bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evolutionary and ecological aspects of recalcitrant seed biology
Authors: Pammenter N.W. , Berjak Patricia 
Published: January 2017

AbstractThere is a substantial literature on the basic physiology and response to desiccation of recalcitrant seeds, but little is known about their ecology and even less of their evolutionary status. It is difficult to assess the response of early land plants to dehydration, but it is likely that desiccation tolerance in vegetative tissue arose concomitantly with the invasion of the land. Similarly, from the fossil record it is not possible to assess the desiccation response of early seeds, and furthermore, it is difficult to see phylogenetic relationships among species producing recalcitrant seeds. A consideration of the available evidence, however, suggests that the first seeds were desiccation-sensitive, but tolerance evolved early and probably a number of times, independently. The desiccation sensitivity and short life span (generally shorter than the interval between flowering) of recalcitrant seeds have implications in terms of regeneration ecology. A long-term soil seed bank as such does not exist; rather the seeds germinate and form a seedling bank. However, there is a wide range in post-shedding physiology among recalcitrant seed species, and although species producing recalcitrant seeds are common in the humid tropics, they do occur in habitats with more marked seasonal variation. Here regeneration strategies may be more specialized.
Quantum interference between transverse spatial waveguide modes
Authors: Mohanty Aseema , Zhang Mian , Dutt Avik , Ramelow Sven , Nussenzveig Paulo , Lipson Michal 
Published: January 2017

AbstractIntegrated quantum optics has the potential to markedly reduce the footprint and resource requirements of quantum information processing systems, but its practical implementation demands broader utilization of the available degrees of freedom within the optical field. To date, integrated photonic quantum systems have primarily relied on path encoding. However, in the classical regime, the transverse spatial modes of a multi-mode waveguide have been easily manipulated using the waveguide geometry to densely encode information. Here, we demonstrate quantum interference between the transverse spatial modes within a single multi-mode waveguide using quantum circuit-building blocks. This work shows that spatial modes can be controlled to an unprecedented level and have the potential to enable practical and robust quantum information processing.
Rapid generation of hypomorphic mutations
Authors: Arthur Laura L. , Chung Joyce J. , Janakirama Preetam , Keefer Kathryn M. , Kolotilin Igor , Pavlovic-Djuranovic Slavica , Chalker Douglas L. , Grbic Vojislava , Green Rachel , Menassa Rima , True Heather L. , Skeath James B. , Djuranovic Sergej 
Published: January 2017

AbstractHypomorphic mutations are a valuable tool for both genetic analysis of gene function and for synthetic biology applications. However, current methods to generate hypomorphic mutations are limited to a specific organism, change gene expression unpredictably, or depend on changes in spatial-temporal expression of the targeted gene. Here we present a simple and predictable method to generate hypomorphic mutations in model organisms by targeting translation elongation. Adding consecutive adenosine nucleotides, so-called polyA tracks, to the gene coding sequence of interest will decrease translation elongation efficiency, and in all tested cell cultures and model organisms, this decreases mRNA stability and protein expression. We show that protein expression is adjustable independent of promoter strength and can be further modulated by changing sequence features of the polyA tracks. These characteristics make this method highly predictable and tractable for generation of programmable allelic series with a range of expression levels.
Brain microvasculature defects and Glut1 deficiency syndrome averted by early repletion of the glucose transporter-1 protein
Authors: Tang Maoxue , Gao Guangping , Rueda Carlos B. , Yu Hang , Thibodeaux David N. , Awano Tomoyuki , Engelstad Kristin M. , Sanchez-Quintero Maria-Jose , Yang Hong , Li Fanghua , Li Huapeng , Su Qin , Shetler Kara E. , Jones Lynne , Seo Ryan , McConathy Jonathan , Hillman Elizabeth M. , Noebels Jeffrey L. , De Vivo Darryl C. , Monani Umrao R. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractHaploinsufficiency of theSLC2A1gene and paucity of its translated product, the glucose transporter-1 (Glut1) protein, disrupt brain function and cause the neurodevelopmental disorder, Glut1 deficiency syndrome (Glut1 DS). There is little to suggest how reduced Glut1 causes cognitive dysfunction and no optimal treatment for Glut1 DS. We used model mice to demonstrate that low Glut1 protein arrests cerebral angiogenesis, resulting in a profound diminution of the brain microvasculature without compromising the blood–brain barrier. Studies to define the temporal requirements for Glut1 reveal that pre-symptomatic, AAV9-mediated repletion of the protein averts brain microvasculature defects and prevents disease, whereas augmenting the protein late, during adulthood, is devoid of benefit. Still, treatment following symptom onset can be effective; Glut1 repletion in early-symptomatic mutants that have experienced sustained periods of low brain glucose nevertheless restores the cerebral microvasculature and ameliorates disease. Timely Glut1 repletion may thus constitute an effective treatment for Glut1 DS.
Esterase mutation is a mechanism of resistance to antimalarial compounds
Authors: Istvan Eva S. , Mallari Jeremy P. , Corey Victoria C. , Dharia Neekesh V. , Marshall Garland R. , Winzeler Elizabeth A. , Goldberg Daniel E. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractPepstatin is a potent peptidyl inhibitor of various malarial aspartic proteases, and also has parasiticidal activity. Activity of pepstatin against cultured Plasmodium falciparum is highly variable depending on the commercial source. Here we identify a minor contaminant (pepstatin butyl ester) as the active anti-parasitic principle. We synthesize a series of derivatives and characterize an analogue (pepstatin hexyl ester) with low nanomolar activity. By selecting resistant parasite mutants, we find that a parasite esterase, PfPARE (P. falciparum Prodrug Activation and Resistance Esterase) is required for activation of esterified pepstatin. Parasites with esterase mutations are resistant to pepstatin esters and to an open source antimalarial compound, MMV011438. Recombinant PfPARE hydrolyses pepstatin esters and de-esterifies MMV011438. We conclude that (1) pepstatin is a potent but poorly bioavailable antimalarial; (2) PfPARE is a functional esterase that is capable of activating prodrugs; (3) Mutations in PfPARE constitute a mechanism of antimalarial resistance.
Enhanced superconductivity in TiO epitaxial thin films
Authors: Zhang Chao , Hao Feixiang , Gao Guanyin , Liu Xiang , Ma Chao , Lin Yue , Yin Yuewei , Li Xiaoguang 
Published: January 2017

AbstractTitanium oxides have many fascinating optical and electrical properties, such as the superconductivity at 2 K in cubic titanium monoxide (TiO) polycrystalline bulk. However, the lack of TiO single crystals or epitaxial films has prevented systematic investigations on its superconductivity. Here, we report the basic superconductivity characterizations of cubic TiO films epitaxially grown on (0001)-oriented α-Al2O3 substrates. The magnetic and electronic transport measurements confirmed that TiO is a type-II superconductor and the recorded high Tc is about 7.4 K. The lower critical field (Hc1) at 1.9 K, the extrapolated upper critical field Hc2(0), and coherence length are about 18 Oe, 13.7 T, and 4.9 nm, respectively. With increasing pressure, the value of Tc shifts to lower temperature while the normal state resistivity increases. Our results on the superconducting TiO films confirm the strategy to achieve higher Tc in the epitaxial films, which may be helpful for finding more superconducting materials in various related systems.
Scale-dependent diffusion anisotropy in nanoporous silicon
Authors: Kondrashova Daria , Lauerer Alexander , Mehlhorn Dirk , Jobic Hervé , Feldhoff Armin , Thommes Matthias , Chakraborty Dipanjan , Gommes Cedric , Zecevic Jovana , de Jongh Petra , Bunde Armin , Kärger Jörg , Valiullin Rustem 
Published: January 2017

AbstractNanoporous silicon produced by electrochemical etching of highly B-doped p-type silicon wafers can be prepared with tubular pores imbedded in a silicon matrix. Such materials have found many technological applications and provide a useful model system for studying phase transitions under confinement. This paper reports a joint experimental and simulation study of diffusion in such materials, covering displacements from molecular dimensions up to tens of micrometers with carefully selected probe molecules. In addition to mass transfer through the channels, diffusion (at much smaller rates) is also found to occur in directions perpendicular to the channels, thus providing clear evidence of connectivity. With increasing displacements, propagation in both axial and transversal directions is progressively retarded, suggesting a scale-dependent, hierarchical distribution of transport resistances (“constrictions” in the channels) and of shortcuts (connecting “bridges”) between adjacent channels. The experimental evidence from these studies is confirmed by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation in the range of atomistic displacements and rationalized with a simple model of statistically distributed “constrictions” and “bridges” for displacements in the micrometer range via dynamic Monte Carlo (DMC) simulation. Both ranges are demonstrated to be mutually transferrable by DMC simulations based on the pore space topology determined by electron tomography.
Dynamical states, possibilities and propagation of stress signal
Authors: Malik Md. Zubbair , Ali Shahnawaz , Singh Soibam Shyamchand , Ishrat Romana , Singh R. K. Brojen 
Published: January 2017

AbstractThe stress driven dynamics of Notch-Wnt-p53 cross-talk is subjected to a few possible dynamical states governed by simple fractal rules, and allowed to decide its own fate by choosing one of these states which are contributed from long range correlation with varied fluctuations due to active molecular interaction. The topological properties of the networks corresponding to these dynamical states have hierarchical features with assortive structure. The stress signal driven by nutlin and modulated by mediator GSK3 acts as anti-apoptotic signal in this system, whereas, the stress signal driven by Axin and modulated by GSK3 behaves as anti-apoptotic for a certain range of Axin and GSK3 interaction, and beyond which the signal acts as favor-apoptotic signal. However, this stress system prefers to stay in an active dynamical state whose counterpart complex network is closest to hierarchical topology with exhibited roles of few interacting hubs. During the propagation of stress signal, the system allows the propagator pathway to inherit all possible properties of the state to the receiver pathway/pathways with slight modifications, indicating efficient information processing and democratic sharing of responsibilities in the system via cross-talk. The increase in the number of cross-talk pathways in the system favors to establish self-organization.
Clumping factor A of Staphylococcus aureus interacts with AnnexinA2 on mammary epithelial cells
Authors: Ashraf Shoaib , Cheng Jing , Zhao Xin 
Published: January 2017

AbstractStaphylococcus aureus is one of major pathogens that can cause a series of diseases in different hosts. In the bovine, it mainly causes subclinical and contagious mastitis, but its mechanisms of infection are not fully understood. Considering the fact that virulence factors play key roles in interactions between the bacterium and host cells, this study aimed to identify if a binding partner of S. aureus clumping factor A (ClfA) exists on the bovine mammary epithelial cells. The ClfA protein was used as a bait to pull down lysates of cultured bovine mammary epithelial cells (MAC-T cells). One pull-down protein was identified through use of mass spectrometry and bioinformatics analyses as bovine AnnexinA2. The Western blot and in vitro binding assay confirmed that the full A domain of ClfA was necessary to bind to AnnexinA2. In addition, the interaction between ClfA and AnnexinA2 was validated biochemically by ELISA with a KD value of 418+/−93 nM. The confocal microscopy demonstrated that ClfA and AnnexinA2 partially co-localized in the plasma membrane and that the majority of them were transported into cytoplasm. Taken together, the results demonstrate that ClfA binds with AnnexinA2 and this interaction could mediate S. aureus invasion into bovine mammary epithelial cells.
The β-globin Replicator greatly enhances the potential of S/MAR based episomal vectors for gene transfer into human haematopoietic progenitor cells
Authors: Stavrou Eleana F. , Lazaris Vassileios M. , Giannakopoulos Aristeidis , Papapetrou Eirini , Spyridonidis Alexandros , Zoumbos Nikolas C. , Gkountis Antonis , Athanassiadou Aglaia 
Published: January 2017

AbstractSpecific human chromosomal elements enhance the performance of episomal gene-transfer vectors. S/MAR-based episomal vector pEPI-eGFP transfects CD34+ haematopoietic cells, but only transiently. To address this issue we reinforced (1) transgene transcription by replacing the CMV promoter driving eGFP with the EF1/HTLV or SFFV promoters to produce vectors pEPI-EF1/HTLV and pEPI-SFFV, respectively; and (2) plasmid replication by inserting the replication-Initiation Region (IR) from the β-globin locus into vector pEPI-SFFV to produce vector pEP-IR. All vectors supported stable transfections in K562 cells. Transfections of CD34+ cells from peripheral blood of healthy donors reached 30% efficiency. Upon evaluation of CD34+/eGFP+ cells in colony-forming cell (CFC) assays, vector pEP-IR showed superior performance after 14 days, by fluorescent microscopy: 100% eGFP+-colonies against 0% for pEPI-eGFP, 56.9% for pEPI-SFFV and 49.8% for pEPI-EF1/HTLV; 50% more plasmid copies per cell and 3-fold eGFP expression compared to the latter two constructs, by quantitative (q)PCR and RT-qPCR, respectively. Importantly, the establishment rate in CFC assays was 15% for pEP-IR against 5.5% for pEPI-SFFV and 5% for pEPI-EF1/HTLV. Vector pEP-IR shows extremely low delivery rate but supports eGFP expression in thalassaemic mouse haematopoietic progenitor cells. The IR is a novel human control element for improved episomal gene transfer into progenitor cells.
Evaluation of Three Block Anesthesia Methods for Pain Management During Mandibular Third Molar Extraction: A Meta-analysis
Authors: Yu Fanyuan , Xiao Yao , Liu Hanghang , Wu Fanzi , Lou Feng , Chen Dian , Bai Mingru , Huang Dingming , Wang Chenglin , Ye Ling 
Published: January 2017

AbstractA patient’s pain during mandibular third molar extraction often creates problems for a dental surgeon and can also cause immense patient discomfort, such as decreased quality of life, serious complications, or even danger to the patients’ lives. Effective pain management is therefore of great importance. Conventional block anesthesia method often fails to control such pain completely during an operation. Therefore, two available alternatives, Gow-Gates (G-G) and Vazirani-Akinosi (V-A) methods, have been developed. However, the results of current studies regarding their effectiveness and safety are somewhat ambiguous. The use of G-G and V-A techniques is therefore restricted. This study did a comprehensive review of the relevant research and finally 7 RCTs were included. The results of this meta-analysis indicate that both G-G and V-A techniques have a lower risk of positive aspiration. G-G technique also evidenced a higher success rate than the conventional method. V-A was faster while the G-G technique in contrast had a slower onset time than the conventional technique. In terms of the measurement of analgesic success, however, the V-A method was statistically indistinguishable from conventional techniques. These findings will hopefully endow clinicians with the knowledge required to make appropriate choices for effective anesthesia during lower third molar extraction.
Diverse strategies of O2 usage for preventing photo-oxidative damage under CO2 limitation during algal photosynthesis
Authors: Shimakawa Ginga , Matsuda Yusuke , Nakajima Kensuke , Tamoi Masahiro , Shigeoka Shigeru , Miyake Chikahiro 
Published: January 2017

AbstractPhotosynthesis produces chemical energy from photon energy in the photosynthetic electron transport and assimilates CO2 using the chemical energy. Thus, CO2 limitation causes an accumulation of excess energy, resulting in reactive oxygen species (ROS) which can cause oxidative damage to cells. O2 can be used as an alternative energy sink when oxygenic phototrophs are exposed to high light. Here, we examined the responses to CO2 limitation and O2 dependency of two secondary algae, Euglena gracilis and Phaeodactylum tricornutum. In E. gracilis, approximately half of the relative electron transport rate (ETR) of CO2-saturated photosynthesis was maintained and was uncoupled from photosynthesis under CO2 limitation. The ETR showed biphasic dependencies on O2 at high and low O2 concentrations. Conversely, in P. tricornutum, most relative ETR decreased in parallel with the photosynthetic O2 evolution rate in response to CO2 limitation. Instead, non-photochemical quenching was strongly activated under CO2 limitation in P. tricornutum. The results indicate that these secondary algae adopt different strategies to acclimatize to CO2 limitation, and that both strategies differ from those utilized by cyanobacteria and green algae. We summarize the diversity of strategies for prevention of photo-oxidative damage under CO2 limitation in cyanobacterial and algal photosynthesis.
Gradient-Hierarchic-Aligned Porosity SiOC Ceramics
Authors: Vakifahmetoglu Cekdar , Zeydanli Damla , Innocentini Murilo Daniel de Mello , Ribeiro Fernanda dos Santos , Lasso Paulo Renato Orlandi , Soraru Gian Domenico 
Published: January 2017

AbstractThis work describes a simple technique to produce porous ceramics with aligned porosity having very high permeability and specific surface area. SiOC-based compositions were processed from blends of three types of preceramic polymer and a catalyst, followed by curing and pyrolysis. The heating applied from the bottom of molds promoted the nucleation, expansion and rising of gas bubbles, and the creation of a ceramic matrix with axially oriented channels interconnected by small round pores. The samples were analyzed by SEM, tomography, BET, water immersion porosimetry and permeation to gas flow. The resulting bodies presented levels of open porosity (69.9–83.4%), average channel diameter (0.59–1.25 mm) and permeability (0.56–3.83 × 10−9 m2) comparable to those of ceramic foams and honeycomb monoliths, but with specific surface area (4.8–121.9 m2/g) typical adsorbents, enabling these lotus-type ceramics to be advantageously used as catalytic supports and adsorption components in several environmental control applications.
Inhibition of NUCKS Facilitates Corneal Recovery Following Alkali Burn
Authors: Poon Ming-Wai , Jiang Dan , Qin Peng , Zhang Yuelin , Qiu Beiying , Chanda Sumit , Tergaonkar Vinay , Li Qing , Wong Ian Y. , Yu Zhendong , Tse Hung-Fat , Wong David S. H. , Lian Qizhou 
Published: January 2017

AbstractCorneal wound healing involves a complex cascade of cytokine-controlled cellular events, including inflammatory and angiogenesis responses that are regulated by transcriptional chromatin remodeling. Nuclear Ubiquitous Casein and cyclin-dependent Kinase Substrate (NUCKS) is a key chromatin modifier and transcriptional regulator of metabolic signaling. In this study, we investigated the role of NUCKS in corneal wound healing by comparing its effects on corneal alkali burn in NUCKS knockout (NKO) and NUCKS wild-type (NWT) mice. Our data showed that following alkali-injury, inhibition of NUCKS (NKO) accelerated ocular resurfacing and suppressed neovascularization; the cytokine profile of alkali burned corneas in NKO mice showed suppressed expression of inflammation cytokines (IL1A & IL1B); upregulated expression of antiangiogenic factor (Pigment Epithelium-derived Factor; PEDF); and downregulated expression of angiogenic factor (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, VEGF); in vitro, following LPS-induced NFκB activation, NKO corneal cells showed reduced expression of IL6, IP10 and TNFα. In vitro, corneal epithelial cells showed reduced NF-κb activation on silencing of NUCKS and corresponding NFκB-mediated cytokine expression was reduced. Here, we illustrate that inhibition of NUCKS played a role in cytokine modulation and facilitated corneal recovery. This reveals a potential new effective strategy for ocular burn treatment.
Recyclable Cu(i)/ZrSBA-15 prepared via a mild vapor-reduction method for efficient thiophene removal from modeled oil
Authors: Gao Ce , An Qingda , Xiao Zuoyi , Zhai Shangru 
Published: January 2017

Recyclable Cu(i)/ZrSBA-15 composites prepared via a controllable and effective methanol vapor-reduction method exhibited excellent adsorption capacity for the removal of thiophene (29.9 mg g−1).
Technical feasibility of line-assisted complete closure technique for large mucosal defects after colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection
Authors: Kato Minoru , Takeuchi Yoji , Yamasaki Yasushi , Arao Masamichi , Suzuki Sho , Iwatsubo Taro , Hamada Kenta , Tonai Yusuke , Shichijo Satoki , Matsuura Noriko , Nakahira Hiroko , Kanesaka Takashi , Akasaka Tomofumi , Hanaoka Noboru , Higashino Koji , Uedo Noriya , Ishihara Ryu , Iishi Hiroyasu 
Published: January 2017

Abstract
Background and study aims Complete closure of large mucosal defects after colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (C-ESD) is considered impossible in most cases because of the limited width of the open clip. We therefore invented a simple closure technique using clip-and-line, named “line-assisted complete closure (LACC)”, and assessed its technical feasibility.
Patients and methods Between January and February 2016, we performed LACC in 11 patients after C-ESD and included them in this retrospective feasibility study. Outcome measures were procedural success rate, procedure time, and post-procedural complications.
Results The median size of the resected specimen was 36 mm (range 30 – 72 mm). Procedural success was achieved in 10 of 11 cases (91 %). Those 10 cases required a median of 9 endoclips (range 6 – 12) for complete closure. Median procedure time for LACC was 14 minutes (range 6 – 22). No complications were observed in any of the cases after the procedure.
Conclusion LACC is a simple and feasible technique for complete closure of large mucosal defects after C-ESD.