bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High-performance spinel-rich Li1.5MnTiO4+δ ultralong nanofibers as cathode materials for Li-ion batteries
Authors: Hung Vu Ngoc , Arunkumar Paulraj , Bin Im Won 
Published: March 2017

AbstractRecently, composite materials based on Li-Mn-Ti-O system were developed to target low cost and environmentally benign cathodes for Li-ion batteries. The spinel-layered Li1.5MnTiO4+δ bulk particles showed excellent cycle stability but poor rate performance. To address this drawback, ultralong nanofibers of a Li1.5MnTiO4+δ spinel-layered heterostructure were synthesized by electrospinning. Uniform nanofibers with diameters of about 80 nm were formed of tiny octahedral particles wrapped together into 30 μm long fibers. The Li1.5MnTiO4+δ nanofibers exhibited an improved rate capability compared to both Li1.5MnTiO4+δ nanoparticles and bulk particles. The uniform one-dimensional nanostructure of the composite cathode exhibited enhanced capacities of 235 and 170 mAh g−1 at C/5 and 1 C rates, respectively. Its unique structure provided a large effective contact area for Li+ diffusion, and low charge transfer resistance. Moreover, the layered phase contributed to its capacity in over 3 V region, which increased specific energy (726 Wh kg−1) compared to the bulk particles (534 Wh kg−1).
Atomic resolution structure of serine protease proteinase K at ambient temperature
Authors: Masuda Tetsuya , Suzuki Mamoru , Inoue Shigeyuki , Song Changyong , Nakane Takanori , Nango Eriko , Tanaka Rie , Tono Kensuke , Joti Yasumasa , Kameshima Takashi , Hatsui Takaki , Yabashi Makina , Mikami Bunzo , Nureki Osamu , Numata Keiji , Iwata So , Sugahara Michihiro 
Published: March 2017

AbstractAtomic resolution structures (beyond 1.20 Å) at ambient temperature, which is usually hampered by the radiation damage in synchrotron X-ray crystallography (SRX), will add to our understanding of the structure-function relationships of enzymes. Serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) has attracted surging interest by providing a route to bypass such challenges. Yet the progress on atomic resolution analysis with SFX has been rather slow. In this report, we describe the 1.20 Å resolution structure of proteinase K using 13 keV photon energy. Hydrogen atoms, water molecules, and a number of alternative side-chain conformations have been resolved. The increase in the value of B-factor in SFX suggests that the residues and water molecules adjacent to active sites were flexible and exhibited dynamic motions at specific substrate-recognition sites.
Evolution of multi-drug resistant HCV clones from pre-existing resistant-associated variants during direct-acting antiviral therapy determined by third-generation sequencing
Authors: Takeda Haruhiko , Ueda Yoshihide , Inuzuka Tadashi , Yamashita Yukitaka , Osaki Yukio , Nasu Akihiro , Umeda Makoto , Takemura Ryo , Seno Hiroshi , Sekine Akihiro , Marusawa Hiroyuki 
Published: March 2017

AbstractResistance-associated variant (RAV) is one of the most significant clinical challenges in treating HCV-infected patients with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). We investigated the viral dynamics in patients receiving DAAs using third-generation sequencing technology. Among 283 patients with genotype-1b HCV receiving daclatasvir + asunaprevir (DCV/ASV), 32 (11.3%) failed to achieve sustained virological response (SVR). Conventional ultra-deep sequencing of HCV genome was performed in 104 patients (32 non-SVR, 72 SVR), and detected representative RAVs in all non-SVR patients at baseline, including Y93H in 28 (87.5%). Long contiguous sequences spanning NS3 to NS5A regions of each viral clone in 12 sera from 6 representative non-SVR patients were determined by third-generation sequencing, and showed the concurrent presence of several synonymous mutations linked to resistance-associated substitutions in a subpopulation of pre-existing RAVs and dominant isolates at treatment failure. Phylogenetic analyses revealed close genetic distances between pre-existing RAVs and dominant RAVs at treatment failure. In addition, multiple drug-resistant mutations developed on pre-existing RAVs after DCV/ASV in all non-SVR cases. In conclusion, multi-drug resistant viral clones at treatment failure certainly originated from a subpopulation of pre-existing RAVs in HCV-infected patients. Those RAVs were selected for and became dominant with the acquisition of multiple resistance-associated substitutions under DAA treatment pressure.
Exposure to Ambient Particulate Matter Induced COPD in a Rat Model and a Description of the Underlying Mechanism
Authors: He Fang , Liao Baoling , Pu Jinding , Li Chenglong , Zheng Mengning , Huang Lingmei , Zhou Yumin , Zhao Dongxing , Li Bing , Ran Pixin 
Published: March 2017

AbstractWhile the health effects of air pollution have been an international public health concern since at least the 1950s, recent research has focused on two broad sources of air pollution, namely, biomass fuel (BMF) and motor vehicle exhaust (MVE). Many studies have shown associations between air pollution PM and exacerbations of pre-existing COPD, but the role of air pollution PM in the development and progression of COPD is still uncertain. The current study indicates that rats can develop pronounced COPD following chronic exposure to air pollution PM (BMF and MVE), as characterized by lung function reduction, mucus metaplasia, lung and systemic inflammation, emphysema, and small airway remodeling. Comparative analyses demonstrate that both BMF and MVE activate similar pathogenesis that are linked to the development of COPD. These findings also show that some differences are found in the lungs of rats exposed to BMF or MVE, which might result in different phenotypes of COPD.
Cell-to-cell transfer of SAA1 protein in a cell culture model of systemic AA amyloidosis
Authors: Claus Stephanie , Puscalau-Girtu Ioana , Walther Paul , Syrovets Tatiana , Simmet Thomas , Haupt Christian , Fändrich Marcus 
Published: March 2017

AbstractSystemic AA amyloidosis arises from the misfolding of serum amyloid A1 (SAA1) protein and the deposition of AA amyloid fibrils at multiple sites within the body. Previous research already established that mononuclear phagocytes are crucial for the formation of the deposits in vivo and exposure of cultures of such cells to SAA1 protein induces the formation of amyloid deposits within the culture dish. In this study we show that both non-fibrillar and fibrillar SAA1 protein can be readily transferred between cultured J774A.1 cells, a widely used model of mononuclear phagocytes. We find that the exchange is generally faster with non-fibrillar SAA1 protein than with fibrils. Exchange is blocked if cells are separated by a membrane, while increasing the volume of cell culture medium had only small effects on the observed exchange efficiency. Taken together with scanning electron microscopy showing the presence of the respective types of physical interactions between the cultured cells, we conclude that the transfer of SAA1 protein depends on direct cell-to-cell contacts or tunneling nanotubes.
Comparative Subcellular Proteomics Analysis of Susceptible and Near-isogenic Resistant Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera) Larval Midgut Response to BmNPV infection
Authors: Wang Xue-yang , Yu Hai-zhong , Xu Jia-ping , Zhang Shang-zhi , Yu Dong , Liu Ming-hui , Wang Lin-ling 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe molecular mechanism of silkworm resistance to Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) infection remains largely unclear. Accumulating evidence suggests that subcellular fractionation combined with proteomics is an ideal technique to analyse host antiviral mechanisms. To clarify the anti-BmNPV mechanism of the silkworm, the near-isogenic line BC9 (resistant strain) and the recurrent parent P50 (susceptible strain) were used in a comparative subcellular proteomics study. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) combined with mass spectrometry (MS) was conducted on proteins extracted from the cytosol, mitochondria, and microsomes of BmNPV-infected and control larval midguts. A total of 87 proteins were successfully identified from the three subcellular fractions. These proteins were primarily involved in energy metabolism, protein metabolism, signalling pathways, disease, and transport. In particular, disease-relevant proteins were especially changed in microsomes. After infection with BmNPV, differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) primarily appeared in the cytosolic and microsomal fractions, which indicated that these two fractions might play a more important role in the response to BmNPV infection. After removing genetic background and individual immune stress response proteins, 16 proteins were identified as potentially involved in repressing BmNPV infection. Of these proteins, the differential expression patterns of 8 proteins according to reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analyses were consistent with the 2-DE results.
Control strategy of hand movement depends on target redundancy
Authors: Togo Shunta , Yoshioka Toshinori , Imamizu Hiroshi 
Published: March 2017

AbstractReaching toward a point target has been intensively studied in human motor control. However, little is known about reaching toward a redundant target, such as grasping a bar, in which the grasping point is irrelevant to the achievement of a task. We examined whether humans could solve the target-redundancy and control problems in a serial fashion or control their body without solving the target-redundancy problem. We equalized the target ranges between two reaching tasks: a point-to-point reaching task without target-redundancy and a point-to-bar reaching task with target-redundancy. In the both tasks, we measured hand viscoelasticity at movement end as parameters that reflect the adopted control strategy. As a result, the hand viscoelasticity in the point-to-bar reaching task was smaller than that in the point-to-point reaching task, even under the same kinematics. These results indicate that the hand viscoelasticity was modulated depending on the target-redundancy. Moreover, it is suggested that a human reaches toward a redundant target by effectively utilizing information of target redundancy rather than explicitly solving the target-redundancy problem.
Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis of Vernalization- and Cytokinin-Induced Floral Transition in Dendrobium nobile
Authors: Wen Zhenzhen , Guo Wenzhong , Li Jinchi , Lin Haisheng , He Chunmei , Liu Yunquan , Zhang Qunyu , Liu Wei 
Published: March 2017

AbstractVernalization is required for floral initiation in Dendrobium. Interestingly, those beneficial effects can also be achieved by exogenous cytokinin application in greenhouses. Thus, an as yet unknown crosstalk/interaction may exist between vernalization and cytokinin signaling pathways. In this study, we showed, by de novo transcriptome assembly using RNA-seq data from both vegetative and reproductive tissue samples, that some floral transition-related genes—DnVRN1, FT, SOC1, LFY and AP1—were differentially expressed in low-temperature-challenged (LT) or thidiazuron (TDZ)-treated plants, compared to those mock-treated (CK). Both LT and TDZ upregulated SOC1, LFY and AP1, while the upregulation of DnVRN1 and FT was only LT-induced. We further found that LT promoted the upregulation of some key cytokinin signaling regulators, including several cytokinin biosynthesis-related genes and type-B response regulator (RR)-encoding genes, and that both LT and TDZ triggered the significant upregulation of some marker genes in the gibberellin (GA) signaling pathway, indicating an important low temperature-cytokinin-GA axis in flowering. Our data thus have revealed a cytokinin-GA signal network underlying vernalization, providing a novel insight into further investigation of the molecular mechanism of floral initiation in Dendrobium.
Cross-talk among metabolic parameters, esophageal microbiota, and host gene expression following chronic exposure to an obesogenic diet
Authors: Kaakoush Nadeem O. , Lecomte Virginie , Maloney Christopher A. , Morris Margaret J. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractUnhealthy diets, and ensuing weight gain, predispose individuals to the development of esophageal adenocarcinoma. We examined the effect of chronic high fat diet (HFD) on the esophageal microbiota of Sprague Dawley rats using Illumina MiSeq amplicon sequencing (V4, 515 F/806 R) and on esophageal expression of IL18, PTGS2, PPARA, FFAR3, and CRAT. The relationships among metabolic parameters, esophageal microbiota, and host gene expression were determined. We observed a significant difference between the upper and lower esophageal microbiota in control fed rats, emphasized by enrichment of Lactobacillus species in the lower esophagus. Rats on HFD gained significantly more fat and had reduced insulin sensitivity. Diet type significantly affected the esophageal microbiota, with Clostridium sensu stricto being enriched in both upper and lower segments of HFD fed rats. Of interest, bacterial pathways related to carotenoid biosynthesis were significantly decreased in the lower esophagus of HFD fed rats. We observed strong correlations between metabolic parameters, the esophageal microbial profiles, and host esophageal gene expression. In particular, Fusobacterium, Rothia, and Granulicatella showed consistent correlations across a range of metabolic and gene markers. Our data indicates that unhealthy diets can significantly alter the esophageal microbiota, and enrich for bacterial species previously associated with chronic gastrointestinal diseases.
Increased mitochondrial coupling and anaerobic capacity minimizes aerobic costs of trout in the sea
Authors: Brijs Jeroen , Sandblom Erik , Sundh Henrik , Gräns Albin , Hinchcliffe James , Ekström Andreas , Sundell Kristina , Olsson Catharina , Axelsson Michael , Pichaud Nicolas 
Published: March 2017

AbstractAnadromy is a distinctive life-history strategy in fishes that has evolved independently many times. In an evolutionary context, the benefits of anadromy for a species or population must outweigh the costs and risks associated with the habitat switch. The migration of fish across the freshwater-ocean boundary coincides with potentially energetically costly osmoregulatory modifications occurring at numerous levels of biological organization. By integrating whole animal and sub-cellular metabolic measurements, this study presents significant findings demonstrating how an anadromous salmonid (i.e.rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss) is able to transform from a hyper- to hypo-osmoregulatory state without incurring significant increases in whole animal oxygen consumption rate. Instead, underlying metabolic mechanisms that fuel the osmoregulatory machinery at the organ level (i.e.intestine) are modulated, as mitochondrial coupling and anaerobic metabolism are increased to satisfy the elevated energetic demands. This may have positive implications for the relative fitness of the migrating individual, as aerobic capacity may be maintained for locomotion (i.e.foraging and predator avoidance) and growth. Furthermore, the ability to modulate mitochondrial metabolism in order to maintain osmotic balance suggests that mitochondria of anadromous fish may have been a key target for natural selection, driving species adaptations to different aquatic environments.
Effects of atmospheric-pressure non-thermal bio-compatible plasma and plasma activated nitric oxide water on cervical cancer cells
Authors: Li Ying , Ho Kang Min , Sup Uhm Han , Joon Lee Geon , Ha Choi Eun , Han Ihn 
Published: March 2017

AbstractAtmospheric-pressure non-thermal bio-compatible plasma is a partially ionized gas with electrically charged particles. Previous studies demonstrated that dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma could induce apoptosis of various cancer cells, in particular demonstrating the selective cytotoxicity of cancer cells over normal cells. Therefore, DBD plasma can be considered as a potential cancer treatment method for clinical applications. We previously developed a microwave jet plasma system, producing nitric oxide called nitric oxide-plasma activated water (NO-PAW). In this study, we explored the effects of NO-PAW on a cervical cancer cell line, in comparison with DBD plasma. The cytotoxicity results showed that the treatment of HeLa cell with DBD for 4 minutes and 7 μM concentration of NO-PAW could reach almost IC60. For the apoptosis assay, 4 minutes treatment of DBD could induce 7% apoptotic effect, whereas 7 μM NO-PAW could induce 18% apoptotic effect. In addition, we assumed that both DBD plasma and NO-PAW could induce HeLa cell apoptosis by facilitating an accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). Although further detail on the molecular signal pathway is still needed, DBD and NO-PAW could become promising applications for effective and safe clinical trials for cancer therapy.
Follistatin-like 1 protects against hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in mice
Authors: Zhang Wei , Wang Wang , Liu Jie , Li Jinna , Wang Juan , Zhang Yunxia , Zhang Zhifei , Liu Yafei , Jin Yankun , Li Jifeng , Cao Jie , Wang Chen , Ning Wen , Wang Jun 
Published: March 2017

AbstractPulmonary hypertension (PH) remains a life-limiting disease characterized by pulmonary vascular remodelling due to aberrant proliferation and migration of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs), thus leading to raised pulmonary arterial pressure and right ventricular hypertrophy. Secreted glycoprotein follistatin-like 1 (FSTL1) has been reported to ameliorate tissue remodelling in cardiovascular injuries. However, the role of FSTL1 in deranged pulmonary arteries remains elusive. We found that there were higher serum levels of FSTL1 in patients with PH related to chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) and in mice model of hypoxia-induced PH (HPH). Haploinsufficiency of Fstl1 in mice contributed to an exacerbated HPH, as demonstrated by increased right ventricular systolic pressure, pulmonary arterial muscularization and right ventricular hypertrophy index. Conversely, FSTL1 administration attenuated HPH. In cultured human PASMCs, hypoxia-promoted cellular viability, DNA synthesis and migration were suppressed by exogenous FSTL1 but enhanced by small interfering RNA targeting FSTL1. Additionally, FSTL1 inhibited the proliferation and migration of PASMCs via extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) signal pathway. All these findings indicate that FSTL1 imposed a protective modulation on pulmonary vascular remodelling, thereby suggesting its role in the regulation of HPH.
Surface Acoustic Waves to Drive Plant Transpiration
Authors: Gomez Eliot F. , Berggren Magnus , Simon Daniel T. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractEmerging fields of research in electronic plants (e-plants) and agro-nanotechnology seek to create more advanced control of plants and their products. Electronic/nanotechnology plant systems strive to seamlessly monitor, harvest, or deliver chemical signals to sense or regulate plant physiology in a controlled manner. Since the plant vascular system (xylem/phloem) is the primary pathway used to transport water, nutrients, and chemical signals—as well as the primary vehicle for current e-plant and phtyo-nanotechnology work—we seek to directly control fluid transport in plants using external energy. Surface acoustic waves generated from piezoelectric substrates were directly coupled into rose leaves, thereby causing water to rapidly evaporate in a highly localized manner only at the site in contact with the actuator. From fluorescent imaging, we find that the technique reliably delivers up to 6x more water/solute to the site actuated by acoustic energy as compared to normal plant transpiration rates and 2x more than heat-assisted evaporation. The technique of increasing natural plant transpiration through acoustic energy could be used to deliver biomolecules, agrochemicals, or future electronic materials at high spatiotemporal resolution to targeted areas in the plant; providing better interaction with plant physiology or to realize more sophisticated cyborg systems.
Patient Perception of Speech Outcomes: The Relationship Between Clinical Measures and Self-Perception of Speech Function Following Surgical Treatment for Oral Cancer
Authors: Constantinescu Gabriela , Rieger Jana , Winget Marcy , Paulsen Catherine , Seikaly Hadi 
Published: March 2017

PurposeTreatment for oral cancer can result in speech impairments that can have varying impacts on patient quality of life. This study explored the relationship between clinical measures of speech impairment and the perception that patients had of this change in the early stage of recovery.MethodThis was a quasi-experimental 1-group pre–post study design carried out on 10 patients with surgical intervention for oral cancer. Two clinical measures (word intelligibility and consonant phoneme error) and 2 patient-perception measures (Speech Handicap Index total score and Speech Handicap Index patient criteria score) were collected at preoperative and 1-month postoperative appointments.ResultsQualitative analysis revealed discordance between clinical and patient-perceived measures in 4 of 10 patients. Change in consonant phoneme error and change in word intelligibility were significantly correlated (r= .827). Furthermore, on average, statistically significant relationships were not found between clinical and patient-perceived measures or between the 2 patient-perception measures.ConclusionsDiscordance between clinical and patient-perceived measures was observed in almost half of the sample, indicating that clinical tests did not fully explain the extent of impairment perceived by patients. Speech outcomes should focus on both types of measures, and patient perception outcomes should be carefully considered when recommending speech therapy.
Dual‐mode band‐pass filters made by SU‐8 micromachining technology for terahertz region
Authors: Junlin Wang , Binzhen Zhang , Xin Wang , Junping Duan , Wanjun Wang 
Published: March 2017

Two four‐order dual‐mode rectangular waveguide filters centred at 100 GHZ with return loss all better than −19 dB are presented. The filters consist of two cascade resonant cavities suppose TE102/TE301 degenerate modes and three pairs of round corner inductive irises symmetrical with waveguide. Since the introduction of round corner irises and dual‐mode cavities, the filter structures have lower aspect ratio and less resonant cavities, thus the difficulty of fabrication sharply reduced. Single zero exists at the one side of pass‐band because of the same width of two resonant cavities. All the other parameters constant except for the widths of two cavities slightly unequal, two distinct transmission zeros can generate at the same side of pass‐band. UV lithography technology with SU‐8 photo‐resist is used for the fabrication of filters. On the whole, results from measurement are in good agreement with simulation, which fully confirm the validity of design and fabrication methods.
Miniaturised millimetre wave frequency selective surface for atmospheric remote sensing
Authors: Poojali J. , Ray S. , Pesala B. , Krishnamurthy C.V. , Arunachalam K. 
Published: March 2017

A miniaturised frequency selective surface (FSS) with λ0/7 × λ0/7 unit cell at the pass band centre frequency is presented for millimetre wave remote sensing. A resonant corner convoluted square ring (CCSR) is loaded with non‐resonant cross dipole (CD) for tri‐band spectral response. Rectangular patches integrated in the CCSR are used to optimise the coupling between the CD and CCSR to reject 50–60 GHz (B1) and 170–195 GHz (B3), and transmit 87–91 GHz (B2). The FSS fabricated on 175 μm thick quartz with 3721 unit cells indicates polarisation and angle stable transmission response.