bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sol-gel synthesis of thorn-like ZnO nanoparticles endorsing mechanical stirring effect and their antimicrobial activities: Potential role as nano-antibiotics
Authors: Khan Mohd Farhan , Ansari Akhter H. , Hameedullah M. , Ahmad Ejaz , Husain Fohad Mabood , Zia Qamar , Baig Umair , Zaheer Mohd Rehan , Alam Mohammad Mezbaul , Khan Abu Mustafa , AlOthman Zeid A. , Ahmad Iqbal , Ashraf Ghulam Md , Aliev Gjumrakch 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe effect of mechanical stirring on sol-gel synthesis of thorn-like ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) and antimicrobial activities is successfully reported in this study. The in-house synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, FTIR, TGA, DSC and UV-visible spectroscopy. The X-Ray Diffraction analysis revealed the wurtzite crystal lattice for ZnO-NPs with no impurities present. The diametric measurements of the synthesized thorn-like ZnO-NPs (morphology assessed by SEM) were well accounted to be less than 50 nm with the help of TEM. Relative decrease in aspect ratio was observed on increasing the agitation speed. The UV-visible spectroscopy showed the absorption peaks of the ZnO-NPs existed in both UVA and UVB region. A hypsochromic shift in λmax was observed when stirring pace was increased from 500 rpm to 2000 rpm. The FTIR spectroscopy showed the absorption bands of the stretching modes of Zn-O between 500 cm−1 to 525 cm−1. The Thermal analysis studies revealed better stability for ZnO-NPs prepared at 2000 rpm (ZnO-2000 rpm). TGA revealed the weight loss between two main temperatures ranges viz. around (90 °C–120 °C) and (240 °C–280 °C). Finally, the effect of ZnO-NPs prepared at different stirring conditions on the growth of Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis), Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria and a fungi (Candida albicans) were examined; which showed good antibacterial as well as antifungal properties. These findings introduce a simple, inexpensive process to synthesize ZnO-NPs using conventional methods without the use of sophisticated equipments and its application as a potent nano-antibiotic.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv1152 is a Novel GntR Family Transcriptional Regulator Involved in Intrinsic Vancomycin Resistance and is a Potential Vancomycin Adjuvant Target
Authors: Zeng Jie , Deng Wanyan , Yang Wenmin , Luo Hongping , Duan Xiangke , Xie Longxiang , Li Ping , Wang Rui , Fu Tiwei , Abdalla Abualgasim Elgaili , Xie Jianping 
Published: June 2016

AbstractNovel factors involved in Mycobacteria antibiotics resistance are crucial for better targets to combat the ever-increasing drug resistant strains. Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv1152, a novel GntR family transcriptional regulator and a promising vancomycin adjuvant target, was firstly characterized in our study. Overexpression of Rv1152 in Mycobacterium smegmatis decreased bacterial susceptibility to vancomycin. Moreover, a deficiency in MSMEG_5174, an Rv1152 homolog made M. smegmatis more sensitive to vancomycin, which was reverted by complementing the MSMEG_5174 deficiency with Rv1152 of M. tuberculosis. Rv1152 negatively regulated four vancomycin responsive genes, namely genes encoding the ribosome binding protein Hsp, small unit of sulfate adenylyltransferase CysD, L-lysine-epsilon aminotransferase Lat and protease HtpX. Taken together, Rv1152 controls the expression of genes required for the susceptibility to vancomycin. This is the first report that links the GntR family transcriptional factor with vancomycin susceptibility. Inhibitors of Rv1152 might be ideal vancomycin adjuvants for controlling multi-drug resistant Mycobacterial infections.
A history-based method to estimate animal preference
Authors: Maia Caroline Marques , Volpato Gilson Luiz 
Published: June 2016

AbstractGiving animals their preferred items (e.g., environmental enrichment) has been suggested as a method to improve animal welfare, thus raising the question of how to determine what animals want. Most studies have employed choice tests for detecting animal preferences. However, whether choice tests represent animal preferences remains a matter of controversy. Here, we present a history-based method to analyse data from individual choice tests to discriminate between preferred and non-preferred items. This method differentially weighs choices from older and recent tests performed over time. Accordingly, we provide both a preference index that identifies preferred items contrasted with non-preferred items in successive multiple-choice tests and methods to detect the strength of animal preferences for each item. We achieved this goal by investigating colour choices in the Nile tilapia fish species.
Direct Measurement of Polarization-Induced Fields in GaN/AlN by Nano-Beam Electron Diffraction
Authors: Carvalho Daniel , Müller-Caspary Knut , Schowalter Marco , Grieb Tim , Mehrtens Thorsten , Rosenauer Andreas , Ben Teresa , García Rafael , Redondo-Cubero Andrés , Lorenz Katharina , Daudin Bruno , Morales Francisco M. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe built-in piezoelectric fields in group III-nitrides can act as road blocks on the way to maximizing the efficiency of opto-electronic devices. In order to overcome this limitation, a proper characterization of these fields is necessary. In this work nano-beam electron diffraction in scanning transmission electron microscopy mode has been used to simultaneously measure the strain state and the induced piezoelectric fields in a GaN/AlN multiple quantum well system.
Laminar-Turbulent Transition in Raman Fiber Lasers: A First Passage Statistics Based Analysis
Authors: Chattopadhyay Amit K. , Nasiev Diar , Sugavanam Srikanth , Tarasov Nikita , Churkin Dmitry V. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractLoss of coherence with increasing excitation amplitudes and spatial size modulation is a fundamental problem in designing Raman fiber lasers. While it is known that ramping up laser pump power increases the amplitude of stochastic excitations, such higher energy inputs can also lead to a transition from a linearly stable coherent laminar regime to a non-desirable disordered turbulent state. This report presents a new statistical methodology, based on first passage statistics, that classifies lasing regimes in Raman fiber lasers, thereby leading to a fast and highly accurate identification of a strong instability leading to a laminar-turbulent phase transition through a self-consistently defined order parameter. The results have been consistent across a wide range of pump power values, heralding a breakthrough in the non-invasive analysis of fiber laser dynamics.
DNA barcoding, species-specific PCR and real-time PCR techniques for the identification of six Tribolium pests of stored products
Authors: Zhang Tao , Wang Yi-Jiao , Guo Wei , Luo Dan , Wu Yi , Kučerová Zuzana , Stejskal Václav , Opit George , Cao Yang , Li Fu-Jun , Li Zhi-Hong 
Published: June 2016

AbstractFlour beetles of the genus Tribolium Macleay (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) are important stored product pests in China and worldwide. They are often found or are intercepted in grain depots, flour mills, and entry-exit ports, etc. Traditionally, Tribolium species are identified according to the morphological characteristics of the adult. However, it is almost impossible to rapidly identify adult fragments and non-adult stages based on external morphological characteristics. Molecular techniques for the rapid and accurate identification of Tribolium species are required, particularly for pest monitoring and the quarantine of stored products pests. Here, we establish DNA barcoding, species-specific PCR, and real-time PCR techniques for the identification of six stored-product pest Tribolium species including T. castaneum, T. confusum, T. destructor, T. madens, T. freemani and T. brevicornis. We detected the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) barcodes for Tribolium from 18 geographic populations and 101 individuals, built a Tribolium DNA barcode library, and designed species-specific primers and TaqMan probes for the above six Tribolium species. The three techniques were applied to identify Tribolium collected from stored samples and samples captured from quarantine ports. The results demonstrated that three techniques were all able to identify the six species of Tribolium both rapidly and accurately.
Insights into Intrinsic Brain Networks based on Graph Theory and PET in right- compared to left-sided Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
Authors: Vanicek Thomas , Hahn Andreas , Traub-Weidinger Tatjana , Hilger Eva , Spies Marie , Wadsak Wolfgang , Lanzenberger Rupert , Pataraia Ekaterina , Asenbaum-Nan Susanne 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe human brain exhibits marked hemispheric differences, though it is not fully understood to what extent lateralization of the epileptic focus is relevant. Preoperative [18F]FDG-PET depicts lateralization of seizure focus in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and reveals dysfunctional metabolic brain connectivity. The aim of the present study was to compare metabolic connectivity, inferred from inter-regional [18F]FDG PET uptake correlations, in right-sided (RTLE; n = 30) and left-sided TLE (LTLE; n = 32) with healthy controls (HC; n = 31) using graph theory based network analysis. Comparing LTLE and RTLE and patient groups separately to HC, we observed higher lobar connectivity weights in RTLE compared to LTLE for connections of the temporal and the parietal lobe of the contralateral hemisphere (CH). Moreover, especially in RTLE compared to LTLE higher local efficiency were found in the temporal cortices and other brain regions of the CH. The results of this investigation implicate altered metabolic networks in patients with TLE specific to the lateralization of seizure focus, and describe compensatory mechanisms especially in the CH of patients with RTLE. We propose that graph theoretical analysis of metabolic connectivity using [18F]FDG-PET offers an important additional modality to explore brain networks.
Identification of SLC41A3 as a novel player in magnesium homeostasis
Authors: de Baaij Jeroen H.F. , Arjona Francisco J. , van den Brand Michiel , Lavrijsen Marla , Lameris Anke L.L. , Bindels René J.M. , Hoenderop Joost G.J. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractRegulation of the body Mg2+ balance takes place in the distal convoluted tubule (DCT), where transcellular reabsorption determines the final urinary Mg2+ excretion. The basolateral Mg2+ extrusion mechanism in the DCT is still unknown, but recent findings suggest that SLC41 proteins contribute to Mg2+ extrusion. The aim of this study was, therefore, to characterize the functional role of SLC41A3 in Mg2+ homeostasis using the Slc41a3 knockout (Slc41a3−/−) mouse. By quantitative PCR analysis it was shown that Slc41a3 is the only SLC41 isoform with enriched expression in the DCT. Interestingly, serum and urine electrolyte determinations demonstrated that Slc41a3−/− mice suffer from hypomagnesemia. The intestinal Mg2+ absorption capacity was measured using the stable 25Mg2+ isotope in mice fed a low Mg2+ diet. 25Mg2+ uptake was similar in wildtype (Slc41a3+/+) and Slc41a3−/− mice, although Slc41a3−/− animals exhibited increased intestinal mRNA expression of Mg2+ transporters Trpm6 and Slc41a1. Remarkably, some of the Slc41a3−/− mice developed severe unilateral hydronephrosis. In conclusion, SLC41A3 was established as a new factor for Mg2+ handling.
Prenatal maternal stress and wheeze in children: novel insights into epigenetic regulation
Authors: Trump Saskia , Bieg Matthias , Gu Zuguang , Thürmann Loreen , Bauer Tobias , Bauer Mario , Ishaque Naveed , Röder Stefan , Gu Lei , Herberth Gunda , Lawerenz Christian , Borte Michael , Schlesner Matthias , Plass Christoph , Diessl Nicolle , Eszlinger Markus , Mücke Oliver , Elvers Horst-Dietrich , Wissenbach Dirk K. , von Bergen Martin , Herrmann Carl , Weichenhan Dieter , Wright Rosalind J. , Lehmann Irina , Eils Roland 
Published: June 2016

AbstractPsychological stress during pregnancy increases the risk of childhood wheeze and asthma. However, the transmitting mechanisms remain largely unknown. Since epigenetic alterations have emerged as a link between perturbations in the prenatal environment and an increased disease risk we used whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) to analyze changes in DNA methylation in mothers and their children related to prenatal psychosocial stress and assessed its role in the development of wheeze in the child. We evaluated genomic regions altered in their methylation level due to maternal stress based of WGBS data of 10 mother-child-pairs. These data were complemented by longitudinal targeted methylation and transcriptional analyses in children from our prospective mother-child cohort LINA for whom maternal stress and wheezing information was available (n = 443). High maternal stress was associated with an increased risk for persistent wheezing in the child until the age of 5. Both mothers and children showed genome-wide alterations in DNA-methylation specifically in enhancer elements. Deregulated neuroendocrine and neurotransmitter receptor interactions were observed in stressed mothers and their children. In children but not in mothers, calcium- and Wnt-signaling required for lung maturation in the prenatal period were epigenetically deregulated and could be linked with wheezing later in children’s life.
Role of Polar Phonons in the Photo Excited State of Metal Halide Perovskites
Authors: Bokdam Menno , Sander Tobias , Stroppa Alessandro , Picozzi Silvia , Sarma D. D. , Franchini Cesare , Kresse Georg 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe development of high efficiency perovskite solar cells has sparked a multitude of measurements on the optical properties of these materials. For the most studied methylammonium(MA)PbI3 perovskite, a large range (6–55 meV) of exciton binding energies has been reported by various experiments. The existence of excitons at room temperature is unclear. For the MAPbX3 perovskites we report on relativistic Bethe-Salpeter Equation calculations (GW-BSE). This method is capable to directly calculate excitonic properties from first-principles. At low temperatures it predicts exciton binding energies in agreement with the reported ‘large’ values. For MAPbI3, phonon modes present in this frequency range have a negligible contribution to the ionic screening. By calculating the polarization in time from finite temperature molecular dynamics, we show that at room temperature this does not change. We therefore exclude ionic screening as an explanation for the experimentally observed reduction of the exciton binding energy at room temperature and argue in favor of the formation of polarons.
Phosphocholine – an agonist of metabotropic but not of ionotropic functions of α9-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
Authors: Richter K. , Mathes V. , Fronius M. , Althaus M. , Hecker A. , Krasteva-Christ G. , Padberg W. , Hone A. J. , McIntosh J. M. , Zakrzewicz A. , Grau V. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractWe demonstrated previously that phosphocholine and phosphocholine-modified macromolecules efficiently inhibit ATP-dependent release of interleukin-1β from human and murine monocytes by a mechanism involving nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR). Interleukin-1β is a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine of innate immunity that plays pivotal roles in host defence. Control of interleukin-1β release is vital as excessively high systemic levels cause life threatening inflammatory diseases. In spite of its structural similarity to acetylcholine, there are no other reports on interactions of phosphocholine with nAChR. In this study, we demonstrate that phosphocholine inhibits ion-channel function of ATP receptor P2X7 in monocytic cells via nAChR containing α9 and α10 subunits. In stark contrast to choline, phosphocholine does not evoke ion current responses in Xenopus laevis oocytes, which heterologously express functional homomeric nAChR composed of α9 subunits or heteromeric receptors containing α9 and α10 subunits. Preincubation of these oocytes with phosphocholine, however, attenuated choline-induced ion current changes, suggesting that phosphocholine may act as a silent agonist. We conclude that phophocholine activates immuno-modulatory nAChR expressed by monocytes but does not stimulate canonical ionotropic receptor functions.
The LIKE SEX FOUR2 regulates root development by modulating reactive oxygen species homeostasis in Arabidopsis
Authors: Zhao Pingzhi , Sokolov Lubomir N. , Ye Jian , Tang Cheng-Yi , Shi Jisen , Zhen Yan , Lan Wenzhi , Hong Zhi , Qi Jinliang , Lu Gui-Hua , Pandey Girdhar K. , Yang Yong-Hua 
Published: June 2016

AbstractMaintaining reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis plays a central role in plants and is also critical for plant root development. Threshold levels of ROS act as signals for elongation and differentiation of root cells. The protein phosphatase LIKE SEX FOUR2 (LSF2) has been reported to regulate starch metabolism in Arabidopsis, but little is known about the mechanism how LSF2 affect ROS homeostasis. Here, we identified that LSF2 function as a component modulating ROS homeostasis in response to oxidative stress and, thus regulate root development. Compared with wild type Arabidopsis, lsf2-1 mutant exhibited reduced rates of superoxide generation and higher levels of hydrogen peroxide upon oxidative stress treatments. The activities of several antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase, were also affected in lsf2-1 mutant under these oxidative stress conditions. Consequently, lsf2-1 mutant exhibited the reduced root growth but less inhibition of root hair formation compared to wild type Arabidopsis plants. Importantly, protein phosphatase LSF2 interacted with mitogen-activated protein kinase 8 (MPK8), a known component of ROS homeostasis pathways in the cytoplasm. These findings indicated the novel function of LSF2 that controls ROS homeostasis to regulate root development.
Mitochondrial phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK-M) and serine biosynthetic pathway genes are co-ordinately increased during anabolic agent-induced skeletal muscle growth
Authors: Brown D. M. , Williams H. , Ryan K. J. P. , Wilson T. L. , Daniel Z. C. T. R. , Mareko M. H. D. , Emes R. D. , Harris D. W. , Jones S. , Wattis J. A. D. , Dryden I. L. , Hodgman T. C. , Brameld J. M. , Parr T. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractWe aimed to identify novel molecular mechanisms for muscle growth during administration of anabolic agents. Growing pigs (Duroc/(Landrace/Large-White)) were administered Ractopamine (a beta-adrenergic agonist; BA; 20 ppm in feed) or Reporcin (recombinant growth hormone; GH; 10 mg/48 hours injected) and compared to a control cohort (feed only; no injections) over a 27-day time course (1, 3, 7, 13 or 27-days). Longissimus Dorsi muscle gene expression was analyzed using Agilent porcine transcriptome microarrays and clusters of genes displaying similar expression profiles were identified using a modified maSigPro clustering algorithm. Anabolic agents increased carcass (p = 0.002) and muscle weights (Vastus Lateralis: p < 0.001; Semitendinosus: p = 0.075). Skeletal muscle mRNA expression of serine/one-carbon/glycine biosynthesis pathway genes (Phgdh, Psat1 and Psph) and the gluconeogenic enzyme, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase-M (Pck2/PEPCK-M), increased during treatment with BA, and to a lesser extent GH (p < 0.001, treatment x time interaction). Treatment with BA, but not GH, caused a 2-fold increase in phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH) protein expression at days 3 (p < 0.05) and 7 (p < 0.01), and a 2-fold increase in PEPCK-M protein expression at day 7 (p < 0.01). BA treated pigs exhibit a profound increase in expression of PHGDH and PEPCK-M in skeletal muscle, implicating a role for biosynthetic metabolic pathways in muscle growth.
Mycobacteriophage SWU1 gp39 can potentiate multiple antibiotics against Mycobacterium via altering the cell wall permeability
Authors: Li Qiming , Zhou Mingliang , Fan Xiangyu , Yan Jianlong , Li Weimin , Xie Jianping 
Published: June 2016

AbstractM. tuberculosisis intrinsically tolerant to many antibiotics largely due to the imperviousness of its unusual mycolic acid-containing cell wall to most antimicrobials. The emergence and increasingly widespread of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) revitalized keen interest in phage-inspired therapy. SWU1gp39 is a novel gene from mycobacteriophage SWU1 with unknown function. SWU1gp39 expressed inM. smegmatisconferred the host cell increased susceptibility to multiple antibiotics, including isoniazid, erythromycin, norfloxacin, ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, rifampicin and vancomycin, and multiple environment stresses such as H2O2, heat shock, low pH and SDS. By using EtBr/Nile red uptake assays, WT-pAL-gp39 strain showed higher cell wall permeability than control strain WT-pAL. Moreover, the WT-pAL-gp39 strain produced more reactive oxygen species and reduced NAD+/NADH ratio. RNA-Seq transcriptomes of the WT-pAL-gp39 and WT-pAL revealed that the transcription of 867 genes was differentially regulated, including genes associated with lipid metabolism. Taken together, our results implicated that SWU1gp39, a novel gene from mycobacteriophage, disrupted the lipid metabolism of host and increased cell wall permeability, ultimately potentiated the efficacy of multiple antibiotics and stresses against mycobacteria.
In-situ Isotopic Analysis at Nanoscale using Parallel Ion Electron Spectrometry: A Powerful New Paradigm for Correlative Microscopy
Authors: Yedra Lluís , Eswara Santhana , Dowsett David , Wirtz Tom 
Published: June 2016

AbstractIsotopic analysis is of paramount importance across the entire gamut of scientific research. To advance the frontiers of knowledge, a technique for nanoscale isotopic analysis is indispensable. Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) is a well-established technique for analyzing isotopes, but its spatial-resolution is fundamentally limited. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) is a well-known method for high-resolution imaging down to the atomic scale. However, isotopic analysis in TEM is not possible. Here, we introduce a powerful new paradigm for in-situ correlative microscopy called the Parallel Ion Electron Spectrometry by synergizing SIMS with TEM. We demonstrate this technique by distinguishing lithium carbonate nanoparticles according to the isotopic label of lithium, viz. 6Li and 7Li and imaging them at high-resolution by TEM, adding a new dimension to correlative microscopy.
Discriminating the Independent Influence of Cell Adhesion and Spreading Area on Stem Cell Fate Determination Using Micropatterned Surfaces
Authors: Wang Xinlong , Hu Xiaohong , Dulińska-Molak Ida , Kawazoe Naoki , Yang Yingnan , Chen Guoping 
Published: June 2016

AbstractAdhesion and spreading are essential processes of anchorage dependent cells involved in regulation of cell functions. Cells interact with their extracellular matrix (ECM) resulting in different degree of adhesion and spreading. However, it is not clear whether cell adhesion or cell spreading is more important for cell functions. In this study, 10 types of isotropical micropatterns that were composed of 2 μm microdots were prepared to precisely control the adhesion area and spreading area of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The respective influence of adhesion and spreading areas on stem cell functions was investigated. Adhesion area showed more significant influences on the focal adhesion formation, binding of myosin to actin fibers, cytoskeletal organization, cellular Young’s modulus, accumulation of YAP/TAZ in nuclei, osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of MSCs than did the spreading area. The results indicated that adhesion area rather than spreading area played more important roles in regulating cell functions. This study should provide new insight of the influence of cell adhesion and spreading on cell functions and inspire the design of biomaterials to process in an effective manner for manipulation of cell functions.