bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Neutrophils mediate Salmonella Typhimurium clearance through the GBP4 inflammasome-dependent production of prostaglandins
Authors: Tyrkalska Sylwia D. , Candel Sergio , Angosto Diego , Gómez-Abellán Victoria , Martín-Sánchez Fátima , García-Moreno Diana , Zapata-Pérez Rubén , Sánchez-Ferrer Álvaro , Sepulcre María P. , Pelegrín Pablo , Mulero Victoriano 
Published: July 2016

AbstractInflammasomes are cytosolic molecular platforms that alert the immune system about the presence of infection. Here we report that zebrafish guanylate-binding protein 4 (Gbp4), an IFNγ-inducible GTPase protein harbouring a C-terminal CARD domain, is required for the inflammasome-dependent clearance of Salmonella Typhimurium (ST) by neutrophils in vivo. Despite the presence of the CARD domain, Gbp4 requires the universal inflammasome adaptor Asc for mediating its antibacterial function. In addition, the GTPase activity of Gbp4 is indispensable for inflammasome activation and ST clearance. Mechanistically, neutrophils are recruited to the infection site through the inflammasome-independent production of the chemokine (CXC motif) ligand 8 and leukotriene B4, and then mediate bacterial clearance through the Gbp4 inflammasome-dependent biosynthesis of prostaglandin D2. Our results point to GBPs as key inflammasome adaptors required for prostaglandin biosynthesis and bacterial clearance by neutrophils and suggest that transient activation of the inflammasome may be used to treat bacterial infections.
Decadal drought deaccelerated the increasing trend of annual net primary production in tropical or subtropical forests in southern China
Authors: Wang Wantong , Wang Jinxia , Liu Xingzhao , Zhou Guoyi , Yan Junhua 
Published: June 2016

AbstractPrevious investigations have identified that the effects of climate change on net primary production (NPP) of global forests have varied both spatially and temporally, and that warming has increased the NPP for many forests. However, other factors, such as available soil water for plant growth, could limit these incremental responses to warming. In our investigation we have quantified the responses of NPP of tropical or subtropical forests in southern China to warming and drought stress over the past three decades (1981 to 2012) using data from five forest research stations and satellite measurements. NPP, mean annual temperature (MAT) and annual days without rainfall showed an increase of 0.076 g C m−2 a−2 (standardized), 0.057 °C a−1 (standardized) and 0.067 d a−1 (standardized) during the study period, respectively. However, incremental NPP was deaccelerated at a rate of approximately 20.8% per decade. This deacceleration was primarily caused by a decrease in available soil water which resulted from warming (mainly occurring in winter and autumn) and the changes in rainfall pattern. The result indicates that intensifying drought stress would limit future increases of forest NPP in southern China.
Piezoelectricity and rotostriction through polar and non-polar coupled instabilities in bismuth-based piezoceramics
Authors: Acosta Matias , Schmitt Ljubomira A. , Cazorla Claudio , Studer Andrew , Zintler Alexander , Glaum Julia , Kleebe Hans-Joachim , Donner Wolfgang , Hoffman Mark , Rödel Jürgen , Hinterstein Manuel 
Published: July 2016

AbstractCoupling of order parameters provides a means to tune functionality in advanced materials including multiferroics, superconductors and ionic conductors. We demonstrate that the response of a frustrated ferroelectric state leads to coupling between order parameters under electric field depending on grain orientation. The strain of grains oriented along a specific crystallographic direction, 〈h00〉, is caused by converse piezoelectricity originating from a ferrodistortive tetragonal phase. For 〈hhh〉 oriented grains, the strain results from converse piezoelectricity and rotostriction, as indicated by an antiferrodistortive instability that promotes octahedral tilting in a rhombohedral phase. Both strain mechanisms combined lead to a colossal local strain of (2.4 ± 0.1) % and indicate coupling between oxygen octahedral tilting and polarization, here termed “rotopolarization”. These findings were confirmed with electromechanical experiments, in situ neutron diffraction and in situ transmission electron microscopy in 0.75Bi1/2Na1/2TiO3-0.25SrTiO3. This work demonstrates that polar and non-polar instabilities can cooperate to provide colossal functional responses.
Interleukin-34 as a fibroblast-derived marker of liver fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Shoji Hirotaka , Yoshio Sachiyo , Mano Yohei , Kumagai Erina , Sugiyama Masaya , Korenaga Masaaki , Arai Taeang , Itokawa Norio , Atsukawa Masanori , Aikata Hiroshi , Hyogo Hideyuki , Chayama Kazuaki , Ohashi Tomohiko , Ito Kiyoaki , Yoneda Masashi , Nozaki Yuichi , Kawaguchi Takumi , Torimura Takuji , Abe Masanori , Hiasa Yoichi , Fukai Moto , Kamiyama Toshiya , Taketomi Akinobu , Mizokami Masashi , Kanto Tatsuya 
Published: July 2016

AbstractNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common cause of chronic non-viral liver disease. Activation of macrophages and hepatic stellate cells is a critical step that promotes liver fibrosis. We aimed to explore the feasibility of interleukin-34 (IL-34), a key regulator of macrophages, as a fibrosis marker in patients with NAFLD. We enrolled 197 liver biopsy-proven NAFLD patients. We evaluated the serum levels of IL-34, macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF), soluble CD163 (sCD163), 40 cytokines/chemokines, hyaluronic acid, type IV collagen 7s, and clinically-approved fibrosis scores. IL-34 increased with the progression of fibrosis and was an independent marker for liver fibrosis. Immunostaining experiments, using resected liver specimens from NAFLD patients, revealed that IL-34 was mainly expressed on liver fibroblasts. IL-34 based fibrosis score (0.0387*IL-34 (pg/ml) + 0.3623*type IV collagen 7s (ng/ml) + 0.0184*age (year)–1.1850) was a practical predictive model of liver fibrosis. Using receiver-operating characteristic analyses, the area under the curve, sensitivity, and specificity of IL-34 based fibrosis score were superior or comparable to the other fibrosis biomarkers and scores. In conclusion, the IL-34 based fibrosis score, including serum IL-34, type IV collagen 7s and age, is a feasible diagnostic marker of liver fibrosis in NAFLD patients.
Soil bacterial endemism and potential functional redundancy in natural broadleaf forest along a latitudinal gradient
Authors: Zhang Yuguang , Cong Jing , Lu Hui , Deng Ye , Liu Xiao , Zhou Jizhong , Li Diqiang 
Published: June 2016

AbstractMicroorganisms play key roles in ecosystem processes and biogeochemical cycling, however, the relationship between soil microbial taxa diversity and their function in natural ecosystems is largely unknown. To determine how soil bacteria community and function are linked from the local to regional scale, we studied soil bacteria community composition, potential function and environmental conditions in natural and mature broadleaf forests along a latitudinal gradient in China, using the Illumina 16S rRNA sequencing and GeoChip technologies. The results showed strong biogeographic endemism pattern in soil bacteria were existed, and the spatial distance and climatic variables were the key controlling factors for this pattern. Therefore, dispersal limitation and environmental selection may represent two key processes in generating and maintaining the soil bacterial biogeographic pattern. By contrast, the soil bacterial potential function is highly convergent along the latitudinal gradient and there were highly differing bacterial community compositions, and the soil chemistry may include the main factors active in shaping the soil bacterial potential function. Therefore, the soil bacterial potential function may be affected by local gradients in resource availability, and predicting soil bacterial potential function requires knowledge of abiotic and biotic environmental factors.
A clinically authentic mouse model of enterovirus 71 (EV-A71)-induced neurogenic pulmonary oedema
Authors: Victorio Carla Bianca Luena , Xu Yishi , Ng Qimei , Chua Beng Hooi , Alonso Sylvie , Chow Vincent T. K. , Chua Kaw Bing 
Published: June 2016

AbstractEnterovirus 71 (EV-A71) is a neurotropic virus that sporadically causes fatal neurologic illness among infected children. Animal models of EV-A71 infection exist, but they do not recapitulate in animals the spectrum of disease and pathology observed in fatal human cases. Specifically, neurogenic pulmonary oedema (NPE)—the main cause of EV-A71 infection-related mortality—is not observed in any of these models. This limits their utility in understanding viral pathogenesis of neurologic infections. We report the development of a mouse model of EV-A71 infection displaying NPE in severely affected animals. We inoculated one-week-old BALB/c mice with an adapted EV-A71 strain and identified clinical signs consistent with observations in human cases and other animal models. We also observed respiratory distress in some mice. At necropsy, we found their lungs to be heavier and incompletely collapsed compared to other mice. Serum levels of catecholamines and histopathology of lung and brain tissues of these mice strongly indicated onset of NPE. The localization of virally-induced brain lesions also suggested a potential pathogenic mechanism for EV-A71-induced NPE. This novel mouse model of virally-induced NPE represents a valuable resource for studying viral mechanisms of neuro-pathogenesis and pre-clinical testing of potential therapeutics and prophylactics against EV-A71-related neurologic complications.
The synchronization of neuronal oscillators determined by the directed network structure of the suprachiasmatic nucleus under different photoperiods
Authors: Gu Changgui , Tang Ming , Yang Huijie 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe main function of the principal clock located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of mammals is synchronizing the body rhythms to the 24 h light-dark cycle. Additionally, the SCN is able to adapt to the photoperiod of the cycle which varies among seasons. Under the long photoperiod (LP), the synchronization degree of the SCN neurons is lower than that under the photoperiod (SP). In the present study, a potential explanation is given for this phenomenon. We propose that the asymmetrical coupling between the light-signal-sensitive part (the ventralateral part, abbreviation: VL) and the light-signal-insensitive part (the dorsalmedial part, abbreviation: DM) of the SCN plays a role in the synchronization degree, which is reflected by the ratio of the number of the directed links from the VL neurons to the DM neurons to the total links of both directions between the VL and the DM. The ratio is assumed to characterize the directed network structure under different photoperiods, which is larger under the SP and smaller under the LP. We found that with the larger ratio in the situation of the SP, the synchronization degree is higher. Our finding may shed new light on the asymmetrical coupling between the VL and the DM and the network structure of the SCN.
Wheat CBL-interacting protein kinase 25 negatively regulates salt tolerance in transgenic wheat
Authors: Jin Xia , Sun Tao , Wang Xiatian , Su Peipei , Ma Jingfei , He Guangyuan , Yang Guangxiao 
Published: June 2016

AbstractCBL-interacting protein kinases are involved in plant responses to abiotic stresses, including salt stress. However, the negative regulating mechanism of this gene family in response to salinity is less reported. In this study, we evaluated the role of TaCIPK25 in regulating salt response in wheat. Under conditions of high salinity, TaCIPK25 expression was markedly down-regulated in roots. Overexpression of TaCIPK25 resulted in hypersensitivity to Na+ and superfluous accumulation of Na+ in transgenic wheat lines. TaCIPK25 expression did not decline in transgenic wheat and remained at an even higher level than that in wild-type wheat controls under high-salinity treatment. Furthermore, transmembrane Na+/H+ exchange was impaired in the root cells of transgenic wheat. These results suggested that TaCIPK25 negatively regulated salt response in wheat. Additionally, yeast-one-hybrid, β-glucuronidase activity and DNA-protein-interaction-enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assays showed that the transcription factor TaWRKY9 bound W-box in the TaCIPK25 promoter region. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assays showed concomitantly inverted expression patterns of TaCIPK25 and TaWRKY9 in wheat roots under salt treatment, ABA application and inhibition of endogenous ABA condition. Overall, based on our results, in a salt stress condition, the negative salt response in wheat involved TaCIPK25 with the expression regulated by TaWRKY9.
A fast and easy strategy for protein purification using “teabags”
Authors: Castaldo M. , Barlind L. , Mauritzson F. , Wan P. T. , Snijder H. J. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractProtein purification often involves affinity capture of proteins on stationary resin, alternatively proteins are captured on free flowing resin for subsequent separation from bulk fluid. Both methods require labour and time intensive separation of particulate matter from fluid. We present a method where affinity resin is contained within porous-walled containers, supporting clarification, product recovery and concentration in a single step with minimal hands-on processing time, without significant investments in equipment.
Enhanced excitability and suppression of A-type K+ currents in joint sensory neurons in a murine model of antigen-induced arthritis
Authors: Qu Lintao , Caterina Michael J. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractPain is a dominant symptom of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its adequate treatment represents a major unmet need. However, the cellular mechanisms that drive arthritis pain are largely unexplored. Here, we examined the changes in the activity of joint sensory neurons and the associated ionic mechanisms using an animal model of antigen-induced arthritis (AIA). Methylated-bovine serum albumin (mBSA), but not vehicle challenge, in the ankle of previously immunized mice produced time-dependent symptoms of arthritis, including joint inflammation, primary mechanical hyperalgesia in the ipsilateral ankle and secondary mechanical and heat hyperalgesia in the ipsilateral hindpaw. In vivo electrophysiological recordings revealed that Dil-labeled joint sensory neurons in AIA mice exhibited a greater incidence of spontaneous activity, mechanically evoked after-discharges, and/or increased responses to mechanical stimulation of their receptive fields, compared to control animals. Whole-cell recordings in vitro showed that AIA enhanced the excitability of joint sensory neurons. These signs of neuronal hyperexcitability were associated with a significant reduction in the density of A-type K+ currents. Thus, our data suggest that neuronal hyperexcitability, brought about in part by reduced A-type K+ currents, may contribute to pain-related behaviors that accompany antigen-induced arthritis and/or other antigen-mediated diseases.
Indefinite Plasmonic Beam Engineering by In-plane Holography
Authors: Chen J. , Li L. , Li T. , Zhu S. N. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractRecent advances in controlling the optical phase at the sub-wavelength scale by meta-structures offer unprecedented possibilities in the beam engineering, holograms, and even invisible cloaks. In despite of developments of plasmonic beam engineering for definite beams, here, we proposed a new holographic strategy by in-plane diffraction process to access indefinite plasmonic beams, where a counterintuitive oscillating beam was achieved at a free metal surface that is against the common recognition of light traveling. Beyond the conventional hologram, our approach emphasizes on the phase correlation on the target, and casts an in-depth insight into the beam formation as a kind of long depth-of-field object. Moreover, in contrast to previous plasmonic holography with space light as references, our approach is totally fulfilled in a planar dimension that offers a thoroughly compact manipulation of the plasmonic near-field and suggests new possibilities in nanophotonic designs.
Development and application of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) for detection of Plasmopara viticola
Authors: Kong Xiangjiu , Qin Wentao , Huang Xiaoqing , Kong Fanfang , Schoen Cor D. , Feng Jie , Wang Zhongyue , Zhang Hao 
Published: July 2016

AbstractA rapid LAMP (loop-mediated isothermal amplification) detection method was developed on the basis of the ITS sequence of P. viticola, the major causal agent of grape downy mildew. Among the 38 fungal and oomycete species tested, DNA isolated exclusively from P. viticola resulted in a specific product after LAMP amplification. This assay had high sensitivity and was able to detect the presence of less than 33 fg of genomic DNA per 25-μL reaction within 30 min. The infected leaves may produce sporangia that serve as a secondary inoculum. The developed LAMP assay is efficient for estimating the latent infection of grape leaves by P. viticola. When combined with the rapid and simple DNA extraction method, this assay’s total detection time is shortened to approximately one hour; therefore it is suitable for on-site detection of latent infection in the field. The sporangia levels in the air are strongly associated with disease severity. The LAMP method was also demonstrated to be able to estimate the level of sporangia released in the air in a certain period. This assay should make disease forecasting more accurate and rapid and should be helpful in decision-making regarding the control of grape downy mildew.
Methylmercury, an environmental electrophile capable of activation and disruption of the Akt/CREB/Bcl-2 signal transduction pathway in SH-SY5Y cells
Authors: Unoki Takamitsu , Abiko Yumi , Toyama Takashi , Uehara Takashi , Tsuboi Koji , Nishida Motohiro , Kaji Toshiyuki , Kumagai Yoshito 
Published: June 2016

AbstractMethylmercury (MeHg) modifies cellular proteins via their thiol groups in a process referred to as “S-mercuration”, potentially resulting in modulation of the cellular signal transduction pathway. We examined whether low-dose MeHg could affect Akt signaling involved in cell survival. Exposure of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells of up to 2 μM MeHg phosphorylated Akt and its downstream signal molecule CREB, presumably due to inactivation of PTEN through S-mercuration. As a result, the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was up-regulated by MeHg. The activation of Akt/CREB/Bcl-2 signaling mediated by MeHg was, at least in part, linked to cellular defence because either pretreatment with wortmannin to block PI3K/Akt signaling or knockdown of Bcl-2 enhanced MeHg-mediated cytotoxicity. In contrast, increasing concentrations of MeHg disrupted Akt/CREB/Bcl-2 signaling. This phenomenon was attributed to S-mercuration of CREB through Cys286 rather than Akt. These results suggest that although MeHg is an apoptosis-inducing toxicant, this environmental electrophile is able to activate the cell survival signal transduction pathway at lower concentrations prior to apoptotic cell death.
Transcriptome comparison reveals a genetic network regulating the lower temperature limit in fish
Authors: Hu Peng , Liu Mingli , Liu Yimeng , Wang Jinfeng , Zhang Dong , Niu Hongbo , Jiang Shouwen , Wang Jian , Zhang Dongsheng , Han Bingshe , Xu Qianghua , Chen Liangbiao 
Published: June 2016

AbstractTranscriptional plasticity is a major driver of phenotypic differences between species. The lower temperature limit (LTL), namely the lower end of survival temperature, is an important trait delimiting the geographical distribution of a species, however, the genetic mechanisms are poorly understood. We investigated the inter-species transcriptional diversification in cold responses between zebrafish Danio rerio and tilapia Oreochromis niloticus, which were reared at a common temperature (28 °C) but have distinct LTLs. We identified significant expressional divergence between the two species in the orthologous genes from gills when the temperature cooled to the LTL of tilapia (8 °C). Five KEGG pathways were found sequentially over-represented in the zebrafish/tilapia divergently expressed genes in the duration (12 hour) of 8 °C exposure, forming a signaling cascade from metabolic regulation to apoptosis via FoxO signaling. Consistently, we found differential progression of apoptosis in the gills of the two species in which zebrafish manifested a delayed and milder apoptotic phenotype than tilapia, corresponding with a lower LTL of zebrafish. We identified diverged expression in 25 apoptosis-related transcription factors between the two species which forms an interacting network with diverged factors involving the FoxO signaling and metabolic regulation. We propose a genetic network which regulates LTL in fishes.
Integration scheme of nanoscale resistive switching memory using bottom-up processes at room temperature for high-density memory applications
Authors: Han Un-Bin , Lee Jang-Sik 
Published: July 2016

AbstractA facile and versatile scheme is demonstrated to fabricate nanoscale resistive switching memory devices that exhibit reliable bipolar switching behavior. A solution process is used to synthesize the copper oxide layer into 250-nm via-holes that had been patterned in Si wafers. Direct bottom-up filling of copper oxide can facilitate fabrication of nanoscale memory devices without using vacuum deposition and etching processes. In addition, all materials and processes are CMOS compatible, and especially, the devices can be fabricated at room temperature. Nanoscale memory devices synthesized on wafers having 250-nm via-holes showed reproducible resistive switching programmable memory characteristics with reasonable endurance and data retention properties. This integration strategy provides a solution to overcome the scaling limit of current memory device fabrication methods.
Alignment-free microbial phylogenomics under scenarios of sequence divergence, genome rearrangement and lateral genetic transfer
Authors: Bernard Guillaume , Chan Cheong Xin , Ragan Mark A. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractAlignment-free (AF) approaches have recently been highlighted as alternatives to methods based on multiple sequence alignment in phylogenetic inference. However, the sensitivity of AF methods to genome-scale evolutionary scenarios is little known. Here, using simulated microbial genome data we systematically assess the sensitivity of nine AF methods to three important evolutionary scenarios: sequence divergence, lateral genetic transfer (LGT) and genome rearrangement. Among these, AF methods are most sensitive to the extent of sequence divergence, less sensitive to low and moderate frequencies of LGT and most robust against genome rearrangement. We describe the application of AF methods to three well-studied empirical genome datasets and introduce a new application of the jackknife to assess node support. Our results demonstrate that AF phylogenomics is computationally scalable to multi-genome data and can generate biologically meaningful phylogenies and insights into microbial evolution.