bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identification and characterisation of Dof transcription factors in the cucumber genome
Authors: Wen Chang-long , Cheng Qing , Zhao Liqun , Mao Aijun , Yang Jingjing , Yu Shuancang , Weng Yiqun , Xu Yong 
Published: March 2016

AbstractCucumber is vulnerable to many foliage diseases. Recent studies reported cloning of candidate genes for several diseases in cucumber; however, the exact defence mechanisms remain unclear. Dof genes have been shown to play significant roles in plant growth, development and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Dof genes coding for plant-specific transcription factors can promote large-scale expression of defence-related genes at whole genome level. The genes in the family have been identified and characterized in several plant species, but not in cucumber. In the present study, we identified 36 CsDof members from the cucumber draft genomes which could be classified into eight groups. The proportions of the CsDof family genes, duplication events, chromosomal locations, cis-elements and miRNA target sites were comprehensively investigated. Consequently, we analysed the expression patterns of CsDof genes in specific tissues and their response to two biotic stresses (watermelon mosaic virus and downy mildew). These results indicated that CsDof may be involved in resistance to biotic stresses in cucumber.
An Ethylene-responsive Factor BpERF11 Negatively Modulates Salt and Osmotic Tolerance in Betula platyphylla
Authors: Zhang Wenhui , Yang Guiyan , Mu Dan , Li Hongyan , Zang Dandan , Xu Hongyun , Zou Xuezhong , Wang Yucheng 
Published: March 2016

AbstractEthylene responsive factors (ERFs) play important roles in the abiotic stress; however, only a few ERF genes from woody plants have been functionally characterized. In the present study, an ERF gene fromBetula platyphylla(birch),BpERF11, was functionally characterized in response to abiotic stress. BpERF11 is a nuclear protein, which could specifically bind to GCC boxes and DRE motifs.BpERF11-overexpressing andBpERF11RNA interference (RNAi) knockdown plants were generated for gain- and loss-of-function analysis.BpERF11negatively regulates resistance to salt and severe osmotic stress, and the transgenic birch plants overexpressingBpERF11shows increased electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents.BpERF11inhibits the expression of anAtMYB61homologous gene, resulting in increased stomatal aperture, which elevated the transpiration rate. Furthermore,BpERF11downregulates the expression ofP5CS,SODandPODgenes, but upregulates the expression ofPRODHandP5CDH, which results in reduced proline levels and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation.BpERF11also significantly inhibits the expression ofLEAand dehydrin genes that involve in abiotic stress tolerance. Therefore,BpERF11serves as a transcription factor that negatively regulates salt and severe osmotic tolerance by modulating various physiological processes.
Controllable Hysteresis and Threshold Voltage of Single-Walled Carbon Nano-tube Transistors with Ferroelectric Polymer Top-Gate Insulators
Authors: Sun Yi-Lin , Xie Dan , Xu Jian-Long , Zhang Cheng , Dai Rui-Xuan , Li Xian , Meng Xiang-Jian , Zhu Hong-Wei 
Published: March 2016

AbstractDouble-gated field effect transistors have been fabricated using the SWCNT networks as channel layer and the organic ferroelectric P(VDF-TrFE) film spin-coated as top gate insulators. Standard photolithography process has been adopted to achieve the patterning of organic P(VDF-TrFE) films and top-gate electrodes, which is compatible with conventional CMOS process technology. An effective way for modulating the threshold voltage in the channel of P(VDF-TrFE) top-gate transistors under polarization has been reported. The introduction of functional P(VDF-TrFE) gate dielectric also provides us an alternative method to suppress the initial hysteresis of SWCNT networks and obtain a controllable ferroelectric hysteresis behavior. Applied bottom gate voltage has been found to be another effective way to highly control the threshold voltage of the networked SWCNTs based FETs by electrostatic doping effect.
Identification of early myeloid progenitors as immunosuppressive cells
Authors: Pu Shiming , Qin Baoxiong , He Huan , Zhan Jinxi , Wu Qiong , Zhang Xinming , Yang Liu , Qu Chunfeng , Zhou Zuping 
Published: March 2016

AbstractGrowing evidence suggests that hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs), precursors of mature immune cells, may play a direct role in immunosurveillance. Early myeloid progenitors are the major components of HSPCs and they often undergo extensive expansion in stress as a result of myeloid-biased hematopoiesis. Yet, the precise function of early myeloid progenitors remains unclear. Here we show that during tumor progression, mouse granulocyte/macrophage progenitors (GMPs) but not common myeloid progenitors (CMPs) are markedly expanded within the bone marrow and blood of mice. Interestingly, both GMPs and CMPs freshly isolated from either tumor-bearing or naïve animals are capable of inhibiting polyclonal stimuli- and alloantigen-induced T cell proliferation, with tumor host-derived cells having elevated activities. Strikingly, these early myeloid progenitor cells even display much stronger suppressive capacity than the classical myeloid-derived suppressive cells. Analysis of GMPs indicates that they express iNOS and can secrete high levels of NO. Further studies unusing iNOS specific inhibitors reveal that the immunosuppression of GMPs is, to a large extent, NO-dependent. GMPs can also efficiently induce regulatory T cell development. These studies demonstrate that early myeloid progenitors can act as immunosuppressive cells. This finding provides novel insights into the functional diversity and plasticity of early myeloid progenitor cells.
Exosomal miR-10a derived from amniotic fluid stem cells preserves ovarian follicles after chemotherapy
Authors: Xiao Guan-Yu , Cheng Chun-Chun , Chiang Yih-Shien , Cheng Winston Teng-Kuei , Liu I-Hsuan , Wu Shinn-Chih 
Published: March 2016

AbstractChemotherapy (CTx)-induced premature ovarian failure (POF) in woman remains clinically irreversible. Amniotic fluid stem cells (AFSCs) have shown the potential to treat CTx-induced POF; however, the underlying mechanism is unclear. Here we demonstrate that AFSC-derived exosomes recapitulate the anti-apoptotic effect of AFSCs on CTx-damaged granulosa cells (GCs), which are vital for the growth of ovarian follicles. AFSC-derived exosomes prevent ovarian follicular atresia in CTx-treated mice via the delivery of microRNAs in which both miR-146a and miR-10a are highly enriched and their potential target genes are critical to apoptosis. The down-regulation of these two miRNAs in AFSC-derived exosomes attenuates the anti-apoptotic effect on CTx-damaged GCs in vitro. Further, the administration of these miRNAs recapitulates the effects both in vitro and in vivo, in which miR-10a contributes a dominant influence. Our findings illustrate that miR-10a has potential as a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of POF.
Load partitioning between the bcc-iron matrix and NiAl-type precipitates in a ferritic alloy on multiple length scales
Authors: Sun Zhiqian , Song Gian , Sisneros Thomas A. , Clausen Bjørn , Pu Chao , Li Lin , Gao Yanfei , Liaw Peter K. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractAn understanding of load sharing among constituent phases aids in designing mechanical properties of multiphase materials. Here we investigate load partitioning between the body-centered-cubic iron matrix and NiAl-type precipitates in a ferritic alloy during uniaxial tensile tests at 364 and 506 °C on multiple length scales by in situ neutron diffraction and crystal plasticity finite element modeling. Our findings show that the macroscopic load-transfer efficiency is not as high as that predicted by the Eshelby model; moreover, it depends on the matrix strain-hardening behavior. We explain the grain-level anisotropic load-partitioning behavior by considering the plastic anisotropy of the matrix and elastic anisotropy of precipitates. We further demonstrate that the partitioned load on NiAl-type precipitates relaxes at 506 °C, most likely through thermally-activated dislocation rearrangement on the microscopic scale. The study contributes to further understanding of load-partitioning characteristics in multiphase materials.
miR-33-5p, a novel mechano-sensitive microRNA promotes osteoblast differentiation by targeting Hmga2
Authors: Wang Han , Sun Zhongyang , Wang Yixuan , Hu Zebing , Zhou Hua , Zhang Lianchang , Hong Bo , Zhang Shu , Cao Xinsheng 
Published: March 2016

AbstractMicroRNAs (miRNAs) interfere with the translation of specific target mRNAs and are thought to thereby regulate many cellular processes. However, the role of miRNAs in osteoblast mechanotransduction remains to be defined. In this study, we investigated the ability of a miRNA to respond to different mechanical environments and regulate mechano-induced osteoblast differentiation. First, we demonstrated that miR-33-5p expressed by osteoblasts is sensitive to multiple mechanical environments, microgravity and fluid shear stress. We then confirmed the ability of miR-33-5p to promote osteoblast differentiation. Microgravity or fluid shear stress influences osteoblast differentiation partially via miR-33-5p. Through bioinformatics analysis and a luciferase assay, we subsequently confirmed that Hmga2 is a target gene of miR-33-5p that negatively regulates osteoblast differentiation. Moreover, miR-33-5p regulates osteoblast differentiation partially via Hmga2. In summary, our findings demonstrate that miR-33-5p is a novel mechano-sensitive miRNA that can promote osteoblast differentiation and participate in the regulation of differentiation induced by changes in the mechanical environment, suggesting this miRNA as a potential target for the treatment of pathological bone loss.
Aqueous sodium borohydride induced thermally stable porous zirconium oxide for quick removal of lead ions
Authors: Nayak Nadiya B. , Nayak Bibhuti B. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractAqueous sodium borohydride (NaBH4) is well known for its reducing property and well-established for the development of metal nanoparticles through reduction method. In contrary, this research paper discloses the importance of aqueous NaBH4 as a precipitating agent towards development of porous zirconium oxide. The boron species present in aqueous NaBH4 play an active role during gelation as well as phase separated out in the form of boron complex during precipitation, which helps to form boron free zirconium hydroxide [Zr(OH)4] in the as-synthesized condition. Evolved in-situ hydrogen (H2) gas-bubbles also play an important role to develop as-synthesized loose zirconium hydroxide and the presence of intra-particle voids in the loose zirconium hydroxide help to develop porous zirconium oxide during calcination process. Without any surface modification, this porous zirconium oxide quickly adsorbs almost hundred percentages of toxic lead ions from water solution within 15 minutes at normal pH condition. Adsorption kinetic models suggest that the adsorption process was surface reaction controlled chemisorption. Quick adsorption was governed by surface diffusion process and the adsorption kinetic was limited by pore diffusion. Five cycles of adsorption-desorption result suggests that the porous zirconium oxide can be reused efficiently for removal of Pb (II) ions from aqueous solution.
Dynamic Balance of Excitation and Inhibition in Human and Monkey Neocortex
Authors: Dehghani Nima , Peyrache Adrien , Telenczuk Bartosz , Le Van Quyen Michel , Halgren Eric , Cash Sydney S. , Hatsopoulos Nicholas G. , Destexhe Alain 
Published: March 2016

AbstractBalance of excitation and inhibition is a fundamental feature of in vivo network activity and is important for its computations. However, its presence in the neocortex of higher mammals is not well established. We investigated the dynamics of excitation and inhibition using dense multielectrode recordings in humans and monkeys. We found that in all states of the wake-sleep cycle, excitatory and inhibitory ensembles are well balanced and co-fluctuate with slight instantaneous deviations from perfect balance, mostly in slow-wave sleep. Remarkably, these correlated fluctuations are seen for many different temporal scales. The similarity of these computational features with a network model of self-generated balanced states suggests that such balanced activity is essentially generated by recurrent activity in the local network and is not due to external inputs. Finally, we find that this balance breaks down during seizures, where the temporal correlation of excitatory and inhibitory populations is disrupted. These results show that balanced activity is a feature of normal brain activity and break down of the balance could be an important factor to define pathological states.
Photoconductive terahertz generation from textured semiconductor materials
Authors: Collier Christopher M. , Stirling Trevor J. , Hristovski Ilija R. , Krupa Jeffrey D. A. , Holzman Jonathan F. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractPhotoconductive (PC) terahertz (THz) emitters are often limited by ohmic loss and Joule heating—as these effects can lead to thermal runaway and premature device breakdown. To address this, the proposed work introduces PC THz emitters based on textured InP materials. The enhanced surface recombination and decreased charge-carrier lifetimes of the textured InP materials reduce residual photocurrents, following the picosecond THz waveform generation and this diminishes Joule heating in the emitters. A non-textured InP material is used as a baseline for studies of fine- and coarse-textured InP materials. Ultrafast pump-probe and THz setups are used to measure the charge-carrier lifetimes and THz response/photocurrent consumption of the respective materials and emitters. It is found that similar temporal and spectral characteristics can be achieved with the THz emitters, but the level of photocurrent consumption (yielding Joule heating) is greatly reduced in the textured materials.
TiO2-catalyzed synthesis of sugars from formaldehyde in extraterrestrial impacts on the early Earth
Authors: Civiš Svatopluk , Szabla Rafał , Szyja Bartłomiej M. , Smykowski Daniel , Ivanek Ondřej , Knížek Antonín , Kubelík Petr , Šponer Jiří , Ferus Martin , Šponer Judit E. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractRecent synthetic efforts aimed at reconstructing the beginning of life on our planet point at the plausibility of scenarios fueled by extraterrestrial energy sources. In the current work we show that beyond nucleobases the sugar components of the first informational polymers can be synthesized in this way. We demonstrate that a laser-induced high-energy chemistry combined with TiO2 catalysis readily produces a mixture of pentoses, among them ribose, arabinose and xylose. This chemistry might be highly relevant to the Late Heavy Bombardment period of Earth’s history about 4–3.85 billion years ago. In addition, we present an in-depth theoretical analysis of the most challenging step of the reaction pathway, i.e., the TiO2-catalyzed dimerization of formaldehyde leading to glycolaldehyde.
Optimizing matching and analysis combinations for estimating causal effects
Authors: Colson K. Ellicott , Rudolph Kara E. , Zimmerman Scott C. , Goin Dana E. , Stuart Elizabeth A. , Laan Mark van der , Ahern Jennifer 
Published: March 2016

AbstractMatching methods are common in studies across many disciplines. However, there is limited evidence on how to optimally combine matching with subsequent analysis approaches to minimize bias and maximize efficiency for the quantity of interest. We conducted simulations to compare the performance of a wide variety of matching methods and analysis approaches in terms of bias, variance, and mean squared error (MSE). We then compared these approaches in an applied example of an employment training program. The results indicate that combining full matching with double robust analysis performed best in both the simulations and the applied example, particularly when combined with machine learning estimation methods. To reduce bias, current guidelines advise researchers to select the technique with the best post-matching covariate balance, but this work finds that such an approach does not always minimize mean squared error (MSE). These findings have important implications for future research utilizing matching. To minimize MSE, investigators should consider additional diagnostics, and use of simulations tailored to the study of interest to identify the optimal matching and analysis combination.
Altered RNA editing in 3′ UTR perturbs microRNA-mediated regulation of oncogenes and tumor-suppressors
Authors: Zhang Liye , Yang Chih-Sheng , Varelas Xaralabos , Monti Stefano 
Published: March 2016

AbstractRNA editing is a molecular event that alters specific nucleotides in RNA post-transcriptionally. RNA editing has the potential to impact a variety of cellular processes and is implicated in diseases such as cancer. Yet, the precise mechanisms by which RNA editing controls cellular processes are poorly understood. Here, we characterize sequences altered by RNA editing in patient samples from lymphoma, neuroblastoma and head and neck cancers. We show that A-to-I RNA editing sites are highly conserved across samples of the same tissue type and that most editing sites identified in tumors are also detectable in normal tissues. Next, we identify the significant changes in editing levels of known sites between tumor and paired “normal” tissues across 14 cancer types (627 pairs) from The Cancer Genome Atlas project and show that the complexity of RNA editing regulation cannot be captured by the activity of ADAR family genes alone. Our pan-cancer analysis confirms previous results on individual tumor types and suggests that changes of RNA editing levels in coding and 3′UTR regions could be a general mechanism to promote tumor growth. We also propose a model explaining how altered RNA editing levels affect microRNA-mediated post-transcriptional regulation of oncogenes and tumor-suppressors.
Superconductivity in Ca-doped graphene laminates
Authors: Chapman J. , Su Y. , Howard C. A. , Kundys D. , Grigorenko A. N. , Guinea F. , Geim A. K. , Grigorieva I. V. , Nair R. R. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractDespite graphene’s long list of exceptional electronic properties and many theoretical predictions regarding the possibility of superconductivity in graphene, its direct and unambiguous experimental observation has not been achieved. We searched for superconductivity in weakly interacting, metal decorated graphene crystals assembled into so-called graphene laminates, consisting of well separated and electronically decoupled graphene crystallites. We report robust superconductivity in all Ca-doped graphene laminates. They become superconducting at temperatures (Tc) between ≈4 and ≈6 K, with Tc’s strongly dependent on the confinement of the Ca layer and the induced charge carrier concentration in graphene. We find that Ca is the only dopant that induces superconductivity in graphene laminates above 1.8 K among several dopants used in our experiments, such as potassium, caesium and lithium. By revealing the tunability of the superconducting response through doping and confinement of the metal layer, our work shows that achieving superconductivity in free-standing, metal decorated monolayer graphene is conditional on an optimum confinement of the metal layer and sufficient doping, thereby bringing its experimental realization within grasp.
The DmtA methyltransferase contributes to Aspergillus flavus conidiation, sclerotial production, aflatoxin biosynthesis and virulence
Authors: Yang Kunlong , Liang Linlin , Ran Fanlei , Liu Yinghang , Li Zhenguo , Lan Huahui , Gao Peili , Zhuang Zhenhong , Zhang Feng , Nie Xinyi , Kalayu Yirga Shimuye , Wang Shihua 
Published: March 2016

AbstractDNA methylation is essential for epigenetic regulation of gene transcription and development in many animals, plants and fungi. We investigated whether DNA methylation plays a role in the development and secondary metabolism of Aspergillus flavus, identified the DmtA methyltransferase from A. flavus and produced a dmtA knock-out mutant by replacing the dmtA coding sequence with the pyrG selectable marker. The A. flavus dmtA null mutant lines produced white fluffy mycelium in liquid medium and displayed a slightly flavescent conidial pigmentation compared with the normal yellow of the wild-type strain when grown on agar. The ΔdmtA lines exhibited decreased conidiation and aflatoxin (AF) biosynthesis, compared with the wild-type line, suggesting that the DmtA knock-out affected the transcriptional level of genes in the AF cluster. In particular, sclerotia development and host colonization were altered in the dmtA null mutants. Green fluorescent protein tagging at the C-terminus of DmtA showed that DmtA localized to the nucleus and cytoplasm. DNA methylation content measurements in the dmtA mutants revealed no widespread DNA methylation in the mutants or wild-type lines. Thus, our findings suggest that DmtA, apart from being a C-5 cytosine methyltransferase in A. flavus, contributes to asexual development, aflatoxin biosynthesis, sclerotial production and virulence.
Safety and Efficacy of Trastuzumab Emtansine in Advanced Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2–Positive Breast Cancer: a Meta-analysis
Authors: Shen Kai , Ma Xuelei , Zhu Chenjing , Wu Xin , Jia Hongyuan 
Published: March 2016

AbstractAdvanced or metastatic breast cancer is an incurable disease with high mortality rate worldwide and about 20% of breast cancers overexpress and amplify the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Achievements in targeted therapy have benefited people during the past decades. Trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1), a novel antibody-drug conjugate playing a powerful role in anti-tumor activity, not only blocks the HER2 signaling pathways, but also disturbs the microtubule dynamics. To access the efficacy and safety of T-DM1, we analyzed 9 clinical trials on T-DM1. Results showed that fatigue (0.604, 95% CI 0.551, 0.654), nausea (0.450, 95% CI 0.365, 0.537), increased transaminases (0.425, 95% CI 0.353, 0.500) and thrombocytopenia (0.383, 95% CI 0.322, 0.448) occurred more frequently in participants with single T-DM1. In controlled trials, increased transaminases (OR = 4.040, 95% CI 1.429, 11.427), thrombocytopenia (OR = 8.500, 95% CI 3.964, 18.226) and fatigue (OR = 1.288, 95% CI 1.041, 1.593) were statistically significant. Only thrombocytopenia appeared as severe adverse event (grade ≥ 3) in single-arm and control-arm studies. Meanwhile, T-DM1 stabilized cancer and prolonged life with notable improved progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). In conclusion, it is a safe and effective agent in advanced or metastatic breast cancer, but should be carefully applied on patients with severe hepatic and neurological disease.