bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
JUN is important for ocular hypertension-induced retinal ganglion cell degeneration
Authors: Syc-Mazurek Stephanie B , Fernandes Kimberly A , Libby Richard T 
Published: July 2017

AbstractOcular hypertension, a major risk factor for glaucoma, is thought to trigger glaucomatous neurodegeneration through injury to retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons. The molecular signaling pathway leading from ocular hypertension to RGC degeneration, however, is not well defined. JNK signaling, a component of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family, and its canonical target, the transcription factor JUN, have been shown to regulate neurodegeneration in many different systems. JUN is expressed after glaucoma-relevant injuries and Jun deficiency protects RGCs after mechanical injury to the optic nerve. Here, we tested the importance of JNK–JUN signaling for RGC death after ocular hypertensive axonal injury in an age-related, mouse model of ocular hypertension. Immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate JUN expression in ocular hypertensive DBA/2J mice. JUN was expressed in a temporal and spatial pattern consistent with a role in glaucomatous injury. To determine the importance of JUN in ocular hypertension-induced RGC death, a floxed allele of Jun and a retinal expressed cre recombinase (Six3-cre) were backcrossed onto the DBA/2J background. Intraocular pressure (IOP) and gross morphology of the retina and optic nerve head were assessed to determine whether removing Jun from the developing retina altered IOP elevation or retinal development. Jun deficiency in the retina did not alter DBA/2J IOP elevation or retinal development. Optic nerves and retinas were assessed at ages known to have glaucomatous damage in DBA/2J mice. Jun deficiency protected RGC somas from ocular hypertensive injury, but did not protect RGC axons from glaucomatous neurodegeneration. Jun is a major regulator of RGC somal degeneration after glaucomatous ocular hypertensive injury. These results suggest in glaucomatous neurodegeneration, JNK–JUN signaling has a major role as a pro-death signaling pathway between axonal injury and somal degeneration.
ALKBH7 drives a tissue and sex-specific necrotic cell death response following alkylation-induced damage
Authors: Jordan Jennifer J , Chhim Sophea , Margulies Carrie M , Allocca Mariacarmela , Bronson Roderick T , Klungland Arne , Samson Leona D , Fu Dragony 
Published: July 2017

AbstractRegulated necrosis has emerged as a major cell death mechanism in response to different forms of physiological and pharmacological stress. The AlkB homolog 7 (ALKBH7) protein is required for regulated cellular necrosis in response to chemotherapeutic alkylating agents but its role within a whole organism is unknown. Here, we show that ALKBH7 modulates alkylation-induced cellular death through a tissue and sex-specific mechanism. At the whole-animal level, we find that ALKBH7 deficiency confers increased resistance to MMS-induced toxicity in male but not female mice. Moreover, ALKBH7-deficient mice exhibit protection against alkylation-mediated cytotoxicity in retinal photoreceptor and cerebellar granule cells, two cell types that undergo necrotic death through the initiation of the base excision repair pathway and hyperactivation of the PARP1/ARTD1 enzyme. Notably, the protection against alkylation-induced cerebellar degeneration is specific to ALKBH7-deficient male but not female mice. Our results uncover anin vivorole for ALKBH7 in mediating a sexually dimorphic tissue response to alkylation damage that could influence individual responses to chemotherapies based upon alkylating agents.
ATP-dependent modulation of MgtE in Mg2+ homeostasis
Authors: Tomita Atsuhiro , Zhang Mingfeng , Jin Fei , Zhuang Wenhui , Takeda Hironori , Maruyama Tatsuro , Osawa Masanori , Hashimoto Ken-ichi , Kawasaki Hisashi , Ito Koichi , Dohmae Naoshi , Ishitani Ryuichiro , Shimada Ichio , Yan Zhiqiang , Hattori Motoyuki , Nureki Osamu 
Published: July 2017

AbstractMagnesium is an essential ion for numerous physiological processes. MgtE is a Mg2+ selective channel involved in the maintenance of intracellular Mg2+ homeostasis, whose gating is regulated by intracellular Mg2+ levels. Here, we report that ATP binds to MgtE, regulating its Mg2+-dependent gating. Crystal structures of MgtE–ATP complex show that ATP binds to the intracellular CBS domain of MgtE. Functional studies support that ATP binding to MgtE enhances the intracellular domain affinity for Mg2+ within physiological concentrations of this divalent cation, enabling MgtE to function as an in vivo Mg2+ sensor. ATP dissociation from MgtE upregulates Mg2+ influx at both high and low intracellular Mg2+ concentrations. Using site-directed mutagenesis and structure based-electrophysiological and biochemical analyses, we identify key residues and main structural changes involved in the process. This work provides the molecular basis of ATP-dependent modulation of MgtE in Mg2+ homeostasis.
Into the Dynamics of a Supramolecular Polymer at Submolecular Resolution
Authors: Bochicchio Davide , Salvalaglio Matteo , Pavan Giovanni M. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractTo rationally design supramolecular polymers capable of self-healing or reconfiguring their structure in a dynamically controlled way, it is imperative to gain access into the intrinsic dynamics of the supramolecular polymer (dynamic exchange of monomers) while maintaining a high-resolution description of the monomer structure. But this is prohibitively difficult at experimental level. Here we show atomistic, coarse-grained modelling combined with advanced simulation approaches to characterize the molecular mechanisms and relative kinetics of monomer exchange in structural variants of a synthetic supramolecular polymer in different conditions. We can capture differences in supramolecular dynamics consistent with the experimental observations, revealing that monomer exchange in and out the fibres originates from the defects present in their supramolecular structure. At the same time, the submolecular resolution of this approach offers a molecular-level insight into the dynamics of these bioinspired materials, and a flexible tool to obtain structure-dynamics relationships for a variety of polymeric assemblies.
Compounds that enhance the tailing activity of Moloney murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptase
Authors: Ohtsubo Yoshiyuki , Nagata Yuji , Tsuda Masataka 
Published: July 2017

AbstractIn a previous study, we showed that MMLV-RT has a strong terminal transferase activity, and that the C-, G-, and T-tailing activities are enhanced by dGMP, dCMP, and dAMP, respectively. In this study, to achieve faster reaction and higher tailing efficiency, we screened other compounds for the ability to enhance the tailing activities of MMLV-RT, and determined the corresponding optimal concentrations. The C-, G-, and T-tailing activities were enhanced by guanine, cytosine, and adenine, respectively, and by derivatives thereof, suggesting a transient Watson-Click base pairing between an enhancer molecule and the nucleotide to be incorporated. In the presence of some additives (GMP and GDP for C-tailing and CMP for G-tailing), the tail length increased continuously, resulting in tail lengths of 7 to 15 (GMP and GDP) or 13 to 22 (CMP) nucleotides. Among the compounds that do not induce continuous addition, adenosine, deoxycytidine, and deoxyguanosine mostly enhanced T-, G-, and C-tailings, respectively. The enhancing chemicals described here will improve the feasibility of N-tailing by MMLV-RT in various biotechnological applications.
Live reef fish displaying physiological evidence of cyanide poisoning are still traded in the EU marine aquarium industry
Authors: Vaz Marcela C. M. , Esteves Valdemar I. , Calado Ricardo 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe illegal use of cyanide poisoning to supply live reef fish to several markets is one of the main threats to coral reefs conservation in the Indo-Pacific. The present study performed the first survey ever monitoring the marine aquarium trade in the EU for the presence of physiological evidence consistent with cyanide poisoning in live reef fish. This survey was also the first one worldwide employing a non-invasive sampling approach. Nearly 15% of the fish screened displayed physiological evidence of being illegally collected using cyanide poisoning (by testing positive for the presence of the thiocyanate anion (SCN−) in their urine). The efforts promoted so far to completely eradicate cyanide caught fish from the marine aquarium trade have not been effective, as our results suggest that their prevalence in the trade is in line with data reported nearly two decades ago. A new paradigm is urgently needed to effectively ban cyanide caught fish from the marine aquarium trade.
Rap2a serves as a potential prognostic indicator of renal cell carcinoma and promotes its migration and invasion through up-regulating p-Akt
Authors: Wu Jin-Xia , Du Wen-Qi , Wang Xiu-Cun , Wei Lu-Lu , Huo Fu-Chun , Pan Yao-Jie , Wu Xiao-Jin , Pei Dong-Sheng 
Published: July 2017

AbstractRap2a, a member of the small GTPase superfamily, belongs to Ras superfamily, and its function in cancer progression is still poorly understood. Our previous study indicated that the ectopic expression of Rap2a enhanced the migration and invasion ability of lung cancer cells. However, its expression and molecular mechanism on renal cell carcinoma (RCC) have not been characterized. This study explored the clinical significance and biological function of Rap2a in human RCC. The clinical relevance of Rap2a in RCC was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining using tissue microarray. Our data showed that Rap2a expression was dramatically increased in RCC tissues compared with normal renal tissues. The ectopic expression of Rap2a enhanced the migration and invasive ability of cancer cells. In contrast, downregulation of Rap2a inhibited cell invasion. Rap2a had no effect on the proliferation of RCC cell lines. Meanwhile, Rap2a can regulate the phosphorylation level of Akt in vitro. In vivo studies also showed that Rap2a positively regulated metastasis of renal cancer cells and the expression of p-Akt. These findings indicate that Rap2a promotes RCC metastasis and may serve as a candidate RCC prognostic marker and a potential therapeutic target.
Magnetocapacitance in La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/Pb(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3/La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 multiferroic heterostructures
Authors: Hrib Luminita M. , Pintilie Lucian , Alexe Marin 
Published: July 2017

AbstractMeasurements of the magnetocapacitance effect in epitaxial La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/Pb(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3/La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 heterostructures have been performed using a quasi-static method. Through capacitance-voltage measurements carried out under variable magnetic field it has been found that the magneto-capacitance depends on the orientation of the ferroelectric polarization. The value of magneto-capacitance can be as high as 1% in the voltage range near the ferroelectric coercive field. This has been attributed to a variation of the apparent built-in voltage of the PZT-LSMO Schottky barriers on applied magnetic field.
Targeting phosphorylation of STAT3 delays tumor growth in HPV-negative anal squamous cell carcinoma mouse model
Authors: Bu Lin-Lin , Li Yi-Cun , Yu Guang-Tao , Liu Jian-Feng , Deng Wei-Wei , Zhang Wen-Feng , Zhang Lu , Sun Zhi-Jun 
Published: July 2017

AbstractAlthough conventional chemoradiotherapy is effective for most anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) patients, HPV-negative ASCC patients respond poorly to this treatment and new therapeutic approach is required. Our group has previously established an HPV-negative ASCC mouse model and demonstrated that signal transducer and activation of transcription 3 (STAT3) is hyper-activated in the model. Here, we show that in vivo inhibition of STAT3 by S3I-201 effectively delays tumor growth in ASCC mouse model indicated by significantly smaller tumor size and burden in the treatment group compared with control group at the same point. Further analysis shows that survivin and Ki67, important biomarkers for tumor cell survival and proliferation, are significantly reduced after S3I-201 treatment. Additionally, flow cytometry and immunohistofluorescent assays reveal decreased Myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) and tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) populations in the S3I-201 treatment group, which indicates a reversion of the immunosuppressive environment, unraveling the potential role for S3I-201 in immunosuppression in ASCC. Together these results for the first time demonstrated the anti-tumor effects of STAT3 inhibitor S3I-201 in HPV-negative ASCC mouse model and its multiple effects on cancer cells and immune system. Thus we conclude that S3I-201 may be a novel therapeutic approach for HPV-negative ASCC patients.
Compressive sampling based on frequency saliency for remote sensing imaging
Authors: Li Jin , Liu Zilong , Liu Fengdeng 
Published: July 2017

AbstractIn saliency-based compressive sampling (CS) for remote sensing image signals, the saliency information of images is used to allocate more sensing resources to salient regions than to non-salient regions. However, the pulsed cosine transform method can generate large errors in the calculation of saliency information because it uses only the signs of the coefficients of the discrete cosine transform for low-resolution images. In addition, the reconstructed images can exhibit blocking effects because blocks are used as the processing units in CS. In this work, we propose a post-transform frequency saliency CS method that utilizes transformed post-wavelet coefficients to calculate the frequency saliency information of images in the post-wavelet domain. Specifically, the wavelet coefficients are treated as the pixels of a block-wise megapixel sensor. Experiments indicate that the proposed method yields better-quality images and outperforms conventional saliency-based methods in three aspects: peak signal-to-noise ratio, mean structural similarity index, and visual information fidelity.
Singularity in the matrix of the coupled Gross-Pitaevskii equations and the related state-transitions in three-species condensates
Authors: Liu Y. M. , He Y. Z. , Bao C. G. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractAn approach is proposed to solve the coupled Gross-Pitaevskii equations (CGP) of the 3-species BEC in an analytical way under the Thomas-Fermi approximation (TFA). It was found that, when the strength of a kind of interaction increases and crosses over a critical value, a specific type of state-transition will occur and will cause a jump in the total energy. Due to the jump, the energy of the lowest symmetric state becomes considerably higher. This leaves a particular opportunity for the lowest asymmetric state to replace the symmetric states as the ground state. It was further found that the critical values are related to the singularity of either the matrix or a sub-matrix of the CGP. These critical values are not arising from the TFA but inherent in the CGP, and they can be analytically expressed. Furthermore, a model (in which two kinds of atoms separated from each other asymmetrically) has been proposed for the evaluation of the energy of the lowest asymmetric state. With this model the emergence of the asymmetric ground state is numerically confirmed under the TFA. The theoretical formalism of this paper is quite general and can be generalized for BEC with more than three species.
Spin pump and probe in lanthanum strontium manganite/platinum bilayers
Authors: Luo G. Y. , Lin J. G. , Chiang Wen-Chung , Chang Ching-Ray 
Published: July 2017

AbstractFerromagnetic resonance driven spin pumping (FMR-SP) is a novel method to transfer spin current from the ferromagnetic (FM) layer into the adjacent normal metal (NM) layer in an FM/NM bilayer system. Consequently, the spin current could be probed in NM layer via inverse spin Hall effect (ISHE). In spite of numerous ISHE studies on FM/Pt bilayers, La0.7Sr0.3MnO3(LSMO)/Pt system has been less explored and its relevant information about interface property (characterized by spin mixing conductance) and spin-charge conversion efficiency (characterized by spin Hall angle) is a matter of importance for the possible applications of spintronic devices. In this work, the technique of FMR-SP has been applied on two series of LSMO/Pt bilayers with the thickness of each layer being varied. The thickness dependences of ISHE voltage allow to extract the values of spin mixing conductance and spin Hall angle of LSMO/Pt bilayers, which are (1.8 ± 0.4) × 1019 m−2 and (1.2 ± 0.1) % respectively. In comparison with other FM/Pt systems, LSMO/Pt has comparable spin current density and spin mixing conductance, regardless its distinct electronic structure from other ferromagnetic metals.
The Microdamage and Expression of Sclerostin in Peri-implant Bone under One-time Shock Force Generated by Impact
Authors: Diao Xiaoou , Li Zhirui , An Baili , Xin Haitao , Wu Yulu , Li Kai , Feng Fan , Dou Chenyun 
Published: July 2017

AbstractOsseointegration is the key to implant stability and occlusal support. Biomechanical response and remodeling of peri-implant bone occurs under impact loading. Sclerostin participates in bone formation and resorption through Wnt and RANKL pathways. However the mechanism of microdamage and expression of sclerostin in peri-implant bone under impact load is still unclear. In present study, specific impact forces were applied to the implants with favorable osseointegration in rabbits. The microdamage of peri-implant bone and the expression of sclerostin, β-catenin and RANKL during the process of bone damage and remodeling were investigated by micro-CT, histology, immunofluorescence and RT-qPCR analysis. Interface separation and trabecular fracture were found histologically, which were consistent with micro-CT analyses. Throughout remodeling, bone resorption was observed during the first 14 days after impact, and osseointegration and normal trabecular structure were found by 28 d. The expression of sclerostin and RANKL increased after impact and reached a maximum by 14 d, then decreased gradually to normal levels by 28 d. And β-catenin expression was opposite. Results indicated that sclerostin may involve in the peri-implant bone damage caused by impact and remodeling through Wnt/β-catenin and RANKL/RANK pathways. It will provide a new insight in the diagnosis and treatment for patients suffering impact.
Curcumin and Curcuma longa L. extract ameliorate lipid accumulation through the regulation of the endoplasmic reticulum redox and ER stress
Authors: Lee Hwa-Young , Kim Seung-Wook , Lee Geum-Hwa , Choi Min-Kyung , Chung Han-Wool , Lee Yong-Chul , Kim Hyung-Ryong , Kwon Ho Jeong , Chae Han-Jung 
Published: July 2017

AbstractFor this study, we examined the effects of curcumin against acute and chronic stress, paying specific attention to ROS. We also aimed to clarify the differences between acute and chronic stress conditions. We investigated the effects of curcumin against acute stress (once/1 day CCl4 treatment) and chronic-stress (every other day/4week CCl4 treatment). Compared with acute stress, in which the antioxidant system functioned properly and aspartate transaminase (AST) and ROS production increased, chronic stress increased AST, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), hepatic enzymes, and ROS more significantly, and the antioxidant system became impaired. We also found that ER-originated ROS accumulated in the chronic model, another difference between the two conditions. ER stress was induced consistently, and oxidative intra-ER protein folding status, representatively PDI, was impaired, especially in chronic stress. The PDI-associated client protein hepatic apoB accumulated with the PDI-binding status in chronic stress, and curcumin recovered the altered ER folding status, regulating ER stress and the resultant hepatic dyslipidemia. Throughout this study, curcumin and curcumin-rich Curcuma longa L. extract promoted recovery from CCl4-induced hepatic toxicity in both stress conditions. For both stress-associated hepatic dyslipidemia, curcumin and Curcuma longa L. extract might be recommendable to recover liver activity.
A preliminary study of 18F-FES PET/CT in predicting metastatic breast cancer in patients receiving docetaxel or fulvestrant with docetaxel
Authors: Gong Chengcheng , Yang Zhongyi , Sun Yifei , Zhang Jian , Zheng Chunlei , Wang Leiping , Zhang Yongping , Xue Jing , Yao Zhifeng , Pan Herong , Wang Biyun , Zhang Yingjian 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe present explorative study was initiated to evaluate the clinical value of 18F-FES PET/CT in monitoring the change of estrogen receptor (ER) expression and potential predictive value in metastatic breast cancer patients. Twenty-two pathology-confirmed breast cancer patients were prospectively enrolled and randomly divided into two groups (T: docetaxel, n = 14 and TF: docetaxel + fulvestrant, n = 8). The percentage of patients without disease progression after 12 months (PFS > 12 months) was 62.5% in group TF compared with 21.4% in group T (P = 0.08). According to 18F-FES PET/CT scans, the SUVmax (maximum standard uptake value) of all the metastatic lesions decreased in group TF after 2 cycles of treatment (6 weeks ± 3 days). However, 6 of 9 patients in group T had at least one lesion with higher post-treatment SUVmax. There was a significant difference in the reduction of ER expression between these two groups (P = 0.028). In group TF, the patients with PFS > 12 months had significantly greater SUVmax changes of 18F-FES than those with PFS < 12 months (PFS > 12 months: 91.0 ± 12.0% versus PFS < 12 months: 20.7 ± 16.2%; t = −4.64, P = 0.01). Our preliminary study showed that 18F-FES PET/CT, as a noninvasive method to monitor ER expression, could be utilized to predict prognosis based on changes in SUVmax.
Downregulation of Interferon-β and Inhibition of TLR3 Expression are associated with Fatal Outcome of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome
Authors: Song Peixin , Zheng Nan , Zhang Li , Liu Yong , Chen Taoyu , Bao Changjun , Li Zhifeng , Yong Wei , Zhang Yongyang , Wu Chao , Wu Zhiwei 
Published: July 2017

AbstractSevere Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease with high mortality and increasing prevalence in the East Asia. Though the etiological agent has been identified as a novel Bunyavirus, cellular mechanisms of viral pathogenesis and host immune response to SFTS virus infection remain unknown. A comprehensive study was conducted on a cohort of 70 patients on clinical manifestations, viral loads, modulation of cytokines, serum interferon level, immune related gene expression in peripheral blood cells, and dynamic changes of circulating dendritic cells during the acute phase of SFTSV infection. We found that high level viremia, reduced platelets, coagulation dysfunction, multi-organ injuries, elevated IL-6 and TNF-α were closely associated with the aggravation of SFTS. In addition, we demonstrated strong correlations between disease severity and the decline of serum IFN-β and IL-1β level, reduction of myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) and suppressed Toll like receptor 3 expression in monocytes and mDCs. In general, dysfunction of innate immune response and cytokine storm are both involved in the pathogenesis of SFTS. Reduction of myeloid DCs contributes to the fatal outcome of SFTS virus infection, and the regulation of TLR3 could probably be the mechanism.