bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lipid-II Independent Antimicrobial Mechanism of Nisin Depends On Its Crowding And Degree Of Oligomerization
Authors: Prince Ashutosh , Sandhu Padmani , Ror Pankaj , Dash Eva , Sharma Shingarika , Arakha Manoranjan , Jha Suman , Akhter Yusuf , Saleem Mohammed 
Published: November 2016

AbstractNisin inhibits bacterial growth by generating pores in cell membrane and interrupting cell-wall biosynthesis through specific lipid II interaction. However, the role of the hinge region and C-terminus residues of the peptide in antibacterial action of nisin is largely unknown. Here, using molecular dynamics simulations and experimental approach, we report that at high concentration regimes of nisin, interaction with phospholipids may equally deform the bacterial cell membranes even under significantly varying amounts of lipid-II. Membrane thinning, destabilization and decrease in lipid density depend on the degree of oligomerization of nisin. Growth kinetics of Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli interestingly show recovery by extended lag phase under low concentrations of nisin treatment while high concentrations of nisin caused decrease in cell viability as recorded by striking reduction in membrane potential and surface area. The significant changes in the dipole potential and fluorescence anisotropy were observed in negatively charged membranes in the absence of lipid-II with increasing concentration of nisin. The identical correlation of cell viability, membrane potential dissipation and morphology with the concentration regime of nisin, in both Bacillus subtilis (lipid II rich) and Escherichia coli (lipid II impoverished), hints at a non-specific physical mechanism where degree of membrane deformation depends on degree of crowding and oligomerization of nisin.
Beta 1-integrin ligation and TLR ligation enhance GM-CSF–induced ALDH1A2 expression in dendritic cells, but differentially regulate their anti-inflammatory properties
Authors: Yokota-Nakatsuma Aya , Ohoka Yoshiharu , Takeuchi Hajime , Song Si-Young , Iwata Makoto 
Published: November 2016

AbstractRetinoic acid (RA)–producing CD103+ mature dendritic cells (DCs) in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) play crucial roles in gut immunity. GM-CSF and RA contribute to the expression of the RA-producing enzyme ALDH1A2. However, additional signals appeared to be required for inducing ALDH1A2high mature DCs from immature DCs. We found here that TLR ligands (Ls) and immobilized E-cadherin could provide such signals in FLT3-L–generated bone marrow (BM)–derived DCs after treatment with GM-CSF and the RA receptor agonist Am80. The TLR-L-treated DCs produced proinflammatory cytokines unlike normal ALDH1A2high MLN-DCs, whereas the E-cadherin-treated DCs did not. Immobilized VCAM-1 and semaphorin 7 A exerted effects similar to those of E-cadherin. Soluble anti-integrin β1 antibodies or inhibitors of integrin signaling molecules suppressed the effects of these immobilized proteins, whereas immobilized anti-integrin β1 antibodies enhanced the GM-CSF/Am80-induced ALDH1A2 expression without inducing proinflammatory cytokines. Sequential stimulation of splenic pre-DCs with GM-CSF/Am80 and immobilized E-cadherin or anti-integrin β1 antibody also induced differentiation to mature DCs with high ALDH activity. The E-cadherin-treated BM-DCs induced gut-tropic Foxp3+ T cells and alleviated DSS–induced colitis, whereas the TLR-L-treated DCs aggravated DSS–induced colitis. The results suggest that integrin β1-mediated signals contribute to the differentiation and maturation of RA-producing anti-inflammatory DCs.
Arrangement at the nanoscale: Effect on magnetic particle hyperthermia
Authors: Myrovali E. , Maniotis N. , Makridis A. , Terzopoulou A. , Ntomprougkidis V. , Simeonidis K. , Sakellari D. , Kalogirou O. , Samaras T. , Salikhov R. , Spasova M. , Farle M. , Wiedwald U. , Angelakeris M. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractIn this work, we present the arrangement of Fe3O4magnetic nanoparticles into 3D linear chains and its effect on magnetic particle hyperthermia efficiency. The alignment has been performed under a 40 mT magnetic field in an agarose gel matrix. Two different sizes of magnetite nanoparticles, 10 and 40 nm, have been examined, exhibiting room temperature superparamagnetic and ferromagnetic behavior, in terms of DC magnetic field, respectively. The chain formation is experimentally visualized by scanning electron microscopy images. A molecular Dynamics anisotropic diffusion model that outlines the role of intrinsic particle properties and inter-particle distances on dipolar interactions has been used to simulate the chain formation process. The anisotropic character of the aligned samples is also reflected to ferromagnetic resonance and static magnetometry measurements. Compared to the non-aligned samples, magnetically aligned ones present enhanced heating efficiency increasing specific loss power value by a factor of two. Dipolar interactions are responsible for the chain formation of controllable density and thickness inducing shape anisotropy, which in turn enhances magnetic particle hyperthermia efficiency.
LINC00978 predicts poor prognosis in breast cancer patients
Authors: Deng Lin-lin , Chi Ya-yun , Liu Lei , Huang Nai-si , Wang Lin , Wu Jiong 
Published: November 2016

AbstractBreast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs in the human genome that involves in breast cancer development and progression. Here, we identify a lncRNA, LINC00978, which is upregulated in breast cancer cell lines and tissues compared with corresponding controls. Furthermore, LINC00978 expression is negatively associated with hormone receptor (HR) status in 195 breast cancer patients studied (p = 0.033). Kaplan–Meier survival analysis shows that patients with high LINC00978 expression have poorer disease-free survival (DFS) than those with low LINC00978 expression (p = 0.012), and multivariate analysis identifies LINC00978 as an independent prognostic factor in breast cancer (p = 0.008, hazard ratio [HR] = 2.270, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.237–4.165). Our study indicates that LINC00978 may be an oncogene in breast cancer, and can serve as a potential biomarker to predict prognosis in breast cancer patients.
Groundwater helium anomaly reflects strain change during the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake in Southwest Japan
Authors: Sano Yuji , Takahata Naoto , Kagoshima Takanori , Shibata Tomo , Onoue Tetsuji , Zhao Dapeng 
Published: November 2016

AbstractGeochemical monitoring of groundwater and soil gas emission pointed out precursor and/or coseismic anomalies of noble gases associated with earthquakes, but there was lack of plausible physico-chemical basis. A laboratory experiment of rock fracturing and noble gas emission was conducted, but there is no quantitative connection between the laboratory results and observation in field. We report here deep groundwater helium anomalies related to the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, which is an inland crustal earthquake with a strike-slip fault and a shallow hypocenter (10 km depth) close to highly populated areas in Southwest Japan. The observed helium isotope changes, soon after the earthquake, are quantitatively coupled with volumetric strain changes estimated from a fault model, which can be explained by experimental studies of helium degassing during compressional loading of rock samples. Groundwater helium is considered as an effective strain gauge. This suggests the first quantitative linkage between geochemical and seismological observations and may open the possibility to develop a new monitoring system to detect a possible strain change prior to a hazardous earthquake in regions where conventional borehole strain meter is not available.
Hyperglycaemia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa acidify cystic fibrosis airway surface liquid by elevating epithelial monocarboxylate transporter 2 dependent lactate-H+ secretion
Authors: Garnett James Peter , Kalsi Kameljit K. , Sobotta Mirko , Bearham Jade , Carr Georgina , Powell Jason , Brodlie Malcolm , Ward Christopher , Tarran Robert , Baines Deborah L. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThe cystic fibrosis (CF) airway surface liquid (ASL) provides a nutrient rich environment for bacterial growth including elevated glucose, which together with defective bacterial killing due to aberrant HCO3− transport and acidic ASL, make the CF airways susceptible to colonisation by respiratory pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Approximately half of adults with CF have CF related diabetes (CFRD) and this is associated with increased respiratory decline. CF ASL contains elevated lactate concentrations and hyperglycaemia can also increase ASL lactate. We show that primary human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells secrete lactate into ASL, which is elevated in hyperglycaemia. This leads to ASL acidification in CFHBE, which could only be mimicked in non-CF HBE following HCO3− removal. Hyperglycaemia-induced changes in ASL lactate and pH were exacerbated by the presence of P. aeruginosa and were attenuated by inhibition of monocarboxylate lactate-H+ co-transporters (MCTs) with AR-C155858. We conclude that hyperglycaemia and P. aeruginosa induce a metabolic shift which increases lactate generation and efflux into ASL via epithelial MCT2 transporters. Normal airways compensate for MCT-driven H+ secretion by secreting HCO3−, a process which is dysfunctional in CF airway epithelium leading to ASL acidification and that these processes may contribute to worsening respiratory disease in CFRD.
Timelike curves can increase entanglement with LOCC
Authors: Moulick Subhayan Roy , Panigrahi Prasanta K. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractWe study the nature of entanglement in presence of Deutschian closed timelike curves (D-CTCs) and open timelike curves (OTCs) and find that existence of such physical systems in nature would allow us to increase entanglement using local operations and classical communication (LOCC). This is otherwise in direct contradiction with the fundamental definition of entanglement. We study this problem from the perspective of Bell state discrimination, and show how D-CTCs and OTCs can unambiguously distinguish between four Bell states with LOCC, that is otherwise known to be impossible.
Neural oscillations in the temporal pole for a temporally congruent audio-visual speech detection task
Authors: Ohki Takefumi , Gunji Atsuko , Takei Yuichi , Takahashi Hidetoshi , Kaneko Yuu , Kita Yosuke , Hironaga Naruhito , Tobimatsu Shozo , Kamio Yoko , Hanakawa Takashi , Inagaki Masumi , Hiraki Kazuo 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThough recent studies have elucidated the earliest mechanisms of processing in multisensory integration, our understanding of how multisensory integration of more sustained and complicated stimuli is implemented in higher-level association cortices is lacking. In this study, we used magnetoencephalography (MEG) to determine how neural oscillations alter local and global connectivity during multisensory integration processing. We acquired MEG data from 15 healthy volunteers performing an audio-visual speech matching task. We selected regions of interest (ROIs) using whole brain time-frequency analyses (power spectrum density and wavelet transform), then applied phase amplitude coupling (PAC) and imaginary coherence measurements to them. We identified prominent delta band power in the temporal pole (TP), and a remarkable PAC between delta band phase and beta band amplitude. Furthermore, imaginary coherence analysis demonstrated that the temporal pole and well-known multisensory areas (e.g., posterior parietal cortex and post-central areas) are coordinated through delta-phase coherence. Thus, our results suggest that modulation of connectivity within the local network, and of that between the local and global network, is important for audio-visual speech integration. In short, these neural oscillatory mechanisms within and between higher-level association cortices provide new insights into the brain mechanism underlying audio-visual integration.
Comprehensive investigation of tobacco leaves during natural early senescence via multi-platform metabolomics analyses
Authors: Li Lili , Zhao Jieyu , Zhao Yanni , Lu Xin , Zhou Zhihui , Zhao Chunxia , Xu Guowang 
Published: November 2016

AbstractSenescence is the final stage of leaf growth and development. Many different physiological activities occur during this process. A comprehensive metabolomics analysis of tobacco middle leaves at 5 different developmental stages was implemented through multi-platform methods based on liquid chromatography, capillary electrophoresis and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. In total, 412 metabolites were identified, including pigments, sterols, lipids, amino acids, polyamines, sugars and secondary metabolites. Dramatic metabolic changes were observed. Firstly, membrane degradation and chlorophyll down-regulation occurred after the 50% flower bud stage. Levels of major membrane lipids decreased, including those of the glycolipids in chloroplast thylakoids and phospholipids in membrane envelopes. Clear decreases in free sterols and acylated sterol glucosides were detected along with the accumulation of sterol esters. The accumulation of alkaloids was found. The amino acid levels were significantly decreased, particularly those of N-rich amino acids (glutamine and asparagine), thus reflecting N translocation. Subsequently, the antioxidant system was activated. Sugar alcohols and polyphenols accumulated when the lower leaves turned yellow. These results comprehensively revealed the metabolic changes that occur during tobacco leaf development and senescence under natural conditions.
Stereotactic body radiation therapy induces fast tumor control and symptom relief in patients with iliac lymph node metastasis
Authors: Wang Zhongqiu , Wang Jing , Zhuang Hongqing , Wang Ping , Yuan Zhiyong 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThe CyberKnife is a robotic stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) system which has shown promising results for many malignances with good efficacy and low toxicity. This study aims to evaluate the response and local control (LC) obtained with CyberKnife in the management of iliac lymph node metastases (ILNM). Twenty-two patients with 27 ILNM were treated by CyberKnife from May 2010 to May 2016. Median follow-up time was 33 months (8–97). The complete response, partial response, stable disease and progression disease rates were 37.0%, 48.0%, 7.5% and 7.5% respectively. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year LC rates were all 90.6%, and overall survival rates were 78.8%, 60.6%, and 43.3% respectively. All patients with pelvic pain and ureter obstruction achieved good and fast symptom relief, while leg edema persisted in 2 patients. The general treatment tolerance was acceptable and no severe toxicities were reported. No factors were found correlated with local failure. While overall survival (OS) was better for patients who had received a total dose more than 30 Gy or prior systemic treatment, and whose symptoms were relieved. Taken together, CyberKnife is an effective therapeutic option for ILNM, providing high LC rate and good symptom relief with minimal toxicity.
Synergetic signal amplification of multi-walled carbon nanotubes-Fe3O4 hybrid and trimethyloctadecylammonium bromide as a highly sensitive detection platform for tetrabromobisphenol A
Authors: Zhou Feng , Wang Yue , Wu Wei , Jing Tao , Mei Surong , Zhou Yikai 
Published: November 2016

AbstractIn this work, we fabricated an electrochemical sensor based on trimethyloctadecylammonium bromide and multi-walled carbon nanotubes-Fe3O4 hybrid (TOAB/MWCNTs-Fe3O4) for sensitive detection of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA). The nanocomposite was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) techniques. The electrochemical behaviors of TBBPA on TOAB/MWCNTs-Fe3O4 composite film modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) method. The experimental results indicated that the incorporation of MWCNTs-Fe3O4 with TOAB greatly enhanced the electrochemical response of TBBPA. This fabricated sensor displayed excellent analytical performance for TBBPA detection over a range from 3.0 nM to 1000.0 nM with a detection limit of 0.73 nM (S/N = 3). Moreover, the proposed electrochemical sensor exhibited good reproducibility and stability, and could be successfully applied to detect TBBPA in water samples with satisfactory results.
Fold formation at the compartment boundary of Drosophila wing requires Yki signaling to suppress JNK dependent apoptosis
Authors: Liu Suning , Sun Jie , Wang Dan , Pflugfelder Gert O. , Shen Jie 
Published: November 2016

AbstractCompartment boundaries prevent cell populations of different lineage from intermingling. In many cases, compartment boundaries are associated with morphological folds. However, in the Drosophila wing imaginal disc, fold formation at the anterior/posterior (A/P) compartment boundary is suppressed, probably as a prerequisite for the formation of a flat wing surface. Fold suppression depends on optomotor-blind (omb). Omb mutant animals develop a deep apical fold at the A/P boundary of the larval wing disc and an A/P cleft in the adult wing. A/P fold formation is controlled by different signaling pathways. Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and Yorkie (Yki) signaling are activated in cells along the fold and are necessary for the A/P fold to develop. While JNK promotes cell shape changes and cell death, Yki target genes are required to antagonize apoptosis, explaining why both pathways need to be active for the formation of a stable fold.
Structural mechanism of the enhanced glass-forming ability in multicomponent alloys with positive heat of mixing
Authors: Wu S. Y. , Wei S. H. , Guo G. Q. , Wang J. G. , Yang L. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThe issue, microalloying certain element with positive heat of mixing leading to the enhanced glass forming ability (GFA) in multicomponent alloys, has been investigated by systematic experimental measurements coupled with theoretical calculations. It is found that in the Nb-doped CuZr alloys, strong interaction between Nb and Zr atoms leads to a shortened pair distance. In addition, fraction of the icosahedral-like local structures increases with Nb addition and Nb solutes are apt to be separated with each other. These factors contribute to an increase of the atomic level efficiency to fill space and formation of the short-to-medium range orderings. As a result, the amorphous structure is stabilized and the GFA is enhanced accordingly. This work provides an in-depth understanding of microalloying-induced high GFAs in multicomponent alloys and is helpful for guiding the development of more metallic glasses with high GFAs via microalloying, despite the positive heat of mixing between the constituent elements.
Diabetes Onset at 31–45 Years of Age is Associated with an Increased Risk of Diabetic Retinopathy in Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Zou Wenjun , Ni Lisha , Lu Qianyi , Zou Chen , Zhao Minjie , Xu Xun , Chen Haibing , Zheng Zhi 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThis hospital-based, cross-sectional study investigated the effect of age of diabetes onset on the development of diabetic retinopathy (DR) among Chinese type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. A total of 5,214 patients with type 2 DM who were referred to the Department of Ophthalmology at the Shanghai First People’s Hospital from 2009 to 2013 was eligible for inclusion. Diabetic retinopathy status was classified using the grading system of the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS). Logistic and hierarchical regression analyses were used to identify independent variables affecting the development of DR. Upon multiple logistic regression analysis, patient age at the time of diabetes onset was significantly associated with development of DR. Further, when the risk of retinopathy was stratified by patient age at the onset of diabetes, the risk was highest in patients in whom diabetes developed at an age of 31–45 years (odds ratio [OR] 1.815 [1.139–2.892]; p = 0.012). Furthermore, when patients were divided into four groups based on the duration of diabetes, DR development was maximal at a diabetes onset age of 31–45 years within each group. A diabetes onset age of 31–45 years is an independent risk factor for DR development in Chinese type 2 DM patients.
Transcriptome sequencing of the choroid plexus in schizophrenia
Authors: Kim S , Hwang Y , Lee D , Webster M J 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThe choroid plexus (CP) has a key role in maintaining brain homeostasis by producing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), by mediating transport of nutrients and removing metabolic products from the central nervous system and by responding to peripheral inflammatory signals. Although abnormal markers of immune response and inflammation are apparent in individuals with schizophrenia, the CP of these individuals has not been characterized. We therefore sequenced mRNA from the CP from two independent collections of individuals with schizophrenia and unaffected controls. Genes related to immune function and inflammation were upregulated in both collections. In addition, a co-expression module related to immune/inflammation response that was generated by combining mRNA-Seq data from both collections was significantly associated with disease status. The immune/inflammation-related co-expression module was positively correlated with levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), cortisol and several immune modulator proteins in the serum of the same individuals and was also positively correlated with CRP, cortisol and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the frontal cortex of the same individuals. In addition, we found a substantial number of nodes (genes) that were common to our schizophrenia-associated immune/inflammation module from the pooled data and a module we generated from lippopolysaccharides-treated mouse model data. These results suggest that the CP of individuals with schizophrenia are responding to signals from the periphery by upregulating immune/inflammation-related genes to protect the brain and maintain the homeostasis but nevertheless fails to completely prevent immune/inflammation related changes in the brain.