bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Microfluidic preparation of anchored cell membrane sheets for in vitro analyses and manipulation of the cytoplasmic face
Authors: Izuta Shin , Yamaguchi Satoshi , Misawa Ryuji , Yamahira Shinya , Tan Modong , Kawahara Masahiro , Suzuki Tomoko , Takagi Tomoko , Sato Kae , Nakamura Motonao , Nagamune Teruyuki , Okamoto Akimitsu 
Published: October 2017

AbstractMolecular networks on the cytoplasmic faces of cellular plasma membranes are critical research topics in biological sciences and medicinal chemistry. However, the selective permeability of the cell membrane restricts the researchers from accessing to the intact intracellular factors on the membrane from the outside. Here, a microfluidic method to prepare cell membrane sheets was developed as a promising tool for direct examination of the cytoplasmic faces of cell membranes. Mammalian cells immobilized on a poly(ethylene glycol)-lipid coated substrate were rapidly and efficiently fractured, with the sheer stress of laminar flow in microchannels, resulting in isolation of the bottom cell membrane sheets with exposed intact cytoplasmic faces. On these faces of the cell membrane sheets, both ligand-induced phosphorylation of receptor tyrosine kinases and selective enzymatic modification of a G-protein coupling receptor were directly observed. Thus, the present cell membrane sheet should serve as a unique platform for studies providing new insights into juxta-membrane molecular networks and drug discovery.
Noble metal-coated MoS2 nanofilms with vertically-aligned 2D layers for visible light-driven photocatalytic degradation of emerging water contaminants
Authors: Islam Md Ashraful , Church Jared , Han Changseok , Chung Hee-Suk , Ji Eunji , Kim Jong Hun , Choudhary Nitin , Lee Gwan-Hyoung , Lee Woo Hyoung , Jung Yeonwoong 
Published: October 2017

AbstractTwo-dimensional molybdenum disulfide (2D MoS2) presents extraordinary optical, electrical, and chemical properties which are highly tunable by engineering the orientation of constituent 2D layers. 2D MoS2 films with vertically-aligned layers exhibit numerous 2D edge sites which are predicted to offer superior chemical reactivity owing to their enriched dangling bonds. This enhanced chemical reactivity coupled with their tunable band gap energy can render the vertical 2D MoS2 unique opportunities for environmental applications that go beyond the conventional applications of horizontal 2D MoS2 in electronics/opto-electronics. Herein, we report that MoS2 films with vertically-aligned 2D layers exhibit excellent visible light responsive photocatalytic activities for efficiently degrading organic compounds in contaminated water such as harmful algal blooms. We demonstrate the visible light-driven rapid degradation of microcystin-LR, one of the most toxic compounds produced by the algal blooms, and reveal that the degradation efficiency can be significantly improved by incorporating noble metals. This study suggests a high promise of these emerging 2D materials for water treatment, significantly broadening their versatility for a wide range of energy and environmental applications.
Lasting deficit in inhibitory control with mild traumatic brain injury
Authors: Xu Benjamin , Sandrini Marco , Levy Sarah , Volochayev Rita , Awosika Oluwole , Butman John A. , Pham Dzung L. , Cohen Leonardo G. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractBeing able to focus on a complex task and inhibit unwanted actions or interfering information (i.e., inhibitory control) are essential human cognitive abilities. However, it remains unknown the extent to which mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) may impact these critical functions. In this study, seventeen patients and age-matched healthy controls (HC) performed a variant of the Stroop task and attention-demanding 4-choice response tasks (4CRT) with identical stimuli but two contexts: one required only routine responses and the other with occasional response conflicts. The results showed that mTBI patients performed equally well as the HC when the 4CRT required only routine responses. However, when the task conditions included occasional response conflicts, mTBI patients with even a single concussion showed a significant slow-down in all responses and higher error rates relative to the HC. Results from event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (efMRI) revealed altered neural activity in the mTBI patients in the cerebellum-thalamo-cortical and the fronto-basal-ganglia networks regulating inhibitory control. These results suggest that even without apparent difficulties in performing complex attention-demanding but routine tasks, patients with mTBI may experience long-lasting deficits in regulating inhibitory control when situations call for rapid conflict resolutions.
Specific and intrinsic sequence patterns extracted by deep learning from intra-protein binding and non-binding peptide fragments
Authors: Wang Yuhong , Huang Junzhou , Li Wei , Wang Sheng , Ding Chuanfan 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe key finding in the DNA double helix model is the specific pairing or binding between nucleotides A-T and C-G, and the pairing rules are the molecule basis of genetic code. Unfortunately, no such rules have been discovered for proteins. Here we show that intrinsic sequence patterns between intra-protein binding peptide fragments exist, they can be extracted using a deep learning algorithm, and they bear an interesting semblance to the DNA double helix model. The intra-protein binding peptide fragments have specific and intrinsic sequence patterns, distinct from non-binding peptide fragments, and multi-millions of binding and non-binding peptide fragments from currently available protein X-ray structures are classified with an accuracy of up to 93%. The specific binding between short peptide fragments may provide an important driving force for protein folding and protein-protein interaction, two open and fundamental problems in molecular biology, and it may have significant potential in design, discovery, and development of peptide, protein, and antibody drugs.
Efficacy of an Adenoviral Vectored Multivalent Centralized Influenza Vaccine
Authors: Lingel Amy , Bullard Brianna L. , Weaver Eric A. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractMice were immunized with Adenovirus expressing the H1-con, H2-con, H3-con and H5-con HA consensus genes in combination (multivalent) and compared to mice immunized with the traditional 2010–2011 FluZone and FluMist seasonal vaccines. Immunized mice were challenged with 10–100 MLD50 of H1N1, H3N1, H3N2 and H5N1 influenza viruses. The traditional vaccines induced robust levels of HA inhibition (HI) titers, but failed to protect against five different heterologous lethal influenza challenges. Conversely, the multivalent consensus vaccine (1 × 1010 virus particles (vp)/mouse) induced protective HI titers of ≥40 against 8 of 10 influenza viruses that represent a wide degree of divergence within the HA subtypes and protected 100% of mice from 8 of 9 lethal heterologous influenza virus challenges. The vaccine protection was dose dependent, in general, and a dose as low as 5 × 107 vp/mouse still provided 100% survival against 7 of 9 lethal heterologous influenza challenges. These data indicate that very low doses of Adenovirus-vectored consensus vaccines induce superior levels of immunity against a wide divergence of influenza subtypes as compared to traditional vaccines. These doses are scalable and translatable to humans and may provide the foundation for complete and long-lasting anti-influenza immunity.
Chromium carbide/Carbon Nanotube Hybrid Structure Assisted Copper Composites with Low Temperature Coefficient of Resistance
Authors: Cho Seungchan , Kikuchi Keiko , Lee Eunkyung , Choi Moonhee , Jo Ilguk , Lee Sang-Bok , Lee Sang-Kwan , Kawasaki Akira 
Published: October 2017

AbstractIn order to explore the possibility of using carbon nanotube (CNT) to introduce and control the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of metal matrix composite, relatively thick and short multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) were introduced in the metal matrix with in-situ formation of chromium carbide (Cr7C3) at the CNT/copper (Cu) interface. We demonstrate that incompatible properties such as electrical conductivity and TCR can be achieved simultaneously by introducing MWCNTs in the Cu matrix, with control of the interfacial resistivity using the MWCNT/Cr7C3–Cu system. High electrical conductivity of 94.66 IACS and low TCR of 1,451 10–6 °C−1 are achieved in the 5 vol.% MWCNT–CuCr composite. In-situ formation of Cr7C3 nanostructures at the MWCNT/Cu interface by reaction of diffused Cr atoms and amorphous carbon of MWCNTs would assist in improving the electrical properties of the MWCNT–CuCr composites.
Increased synthesis and deposition of extracellular matrix proteins leads to endoplasmic reticulum stress in the trabecular meshwork
Authors: Kasetti Ramesh B. , Maddineni Prabhavathi , Millar J. Cameron , Clark Abbot F. , Zode Gulab S. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractIncreased synthesis and deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in the trabecular meshwork (TM) is associated with TM dysfunction and intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation in glaucoma. However, it is not understood how ECM accumulation leads to TM dysfunction and IOP elevation. Using a mouse model of glucocorticoid (GC)-induced glaucoma, primary human TM cells and human post-mortem TM tissues, we show that increased ECM accumulation leads to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the TM. The potent GC, dexamethasone (Dex) increased the secretory protein load of ECM proteins in the ER of TM cells, inducing ER stress. Reduction of fibronectin, a major regulator of ECM structure, prevented ER stress in Dex-treated TM cells. Overexpression of fibronectin via treatment with cellular fibronectin also induced chronic ER stress in primary human TM cells. Primary human TM cells grown on ECM derived from Dex-treated TM cells induced ER stress markers. TM cells were more prone to ER stress from ECM accumulation compared to other ocular cell types. Moreover, increased co-localization of ECM proteins with ER stress markers was observed in human post-mortem glaucomatous TM tissues. These data indicate that ER stress is associated with increased ECM accumulation in mouse and human glaucomatous TM tissues.
Subclinical pulmonary dysfunction contributes to high altitude pulmonary edema susceptibility in healthy non-mountaineers
Authors: Gupta Rajinder K. , Soree Poonam , Desiraju Koundinya , Agrawal Anurag , Singh Shashi Bala 
Published: October 2017

AbstractHAPE susceptible (HAPE-S, had HAPE episode in past) subjects may have subclinical cardio-pulmonary dysfunction. We compared the results of pulmonary function tests in 25 healthy HAPE-S non-mountaineers and 19 matched HAPE resistant (HAPE-R, no HAPE episode in past). Acute normobaric hypoxia (FIo2 0.12) was administered at sea level to confirm hypoxia intolerance in HAPE-S. Unlike HAPE-R, HAPE-S subjects had elevated baseline and post-hypoxia systolic pulmonary arterial pressures (20.9 ± 3 vs 27.3 ± 5 mm Hg during normoxia and 26.2 ± 6 vs 45.44 ± 10 mm Hg during hypoxia, HAPE-R vs HAPE-S). Forced vital capacity (FVC) and single breath alveolar volume (SBVA) were significantly lower in HAPE-S compared to HAPE-R (FVC: 4.33 ± 0.5 vs 4.6 ± 0.4; SBVA: 5.17 ± 1 vs 5.6 ± 1 Lt; HAPE-S vs HAPE-R). Two subgroups with abnormal pulmonary function could be identified within HAPE-S; HAPE-S1 (n = 4) showed DLCO>140% of predicted, suggestive of asthma and HAPE-S2 (n = 12) showed restrictive pattern. Each of these patterns have previously been linked to early small airway disease and may additionally represent a lower cross-sectional area of the pulmonary vascular bed, related to lower lung volumes. HAPE susceptibility in healthy non-mountaineers may be related to sub-clinical pulmonary pathology that limits compensatory rise in ventilation and pulmonary circulation during hypoxic stress.
3D MALDI Mass Spectrometry Imaging of a Single Cell: Spatial Mapping of Lipids in the Embryonic Development of Zebrafish
Authors: Dueñas Maria Emilia , Essner Jeffrey J. , Lee Young Jin 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe zebrafish (Danio rerio) has been widely used as a model vertebrate system to study lipid metabolism, the roles of lipids in diseases, and lipid dynamics in embryonic development. Here, we applied high-spatial resolution matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)-mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) to map and visualize the three-dimensional spatial distribution of phospholipid classes, phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamines (PE), and phosphatidylinositol (PI), in newly fertilized individual zebrafish embryos. This is the first time MALDI-MSI has been applied for three dimensional chemical imaging of a single cell. PC molecular species are present inside the yolk in addition to the blastodisc, while PE and PI species are mostly absent in the yolk. Two-dimensional MSI was also studied for embryos at different cell stages (1-, 2-, 4-, 8-, and 16-cell stage) to investigate the localization changes of some lipids at various cell developmental stages. Four different normalization approaches were compared to find reliable relative quantification in 2D- and 3D- MALDI MSI data sets.
Ruling out dark matter interpretation of the galactic GeV excess by gamma-ray data of galaxy clusters
Authors: Chan Man Ho , Leung Chung Hei 
Published: October 2017

AbstractRecently, some very tight constraints of annihilating dark matter have been obtained from gamma-ray data of the Milky Way and Milky Way dwarf spheroidal satellite galaxies. In this article, we report that there are two excellent galaxy clusters (A2877 and Fornax) which can provide interesting constraints for annihilating dark matter. The lower limits of the dark matter mass for the thermal relic annihilation cross section are 25 GeV, 6 GeV, 130 GeV and 100 GeV respectively for the e+e−, μ+μ−, τ+τ− and $$b\bar{b}$$
b

b

¯

channels. For some configuration of our working assumptions, our results improve the Fermi-LAT upper limits of annihilation cross sections by a factor of 1.3 − 1.8 for wide ranges of dark matter mass for e+e−, μ+μ− and $$b\bar{b}$$
b

b

¯

channels, and a factor of 1.2–1.8 for τ+τ− channel with dark matter mass ≤100 GeV. These limits basically rule out most of the existing popular dark matter interpretation of the GeV excess in the Milky Way.
Distribution of entangled photon pairs over few-mode fibers
Authors: Cui Liang , Su Jie , Li Xiaoying , Ou Z. Y. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractFew-mode fibers (FMFs) have been recently employed in classical optical communication to increase the data transmission capacity. Here we explore the capability of employing FMF for long distance quantum communication. We experimentally distribute photon pairs in the forms of time-bin and polarization entanglement over a 1-km-long FMF. We find the time-bin entangled photon pairs maintain their high degree of entanglement, no matter what type of spatial modes they are distributed in. For the polarization entangled photon pairs, however, the degree of entanglement is maintained when photon pairs are distributed in LP01 mode but significantly declines when photon pairs are distributed in LP11 mode due to a mode coupling effect in LP11 mode group. We propose and test a remedy to recover the high degree of entanglement. Our study shows, when FMFs are employed as quantum channels, selection of spatial channels and degrees of freedom of entanglement should be carefully considered.
In Vivo Monitoring for Regional Changes of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Subtype 1 (mGluR1) in Pilocarpine-Induced Epileptic Rat Brain by Small-Animal PET
Authors: Yamasaki Tomoteru , Fujinaga Masayuki , Mori Wakana , Zhang Yiding , Wakizaka Hidekatsu , Nengaki Nobuki , Xie Lin , Hatori Akiko , Zhang Ming-Rong 
Published: October 2017

AbstractMetabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 1 (mGluR1) is a crucial pharmacological target for several central nervous system disorders. In this study, we aimed to monitor in vivo regional changes of mGluR1 related to neuroinflammation in the brains of rats after pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (PISE) using longitudinal positron emission tomography (PET). PISE was induced in rats by administering lithium chloride, followed by repeated pilocarpine hydrochloride treatments. PET assessments were conducted using N-[4-[6-(isopropylamino)-pyrimidin-4-yl]-1,3-thiazol-2-yl]-N-methyl-4-[11C]methylbenzamide ([11C]ITDM), a selective radioligand for mGluR1, and N-benzyl-N-[11C]methyl-2-(7-methyl-8-oxo-2-phenyl-7,8-dihydro-9H-purin-9-yl)acetamide ([11C]DAC), a selective translocator protein PET ligand for neuroinflammation monitoring. PET scans were conducted on PISE rats at 1 day (acute), 1 week (subacute) and 3 weeks (chronic) after repeated seizures. PET with [11C]ITDM showed significant decreases of mGluR1 availability (BPND) in the thalamus and hippocampus after PISE over the chronic period. Conversely, PET with [11C]DAC exhibited a significant increase of radioactive uptake in the forebrain after the acute period, especially in the thalamus. These conflicting changes in the thalamus indicated negative correlation. In conclusion, PET with [11C]ITDM could successfully visualize hippocampal and thalamic declines of mGluR1 related to neuroinflammation, which would help further understanding for mGluR1 functions in neuroexcitotoxicity.
Isoflurane inhalation anesthesia should be a new requirement in intracavernosal pressure detection—the gold standard of erectile function assessment
Authors: Li Jinhong , Wu Changjing , Fu Fudong , You Xuanhe , Gao Liang , Wazir Romel , Qin Feng , Han Ping , Yuan Jiuhong 
Published: October 2017

AbstractIntracavernosal pressure (ICP) is gold standard for the detection of erectile function in animals, but no consensus has yet been achieved on what kind of anesthetic protocol should be applied. A total of 16 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into two groups. In group A, chloral hydrate was injected intraperitoneally. Rats in group B were induced in 5% isoflurane for 3 min and then maintained in 1.0–1.5% isoflurane. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), respiratory rate (RR) and heart rate were monitored during all experiments. After ICP detection, tail vein and carotid artery blood were collected. The maximum ICP value, MAP and ICP/MAP ratio in group B was significantly higher than in that of group A. The RR in group A was lower than in that of group B, but the heart rate in group A was higher than in group B. There were no significant differences in both pO2 and pCO2 between groups. While the data showed that animals in group A were relatively hypoxemic. Isoflurane inhalation anesthesia in detection of erectile function could offer a relatively more stable physical state than in that under the effect of chloral hydrate intraperitoneal anesthesia. Isoflurane inhalation anesthesia is more suitable for ICP test.
Altered B-lymphopoiesis in mice with deregulated thrombopoietin signaling
Authors: Au Amanda E. , Lebois Marion , Sim Starling A. , Cannon Ping , Corbin Jason , Gangatirkar Pradnya , Hyland Craig D. , Moujalled Diane , Rutgersson Angelika , Yassinson Fatme , Kile Benjamin T. , Mason Kylie D. , Ng Ashley P. , Alexander Warren S. , Josefsson Emma C. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThrombopoietin (TPO) is the master cytokine regulator of megakaryopoiesis. In addition to regulation of megakaryocyte and platelet number, TPO is important for maintaining proper hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) function. It was previously shown that a number of lymphoid genes were upregulated in HSCs from Tpo−/− mice. We investigated if absent or enhanced TPO signaling would influence normal B-lymphopoiesis. Absent TPO signaling in Mpl−/− mice led to enrichment of a common lymphoid progenitor (CLP) signature in multipotential lineage-negative Sca-1+c-Kit+ (LSK) cells and an increase in CLP formation. Moreover, Mpl−/− mice exhibited increased numbers of PreB2 and immature B-cells in bone marrow and spleen, with an increased proportion of B-lymphoid cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Conversely, elevated TPO signaling in Tpo
Tg
mice was associated with reduced B-lymphopoiesis. Although at steady state, peripheral blood lymphocyte counts were normal in both models, Mpl−/− Eµ-myc mice showed an enhanced preneoplastic phase with increased numbers of splenic PreB2 and immature B-cells, a reduced quiescent fraction, and augmented blood lymphocyte counts. Thus, although Mpl is not expressed on lymphoid cells, TPO signaling may indirectly influence B-lymphopoiesis and the preneoplastic state in Myc-driven B-cell lymphomagenesis by lineage priming in multipotential progenitor cells.
Interactions of Notch1 and TLR4 signaling pathways in DRG neurons of in vivo and in vitro models of diabetic neuropathy
Authors: Chen Tianhua , Li Hao , Yin Yiting , Zhang Yuanpin , Liu Zhen , Liu Huaxiang 
Published: October 2017

AbstractUnderstanding the interactions between Notch1 and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathways in the development of diabetic peripheral neuropathy may lead to interpretation of the mechanisms and novel approaches for preventing diabetic neuropathic pain. In the present study, the interactions between Notch1 and TLR4 signaling pathways were investigated by using dorsal root ganglion (DRG) from diabetic neuropathic pain rats and cultured DRG neurons under high glucose challenge. The results showed that high glucose induced not only Notch1 mRNA, HES1 mRNA, and TLR4 mRNA expression, but also Notch1 intracellular domain (NICD1) and TLR4 protein expression in DRG neurons. The proportion of NICD1-immunoreactive (IR) and TLR4-IR neurons in DRG cultures was also increased after high glucose challenge. The above alterations could be partially reversed by inhibition of either Notch1 or TLR4 signaling pathway. Inhibition of either Notch1 or TLR4 signaling pathway could improve mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia thresholds. Inhibition of Notch1 or TLR4 signaling also decreased tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in DRG from diabetic neuropathic rats. These data imply that the interaction between Notch1 and TLR4 signaling pathways is one of the important mechanisms in the development or progression of diabetic neuropathy.
Stable Nuclei of Nucleoprotein Filament and High ssDNA Binding Affinity Contribute to Enhanced RecA E38K Recombinase Activity
Authors: Lu Chih-Hao , Chang Ting-Tzu , Cho Chia-Chuan , Lin Hui-Cin , Li Hung-Wen 
Published: October 2017

AbstractRecA plays central roles in the homologous recombination to repair double-stranded DNA break damage inE.coli. A previously identifiedrecAstrain surviving high doses of UV radiation includes a dominant RecA E38K mutation. Using single-molecule experiments, we showed that the RecA E38K variant protein assembles nucleoprotein filaments more rapidly than the wild-type RecA. We also used a single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) experiment to compare the nucleation cluster dynamics of wild-type RecA and RecA E38K mutants on various short ssDNA substrates. At shorter ssDNA, nucleation clusters of RecA E38K form dynamically, while only few were seen in wild-type RecA. RecA E38K also forms stable nuclei by specifically lowering the dissociation rate constant,kd. These observations provide evidence that greater nuclei stability and higher ssDNA binding affinity contribute to the observed enhanced recombination activity of the RecA E38K mutant. Given that assembly of RecA nucleoprotein filaments is the first committed step in recombinational repair processes, enhancement at this step gives rise to a more efficient recombinase.