bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
β-arrestin-2 regulates NMDA receptor function in spinal lamina II neurons and duration of persistent pain
Authors: Chen Gang , Xie Rou-Gang , Gao Yong-Jing , Xu Zhen-Zhong , Zhao Lin-Xia , Bang Sangsu , Berta Temugin , Park Chul-Kyu , Lay Mark , Chen Wei , Ji Ru-Rong 
Published: August 2016

AbstractMechanisms of acute pain transition to chronic pain are not fully understood. Here we demonstrate an active role of β-arrestin 2 (Arrb2) in regulating spinal cord NMDA receptor (NMDAR) function and the duration of pain. Intrathecal injection of the mu-opioid receptor agonist [D-Ala2, NMe-Phe4, Gly-ol5]-enkephalin produces paradoxical behavioural responses: early-phase analgesia and late-phase mechanical allodynia which requires NMDAR; both phases are prolonged in Arrb2 knockout (KO) mice. Spinal administration of NMDA induces GluN2B-dependent mechanical allodynia, which is prolonged in Arrb2-KO mice and conditional KO mice lacking Arrb2 in presynaptic terminals expressing Nav1.8. Loss of Arrb2 also results in prolongation of inflammatory pain and neuropathic pain and enhancement of GluN2B-mediated NMDA currents in spinal lamina IIo not lamina I neurons. Finally, spinal over-expression of Arrb2 reverses chronic neuropathic pain after nerve injury. Thus, spinal Arrb2 may serve as an intracellular gate for acute to chronic pain transition via desensitization of NMDAR.
Thermal noise and optomechanical features in the emission of a membrane-coupled compound cavity laser diode
Authors: Baldacci Lorenzo , Pitanti Alessandro , Masini Luca , Arcangeli Andrea , Colangelo Francesco , Navarro-Urrios Daniel , Tredicucci Alessandro 
Published: August 2016

AbstractWe demonstrate the use of a compound optical cavity as linear displacement detector, by measuring the thermal motion of a silicon nitride suspended membrane acting as the external mirror of a near-infrared Littrow laser diode. Fluctuations in the laser optical power induced by the membrane vibrations are collected by a photodiode integrated within the laser, and then measured with a spectrum analyzer. The dynamics of the membrane driven by a piezoelectric actuator is investigated as a function of air pressure and actuator displacement in a homodyne configuration. The high Q-factor (~3.4 · 104at 8.3 · 10−3 mbar) of the fundamental mechanical mode at ~73 kHz guarantees a detection sensitivity high enough for direct measurement of thermal motion at room temperature (~87 pm RMS). The compound cavity system here introduced can be employed as a table-top, cost-effective linear displacement detector for cavity optomechanics. Furthermore, thanks to the strong optical nonlinearities of the laser compound cavity, these systems open new perspectives in the study of non-Markovian quantum properties at the mesoscale.
Creation of an engineered APC system to explore and optimize the presentation of immunodominant peptides of major allergens
Authors: Rosskopf Sandra , Jutz Sabrina , Neunkirchner Alina , Candia Martín R. , Jahn-Schmid Beatrice , Bohle Barbara , Pickl Winfried F. , Steinberger Peter 
Published: August 2016

AbstractWe have generated engineered APC to present immunodominant peptides derived from the major aero-allergens of birch and mugwort pollen, Bet v 1142–153 and Art v 125–36, respectively. Jurkat-based T cell reporter lines expressing the cognate allergen-specific T cell receptors were used to read out the presentation of allergenic peptides on the engineered APC. Different modalities of peptide loading and presentation on MHC class II molecules were compared. Upon exogenous loading with allergenic peptides, the engineered APC elicited a dose-dependent response in the reporter T cells and the presence of chemical loading enhancers strongly increased reporter activation. Invariant chain-based MHC class II targeting strategies of endogenously expressed peptides resulted in stronger activation of the reporters than exogenous loading. Moreover, we used Bet v 1 as model allergen to study the ability of K562 cells to present antigenic peptides derived from whole proteins either taken up or endogenously expressed as LAMP-1 fusion protein. In both cases the ability of these cells to process and present peptides derived from whole proteins critically depended on the expression of HLA-DM. We have identified strategies to achieve efficient presentation of allergenic peptides on engineered APC and demonstrate their use to stimulate T cells from allergic individuals.
A transcriptomic analysis of the effect of genistein on Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 reveals novel rhizobial genes putatively involved in symbiosis
Authors: Pérez-Montaño F. , Jiménez-Guerrero I. , Acosta-Jurado S. , Navarro-Gómez P. , Ollero F. J. , Ruiz-Sainz J. E. , López-Baena F. J. , Vinardell J. M. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractSinorhizobium fredii HH103 is a rhizobial soybean symbiont that exhibits an extremely broad host-range. Flavonoids exuded by legume roots induce the expression of rhizobial symbiotic genes and activate the bacterial protein NodD, which binds to regulatory DNA sequences called nod boxes (NB). NB drive the expression of genes involved in the production of molecular signals (Nod factors) as well as the transcription of ttsI, whose encoded product binds to tts boxes (TB), inducing the secretion of proteins (effectors) through the type 3 secretion system (T3SS). In this work, a S. fredii HH103 global gene expression analysis in the presence of the flavonoid genistein was carried out, revealing a complex regulatory network. Three groups of genes differentially expressed were identified: i) genes controlled by NB, ii) genes regulated by TB and iii) genes not preceded by a NB or a TB. Interestingly, we have found differentially expressed genes not previously studied in rhizobia, being some of them not related to Nod factors or the T3SS. Future characterization of these putative symbiotic-related genes could shed light on the understanding of the complex molecular dialogue established between rhizobia and legumes.
In vitro comparative studies of resveratrol and triacetylresveratrol on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and STAT3 and NFκB signaling in pancreatic cancer cells
Authors: Duan JingJing , Yue Wen , E JianYu , Malhotra Jyoti , Lu Shou-en , Gu Jun , Xu Feng , Tan Xiang-Lin 
Published: August 2016

AbstractResveratrol (RES) has been studied extensively as an anticancer agent. However, the anticancer effects of triacetylresveratrol (TRES, an acetylated analog of RES) which has higher bioavailability have not been well established. We comparatively evaluated their effects on cell proliferation, apoptosis and the molecular changes in STAT3, NFκB and apoptotic signaling pathways in pancreatic cancer cells. Apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. The nuclear translocation and interaction of STAT3 and NFκB were detected by Western blotting and immunoprecipitation, respectively. Both TRES and RES inhibited cell viability, and induced apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells in a concentration and incubation time-dependent manner. TRES, similarly to RES, inhibited the phosphorylation of STAT3 and NFκB, down-regulated Mcl-1, and up-regulated Bim and Puma in pancreatic cancer cells. Remarkably, we, for the first time, observed that both TRES and RES suppressed the nuclear translocation, and interrupted the interaction of STAT3 and NFκB in PANC-1 cells. Comparative anticancer effects of TRES and RES on pancreatic cancer suggested that TRES with higher bioavailability may be a potential agent for pancreatic cancer prevention and treatment. Further in vivo experiments and functional studies are warranted to investigate whether TRES exhibits better beneficial effects than RES in mice and humans.
Spherical nucleic acid targeting microRNA-99b enhances intestinal MFG-E8 gene expression and restores enterocyte migration in lipopolysaccharide-induced septic mice
Authors: Wang Xiao , Hao Liangliang , Bu Heng-Fu , Scott Alexander W. , Tian Ke , Liu Fangyi , De Plaen Isabelle G. , Liu Yulan , Mirkin Chad A. , Tan Xiao-Di 
Published: August 2016

AbstractMilk fat globule-EGF factor 8 (MFG-E8) maintains the intestinal homeostasis by enhancing enterocyte migration and attenuating inflammation. We previously reported that sepsis is associated with down-regulation of intestinal MFG-E8 and impairment of enterocyte migration. Here, we showed that impairment of intestinal epithelial cell migration occurred in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced septic mice. Treatment of RAW264.7 cells (a murine macrophage-like cell line) with LPS increased expression of miR-99b, a microRNA that is predicted to target mouse MFG-E8 3′UTR. Using a luciferase assay, we showed that miR-99b mimic suppressed the activity of a reporter containing MFG-E8 3′UTR. This suggests the role of miR-99b in inhibition of MFG-E8 gene expression. In addition, we developed an anti-miR99b spherical nucleic acid nanoparticle conjugate (SNA-NCanti-miR99b). Treatment of both naïve and LPS-challenged cells with SNA-NCanti-miR99b enhanced MFG-E8 expression in the cells. Administration of SNA-NCanti-miR99b rescued intestinal MFG-E8 expression in LPS-induced septic mice and attenuated LPS inhibitory effects on intestinal epithelial cell migration along the crypt-villus axis. Collectively, our study suggests that LPS represses MFG-E8 expression and disrupts enterocyte migration via a miR-99b dependent mechanism. Furthermore, this work shows that SNA-NCanti-miR99b is a novel nanoparticle-conjugate capable of rescuing MFG-E8 gene expression and maintaining intestinal epithelial homeostasis in sepsis.
Example study for granular bioreactor stratification: Three-dimensional evaluation of a sulfate-reducing granular bioreactor
Authors: Hao Tian-wei , Luo Jing-hai , Su Kui-zu , Wei Li , Mackey Hamish R. , Chi Kun , Chen Guang-Hao 
Published: August 2016

AbstractRecently, sulfate-reducing granular sludge has been developed for application in sulfate-laden water and wastewater treatment. However, little is known about biomass stratification and its effects on the bioprocesses inside the granular bioreactor. A comprehensive investigation followed by a verification trial was therefore conducted in the present work. The investigation focused on the performance of each sludge layer, the internal hydrodynamics and microbial community structures along the height of the reactor. The reactor substratum (the section below baffle 1) was identified as the main acidification zone based on microbial analysis and reactor performance. Two baffle installations increased mixing intensity but at the same time introduced dead zones. Computational fluid dynamics simulation was employed to visualize the internal hydrodynamics. The 16S rRNA gene of the organisms further revealed that more diverse communities of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and acidogens were detected in the reactor substratum than in the superstratum (the section above baffle 1). The findings of this study shed light on biomass stratification in an SRB granular bioreactor to aid in the design and optimization of such reactors.
Set3 contributes to heterochromatin integrity by promoting transcription of subunits of Clr4-Rik1-Cul4 histone methyltransferase complex in fission yeast
Authors: Yu Yao , Zhou Huan , Deng Xiaolong , Wang Wenchao , Lu Hong 
Published: August 2016

AbstractHeterochromatin formation in fission yeast depends on RNAi machinery and histone-modifying enzymes. One of the key histone-modifying complexes is Clr4-Rik1-Cul4 methyltransferase complex (CLRC), which mediates histone H3K9 methylation, a hallmark for heterochromatin. CLRC is composed of the Clr4 histone methyltransferase, Rik1, Raf1, Raf2 and Pcu4. However, transcriptional regulation of the CLRC subunits is not well understood. In this study, we identified Set3, a core subunit of the Set3/Hos2 histone deacetylase complex (Set3C), as a contributor to the integrity and silencing of heterochromatin at centromeres, telomeres and silent mating-type locus. This novel role of Set3 relies on its PHD finger, but is independent of deacetylase activity or structural integrity of Set3C. Set3 is not located to the centromeric region. Instead, Set3 is targeted to the promoters of clr4+ and rik1+, probably through its PHD finger. Set3 promotes transcription of clr4+ and rik1+. Consistently, the protein levels of Clr4 and Rik1 were reduced in the set3Δ mutant. The heterochromatin silencing defect in the set3Δ mutant could be rescued by overexpressing of clr4+ or rik1+. Our study suggests transcriptional activation of essential heterochromatin factors underlies the tight regulation of heterochromatin integrity.
Two proteolytic fragments of menin coordinate the nuclear transcription and postsynaptic clustering of neurotransmitter receptors during synaptogenesis between Lymnaea neurons
Authors: Getz Angela M. , Visser Frank , Bell Erin M. , Xu Fenglian , Flynn Nichole M. , Zaidi Wali , Syed Naweed I. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractSynapse formation and plasticity depend on nuclear transcription and site-specific protein targeting, but the molecular mechanisms that coordinate these steps have not been well defined. The MEN1 tumor suppressor gene, which encodes the protein menin, is known to induce synapse formation and plasticity in the CNS. This synaptogenic function has been conserved across evolution, however the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unidentified. Here, using central neurons from the invertebrate Lymnaea stagnalis, we demonstrate that menin coordinates subunit-specific transcriptional regulation and synaptic clustering of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) during neurotrophic factor (NTF)-dependent excitatory synaptogenesis, via two proteolytic fragments generated by calpain cleavage. Whereas menin is largely regarded as a nuclear protein, our data demonstrate a novel cytoplasmic function at central synapses. Furthermore, this study identifies a novel synaptogenic mechanism in which a single gene product coordinates the nuclear transcription and postsynaptic targeting of neurotransmitter receptors through distinct molecular functions of differentially localized proteolytic fragments.
S100A12 is up-regulated in pulmonary tuberculosis and predicts the extent of alveolar infiltration on chest radiography: an observational study
Authors: Berrocal-Almanza Luis C. , Goyal Surabhi , Hussain Abid , Klassert Tilman E. , Driesch Dominik , Grozdanovic Zarko , Sumanlatha Gadamm , Ahmed Niyaz , Valluri Vijayalakshmi , Conrad Melanie L. , Dittrich Nickel , Schumann Ralf R. , Lala Birgit , Slevogt Hortense 
Published: August 2016

AbstractPulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) results in lung functional impairment and there are no surrogate markers to monitor the extent of lung involvement. We investigated the clinical significance of S100A12 and soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-products (sRAGE) for predicting the extent of lung involvement. We performed an observational study in India with 119 newly diagnosed, treatment naïve, sputum smear positive, HIV-negative PTB patients and 163 healthy controls. All patients were followed-up for six months. Sociodemographic variables and the serum levels of S100A12, sRAGE, esRAGE, HMGB-1, TNF-α, IFN-γ and CRP were measured. Lung involvement in PTB patients was assessed by chest radiography. Compared with healthy controls, PTB patients had increased serum concentrations of S100A12 while sRAGE was decreased. S100A12 was an independent predictor of disease occurrence (OR 1.873, 95%CI 1.212–2.891, p = 0.004). Under DOTS therapy, S100A12 decreased significantly after 4 months whereas CRP significantly decreased after 2 months (p < 0.0001). Importantly, although CRP was also an independent predictor of disease occurrence, only S100A12 was a significant predictor of lung alveolar infiltration (OR 2.60, 95%CI 1.35–5.00, p = 0.004). These results suggest that S100A12 has the potential to assess the extent of alveolar infiltration in PTB.
ApoE deficiency promotes colon inflammation and enhances the inflammatory potential of oxidized-LDL and TNF-α in primary colon epithelial cells
Authors: El-Bahrawy Ali H. , Tarhuni Abdelmetalab , Kim Hogyoung , Subramaniam Venkat , Benslimane Ilyes , Elmajeed Zakaria Y. Abd , Okpechi Samuel C. , Ghonim Mohamed A. , Hemeida Ramadan A.M. , Abo-yousef Amira M. , El-Sherbiny Gamal A. , Abdel-Raheem Ihab T. , Kim Jong , Naura Amarjit S. , Boulares A. Hamid 
Published: August 2016

Although deficiency in Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is linked to many diseases, its effect on colon homoeostasis remains unknown. ApoE appears to control inflammation by regulating nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). The present study was designed to examine whether ApoE deficiency affects factors of colon integrity in vivo and given the likelihood that ApoE deficiency increases oxidized lipids and TNF-α, the present study also examined whether such deficiency enhances the inflammatory potential of oxidized-LDL (oxLDL) and TNF-α in colon epithelial cells (CECs), in vitro. Here we show that ApoE deficiency is associated with chronic inflammation systemically and in colonic tissues as assessed by TNF-α levels. Increased colon TNF-α mRNA coincided with a substantial increase in cyclooxygenase (COX)-2. ApoE deficiency enhanced the potential of oxLDL and TNF-α to induce COX-2 expression as well as several other inflammatory factors in primary CECs. Interestingly, oxLDL enhanced TGF-β expression only in ApoE−/−, but not in wild-type, epithelial cells. ApoE deficiency appears to promote COX-2 expression enhancement through a mechanism that involves persistent NF-κB nuclear localization and PI3 and p38 MAP kinases but independently of Src. In mice, ApoE deficiency promoted a moderate increase in crypt length, which was associated with opposing effects of an increase in cell proliferation and apoptosis at the bottom and top of the crypt respectively. Our results support the notion that ApoE plays a central role in colon homoeostasis and that ApoE deficiency may constitute a risk factor for colon pathologies.
Intensity modulation‐based fibre optic vibration sensor using an aperture within a proof mass
Authors: Zuo Ze‐Wei , Hao Yi , Choi Sang‐Jin , Song Minho , Kim Young‐Chon , Pan Jae‐Kyung 
Published: August 2016

The authors propose an intensity modulation‐based fibre optic vibration sensor (FOVS) using an aperture within a proof mass. It consists of an optical collimator, a mass‐spring structure, a mirror, and a rectangular aperture. They verify its feasibility via experimental demonstration. For the feasibility test, they implement three lab‐based prototype FOVSs with different natural frequencies and measure each FOVS's frequency response according to the base vibration and sensitivity. The experimental results for three lab‐based prototype FOVSs show the sensitivities of 163, 183, and 206 mV/g, the minimum detectable accelerations of 0.082, 0.086, and 0.082 mg, and the dynamic ranges of 18–45, 26–52, and 20–120 Hz, respectively. They also experimentally demonstrate its remote sensing and multipoint sensing characteristics. The proposed FOVS has the virtues of easy controllable sensitivity and dynamic range, simple structure, and remote sensing and multipoint sensing characteristics.
Clathrin light chains’ role in selective endocytosis influences antibody isotype switching
Authors: Wu Shuang , Majeed Sophia R. , Evans Timothy M. , Camus Marine D. , Wong Nicole M. L. , Schollmeier Yvette , Park Minjong , Muppidi Jagan R. , Reboldi Andrea , Parham Peter , Cyster Jason G. , Brodsky Frances M. 
Published: August 2016

SignificanceClathrin forms coats on vesicles that control receptor endocytosis, thereby influencing cell signaling. The contribution of the clathrin light chain subunits to this process in mice was addressed by deleting the gene encoding the predominant light chain form (CLCa) present in B lymphocytes. CLCa-null mice have B cells with altered antibody production and aberrant development due to defects in endocytosis of signaling receptors that influence these processes. Only a subset of signaling receptors were found to depend on clathrin light chains for their endocytosis, demonstrating that light chain subunits contribute to selection of particular clathrin-coated vesicle cargo. This study clarifies a role for the light chains in vivo, showing that they contribute properties to the clathrin coat that regulate cargo uptake.
Development of Duplex Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (dLAMP) Combined with Lateral Flow Dipstick (LFD) for the Rapid and Specific Detection of Vibrio vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus
Authors: Pasookhush Phongthana , Longyant Siwaporn , Sithigorngul Paisarn , Chaivisuthangkura Parin 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a rapid, specific, and effective DNA amplification assay. In this study, a duplex LAMP (dLAMP) assay combined with chromatographic lateral flow dipstick (LFD) was developed for the simultaneous identification of Vibrio vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus. Each primer set that comprised F3, B3, FIP, and BIP recognized the V. vulnificus rpoS gene and the V. parahaemolyticus tlh gene. Digoxigenilated and biotinylated LAMP amplicons of V. vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus, respectively, were hybridized with corresponded fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled probes for LFD detection. The optimum conditions were 90 min at 63°C. The dLAMP–LFD had high specificity to V. vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus and showed no cross-amplification with 59 isolates of other bacteria. The detection limit of dLAMP–LFD with a pure culture of V. vulnificus was 2.2 × 104 CFU/mL, corresponding to 41 CFU per reaction, which was equal to that of duplex PCR (dPCR). In the case of V. parahaemolyticus, the detection limit of dLAMP–LFD with a pure culture was 2.2 × 103 CFU/mL, corresponding to 4.1 CFU per reaction, 100 times more sensitive than that of dPCR. In the spiked shrimp samples, the detection limit of dLAMP–LFD for V. vulnificus was 2.2 × 105 CFU/g, corresponding to 410 CFU per reaction, 10 times more sensitive than that of dPCR. In the case of V. parahaemolyticus, the detection limit of dLAMP–LFD in spiked shrimp samples was 2.2 × 104 CFU/g, corresponding to 41 CFU per reaction, 100 times more sensitive than that of dPCR. These results demonstrate that the simple dLAMP–LFD assay had high specificity and high sensitivity for the concurrent detection of V. vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus.
Investigation of fast ion behavior using orbit following Monte–Carlo code in magnetic perturbed field in KSTAR
Authors: Shinohara Kouji , Suzuki Yasuhiro , Kim Junghee , Kim Jun Young , Jeon Young Mu , Bierwage Andreas , Rhee Tongnyeol 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
The fast ion dynamics and the associated heat load on the plasma facing components in the KSTAR tokamak were investigated with the orbit following Monte-Carlo (OFMC) code in several magnetic field configurations and realistic wall geometry. In particular, attention was paid to the effect of resonant magnetic perturbation (RMP) fields. Both the vacuum field approximation as well as the self-consistent field that includes the response of a stationary plasma were considered. In both cases, the magnetic perturbation (MP) is dominated by the toroidal mode number n  =  1, but otherwise its structure is strongly affected by the plasma response. The loss of fast ions increased significantly when the MP field was applied. Most loss particles hit the poloidal limiter structure around the outer mid-plane on the low field side, but the distribution of heat loads across the three limiters varied with the form of the MP. Short-timescale loss of supposedly well-confined co-passing fast ions was also observed. These losses started within a few poloidal transits after the fast ion was born deep inside the plasma on the high-field side of the magnetic axis. In the configuration studied, these losses are facilitated by the combination of two factors: (i) the large magnetic drift of fast ions across a wide range of magnetic surfaces due to a low plasma current, and (ii) resonant interactions between the fast ions and magnetic islands that were induced inside the plasma by the external RMP field. These effects are expected to play an important role in present-day tokamaks.