bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
APOBEC3G Interacts with ssDNA by Two Modes: AFM Studies
Authors: Shlyakhtenko Luda S. , Dutta Samrat , Banga Jaspreet , Li Ming , Harris Reuben S. , Lyubchenko Yuri L. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractAPOBEC3G (A3G) protein has antiviral activity against HIV and other pathogenic retroviruses. A3G has two domains: a catalytic C-terminal domain (CTD) that deaminates cytidine and a N-terminal domain (NTD) that binds to ssDNA. Although abundant information exists about the biological activities of A3G protein, the interplay between sequence specific deaminase activity and A3G binding to ssDNA remains controversial. We used the topographic imaging and force spectroscopy modalities of Atomic Force Spectroscopy (AFM) to characterize the interaction of A3G protein with deaminase specific and nonspecific ssDNA substrates. AFM imaging demonstrated that A3G has elevated affinity for deaminase specific ssDNA than for nonspecific ssDNA. AFM force spectroscopy revealed two distinct binding modes by which A3G interacts with ssDNA. One mode requires sequence specificity, as demonstrated by stronger and more stable complexes with deaminase specific ssDNA than with nonspecific ssDNA. Overall these observations enforce prior studies suggesting that both domains of A3G contribute to the sequence specific binding of ssDNA.
PLK1 blockade enhances therapeutic effects of radiation by inducing cell cycle arrest at the mitotic phase
Authors: Inoue Minoru , Yoshimura Michio , Kobayashi Minoru , Morinibu Akiyo , Itasaka Satoshi , Hiraoka Masahiro , Harada Hiroshi 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThe cytotoxicity of ionizing radiation depends on the cell cycle phase; therefore, its pharmacological manipulation, especially the induction of cell cycle arrest at the radiosensitive mitotic-phase (M-phase), has been attempted for effective radiation therapy. Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) is a serine/threonine kinase that functions in mitotic progression and is now recognized as a potential target for radiosensitization. We herein investigated whether PLK1 blockade enhanced the cytotoxic effects of radiation by modulating cell cycle phases of cancer cells using the novel small molecule inhibitor of PLK1, TAK-960. The TAK-960 treatment exhibited radiosensitizing effects in vitro, especially when it increased the proportion of M-phase cells. TAK-960 did not sensitize cancer cells to radiation when an insufficient amount of time was provided to induce mitotic arrest. The overexpression of a PLK1 mutant, PLK1-R136G&T210D, which was confirmed to cancel the TAK-960-mediated increase in the proportion of mitotic cells, abrogated the radiosensitizing effects of TAK-960. A tumor growth delay assay also demonstrated that the radiosensitizing effects of TAK-960 depended on an increase in the proportion of M-phase cells. These results provide a rational basis for targeting PLK1 for radiosensitization when considering the therapeutic time window for M-phase arrest as the best timing for radiation treatments.
Long-term rice cultivation stabilizes soil organic carbon and promotes soil microbial activity in a salt marsh derived soil chronosequence
Authors: Wang Ping , Liu Yalong , Li Lianqing , Cheng Kun , Zheng Jufeng , Zhang Xuhui , Zheng Jinwei , Joseph Stephen , Pan Genxing 
Published: October 2015

AbstractSoil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration with enhanced stable carbon storage has been widely accepted as a very important ecosystem property. Yet, the link between carbon stability and bio-activity for ecosystem functioning with OC accumulation in field soils has not been characterized. We assessed the changes in microbial activity versus carbon stability along a paddy soil chronosequence shifting from salt marsh in East China. We used mean weight diameter, normalized enzyme activity (NEA) and carbon gain from straw amendment for addressing soil aggregation, microbial biochemical activity and potential C sequestration, respectively. In addition, a response ratio was employed to infer the changes in all analyzed parameters with prolonged rice cultivation. While stable carbon pools varied with total SOC accumulation, soil respiration and both bacterial and fungal diversity were relatively constant in the rice soils. Bacterial abundance and NEA were positively but highly correlated to total SOC accumulation, indicating an enhanced bio-activity with carbon stabilization. This could be linked to an enhancement of particulate organic carbon pool due to physical protection with enhanced soil aggregation in the rice soils under long-term rice cultivation. However, the mechanism underpinning these changes should be explored in future studies in rice soils where dynamic redox conditions exist.
Glass transition of aqueous solutions involving annealing-induced ice recrystallization resolves liquid-liquid transition puzzle of water
Authors: Zhao Li-Shan , Cao Ze-Xian , Wang Qiang 
Published: October 2015

AbstractLiquid-liquid transition of water is an important concept in condensed-matter physics. Recently, it was claimed to have been confirmed in aqueous solutions based on annealing-induced upshift of glass-liquid transition temperature, "Equation missing". Here we report a universal water-content, "Equation missing", dependence of "Equation missing" for aqueous solutions. Solutions with "Equation missing" vitrify/devitrify at a constant temperature, "Equation missing", referring to freeze-concentrated phase with "Equation missing" left behind ice crystallization. Those solutions with "Equation missing" totally vitrify at "Equation missing" under conventional cooling/heating process though, "Equation missing" of the samples annealed at temperatures  "Equation missing" to effectively evoke ice recrystallization is stabilized at "Equation missing". Experiments on aqueous glycerol and 1,2,4-butanetriol solutions in literature were repeated and the same samples subject to other annealing treatments equally reproduce the result. The upshift of "Equation missing" by annealing is attributable to freeze-concentrated phase of solutions instead of ‘liquid II phase of water’. Our work also provides a reliable method to determine hydration formula and to scrutinize solute-solvent interaction in solution.
A self-stabilized coherent phonon source driven by optical forces
Authors: Navarro-Urrios D. , Capuj N. E. , Gomis-Bresco J. , Alzina F. , Pitanti A. , Griol A. , Martínez A. , Sotomayor Torres C. M. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractWe report a novel injection scheme that allows for “phonon lasing” in a one-dimensional opto-mechanical photonic crystal, in a sideband unresolved regime and with cooperativity values as low as 10−2. It extracts energy from a cw infrared laser source and is based on the triggering of a thermo-optical/free-carrier-dispersion self-pulsing limit-cycle, which anharmonically modulates the radiation pressure force. The large amplitude of the coherent mechanical motion acts as a feedback that stabilizes and entrains the self-pulsing oscillations to simple fractions of the mechanical frequency. A manifold of frequency-entrained regions with two different mechanical modes (at 54 and 122 MHz) are observed as a result of the wide tuneability of the natural frequency of the self-pulsing. The system operates at ambient conditions of pressure and temperature in a silicon platform, which enables its exploitation in sensing, intra-chip metrology or time-keeping applications.
Hyper sensitive protein detection by Tandem-HTRF reveals Cyclin D1 dynamics in adult mouse
Authors: Zampieri Alexandre , Champagne Julien , Auzemery Baptiste , Fuentes Ivanna , Maurel Benjamin , Bienvenu Frédéric 
Published: October 2015

AbstractWe present here a novel method for the semi-quantitative detection of low abundance proteins in solution that is both fast and simple. It is based on Homogenous Time Resolved Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (HTRF), between a lanthanide labeled donor antibody and a d2 or XL665 labeled acceptor antibody that are both raised against different epitopes of the same target. This novel approach we termed “Tandem-HTRF”, can specifically reveal rare polypeptides from only a few microliters of cellular lysate within one hour in a 384-well plate format. Using this sensitive approach, we observed surprisingly that the core cell cycle regulator Cyclin D1 is sustained in fully developed adult organs and harbors an unexpected expression pattern affected by environmental challenge. Thus our method, Tandem-HTRF offers a promising way to investigate subtle variations in the dynamics of sparse proteins from limited biological material.
Latticed pentamode acoustic cloak
Authors: Chen Yi , Liu Xiaoning , Hu Gengkai 
Published: October 2015

AbstractWe report in this work a practical design of pentamode acoustic cloak with microstructure. The proposed cloak is assembled by pentamode lattice made of a single-phase solid material. The function of rerouting acoustic wave round an obstacle has been demonstrated numerically. It is also revealed that shear related resonance due to weak shear resistance in practical pentamode lattices punctures broadband feature predicted based on ideal pentamode cloak. As a consequence, the latticed pentamode cloak can only conceal the obstacle in segmented frequency ranges. We have also shown that the shear resonance can be largely reduced by introducing material damping and an improved broadband performance can be achieved. These works pave the way for experimental demonstration of pentamode acoustic cloak.
Efficacy and Safety of Bevacizumab Combined with Chemotherapy for Managing Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Li Qin , Yan Han , Zhao Pengfei , Yang Yifan , Cao Bangwei 
Published: October 2015

AbstractAlthough the FDA revoked metastatic breast cancer (MBC) from bevacizumab (BEV) indication in 2011, BEV combined with paclitaxel has been written in the breast cancer NCCN guidelines. This systematic assessment was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BEV + chemotherapy (CHE) for managing MBC. PubMed and EMBASE were searched for original articles written in English and published before July, 2015. Progression-free survival was significantly improved in the CHE + BEV arms compared to the CHE arms in overall group and in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative group (HR 0.75, 95% CI: 0.68–0.84, P < 0.001; HR 0.75, 95% CI: 0.69–0.82, P < 0.001). There were no significant improvement in overall survival in the CHE + BEV arms compared to the CHE arms. Significantly more grade 3 febrile neutropenia, hypertension, proteinuria and cardiac events were observed in the CHE + BEV arm, which are controllable and reversible. Severe bleeding occurred more in the BEV + taxane arms and in patients with brain metastases. Therefore, CHE + BEV significantly increases progression-free survival in patients with MBC, it should be considered as a treatment option for these patients under the premise of reasonable selection of target population and combined CHE drugs.
Secrets of virtuoso: neuromuscular attributes of motor virtuosity in expert musicians
Authors: Furuya Shinichi , Oku Takanori , Miyazaki Fumio , Kinoshita Hiroshi 
Published: October 2015

AbstractMusical performance requires extremely fast and dexterous limb movements. The underlying biological mechanisms have been an object of interest among scientists and non-scientists for centuries. Numerous studies of musicians and non-musicians have demonstrated that neuroplastic adaptations through early and deliberate musical training endowed superior motor skill. However, little has been unveiled about what makes inter-individual differences in motor skills among musicians. Here we determined the attributes of inter-individual differences in the maximum rate of repetitive piano keystrokes in twenty-four pianists. Among various representative factors of neuromuscular functions, anatomical characteristics and training history, a stepwise multiple regression analysis and generalized linear model identified two predominant predictors of the maximum rate of repetitive piano keystrokes; finger tapping rate and muscular strength of the elbow extensor. These results suggest a non-uniform role of individual limb muscles in the production of extremely fast repetitive multi-joint movements. Neither age of musical training initiation nor the amount of extensive musical training before age twenty was a predictor. Power grip strength was negatively related to the maximum rate of piano keystrokes only during the smallest tone production. These findings highlight the importance of innate biological nature and explicit training for motor virtuosity.
Massive Dirac Fermion Observed in Lanthanide-Doped Topological Insulator Thin Films
Authors: Harrison S. E. , Collins-McIntyre L. J. , Schönherr P. , Vailionis A. , Srot V. , van Aken P. A. , Kellock A. J. , Pushp A. , Parkin S. S. P. , Harris J. S. , Zhou B. , Chen Y. L. , Hesjedal T. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThe breaking of time reversal symmetry (TRS) in three-dimensional (3D) topological insulators (TIs) and thus the opening of a ‘Dirac-mass gap’ in the linearly dispersed Dirac surface state, is a prerequisite for unlocking exotic physical states. Introducing ferromagnetic long-range order by transition metal doping has been shown to break TRS. Here, we present the study of lanthanide (Ln) doped Bi2Te3, where the magnetic doping with high-moment lanthanides promises large energy gaps. Using molecular beam epitaxy, single-crystalline, rhombohedral thin films with Ln concentrations of up to ~35%, substituting on Bi sites, were achieved for Dy, Gd and Ho doping. Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy shows the characteristic Dirac cone for Gd and Ho doping. In contrast, for Dy doping above a critical doping concentration, a gap opening is observed via the decreased spectral intensity at the Dirac point, indicating a topological quantum phase transition persisting up to room-temperature.
Maternal sensitivity, infant limbic structure volume and functional connectivity: a preliminary study
Authors: Rifkin-Graboi A , Kong L , Sim L W , Sanmugam S , Broekman B F P , Chen H , Wong E , Kwek K , Saw S-M , Chong Y-S , Gluckman P D , Fortier M V , Pederson D , Meaney M J , Qiu A 
Published: October 2015

AbstractMechanisms underlying the profound parental effects on cognitive, emotional and social development in humans remain poorly understood. Studies with nonhuman models suggest variations in parental care affect the limbic system, influential to learning, autobiography and emotional regulation. In some research, nonoptimal care relates to decreases in neurogenesis, although other work suggests early-postnatal social adversity accelerates the maturation of limbic structures associated with emotional learning. We explored whether maternal sensitivity predicts human limbic system development and functional connectivity patterns in a small sample of human infants. When infants were 6 months of age, 20 mother–infant dyads attended a laboratory-based observational session and the infants underwent neuroimaging at the same age. After considering age at imaging, household income and postnatal maternal anxiety, regression analyses demonstrated significant indirect associations between maternal sensitivity and bilateral hippocampal volume at six months, with the majority of associations between sensitivity and the amygdala demonstrating similar indirect, but not significant results. Moreover, functional analyses revealed direct associations between maternal sensitivity and connectivity between the hippocampus and areas important for emotional regulation and socio-emotional functioning. Sensitivity additionally predicted indirect associations between limbic structures and regions related to autobiographical memory. Our volumetric results are consistent with research indicating accelerated limbic development in response to early social adversity, and in combination with our functional results, if replicated in a larger sample, may suggest that subtle, but important, variations in maternal care influence neuroanatomical trajectories important to future cognitive and emotional functioning.
BDNF–TrkB signaling in the nucleus accumbens shell of mice has key role in methamphetamine withdrawal symptoms
Authors: Ren Q , Ma M , Yang C , Zhang J-C , Yao W , Hashimoto K 
Published: October 2015

AbstractDepression is a core symptom of methamphetamine (METH) withdrawal during the first several weeks of abstinence. However, the precise mechanisms underlying METH withdrawal symptoms remain unknown. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its specific receptor, tropomyosin-related kinase (TrkB), have a role the in pathophysiology of depression. In this study, we examined the role of BDNF–TrkB signaling in different brain regions of male mice with METH withdrawal symptoms. Repeated METH (3 mg kg−1 per day for 5 days) administration to mice caused a long-lasting depression-like behavior including anhedonia. Western blot analysis showed that BDNF levels in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of METH-treated mice were significantly higher than those of control mice whereas BDNF levels in other regions, including the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, were not altered. METH-induced depression-like behavior, behavioral sensitization and dendritic changes in the NAc shell were improved by subsequent subchronic administration of TrkB antagonist ANA-12 (0.5 mg kg−1 per day for 14 days), but not TrkB agonist 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (10 mg kg−1 per day for 14 days). In vivo microdialysis showed that METH (1 mg kg−1)-induced dopamine release in NAc shell of METH-treated mice was attenuated after subsequent subchronic ANA-12 administration. Interestingly, a single bilateral infusion of ANA-12 into the NAc shell, but not NAc core, showed a rapid and long-lasting therapeutic effect. However, ketamine and paroxetine had no effect. These findings suggest that increased BDNF–TrkB signaling in the NAc shell has an important role in the behavioral abnormalities after withdrawal from repeated METH administration, and that TrkB antagonists are potential therapeutic drugs for withdrawal symptoms in METH abusers.
Kinetic isotope effect of proton-coupled electron transfer in a hydrogen bonded phenol—pyrrolidino[60]fullerene
Authors: Ravensbergen Janneke , Brown Chelsea L. , Moore Gary F. , Frese Raoul N. , van Grondelle Rienk , Gust Devens , Moore Thomas A. , Moore Ana L. , Kennis John T. M. 
Published: October 2015

Abstract
Proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) plays a central role in photosynthesis and potentially in solar-to-fuel systems. We report a spectroscopy study on a phenol—pyrrolidino[60]fullerene. Quenching of the singlet excited state from 1 ns to 250 ps is assigned to PCET. A H/D exchange study reveals a kinetic isotope effect (KIE) of 3.0, consistent with a concerted PCET mechanism.
Synthesis and application of silver nanoparticles loaded on modified montorillonite
Authors: Tian Li , Tuping Li , Ziwei Huang 
Published: October 2015

Na+ montmorillonite (MMT) was modified with L‐cystine, polyvinylpyrrolidone or mercaptoacetic acid and then silver (Ag) was loaded on the modified MMTs via ion‐exchange reaction under microwave irradiation for 4 min, and finally the Ag ions were turned to Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) under the irradiation of an ultraviolet lamp. The Ag‐loaded L‐cystine‐modified MMT (Ag@AA‐MMT) with an Ag content of 10.93 wt% was the highest of all, suggesting the distinct advantage of microwave‐assisted ion‐exchange reaction on a modified MMT. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the successful loading of silver and the strong interaction between sulphur and Ag. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction patterns proved the existence and formation mechanism of metallic Ag NPs. The Ag‐loaded modified MMT has shown a slow release property and good thermal stability owing to the shielding effect of the MMT layers. The Ag@AA‐MMT, showing a very excellent antibacterial property and catalytic activity, exhibited a wide range of potential applications.
Silicon on insulator pressure sensor based on a thermostable electrode for high temperature applications
Authors: Liu G.D. , Cui W.P. , Hu H. , Zhang F.S. , Zhang Y.X. , Gao C.C. , Hao Y.L. 
Published: October 2015

A high temperature silicon on insulator pressure sensor utilising a Ti/TiN/Pt/Au electrode is presented for improving the thermal stability of ohmic contacts, which can work stably at high temperatures of up to 500°C. To analyse the characteristics of the electrode at high temperatures, a special test structure is measured using the linear transmission line method and Auger electron spectroscopy. To solve the measurement problem, a novel calibration setup is designed to calibrate the absolute pressure sensor at extremely high temperatures. The measurement results have shown that the pressure sensor has a nonlinearity error of 0.17%FS and a sensitivity of 0.24 mV/kPa with a measurement range of 30–150 kPa at 500°C, indicating the good thermal stability of the ohmic contacts.
Variable impact of late-Quaternary megafaunal extinction in causing ecological state shifts in North and South America
Authors: Barnosky Anthony D. , Lindsey Emily L. , Villavicencio Natalia A. , Bostelmann Enrique , Hadly Elizabeth A. , Wanket James , Marshall Charles R. 
Published: October 2015

Significance
Removing megafauna from contemporary ecosystems changes vegetation and small mammal communities over ecological time scales. We show that similar dynamics seem to operate over millennial time scales but only if the megafaunal loss includes ecosystem engineers in settings that also contain plant species susceptible to ecological release. Under such conditions, megafauna extinction can initiate changes that quickly lead to new, lasting ecological states. This implies that should some megafauna currently at risk for extinction actually become extinct, their characteristic ecosystems—for example, mosaics of savannah and forest—would also disappear, rapidly transforming into novel systems with respect to what is considered normal in today’s world.
Virus-mimetic nanovesicles as a versatile antigen-delivery system
Authors: Zhang Pengfei , Chen Yixin , Zeng Yun , Shen Chenguang , Li Rui , Guo Zhide , Li Shaowei , Zheng Qingbing , Chu Chengchao , Wang Zhantong , Zheng Zizheng , Tian Rui , Ge Shengxiang , Zhang Xianzhong , Xia Ning-Shao , Liu Gang , Chen Xiaoyuan 
Published: October 2015

Significance
The previously unidentified virus-mimetic nanovesicles (VMVs) described in this manuscript consist of phospholipid derived from mammalian cell plasma membrane, recombinant protein anchored to cell membrane via the route of signal peptide sorting, and surfactants capable of controlling the VMV size and strength, which allows the VMVs to display functional polypeptides or maintain the correct conformation of protein antigen. The protein integrated into VMV by its hydrophobic transmembrane peptide has more modifications, such as glycosylation, than proteins in conventional subunit vaccines. Moreover, many viral envelope glycoproteins can be genetically engineered onto VMV liposomal surface so as to mimic the properties and conformational epitopes of natural virus. VMV provides an effective, straightforward, and tunable approach against a wide range of emerging enveloped viruses.