bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Emission properties of Ga2O3 nano-flakes: effect of excitation density
Authors: Pozina G. , Forsberg M. , Kaliteevski M. A. , Hemmingsson C. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractIn the quest of developing high performance electronic and optical devices and more cost effective fabrication processes of monoclinic β-Ga2O3, new growth techniques and fundamental electronic and optical properties of defects have to be explored. By heating of dissolved metallic Ga in HCl in a NH3 and N2 atmosphere, nano-flake films of monoclinic β-phase Ga2O3 were grown as confirmed by XRD. From optical measurements, we observe two strong emissions. A red band peaking at ~2.0 eV and a UV band at ~3.8 eV. The band at ~2.0 eV is attributed to donor-acceptor pair recombination where the donor and acceptor level is suggested to be related to VO and nitrogen, respectively. By studying the dependence of the intensity of the UV band at 3.8 eV versus excitation density, a model is suggested. In the model, it is assumed that local potential fluctuations forming minima (maxima), where the carriers would be localized with a summarized band offset for conduction and valence band of 1 eV. The origin of the fluctuations is tentatively suggested to be related to micro-inclusions of different phases in the film.
The Growth Mechanism of Transition Metal Dichalcogenides by using Sulfurization of Pre-deposited Transition Metals and the 2D Crystal Hetero-structure Establishment
Authors: Wu Chong-Rong , Chang Xiang-Rui , Wu Chao-Hsin , Lin Shih-Yen 
Published: February 2017

AbstractA growth model is proposed for the large-area and uniform MoS2 film grown by using sulfurization of pre-deposited Mo films on sapphire substrates. During the sulfurization procedure, the competition between the two mechanisms of the Mo oxide segregation to form small clusters and the sulfurization reaction to form planar MoS2 film is determined by the amount of background sulfur. Small Mo oxide clusters are observed under the sulfur deficient condition, while large-area and complete MoS2 films are obtained under the sulfur sufficient condition. Precise layer number controllability is also achieved by controlling the pre-deposited Mo film thicknesses. The drain currents in positive dependence on the layer numbers of the MoS2 transistors with 1-, 3- and 5- layer MoS2 have demonstrated small variation in material characteristics between each MoS2 layer prepared by using this growth technique. By sequential transition metal deposition and sulfurization procedures, a WS2/MoS2/WS2 double hetero-structure is demonstrated. Large-area growth, layer number controllability and the possibility of hetero-structure establishment by using sequential metal deposition and following sulfurization procedures have revealed the potential of this growth technique for practical applications.
Ebola virus infection induces autoimmunity against dsDNA and HSP60
Authors: Fausther-Bovendo H. , Qiu X. , McCorrister S. , Westmacott G. , Sandstrom P. , Castilletti C. , Di Caro A. , Ippolito G. , Kobinger G. P. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractEbola virus (EBOV) survivors are affected by a variety of serious illnesses of unknown origin for years after viral clearance from the circulation. Identifying the causes of these persistent illnesses is paramount to develop appropriate therapeutic protocols. In this study, using mouse and non-human primates which survived EBOV challenge, ELISA, western blot, mass spectrometry and flow cytometry were used to screen for autoantibodies, identify their main targets, investigate the mechanism behind their induction and monitor autoantibodies accumulation in various tissues. In infected mice and NHP, polyclonal B cell activation and autoantigens secretion induced autoantibodies against dsDNA and heat shock protein 60 as well as antibody accumulation in tissues associated with long-term clinical manifestations in humans. Finally, the presence of these autoantibodies was confirmed in human EBOV survivors. Overall, this study supports the concept that autoimmunity is a causative parameter that contributes to the various illnesses observed in EBOV survivors.
Activation volume of selected liquid crystals in the density scaling regime
Authors: Grzybowski A. , Urban S. , Mroz S. , Paluch M. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractIn this paper, we demonstrate and thoroughly analyze the activation volumetric properties of selected liquid crystals in the nematic and crystalline E phases in comparison with those reported for glass-forming liquids. In the analysis, we have employed and evaluated two entropic models (based on either total or configurational entropies) to describe the longitudinal relaxation times of the liquid crystals in the density scaling regime. In this study, we have also exploited two equations of state: volumetric and activation volumetric ones. As a result, we have established that the activation volumetric properties of the selected liquid crystals are quite opposite to such typical properties of glass-forming materials, i.e., the activation volume decreases and the isothermal bulk modulus increases when a liquid crystal is isothermally compressed. Using the model based on the configurational entropy, we suggest that the increasing pressure dependences of the activation volume in isothermal conditions and the negative curvature of the pressure dependences of isothermal longitudinal relaxation times can be related to the formation of antiparallel doublets in the examined liquid crystals. A similar pressure effect on relaxation dynamics may be also observed for other material groups in case of systems, the molecules of which form some supramolecular structures.
Bile acid homeostasis controls CAR signaling pathways in mouse testis through FXRalpha
Authors: Martinot Emmanuelle , Baptissart Marine , Véga Aurélie , Sèdes Lauriane , Rouaisnel Betty , Vaz Fred , Saru Jean-Paul , de Haze Angélique , Baron Silvère , Caira Françoise , Beaudoin Claude , Volle David H. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractBile acids (BAs) are molecules with endocrine activities controlling several physiological functions such as immunity, glucose homeostasis, testicular physiology and male fertility. The role of the nuclear BA receptor FXRα in the control of BA homeostasis has been well characterized. The present study shows that testis synthetize BAs. We demonstrate that mice invalidated for the gene encoding FXRα have altered BA homeostasis in both liver and testis. In the absence of FXRα, BA exposure differently alters hepatic and testicular expression of genes involved in BA synthesis. Interestingly, Fxrα-/- males fed a diet supplemented with BAs show alterations of testicular physiology and sperm production. This phenotype was correlated with the altered testicular BA homeostasis and the production of intermediate metabolites of BAs which led to the modulation of CAR signaling pathways within the testis. The role of the CAR signaling pathways within testis was validated using specific CAR agonist (TCPOBOP) and inverse agonist (androstanol) that respectively inhibited or reproduced the phenotype observed in Fxrα-/- males fed BA-diet. These data open interesting perspectives to better define how BA homeostasis contributes to physiological or pathophysiological conditions via the modulation of CAR activity.
Genomic insights into the population structure and history of the Irish Travellers
Authors: Gilbert Edmund , Carmi Shai , Ennis Sean , Wilson James F. , Cavalleri Gianpiero L. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractThe Irish Travellers are a population with a history of nomadism; consanguineous unions are common and they are socially isolated from the surrounding, ‘settled’ Irish people. Low-resolution genetic analysis suggests a common Irish origin between the settled and the Traveller populations. What is not known, however, is the extent of population structure within the Irish Travellers, the time of divergence from the general Irish population, or the extent of autozygosity. Using a sample of 50 Irish Travellers, 143 European Roma, 2232 settled Irish, 2039 British and 6255 European or world-wide individuals, we demonstrate evidence for population substructure within the Irish Traveller population, and estimate a time of divergence before the Great Famine of 1845–1852. We quantify the high levels of autozygosity, which are comparable to levels previously described in Orcadian 1st/2nd cousin offspring, and finally show the Irish Traveller population has no particular genetic links to the European Roma. The levels of autozygosity and distinct Irish origins have implications for disease mapping within Ireland, while the population structure and divergence inform on social history.
Indispensable role of Mdm2/p53 interaction during the embryonic and postnatal inner ear development
Authors: Laos M. , Sulg M. , Herranen A. , Anttonen T. , Pirvola U. 
Published: February 2017

Abstractp53 is a key component of a signaling network that protects cells against various stresses. As excess p53 is detrimental to cells, its levels are tightly controlled by several mechanisms. The E3 ubiquitin ligase Mdm2 is a major negative regulator of p53. The significance of balanced p53 levels in normal tissues, at different stages of lifetime, is poorly understood. We have studiedin vivohow the disruption of Mdm2/p53 interaction affects the early-embryonic otic progenitor cells and their descendants, the auditory supporting cells and hair cells. We found that p53 accumulation, as a consequence ofMdm2abrogation, is lethal to both proliferative progenitors and non-proliferating, differentiating cells. The sensitivity of postmitotic supporting cells to excess p53 decreases along maturation, suggesting that maturation-related mechanisms limit p53′s transcriptional activity towards pro-apoptotic factors. We have also investigatedin vitrowhether p53 restricts supporting cell’s regenerative capacity. Unlike in several other regenerative cellular models,p53inactivation did not alter supporting cell’s proliferative quiescence nor transdifferentiation capacity. Altogether, the postmitotic status of developing hair cells and supporting cells does not confer protection against the detrimental effects of p53 upregulation. These findings might be linked to auditory disturbances observed in developmental syndromes with inappropriate p53 upregulation.
Determination of biological activity of gonadotropins hCG and FSH by Förster resonance energy transfer based biosensors
Authors: Mazina Olga , Allikalt Anni , Tapanainen Juha S. , Salumets Andres , Rinken Ago 
Published: February 2017

AbstractDetermination of biological activity of gonadotropin hormones is essential in reproductive medicine and pharmaceutical manufacturing of the hormonal preparations. The aim of the study was to adopt a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR)-mediated signal transduction pathway based assay for quantification of biological activity of gonadotropins. We focussed on studying human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), as these hormones are widely used in clinical practice. Receptor-specific changes in cellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP, second messenger in GPCR signalling) were monitored by a Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) biosensor protein TEpacVV in living cells upon activation of the relevant gonadotropin receptor. The BacMam gene delivery system was used for biosensor protein expression in target cells. In the developed assay only biologically active hormones initiated GPCR-mediated cellular signalling. High assay sensitivities were achieved for detection of hCG (limit of detection, LOD: 5 pM) and FSH (LOD: 100 pM). Even the small-scale conformational changes caused by thermal inactivation and reducing the biological activity of the hormones were registered. In conclusion, the proposed assay is suitable for quantification of biological activity of gonadotropins and is a good alternative to antibody- and animal-testing-based assays used in pharmaceutical industry and clinical research.
The antimicrobial molecule trappin-2/elafin has anti-parasitic properties and is protective in vivo in a murine model of cerebral malaria
Authors: Roussilhon Christian , Bang Gilles , Bastaert Fabien , Solhonne Brigitte , Garcia-Verdugo Ignacio , Peronet Roger , Druilhe Pierre , Sakuntabhai Anavaj , Mecheri Salaheddine , Sallenave Jean-Michel 
Published: February 2017

AbstractAccording to the WHO, and despite reduction in mortality rates, there were an estimated 438 000 malaria deaths in 2015. Therefore new antimalarials capable of limiting organ damage are still required. We show that systemic and lung adenovirus (Ad)-mediated over-expression of trappin-2 (T-2) an antibacterial molecule with anti-inflammatory activity, increased mice survival following infection with the cerebral malaria-inducingPlasmodium bergheiANKA (PbANKA) strain. Systemically, T-2 reducedPbANKA sequestration in spleen, lung, liver and brain, associated with a decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines (eg TNF-α in spleen and lung) and an increase in IL-10 production in the lung. Similarly, local lung instillation of Ad-T-2 resulted in a reduced organ parasite sequestration and a shift towards an anti-inflammatory/repair response, potentially implicating monocytes in the protective phenotype. Relatedly, we demonstratedin vitrothat human monocytes incubated withPlasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells (Pf-iRBCs) and IgGs from hyper-immune African human sera produced T-2 and that the latter colocalized with merozoites and inhibitedPfmultiplication. This array of data argues for the first time for the potential therapeutic usefulness of this host defense peptide in human malaria patients, with the aim to limit acute lung injury and respiratory distress syndrom often observed during malaria episodes.
Long-term nitrogen fertilization decreased the abundance of inorganic phosphate solubilizing bacteria in an alkaline soil
Authors: Zheng Bang-Xiao , Hao Xiu-Li , Ding Kai , Zhou Guo-Wei , Chen Qing-Lin , Zhang Jia-Bao , Zhu Yong-Guan 
Published: February 2017

AbstractInorganic phosphate solubilizing bacteria (iPSB) are essential to facilitate phosphorus (P) mobilization in alkaline soil, however, the phylogenetic structure of iPSB communities remains poorly characterized. Thus, we use a reference iPSB database to analyze the distribution of iPSB communities based on 16S rRNA gene illumina sequencing. Additionally, a noval pqqC primer was developed to quantify iPSB abundance. In our study, an alkaline soil with 27-year fertilization treatment was selected. The percentage of iPSB was 1.10~2.87% per sample, and the dominant iPSB genera were closely related to Arthrobacter, Bacillus, Brevibacterium and Streptomyces. Long-term P fertilization had no significant effect on the abundance of iPSB communities. Rather than P and potassium (K) additions, long-term nitrogen (N) fertilization decreased the iPSB abundance, which was validated by reduced relative abundance of pqqC gene (pqqC/16S). The decreased iPSB abundance was strongly related to pH decline and total N increase, revealing that the long-term N additions may cause pH decline and subsequent P releases relatively decreasing the demands of the iPSB community. The methodology and understanding obtained here provides insights into the ecology of inorganic P solubilizers and how to manipulate for better P use efficiency.
Structural and Functional insights into the catalytic mechanism of the Type II NADH:quinone oxidoreductase family
Authors: Marreiros Bruno C. , Sena Filipa V. , Sousa Filipe M. , Oliveira A. Sofia F. , Soares Cláudio M. , Batista Ana P. , Pereira Manuela M. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractType II NADH:quinone oxidoreductases (NDH-2s) are membrane proteins involved in respiratory chains. These proteins contribute indirectly to the establishment of the transmembrane difference of electrochemical potential by catalyzing the reduction of quinone by oxidation of NAD(P)H. NDH-2s are widespread enzymes being present in the three domains of life. In this work, we explored the catalytic mechanism of NDH-2 by investigating the common elements of all NDH-2s, based on the rationale that conservation of such elements reflects their structural/functional importance. We observed conserved sequence motifs and structural elements among 1762 NDH-2s. We identified two proton pathways possibly involved in the protonation of the quinone. Our results led us to propose the first catalytic mechanism for NDH-2 family, in which a conserved glutamate residue, E172 (in NDH-2 from Staphylococcus aureus) plays a key role in proton transfer to the quinone pocket. This catalytic mechanism may also be extended to the other members of the two-Dinucleotide Binding Domains Flavoprotein (tDBDF) superfamily, such as sulfide:quinone oxidoreductases.
32 × 32 silicon electro-optic switch with built-in monitors and balanced-status units
Authors: Qiao Lei , Tang Weijie , Chu Tao 
Published: February 2017

AbstractTo construct large-scale silicon electro-optical switches for optical interconnections, we developed a method using a limited number of power monitors inserted at certain positions to detect and determine the optimum operating points of all switch units to eliminate non-uniform effects arising from fabrication errors. We also introduced an optical phase bias to one phase-shifter arm of a Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI)-type switch unit to balance the two operation statuses of a silicon electro-optical switch during push–pull operation. With these methods, a 32 × 32 MZI-based silicon electro-optical switch was successfully fabricated with 180-nm complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) process technology, which is the largest scale silicon electro-optical switch to the best of our knowledge. At a wavelength of 1520 nm, the on-chip insertion losses were 12.9 to 16.5 dB, and the crosstalk ranged from −17.9 to −24.8 dB when all units were set to the ‘Cross’ status. The losses were 14.4 to 18.5 dB, and the crosstalk ranged from −15.1 to −19.0 dB when all units were in the ‘Bar’ status. The total power consumptions of the 32 × 32 switch were 247.4 and 542.3 mW when all units were set to the ‘Cross’ and ‘Bar’ statuses, respectively.
Responses of the marine diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana to changes in CO2 concentration: a proteomic approach
Authors: Clement Romain , Lignon Sabrina , Mansuelle Pascal , Jensen Erik , Pophillat Matthieu , Lebrun Regine , Denis Yann , Puppo Carine , Maberly Stephen C. , Gontero Brigitte 
Published: February 2017

AbstractThe concentration of CO2 in many aquatic systems is variable, often lower than the KM of the primary carboxylating enzyme Rubisco, and in order to photosynthesize efficiently, many algae operate a facultative CO2 concentrating mechanism (CCM). Here we measured the responses of a marine diatom, Thalassiosira pseudonana, to high and low concentrations of CO2 at the level of transcripts, proteins and enzyme activity. Low CO2 caused many metabolic pathways to be remodeled. Carbon acquisition enzymes, primarily carbonic anhydrase, stress, degradation and signaling proteins were more abundant while proteins associated with nitrogen metabolism, energy production and chaperones were less abundant. A protein with similarities to the Ca2+/ calmodulin dependent protein kinase II_association domain, having a chloroplast targeting sequence, was only present at low CO2. This protein might be a specific response to CO2 limitation since a previous study showed that other stresses caused its reduction. The protein sequence was found in other marine diatoms and may play an important role in their response to low CO2 concentration.
MicroRNA-100 is involved in shrimp immune response to white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) and Vibrio alginolyticus infection
Authors: Wang Zhi , Zhu Fei 
Published: February 2017

AbstractIn this study, we discovered that shrimp miR-100 was up-regulated at 24 h after WSSV or Vibrio alginolyticus infection, confirming its participation in the innate immune system of shrimp. The anti-miRNA oligonucleotide (AMO-miR-100) was applied to inhibit the expression of miR-100. After AMO-miR-100 treatment, the shrimp was challenged with WSSV or V. alginolyticus. The knockdown of miR-100 expression decreased the mortality of WSSV-infected shrimp from 24 h to 72 h post-infection and enhanced the mortality of V. alginolyticus-infected shrimp significantly. The knockdown of miR-100 affected phenoloxidase (PO) activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and total hemocyte count (THC) after the infection with WSSV or V. alginolyticus, indicating a regulative role of miR-100 in the immune potential of shrimp in the response to WSSV or V. alginolyticus infection. The knockdown of miR-100 induced the apoptosis of shrimp hemocytes, and V. alginolyticus + AMO-miR-100 treatment caused more hemocyte apoptosis than V. alginolyticus treatment. The miR-100 influenced also the morphology of shrimp hemocytes and regulated the phagocytosis of WSSV or V. alginolyticus. Thus, we concluded that miR-100 may promote the anti-Vibrio immune response of shrimp through regulating apoptosis, phagocytosis and PO activity and affects the progression of WSSV infection at a certain level.
Mediterranean versus Red sea corals facing climate change, a transcriptome analysis
Authors: Maor-Landaw Keren , Waldman Ben-Asher Hiba , Karako-Lampert Sarit , Salmon-Divon Mali , Prada Fiorella , Caroselli Erik , Goffredo Stefano , Falini Giuseppe , Dubinsky Zvy , Levy Oren 
Published: February 2017

AbstractThe anthropogenic increase in atmospheric CO2 that drives global warming and ocean acidification raises serious concerns regarding the future of corals, the main carbonate biomineralizers. Here we used transcriptome analysis to study the effect of long-term gradual temperature increase (annual rate), combined with lowered pH values, on a sub-tropical Red Sea coral, Stylophora pistillata, and on a temperate Mediterranean symbiotic coral Balanophyllia europaea. The gene expression profiles revealed a strong effect of both temperature increase and pH decrease implying for synergism response. The temperate coral, exposed to a twice as high range of seasonal temperature fluctuations than the Red Sea species, faced stress more effectively. The compensatory strategy for coping apparently involves deviating cellular resources into a massive up-regulation of genes in general, and specifically of genes involved in the generation of metabolic energy. Our results imply that sub-lethal, prolonged exposure to stress can stimulate evolutionary increase in stress resilience.
Role of eruption season in reconciling model and proxy responses to tropical volcanism
Authors: Stevenson Samantha , Fasullo John T. , Otto-Bliesner Bette L. , Tomas Robert A. , Gao Chaochao 
Published: February 2017

Significance
The starting month of many historical tropical volcanic eruptions is unknown and often assumed constant in long model simulations. Here we use model simulations to show that the season of eruptions strongly affects both atmospheric circulation and the El Niño/Southern Oscillation within the eruption year and that this could explain some of the mismatches between model simulations and paleoclimate reconstructions. The response 1 year later depends much less on eruption season, and proxy reconstructions are also more consistent. Our results imply that models may actually be correctly representing eruption-year tropical climate responses and that the season of eruptions should be considered when evaluating the mechanisms for volcanic effects on climate.