bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dissecting the role of transforming growth factor-β1 in topmouth culter immunobiological activity: a fundamental functional analysis
Authors: Qi Pengzhi , Xie Congxin , Guo Baoying , Wu Changwen 
Published: June 2016

AbstractTransforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) has been proven to function primarily in mammalian immunobiological activity, but information regarding the immune role of TGF-β1 in teleosts is limited. In the present study, we describe the cDNA cloning and characterization of the TGF-β1 molecule in the topmouth culter. TGF-β1 is highly expressed in immune-related tissues of the culter, including the thymus, head kidney, and spleen. The recombinant culter TGF-β1 (cTGF-β1) was successfully expressed and purified in vitro, and the effects of cTGF-β1 on the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α and IL-1β, in the absence or presence of LPS was determined in culter peripheral blood leukocytes. cTGF-β1 was found to have bipolar properties in inflammatory reactions. Additionally, to assess the immune role of teleost TGF-β1 in vivo, the expression of TGF-β1 in the culter thymus and spleen tissues induced by poly I:C were also examined. The expression of TGF-β1 was obviously up-regulated, as shown in the cell lines. However, the peak time of cTGF-β1 expression in the cell lines occurred significantly earlier than in the organic tissues under the same inducer, suggesting that the response of the teleost TGF-β1 molecule to exogenous infection depends on a more complicated signalling pathway in vivo than in vitro.
Direct observation of polar tweed in LaAlO3
Authors: Salje Ekhard K. H. , Alexe Marin , Kustov Sergey , Weber Mads C. , Schiemer Jason , Nataf Guillaume F. , Kreisel Jens 
Published: June 2016

AbstractPolar tweed was discovered in mechanically stressed LaAlO3. Local patches of strained material (diameter ca. 5 μm) form interwoven patterns seen in birefringence images, Piezo-Force Microscopy (PFM) and Resonant Piezoelectric Spectroscopy (RPS). PFM and RPS observations prove unequivocally that electrical polarity exists inside the tweed patterns of LaAlO3. The local piezoelectric effect varies greatly within the tweed patterns and reaches magnitudes similar to quartz. The patterns were mapped by the shift of the Eg soft-mode frequency by Raman spectroscopy.
Insights on dramatic radial fluctuations in track formation by energetic ions
Authors: Sachan Ritesh , Zarkadoula Eva , Lang Maik , Trautmann Christina , Zhang Yanwen , Chisholm Matthew F. , Weber William J. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractWe report on unexpected dramatic radial variations in ion tracks formed by irradiation with energetic ions (2.3 GeV 208Pb) at a constant electronic energy-loss (~42 keV/nm) in pyrochlore-structured Gd2TiZrO7. Though previous studies have shown track formation and average track diameter measurements in the Gd2TixZr(1−x)O7 system, the present work clearly reveals the importance of the recrystallization process in ion track formation in this system, which leads to more morphological complexities in tracks than currently accepted behavior. The ion track profile is usually considered to be diametrically uniform for a constant value of electronic energy-loss. This study reveals the diameter variations to be as large as ~40% within an extremely short incremental track length of ~20 nm. Our molecular dynamics simulations show that these fluctuations in diameter of amorphous core and overall track diameter are attributed to the partial substitution of Ti atoms by Zr atoms, which have a large difference in ionic radii, on the B-site in pyrochlore lattice. This random distribution of Ti and Zr atoms leads to a local competition between amorphous phase formation (favored by Ti atoms) and defect-fluorite phase formation (favored by Zr atoms) during the recrystallization process and finally introduces large radial variations in track morphology.
Rethinking spontaneous giving: Extreme time pressure and ego-depletion favor self-regarding reactions
Authors: Capraro Valerio , Cococcioni Giorgia 
Published: June 2016

AbstractPrevious experimental studies suggest that cooperation in one-shot anonymous interactions is, on average, spontaneous, rather than calculative. To explain this finding, it has been proposed that people internalize cooperative heuristics in their everyday life and bring them as intuitive strategies in new and atypical situations. Yet, these studies have important limitations, as they promote intuitive responses usingweaktime pressure or conceptual priming of intuition. Since these manipulations do not deplete participants’ ability to reason completely, it remains unclear whether cooperative heuristics are really automatic or they emerge after a small, but positive, amount of deliberation. Consistent with the latter hypothesis, we report two experiments demonstrating that spontaneous reactions in one-shot anonymous interactions tend to be egoistic. In doing so, our findings shed further light on the cognitive underpinnings of cooperation, as they suggest that cooperation in one-shot interactions is not automatic, but appears only at later stages of reasoning.
4D printing smart biomedical scaffolds with novel soybean oil epoxidized acrylate
Authors: Miao Shida , Zhu Wei , Castro Nathan J. , Nowicki Margaret , Zhou Xuan , Cui Haitao , Fisher John P. , Zhang Lijie Grace 
Published: June 2016

AbstractPhotocurable, biocompatible liquid resins are highly desired for 3D stereolithography based bioprinting. Here we solidified a novel renewable soybean oil epoxidized acrylate, using a 3D laser printing technique, into smart and highly biocompatible scaffolds capable of supporting growth of multipotent human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). Porous scaffolds were readily fabricated by simply adjusting the printer infill density; superficial structures of the polymerized soybean oil epoxidized acrylate were significantly affected by laser frequency and printing speed. Shape memory tests confirmed that the scaffold fixed a temporary shape at −18 °C and fully recovered its original shape at human body temperature (37 °C), which indicated the great potential for 4D printing applications. Cytotoxicity analysis proved that the printed scaffolds had significant higher hMSC adhesion and proliferation than traditional polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) and had no statistical difference from poly lactic acid (PLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL). This research is believed to significantly advance the development of biomedical scaffolds with renewable plant oils and advanced 3D fabrication techniques.
Withaferin A protects against palmitic acid-induced endothelial insulin resistance and dysfunction through suppression of oxidative stress and inflammation
Authors: Batumalaie Kalaivani , Amin Muhammad Arif , Murugan Dharmani Devi , Sattar Munavvar Zubaid Abdul , Abdullah Nor Azizan 
Published: June 2016

AbstractActivation of inflammatory pathways via reactive oxygen species (ROS) by free fatty acids (FFA) in obesity gives rise to insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction. Withaferin A (WA), possesses both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and therefore would be a good strategy to suppress palmitic acid (PA)-induced oxidative stress and inflammation and hence, insulin resistance and dysfunction in the endothelium. Effect of WA on PA-induced insulin resistance in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was determined by evaluating insulin signaling mechanisms whilst effect of this drug on PA-induced endothelial dysfunction was determined in acetylcholine-mediated relaxation in isolated rat aortic preparations. WA significantly inhibited ROS production and inflammation induced by PA. Furthermore, WA significantly decreased TNF-α and IL-6 production in endothelial cells by specifically suppressing IKKβ/NF-κβ phosphorylation. WA inhibited inflammation-stimulated IRS-1 serine phosphorylation and improved the impaired insulin PI3-K signaling and restored the decreased nitric oxide (NO) production triggered by PA. WA also decreased endothelin-1 and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 levels and restored the impaired endothelium-mediated vasodilation in isolated aortic preparations. These findings suggest that WA inhibited both ROS production and inflammation to restore impaired insulin resistance in cultured endothelial cells and improve endothelial dysfunction in rat aortic rings.
Apoptosis-mediated endothelial toxicity but not direct calcification or functional changes in anti-calcification proteins defines pathogenic effects of calcium phosphate bions
Authors: Kutikhin Anton G. , Velikanova Elena A. , Mukhamadiyarov Rinat A. , Glushkova Tatiana V. , Borisov Vadim V. , Matveeva Vera G. , Antonova Larisa V. , Filip’ev Dmitriy E. , Golovkin Alexey S. , Shishkova Daria K. , Burago Andrey Yu. , Frolov Alexey V. , Dolgov Viktor Yu. , Efimova Olga S. , Popova Anna N. , Malysheva Valentina Yu. , Vladimirov Alexandr A. , Sozinov Sergey A. , Ismagilov Zinfer R. , Russakov Dmitriy M. , Lomzov Alexander A. , Pyshnyi Dmitriy V. , Gutakovsky Anton K. , Zhivodkov Yuriy A. , Demidov Evgeniy A. , Peltek Sergey E. , Dolganyuk Viatcheslav F. , Babich Olga O. , Grigoriev Evgeniy V. , Brusina Elena B. , Barbarash Olga L. , Yuzhalin Arseniy E. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractCalcium phosphate bions (CPB) are biomimetic mineralo-organic nanoparticles which represent a physiological mechanism regulating the function, transport and disposal of calcium and phosphorus in the human body. We hypothesised that CPB may be pathogenic entities and even a cause of cardiovascular calcification. Here we revealed that CPB isolated from calcified atherosclerotic plaques and artificially synthesised CPB are morphologically and chemically indistinguishable entities. Their formation is accelerated along with the increase in calcium salts-phosphates/serum concentration ratio. Experiments in vitro and in vivo showed that pathogenic effects of CPB are defined by apoptosis-mediated endothelial toxicity but not by direct tissue calcification or functional changes in anti-calcification proteins. Since the factors underlying the formation of CPB and their pathogenic mechanism closely resemble those responsible for atherosclerosis development, further research in this direction may help us to uncover triggers of this disease.
Antimicrobial activity, improved cell selectivity and mode of action of short PMAP-36-derived peptides against bacteria and Candida
Authors: Lyu Yinfeng , Yang Yang , Lyu Xiting , Dong Na , Shan Anshan 
Published: June 2016

AbstractAntimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have recently attracted a great deal of attention as promising antibiotic candidates, but some obstacles such as toxicity and high synthesis cost must be addressed before developing them further. For developing short peptides with improved cell selectivity, we designed a series of modified PMAP-36 analogues. Antimicrobial assays showed that decreasing chain length in a certain range retained the high antimicrobial activity of the parental peptide and reduced hemolysis. The 18-mer peptide RI18 exhibited excellent antimicrobial activity against both bacteria and fungi, and its hemolytic activity was observably lower than PMAP-36 and melittin. The selectivity indexes of RI18 against bacteria and fungi were improved approximately 19-fold and 108-fold, respectively, compared to PMAP-36. In addition, serum did not affect the antibacterial activity of RI18 against E. coli but inhibited the antifungal efficiency against C. albicans. Flow cytometry and electron microscopy observation revealed that RI18 killed microbial cells primarily by damaging membrane integrity, leading to whole cell lysis. Taken together, these results suggest that RI18 has potential for further therapeutic research against frequently-encountered bacteria and fungi. Meanwhile, modification of AMPs is a promising strategy for developing novel antimicrobials to overcome drug-resistance.
Activation of liver X receptor inhibits the development of pulmonary carcinomas induced by 3-methylcholanthrene and butylated hydroxytoluene in BALB/c mice
Authors: Wang Qixue , Sun Lei , Yang Xiaoxiao , Ma Xingzhe , Li Qi , Chen Yuanli , Liu Ying , Zhang Di , Li Xiaoju , Xiang Rong , Wei Yuquan , Han Jihong , Duan Yajun 
Published: June 2016

AbstractWe previously reported that LXR ligand, T0901317, inhibited the growth of inoculated Lewis lung carcinoma in C57BL/6 mice by activating IFN-γ production. However, the effects of T0901317 on carcinogen-induced pulmonary carcinomas remain unknown. In this study, we initially conducted a statistical analysis on the data of human lung cancer samples extracted from the TCGA database and determined that survival rate/time of lung cancer patients and grade of lung adenocarcinoma were positively and negatively related to lung IFN-γ levels, respectively. We then determined the inhibitory effects of T0901317 on mouse pulmonary carcinomas induced by 3-methylcholanthrene (MCA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) or urethane. We found that T0901317 reduced morbidity and mortality in MCA/BHT-injected BALB/c mice by inhibiting lung adenocarcinoma. T0901317 also protected C57BL/6 mice, but not IFN-γ deficient (IFN-γ−/−, C57BL/6 background) mice, against MCA/BHT-induced lung hyperplasia/inflammation. In addition, we determined that T0901317 inhibited urethane-induced lung tumors in BABL/c mice. Furthermore, we determined that T0901317 prevented metastasis of 4T1 breast cancer cells in BALB/c mice. Administration of T0901317 substantially increased serum IFN-γ levels and lung IFN-γ expression in BABL/c and C57BL/6 mice. Taken together, our study demonstrates that LXR inhibits MCA/BHT-induced pulmonary carcinomas in BABL/c mice and the inhibition is associated with induction of IFN-γ production.
Self-Assembled 3D Flower-Like Nickel Hydroxide Nanostructures and Their Supercapacitor Applications
Authors: Parveen Nazish , Cho Moo Hwan 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThree-dimensional (3D) nanostructures have attracted considerable attention because of their high surface areas and unique properties which gives outstanding performance in catalysis and energy storage applications. This paper proposes the growth mechanism of 3D flower-like β-Ni(OH)2constructed through a two dimensional sheet framework using a one-step oleylamine-assisted solvothermal approach, where oleylamine acts as the surfactant, co-solvent, stabilizer and reducing agent. A detailed examination of the product morphology after various reaction times suggested that the self-assembly of flower occurs through a mechanism involving nucleation, Ostwald ripening and recrystallization. The associated characterization revealed it to be pure β-Ni(OH)2without any sign of contamination. The effect of the morphology (sheet to 3D flower-like β-Ni(OH)2) on the electrochemical supercapacitive behavior was assessed by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge-discharge tests. The results showed that 3D flower-like β-Ni(OH)2exhibited better specific capacitance of ~1567 F g−1at a current density of 1 A g−1and retained ~25% capacitance at a high current density of 10 A g−1compared to the other reference materials. The superior electrochemical properties of the 3D flower-like β-Ni(OH)2originate from their large specific surface area and unique structure.
Overexpression of a Chimeric Gene, OsDST-SRDX, Improved Salt Tolerance of Perennial Ryegrass
Authors: Cen Huifang , Ye Wenxing , Liu Yanrong , Li Dayong , Wang Kexin , Zhang Wanjun 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe Drought and Salt Tolerance gene (DST) encodes a C2H2 zinc finger transcription factor, which negatively regulates salt tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa). Phylogenetic analysis of six homologues of DST genes in different plant species revealed that DST genes were conserved evolutionarily. Here, the rice DST gene was linked to an SRDX domain for gene expression repression based on the Chimeric REpressor gene-Silencing Technology (CRES-T) to make a chimeric gene (OsDST-SRDX) construct and introduced into perennial ryegrass by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Integration and expression of the OsDST-SRDX in transgenic plants were tested by PCR and RT-PCR, respectively. Transgenic lines overexpressing the OsDST-SRDX fusion gene showed obvious phenotypic differences and clear resistance to salt-shock and to continuous salt stresses compared to non-transgenic plants. Physiological analyses including relative leaf water content, electrolyte leakage, proline content, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, H2O2 content and sodium and potassium accumulation indicated that the OsDST-SRDX fusion gene enhanced salt tolerance in transgenic perennial ryegrass by altering a wide range of physiological responses. To our best knowledge this study is the first report of utilizing Chimeric Repressor gene-Silencing Technology (CRES-T) in turfgrass and forage species for salt-tolerance improvement.
Macrophage-mediated inflammatory response decreases mycobacterial survival in mouse MSCs by augmenting NO production
Authors: Yang Kun , Wu Yongjian , Xie Heping , Li Miao , Ming Siqi , Li Liyan , Li Meiyu , Wu Minhao , Gong Sitang , Huang Xi 
Published: June 2016

AbstractMycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is a hard-to-eradicate intracellular microbe, which escapes host immune attack during latent infection. Recent studies reveal that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) provide a protective niche for MTB to maintain latency. However, the regulation of mycobacterial residency in MSCs in the infectious microenvironment remains largely unknown. Here, we found that macrophage-mediated inflammatory response during MTB infection facilitated the clearance of bacilli residing in mouse MSCs. Higher inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and nitric oxide (NO) production were observed in mouse MSCs under macrophage-mediated inflammatory circumstance. Blocking NO production in MSCs increased the survival of intracellular mycobacteria, indicating NO-mediated antimycobacterial activity. Moreover, both nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and Janus kinase (JAK)-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathways were involved in iNOS expression and NO production in inflammatory microenvironment. Furthermore, pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β could trigger NO production in MSCs and exert anti-mycobacterial activity via NF-κB signaling pathway. Neutralization of interleukin-1β in macrophage-mediated inflammatory microenvironment dampened the ability of mouse MSCs to produce NO. Together, our findings demonstrated that macrophage-mediated inflammatory response during mycobacterial infection promotes the clearance of bacilli in mouse MSCs by increasing NO production, which may provide a better understanding of latent MTB infection.
Morphological Transformation between Nanocoils and Nanoribbons via Defragmentation Structural Rearrangement or Fragmentation-recombination Mechanism
Authors: Zhang Yibin , Zheng Yingxuan , Xiong Wei , Peng Cheng , Zhang Yifan , Duan Ran , Che Yanke , Zhao Jincai 
Published: June 2016

AbstractKinetic control over the assembly pathways towards novel metastable functional materials or far-from-equilibrium systems has been much less studied compared to the thermodynamic equilibrium self-assembly. Herein, we report the distinct morphological transformation between nanocoils and nanoribbons in the self-assembly of unsymmetric perylene diimide (PDI) molecules. We demonstrate that the morphological transformation of the kinetically trapped assemblies into the thermodynamically stable forms proceeds via two distinct mechanisms, i.e., a direct structural rearrangement (molecule 1 or 2) and a fragmentation-recombination mechanism (molecule 4), respectively. The subtle interplay of the steric hindrance of the bulky substituents and the flexibility of the linker structure between the bulky moiety and the perylene core was demonstrated to enable the effective modulation of the energetic landscape of the assemblies and thus modulation of the assembly pathways. Herein, our work presents a new approach to control the self-assembly pathways and thereby can be used to achieve novel far-from-equilibrium systems.
A method for measuring rotation of a thermal carbon nanomotor using centrifugal effect
Authors: Cai Kun , Yu Jingzhou , Shi Jiao , Qin Qing H. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractA thermal nanomotor is relatively easy to fabricate and regulate as it contains just a few or even no accessory devices. Since the double-wall carbon nanotube (CNT)-based rotary nanomotor was established in a thermostat, assessment of the rotation of the rotor (inner tube) in the stator (outer tube) of the nanomotor has been critical, but remains challenging due to two factors: the small size of the rotor (only a few nanometers) and the high rotational frequency (»1 GHz). To measure the rotation of the nanomotor, in the present study, a probe test method is proposed. Briefly, the rotor is connected to an end-tube (CNT) through a graphene (GN) nanoribbon. As the CNT-probe is on the trajectory of the end-tube which rotates with the rotor, it will collide with the end-tube. The sharp fluctuation indicating the probe tip deflection can be observed and recorded. As a curly GN by hydrogenation is adopted for connecting the rotor and the end-tube, collision between the end-tube and the probe tip occurs only when the centrifugal force is higher than a threshold which can be considered as the rotational frequency of the rotor being measured by the present method.
Simultaneous identification of multi-combustion-intermediates of alkanol-air flames by femtosecond filament excitation for combustion sensing
Authors: Li Helong , Chu Wei , Xu Huailiang , Cheng Ya , Chin See-Leang , Yamanouchi Kaoru , Sun Hong-Bo 
Published: June 2016

AbstractLaser filamentation produced by the propagation of intense laser pulses in flames is opening up new possibility in application to combustion diagnostics that can provide useful information on understanding combustion processes, enhancing combustion efficiency and reducing pollutant products. Here we present simultaneous identification of multiple combustion intermediates by femtosecond filament excitation for five alkanol-air flames fueled by methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, n-butanol and n-pentanol. We experimentally demonstrate that the intensities of filament-induced photoemission signals from the combustion intermediates C, C2, CH, CN increase with the increasing number of carbons in the fuel molecules and the signal ratios between the intermediates (CH/C, CH/C2, CN/C, CH/C2, CN/CH) are different for different alkanol combustion flames. Our observation provides a way for sensing multiple combustion components by femtosecond filament excitation in various combustion conditions that strongly depend on the fuel species.