bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reward type and behavioural patterns predict dogs’ success in a delay of gratification paradigm
Authors: Brucks Désirée , Soliani Matteo , Range Friederike , Marshall-Pescini Sarah 
Published: March 2017

AbstractInhibiting an immediate behaviour in favour of an alternative but more advantageous behaviour has been linked to individual success in life, especially in humans. Dogs, which have been living in the human environment for thousands of years, are exposed to daily situations that require inhibition different in context from other non-domesticated species. One task regularly used to study inhibitory control is the delay of gratification task, which requires individuals to choose between an immediate option of lower value and a delayed option of higher value. We tested sixteen dogs in a non-social delay of gratification task, conducting two different conditions: a quality and a quantity condition. While the majority of dogs failed to wait for more than 10 s, some dogs tolerated delays of up to 140 s, while one dog waited for 15 minutes. Moreover, dogs had more difficulties to wait if the reward increased in terms of quantity than quality. Interestingly, dogs were able to anticipate the delay duration and some dogs developed behavioural patterns that predicted waiting, which seems similar in some respects to ‘coping-strategies’ found in children, chimpanzees and parrots. Our results indicate that strategies to cope with impulsivity seem to be consistent and present across animal taxa.
Early spatiotemporal-specific changes in intermediate signals are predictive of cytotoxic sensitivity to TNFα and co-treatments
Authors: Loo Lit-Hsin , Bougen-Zhukov Nicola Michelle , Tan Wei-Ling Cecilia 
Published: March 2017

AbstractSignaling pathways can generate different cellular responses to the same cytotoxic agents. Current quantitative models for predicting these differential responses are usually based on large numbers of intracellular gene products or signals at different levels of signaling cascades. Here, we report a study to predict cellular sensitivity to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) using high-throughput cellular imaging and machine-learning methods. We measured and compared 1170 protein phosphorylation events in a panel of human lung cancer cell lines based on different signals, subcellular regions, and time points within one hour of TNFα treatment. We found that two spatiotemporal-specific changes in an intermediate signaling protein, p90 ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK), are sufficient to predict the TNFα sensitivity of these cell lines. Our models could also predict the combined effects of TNFα and other kinase inhibitors, many of which are not known to target RSK directly. Therefore, early spatiotemporal-specific changes in intermediate signals are sufficient to represent the complex cellular responses to these perturbations. Our study provides a general framework for the development of rapid, signaling-based cytotoxicity screens that may be used to predict cellular sensitivity to a cytotoxic agent, or identify co-treatments that may sensitize or desensitize cells to the agent.
Dynamics of laser-driven proton acceleration exhibited by measured laser absorptivity and reflectivity
Authors: Bin J. H. , Allinger K. , Khrennikov K. , Karsch S. , Bolton P. R. , Schreiber J. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractProton acceleration from nanometer thin foils with intense laser pulses is investigated experimentally. We analyzed the laser absorptivity by parallel monitoring of laser transmissivity and reflectivity with different laser intensities when moving the targets along the laser axis. A direct correlation between laser absorptivity and maximum proton energy is observed. Experimental results are interpreted in analytical estimation, exhibiting a coexistence of plasma expansion and light-sail form of radiation pressure acceleration (RPA-LS) mechanisms during the entire proton acceleration process based on the measured laser absorptivity and reflectivity.
Troponin-I is present as an essential component of muscles in echinoderm larvae
Authors: Yaguchi Shunsuke , Yaguchi Junko , Tanaka Hiroyuki 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe troponin complex, composed of Troponin-I, Troponin-T and Troponin-C, is an essential mediator of the contraction of striated muscle downstream of calcium signaling in almost all bilaterians. However, in echinoderms and hemichordates, collectively termed Ambulacraria, the components of the troponin complex have never been isolated, thus suggesting that these organisms lost the troponin system during evolution. Here, by analyzing genomic information from sea urchins, we identify the troponin-I gene and isolate its complete mRNA sequence. Using this information, we reveal that the larval muscles express this gene and its translated product and that the protein is definitely a functional molecule expressed in sea urchin larvae by showing that Troponin-I morphants are unable to swallow algae. We conclude that muscular contraction in all bilaterians universally depends on a regulatory system mediated by Troponin-I, which emerged in the common ancestor of bilaterians.
Amigo2-upregulation in Tumour Cells Facilitates Their Attachment to Liver Endothelial Cells Resulting in Liver Metastases
Authors: Kanda Yusuke , Osaki Mitsuhiko , Onuma Kunishige , Sonoda Ayana , Kobayashi Masanobu , Hamada Junichi , Nicolson Garth L. , Ochiya Takahiro , Okada Futoshi 
Published: March 2017

AbstractSince liver metastasis is the main cause of death in cancer patients, we attempted to identify the driver gene involved. QRsP-11 fibrosarcoma cells were injected into the spleens of syngeneic mice to isolate tumour sub-populations that colonize the liver. Cells from liver metastatic nodules were established and subsequently injected intrasplenically for selection. After 12 cycles, the cell subline LV12 was obtained. Intravenous injection of LV12 cells produced more liver metastases than QRsP-11 cells, whereas the incidence of lung metastases was similar to that of QRsP-11 cells. LV12 cells adhered to liver-derived but not to lung-derived endothelial cells. DNA chip analysis showed that amphoterin-induced gene and open reading frame 2 (Amigo2) was overexpressed in LV12 cells. siRNA-mediated knockdown of Amigo2 expression in LV12 cells attenuated liver endothelial cell adhesion. Ex vivo imaging showed that suppression of Amigo2 in luciferase-expressing LV12 cells reduced attachment/metastasis to liver to the same level as that observed with QRsP-11 cells. Forced expression of Amigo2 in QRsP-11 cells increased liver endothelial cell adhesion and liver metastasis. Additionally, Amigo2 expression in human cancers was higher in liver metastatic lesions than in primary lesions. Thus, Amigo2 regulated tumour cell adhesion to liver endothelial cells and formation of liver metastases.
Stabilization of Two Radicals with One Metal: A Stepwise Coupling Model for Copper-Catalyzed Radical–Radical Cross-Coupling
Authors: Qi Xiaotian , Zhu Lei , Bai Ruopeng , Lan Yu 
Published: March 2017

AbstractTransition metal-catalyzed radical–radical cross-coupling reactions provide innovative methods for C–C and C–heteroatom bond construction. A theoretical study was performed to reveal the mechanism and selectivity of the copper-catalyzed C–N radical–radical cross-coupling reaction. The concerted coupling pathway, in which a C–N bond is formed through the direct nucleophilic addition of a carbon radical to the nitrogen atom of the Cu(II)–N species, is demonstrated to be kinetically unfavorable. The stepwise coupling pathway, which involves the combination of a carbon radical with a Cu(II)–N species before C–N bond formation, is shown to be probable. Both the Mulliken atomic spin density distribution and frontier molecular orbital analysis on the Cu(II)–N intermediate show that the Cu site is more reactive than that of N; thus, the carbon radical preferentially react with the metal center. The chemoselectivity of the cross-coupling is also explained by the differences in electron compatibility of the carbon radical, the nitrogen radical and the Cu(II)–N intermediate. The higher activation free energy for N–N radical–radical homo-coupling is attributed to the mismatch of Cu(II)–N species with the nitrogen radical because the electrophilicity for both is strong.
Modulation of LAT1 (SLC7A5) transporter activity and stability by membrane cholesterol
Authors: Dickens David , Chiduza George N. , Wright Gareth S. A. , Pirmohamed Munir , Antonyuk Svetlana V. , Hasnain S. Samar 
Published: March 2017

AbstractLAT1 (SLC7A5) is a transporter for both the uptake of large neutral amino acids and a number of pharmaceutical drugs. It is expressed in numerous cell types including T-cells, cancer cells and brain endothelial cells. However, mechanistic knowledge of how it functions and its interactions with lipids are unknown or limited due to inability of obtaining stable purified protein in sufficient quantities. Our data show that depleting cellular cholesterol reduced the Vmax but not the Km of the LAT1 mediated uptake of a model substrate into cells (L-DOPA). A soluble cholesterol analogue was required for the stable purification of the LAT1 with its chaperon CD98 (4F2hc,SLC3A2) and that this stabilised complex retained the ability to interact with a substrate. We propose cholesterol interacts with the conserved regions in the LAT1 transporter that have been shown to bind to cholesterol/CHS in Drosophila melanogaster dopamine transporter. In conclusion, LAT1 is modulated by cholesterol impacting on its stability and transporter activity. This novel finding has implications for other SLC7 family members and additional eukaryotic transporters that contain the LeuT fold.
O-GlcNAcylation of SKN-1 modulates the lifespan and oxidative stress resistance in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Li Hongyuan , Liu Xin , Wang Dan , Su Liangping , Zhao Tingting , Li Zhongwei , Lin Cong , Zhang Yu , Huang Baiqu , Lu Jun , Li Xiaoxue 
Published: March 2017

AbstractIn C. elegans, the transcription factor skinhead-1 (SKN-1), the ortholog of human NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2), plays important roles in oxidative stress defense and aging processes. It has been documented that the activity of SKN-1 is regulated by its phosphorylation modification. However, whether other posttranslational modifications of SKN-1 affect its function remains unclear to date. Here we report, for the first time, that SKN-1 is O-GlcNAcylated at Ser470 and Thr493 by O-GlcNActransferase OGT-1. By generating the double mutations of Ser470/Thr493 in the wild type and skn-1(zu67) worms, respectively, we found that disruption of O-GlcNAc modification on SKN-1 repressed the accumulation of SKN-1 in the intestinal nuclei, and decreased the activities of SKN-1 in modulating lifespan and oxidative stress resistance. Moreover, under oxidative stress, SKN-1 was highly O-GlcNAcylated, resulting in the decrease of GSK-3-mediated phosphorylation at Ser483 adjacent to the O-GlcNAcylated residues (Ser470 and Thr493). These data suggest that O-GlcNAcylation of SKN-1 is crucial for regulating lifespan and oxidative stress resistance via the crosstalk with its phosphorylation in C. elegans. These findings have important implications for studying the functions of O-GlcNAcylation on Nrf-2 in human aging-related diseases.
Anisotropic layered Bi2Te3-In2Te3 composites: control of interface density for tuning of thermoelectric properties
Authors: Liu Dongmei , Li Xinzhong , Borlido Pedro Miguel de Castro , Botti Silvana , Schmechel Roland , Rettenmayr Markus 
Published: March 2017

AbstractLayered (Bi1−xInx)2Te3-In2Te3 (x = 0.075) composites of pronounced anisotropy in structure and thermoelectric properties were produced by zone melting and subsequent coherent precipitation of In2Te3 from a (Bi1−xInx)2Te3 (x > 0.075) matrix. Employing solid state phase transformation, the Bi2Te3/In2Te3 interface density was tuned by modifying the driving force for In2Te3 precipitation. The structure-property relationship in this strongly anisotropic material is characterized thoroughly and systematically for the first time. Unexpectedly, with increasing Bi2Te3/In2Te3 interface density, an increase in electrical conductivity and a decrease in the absolute Seebeck coefficient were found. This is likely to be due to electron accumulation layers at the Bi2Te3/In2Te3 interfaces and the interplay of bipolar transport in Bi2Te3. Significantly improved thermoelectric properties of Bi2Te3-In2Te3 composites as compared to the single phase (Bi1−xInx)2Te3 solid solution are obtained.
A network-based method for mechanistic investigation of Shexiang Baoxin Pill’s treatment of cardiovascular diseases
Authors: Fang Hai-Yang , Zeng Hua-Wu , Lin Li-Mei , Chen Xing , Shen Xiao-Na , Fu Peng , Lv Chao , Liu Qun , Liu Run-Hui , Zhang Wei-Dong , Zhao Jing 
Published: March 2017

AbstractShexiang Baoxin Pill (SBP), a traditional Chinese medicine formula, is commonly used to treat cardiovascular disease (CVD) in China. However, the complexity of composition and targets has deterred our understanding of its mechanism of action. Using network pharmacology-based approaches, we established the mechanism of action for SBP to treat CVD by analyzing protein-protein interactions and pathways. The computational results were confirmed at the gene expression level in microarray-based studies. Two of the SBP’s targets were further confirmed at the protein level by Western blot. In addition, we validated the theory that SBP’s plasma absorbed compounds play major therapeutic role in treating CVD.
Association between functional polymorphisms in the promoter of the miR-143/145 cluster and risk of intracranial aneurysm
Authors: Sima Xiutian , Sun Hong , Zhou Peizhi , You Chao , Cai Bowen 
Published: March 2017

AbstractMicroRNAs (miRs)-143/145 are involved in various biological processes related to aneurysm formation and are downregulated in patients with intracranial aneurysm (IA). We aimed to determine whether two functional polymorphisms (i.e. rs4705342 and rs4705343) in the promoter of miR-143/145 are related to IA risk. A case-control study was undertaken to examine the association of rs4705342 and rs4705343 with IA risk, including 565 patients with IA and 622 age- and gender-matched controls. rs4705342 was analysed by TaqMan Assay, and rs4705343 was genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. miR-143/145 expression was quantified using RT-PCR. rs4705342 was associated with a significantly lower risk of IA, with adjusted ORs of 0.74 (95% CI: 0.58–0.95) for TC genotype carriers and 0.74 (95% CI: 0.59–0.94) for TC/CC genotypes carriers. Individuals carrying the rs4705342 C allele had a reduced risk of IA (adjusted OR = 0.82; 95% CI: 0.68–0.98). Haplotype of the two loci of rs4705342 and rs4705343 showed that the CT haplotype carried a lower IA risk and higher miR-143 level. Moreover, the rs4705342 CC/CT genotypes were associated with higher miR-143 levels. Thus, the rs4705342C-rs4705343T haplotype in the promoter of miR-143/145 cluster may be related to IA development.
Self-Assembly and Anti-Amyloid Cytotoxicity Activity of Amyloid beta Peptide Derivatives
Authors: Castelletto V. , Ryumin P. , Cramer R. , Hamley I. W. , Taylor M. , Allsop D. , Reza M. , Ruokolainen J. , Arnold T. , Hermida-Merino D. , Garcia C. I. , Leal M. C. , Castaño E. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe self-assembly of two derivatives of KLVFF, a fragment Aβ(16–20) of the amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide, is investigated and recovery of viability of neuroblastoma cells exposed to Aβ (1–42) is observed at sub-stoichiometric peptide concentrations. Fluorescence assays show that NH2-KLVFF-CONH2 undergoes hydrophobic collapse and amyloid formation at the same critical aggregation concentration (cac). In contrast, NH2-K(Boc)LVFF-CONH2 undergoes hydrophobic collapse at a low concentration, followed by amyloid formation at a higher cac. These findings are supported by the β-sheet features observed by FTIR. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry indicates that NH2-K(Boc)LVFF-CONH2 forms a significant population of oligomeric species above the cac. Cryo-TEM, used together with SAXS to determine fibril dimensions, shows that the length and degree of twisting of peptide fibrils seem to be influenced by the net peptide charge. Grazing incidence X-ray scattering from thin peptide films shows features of β-sheet ordering for both peptides, along with evidence for lamellar ordering of NH2-KLVFF-CONH2. This work provides a comprehensive picture of the aggregation properties of these two KLVFF derivatives and shows their utility, in unaggregated form, in restoring the viability of neuroblastoma cells against Aβ-induced toxicity.
Universal quantum gates for hybrid system assisted by atomic ensembles embedded in double-sided optical cavities
Authors: Liu A.-Peng , Cheng Liu-Yong , Guo Qi , Zhang Shou , Zhao Ming-Xia 
Published: March 2017

AbstractWe propose deterministic schemes for controlled-NOT (CNOT), Toffoli, and Fredkin gates between flying photon qubits and the collective spin wave (magnon) of an atomic ensemble inside double-sided optical microcavities. All the gates can be accomplished with 100% success probability in principle and no additional qubit is required. Atomic ensemble is employed so that light-matter coupling is remarkably improved by collective enhancement. We qualified the performance of the gates and the results show that they can be faithfully constituted with current experimental techniques.
Chemosensitivity of MCF-7 cells to eugenol: release of cytochrome-c and lactate dehydrogenase
Authors: Al Wafai Rana , El-Rabih Warde , Katerji Meghri , Safi Remi , El Sabban Marwan , El-Rifai Omar , Usta Julnar 
Published: March 2017

AbstractPhytochemicals have been extensively researched for their potential anticancer effects. In previous study, direct exposure of rat liver mitochondria to eugenol main ingredient of clove, uncoupled mitochondria and increased F0F1ATPase activity. In the present study, we further investigated the effects of eugenol on MCF-7 cells in culture. Eugenol demonstrated: a dose-dependent decrease in viability (MTT assay), and proliferation (real time cell analysis) of MCF-7 cells, (EC50: 0.9 mM); an increase in reactive oxygen species; a decrease in ATP level and mitochondrial membrane potential (MitoPT JC-1 assay); and a release of cytochrome-c and lactate dehydrogenase (Cytotoxicity Detection Kit PLUS) into culture media at eugenol concentration >EC50. Pretreatment with the antioxidants Trolox and N-acetyl cysteine partially restored cell viability and decreased ROS, with Trolox being more potent. Expression levels of both anti- and pro-apoptotic markers (Bcl-2 and Bax, respectively) decreased with increasing eugenol concentration, with no variation in their relative ratios. Eugenol-treated MCF-7 cells overexpressing Bcl-2 exhibited results similar to those of MCF-7. Our findings indicate that eugenol toxicity is non-apoptotic Bcl-2 independent, affecting mitochondrial function and plasma membrane integrity with no effect on migration or invasion. We report here the chemo-sensitivity of MCF-7 cells to eugenol, a phytochemical with anticancer potential.
Glycyrrhiza uralensis water extract enhances dendritic cell maturation and antitumor efficacy of HPV dendritic cell-based vaccine
Authors: Aipire Adila , Li Jinyu , Yuan Pengfei , He Jiang , Hu Yelang , Liu Lu , Feng Xiaoli , Li Yijie , Zhang Fuchun , Yang Jianhua , Li Jinyao 
Published: March 2017

AbstractLicorice has been used as herbal medicine and natural sweetener. Here, we prepared Glycyrrhiza uralensis water extract (GUWE) and investigated the effect of GUWE on the maturation and function of dendritic cells (DCs) and its adjuvant effect on DC-based vaccine. We observed that GUWE dose-dependently promoted DC maturation and cytokine secretion through TLR4 signaling pathway. The capacity of DC to stimulate allogenic splenocyte proliferation was also enhanced by GUWE treatment. Compared with control group, GUWE treated DCs pulsed with human papillomavirus (HPV)-16 E6/E7 peptides significantly inhibited the tumor growth in both early and late therapeutic groups. In early therapeutic group, the frequencies of induced regulatory T cells (iTregs: CD4+CD25−Fopx3+) and CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were significantly decreased and increased, respectively. HPV-16-specific CD8+ T cell responses were significantly induced and negatively correlated with iTreg frequencies and tumor weight. These results indicated the immunoregulatory activities of licorice.
SLC22A3 polymorphisms do not modify pancreatic cancer risk, but may influence overall patient survival
Authors: Mohelnikova-Duchonova Beatrice , Strouhal Ondrej , Hughes David J. , Holcatova Ivana , Oliverius Martin , Kala Zdenek , Campa Daniele , Rizzato Cosmeri , Canzian Federico , Pezzilli Raffaele , Talar-Wojnarowska Renata , Malecka-Panas Ewa , Sperti Cosimo , Federico Zambon Carlo , Pedrazzoli Sergio , Fogar Paola , Milanetto Anna Caterina , Capurso Gabriele , Delle Fave Gianfranco , Valente Roberto , Gazouli Maria , Malleo Giuseppe , Teresa Lawlor Rita , Strobel Oliver , Hackert Thilo , Giese Nathalia , Vodicka Pavel , Vodickova Ludmila , Landi Stefano , Tavano Francesca , Gioffreda Domenica , Piepoli Ada , Pazienza Valerio , Mambrini Andrea , Pedata Mariangela , Cantore Maurizio , Bambi Franco , Ermini Stefano , Funel Niccola , Lemstrova Radmila , Soucek Pavel 
Published: March 2017

AbstractExpression of the solute carrier (SLC) transporter SLC22A3 gene is associated with overall survival of pancreatic cancer patients. This study tested whether genetic variability in SLC22A3 associates with pancreatic cancer risk and prognosis. Twenty four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) tagging the SLC22A3 gene sequence and regulatory elements were selected for analysis. Of these, 22 were successfully evaluated in the discovery phase while six significant or suggestive variants entered the validation phase, comprising a total study number of 1,518 cases and 3,908 controls. In the discovery phase, rs2504938, rs9364554, and rs2457571 SNPs were significantly associated with pancreatic cancer risk. Moreover, rs7758229 associated with the presence of distant metastases, while rs512077 and rs2504956 correlated with overall survival of patients. Although replicated, the association for rs9364554 did not pass multiple testing corrections in the validation phase. Contrary to the discovery stage, rs2504938 associated with survival in the validation cohort, which was more pronounced in stage IV patients. In conclusion, common variation in the SLC22A3 gene is unlikely to significantly contribute to pancreatic cancer risk. The rs2504938 SNP in SLC22A3 significantly associates with an unfavorable prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients. Further investigation of this SNP effect on the molecular and clinical phenotype is warranted.