bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Exhumation history of the Sanshandao Au deposit, Jiaodong: constraints from structural analysis and (U-Th)/He thermochronology
Authors: Liu Xuan , Fan Hong-Rui , Evans Noreen J. , Yang Kui-Feng , Danišík Martin , McInnes Brent I. A. , Qin Ke-Zhang , Yu Xue-Feng 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe Sanshandao gold deposit contains an estimated Au resource of >1500 tons, however little is known about the history of exhumation, and the magnitude of displacement on the ore-hosting fault. Structural measurement revealed two phases of normal and one phase of sinistral movement on the fault. Despite of intra-sample dispersions, (U-Th)/He ages from two sub-vertical profiles show decreasing trends from the surface down to −3560 m (zircon: 123 Ma to 55 Ma; apatite 103 Ma to 0.3 Ma). Over-dispersion of AHe ages likely reflects the presence of undetected inclusions. According to the age-depth pattern, we infer that the deposit underwent an early phase of rapid cooling in the late Early Cretaceous, which was followed by a short period of thermal stagnation and a revived rapid cooling between 75 Ma and 55 Ma in response to a combined effects of late normal movement and erosion. Since the Eocene, the deposit has experienced a slow monotonic cooling. Exhumation magnitude estimates suggest that the deposit have been denudated > 5.1 km. The two phases of normal displacement along the fault occurred in the late Early Cretaceous and Late Cretaceous to Paleocene, leading to a total offset magnitude of 0.5–2.3 km.
Kinetic and Structural Characterization of the Effects of Membrane on the Complex of Cytochrome b
5 and Cytochrome c
Authors: Gentry Katherine A. , Prade Elke , Barnaba Carlo , Zhang Meng , Mahajan Mukesh , Im Sang-Choul , Anantharamaiah G. M. , Nagao Satoshi , Waskell Lucy , Ramamoorthy Ayyalusamy 
Published: August 2017

AbstractCytochrome b5 (cytb5) is a membrane protein vital for the regulation of cytochrome P450 (cytP450) metabolism and is capable of electron transfer to many redox partners. Here, using cyt c as a surrogate for cytP450, we report the effect of membrane on the interaction between full-length cytb5 and cyt c for the first time. As shown through stopped-flow kinetic experiments, electron transfer capable cytb5 - cyt c complexes were formed in the presence of bicelles and nanodiscs. Experimentally measured NMR parameters were used to map the cytb5-cyt c binding interface. Our experimental results identify differences in the binding epitope of cytb5 in the presence and absence of membrane. Notably, in the presence of membrane, cytb5 only engaged cyt c at its lower and upper clefts while the membrane-free cytb5 also uses a distal region. Using restraints generated from both cytb5 and cyt c, a complex structure was generated and a potential electron transfer pathway was identified. These results demonstrate the importance of studying protein-protein complex formation in membrane mimetic systems. Our results also demonstrate the successful preparation of novel peptide-based lipid nanodiscs, which are detergent-free and possesses size flexibility, and their use for NMR structural studies of membrane proteins.
The algicidal mechanism of prodigiosin from Hahella sp. KA22 against Microcystis aeruginosa
Authors: Yang Ke , Chen Qiuliang , Zhang Danyang , Zhang Huajun , Lei Xueqian , Chen Zhangran , Li Yi , Hong Yaling , Ma Xiaohong , Zheng Wei , Tian Yun , Zheng Tianling , Xu Hong 
Published: August 2017

AbstractIn recent years, Microcystis aeruginosa blooms have occurred throughout the world, causing huge economic losses and destroying aquatic ecosystems. It is necessary to develop effective and ecofriendly methods to control M. aeruginosa blooms. Here, we report a high algicidal activity of prodigiosin (PG) against M. aeruginosa as well as the algicidal mechanism. PG showed high algicidal activity against M. aeruginosa, with a 50% lethal dose (LD50) of 5.87 μg/mL in 72 h. A combination of methods, including propidium iodide and Annexin V-fluorescein staining assays and light and electron microscopy indicated the existence of two modes of cell death with features similar to those in eukaryotic programmed cell death: necrotic-like and apoptotic-like. Biochemical and physiological analyses showed that PG generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), which induce lipid peroxidation, damage the membrane system and destroy the function of the photosystem. A proteomics analysis revealed that many proteins were differentially expressed in response to PG stress and that most of these proteins were involved in important metabolic processes, which may trigger necrotic-like or apoptotic-like cell death. The present study sheds light on the multiple toxicity mechanisms of PG on M. aeruginosa and its potential for controlling the occurrence of M. aeruginosa blooms in lakes.
Medium/Long wavelength sensitive opsin diversity in Pitheciidae
Authors: Goulart Vinicius D. L. R. , Boubli Jean P. , Young Robert J. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractNew World primates feature a complex colour vision system. Most species have polymorphic colour vision where males have a dichromatic colour perception and females can be either dichromatic or trichromatic. The adaptive value of high allelic diversity of opsins, a light sensitive protein, found in primates’ eyes remains unknown. Studies revealing the allelic diversity are important as they shed light on our understanding of the adaptive value of differences in the colouration of species and their ecologies. Here we investigate the allelic types found in Pitheciidae, an understudied New World primate family, revealing the diversity of medium/long wavelength sensitive opsins both in cryptic and conspicuous species of this primate family. We found five alleles in Cacajao, six in Callicebinae (i.e. Plecturocebus, Cheracebus, and Callicebus), four in Chiropotes, and three in Pithecia, some of them reported for the first time. Both cryptic and conspicuous species in this group presented high allelic diversity.
Continental scale variability of foliar nitrogen and carbon isotopes in Populus balsamifera and their relationships with climate
Authors: Elmore Andrew J. , Craine Joseph M. , Nelson David M. , Guinn Steven M. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractVariation across climate gradients in the isotopic composition of nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) in foliar tissues has the potential to reveal ecological processes related to N and water availability. However, it has been a challenge to separate spatial patterns related to direct effects of climate from effects that manifest indirectly through species turnover across climate gradients. Here we compare variation along environmental gradients in foliar N isotope (δ15N) and C isotopic discrimination (Δ13C) measured in 755 specimens of a single widely distributed tree species, Populus balsamifera, with variation represented in global databases of foliar isotopes. After accounting for mycorrhizal association, sample size, and climatic range, foliar δ15N in P. balsamifera was more weakly related to mean annual precipitation and foliar N concentration than when measured across species, yet exhibited a stronger negative effect of mean annual temperature. Similarly, the effect of precipitation and elevation on Δ13C were stronger in a global data base of foliar Δ13C samples than observed in P. balsamifera. These results suggest that processes influencing foliar δ15N and Δ13C in P. balsamifera are partially normalized across its climatic range by the habitat it occupies or by the physiology of the species itself.
Evidence for enhanced multi-component behaviour in Tourette syndrome – an EEG study
Authors: Brandt Valerie C. , Stock Ann-Kathrin , Münchau Alexander , Beste Christian 
Published: August 2017

AbstractEvidence suggests that Tourette syndrome is characterized by an increase in dopamine transmission and structural as well as functional changes in fronto-striatal circuits that might lead to enhanced multi-component behaviour integration. Behavioural and neurophysiological data regarding multi-component behaviour was collected from 15 patients with Tourette syndrome (mean age = 30.40 ± 11.10) and 15 healthy controls (27.07 ± 5.44), using the stop-change task. In this task, participants are asked to sometimes withhold responses to a Go stimulus (stop cue) and change hands to respond to an alternative Go stimulus (change cue). Different onset asynchronies between stop and change cues were implemented (0 and 300 ms) in order to vary task difficulty. Tourette patients responded more accurately than healthy controls when there was no delay between stop and change stimulus, while there was no difference in the 300 ms delay condition. This performance advantage was reflected in a smaller P3 event related potential. Enhanced multi-component behaviour in Tourette syndrome is likely based on an enhanced ability to integrate information from multiple sources and translate it into an appropriate response sequence. This may be a consequence of chronic tic control in these patients, or a known fronto-striatal networks hyperconnectivity in Tourette syndrome.
Evaluating agroclimatic constraints and yield gaps for winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) – A case study
Authors: Zhang Zhi , Lu Jianwei , Cong Rihuan , Ren Tao , Li Xiaokun 
Published: August 2017

AbstractEvaluating the effects of agroclimatic constraints on winter oilseed rape (WOSR) yield can facilitate the development of agricultural mitigation and adaptation strategies. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the WOSR yield and agroclimatic factors using the yield data collected from Agricultural Yearbook and field experimental sites, and the climate dataset from the meteorological stations in Hubei province, China. Five agroclimatic indicators during WOSR growth, such as ≥0 °C accumulated temperature (AT-0), overwintering days (OWD), precipitation (P), precipitation at an earlier stage (EP) and sunshine hours (S), were extracted from twelve agroclimatic indices. The attainable yield for the five yield-limiting factors ranged from 2638 kg ha−1 (EP) to 3089 kg ha−1 (AT-0). Farmers (Y
farm
) and local agronomists (Y
exp
) have achieved 63% and 86% of the attainable yield (Y
att
), respectively. The contribution of optimum fertilization to narrow the yield gap (NY
exp
) was 52% for the factor P, which was remarkably lower than the mean value (63%). Overall, the precipitation was the crucial yield-limiting agroclimatic factor, and restricted the effect of optimizing fertilization. The integrated data suggest that agricultural strategies of mitigation and adaptation to climatic variability based on different agroclimatic factors are essential for improving the crop yield.
Centennial-scale reductions in nitrogen availability in temperate forests of the United States
Authors: McLauchlan K. K. , Gerhart L. M. , Battles J. J. , Craine J. M. , Elmore A. J. , Higuera P. E. , Mack M. C. , McNeil B. E. , Nelson D. M. , Pederson N. , Perakis S. S. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractForests cover 30% of the terrestrial Earth surface and are a major component of the global carbon (C) cycle. Humans have doubled the amount of global reactive nitrogen (N), increasing deposition of N onto forests worldwide. However, other global changes—especially climate change and elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations—are increasing demand for N, the element limiting primary productivity in temperate forests, which could be reducing N availability. To determine the long-term, integrated effects of global changes on forest N cycling, we measured stable N isotopes in wood, a proxy for N supply relative to demand, on large spatial and temporal scales across the continental U.S.A. Here, we show that forest N availability has generally declined across much of the U.S. since at least 1850 C.E. with cool, wet forests demonstrating the greatest declines. Across sites, recent trajectories of N availability were independent of recent atmospheric N deposition rates, implying a minor role for modern N deposition on the trajectory of N status of North American forests. Our results demonstrate that current trends of global changes are likely to be consistent with forest oligotrophication into the foreseeable future, further constraining forest C fixation and potentially storage.
Photonic Spin Hall Effect in Waveguides Composed of Two Types of Single-Negative Metamaterials
Authors: Guo Zhiwei , Jiang Haitao , Long Yang , Yu Kun , Ren Jie , Xue Chunhua , Chen Hong 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe polarization controlled optical signal routing has many important applications in photonics such as polarization beam splitter. By using two-dimensional transmission lines with lumped elements, we experimentally demonstrate the selective excitation of guided modes in waveguides composed of two kinds of single-negative metamaterials. A localized, circularly polarized emitter placed near the interface of the two kinds of single-negative metamaterials only couples with one guided mode with a specific propagating direction determined by the polarization handedness of the source. Moreover, this optical spin-orbit locking phenomenon, also called the photonic spin Hall effect, is robust against interface fluctuations, which may be very useful in the manipulation of electromagnetic signals.
Fungus-larva relation in the formation of Cordyceps sinensis as revealed by stable carbon isotope analysis
Authors: Guo Lian-Xian , Hong Yue-Hui , Zhou Qian-Zhi , Zhu Qing , Xu Xiao-Ming , Wang Jiang-Hai 
Published: August 2017

AbstractFor more than one thousand years,Cordyceps sinensishas been revered as a unique halidom in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau for its mysterious life history and predominant medicinal values. This mysterious fungus-larva symbiote also attracted the over-exploitation, while several problems on the initial colonization ofOphiocordyceps sinensisin the host larva have constrained artificial cultivation. In this work, stable carbon isotope analysis was employed to analyse the subsamples ofC.sinensisfrom 5 representative habitats. The results demonstrated that these samples possessed similar δ13C profiles, i.e., a steady ascending trend from the top to the bottom of stroma, occurrence of the δ13C maximum at the head, a slight decrease from the head to the end of thorax, a sharply descent trend from the end of thorax to the forepart of abdomen, and maintenance of lower δ13C values in the rest parts of abdomen. Based on the data, we consider that the site near the head of the host larva may be the initial target attacked byO.sinensis, and the fungus growth is closely related to the digestive tract of its host larva. The growth stages ofO.sinensisare accordingly speculated as the symptom-free, symptom-appearing, and stroma-germinating stages.
Investigation of neuronal pathfinding and construction of artificial neuronal networks on 3D-arranged porous fibrillar scaffolds with controlled geometry
Authors: Kim Dongyoon , Kim Seong-Min , Lee Seyeong , Yoon Myung-Han 
Published: August 2017

AbstractHerein, we investigated the neurite pathfinding on electrospun microfibers with various fiber densities, diameters, and microbead islands, and demonstrated the development of 3D connected artificial neuronal network within a nanofiber-microbead-based porous scaffold. The primary culture of rat hippocampal embryonic neurons was deposited on geometry-controlled polystyrene (PS) fiber scaffolds while growth cone morphology, neurite outgrowth patterns, and focal adhesion protein expression were cautiously examined by microscopic imaging of immunostained and live neuronal cells derived from actin-GFP transgenic mice. It was demonstrated that the neurite outgrowth was guided by the overall microfiber orientation, but the increase in fiber density induced the neurite path alteration, thus, the reduction in neurite linearity. Indeed, we experimentally confirmed that growth cone could migrate to a neighboring, but, spatially disconnected microfiber by spontaneous filopodium extrusion, which is possibly responsible for the observed neurite steering. Furthermore, thinner microfiber scaffolds showed more pronounced expression of focal adhesion proteins than thicker ones, suggesting that the neuron-microfiber interaction can be delicately modulated by the underlying microfiber geometry. Finally, 3D connected functional neuronal networks were successfully constructed using PS nanofiber-microbead scaffolds where enhanced porosity and vertical fiber orientation permitted cell body inclusion within the scaffold and substantial neurite outgrowth in a vertical direction, respectively.
Inflammatory role of dendritic cells in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis revealed by an analysis of patients’ peripheral blood
Authors: Rusconi Michela , Gerardi Francesca , Santus William , Lizio Andrea , Sansone Valeria Ada , Lunetta Christian , Zanoni Ivan , Granucci Francesca 
Published: August 2017

AbstractChronic inflammation is one of the causes of neurodegeneration in Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Here we examined whether circulating dendritic cells (DCs) can contribute to disease progression. We found ALS patients show a significant reduction in the number of circulating DCs. Also, patients’ DCs present an increased expression of CD62L and a tendency to overexpress CCR2 compared with healthy donors. Moreover, DCs derived from a subpopulation of ALS patients produced higher levels of IL-8 and CCL-2 upon lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulation. Finally, we found a significant inverse correlation between the time from onset of the pathology to its diagnosis and the levels of IL-6 secretion induced by LPS. Our data support the hypothesis, in a subpopulation of patients, DCs recruited at the diseased tissue produce high levels of CCL-2 and IL-8 and contribute to the inflammatory process promoting the recruitment of other inflammatory cells. An increased efficiency of IL-6 production may accelerate only the initial phases of disease progression. Blood DC analysis can be used to identify ALS patients with an altered course of inflammatory cell recruitment at the diseased central nervous system (CNS). The high levels of CD62L expression suggests this molecule could be a target for treatment of CNS inflammation.
Group Augmentation in Realistic Visual-Search Decisions via a Hybrid Brain-Computer Interface
Authors: Valeriani Davide , Cinel Caterina , Poli Riccardo 
Published: August 2017

AbstractGroups have increased sensing and cognition capabilities that typically allow them to make better decisions. However, factors such as communication biases and time constraints can lead to less-than-optimal group decisions. In this study, we use a hybrid Brain-Computer Interface (hBCI) to improve the performance of groups undertaking a realistic visual-search task. Our hBCI extracts neural information from EEG signals and combines it with response times to build an estimate of the decision confidence. This is used to weigh individual responses, resulting in improved group decisions. We compare the performance of hBCI-assisted groups with the performance of non-BCI groups using standard majority voting, and non-BCI groups using weighted voting based on reported decision confidence. We also investigate the impact on group performance of a computer-mediated form of communication between members. Results across three experiments suggest that the hBCI provides significant advantages over non-BCI decision methods in all cases. We also found that our form of communication increases individual error rates by almost 50% compared to non-communicating observers, which also results in worse group performance. Communication also makes reported confidence uncorrelated with the decision correctness, thereby nullifying its value in weighing votes. In summary, best decisions are achieved by hBCI-assisted, non-communicating groups.
Transcriptional hallmarks of cancer cell lines reveal an emerging role of branched chain amino acid catabolism
Authors: Antanavičiūtė Ieva , Mikalayeva Valeryia , Ceslevičienė Ieva , Milašiūtė Gintarė , Skeberdis Vytenis Arvydas , Bordel Sergio 
Published: August 2017

AbstractA comparative analysis between cancer cell lines and healthy dividing cells was performed using data (289 microarrays and 50 RNA-seq samples) from 100 different cancer cell lines and 6 types of healthy stem cells. The analysis revealed two large-scale transcriptional events that characterize cancer cell lines. The first event was a large-scale up-regulation pattern associated to epithelial-mesenchymal transition, putatively driven by the interplay of the SP1 transcription factor and the canonical Wnt signaling pathway; the second event was the failure to overexpress a diverse set of genes coding membrane and extracellular proteins. This failure is putatively caused by a lack of activity of the AP-1 complex. It was also shown that the epithelial-mesenchymal transition was associated with the up-regulation of 5 enzymes involved in the degradation of branched chain amino acids. The suitability of silencing one of this enzymes (branched chain amino acid transaminase 2; BCAT2) with therapeutic effects was tested experimentally on the breast cancer cell line MCF-7 and primary cell culture of breast tumor (BCC), leading to lower cell proliferation. The silencing of BCAT2 did not have any significant effect on ASM and MCF10A cells, which were used as models of healthy dividing cells.
Angiotensin II induces connective tissue growth factor expression in human hepatic stellate cells by a transforming growth factor β-independent mechanism
Authors: Li Ao , Zhang Jingyao , Zhang Xiaoxun , Wang Jun , Wang Songsong , Xiao Xiao , Wang Rui , Li Peng , Wang Yitao 
Published: August 2017

AbstractAngiotensin II (Ang II) promotes hepatic fibrosis by increasing extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis and emerges as downstream of the profibrogenic cytokine transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β). We aimed to investigate the molecular events that lead from the Ang II receptor to CTGF upregulation in human hepatic stellate cells, a principal fibrogenic cell type. Ang II produced an early, AT1receptor-dependent stimulation of CTGF expression and induced a rapid activation of PKC and its downstream p38 MAPK, thereby activating a nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and Smad2/3 cross-talk pathway. Chemical blockade of NF-κB and Smad2/3 signaling synergistically diminished Ang II-mediated CTGF induction and exhibited an additive effect in abrogating the ECM accumulation caused by Ang II. Furthermore, we demonstrated that CTGF expression was essential for Ang II-mediated ECM synthesis. Interestingly, the ability of dephosphorylated, but not phosphorylated JNK to activate Smad2/3 signaling revealed a novel role of JNK in Ang II-mediated CTGF overexpression. These results suggest that Ang II induces CTGF expression and ECM accumulation through a special TGF-β-independent interaction between the NF-κB and Smad2/3 signals elicited by the AT1/PKCα/p38 MAPK pathway.