bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Brain phosphorylation of MeCP2 at serine 164 is developmentally regulated and globally alters its chromatin association
Authors: Stefanelli Gilda , Gandaglia Anna , Costa Mario , Cheema Manjinder S. , Di Marino Daniele , Barbiero Isabella , Kilstrup-Nielsen Charlotte , Ausió Juan , Landsberger Nicoletta 
Published: June 2016

AbstractMeCP2 is a transcriptional regulator whose functional alterations are responsible for several autism spectrum and mental disorders. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) and particularly differential phosphorylation, modulate MeCP2 function in response to diverse stimuli. Understanding the detailed role of MeCP2 phosphorylation is thus instrumental to ascertain how MeCP2 integrates the environmental signals and directs its adaptive transcriptional responses. The evolutionarily conserved serine 164 (S164) was found phosphorylated in rodent brain but its functional role has remained uncharacterized. We show here that phosphorylation of S164 in brain is dynamically regulated during neuronal maturation. S164 phosphorylation highly impairs MeCP2 binding to DNA in vitro and largely affects its nucleosome binding and chromatin affinity in vivo. Strikingly, the chromatin-binding properties of the global MeCP2 appear also extensively altered during the course of brain maturation. Functional assays reveal that proper temporal regulation of S164 phosphorylation controls the ability of MeCP2 to regulate neuronal morphology. Altogether, our results support the hypothesis of a complex PTM-mediated functional regulation of MeCP2 potentially involving a still poorly characterized epigenetic code. Furthermore, they demonstrate the relevance of the Intervening Domain of MeCP2 for binding to DNA.
Horizontally assembled green InGaN nanorod LEDs: scalable polarized surface emitting LEDs using electric-field assisted assembly
Authors: Park Hoo Keun , Yoon Seong Woong , Eo Yun Jae , Chung Won Woo , Yoo Gang Yeol , Oh Ji Hye , Lee Keyong Nam , Kim Woong , Do Young Rag 
Published: June 2016

AbstractIn this study, we report the concerted fabrication process, which is easy to transform the size of active emitting area and produce polarized surface light, using the electric-field-assisted assembly for horizontally assembled many tiny nanorod LEDs between two metal electrodes. We fabricate the millions of individually separated 1D nanorod LEDs from 2D nanorod arrays using nanosphere lithography, etching and cutting process of InGaN/GaN LED structure on a flat sapphire substrate. The horizontally assembled InGaN-based nanorods LED device shows bright (~2,130 cd/m2) and uniform polarized (polarization ratio, ρ = ~0.61) green emissions from large area (0.7 cm × 0.6 cm) planar surface. The realization of a horizontally assembled nanorod LED device can prove the concept of an innovative idea to fabricate formable and scalable polarized surface LED lighting.
Doses Lactobacillus reuteri depend on adhesive ability to modulate the intestinal immune response and metabolism in mice challenged with lipopolysaccharide
Authors: Gao Kan , Liu Li , Dou Xiaoxiao , Wang Chong , Liu Jianxin , Zhang Wenming , Wang Haifeng 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe objective of this study was to evaluate the modulatory effects of Lactobacillus reuteri ZJ617 and ZJ615, which have high and low adhesive abilities, respectively, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) on immune responses and metabolism in mice stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Six C57BL/6 mice per group were orally inoculated with ZJ617, ZJ615 or LGG for one week (1 × 108 CFU/mouse) and i.p. injected with LPS (10 mg/kg) for 24 h. Compared with the LPS stimulation group, ZJ615, ZJ617 and LGG significantly decreased TNF-α levels in the sera of mice stimulated by LPS. ZJ615 and LGG significantly down-regulated mRNA levels of cytokines and Toll-like receptors, and suppressed activation of MAPK and NF-κB signaling, while ZJ617 up-regulated anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 mRNA levels in the ilea of mice stimulated by LPS. Correlation analysis confirmed that adhesive ability is relative with the immunomodulation in the ilea of mice. There were 24, 7 and 10 metabolites and 10, 9 and 8 major metabolic pathways with significant differences (VIP > 1, P < 0.05) between the LPS and ZJ617 + LPS groups, the LPS and ZJ615 + LPS groups, and the ZJ617 + LPS and ZJ615 + LPS groups, respectively. The results indicated that both ZJ617 and ZJ615 could modulate the intestinal immune responses and metabolism in LPS-stimulated mice.
Elimination of a ligand gating site generates a supersensitive olfactory receptor
Authors: Sharma Kanika , Ahuja Gaurav , Hussain Ashiq , Balfanz Sabine , Baumann Arnd , Korsching Sigrun I. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractOlfaction poses one of the most complex ligand-receptor matching problems in biology due to the unparalleled multitude of odor molecules facing a large number of cognate olfactory receptors. We have recently deorphanized an olfactory receptor, TAAR13c, as a specific receptor for the death-associated odor cadaverine. Here we have modeled the cadaverine/TAAR13c interaction, exchanged predicted binding residues by site-directed mutagenesis, and measured the activity of the mutant receptors. Unexpectedly we observed a binding site for cadaverine at the external surface of the receptor, in addition to an internal binding site, whose mutation resulted in complete loss of activity. In stark contrast, elimination of the external binding site generated supersensitive receptors. Modeling suggests this site to act as a gate, limiting access of the ligand to the internal binding site and thereby downregulating the affinity of the native receptor. This constitutes a novel mechanism to fine-tune physiological sensitivity to socially relevant odors.
Developmental and stress regulation on expression of a novel miRNA, Fan-miR73 and its target ABI5 in strawberry
Authors: Li Dongdong , Mou Wangshu , Luo Zisheng , Li Li , Limwachiranon Jarukitt , Mao Linchun , Ying Tiejin 
Published: June 2016

AbstractAbscisic acid (ABA) is a critical plant hormone for fruit ripening and adaptive stress responses in strawberry. Previous high-throughput sequencing results indicated that ABA-insensitive (ABI)5, an important transcription factor in the ABA signaling pathway, was a target for a novel microRNA (miRNA), Fan-miR73. In the present study, exogenous ABA treatment was found to accelerate fruit ripening through differentially regulating the transcripts of ABA metabolism and signal transduction related genes, including NCED1, PYR1, ABI1 and SnRK2.2. Expression of Fan-miR73 was down-regulated in response to exogenous ABA treatment in a dosage-dependent manner, which resulted in an accumulation of ABI5 transcripts in the ripening-accelerated fruits. In addition, both UV-B radiation and salinity stress reduced the transcript levels of Fan-miR73, whereas promoted ABI5 expression. Furthermore, high negative correlations between the transcriptional abundance of Fan-miR73 and ABI5 were observed during ripening and in response to stress stimuli. These results enriched the possible regulatory role of miRNA involved in the post-transcriptional modification of ABI5 during strawberry ripening, as well as responses to environmental stresses.
Precision Modulation of Neurodegenerative Disease-Related Gene Expression in Human iPSC-Derived Neurons
Authors: Heman-Ackah Sabrina Mahalia , Bassett Andrew Roger , Wood Matthew John Andrew 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe ability to reprogram adult somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and the subsequent development of protocols for their differentiation into disease-relevant cell types have enabled in-depth molecular analyses of multiple disease states as hitherto impossible. Neurons differentiated from patient-specific iPSCs provide a means to recapitulate molecular phenotypes of neurodegenerative diseases in vitro. However, it remains challenging to conduct precise manipulations of gene expression in iPSC-derived neurons towards modeling complex human neurological diseases. The application of CRISPR/Cas9 to mammalian systems is revolutionizing the utilization of genome editing technologies in the study of molecular contributors to the pathogenesis of numerous diseases. Here, we demonstrate that CRISPRa and CRISPRi can be used to exert precise modulations of endogenous gene expression in fate-committed iPSC-derived neurons. This highlights CRISPRa/i as a major technical advancement in accessible tools for evaluating the specific contributions of critical neurodegenerative disease-related genes to neuropathogenesis.
Transcriptional repression of SIRT1 by protein inhibitor of activated STAT 4 (PIAS4) in hepatic stellate cells contributes to liver fibrosis
Authors: Sun Lina , Fan Zhiwen , Chen Junliang , Tian Wenfang , Li Min , Xu Huihui , Wu Xiaoyan , Shao Jing , Bian Yaoyao , Fang Mingming , Xu Yong 
Published: June 2016

AbstractInterstitial fibrosis represents a key pathological process in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). In the liver, fibrogenesis is primarily mediated by activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) transitioning from a quiescent state in response to a host of stimuli. The molecular mechanism underlying HSC activation is not completely understood. Here we report that there was a simultaneous up-regulation of PIAS4 expression and down-regulation of SIRT1 expression accompanying increased hepatic fibrogenesis in an MCD-diet induced mouse model of NASH. In cultured primary mouse HSCs, stimulation with high glucose activated PIAS4 while at the same time repressed SIRT1. Over-expression of PIAS4 directly repressed SIRT1 promoter activity. In contrast, depletion of PIAS4 restored SIRT1 expression in HSCs treated with high glucose. Estrogen, a known NASH-protective hormone, antagonized HSC activation by targeting PIAS4. Lentivirus-mediated delivery of short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting PIAS4 in mice ameliorated MCD diet induced liver fibrosis by normalizing SIRT1 expression in vivo. PIAS4 promoted HSC activation in a SIRT1-dependent manner in vitro. Mechanistically, PIAS4 mediated SIRT1 repression led to SMAD3 hyperacetylation and enhanced SMAD3 binding to fibrogenic gene promoters. Taken together, our data suggest SIRT1 trans-repression by PIAS4 plays an important role in HSC activation and liver fibrosis.
Quantum spin Hall insulator in halogenated arsenene films with sizable energy gaps
Authors: Wang Dongchao , Chen Li , Shi Changmin , Wang Xiaoli , Cui Guangliang , Zhang Pinhua , Chen Yeqing 
Published: June 2016

AbstractBased on first-principles calculations, the electronic and topological properties of halogenated (F-, Cl-, Br- and I-) arsenene are investigated in detail. It is found that the halogenated arsenene sheets show Dirac type characteristic in the absence of spin-orbital coupling (SOC), whereas energy gap will be induced by SOC with the values ranging from 0.194 eV for F-arsenene to 0.255 eV for I-arsenene. Noticeably, these four newly proposed two-dimensional (2D) systems are verified to be quantum spin Hall (QSH) insulators by calculating the edge states with obvious linear cross inside bulk energy gap. It should be pointed out that the large energy gap in these 2D materials consisted of commonly used element is quite promising for practical applications of QSH insulators at room temperature.
Fluorescent protein-based detection of unconjugated bilirubin in newborn serum
Authors: Iwatani Sota , Nakamura Hajime , Kurokawa Daisuke , Yamana Keiji , Nishida Kosuke , Fukushima Sachiyo , Koda Tsubasa , Nishimura Noriyuki , Nishio Hisahide , Iijima Kazumoto , Miyawaki Atsushi , Morioka Ichiro 
Published: June 2016

AbstractIncreased serum levels of unconjugated bilirubin are associated with the development of brain damage in newborns. In current clinical settings, there are no methods for directly determining serum levels of unconjugated bilirubin. UnaG, a fluorescent protein from Japanese eel muscle that specifically binds to unconjugated bilirubin was used in this study. Linear regression analysis was carried out to compare unconjugated bilirubin levels measured by UnaG and conventional bilirubin oxidase methods. Unconjugated bilirubin levels in the serum of newborns who were untreated or treated with phototherapy were compared. Effects of interfering factors in the serum (conjugated bilirubin, hemoglobin and lipid) on unconjugated bilirubin concentration measured by the UnaG method were also evaluated. Unconjugated bilirubin levels measured by the UnaG method were highly correlated with those determined by the bilirubin oxidase assay. Unconjugated bilirubin levels determined by bilirubin oxidase and UnaG assays were similar in serum samples containing conjugated bilirubin. The performance of the UnaG assay was unaffected by phototherapy and the presence of serum hemoglobin and lipid emulsion. These results demonstrate the clinical applicability of the UnaG method for direct measurement of unconjugated bilirubin levels in newborn serum.
Allosteric modulation of AURKA kinase activity by a small-molecule inhibitor of its protein-protein interaction with TPX2
Authors: Janeček Matej , Rossmann Maxim , Sharma Pooja , Emery Amy , Huggins David J. , Stockwell Simon R. , Stokes Jamie E. , Tan Yaw S. , Almeida Estrella Guarino , Hardwick Bryn , Narvaez Ana J. , Hyvönen Marko , Spring David R. , McKenzie Grahame J. , Venkitaraman Ashok R. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe essential mitotic kinase Aurora A (AURKA) is controlled during cell cycle progression via two distinct mechanisms. Following activation loop autophosphorylation early in mitosis when it localizes to centrosomes, AURKA is allosterically activated on the mitotic spindle via binding to the microtubule-associated protein, TPX2. Here, we report the discovery of AurkinA, a novel chemical inhibitor of the AURKA-TPX2 interaction, which acts via an unexpected structural mechanism to inhibit AURKA activity and mitotic localization. In crystal structures, AurkinA binds to a hydrophobic pocket (the ‘Y pocket’) that normally accommodates a conserved Tyr-Ser-Tyr motif from TPX2, blocking the AURKA-TPX2 interaction. AurkinA binding to the Y- pocket induces structural changes in AURKA that inhibit catalytic activity in vitro and in cells, without affecting ATP binding to the active site, defining a novel mechanism of allosteric inhibition. Consistent with this mechanism, cells exposed to AurkinA mislocalise AURKA from mitotic spindle microtubules. Thus, our findings provide fresh insight into the catalytic mechanism of AURKA and identify a key structural feature as the target for a new class of dual-mode AURKA inhibitors, with implications for the chemical biology and selective therapeutic targeting of structurally related kinases.
Probing the Origin of Challenge of Realizing Metallaphosphabenzenes: Unfavorable 1,2-Migration in Metallapyridines Becomes Feasible in Metallaphosphabenzenes
Authors: Wu Jingjing , Hao Yulei , Zhu Jun 
Published: June 2016

AbstractMetallabenzenes have attracted considerable interest of both theoretical and experimental chemists. However, metallaphosphabenzene has never been synthesized. Thus, understanding the origin of the challenge of synthesizing metallaphosphabenzene is particularly urgent for experimentalists. Now density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been carried out to examine this issue. Our results reveal that the 1,2-migration in metallapyridines is unfavorable whereas such a 1,2-migration in metallaphosphabenzenes is feasible, which can be rationalized by the reluctance of phosphorus to participate in π bonding. In addition, π-donor ligands and the 5d transition metals can stabilize metallaphosphabenzenes. Compared with hydride and methyl migration, the chloride migration has a relatively lower activation barrier due to the polarization of the M=P bond. CO ligand could further decrease the reaction barrier of the migration due to the reduction of the interaction between the metal centre and the phosphorus atom. All of these findings could help synthetic chemists to realize the first metallaphosphabenzene.
Sperm whale predator-prey interactions involve chasing and buzzing, but no acoustic stunning
Authors: Fais A. , Johnson M. , Wilson M. , Aguilar Soto N. , Madsen P. T. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe sperm whale carries a hypertrophied nose that generates powerful clicks for long-range echolocation. However, it remains a conundrum how this bizarrely shaped apex predator catches its prey. Several hypotheses have been advanced to propose both active and passive means to acquire prey, including acoustic debilitation of prey with very powerful clicks. Here we test these hypotheses by using sound and movement recording tags in a fine-scale study of buzz sequences to relate the acoustic behaviour of sperm whales with changes in acceleration in their head region during prey capture attempts. We show that in the terminal buzz phase, sperm whales reduce inter-click intervals and estimated source levels by 1–2 orders of magnitude. As a result, received levels at the prey are more than an order of magnitude below levels required for debilitation, precluding acoustic stunning to facilitate prey capture. Rather, buzzing involves high-frequency, low amplitude clicks well suited to provide high-resolution biosonar updates during the last stages of capture. The high temporal resolution helps to guide motor patterns during occasionally prolonged chases in which prey are eventually subdued with the aid of fast jaw movements and/or buccal suction as indicated by acceleration transients (jerks) near the end of buzzes.
iTRAQ-Based Proteomics Screen identifies LIPOCALIN-2 (LCN-2) as a potential biomarker for colonic lateral-spreading tumors
Authors: Wang Xianfei , Li Aimin , Guo Yubin , Wang Yadong , Zhao Xinhua , Xiang Li , Han Zelong , Li Yue , Xu Wen , Zhuang Kangmin , Yan Qun , Zhong Jietao , Xiong Jing , Liu Side 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe improvement and implementation of a colonoscopy technique has led to increased detection of laterally spreading tumors (LSTs), which are presumed to constitute an aggressive type of colonic neoplasm. Early diagnosis and treatment of LSTs is clinically challenging. To overcome this problem, we employed iTRAQ to identify LST-specific protein biomarkers potentially involved in LST progression. In this study, we identified 2,001 differentially expressed proteins in LSTs using iTRAQ-based proteomics technology. Lipocalin-2 (LCN-2) was the most up-regulated protein. LSTs expression levels of LCN-2 and matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9) showed positive correlation with worse pathological grading and up-regulation of these proteins in LSTs was also reflected in serum. Furthermore, LCN-2 protein overexpression was positively correlated with MMP-9 protein up-regulation in the tumor tissue and serum of LST patients (former rs = 0.631, P = 0.000; latter rs = 0.815, P = 0.000). Our results suggest that LCN-2 constitutes a potential biomarker for LST disease progression and might be a novel therapeutic target in LSTs.
Photochemical Isomerization and Topochemical Polymerization of the Programmed Asymmetric Amphiphiles
Authors: Kim Dae-Yoon , Lee Sang-A , Jung Daseal , Jeong Kwang-Un 
Published: June 2016

AbstractFor the advancement in multi-stimuli responsive optical devices, we report the elaborate molecular engineering of the dual photo-functionalized amphiphile (abbreviated as AZ1DA) containing both a photo-isomerizable azobenzene and a photo-polymerizable diacetylene. To achieve the efficient photochemical reactions in thin solid films, the self-assembly of AZ1DA molecules into the ordered phases should be precisely controlled and efficiently utilized. First, the remote-controllable light shutter is successfully demonstrated based on the reversible trans-cis photo-isomerization of azobenzene group in the smectic A mesophase. Second, the self-organized monoclinic crystal phase allows us to validate the photo-polymerization of diacetylene moiety for the photo-patterned thin films and the thermo-responsible color switches. From the demonstrations of optically tunable thin films, it is realized that the construction of strong relationships between chemical structures, molecular packing structures and physical properties of the programmed molecules is the core research for the development of smart and multifunctional soft materials.
Mesoporous Nano-Silica Serves as the Degradation Inhibitor in Polymer Dielectrics
Authors: Yang Yang , Hu Jun , He Jinliang 
Published: June 2016

AbstractA new generation of nano-additives for robust high performance nanodielectrics is proposed. It is demonstrated for the first time that mesoporous material could act as “degradation inhibitor” for polymer dielectrics to sequestrate the electrical degradation products then restrain the electrical aging process especially under high temperature conditions, which is superior to the existing additives of nanodielectrics except further increasing the dielectric strength. Polyethylenimine (PEI) loaded nano-scaled mesoporous silica MCM-41 (nano-MS) is doped into the dielectric matrix to prepare the PP/MCM-41-PEI nanocomposites. PEI provides the amines to capture the electrical degradation products while the MCM-41 brackets afford large adsorption surface, bring down the activating temperature of the absorbent then enhance the absorptive capacity. The electrical aging tests confirm the contribution of the mesoporous structure to electrical aging resistance and FT-IR analysis of the electrical degraded regions demonstrates the chemical absorption especially under high temperature conditions. Take the experimental data as examples, extending the aging durability and dielectric strength of polymer dielectrics by 5 times and 16%, respectively, can have substantial commercial significance in energy storage, power electronics and power transmission areas.
Evaluation of two W‐band power dividers in a subwavelength dielectric fibre technology
Authors: Reese R. , Jost M. , Jakoby R. 
Published: June 2016

The design and characterisation of two different power divider techniques, i.e. Y‐branch and multimodal power dividers, based on subwavelength dielectric fibre technology is presented. Both have been successfully established in the optical domain for dielectric waveguides and are adapted to W‐band frequencies (75–110 GHz). Both power dividers are made out of the cross‐linked polystyrene Rexolite 1422 and have been processed by milling. Simulations predicted insertion losses between 3.5 and 4 dB while the electrical characterisation showed insertion losses between 3.5 and 5 dB. The multimodal power divider has the best performance with 1–1.5 dB lower insertion losses compared with the Y‐branch divider.
Sensitive incipient inter‐turn fault detection algorithm for power transformers
Authors: Venikar Prasad A. , Ballal Makarand S. , Umre Bhimrao S. , Suryawanshi Hiralal M. 
Published: June 2016

This study presents a sensitive and online approach for transformer inter‐turn fault detection at the inception stage. The technique is based on computation and application of difference in positive sequence impedance and difference in negative sequence current of transformer. A new characteristic plot is developed for this purpose from the transformer nameplate details and test results. The settings of the proposed algorithm adapt online for on‐load tap changer operation. The proposed technique is verified through simulation, and results are experimentally validated on a specially designed 10 kVA transformer. The results suggest significant improvement in sensitivity for inter‐turn fault detection as compared with commercially available dual slope differential protection scheme.