bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Growth of semiconducting single-wall carbon nanotubes with a narrow band-gap distribution
Authors: Zhang Feng , Hou Peng-Xiang , Liu Chang , Wang Bing-Wei , Jiang Hua , Chen Mao-Lin , Sun Dong-Ming , Li Jin-Cheng , Cong Hong-Tao , Kauppinen Esko I. , Cheng Hui-Ming 
Published: March 2016

AbstractThe growth of high-quality semiconducting single-wall carbon nanotubes with a narrow band-gap distribution is crucial for the fabrication of high-performance electronic devices. However, the single-wall carbon nanotubes grown from traditional metal catalysts usually have diversified structures and properties. Here we design and prepare an acorn-like, partially carbon-coated cobalt nanoparticle catalyst with a uniform size and structure by the thermal reduction of a [Co(CN)6]3− precursor adsorbed on a self-assembled block copolymer nanodomain. The inner cobalt nanoparticle functions as active catalytic phase for carbon nanotube growth, whereas the outer carbon layer prevents the aggregation of cobalt nanoparticles and ensures a perpendicular growth mode. The grown single-wall carbon nanotubes have a very narrow diameter distribution centred at 1.7 nm and a high semiconducting content of >95%. These semiconducting single-wall carbon nanotubes have a very small band-gap difference of ∼0.08 eV and show excellent thin-film transistor performance.
microRNA-146a promotes mycobacterial survival in macrophages through suppressing nitric oxide production
Authors: Li Miao , Wang Jinli , Fang Yimin , Gong Sitang , Li Meiyu , Wu Minhao , Lai Xiaomin , Zeng Gucheng , Wang Yi , Yang Kun , Huang Xi 
Published: March 2016

AbstractMacrophages play a crucial role in host innate anti-mycobacterial defense, which is tightly regulated by multiple factors, including microRNAs. Our previous study showed that a panel of microRNAs was markedly up-regulated in macrophages upon mycobacterial infection. Here, we investigated the biological function of miR-146a during mycobacterial infection. miR-146a expression was induced both in vitro and in vivo after Mycobacterium bovis BCG infection. The inducible miR-146a could suppress the inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase (iNOS) expression and NO generation, thus promoting mycobacterial survival in macrophages. Inhibition of endogenous miR-146a increased NO production and mycobacterial clearance. Moreover, miR-146a attenuated the activation of nuclear factor κB and mitogen-activated protein kinases signaling pathways during BCG infection, which in turn repressed iNOS expression. Mechanistically, miR-146a directly targeted tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) at post-transcriptional level. Silencing TRAF6 decreased iNOS expression and NO production in BCG-infected macrophages, while overexpression of TRAF6 reversed miR-146a-mediated inhibition of NO production and clearance of mycobacteria. Therefore, we demonstrated a novel role of miR-146a in the modulation of host defense against mycobacterial infection by repressing NO production via targeting TRAF6, which may provide a promising therapeutic target for tuberculosis.
Ghrelin Regulates Glucose and Glutamate Transporters in Hypothalamic Astrocytes
Authors: Fuente-Martín Esther , García-Cáceres Cristina , Argente-Arizón Pilar , Díaz Francisca , Granado Miriam , Freire-Regatillo Alejandra , Castro-González David , Ceballos María L. , Frago Laura M. , Dickson Suzanne L. , Argente Jesús , Chowen Julie A. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractHypothalamic astrocytes can respond to metabolic signals, such as leptin and insulin, to modulate adjacent neuronal circuits and systemic metabolism. Ghrelin regulates appetite, adiposity and glucose metabolism, but little is known regarding the response of astrocytes to this orexigenic hormone. We have used bothin vivoandin vitroapproaches to demonstrate that acylated ghrelin (acyl-ghrelin) rapidly stimulates glutamate transporter expression and glutamate uptake by astrocytes. Moreover, acyl-ghrelin rapidly reduces glucose transporter (GLUT) 2 levels and glucose uptake by these glial cells. Glutamine synthetase and lactate dehydrogenase decrease, while glycogen phosphorylase and lactate transporters increase in response to acyl-ghrelin, suggesting a change in glutamate and glucose metabolism, as well as glycogen storage by astrocytes. These effects are partially mediated through ghrelin receptor 1A (GHSR-1A) as astrocytes do not respond equally to desacyl-ghrelin, an isoform that does not activate GHSR-1A. Moreover, primary astrocyte cultures from GHSR-1A knock-out mice do not change glutamate transporter or GLUT2 levels in response to acyl-ghrelin. Our results indicate that acyl-ghrelin may mediate part of its metabolic actions through modulation of hypothalamic astrocytes and that this effect could involve astrocyte mediated changes in local glucose and glutamate metabolism that alter the signals/nutrients reaching neighboring neurons.
Retargeting the Clostridium botulinum C2 toxin to the neuronal cytosol
Authors: Pavlik Benjamin J. , Hruska Elizabeth J. , Van Cott Kevin E. , Blum Paul H. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractMany biological toxins are known to attack specific cell types, delivering their enzymatic payloads to the cytosol. This process can be manipulated by molecular engineering of chimeric toxins. Using toxins with naturally unlinked components as a starting point is advantageous because it allows for the development of payloads separately from the binding/translocation components. Here the Clostridium botulinum C2 binding/translocation domain was retargeted to neural cell populations by deleting its non-specific binding domain and replacing it with a C. botulinum neurotoxin binding domain. This fusion protein was used to deliver fluorescently labeled payloads to Neuro-2a cells. Intracellular delivery was quantified by flow cytometry and found to be dependent on artificial enrichment of cells with the polysialoganglioside receptor GT1b. Visualization by confocal microscopy showed a dissociation of payloads from the early endosome indicating translocation of the chimeric toxin. The natural Clostridium botulinum C2 toxin was then delivered to human glioblastoma A172 and synchronized HeLa cells. In the presence of the fusion protein, native cytosolic enzymatic activity of the enzyme was observed and found to be GT1b-dependent. This retargeted toxin may enable delivery of therapeutics to peripheral neurons and be of use in addressing experimental questions about neural physiology.
Optogenetically controlled RAF to characterize BRAF and CRAF protein kinase inhibitors
Authors: Chatelle Claire V. , Hövermann Désirée , Müller Anne , Wagner Hanna J. , Weber Wilfried , Radziwill Gerald 
Published: March 2016

AbstractHere, we applied optoRAF, an optogenetic tool for light-controlled clustering and activation of RAF proteins that mimics the natural occurring RAS-mediated dimerization. This versatile tool allows studying the effect on BRAF and CRAF homodimer- as well as heterodimer-induced RAF signaling. Vemurafenib and dabrafenib are two clinically approved inhibitors for BRAF that efficiently suppress the kinase activity of oncogenic BRAF (V600E). However in wild-type BRAF expressing cells, BRAF inhibitors can exert paradoxical activation of wild-type CRAF. Using optoRAF, vemurafenib was identified as paradoxical activator of BRAF and CRAF homo- and heterodimers. Dabrafenib enhanced activity of light-stimulated CRAF at low dose and inhibited CRAF signaling at high dose. Moreover, dabrafenib increased the protein level of CRAF proteins but not of BRAF proteins. Increased CRAF levels correlate with elevated RAF signaling in a dabrafenib-dependent manner, independent of light activation.
Soluble alpha-enolase activates monocytes by CD14-dependent TLR4 signalling pathway and exhibits a dual function
Authors: Guillou Clément , Fréret Manuel , Fondard Emeline , Derambure Céline , Avenel Gilles , Golinski Marie-Laure , Verdet Mathieu , Boyer Olivier , Caillot Frédérique , Musette Philippe , Lequerré Thierry , Vittecoq Olivier 
Published: March 2016

AbstractRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common form of chronic inflammatory rheumatism. Identifying auto-antigens targeted by RA auto-antibodies is of major interest. Alpha-enolase (ENO1) is considered to be a pivotal auto-antigen in early RA but its pathophysiologic role remains unknown. The main objective of this study was to investigate the in vitro effects of soluble ENO1 on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy donors and RA patients in order to determine the potential pathogenic role of ENO1. ELISA, transcriptomic analysis, experiments of receptor inhibition and flow cytometry analysis were performed to determine the effect, the target cell population and the receptor of ENO1. We showed that ENO1 has the ability to induce early production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines with delayed production of IL-10 and to activate the innate immune system. We demonstrated that ENO1 binds mainly to monocytes and activates the CD14-dependent TLR4 pathway both in healthy subjects and in RA patients. Our results establish for the first time that ENO1 is able to activate in vitro the CD14-dependent TLR4 pathway on monocytes involving a dual mechanism firstly pro-inflammatory and secondly anti-inflammatory. These results contribute to elucidating the role of this auto-antigen in the pathophysiologic mechanisms of RA.
A snap shot of the short-term response of crustaceans to macrophyte detritus in the deep Oslofjord
Authors: Ramirez-Llodra Eva , Rinde Eli , Gundersen Hege , Christie Hartvig , Fagerli Camilla With , Fredriksen Stein , Gitmark Janne Kim , Norling Karl , Walday Mats Gunnar , Norderhaug Kjell Magnus 
Published: March 2016

AbstractA test deployment of a time-lapse camera lander in the deep Oslofjord (431 m) was used to obtain initial information on the response of benthic fauna to macroalgal debris. Three macroalgal species were used on the lander baited plate: Fucus serratus, Saccharina latissima and Laminaria hyperborea and observed during 41.5 hours. The deep-water shrimp Pandalus borealis were attracted to the macroalgae rapidly (3 min after the lander reached the seafloor), followed by amphipods. Shrimp abundances were significantly higher in areas covered by macroalgae compared to the adjacent seafloor and the number of shrimp visiting the macroalgae increased with time. Amphipods arrived 13 hours later and were observed mainly on decaying L. hyperborea. The abundance of amphipods on L. hyperborea increased rapidly, reaching a peak at 31 h after deployment. These initial observations suggest that debris from kelp forests and other macroalgal beds may play an important role in fuelling deep benthic communities in the outer Oslofjord and, potentially, enhance secondary production of commercial species such as P. borealis.
A chemical family-based strategy for uncovering hidden bioactive molecules and multicomponent interactions in herbal medicines
Authors: Song Hui-Peng , Wu Si-Qi , Hao Haiping , Chen Jun , Lu Jun , Xu Xiaojun , Li Ping , Yang Hua 
Published: March 2016

AbstractTwo concepts involving natural products were proposed and demonstrated in this paper. (1) Natural product libraries (e.g. herbal extract) are not perfect for bioactivity screening because of the vast complexity of compound compositions, and thus a library reconstruction procedure is necessary before screening. (2) The traditional mode of “screening single compound” could be improved to “screening single compound, drug combination and multicomponent interaction” due to the fact that herbal medicines work by integrative effects of multi-components rather than single effective constituents. Based on the two concepts, we established a novel strategy aiming to make screening easier and deeper. Using thrombin as the model enzyme, we firstly uncovered the minor lead compounds, potential drug combinations and multicomponent interactions in an herbal medicine of Dan-Qi pair, showing a significant advantage over previous methods. This strategy was expected to be a new and promising mode for investigation of herbal medicines.
Transcriptional profiling analysis of Spodoptera litura larvae challenged with Vip3Aa toxin and possible involvement of trypsin in the toxin activation
Authors: Song Feifei , Chen Chen , Wu Songqing , Shao Ensi , Li Mengnan , Guan Xiong , Huang Zhipeng 
Published: March 2016

AbstractVip proteins, a new group of insecticidal toxins produced byBacillus thuringiensis, are effective against specific pests includingSpodoptera litura. Here, we report construction of a transcriptome database ofS. liturabyde novoassembly along with detection of the transcriptional response ofS. lituralarvae to Vip3Aa toxin. In total, 56,498 unigenes with an N50 value of 1,853 bp were obtained. Results of transcriptome abundance showed that Vip3Aa toxin provoked a wide transcriptional response of theS. lituramidgut. The differentially expressed genes were enriched for immunity-related, metabolic-related and Bt-related genes. Twenty-nine immunity-related genes, 102 metabolic-related genes and 62 Bt-related genes with differential expression were found. On the basis of transcriptional profiling analysis, we focus on the functional validation of trypsin which potentially participated in the activation of Vip3Aa protoxin. Zymogram analysis indicated that the presence of many proteases, including trypsin, inS. lituralarvae midgut. Results of enzymolysisin vitroof Vip3Aa by trypsin and bioassay and histopathology of the trypsin-digested Vip3Aa toxin showed that trypsin was possibly involved in the Vip3Aa activation. This study provides a transcriptome foundation for the identification and functional validation of the differentially expressed genes in an agricultural important pest,S. litura.
Adenosine receptor agonist NECA increases cerebral extravasation of fluorescein and low molecular weight dextran independent of blood-brain barrier modulation
Authors: Cheng Chih-Chung , Yang Ya Lan , Liao Kate Hsiurong , Lai Ted Weita 
Published: March 2016

AbstractConventional methods for therapeutic blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption facilitate drug delivery but are cumbersome to perform. A previous study demonstrated that adenosine receptor (AR) stimulation by 5′-N-ethylcarboxamide adenosine (NECA) increased the extravasation of intravascular tracers into the brain and proposed that AR agonism may be an effective method for therapeutic BBB disruption. We attempted to confirm the extravasation of tracers into the brain and also investigated tracer extravasation into peripheral organs and tracer retention in the blood. We found that NECA not only increased the extravasation of intravascular fluorescein and low molecular weight dextran into the brain of mice but also increased the concentrations of these tracers in the blood. In fact, the brain:blood ratio-normalized BBB permeability for either tracer is actually decreased by NECA administration. Elevated blood urea nitrogen levels in mice following NECA treatment suggested that renal function impairment was a probable cause of tracer retention. Therefore, NECA has almost no effect on the extravasation of intravascular Evans blue dye (EBD), an albumin-binding tracer with little renal clearance. Rather than inducing BBB disruption, our study demonstrated that NECA increased tracer extravasation into the brain by increasing the concentration gradient of the tracer across the BBB.
Photocatalytic performance of thermally prepared TiO2/C photocatalysts under artificial solar light
Authors: Wanag Agnieszka , Kusiak‐Nejman Ewelina , Kapica‐Kozar Joanna , Morawski Antoni Waldemar 
Published: March 2016

A simple method of preparation of artificial solar light‐active TiO2 photocatalysts is presented. The new TiO2/C samples were obtained by thermal treatment (150, 250, 350 and 450 °C) of industrial titanium dioxide (TiO2‐starting) in the presence of naphthalene vapours. The obtained nanomaterials were investigated by means of UV‐vis/DR, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy/diffuse reflectance infrared and X‐ray powder diffraction methods. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) specific surface area and carbon content were also measured. The photocatalytic activity of the photocatalysts was investigated on the basis of phenol degradation under artificial solar light. TiO2/C photocatalysts show higher photocatalytic activity in comparison with TiO2‐starting and commercial KRONOClean 7000 photocatalysts. It was noted that the highest decomposition and mineralisation degree of phenol and its degradation co‐products were found for sample obtained at 450 °C and contained 0.19 wt.% of carbon. The carbon content, BET surface area and anatase crystallite size are the mean features, which strongly contribute the photocatalytic activity of new carbon‐modified TiO2 photocatalysts under artificial solar light. Modification of TiO2 with naphthalene vapours is a promising method, especially taking the mineralisation of phenol and the co‐products of its degradation into account.
Reporter nanoparticle that monitors its anticancer efficacy in real time
Authors: Kulkarni Ashish , Rao Poornima , Natarajan Siva , Goldman Aaron , Sabbisetti Venkata S. , Khater Yashika , Korimerla Navya , Chandrasekar Vineethkrishna , Mashelkar Raghunath A. , Sengupta Shiladitya 
Published: March 2016

Significance
The ability to identify responders and nonresponders very early during chemotherapy by direct visualization of the activity of the anticancer treatment and to switch, if necessary, to a regimen that is effective can have a significant effect on the outcome as well as quality of life. Current approaches to quantify response rely on imaging techniques that fail to detect very early responses. In the case of immunotherapy, the early anatomical readout is often discordant with the biological response. This study describes a self-reporting nanomedicine that not only delivers chemotherapy or immunotherapy to the tumor but also reports back on its efficacy in real time, thereby identifying responders and nonresponders early on.
Finite order solutions of difference equations, and difference Painlevé equations IV
Authors: Wen Zhi-Tao 
Published: March 2016

In this paper, from the non-linear difference equation
\[

(

w
¯

+
w
)
(
w
+

w
_

)
=

P
(
z
,
w
)

Q
(
z
,
w
)

(\overline {w}+w)(w+\underline {w})=\frac {P(z,w)}{Q(z,w)}

\]
where

P
(
z
,
w
)

P(z,w)

and

Q
(
r
,
w
)

Q(r,w)

are polynomials in

w
(
z
)

w(z)

without common factors having small function coefficients related to

w
(
z
)

w(z)

, we present the form of difference Painlevé equation IV
\[

(

w
¯

+
w
)
(
w
+

w
_

)
=

(

w
2

−

a
2

)
(

w
2

−

b
2

)

(
w
+
(
α
z
+
β
)

)
2

+
π

,

(\overline {w}+w)(w+\underline {w})=\frac {(w^2-a^2)(w^2-b^2)}{(w+(\alpha z+\beta ))^2+\pi },

\]
where

a
a

,

b
b

,

α
\alpha

,

β
\beta

and

π
\pi

are period small functions related to

w
w

. It shows that if the above difference equation admits at least one meromorphic solution

w
(
z
)

w(z)

of finite order, then the difference equation can be transformed by Möbius tranformation in

w
w

to difference Painlevé IV, unless

w
w

is the solution of difference Riccati equations.
Connectivity of larval cod in the transition area between North Sea and Baltic Sea and potential implications for fisheries management
Authors: Huwer B. , Hinrichsen H.-H. , Hüssy K. , Eero M. 
Published: March 2016

Abstract
Connectivity of pelagic, early life stages via transport by ocean currents may affect survival chances of offspring, recruitment success, and mixing of stocks across management units. Based on drift model studies, transport patterns of particles representing exogenously feeding cod larvae in the transition area between North Sea and Baltic were investigated to (i) determine long-term trends and variability in advective transport of larvae from spawning grounds to juvenile nursery areas, (ii) estimate the degree of exchange between different management areas, and (iii) compare the results with spatial distributions of juvenile cod. The transport of particles showed considerable intra- and interannual variability, but also some general patterns of retention within and dispersion to different management areas. Good spatial overlap of particle end positions, representing potential juvenile settlement areas, with observed distributions of juveniles in bottom trawl surveys suggests that the drift simulations provide reasonable estimates of early life stage connectivity between cod populations in the investigated areas. High exchange rates of particles between management areas of up to ca. 70% suggest that cod populations in the investigated areas are demographically correlated. Results are discussed in relation to their relevance for stock structure, fish stock assessment, and management.
BIGMAC: Breaking Inaccurate Genomes and Merging Assembled Contigs for long read metagenomic assembly
Authors: Lam Ka-Kit , Hall Richard , Clum Alicia , Rao Satish 
Published: March 2016

AbstractThe problem of de-novo assembly for metagenomes using only long reads is gaining attention. We study whether post-processing metagenomic assemblies with the original input long reads can result in quality improvement. Previous approaches have focused on pre-processing reads and optimizing assemblers. BIGMAC takes an alternative perspective to focus on the post-processing step. Using both the assembled contigs and original long reads as input, BIGMAC first breaks the contigs at potentially mis-assembled locations and subsequently scaffolds contigs. Our experiments on metagenomes assembled from long reads show that BIGMAC can improve assembly quality by reducing the number of mis-assemblies while maintaining/increasing N50 and N75. The software is available athttps://github.com/kakitone/BIGMAC
InfoDengue: a nowcasting system for the surveillance of dengue fever transmission
Authors: Codeço Cláudia T , Cruz Oswaldo G , Riback Thais I , Degener Carolin M , Gomes Marcelo F , Villela Daniel , Bastos Leonardo , Camargo Sabrina , Saraceni Valeria , Lemos Maria Cristina F , Coelho Flavio C 
Published: March 2016

AbstractThis study describes the development of an integrated dengue alert system (InfoDengue), operating initially in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is a project developed as a partnership between academia and the municipal health secretariat. At the beginning of each epidemiological week, the system captures climate time series, dengue case reporting and activity on a social network. After data pre-processing, including a probabilistic correction of case notification delay, and calculation of dengue's effective reproductive number, indicators of dengue transmission are coded into four dengue situation levels, for each of the city's ten health districts. A risk map is generated to inform the public about the week's level of attention and the evolution of the disease incidence and suggest actions. A report is also sent automatically to the municipality's situation room, containing a detailed presentation of the data and alert levels by health district. The preliminary analysis of InfoDengue in Rio de Janeiro, using historical series from 2011 to 2014 and prospective data from January to December 2015, indicates good degree of confidence and accuracy. The successful experience in the city of Rio de Janeiro is a motivating argument for the expansion of InfoDengue to other cities. After a year in production, InfoDengue has become a unique source of carefully curated data for epidemiological studies, combining epidemological and environmental variables in unprecedented spatial and temporal resolutions.Ethical committee approval:26910214.7.0000.5240