is one of the most common sensorineural hearing deficits. Recent studies have demonstrated that the pathogenesis of NIHL is closely related to ischemia-reperfusion injury of cochlea, which is caused by blood flow decrease and free radical production due to excessive noise. This suggests that protecting the cochlea from oxidative stress is an effective therapeutic approach for NIHL. NRF2 is a transcriptional activator playing an essential role in the defense mechanism against oxidative stress. To clarify the contribution of NRF2 to cochlear protection, we examined Nrf2–/– mice for susceptibility to NIHL. Threshold shifts of the auditory brainstem response at 7 days post-exposure were significantly larger in Nrf2–/– mice than wild-type mice. Treatment with CDDO-Im, a potent NRF2-activating drug, before but not after the noise exposure preserved the integrity of hair cells and improved post-exposure hearing levels in wild-type mice, but not in Nrf2–/– mice. Therefore, NRF2 activation is effective for NIHL prevention. Consistently, a human NRF2 SNP was significantly associated with impaired sensorineural hearing levels in a cohort subjected to occupational noise exposure. Thus, high NRF2 activity is advantageous for cochlear protection from noise-induced injury and NRF2 is a promising target for NIHL prevention.
The proprotein convertase PC1/3 regulates TLR9 trafficking and the associated signaling pathways
Authors: Duhamel M. , Rodet F. , Murgoci A. N. , Desjardins R. , Gagnon H. , Wisztorski M. , Fournier I. , Day R. , Salzet M. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractEndosomal TLR9 is considered as a potent anti-tumoral therapeutic target. Therefore, it is crucial to decipher the mechanisms controlling its trafficking since it determines TLR9 activation and signalling. At present, the scarcity of molecular information regarding the control of this trafficking and signalling is noticeable. We have recently demonstrated that in macrophages, proprotein convertase 1/3 (PC1/3) is a key regulator of TLR4 Myd88-dependent signalling. In the present study, we established that PC1/3 also regulates the endosomal TLR9. Under CpG-ODN challenge, we found that PC1/3 traffics rapidly to co-localize with TLR9 in CpG-ODN-containing endosomes with acidic pH. In PC1/3 knockdown macrophages, compartmentalization of TLR9 was altered and TLR9 clustered in multivesicular bodies (MVB) as demonstrated by co-localization with Rab7. This demonstrates that PC1/3 controls TLR9 trafficking. This clustering of TLR9 in MVB dampened the anti-inflammatory STAT3 signalling pathway while it promoted the pro-inflammatory NF-kB pathway. As a result, macrophages from PC1/3 KO mice and rat PC1/3-KD NR8383 macrophages secreted more pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL6, IL1α and CXCL2. This is indicative of a M1 pro-inflammatory phenotype. Therefore, PC1/3 KD macrophages represent a relevant mean for cell therapy as “Trojan” macrophages.
Revisiting the concept of a symmetric index of agreement for continuous datasets
Authors: Duveiller Gregory , Fasbender Dominique , Meroni Michele 
Published: January 2016

AbstractQuantifying how close two datasets are to each other is a common and necessary undertaking in scientific research. The Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient r is a widely used measure of the degree of linear dependence between two data series, but it gives no indication of how similar the values of these series are in magnitude. Although a number of indexes have been proposed to compare a dataset with a reference, only few are available to compare two datasets of equivalent (or unknown) reliability. After a brief review and numerical tests of the metrics designed to accomplish this task, this paper shows how an index proposed by Mielke can, with a minor modification, satisfy a series of desired properties, namely to be adimensional, bounded, symmetric, easy to compute and directly interpretable with respect to r. We thus show that this index can be considered as a natural extension to r that downregulates the value of r according to the bias between analysed datasets. The paper also proposes an effective way to disentangle the systematic and the unsystematic contribution to this agreement based on eigen decompositions. The use and value of the index is also illustrated on synthetic and real datasets.
Blueberry Component Pterostilbene Protects Corneal Epithelial Cells from Inflammation via Anti-oxidative Pathway
Authors: Li Jin , Ruzhi Deng  , Hua Xia , Zhang Lili , Lu Fan , Coursey Terry G. , Pflugfelder Stephen C. , Li De-Quan 
Published: January 2016

AbstractBlueberries have been recognized to possess protective properties from inflammation and various diseases, but not for eye and ocular disorders. This study explores potential benefits of pterostilbene (PS), a natural component of blueberries, in preventing ocular surface inflammation using an in vitro culture model of human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) exposed to hyperosmotic medium at 450 mOsM. Gene expression was detected by RT-qPCR and protein production or activity was determined by ELISA, zymography, Western blotting and immunofluorescent staining. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was measured using DCFDA kit. The addition of PS significantly reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators, TNF-α, IL-1 β, IL-6, MMP-2 and MMP-9 in HCECs exposed to hyperosmotic medium. Pre-treatment with PS (5 to 20 μM) suppressed ROS overproduction in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, PS significantly decreased the levels of oxidative damage biomarkers, malondialdehyde (MDA), 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), aconitase-2 and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). Importantly, PS was found to rebalance homeostasis between oxygenases and anti-oxidative enzymes by decreasing cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) expression and restoring the activity of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and peroxiredoxin-4 (PRDX4) during hyperosmotic stress. Our findings demonstrate that PS protects human cornea from hyperosmolarity-induced inflammation and oxidative stress, suggesting protective effects of PS on dry eye.
Polarized Raman scattering study of kesterite type Cu2ZnSnS4 single crystals
Authors: Guc Maxim , Levcenko Sergiu , Bodnar Ivan V. , Izquierdo-Roca Victor , Fontane Xavier , Volkova Larisa V. , Arushanov Ernest , Pérez-Rodríguez Alejandro 
Published: January 2016

AbstractA non-destructive Raman spectroscopy has been widely used as a complimentary method to X-ray diffraction characterization of Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films, yet our knowledge of the Raman active fundamental modes in this material is far from complete. Focusing on polarized Raman spectroscopy provides important information about the relationship between Raman modes and CZTS crystal structure. In this framework the zone–center optical phonons of CZTS, which is most usually examined in active layers of the CZTS based solar cells, are studied by polarized resonant and non-resonant Raman spectroscopy in the range from 60 to 500 cm−1 on an oriented single crystal. The phonon mode symmetry of 20 modes from the 27 possible vibrational modes of the kesterite structure is experimentally determined. From in-plane angular dependences of the phonon modes intensities Raman tensor elements are also derived. Whereas a strong intensity enhancement of the polar E and B symmetry modes is induced under resonance conditions, no mode intensity dependence on the incident and scattered light polarization configurations was found in these conditions. Finally, Lyddane-Sachs-Teller relations are applied to estimate the ratios of the static to high-frequency optic dielectric constants parallel and perpendicular to c-optical axis.
Inhibiting the immunoproteasome exacerbates the pathogenesis of systemic Candida albicans infection in mice
Authors: Mundt Sarah , Basler Michael , Buerger Stefanie , Engler Harald , Groettrup Marcus 
Published: January 2016

AbstractApart from its role in MHC class I antigen processing, the immunoproteasome has recently been implicated in the modulation of T helper cell differentiation under polarizing conditions in vitro and in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases in vivo. In this study, we investigated the influence of LMP7 on T helper cell differentiation in response to the fungus Candida albicans. We observed a strong effect of ONX 0914, an LMP7-selective inhibitor of the immunoproteasome, on IFN-γ and IL-17A production by murine splenocytes and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) stimulated with C. albicans in vitro. Using a murine model of systemic candidiasis, we could confirm reduced generation of IFN-γ- and IL-17A-producing cells in ONX 0914 treated mice in vivo. Interestingly, ONX 0914 treatment resulted in increased susceptibility to systemic candidiasis, which manifested at very early stages of infection. Mice treated with ONX 0914 showed markedly increased kidney and brain fungal burden which resulted in enhanced neutrophil recruitment and immunopathology. Together, these results strongly suggest a role of the immunoproteasome in promoting proinflammatory T helper cells in response to C. albicans but also in affecting the innate antifungal immunity in a T helper cell-independent manner.
The nutritional and hedonic value of food modulate sexual receptivity in Drosophila melanogaster females
Authors: Gorter Jenke A. , Jagadeesh Samyukta , Gahr Christoph , Boonekamp Jelle J. , Levine Joel D. , Billeter Jean-Christophe 
Published: January 2016

AbstractFood and sex often go hand in hand because of the nutritional cost of reproduction. For Drosophila melanogaster females, this relationship is especially intimate because their offspring develop on food. Since yeast and sugars are important nutritional pillars for Drosophila, availability of these foods should inform female reproductive behaviours. Yet mechanisms coupling food and sex are poorly understood. Here we show that yeast increases female sexual receptivity through interaction between its protein content and its odorous fermentation product acetic acid, sensed by the Ionotropic odorant receptor neuron Ir75a. A similar interaction between nutritional and hedonic value applies to sugars where taste and caloric value only increase sexual receptivity when combined. Integration of nutritional and sensory values would ensure that there are sufficient internal nutrients for egg production as well as sufficient environmental nutrients for offspring survival. These findings provide mechanisms through which females may maximize reproductive output in changing environments.
Transcription factor NFAT1 controls allergic contact hypersensitivity through regulation of activation induced cell death program
Authors: Kwon Ho-Keun , Kim Gi-Cheon , Hwang Ji Sun , Kim Young , Chae Chang-Suk , Nam Jong Hee , Jun Chang-Duk , Rudra Dipayan , Surh Charles D. , Im Sin-Hyeog 
Published: January 2016

AbstractAllergic contact hypersensitivity (CHS) is an inflammatory skin disease mediated by allergen specific T cells. In this study, we investigated the role of transcription factor NFAT1 in the pathogenesis of contact hypersensitivity. NFAT1 knock out (KO) mice spontaneously developed CHS-like skin inflammation in old age. Healthy young NFAT1 KO mice displayed enhanced susceptibility to hapten-induced CHS. Both CD4+and CD8+T cells from NFAT1 KO mice displayed hyper-activated properties and produced significantly enhanced levels of inflammatory T helper 1(Th1)/Th17 type cytokines. NFAT1 KO T cells were more resistant to activation induced cell death (AICD) and regulatory T cells derived from these mice showed a partial defect in their suppressor activity. NFAT1 KO T cells displayed a reduced expression of apoptosis associated BCL-2/BH3 family members. Ectopic expression of NFAT1 restored the AICD defect in NFAT1 KO T cells and increased AICD in normal T cells. Recipient Rag2−/−mice transferred with NFAT1 KO T cells showed more severe CHS sensitivity due to a defect in activation induced hapten-reactive T cell apoptosis. Collectively, our results suggest the NFAT1 plays a pivotal role as a genetic switch in CD4+/CD8+T cell tolerance by regulating AICD process in the T cell mediated skin inflammation.
Magnetic phase separation in double layer ruthenates Ca3(Ru1−xTix)2O7
Authors: Peng Jin , Liu J. Y. , Hu J. , Mao Z. Q. , Zhang F. M. , Wu X. S. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractA phase transition from metallic AFM-b antiferromagnetic state to Mott insulating G-type antiferromagnetic (G-AFM) state was found in Ca3(Ru1−xTix)2O7 at about x = 0.03 in our previous work. In the present, we focused on the study of the magnetic transition near the critical composition through detailed magnetization measurements. There is no intermediate magnetic phases between the AFM-b and G-AFM states, which is in contrasted to manganites where a similar magnetic phase transition takes place through the presence of several intermediate magnetic phases. The AFM-b-to-G-AFM transition in Ca3(Ru1−xTix)2O7 happens through a phase separation process in the 2–5% Ti range, whereas similar magnetic transitions in manganites are tuned by 50–70% chemical substitutions. We discussed the possible origin of such an unusual magnetic transition and compared with that in manganites.
Mechanistic understanding of MeHg-Se antagonism in soil-rice systems: the key role of antagonism in soil
Authors: Wang Yongjie , Dang Fei , Evans R. Douglas , Zhong Huan , Zhao Jiating , Zhou Dongmei 
Published: January 2016

AbstractMethylmercury (MeHg) accumulation in rice has great implications for human health. Here, effects of selenium (Se) on MeHg availability to rice are explored by growing rice under soil or foliar fertilization with Se. Results indicate that soil amendment with Se could reduce MeHg levels in soil and grain (maximally 73%). In contrast, foliar fertilization with Se enhanced plant Se levels (3–12 folds) without affecting grain MeHg concentrations. This evidence, along with the distinct distribution of MeHg and Se within the plant, demonstrate for the first time that Se-induced reduction in soil MeHg levels (i.e., MeHg-Se antagonism in soil) rather than MeHg-Se interactions within the plant might be the key process triggering the decreased grain MeHg levels under Se amendment. The reduction in soil MeHg concentrations could be mainly attributed to the formation of Hg-Se complexes (detected by TEM-EDX and XANES) and thus reduced microbial MeHg production. Moreover, selenite and selenate were equally effective in reducing soil MeHg concentrations, possibly because of rapid changes in Se speciation. The dominant role of Se-induced reduction in soil MeHg levels, which has been largely underestimated previously, together with the possible mechanisms advance our mechanistic understanding about MeHg dynamics in soil-rice systems.
Harnessing click detectors for the genuine characterization of light states
Authors: Heilmann René , Sperling Jan , Perez-Leija Armando , Gräfe Markus , Heinrich Matthias , Nolte Stefan , Vogel Werner , Szameit Alexander 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThe key requirement for harnessing the quantum properties of light is the capability to detect and count individual photons. Of particular interest are photon-number-resolving detectors, which allow one to determine whether a state of light is classical or genuinely quantum. Existing schemes for addressing this challenge rely on a proportional conversion of photons to electrons. As such, they are capable of correctly characterizing small photon fluxes, yet are limited by uncertainties in the conversion rate. In this work, we employ a divide-and-conquer approach to infallibly discerning non-classicality of states of light. This is achieved by transforming the incident fields into uniform spatial distributions that readily lend themselves for characterization by standard on-off detectors. Since the exact statistics of the light stream in multiplexed on-off detectors are click statistics, our technique is freely scalable to accommodate–in principle–arbitrarily large photon fluxes. Our experiments pave the way towards genuine integrated photon-number-resolving detection for advanced on-chip photonic quantum networks.
A New Raman Metric for the Characterisation of Graphene oxide and its Derivatives
Authors: King Alice A. K. , Davies Benjamin R. , Noorbehesht Nikan , Newman Peter , Church Tamara L. , Harris Andrew T. , Razal Joselito M. , Minett Andrew I. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractRaman spectroscopy is among the primary techniques for the characterisation of graphene materials, as it provides insights into the quality of measured graphenes including their structure and conductivity as well as the presence of dopants. However, our ability to draw conclusions based on such spectra is limited by a lack of understanding regarding the origins of the peaks. Consequently, traditional characterisation techniques, which estimate the quality of the graphene material using the intensity ratio between the D and the G peaks, are unreliable for both GO and rGO. Herein we reanalyse the Raman spectra of graphenes and show that traditional methods rely upon an apparent G peak which is in fact a superposition of the G and D’ peaks. We use this understanding to develop a new Raman characterisation method for graphenes that considers the D’ peak by using its overtone the 2D’. We demonstrate the superiority and consistency of this method for calculating the oxygen content of graphenes and use the relationship between the D’ peak and graphene quality to define three regimes. This has important implications for purification techniques because, once GO is reduced beyond a critical threshold, further reduction offers limited gain in conductivity.