bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
New long-proboscid lacewings of the mid-Cretaceous provide insights into ancient plant-pollinator interactions
Authors: Lu Xiu-Mei , Zhang Wei-Wei , Liu Xing-Yue 
Published: May 2016

AbstractMany insects with long-proboscid mouthparts are among the pollinators of seed plants. Several cases of the long-proboscid pollination mode are known between fossil insects (e.g., true flies, scorpionflies and lacewings) and various extinct gymnosperm lineages, beginning in the Early Permian and increasing during the Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous. However, details on the morphology of lacewing proboscides and the relevant pollination habit are largely lacking. Here we report on three lacewing species that belong to two new genera and a described genus from mid-Cretaceous (Albian-Cenomanian) amber of Myanmar. All these species possess relatively long proboscides, which are considered to be modified from maxillary and labial elements, probably functioning as a temporary siphon for feeding on nectar. Remarkably, these proboscides range from 0.4–1.0 mm in length and are attributed to the most diminutive ones among the contemporary long-proboscid insect pollinators. Further, they clearly differ from other long-proboscid lacewings which have a much longer siphon. The phylogenetic analysis indicates that these Burmese long-proboscid lacewings belong to the superfamily Psychopsoidea but cannot be placed into any known family. The present findings represent the first description of the mouthparts of long-proboscid lacewings preserved in amber and highlight the evolutionary diversification of the ancient plant-pollinator interactions.
Ectopic expression of amaranth seed storage albumin modulates photoassimilate transport and nutrient acquisition in sweetpotato
Authors: Shekhar Shubhendu , Agrawal Lalit , Mishra Divya , Buragohain Alak Kumar , Unnikrishnan Mullath , Mohan Chokkappan , Chakraborty Subhra , Chakraborty Niranjan 
Published: May 2016

AbstractStorage proteins in plants, because of high nutrient value, have been a subject of intensive investigation. These proteins are synthesized de novo in the cytoplasm and transported to the storage organelles where they serve as reservoir of energy and supplement of nitrogen during rapid growth and development. Sweetpotato is the seventh most important food crop worldwide and has a significant contribution to the source of nutrition, albeit with low protein content. To determine the behaviour of seed storage proteins in non-native system, a seed albumin, AmA1, was overexpressed in sweetpotato with an additional aim of improving nutritional quality of tuber proteins. Introduction of AmA1 imparted an increase in protein and amino acid contents as well as the phytophenols. The proteometabolomics analysis revealed a rebalancing of the proteome, with no significant effects on the global metabolome profile of the transgenic tubers. Additionally, the slower degradation of starch and cellulose in transgenic tubers, led to increased post-harvest durability. Present study provides a new insight into the role of a seed storage protein in the modulation of photoassimilate movement and nutrient acquisition.
Detection of Epileptic Seizures Using Phase–Amplitude Coupling in Intracranial Electroencephalography
Authors: Edakawa Kohtaroh , Yanagisawa Takufumi , Kishima Haruhiko , Fukuma Ryohei , Oshino Satoru , Khoo Hui Ming , Kobayashi Maki , Tanaka Masataka , Yoshimine Toshiki 
Published: May 2016

AbstractSeizure detection using intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) contributes to improved treatment of patients with refractory epilepsy. For that purpose, a feature of iEEG to characterize the ictal state with high specificity and sensitivity is necessary. We evaluated the use of phase–amplitude coupling (PAC) of iEEG signals over a period of 24 h to detect the ictal and interictal states. PAC was estimated by using a synchronisation index (SI) for iEEG signals from seven patients with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy. iEEG signals of the ictal state was characterised by a strong PAC between the phase of β and the amplitude of high γ. Furthermore, using SI values, the ictal state was successfully detected with significantly higher accuracy than by using the amplitude of high γ alone. In conclusion, PAC accurately distinguished the ictal state from the interictal state.
Presence of Li Clusters in Molten LiCl-Li
Authors: Merwin Augustus , Phillips William C. , Williamson Mark A. , Willit James L. , Motsegood Perry N. , Chidambaram Dev 
Published: May 2016

AbstractMolten mixtures of lithium chloride and metallic lithium are of significant interest in various metal oxide reduction processes. These solutions have been reported to exhibit seemingly anomalous physical characteristics that lack a comprehensive explanation. In the current work, the physical chemistry of molten solutions of lithium chloride and metallic lithium, with and without lithium oxide, was investigated using in situ Raman spectroscopy. The Raman spectra obtained from these solutions were in agreement with the previously reported spectrum of the lithium cluster, Li8. This observation is indicative of a nanofluid type colloidal suspension of Li8 in a molten salt matrix. It is suggested that the formation and suspension of lithium clusters in lithium chloride is the cause of various phenomena exhibited by these solutions that were previously unexplainable.
Flagellin-induced NADPH oxidase 4 activation is involved in atherosclerosis
Authors: Kim Jinoh , Seo Misun , Kim Su Kyung , Bae Yun Soo 
Published: May 2016

AbstractIt is widely accepted that bacterial infection-mediated inflammation facilitates development of atherosclerosis by activating toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling system. We reasoned that NADPH oxidases (Nox), required for TLR-mediated inflammatory response, are involved in atherogenesis. Here, we show that the activation of Nox4 through TLR5 regulates the inflammation of the endothelium and in atherogenesis. Flagellin-induced interaction between the COOH region of Nox4 and the TIR domain of TLR5 led to H2O2 generation, which in turn promoted the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-8, as well as the expression of ICAM-1 in human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs). Knockdown of the Nox4 in HAECs resulted in attenuated expressions of IL-8 and ICAM-1 leading to a reduction in the adhesion and trans-endothelial migration of monocytes. Challenge of recombinant FliC (rFliC) to the ApoE KO mice with high-fat diet (HFD) resulted in significantly increased atherosclerotic plaque sizes compared to the saline-injected mice. However, an injection of rFliC into the Nox4ApoE DKO mice with HFDs failed to generate atherosclerotic plaque, suggesting that Nox4 deficiency resulted in significant protections against rFliC-mediated atherogenesis. We conclude that TLR5-dependent Nox4 activation and subsequent H2O2 generation play critical roles for the development of atherosclerosis.
Acute effects of aerobic exercise promote learning
Authors: Perini Renza , Bortoletto Marta , Capogrosso Michela , Fertonani Anna , Miniussi Carlo 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThe benefits that physical exercise confers on cardiovascular health are well known, whereas the notion that physical exercise can also improve cognitive performance has only recently begun to be explored and has thus far yielded only controversial results. In the present study, we used a sample of young male subjects to test the effects that a single bout of aerobic exercise has on learning. Two tasks were run: the first was an orientation discrimination task involving the primary visual cortex and the second was a simple thumb abduction motor task that relies on the primary motor cortex. Forty-four and forty volunteers participated in the first and second experiments, respectively. We found that a single bout of aerobic exercise can significantly facilitate learning mechanisms within visual and motor domains and that these positive effects can persist for at least 30 minutes following exercise. This finding suggests that physical activity, at least of moderate intensity, might promote brain plasticity. By combining physical activity–induced plasticity with specific cognitive training–induced plasticity, we favour a gradual up-regulation of a functional network due to a steady increase in synaptic strength, promoting associative Hebbian-like plasticity.
Evaluation of energy metabolism and calcium homeostasis in cells affected by Shwachman-Diamond syndrome
Authors: Ravera Silvia , Dufour Carlo , Cesaro Simone , Bottega Roberta , Faleschini Michela , Cuccarolo Paola , Corsolini Fabio , Usai Cesare , Columbaro Marta , Cipolli Marco , Savoia Anna , Degan Paolo , Cappelli Enrico 
Published: May 2016

AbstractIsomorphic mutation of the SBDS gene causes Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS). SDS is a rare genetic bone marrow failure and cancer predisposition syndrome. SDS cells have ribosome biogenesis and their protein synthesis altered, which are two high-energy consuming cellular processes. The reported changes in reactive oxygen species production, endoplasmic reticulum stress response and reduced mitochondrial functionality suggest an energy production defect in SDS cells. In our work, we have demonstrated that SDS cells display a Complex IV activity impairment, which causes an oxidative phosphorylation metabolism defect, with a consequent decrease in ATP production. These data were confirmed by an increased glycolytic rate, which compensated for the energetic stress. Moreover, the signalling pathways involved in glycolysis activation also appeared more activated; i.e. we reported AMP-activated protein kinase hyper-phosphorylation. Notably, we also observed an increase in a mammalian target of rapamycin phosphorylation and high intracellular calcium concentration levels ([Ca2+]i), which probably represent new biochemical equilibrium modulation in SDS cells. Finally, the SDS cell response to leucine (Leu) was investigated, suggesting its possible use as a therapeutic adjuvant to be tested in clinical trials.
Negative Refraction with Superior Transmission in Graphene-Hexagonal Boron Nitride (hBN) Multilayer Hyper Crystal
Authors: Sayem Ayed Al , Rahman Md. Masudur , Mahdy M. R. C. , Jahangir Ifat , Rahman Md. Saifur 
Published: May 2016

AbstractIn this article, we have theoretically investigated the performance of graphene-hexagonal Boron Nitride (hBN) multilayer structure (hyper crystal) to demonstrate all angle negative refraction along with superior transmission. hBN, one of the latest natural hyperbolic materials, can be a very strong contender to form a hyper crystal with graphene due to its excellence as a graphene-compatible substrate. Although bare hBN can exhibit negative refraction, the transmission is generally low due to its high reflectivity. Whereas due to graphene’s 2D nature and metallic characteristics in the frequency range where hBN behaves as a type-I hyperbolic material, we have found graphene-hBN hyper-crystals to exhibit all angle negative refraction with superior transmission. Interestingly, superior transmission from the whole structure can be fully controlled by the tunability of graphene without hampering the negative refraction originated mainly from hBN. We have also presented an effective medium description of the hyper crystal in the low-k limit and validated the proposed theory analytically and with full wave simulations. Along with the current extensive research on hybridization of graphene plasmon polaritons with (hyperbolic) hBN phonon polaritons, this work might have some substantial impact on this field of research and can be very useful in applications such as hyper-lensing.
In silico identification of anti-cancer compounds and plants from traditional Chinese medicine database
Authors: Dai Shao-Xing , Li Wen-Xing , Han Fei-Fei , Guo Yi-Cheng , Zheng Jun-Juan , Liu Jia-Qian , Wang Qian , Gao Yue-Dong , Li Gong-Hua , Huang Jing-Fei 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThere is a constant demand to develop new, effective, and affordable anti-cancer drugs. The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a valuable and alternative resource for identifying novel anti-cancer agents. In this study, we aim to identify the anti-cancer compounds and plants from the TCM database by using cheminformatics. We first predicted 5278 anti-cancer compounds from TCM database. The top 346 compounds were highly potent active in the 60 cell lines test. Similarity analysis revealed that 75% of the 5278 compounds are highly similar to the approved anti-cancer drugs. Based on the predicted anti-cancer compounds, we identified 57 anti-cancer plants by activity enrichment. The identified plants are widely distributed in 46 genera and 28 families, which broadens the scope of the anti-cancer drug screening. Finally, we constructed a network of predicted anti-cancer plants and approved drugs based on the above results. The network highlighted the supportive role of the predicted plant in the development of anti-cancer drug and suggested different molecular anti-cancer mechanisms of the plants. Our study suggests that the predicted compounds and plants from TCM database offer an attractive starting point and a broader scope to mine for potential anti-cancer agents.
Cell freezing protocol suitable for ATAC-Seq on motor neurons derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells
Authors: Milani Pamela , Escalante-Chong Renan , Shelley Brandon C. , Patel-Murray Natasha L. , Xin Xiaofeng , Adam Miriam , Mandefro Berhan , Sareen Dhruv , Svendsen Clive N. , Fraenkel Ernest 
Published: May 2016

AbstractIn recent years, the assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-Seq) has become a fundamental tool of epigenomic research. However, it is difficult to perform this technique on frozen samples because freezing cells before extracting nuclei can impair nuclear integrity and alter chromatin structure, especially in fragile cells such as neurons. Our aim was to develop a protocol for freezing neuronal cells that is compatible with ATAC-Seq; we focused on a disease-relevant cell type, namely motor neurons differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iMNs) from a patient affected by spinal muscular atrophy. We found that while flash-frozen iMNs are not suitable for ATAC-Seq, the assay is successful with slow-cooled cryopreserved cells. Using this method, we were able to isolate high quality, intact nuclei, and we verified that epigenetic results from fresh and cryopreserved iMNs quantitatively agree.
Proteomic analyses bring new insights into the effect of a dark stress on lipid biosynthesis in Phaeodactylum tricornutum
Authors: Bai Xiaocui , Song Hao , Lavoie Michel , Zhu Kun , Su Yiyuan , Ye Hanqi , Chen Si , Fu Zhengwei , Qian Haifeng 
Published: May 2016

AbstractMicroalgae biosynthesize high amount of lipids and show high potential for renewable biodiesel production. However, the production cost of microalgae-derived biodiesel hampers large-scale biodiesel commercialization and new strategies for increasing lipid production efficiency from algae are urgently needed. Here we submitted the marine algae Phaeodactylum tricornutum to a 4-day dark stress, a condition increasing by 2.3-fold the total lipid cell quotas, and studied the cellular mechanisms leading to lipid accumulation using a combination of physiological, proteomic (iTRAQ) and genomic (qRT-PCR) approaches. Our results show that the expression of proteins in the biochemical pathways of glycolysis and the synthesis of fatty acids were induced in the dark, potentially using excess carbon and nitrogen produced from protein breakdown. Treatment of algae in the dark, which increased algal lipid cell quotas at low cost, combined with optimal growth treatment could help optimizing biodiesel production.
Zeeman-Field-Tuned Topological Phase Transitions in a Two-Dimensional Class-DIII Superconductor
Authors: Deng W. Y. , Geng H. , Luo W. , Sheng L. , Xing D. Y. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractWe investigate the topological phase transitions in a two-dimensional time-reversal invariant topological superconductor in the presence of a Zeeman field. Based on the spin Chern number theory, we find that the system exhibits a number of topologically distinct phases with changing the out-of-plane component of the Zeeman field, including a quantum spin Hall-like phase, quantum anomalous Hall-like phases with total Chern number C = −2, −1, 1 and 2 and a topologically trivial superconductor phase. The BdG band gap closes at each boundary of the phase transitions. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the zero bias conductance provides clear transport signatures of the different topological phases, which are robust against symmetry-breaking perturbations.
Curcumin Exerts its Anti-hypertensive Effect by Down-regulating the AT1 Receptor in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells
Authors: Yao Yonggang , Wang Wei , Li Meixiang , Ren Hongmei , Chen Caiyu , Wang Jialiang , Wang Wei Eric , Yang Jian , Zeng Chunyu 
Published: May 2016

AbstractCurcumin exerts beneficial effects on cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension. However, its mechanisms are unknown. We propose that curcumin prevents the development of hypertension by regulating AT1 receptor (AT1R) expression in arteries. The present study examined how curcumin regulates AT1R expression in vascular smooth muscle cells and investigated the physiological significance of this regulation in angiotensin (Ang) II-induced hypertension. The results showed that curcumin decreased AT1R expression in a concentration- and time-dependent manner in vascular smooth muscle cells. Using luciferase reporters with an entire AT1 or a mutant AT1R in A10 cells, the AT1R promoter activity was inhibited by 10−6M curcumin, and the proximal element (from −61 to +25 bp) of the AT1R promoter was crucial for curcumin-induced AT1R down-regulation. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed that curcumin decreased specificity protein 1 (SP1) binding with the AT1R promoter in A10 cells. Curcumin treatment reduced Ang II-induced hypertension in C57Bl/6J mice, which was accompanied by lower AT1R expression in the arteries and decreased Ang II-mediated vasoconstriction in the mesenteric artery. These findings indicate that curcumin down-regulates AT1R expression in A10 cells by affecting SP1/AT1R DNA binding, thus reducing AT1R-mediated vasoconstriction and subsequently prevents the development of hypertension in an Ang II-induced hypertensive model.
The Value of Circulating Biomarkers in Bicuspid Aortic Valve-Associated Aortopathy
Authors: Naito Shiho , Hillebrand Mathias , Bernhardt Alexander , Jagodzinski Annika , Conradi Lenard , Detter Christian , Sydow Karsten , Reichenspurner Hermann , Kodolitsch Yskert , Girdauskas Evaldas 
Published: May 2016

AbstractTraditional risk stratification model of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) aortopathy is based on measurement of maximal cross-sectional aortic diameter, definition of proximal aortic shape, and aortic stiffness/elasticity parameters. However, conventional imaging-based criteria are unable to provide reliable information regarding the risk stratification in BAV aortopathy, especially considering the heterogeneous nature of BAV disease. Given those limitations of conventional imaging, there is a growing clinical interest to use circulating biomarkers in the screening process for thoracic aortic aneurysms as well as in the risk-assessment algorithms. We aimed to systematically review currently available biomarkers, which may be of value to predict the natural evolution of aortopathy in individuals with BAV.
Indole-3-acetic acid-induced oxidative burst and an increase in cytosolic calcium ion concentration in rice suspension culture
Authors: Nguyen Hieu T H , Umemura Kenji , Kawano Tomonori 
Published: May 2016

Abstract
Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) is the major natural auxin involved in the regulation of a variety of growth and developmental processes such as division, elongation, and polarity determination in growing plant cells. It has been shown that dividing and/or elongating plant cells accompanies the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a number of reports have suggested that hormonal actions can be mediated by ROS through ROS-mediated opening of ion channels. Here, we surveyed the link between the action of IAA, oxidative burst, and calcium channel activation in a transgenic cells of rice expressing aequorin in the cytosol. Application of IAA to the cells induced a rapid and transient generation of superoxide which was followed by a transient increase in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]c). The IAA-induced [Ca2+]c elevation was inhibited by Ca2+ channel blockers and a Ca2+ chelator. Furthermore, ROS scavengers effectively blocked the action of IAA on [Ca2+]c elevation.
Education and the Essence of Technology
Authors: Hudak Glenn M. 
Published: May 2016

This is an advance summary of a forthcoming article in the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Education. Please check back later for the full article.

Martin Heidegger’s conceptualization of Gestell—the essence of technology—is a useful notion that can help educational researchers to “frame” and understand the role of digital technologies within the context of education and schooling. As C. A. Bowers argues in The Cultural Dimensions of Educational Computing (1988), “Heidegger’s thinking about technology, . . . his way of approaching the question of what constitutes the ‘essence of technology’ in relation to human existence was to be more useful [for researchers] in developing a vocabulary for revealing how our relationships are framed . . . by the essential nature of technology” (p. 31). Likewise, as Norm Friesen states in The Place of the Classroom and the Space of the Screen (2011), Heidegger “insisted that [the essence of] technology frames our experience and understanding in particular ways . . . [Heidegger names this] totality in which it is manifested by using the German word Gestell” (pp. 11–12).

As such, an understanding of Gestell—the essence of technology—is foundational, and is essential in unpacking the interface between education and technology. For what is at stake is not the use of technological equipment in classrooms per se, rather it is the very way in which Gestell “frames” the way in which we encounter educational situations by amplifying instrumental thinking at the expense of more relational forms of thinking. Here Heidegger calls for a new form of thinking: Gelassenheit, a way of thinking outside the domain of techno-discourse. Can one fully break free of Gestell? Can educators actually stand outside the dominant discourse of technology, especially as schools integrate curricula with digital technologies? An in-depth understanding of the dynamic power of the essence of technology is necessary in order to address these and other related concerns.