bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
LeftyA decreases Actin Polymerization and Stiffness in Human Endometrial Cancer Cells
Authors: Salker Madhuri S. , Schierbaum Nicolas , Alowayed Nour , Singh Yogesh , Mack Andreas F. , Stournaras Christos , Schäffer Tilman E. , Lang Florian 
Published: July 2016

AbstractLeftyA, a cytokine regulating stemness and embryonic differentiation, down-regulates cell proliferation and migration. Cell proliferation and motility require actin reorganization, which is under control of ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1) and p21 protein-activated kinase 1 (PAK1). The present study explored whether LeftyA modifies actin cytoskeleton, shape and stiffness of Ishikawa cells, a well differentiated endometrial carcinoma cell line. The effect of LeftyA on globular over filamentous actin ratio was determined utilizing Western blotting and flow cytometry. Rac1 and PAK1 transcript levels were measured by qRT-PCR as well as active Rac1 and PAK1 by immunoblotting. Cell stiffness (quantified by the elastic modulus), cell surface area and cell volume were studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM). As a result, 2 hours treatment with LeftyA (25 ng/ml) significantly decreased Rac1 and PAK1 transcript levels and activity, depolymerized actin and decreased cell stiffness, surface area and volume. The effect of LeftyA on actin polymerization was mimicked by pharmacological inhibition of Rac1 and PAK1. In the presence of the Rac1 or PAK1 inhibitor LeftyA did not lead to significant further actin depolymerization. In conclusion, LeftyA leads to disruption of Rac1 and Pak1 activity with subsequent actin depolymerization, cell softening and cell shrinkage.
Inverse focusing inside turbid media by creating an opposite virtual objective
Authors: Yu Yeh-Wei , Chen Szu-Yu , Lin Che-Chu , Sun Ching-Cherng 
Published: July 2016

AbstractLimited by the penetration depth, imaging of thick bio-tissues can be achieved only by epi-detection geometry. Applications based on forward-emitted signals or bidirectional illumination are restricted by lack of an opposite objective. A method for creating an opposite virtual objective inside thick media through phase conjugation was first proposed. Under forward illumination, the backward scattering light from the media was collected to generate a phase conjugate wave, which was sent back to the media and formed an inverse focusing light. Samples combined with a diffuser or a mouse skin were used as specimens. Inverse focusing was successfully demonstrated by applying holography-based optical phase conjugation with a BaTiO3. This result indicates the capability to create an opposite virtual objective inside live tissues. The proposed method is compatible with current coherent imaging and super-resolution imaging technologies. It creates a possible way for forward-emitted signals collection and bidirectional illumination in thick specimens.
Experimental realization of an entanglement access network and secure multi-party computation
Authors: Chang X.-Y. , Deng D.-L. , Yuan X.-X. , Hou P.-Y. , Huang Y.-Y. , Duan L.-M. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractTo construct a quantum network with many end users, it is critical to have a cost-efficient way to distribute entanglement over different network ends. We demonstrate an entanglement access network, where the expensive resource, the entangled photon source at the telecom wavelength and the core communication channel, is shared by many end users. Using this cost-efficient entanglement access network, we report experimental demonstration of a secure multiparty computation protocol, the privacy-preserving secure sum problem, based on the network quantum cryptography.
Host Double Strand Break Repair Generates HIV-1 Strains Resistant to CRISPR/Cas9
Authors: Yoder Kristine E. , Bundschuh Ralf 
Published: July 2016

AbstractCRISPR/Cas9 genome editing has been proposed as a therapeutic treatment for HIV-1 infection. CRISPR/Cas9 induced double strand breaks (DSBs) targeted to the integrated viral genome have been shown to decrease production of progeny virus. Unfortunately HIV-1 evolves rapidly and may readily produce CRISPR/Cas9 resistant strains. Here we used next-generation sequencing to characterize HIV-1 strains that developed resistance to six different CRISPR/Cas9 guide RNAs (gRNAs). Reverse transcriptase (RT) derived base substitution mutations were commonly found at sites encoding unpaired bases of RNA stem-loop structures. In addition to RT mutations, insertion and/or deletion (indel) mutations were common. Indels localized to the CRISPR/Cas9 cleavage site were major contributors to CRISPR gRNA resistance. While most indels at non-coding regions were a single base pair, 3 base pair indels were observed when a coding region of HIV-1 was targeted. The DSB repair event may preserve the HIV-1 reading frame, while destroying CRISPR gRNA homology. HIV-1 may be successfully edited by CRISPR/Cas9, but the virus remains competent for replication and resistant to further CRISPR/Cas9 targeting at that site. These observations strongly suggest that host DSB repair at CRISPR/Cas9 cleavage sites is a novel and important pathway that may contribute to HIV-1 therapeutic resistance.
Optical vortex beam generator at nanoscale level
Authors: Garoli Denis , Zilio Pierfrancesco , Gorodetski Yuri , Tantussi Francesco , De Angelis Francesco 
Published: July 2016

AbstractOptical beams carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) can find tremendous applications in several fields. In order to apply these particular beams in photonic integrated devices innovative optical elements have been proposed. Here we are interested in the generation of OAM-carrying beams at the nanoscale level. We design and experimentally demonstrate a plasmonic optical vortex emitter, based on a metal-insulator-metal holey plasmonic vortex lens. Our plasmonic element is shown to convert impinging circularly polarized light to an orbital angular momentum state capable of propagating to the far-field. Moreover, the emerging OAM can be externally adjusted by switching the handedness of the incident light polarization. The device has a radius of few micrometers and the OAM beam is generated from subwavelength aperture. The fabrication of integrated arrays of PVLs and the possible simultaneous emission of multiple optical vortices provide an easy way to the large-scale integration of optical vortex emitters for wide-ranging applications.
Localized spatially nonlinear matter waves in atomic-molecular Bose-Einstein condensates with space-modulated nonlinearity
Authors: Yao Yu-Qin , Li Ji , Han Wei , Wang Deng-Shan , Liu Wu-Ming 
Published: July 2016

AbstractThe intrinsic nonlinearity is the most remarkable characteristic of the Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) systems. Many studies have been done on atomic BECs with time- and space- modulated nonlinearities, while there is few work considering the atomic-molecular BECs with space-modulated nonlinearities. Here, we obtain two kinds of Jacobi elliptic solutions and a family of rational solutions of the atomic-molecular BECs with trapping potential and space-modulated nonlinearity and consider the effect of three-body interaction on the localized matter wave solutions. The topological properties of the localized nonlinear matter wave for no coupling are analysed: the parity of nonlinear matter wave functions depends only on the principal quantum numbernand the numbers of the density packets for each quantum state depend on both the principal quantum numbernand the secondary quantum numberl. When the coupling is not zero, the localized nonlinear matter waves given by the rational function, their topological properties are independent of the principal quantum numbern, only depend on the secondary quantum numberl. The Raman detuning and the chemical potential can change the number and the shape of the density packets. The stability of the Jacobi elliptic solutions depends on the principal quantum numbern, while the stability of the rational solutions depends on the chemical potential and Raman detuning.
An invertebrate-specific and immune-responsive microRNA augments oyster haemocyte phagocytosis by targeting CgIκB2
Authors: Chen Hao , Zhou Zhi , Wang Hao , Wang Lingling , Wang Weilin , Liu Rui , Qiu Limei , Song Linsheng 
Published: July 2016

AbstractNuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway is an evolutionally conserved pathway in activating immune response, in which IκBs can repress the activation. In the present study, cgi-miR-2d, an invertebrate-specific microRNA, was proved to regulate CgIκB2 expression and haemocyte phagocytosis during bacterial infection in oyster Crassostrea gigas. The expression of cgi-miR-2d was significantly up-regulated after Vibrio splendidus challenge, while CgIκB2 transcripts decreased. Significant decreases in both luminescence and CgIκB2 3′UTR level was observed after transfection of cgi-miR-2d in CgIκB2 3′UTR luciferase reporter assay. CgIκB2 mRNA level decreased significantly (0.51-fold of control group, p < 0.05) in gain-of-function assay of cgi-miR-2d in vivo while it increased markedly (1.27-fold, p < 0.05) when cgi-miR-2d was repressed (0.10-fold, p < 0.01). A significant increase of haemocyte phagocytosis rate was observed in cgi-miR-2d overexpression group (p < 0.01), consistent with results in CgIκB2 knock-down group (p < 0.01). Moreover, the apoptosis rate of haemocytes was found significantly declined (28.57%, p < 0.01) in gain-of-function assay of cgi-miR-2d. Together, those results not only depicted the functional conservation of miR-2d family in anti-apoptosis of oysters but also highlighted its interaction with phagocytosis by modulating NF-κB pathway, which might dedicate critically to the well-balance of host immune response.
Selectable Ultrasensitive Detection of Hg2+ with Rhodamine 6G-Modified Nanoporous Gold Optical Sensor
Authors: Wang Zheng , Yang Min , Chen Chao , Zhang Ling , Zeng Heping 
Published: July 2016

AbstractAn extremely sensitive fluorescence sensor has been developed for selectively detection of mercury ions based on metallophilic Hg2+-Au+ interactions, which results in an effective release of pre-adsorbed rhodamine 6G (R6G) molecules from the nanoporous gold substrate, associated with a significant decrease of fluorescence intensity. The optical sensor has a detection sensitivity down to 0.6 pM for Hg2+ and CH3Hg+ ions, in particular a superior selectivity in a complex aqueous system containing 13 different types of metal ions, meanwhile maintaining a long-term stability after 10 cycles. Such a fluorescence sensor combining multiple advantages therefore present promising potentials in various applications.
Heritable genome editing with CRISPR/Cas9 induces anosmia in a crop pest moth
Authors: Koutroumpa Fotini A. , Monsempes Christelle , François Marie-Christine , de Cian Anne , Royer Corinne , Concordet Jean-Paul , Jacquin-Joly Emmanuelle 
Published: July 2016

AbstractLepidoptera suffer critical lack of genetic tools and heritable genome edition has been achieved only in a few model species. Here we demonstrate that the CRISPR/Cas9 system is highly efficient for genome editing in a non-model crop pest Lepidoptera, the noctuid moth Spodoptera littoralis. We knocked-out the olfactory receptor co-receptor Orco gene to investigate its function in Lepidoptera olfaction. We find that 89.6% of the injected individuals carried Orco mutations, 70% of which transmitted them to the next generation. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated Orco knockout caused defects in plant odor and sex pheromone olfactory detection in homozygous individuals. Our work genetically defines Orco as an essential OR partner for both host and mate detection in Lepidoptera and demonstrates that CRISPR/Cas9 is a simple and highly efficient genome editing technique in noctuid pests opening new routes for gene function analysis and the development of novel pest control strategies.
Reduced TRMU expression increases the sensitivity of hair-cell-like HEI-OC-1 cells to neomycin damage in vitro
Authors: He Zuhong , Sun Shan , Waqas Muhammad , Zhang Xiaoli , Qian Fuping , Cheng Cheng , Zhang Mingshu , Zhang Shasha , Wang Yongming , Tang Mingliang , Li Huawei , Chai Renjie 
Published: July 2016

AbstractAminoglycosides are ototoxic to the cochlear hair cells and mitochondrial dysfunction is one of the major mechanisms behind ototoxic drug-induced hair cell death. TRMU (tRNA 5-methylaminomethyl-2-thiouridylate methyltransferase) is a mitochondrial protein that participates in mitochondrial tRNA modifications, but the role of TRMU in aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity remains to be elucidated. In this study, we took advantage of the HEI-OC-1 cell line to investigate the role of TRMU in aminoglycoside-induced cell death. We found that TRMU is expressed in both hair cells and HEI-OC-1 cells and its expression is significantly decreased after 24 h neomycin treatment. We then downregulated TRMU expression with siRNA and found that cell death and apoptosis were significantly increased after neomycin injury. Furthermore, when we down-regulated TRMU expression, we observed significantly increased mitochondrial dysfunction and increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) after neomycin injury, suggesting that TRMU regulates mitochondrial function and ROS levels. Lastly, the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine rescued the mitochondrial dysfunction and cell apoptosis that was induced by TRMU downregulation, suggesting that ROS accumulation contributed to the increased aminoglycosides sensitivity of HEI-OC-1 cells after TRMU downregulation. This study provides evidence that TRMU might be a new therapeutic target for the prevention of aminoglycoside-induced hair cell death.
Disentangling adaptive evolutionary radiations and the role of diet in promoting diversification on islands
Authors: DeMiguel Daniel 
Published: July 2016

AbstractAlthough the initial formulation of modern concepts of adaptive radiation arose from consideration of the fossil data, rigorous attempts to identify this phenomenon in the fossil record are largely uncommon. Here I focus on direct evidence of the diet (through tooth-wear patterns) and ecologically-relevant traits of one of the most renowned fossil vertebrates-the Miocene ruminant Hoplitomeryx from the island of Gargano-to deepen our understanding of the most likely causal forces under which adaptive radiations emerge on islands. Results show how accelerated accumulation of species and early-bursts of ecological diversification occur after invading an island, and provide insights on the interplay between diet and demographic (population-density), ecological (competition/food requirements) and abiotic (climate-instability) factors, identified as drivers of adaptive diversification. A pronounced event of overpopulation and a phase of aridity determined most of the rate and magnitude of radiation, and pushed species to expand diets from soft-leafy foods to tougher-harder items. Unexpectedly, results show that herbivorous mammals are restricted to browsing habits on small-islands, even if bursts of ecological diversification and dietary divergence occur. This study deepens our understanding of the mechanisms promoting adaptive radiations, and forces us to reevaluate the role of diet in the origins and evolution of islands mammals.
Comparison of interleukin-10 and interleukin-13 in cord blood of infants born by vaginal delivery and caesarean
Authors: Khosravi Nastaran , Khosravi nastaran , Sheykholeslami Hamid , Nabavi Mohammad , Karimi Alireza 
Published: July 2016

Background: The present study assessed the levels of IL-13 and IL-10 in umbilical cord blood of infants born through normal vaginal delivery and infants born with cesarean section. &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Methods: This pilot study was performed on 42 neonates born at Rasool-e-Akram hospital between May 2013 and May 2014 categorized into two groups born by vaginal delivery (n = 21) and those who born by cesarean section (n = 21).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Results: No difference was observed between the two groups with normal vaginal delivery and cesarean delivery in the level of IL-13 in umbilical cord blood (1.42 {plus minus} 0.23 versus 1.40 {plus minus} 0.22, respectively, p = 0.785). The mean level of IL-10 in umbilical cord blood in the group with vaginal delivery was 6.35 {plus minus} 2.54 and in another group with cesarean section was 5.69 {plus minus} 2.42 with no significant difference (p = 0.393). According to the multivariate linear regression analyses, no difference was found between the two groups of the mode of delivery in the level of IL-10 (beta = -0.454, SE = 0.802, p = 0.575) and also in the level of IL-13 (beta = 0.012, SE = 0.076, p = 0.877). None of the indicators including gestational age, mother's age, sex of neonate, number of live births, history of abortion, and number of parity could predict increased level of the interleukins in umbilical cord blood. &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Conclusion: Mode of delivery may not be an indicator for altering cord blood levels of IL-13 and IL-10.
Acute Ischemic Lesions Associated With Impairments in Expression and Recognition of Affective Prosody
Authors: Wright Amy E. , Davis Cameron , Gomez Yessenia , Posner Joseph , Rorden Christopher , Hillis Argye E. , Tippett Donna C. 
Published: July 2016

PurposeWe aimed to: (a) review existing data on the neural basis of affective prosody; (b) test the hypothesis that there are double dissociations in impairments of expression and recognition of affective prosody; and (c) identify areas of infarct associated with impaired expression and/or recognition of affective prosody after acute right hemisphere (RH) ischemic stroke.MethodsParticipants were tested on recognition of emotional prosody in content-neutral sentences. Expression was evaluated by measuring variability in fundamental frequency. Voxel-based symptom mapping was used to identify areas associated with severity of expressive deficits.ResultsWe found that 9/23 patients had expressive prosody impairments; 5/9 of these patients also had impaired recognition of affective prosody; 2/9 had selective deficits in expressive prosody; recognition was not tested in 2/9. Another 6/23 patients had selective impairment in recognition of affective prosody. Severity of expressive deficits was associated with lesions in right temporal pole; patients with temporal pole lesions had deficits in expression and recognition.ConclusionsExpression and recognition of prosody can be selectively impaired. Damage to right anterior temporal pole is associated with impairment of both, indicating a role of this structure in a mechanism shared by expression and production of affective prosody.
Low‐pressure fabrication of IR‐transparent Y2O3 via spark plasma sintering
Authors: Irom Elnaz , Zakeri Mohammad , Ahangari Hossein Zadeh Ali Sedaghat , Safian Saman , Rahbari Ali 
Published: July 2016

Different pressures of 80 and 90 MPa were applied to produce Y2O3 ceramics by spark plasma sintering in this work. Effects of pressure were investigated on densification, microstructure, infrared (IR) transmission and mechanical properties. It was found that applying higher pressure led to finer microstructure and consequently higher hardness and fracture toughness. An IR‐transparent Y2O3 ceramic with 60% transmission at wavelength of 5 µm was obtained by sintering at 1300°C under uniaxial pressure of 90 MPa. This sample had an average grain size of 0.76 µm and hardness and fracture toughness of 9.37 GPa and 1.60 MPa.m1/2, respectively.
CRISPR-DO for genome-wide CRISPR design and optimization
Authors: Ma Jian , Köster Johannes , Qin Qian , Hu Shengen , Li Wei , Chen Chenhao , Cao Qingyi , Wang Jinzeng , Mei Shenglin , Liu Qi , Xu Han , Liu Xiaole Shirley 
Published: July 2016

Abstract
Motivation: Despite the growing popularity in using CRISPR/Cas9 technology for genome editing and gene knockout, its performance still relies on well-designed single guide RNAs (sgRNA). In this study, we propose a web application for the Design and Optimization (CRISPR-DO) of guide sequences that target both coding and non-coding regions in spCas9 CRISPR system across human, mouse, zebrafish, fly and worm genomes. CRISPR-DO uses a computational sequence model to predict sgRNA efficiency, and employs a specificity scoring function to evaluate the potential of off-target effect. It also provides information on functional conservation of target sequences, as well as the overlaps with exons, putative regulatory sequences and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The web application has a user-friendly genome–browser interface to facilitate the selection of the best target DNA sequences for experimental design.
Availability and Implementation: CRISPR-DO is available at http://cistrome.org/crispr/
Contact: qiliu@tongji.edu.cn or hanxu@jimmy.harvard.edu or xsliu@jimmy.harvard.edu
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Hand preference during bimanual coordinated task in northern pig-tailed macaquesMacaca leonina
Authors: Zhao Dapeng , Wang Yuan , Wei Xueyan 
Published: July 2016

AbstractIn humans, handedness is one defining characteristic regardless of cultures and ethnicity. Population-level right handedness is considered to be related with the evolution of left hemisphere for manual control and language. In order to further understand evolutionary origins of human cerebral lateralization and its behavioral adaptation, standardized measures on hand preference are required to make reliable comparison in nonhuman primate species. In this study, we present the first evidence on hand preference during bimanual coordinated tasks in northern pig-tailed macaques Macaca leonina. The classical TUBE task was applied to examine hand preference among nine individuals from Tianjin Zoo of China. We recorded and made analysis on both frequency and bout data on manual laterality. The results consistently show that subjects displayed strong individual hand preferences, whereas no significant group-level handedness was found. There were no sex and age significant differences on both direction and strength of hand preference. The M. leonina preferred to use the index finger to extract the baited food inside the tube. Our findings fill the knowledge gap on primate handedness, and efficiently affirm the robustness of the TUBE task as one efficient measure of hand preference in primates.
Systems, Prosodies, and the Phonology of French: New Insights from a Case Study of the Clitic Pronouns
Authors: Temple Rosalind A. M. , Schladebeck Alexandra 
Published: July 2016

Abstract

The preverbal clitic pronouns of French manifest in their phonology three phenomena which have exercised phonologists and variationists for many years: liaison, schwa or
e-caduc
, and variable (l). Hitherto these have been treated as separate phenomena, of which the clitics are sometimes invoked as instances (the main instance, in the case of (l)). This article, by contrast, takes the preverbal clitic pronoun system as a whole and applies some of the key constructs of Firthian Prosodic Analysis to its synchronic phonological analysis. Using a polysystemic approach, we present subsystems of pronouns and the structural and phonematic contrasts that characterize them. We show how these systems of contrasts and Firthian constructs such as the ‘prosody’ afford new, insightful ways of formalizing these phonological phenomena, which have the potential for broader application to the language. Our analysis is theoretical, but we demonstrate briefly how some of its testable predictions are confirmed by empirical findings in the existing literature, illustrating its potential to provide new insights and a more holistic framework for further analysis of these and other variable phonological features of French.