bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Role of Antheraea pernyi serpin 12 in prophenoloxidase activation and immune responses
Authors: Kausar Saima , Abbas Muhammad Nadeem , Qian Cen , Zhu Baojian , Gao Jin , Sun Yu , Wang Lei , Wei Guoqing , Liu Chaoliang 
Published: November 2017

AbstractSerine protease inhibitors play a key role in the immune system of invertebrates by controlling proteolytic cascades. Besides its importance, the knowledge on immune functions of serpins in most of insects is fragmentary. In the present study, we identified serpin‐12 from Antheraea pernyi encoding a predicted 402 amino acid residue protein (Apserpin‐12). We expressed the recombinant protein in Escherichia coli and the purified protein was used for the synthesis of rabbit anti‐Apserpin‐12 polyclonal antibodies and functional studies. Quantitative real‐time ploymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) analysis revealed that the knock‐down of Apserpin‐12 enhanced the prophenoloxidase (PPO) cascade stimulated by Micrococcus luteus in hemolymph, whereas addition of recombinant Apserpin‐12 protein along with same elicitor led to down‐regulate PPO activation. Following different microbial challenge (E. coli, Beauveria bassiana, M. Luteus, and nuclear polyhedrosis virus), the expression of Apserpin‐12 mRNA was induced significantly. Furthermore, the Apserpin‐12 double‐stranded RNA administration elicited the expression of antimicrobial peptides, while the treatment with recombinant protein suppressed their expression. Tissue profile of Apserpin‐12 indicated that it is expressed in all examined tissues, that is, hemolymph, malpighian tubules, midgut, silk gland, integument, and fat body with variation in their transcript levels. We concluded that Apserpin‐12 may regulate PPO activation and inhibit the production of antimicrobial peptides in A. pernyi, suggesting important role in its immune system.
Cloning and analysis of peptidoglycan recognition protein‐LC and immune deficiency from the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella
Authors: Zhan Ming‐Yue , Yang Pei‐Jin , Rao Xiang‐Jun 
Published: November 2017

AbstractPeptidoglycan (PGN) exists in both Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria as a component of the cell wall. PGN is an important target to be recognized by the innate immune system of animals. PGN recognition proteins (PGRP) are responsible for recognizing PGNs. In Drosophila melanogaster, PGRP‐LC and IMD (immune deficiency) are critical for activating the Imd pathway. Here, we report the cloning and analysis of PGRP‐LC and IMD (PxPGRP‐LC and PxIMD) from diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), the insect pest of cruciferous vegetables. PxPGRP‐LC gene consists of six exons encoding a polypeptide of 308 amino acid residues with a transmembrane region and a PGRP domain. PxIMD cDNA encodes a polypeptide of 251 amino acid residues with a death domain. Sequence comparisons indicate that they are characteristic of Drosophila PGRP‐LC and IMD homologs. PxPGRP‐LC and PxIMD were expressed in various tissues and developmental stages. Their mRNA levels were affected by bacterial challenges. The PGRP domain of PxPGRP‐LC lacks key residues for the amidase activity, but it can recognize two types of PGNs. Overexpression of full‐length and deletion mutants in Drosophila S2 cells induced expression of some antimicrobial peptide genes. These results indicate that PxPGRP‐LC and PxIMD may be involved in the immune signaling of P. xylostella. This study provides a foundation for further studies of the immune system of P. xylostella.
Semiconductor‐Based Photoelectrochemical Conversion of Carbon Dioxide: Stepping Towards Artificial Photosynthesis
Authors: Pang Hong , Masuda Takuya , Ye Jinhua 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe photoelectrochemical (PEC) carbon dioxide reduction process stands out as a promising avenue for the conversion of solar energy into chemical feedstocks, among various methods available for carbon dioxide mitigation. Semiconductors derived from cheap and abundant elements are interesting candidates for catalysis. Whether employed as intrinsic semiconductors or hybridized with metallic cocatalysts, biocatalysts, and metal molecular complexes, semiconductor photocathodes exhibit good performance and low overpotential during carbon dioxide reduction. Apart from focusing on carbon dioxide reduction materials and chemistry, PEC cells towards standalone devices that use photohybrid electrodes or solar cells have also been a hot topic in recent research. An overview of the state‐of‐the‐art progress in PEC carbon dioxide reduction is presented and a deep understanding of the catalysts of carbon dioxide reduction is also given.
Stabilization of a Timoshenko Beam With Disturbance Observer‐Based Time Varying Boundary Controls
Authors: Liu Dongyi , Chen Yining , Shang Yingfeng , Xu Genqi 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThis paper is concerned with the boundary feedback stabilization for a Timoshenko beam with external disturbances in the boundary inputs. Based on the idea of active disturbance rejection controls, extended state observers with the time‐varying gains are designed to estimate disturbances and then a control strategy is presented by canceling the disturbances via the feedback channels. The well‐posedness of the resulting closed‐loop system is proved by the dual theory and admissibility theory, and the relationship between the stability and the disturbance is interpreted by Lyapunov's second method. At the end, the numerical experiment illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy.
Causes of the Antarctic region record high temperature at Signy Island, 30th January 1982
Authors: King J. C. , Bannister D. , Hosking J. S. , Colwell S. R. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractOn 30th January 1982, the research station on Signy Island (South Orkney Islands) reported a daily maximum temperature of 19.8 °C. This is a record maximum for any station south of 60°S. We use surface observations, atmospheric reanalyses and high‐resolution atmospheric model simulations to investigate the drivers of this extreme event. At the time of the record temperature exceptionally warm air was being advected southwards towards the South Orkney Islands from the subtropical South Atlantic. This air mass cooled significantly at levels below 1 km during its long track over the cold Southern Ocean but remained relatively warm above this level. Atmospheric model simulations show that warm air from upper levels was brought down towards the surface over Signy Island in a föhn wind generated by northerly flow over Coronation Island, a mountainous island just to the north of Signy Island. Modelled temperatures over Signy Island are in good agreement with observations and thus support the hypothesis that the record temperature was caused by a combination of exceptional warm advection with conditions suitable for the generation of föhn. Since conditions conducive to föhn occur relatively frequently, föhn warming may have a significant influence on the local climate and ecology of Signy Island.
Validation of eye‐tracking measures of social attention as a potential biomarker for autism clinical trials
Authors: Murias Michael , Major Samantha , Davlantis Katherine , Franz Lauren , Harris Adrianne , Rardin Benjamin , Sabatos‐DeVito Maura , Dawson Geraldine 
Published: November 2017

Social communication impairments are a core feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and this class of symptoms is a target for treatments for the disorder. Measures of social attention, assessed via eye‐gaze tracking (EGT), have been proposed as an early efficacy biomarker for clinical trials targeting social communication skills. EGT measures have been shown to differentiate children with ASD from typical children; however, there is less known about their relationships with social communication outcome measures that are typically used in ASD clinical trials. In the present study, an EGT task involving viewing a videotape of an actor making bids for a child's attention was evaluated in 25 children with ASD aged 24–72 months. Children's attention to the actor during the dyadic bid condition measured via EGT was found to be strongly associated with five well‐validated caregiver‐reported outcome measures that are commonly used to assess social communication in clinical trials. These results highlight the convergent validity of EGT measures of social attention in relation to caregiver‐reported clinical measures. EGT holds promise as a non‐invasive, quantitative, and objective biomarker that is associated with social communication abilities in children with ASD. Autism Res 2018, 11: 166–174. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Lay SummaryEye‐gaze tracking (EGT), an automated tool that tracks eye‐gaze patterns, might help measure outcomes in clinical trials investigating interventions to treat autism spectrum disorders. In this study, an EGT task was evaluated in children with ASD, who watched a video with an actor talking directly to them. Patterns of eye‐gaze were associated with caregiver‐reported measures of social communication that are used in clinical trials. We show EGT may be a promising objective tool measuring outcomes.
Prenatal and postnatal development of the mammalian ear
Authors: Powles‐Glover Nicola , Maconochie Mark 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe ear can be subdivided into three distinct parts, each with significantly distinct structural and functional differences, the outer, middle, and inner ear, the latter housing the specialized sensory hair cells that act as transducers. There are numerous manuscripts documenting the anatomical development of the inner, middle, and outer ear in humans, rodents, chick, and zebrafish, dating back to the early 20th Century, and these developmental processes of these components are further compared in a number of review articles (Anthwal & Thompson, ; Basch, Brown, Jen, & Groves, ; Sai & Ladher, ). This article presents a review of both pre‐ and postnatal development of the inner ear, discusses recent molecular genetic advances toward our understanding of hair cells responsible for the sensory functions of the inner ear. Finally, a survey of comparative ear biology is used to pull together our understanding of the species differences, similarities, and key time points of definitive organ development of the ear.
Improved safety margin for embryotoxicity in rats for the new endoperoxide artefenomel (OZ439) as compared to artesunate
Authors: Clark Robert L. , Edwards Tammye L. , Longo Monica , Kinney Joseph , Walker Don K. , Rhodes Jon , Clode Sally A. , Rückle Thomas , Wells Timothy , Andenmatten Nicole , Huber Anna Christine 
Published: November 2017

BackgroundCombination medicines including an artemisinin are the mainstay of antimalarial therapy. Artemisinins are potent embryotoxicants in animal species due to their trioxane moiety.MethodsAs part of its development, the new synthetic trioxolane antimalarial artefenomel (OZ439) was tested in rat whole embryo culture and in rat embryo‐fetal toxicity studies with dosing throughout organogenesis or with a single dose on Gestational Day (GD) 12. The single‐dose studies included groups treated with artesunate to allow a direct comparison of the embryotoxicity of the two antimalarials and included toxicokinetics hematology and histological examination of embryos. In addition, the distribution of artefenomel‐related material in plasma was determined after the administration of 14C‐artefenomel.ResultsArtefenomel and artesunate showed similar patterns of embryotoxicity including cardiovascular defects and resorption with a steep dose‐response. They both also caused a depletion of circulating embryonic erythroblasts both in vitro and in vivo and decreases in maternal reticulocyte count. However, artefenomel was ∼250‐fold less potent than the active metabolite of artesunate (dihydroartemisinin) as an embryotoxicant in vitro. The safety margin (based on AUC) for artefenomel administered on GD 12 was approximately 100‐fold greater than that for artesunate. Also, unlike artesunate, artefenomel was not a selective developmental toxicant.ConclusionsThe lesser embryotoxicity of artefenomel is likely linked to its original design which included two blocking side groups that had been introduced to lower the reactivity with ferrous iron. Our data support the hypothesis that artefenomel's improved safety margin is linked to a lower potential for inhibiting heme biosynthesis in embryonic erythroblasts.
Role of resveratrol in regulation of cellular defense systems against oxidative stress
Authors: Truong Van‐Long , Jun Mira , Jeong Woo‐Sik 
Published: November 2017

AbstractResveratrol, a natural polyphenolic compound, is found in various kinds of fruits, plants, and their commercial products such as red wine. It has been demonstrated to exhibit a variety of health‐promoting effects including prevention and/or treatment of cardiovascular diseases, inflammation, diabetes, neurodegeneration, aging, and cancer. Cellular defensive properties of resveratrol can be explained through its ability of either directly neutralizing reactive oxygen species/reactive nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) or indirectly upregulating the expression of cellular defensive genes. As a direct antioxidant agent, resveratrol scavenges diverse ROS/RNS as well as secondary organic radicals with mechanisms of hydrogen atom transfer and sequential proton loss electron transfer, thereby protecting cellular biomolecules from oxidative damage. Resveratrol also enhances the expression of various antioxidant defensive enzymes such as heme oxygenase 1, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase as well as the induction of glutathione level responsible for maintaining the cellular redox balance. Such defenses could be achieved by regulating various signaling pathways including sirtuin 1, nuclear factor‐erythroid 2‐related factor 2 and nuclear factor κB. This review provides current understanding and information on the role of resveratrol in cellular defense system against oxidative stress. © 2017 BioFactors, 44(1):36–49, 2018
Effect of Site‐Specific Peptide‐Tag Labeling on the Biocatalytic Properties of Thermoalkalophilic Lipase from Geobacillus thermocatenulatus
Authors: Romero Oscar , de las Rivas Blanca , Lopez‐Tejedor David , Palomo Jose M. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractTailor‐made peptides were investigated for site‐specific tag labeling of Geobacillus thermocatenulatus lipase (GTL). GTL was first genetically modified by introducing a unique cysteine on the lid site of the enzyme to produce two variants (GTLσ‐A193C and GTLσ‐S196C). Chemical modification was performed by using a small library of cysteine‐containing peptides. The synthesized peptide–lipase biocatalysts were highly stable, more active, more specific, and more selective toward different substrates than unmodified GTL. Very high enzyme thermostability of GTLσ‐A193C modified with peptides Ac‐Cys‐Phe‐Gly‐Phe‐Gly‐Phe‐CONH2 (1) and Ac‐Cys‐Phe‐Phe‐CONH2 (2) (>95 % activity after 24 h at 60 °C) was observed. The incorporation of 1 and 2 in GTLσ‐S196C improved its catalytic activity in the hydrolysis of p‐nitrophenyl butyrate by factors of three and greater than five, respectively. The specificity for short‐chain versus long‐chain esters was also strongly improved. The diacylglycerol activity of GTLσ‐S196C was enhanced more than tenfold by the incorporation of 1 and more than threefold by modification of this variant with Ac‐Cys‐(Arg)7‐CONH2 (6) in the hydrolysis of 1‐stearoyl‐2‐arachidonoyl‐sn‐glycerol. The enantioselectivity of GTLσ‐S196C increased for all formed bioconjugates, and the GTLσ‐S196C–1 conjugate was the most active and selective in the hydrolysis of dimethylphenyl glutarate at pH 7 (72 % ee), also showing an inversion in the enzyme enantiopreference.
Characterisation of a Bacterial Galactokinase with High Activity and Broad Substrate Tolerance for Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of 6‐Aminogalactose‐1‐Phosphate and Analogues
Authors: Huang Kun , Parmeggiani Fabio , Pallister Edward , Huang Chuen‐Jiuan , Liu Fang‐Fang , Li Qian , Birmingham William R. , Both Peter , Thomas Baptiste , Liu Li , Voglmeir Josef , Flitsch Sabine L. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractGlycosyl phosphates are important intermediates in many metabolic pathways and are substrates for diverse carbohydrate‐active enzymes. Thus, there is a need to develop libraries of structurally similar analogues that can be used as selective chemical probes in glycomics. Here, we explore chemoenzymatic cascades for the fast generation of glycosyl phosphate libraries without protecting‐group strategies. The key enzyme is a new bacterial galactokinase (LgGalK) cloned from Leminorella grimontii, which was produced in Escherichia coli and shown to catalyse 1‐phosphorylation of galactose. LgGalK displayed a broad substrate tolerance, being able to catalyse the 1‐phosphorylation of a number of galactose analogues, including 3‐deoxy‐3‐fluorogalactose and 4‐deoxy‐4‐fluorogalactose, which were first reported to be substrates for wild‐type galactokinase. LgGalK and galactose oxidase variant M1 were combined in a one‐pot, two‐step system to synthesise 6‐oxogalactose‐1‐phosphate and 6‐oxo‐2‐fluorogalactose‐1‐phosphate, which were subsequently used to produce a panel of 30 substituted 6‐aminogalactose‐1‐phosphate derivatives by chemical reductive amination in a one‐pot, three‐step chemoenzymatic process.
The clinical utility of serum free light chain and heavy/light chain assays in monitoring disease activity in patients with IgG myeloma after achieving a deep response
Authors: Shimizu Kazuyuki , Kamiya Yoshikazu , Itoh Junji , Okada Jun , Lim Merrell , Sugiyama Satoru 
Published: November 2017

Key Clinical MessageHeavy/light chain (HLC) assay will enable us to evaluate the changes in the concentrations of iHLC and uHLC separately and to better identify whether the change observed is clonal or reactive. It would therefore aid in decision making for earlier implementation or discontinuation of treatment for patients with intact immunoglobulin multiple myeloma (MM).
ϵ‐Polylysine‐Capped Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles as Carrier of the C9h Peptide to Induce Apoptosis in Cancer Cells
Authors: de la Torre Cristina , Domínguez‐Berrocal Leticia , Murguía José R. , Marcos M. Dolores , Martínez‐Máñez Ramón , Bravo Jerónimo , Sancenón Félix 
Published: November 2017

AbstractApoptotic signaling pathways are altered in numerous pathologies such as cancer. In this scenario, caspase‐9/PP2Acα interaction constitutes a key target with pharmacological interest to re‐establish apoptosis in tumor cells. Very recently, a short peptide (C9h) known to disrupt caspase‐9/PP2Acα interaction with subsequent apoptosis induction was described. Here, we prepared two sets of mesoporous silica nanoparticles loaded with safranin O (S2) or with C9h peptide (S4) and functionalized with ϵ‐polylysine as capping unit. Aqueous suspensions of both nanoparticles showed negligible cargo release whereas in the presence of pronase, a marked delivery of safranin O or C9h was observed. Confocal microscopy studies carried out with HeLa cells indicated that both materials were internalized and were able to release their entrapped cargos. Besides, a marked decrease in HeLa cell viability (ca. 50 %) was observed when treated with C9h‐loaded S4 nanoparticles. Moreover, S4 provides peptide protection from degradation additionally allowing for a dose reduction to observe an apoptotic effect when compared with C9h alone or in combination with a cell‐penetrating peptide (i.e., Mut3DPT‐C9h). Flow cytometry studies, by means of Annexin V‐FITC staining, showed the activation of apoptotic pathways in HeLa as a consequence of S4 internalization, release of C9h peptide and disruption of caspase‐9/PP2Acα interaction.
Valence Localization at a Bio‐inspired Mixed‐Valent {Cu2S}2+ Motif upon Solvation in Acetonitrile: Effect on Nitrous Oxide Reductase (N2Or) Activity
Authors: Esmieu Charlène , Orio Maylis , Mangue Jordan , Pécaut Jacques , Ménage Stéphane , Torelli Stéphane 
Published: November 2017

AbstractWe demonstrate, based on experimental and theoretical evidence, that the isolated [2(CH3CN)2]2+ complex prepared in CH3CN and containing a mixed‐valent {Cu2II,IS} core evolves towards a new [2(CH3CN)3]2+ species upon solvation in CH3CN. Unlike its type III structural analogue [2(H2O)(OTf)]+ active toward N2O reduction, this new type I compound is inactive. This outcome opens new perspectives for a rational for N2O activation using bio‐inspired Cu/S complexes, especially on the role of the valence localization/delocalization and the Cu−Cu bond on the reactivity.
Recent Advances in Metallaaromatic Chemistry
Authors: Frogley Benjamin J. , Wright L. James 
Published: November 2017

AbstractMetallaaromatics can be broadly defined as aromatic compounds in which one of the ring atoms is a transition metal. The metallabenzenes are one important class of these compounds that has undergone extensive study recently. Closely related species such as fused‐ring metallabenzenes, heterometallabenzenes, π‐coordinated metallabenzenes and metallabenzynes have also attracted considerable attention. Although many metallaaromatics can be considered as metalla‐analogues of classic organic aromatic compounds, this is not always the case. Recent seminal studies have shown that metallapentalenes and metallapentalynes, which are metalla‐analogues of the anti‐aromatic compounds pentalene and pentalyne, are in fact aromatic and highly stable. Very unusual spiro‐metallaaromatic compounds have also recently been isolated. In this concepts article, key features of all these intriguing metallaaromatic compounds are discussed with reference to the structural, spectroscopic, reactivity and theoretical studies that have been undertaken. These compounds continue to generate much interest, not only because of the contributions they make to fundamental chemical understanding, but also because of the promise of possible practical applications.
Chemo‐ and Stereoselective Cross Rauhut–Currier‐Type Reaction of Tri‐substituted Alkenes Containing Trifluoromethyl Groups
Authors: He Xiang‐Hong , Yang Lei , Ji Yan‐Ling , Zhao Qian , Yang Ming‐Cheng , Huang Wei , Peng Cheng , Han Bo 
Published: November 2017

AbstractA chemoselective cross Rauhut–Currier‐type reaction has been developed involving a tri‐substituted alkene (trifluoromethyl‐containing acrylonitrile derivative) with a di‐ or tri‐substituted alkene to yield tetra‐substituted double bonds in RC‐type products. This approach can support the synthesis of trifluoromethylated tetra‐substituted olefins and synthetically important, structurally complex 3‐allylic‐type oxindole skeletons. The asymmetric version of this RC‐type reaction can be realized by combining a Brønsted acid and Lewis base for bifunctional H‐bonding‐tertiary amine catalysis. Subsequent transformation of multi‐functionalized RC‐type product leads to pharmacologically interesting cyclohexane‐based spiro‐pyrazolones bearing six contiguous chiral centers and two highly congested, vicinal quaternary carbon centers.
A Novel Sterically Bulky Hole Transporter to Remarkably Improve the Lifetime of Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescent OLEDs at High Brightness
Authors: Kamata Takahiro , Sasabe Hisahiro , Igarashi Masahiro , Kido Junji 
Published: November 2017

AbstractFor the practical application of organic light emitting devices (OLEDs) based on thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) for large area TV and solid state lighting, low power consumption as well as the operation lifetime at high brightness over 1000 cd m−2 must be improved. Here, we have developed a novel hexaphenylbenzene‐based sterically bulky hole‐transport layer named 4DBTHPB with deep ionization potential of 5.8 eV and high triplet energy of 2.7 eV. By using 4DBTHPB, we can realize a highly efficient and stable TADF OLED exhibiting external quantum efficiency of 21.6 % and power efficiency of 54.3 lm W−1 and operation lifetime at 50 % (LT50) of approximately 10 000 h at an initial luminance of 1000 cd m−2. These performances are comparable to those of the state‐of‐the‐art green phosphorescent OLEDs reported in the scientific literatures.