bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Studying Ancient Anthropogenic Impacts on Current Floral Biodiversity in the Southern Levant as reflected by the Philistine Migration
Authors: Frumin Suembikya , Maeir Aren M. , Kolska Horwitz Liora , Weiss Ehud 
Published: August 2015

AbstractHuman migrations across geographic boundaries can facilitate the introduction of new husbandry practices and dispersal of plants and animals, resulting in changes in biodiversity. As previously demonstrated, the 12th century BCE Philistine migration–to the southern Levantine littoral, involved the transportation of pigs from Europe, engendering long term genetic displacement of local Near Eastern haplotypes. Building on this and combining biogeographical methods of Floral List comparisons with archaeological data, we have elucidated the Philistine impact on Southern Levantine floral ecosystems. We demonstrate that previously unexploited local plants were incorporated into the Philistine milieu and new species were introduced–from Europe, the Aegean, Egypt and Mesopotamia –resulting in the earliest locally cultivated sycamore, cumin, coriander, bay tree and opium poppy. This research has highlighted the impact of past cultures on the formation of floral ecosystems and their long-term effects on contemporary local biological diversity.
Bile acids induce hepatic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Sawitza Iris , Kordes Claus , Götze Silke , Herebian Diran , Häussinger Dieter 
Published: August 2015

AbstractMesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have the potential to differentiate into multiple cell lineages and their therapeutic potential has become obvious. In the liver, MSC are represented by stellate cells which have the potential to differentiate into hepatocytes after stimulation with growth factors. Since bile acids can promote liver regeneration, their influence on liver-resident and bone marrow-derived MSC was investigated. Physiological concentrations of bile acids such as tauroursodeoxycholic acid were able to initiate hepatic differentiation of MSC via the farnesoid X receptor and transmembrane G-protein-coupled bile acid receptor 5 as investigated with knockout mice. Notch, hedgehog, transforming growth factor-β/bone morphogenic protein family and non-canonical Wnt signalling were also essential for bile acid-mediated differentiation, whereas β-catenin-dependent Wnt signalling was able to attenuate this process. Our findings reveal bile acid-mediated signalling as an alternative way to induce hepatic differentiaion of stem cells and highlight bile acids as important signalling molecules during liver regeneration.
Malaria Diagnosis Using a Mobile Phone Polarized Microscope
Authors: Pirnstill Casey W. , Coté Gerard L. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractMalaria remains a major global health burden and new methods for low-cost, high-sensitivity, diagnosis are essential, particularly in remote areas with low-resource around the world. In this paper, a cost effective, optical cell-phone based transmission polarized light microscope system is presented for imaging the malaria pigment known as hemozoin. It can be difficult to determine the presence of the pigment from background and other artifacts, even for skilled microscopy technicians. The pigment is much easier to observe using polarized light microscopy. However, implementation of polarized light microscopy lacks widespread adoption because the existing commercial devices have complicated designs, require sophisticated maintenance, tend to be bulky, can be expensive and would require re-training for existing microscopy technicians. To this end, a high fidelity and high optical resolution cell-phone based polarized light microscopy system is presented which is comparable to larger bench-top polarized microscopy systems but at much lower cost and complexity. The detection of malaria in fixed and stained blood smears is presented using both, a conventional polarized microscope and our cell-phone based system. The cell-phone based polarimetric microscopy design shows the potential to have both the resolution and specificity to detect malaria in a low-cost, easy-to-use, modular platform.
Correlated random walks caused by dynamical wavefunction collapse
Authors: Bedingham D. J. , Ulbricht H. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractWavefunction collapse models modify Schrödinger’s equation so that it describes the collapse of a superposition of macroscopically distinguishable states as a dynamical process. This provides a basis for the resolution of the quantum measurement problem. An additional generic consequence of the collapse mechanism is that it causes particles to exhibit a tiny random diffusive motion. Here it is shown that for the continuous spontaneous localization (CSL) model—one of the most well developed collapse models—the diffusions of two sufficiently nearby particles are positively correlated. An experimental test of this effect is proposed in which random displacements of pairs of free nanoparticles are measured after they have been simultaneously released from nearby traps. The experiment must be carried out at sufficiently low temperature and pressure in order for the collapse effects to dominate over the ambient environmental noise. It is argued that these constraints can be satisfied by current technologies for a large region of the viable parameter space of the CSL model. The effect disappears as the separation between particles exceeds the CSL length scale. The test therefore provides a means of bounding this length scale.
The Dynamics of Coalition Formation on Complex Networks
Authors: Auer S. , Heitzig J. , Kornek U. , Schöll E. , Kurths J. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractComplex networks describe the structure of many socio-economic systems. However, in studies of decision-making processes the evolution of the underlying social relations are disregarded. In this report, we aim to understand the formation of self-organizing domains of cooperation (“coalitions”) on an acquaintance network. We include both the network’s influence on the formation of coalitions and vice versa how the network adapts to the current coalition structure, thus forming a social feedback loop. We increase complexity from simple opinion adaptation processes studied in earlier research to more complex decision-making determined by costs and benefits and from bilateral to multilateral cooperation. We show how phase transitions emerge from such coevolutionary dynamics, which can be interpreted as processes of great transformations. If the network adaptation rate is high, the social dynamics prevent the formation of a grand coalition and therefore full cooperation. We find some empirical support for our main results: Our model develops a bimodal coalition size distribution over time similar to those found in social structures. Our detection and distinguishing of phase transitions may be exemplary for other models of socio-economic systems with low agent numbers and therefore strong finite-size effects.
SPAD-based leaf nitrogen estimation is impacted by environmental factors and crop leaf characteristics
Authors: Xiong Dongliang , Chen Jia , Yu Tingting , Gao Wanlin , Ling Xiaoxia , Li Yong , Peng Shaobing , Huang Jianliang 
Published: August 2015

AbstractChlorophyll meters are widely used to guide nitrogen (N) management by monitoring leaf N status in agricultural systems, but the effects of environmental factors and leaf characteristics on leaf N estimations are still unclear. In the present study, we estimated the relationships among SPAD readings, chlorophyll content and leaf N content per leaf area for seven species grown in multiple environments. There were similar relationships between SPAD readings and chlorophyll content per leaf area for the species groups, but the relationship between chlorophyll content and leaf N content per leaf area and the relationship between SPAD readings and leaf N content per leaf area varied widely among the species groups. A significant impact of light-dependent chloroplast movement on SPAD readings was observed under low leaf N supplementation in both rice and soybean but not under high N supplementation. Furthermore, the allocation of leaf N to chlorophyll was strongly influenced by short-term changes in growth light. We demonstrate that the relationship between SPAD readings and leaf N content per leaf area is profoundly affected by environmental factors and leaf features of crop species, which should be accounted for when using a chlorophyll meter to guide N management in agricultural systems.
Structural Deformation of Sm@C88 under High Pressure
Authors: Cui Jinxing , Yao Mingguang , Yang Hua , Liu Ziyang , Ma Fengxian , Li Quanjun , Liu Ran , Zou Bo , Cui Tian , Liu Zhenxian , Sundqvist Bertil , Liu Bingbing 
Published: August 2015

AbstractWe have studied the structural transformation of Sm@C88 under pressure up to 18 GPa by infrared spectroscopy combined with theoretical simulations. The infrared-active vibrational modes of Sm@C88 at ambient conditions have been assigned for the first time. Pressure-induced blue and red shifts of the corresponding vibrational modes indicate an anisotropic deformation of the carbon cage upon compression. We propose that the carbon cage changes from ellipsoidal to approximately spherical around 7 GPa. A smaller deformation of the carbon bonds in the area close to the Sm atom in the cage suggests that the trapped Sm atom plays a role in minimizing the compression of the adjacent bonds. Pressure induced a significant reduction of the band gap of the crystal. The HOMO-LUMO gap of the Sm@C88 molecule decreases remarkably at 7 GPa as the carbon cage is deformed. Also, compression enhances intermolecular interactions and causes a widening of the energy bands. Both effects decrease the band gap of the sample. The carbon cage deforms significantly above 7 GPa, from spherical to a peanut-like shape and collapses at 18 GPa.
Nuclear Localization of the DNA Repair Scaffold XRCC1: Uncovering the Functional Role of a Bipartite NLS
Authors: Kirby Thomas W. , Gassman Natalie R. , Smith Cassandra E. , Pedersen Lars C. , Gabel Scott A. , Sobhany Mack , Wilson Samuel H. , London Robert E. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractWe have characterized the nuclear localization signal (NLS) of XRCC1 structurally using X-ray crystallography and functionally using fluorescence imaging. Crystallography and binding studies confirm the bipartite nature of the XRCC1 NLS interaction with Importin α (Impα) in which the major and minor binding motifs are separated by >20 residues and resolve previous inconsistent determinations. Binding studies of peptides corresponding to the bipartite NLS, as well as its major and minor binding motifs, to both wild-type and mutated forms of Impα reveal pronounced cooperative binding behavior that is generated by the proximity effect of the tethered major and minor motifs of the NLS. The cooperativity stems from the increased local concentration of the second motif near its cognate binding site that is a consequence of the stepwise binding behavior of the bipartite NLS. We predict that the stepwise dissociation of the NLS from Impα facilitates unloading by providing a partially complexed intermediate that is available for competitive binding by Nup50 or the Importin β binding domain. This behavior provides a basis for meeting the intrinsically conflicting high affinity and high flux requirements of an efficient nuclear transport system.
Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Increases HNF-4α Phosphorylation via cAMP/PKA Pathway in the Liver
Authors: Song Yongfeng , Zheng Dongmei , Zhao Meng , Qin Yejun , Wang Tingting , Xing Wanjia , Gao Ling , Zhao Jiajun 
Published: August 2015

AbstractHepatocyte nuclear factor-4 alpha (HNF-4α) is an orphan nuclear receptor with important roles in hepatic metabolism. Protein phosphorylation plays a functional role in its nuclear localization, DNA binding and transactivation. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is a hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland, whose direct effect on the metabolic pathway has been observed. Our previous study demonstrated that TSH significantly decreases hepatic nuclear HNF-4α expression. However, whether TSH can influence HNF-4α phosphorylation is unclear. Here, we discovered that TSH can increase HNF-4α phosphorylation and modulate its subcellularlocalization. When HepG2 cells were treated with TSH, the phosphorylation of HNF-4α increased and its nuclear localization was interrupted. Cytoplasmic HNF-4α increased, while nuclear HNF-4α decreased. When the cAMP/PKA pathway was inhibited by the PKA inhibitor H89 and the adenylate cyclase (AC) inhibitor SQ22536, the TSH-mediated phosphorylation of HNF-4α was disrupted. When Tshr was silenced in mice, the phosphorylation of HNF-4α decreased and cytoplasmic HNF-4α decreased while nuclear HNF-4α increased. In conclusion, our study revealed a novel mechanism by which TSH regulated the hepatic HNF-4α subcellular localization, suggesting the possibility that one of the effects of TSH is to reduce the expression of HNF-4α target genes.
Coffee consumption and risk of endometrial cancer: a dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies
Authors: Zhou Quan , Luo Mei-Ling , Li Hui , Li Min , Zhou Jian-Guo 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThis is a dose-response (DR) meta-analysis to evaluate the association of coffee consumption on endometrial cancer (EC) risk. A total 1,534,039 participants from 13 published articles were added in this meta-analysis. The RR of total coffee consumption and EC were 0.80 (95% CI: 0.74–0.86). A stronger association between coffee intake and EC incidence was found in patients who were never treated with hormones, 0.60 (95% CI: 0.50–0.72) and subjects with a BMI ≥25 kg/m2, 0.57 (95% CI: 0.46–0.71). The overall RRs for caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee were 0.66 (95% CI: 0.52–0.84) and 0.77 (95% CI: 0.63–0.94), respectively. A linear DR relationship was seen in coffee, caffeinated coffee, decaffeinated coffee and caffeine intake. The EC risk decreased by 5% for every 1 cup per day of coffee intake, 7% for every 1 cup per day of caffeinated coffee intake, 4% for every 1 cup per day of decaffeinated intake of coffee and 4% for every 100 mg of caffeine intake per day. In conclusion, coffee and intake of caffeine might significantly reduce the incidence of EC and these effects may be modified by BMI and history of hormone therapy.
Direct liquid cooling for an outer‐rotor direct‐drive permanent‐magnet synchronous generator for wind farm applications
Authors: Polikarpova Maria , Ponomarev Pavel , Röyttä Pekka , Semken Scott , Alexandrova Yulia , Pyrhönen Juha 
Published: August 2015

Offshore applications, which call for the largest and most powerful wind turbines, demand a higher standard of reliability and maintainability. Direct‐drive permanent‐magnet synchronous generators (DD‐PMSGs) are increasingly being specified for these applications. The major shortcoming to traditional high‐powered direct‐drive generators is extraordinary size and mass leading to extraordinary cost. To generate higher powers at low rotational speeds, direct‐drive generators must either develop greater tangential stresses or be larger in diameter. For traditional air‐cooled generators, higher power generally means a much larger diameter. Dramatic cost savings can be realised with the development of a more effective stator windings cooling system that puts further the limit on current density enabling the development of high‐power direct‐drive generators of substantially smaller diameters. This study presents a direct liquid cooling system design for an 8 MW outer‐rotor DD‐PMSG. The approach is new for wind turbine generators, so its impact on the thermal behaviour and reliability for the total electrical machine has been evaluated and reported here. Testing of a stator coil prototype (1/72nd of the complete stator) with internal cooling liquid flow is also reported to demonstrate the workability of the designed cooling solution.
The COUP-TFII/Neuropilin-2 is a molecular switch steering diencephalon-derived GABAergic neurons in the developing mouse brain
Authors: Kanatani Shigeaki , Honda Takao , Aramaki Michihiko , Hayashi Kanehiro , Kubo Ken-ichiro , Ishida Mami , Tanaka Daisuke H. , Kawauchi Takeshi , Sekine Katsutoshi , Kusuzawa Sayaka , Kawasaki Takahiko , Hirata Tatsumi , Tabata Hidenori , Uhlén Per , Nakajima Kazunori 
Published: August 2015

Significance
Recently the preoptic area (POa) has been shown to be a source of GABAergic neurons in the medial amygdala and cerebral cortex, where they are thought to play a pivotal role in emotions and intelligence, respectively. However, it is unknown how the POa-derived neurons migrate and selectively segregate into either the amygdala or cortex. By using focal in utero labeling of the POa, we show that switching on/off the transcription factor COUP-TFII (Chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor II) and the receptor Neuropilin-2 (Nrp2) directs the POa-derived neurons toward either the amygdala or cortex. Our study revealed an essential role of COUP-TFII/Nrp2 expression dynamics in the development of the amygdala and cortex.
Bacterial SPOR domains are recruited to septal peptidoglycan by binding to glycan strands that lack stem peptides
Authors: Yahashiri Atsushi , Jorgenson Matthew A. , Weiss David S. 
Published: August 2015

Significance
Cell division in bacteria is mediated by a large collection of proteins that assemble into a contractile ring at the division site. Understanding how these proteins are targeted to that site is important for understanding how division is spatially and temporally regulated. Here we demonstrate that a septal-targeting domain found in many bacterial cell-division proteins works by binding to a cell-wall structure that is present only transiently during cell division. These findings support a model for how different cell-wall hydrolases work together during separation of daughter cells and suggest a mechanism for coordinating synthesis and degradation of the cell wall during division.
Contact-dependent growth inhibition toxins exploit multiple independent cell-entry pathways
Authors: Willett Julia L. E. , Gucinski Grant C. , Fatherree Jackson P. , Low David A. , Hayes Christopher S. 
Published: August 2015

Significance
Gram-negative bacteria use contact-dependent growth inhibition (CDI) systems to bind neighboring bacteria and deliver diverse nuclease toxins that inhibit target-cell growth. This process requires toxin transport across the outer and inner membranes of target bacteria to reach DNA and RNA substrates in the cytoplasm. Our data indicate that CDI toxins contain a variable domain that specifies the entry pathway into target bacteria. These “translocation domains” exploit specific integral membrane proteins to deliver linked nuclease domains into the cytoplasm. We also find that CDI translocation domains can be exchanged between CdiA C-terminal toxin domains to deliver nucleases via different routes. These findings reveal a versatile protein-transport mechanism that could potentially be harnessed to deliver other antimicrobial cargoes into Gram-negative bacteria.
Cross-strand binding of TFAM to a single mtDNA molecule forms the mitochondrial nucleoid
Authors: Kukat Christian , Davies Karen M. , Wurm Christian A. , Spåhr Henrik , Bonekamp Nina A. , Kühl Inge , Joos Friederike , Polosa Paola Loguercio , Park Chan Bae , Posse Viktor , Falkenberg Maria , Jakobs Stefan , Kühlbrandt Werner , Larsson Nils-Göran 
Published: August 2015

Significance
Altered expression of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is heavily implicated in human disease and aging, but the basic organizational unit of mtDNA, the mitochondrial nucleoid, is poorly understood. Here, we have used a combination of biochemistry, superresolution microscopy, and electron microscopy to show that mammalian mitochondrial nucleoids have an irregular ellipsoidal shape and typically contain a single copy of mtDNA. Furthermore, we show that the nucleoid ultrastructure is independent of cellular mtDNA copy number and that the core nucleoid structure is formed by cross-strand binding of mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) to a single copy of mtDNA. The clarification of the ultrastructure of the mammalian mitochondrial nucleoid provides the fundamental basis for the understanding of regulation of mtDNA maintenance and expression in mammals.
NLRP3 deficiency protects from type 1 diabetes through the regulation of chemotaxis into the pancreatic islets
Authors: Hu Changyun , Ding Heyuan , Li Yangyang , Pearson James A. , Zhang Xiaojun , Flavell Richard A. , Wong F. Susan , Wen Li 
Published: August 2015

Significance
Our study demonstrated that the nucleotidebinding oligomerization domain, leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domaincontaining protein 3 (NLRP3) pathway plays an important role in type 1 diabetes (T1D) using a mouse model. NLRP3 is critical for chemokine receptors CCR5 and CXCR3 expression on T cells, influencing pathogenic T-cell migration to the islets. It also affects the chemokines CCL5 and CXCL10 expression in the islets, preventing pathogenic T cells from infiltration. Targeting this pathway may be useful in prevention and treatment of T1D as it affects both immune cells and pancreatic beta cells.
Effect of aging on muscle mitochondrial substrate utilization in humans
Authors: Petersen Kitt Falk , Morino Katsutaro , Alves Tiago C. , Kibbey Richard G. , Dufour Sylvie , Sono Saki , Yoo Peter S. , Cline Gary W. , Shulman Gerald I. 
Published: August 2015

Significance
Approximately 40% of Americans over the age of 65 suffer from impaired glucose tolerance or type 2 diabetes; however, the pathogenesis of aging-associated reductions in glucose metabolism is poorly understood. Aging is associated with muscle insulin resistance, increased intramyocellular fat content, and reductions in rates of muscle mitochondrial activity. To further examine the potential role of age-associated alterations in mitochondrial metabolism, we applied a novel method to assess muscle specific rates of mitochondrial glucose and fat oxidation and demonstrate that aging is also associated with a marked inability of mitochondria to switch from lipid to glucose oxidation on insulin stimulation, which may further contribute to dysregulated glucose and lipid metabolism in the elderly.
Hepatic ANGPTL3 regulates adipose tissue energy homeostasis
Authors: Wang Yan , McNutt Markey C. , Banfi Serena , Levin Michael G. , Holland William L. , Gusarova Viktoria , Gromada Jesper , Cohen Jonathan C. , Hobbs Helen H. 
Published: August 2015

Significance
Here we show that angiopoietin-like protein 3 (ANGPTL3) plays a major role in the trafficking of energy substrates to either storage or oxidative tissues in response to food intake. During fasting, adipose tissue releases fatty acids into the circulation for uptake by oxidative tissues. After feeding, the flow of fatty acids is reversed and the adipose tissue is replenished. In mice lacking ANGPTL3, the uptake of fatty acids from the circulation into adipose tissue was markedly reduced after refeeding. Triglyceride stores were maintained by increasing glucose uptake and converting it to fatty acids and triglycerides. Thus, ANGPTL3 acts like a hormone that is produced by the liver to coordinate substrate trafficking to peripheral tissues in response to dietary intake.