bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fatal H5N6 Avian Influenza Virus Infection in a Domestic Cat and Wild Birds in China
Authors: Yu Zhijun , Gao Xiaolong , Wang Tiecheng , Li Yanbing , Li Yongcheng , Xu Yu , Chu Dong , Sun Heting , Wu Changjiang , Li Shengnan , Wang Haijun , Li Yuanguo , Xia Zhiping , Lin Weishi , Qian Jun , Chen Hualan , Xia Xianzhu , Gao Yuwei 
Published: June 2015

AbstractH5N6 avian influenza viruses (AIVs) may pose a potential human risk as suggested by the first documented naturally-acquired human H5N6 virus infection in 2014. Here, we report the first cases of fatal H5N6 avian influenza virus (AIV) infection in a domestic cat and wild birds. These cases followed human H5N6 infections in China and preceded an H5N6 outbreak in chickens. The extensive migration routes of wild birds may contribute to the geographic spread of H5N6 AIVs and pose a risk to humans and susceptible domesticated animals and the H5N6 AIVs may spread from southern China to northern China by wild birds. Additional surveillance is required to better understand the threat of zoonotic transmission of AIVs.
Genetically Engineered Ascorbic acid-deficient Live Mutants of Leishmania donovani induce long lasting Protective Immunity against Visceral Leishmaniasis
Authors: Anand Sneha , Madhubala Rentala 
Published: June 2015

AbstractVisceral leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania donovaniis the most severe systemic form of the disease. There are still no vaccines available for humans and there are limitations associated with the current therapeutic regimens for leishmaniasis. Recently, we reported functional importance of Arabino-1, 4-lactone oxidase (ALO) enzyme fromL. donovaniinvolved in ascorbate biosynthesis pathway. In this study, we have shown thatΔALOparasites do not affect the ability of null mutants to invade visceral organs but severely impair parasite persistence beyond 16 week in BALB/c mice and hence are safe as an immunogen. Both short term (5 week) and long term (20 week) immunization withΔALOparasites conferred sustained protection against virulent challenge in BALB/c mice, activated splenocytes and resulted in induction of pro-inflammatory cytokine response. Protection in immunized mice after challenge correlated with the stimulation of IFN-γ producing CD4+and CD8+T cells. Antigen-mediated cell immunity correlated with robust nitrite and superoxide generation, macrophage-derived oxidants critical in controllingLeishmaniainfection. Our data shows that live attenuatedΔALOparasites are safe, induce protective immunity and can provide sustained protection againstLeishmania donovani.We further conclude that the parasites attenuated in their anti-oxidative defence mechanism can be exploited as vaccine candidates.
Identification, Phylogeny and Transcript of Chitinase Family Genes in Sugarcane
Authors: Su Yachun , Xu Liping , Wang Shanshan , Wang Zhuqing , Yang Yuting , Chen Yun , Que Youxiong 
Published: June 2015

AbstractChitinases are pathogensis-related proteins, which play an important role in plant defense mechanisms. The role of the sugarcane chitinase family genes remains unclear due to the highly heterozygous and aneuploidy chromosome genetic background of sugarcane. Ten differentially expressed chitinase genes (belonging to class I~VII) were obtained from RNA-seq analysis of both incompatible and compatible sugarcane genotypes during Sporisorium scitamineum challenge. Their structural properties and expression patterns were analyzed. Seven chitinases (ScChiI1, ScChiI2, ScChiI3, ScChiIII1, ScChiIII2, ScChiIV1 and ScChiVI1) showed more positive with early response and maintained increased transcripts in the incompatible interaction than those in the compatible one. Three (ScChiII1, ScChiV1 and ScChiVII1) seemed to have no significant difference in expression patterns between incompatible and compatible interactions. The ten chitinases were expressed differentially in response to hormone treatment as well as having distinct tissue specificity. ScChiI1, ScChiIV1 and ScChiVII1 were induced by various abiotic stresses (NaCl, CuCl2, PEG and 4 °C) and their involvement in plant immunity was demonstrated by over-expression in Nicotiana benthamiana. The results suggest that sugarcane chitinase family exhibit differential responses to biotic and abiotic stress, providing new insights into their function.
Effects of straw mulch on soil water and winter wheat production in dryland farming
Authors: Peng Zhang , Ting Wei , Haixia Wang , Min Wang , Xiangping Meng , Siwei Mou , Rui Zhang , Zhikuan Jia , Qingfang Han 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe soil water supply is the main factor that limits dryland crop production in China. In a three-year field experiment at a dryland farming experimental station, we evaluated the effects of various straw mulch practices on soil water storage, grain yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum). Field experiments were conducted with six different mulch combinations (two different mulch durations and three different mulch amounts): high (SM1; 9000 kg ha−1), medium (SM2; 6000 kg ha−1) and low (SM3; 3000 kg ha−1) straw mulch treatments for the whole period; and high (SM4), medium (SM5) and low (SM6) straw mulch treatments during the growth period only, where the control was the whole period without mulch (CK). Throughout the whole growth period of the three-year experiment, the average soil water content in the 0–200 cm soil layer increased by 0.7–22.5% compared with CK, while the WUE increased significantly by 30.6%, 32.7% and 24.2% with SM1, SM2 and SM3, respectively (P < 0.05). The yield increased by 13.3–23.0% when mulch was provided during the growth period, while the WUE increased by 15.2%, 17.2% and 18.0% with SM4, SM5 and SM6, respectively, compared with CK.
Short-wavelength infrared photodetector on Si employing strain-induced growth of very tall InAs nanowire arrays
Authors: Wook Shin Hyun , Jun Lee Sang , Gun Kim Doo , Bae Myung-Ho , Heo Jaeyeong , Jin Choi Kyoung , Jun Choi Won , Choe Jeong-woo , Cheol Shin Jae 
Published: June 2015

AbstractOne-dimensional crystal growth enables the epitaxial integration of III-V compound semiconductors onto a silicon (Si) substrate despite significant lattice mismatch. Here, we report a short-wavelength infrared (SWIR, 1.4–3 μm) photodetector that employs InAs nanowires (NWs) grown on Si. The wafer-scale epitaxial InAs NWs form on the Si substrate without a metal catalyst or pattern assistance; thus, the growth is free of metal-atom-induced contaminations and is also cost-effective. InAs NW arrays with an average height of 50 μm provide excellent anti-reflective and light trapping properties over a wide wavelength range. The photodetector exhibits a peak detectivity of 1.9 × 108  cm·Hz1/2/W for the SWIR band at 77 K and operates at temperatures as high as 220 K. The SWIR photodetector on the Si platform demonstrated in this study is promising for future low-cost optical sensors and Si photonics.
A core-shell-shell nanoplatform upconverting near-infrared light at 808 nm for luminescence imaging and photodynamic therapy of cancer
Authors: Ai Fujin , Ju Qiang , Zhang Xiaoman , Chen Xian , Wang Feng , Zhu Guangyu 
Published: June 2015

AbstractUpconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have been extensively explored for photodynamic therapy (PDT) and imaging due to their representative large anti-Stokes shifts, deep penetration into biological tissues, narrow emission bands and high spatial-temporal resolution. Conventional UCNP-based PDT system, however, utilizes exitation at 980 nm, at which water has significant absorption, leading to a huge concern that the cell killing effect is from the irradiation due to overheating effect. Here we report an efficient nanoplatform using 808-nm excited NaYbF4:Nd@NaGdF4:Yb/Er@NaGdF4 core−shell−shell nanoparticles loaded with Chlorin e6 and folic acid for simultaneous imaging and PDT. At this wavelength, the absorption of water is minimized. High energy transfer efficiency is achieved to generate cytotoxic singlet oxygen. Our nanoplatform effectively kills cancer cells in concentration-, time- and receptor-dependent manners. More importantly, our nanoplatform is still able to efficiently generate singlet oxygen beneath 15-mm thickness of muscle tissue but 980 nm excitation cannot, showing that a higher penetration depth is achieved by our system. These results imply that our nanoplatform has the ability to effectively kill intrinsic tumor or the center of large tumors through PDT, which significantly improves the anticancer efficacy using UCNP-based PDT system and broadens the types of tumors that could be cured.
Local proliferation is the main source of rod microglia after optic nerve transection
Authors: Yuan Ti-Fei , Liang Yu-Xiang , Peng Bo , Lin Bin , So Kwok-Fai 
Published: June 2015

AbstractMicroglia are the resident phagocytic cells with various functions in the central nervous system and the morphologies of microglia imply the different stages and functions. In optical nerve transection (ONT) model in the retina, the retrograde degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) induces microglial activations to a unique morphology termed “rod” microglia. A few studies described the “rod” microglia in the cortex and retina; however, the function and origin of “rod” microglia are largely unknown. In the present study, we firstly studied the temporal appearance of “rod” microglia after ONT and found the “rod” microglia emerge at approximately 7 days after ONT and peak during 14 to 21 days. Interestingly, the number of “rod” microglia remarkably decays after 6 weeks. Secondly, the “rod” microglia eliminate the degenerating RGC debris by phagocytosis. Moreover, we found the major source of “rod” microgliosis is local proliferation rather than the infiltration of peripheral monocytes/hematopoietic stem cells. We for the first time described the appearance of “rod” retinal microglia following optic nerve transection.
Dynamic mode coupling in terahertz metamaterials
Authors: Su Xiaoqiang , Ouyang Chunmei , Xu Ningning , Tan Siyu , Gu Jianqiang , Tian Zhen , Singh Ranjan , Zhang Shuang , Yan Fengping , Han Jiaguang , Zhang Weili 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe near and far field coupling behavior in plasmonic and metamaterial systems have been extensively studied over last few years. However, most of the coupling mechanisms reported in the past have been passive in nature which actually fail to control the coupling mechanism dynamically in the plasmonic metamaterial lattice array. Here, we demonstrate a dynamic mode coupling between resonators in a hybrid metal-semiconductor metamaterial comprised of metallic concentric rings that are physically connected with silicon bridges. The dielectric function of silicon can be instantaneously modified by photodoped carriers thus tailoring the coupling characteristics between the metallic resonators. Based on the experimental results, a theoretical model is developed, which shows that the optical responses depend on mode coupling that originates from the variation of the damping rate and coupling coefficient of the resonance modes. This particular scheme enables an in-depth understanding of the fundamental coupling mechanism and, therefore, the dynamic coupling enables functionalities and applications for designing on-demand reconfigurable metamaterial and plasmonic devices.
Structures, stabilities and electronic properties of defects in monolayer black phosphorus
Authors: Li Xi-Bo , Guo Pan , Cao Teng-Fei , Liu Hao , Lau Woon-Ming , Liu Li-Min 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe structures, stabilities and electronic properties of monolayer black phosphorus (M-BP) with different kinds of defects are investigated within the frame of density-functional theory. All the possible configurations of defects in M-BP are explored and the calculated results suggest that the stabilities of the configurations with different kinds of defects are greatly related to broken bonds, structural deformation and the character of the bonding. The configurations with two or three vacancies are energetically more favorable than the ones with a single vacancy. Meanwhile, the doping of two foreign atoms, such as sulfur, silicon or aluminum, is more stable than that of the corresponding single dopant. The electronic properties of M-BP are greatly affected by the types of defects. The single S-doped M-BP not only retains the character of a direct semiconductor, but it also can enlarge the band gap by 0.24 eV relative to the perfect one. Such results reveal that the defects not only greatly affect the electronic properties, but they also can be used as an effective way to modulate the band gap for the different applications of M-BP in electronic devices.
Quantum tunneling observed without its characteristic large kinetic isotope effects
Authors: Hama Tetsuya , Ueta Hirokazu , Kouchi Akira , Watanabe Naoki 
Published: June 2015

Significance
Quantum tunneling, an important phenomenon in many surface and interfacial chemical processes, is strongly dependent on the isotope of the tunneling atom. However, surface tunneling during the hydrogenation/deuteration of solid benzene at 15–25 K is accompanied by an almost semiclassical kinetic isotope effect (KIE) of 1–1.5, which is much lower than that intrinsic to tunneling (≳100), because isotopically insensitive surface diffusion of the adsorbed atoms controls the chemical kinetics. Our results suggest that tunneling has been unrecognized in studies of the chemistry of condensed phases, and small-KIE tunneling may account for the unexplained fast reactions of hydrogen and deuterium observed in surface/interface chemical systems such as aerosols, enzymes, and interstellar dust grains.
DNA metabarcoding illuminates dietary niche partitioning by African large herbivores
Authors: Kartzinel Tyler R. , Chen Patricia A. , Coverdale Tyler C. , Erickson David L. , Kress W. John , Kuzmina Maria L. , Rubenstein Daniel I. , Wang Wei , Pringle Robert M. 
Published: June 2015

Significance
Theory holds that sympatric large mammalian herbivores (LMH) must partition food resources to coexist, and traditional frameworks categorize LMH along a spectrum from grass-eating grazers to non–grass-eating browsers. Yet it has never been clear how finely LMH partition the enormous species diversity subsumed within these two broad plant types. By sequencing plant DNA from LMH fecal samples, we analyzed the diets of an LMH assemblage in Kenya. Diet composition was similar within species and strongly divergent across species, irrespective of feeding guild: Grazers ate similar total amounts of grass but different suites of grass species. These results suggest that species-specific plant traits may be key to understanding the dietary differences thought to underpin LMH diversity.
Histone chaperone Anp32e removes H2A.Z from DNA double-strand breaks and promotes nucleosome reorganization and DNA repair
Authors: Gursoy-Yuzugullu Ozge , Ayrapetov Marina K. , Price Brendan D. 
Published: June 2015

Significance
DNA is wrapped around nucleosomes, so that repairing double-strand breaks (DSBs) requires significant nucleosome reorganization. Nucleosome reorganization requires exchange of histone H2A.Z. This work reveals that H2A.Z only transiently accumulates at breaks and demonstrates that Anp32, a histone chaperone, is recruited to DNA breaks and removes H2A.Z from the nucleosomes. Further, removal of H2A.Z from the intact nucleosome by Anp32 promotes acetylation of histone H4, remodels the local chromatin, and facilitates DNA repair. The dynamic exchange and removal of H2A.Z by Anp32e is therefore critical for chromatin reorganization at DSBs. Further, modulation of the nucleosome surface by Anp32e directs histone modification, recruitment of repair proteins, and the processing and repair of DSBs.
Focusing and sustaining the antitumor CTL effector killer response by agonist anti-CD137 mAb
Authors: Weigelin Bettina , Bolaños Elixabet , Teijeira Alvaro , Martinez-Forero Ivan , Labiano Sara , Azpilikueta Arantza , Morales-Kastresana Aizea , Quetglas José I. , Wagena Esther , Sánchez-Paulete Alfonso Rodríguez , Chen Lieping , Friedl Peter , Melero Ignacio 
Published: June 2015

SignificanceImmunotherapy of cancer with immunomodulatory agents is achieving significant efficacy in an important fraction of patients. The stimulatory inducible receptor of T and NK lymphocytes known as CD137 or 4-1BB is being stimulated with agonist antibodies to enhance antitumor immunity in clinical trials. In addition, the intracellular signaling domain of CD137 is crucial as a component of successful anti-leukemia therapies with chimeric antigen receptors transduced into adoptively transferred T lymphocytes. In this study the marked synergistic effects of adoptive T cell and agonist anti-CD137 mAb therapies are studied, providing in vivo evidence for improved, more sustained and focused tumoricidal functions of antitumor cytotoxic T lymphocytes when under the influence of CD137-targeted pharmacological stimulation with immunostimulatory monoclonal antibodies.
tRNA acceptor stem and anticodon bases form independent codes related to protein folding
Authors: Carter Charles W. , Wolfenden Richard 
Published: June 2015

Significance
The universal genetic code is the earliest point to which we can trace biological inheritance. Earlier work hinted at a relationship between the codon bases and the physical properties of the 20 amino acids that dictate the 3D conformations of proteins in solution. Here, we show that acceptor stems and anticodons, which are at opposite ends of the tRNA molecule, code, respectively, for size and polarity. These two distinct properties of the amino acid side-chains jointly determine their preferred locations in folded proteins. The early appearance of an acceptor stem code based on size, β-branching, and carboxylate groups might have favored the appearance of antiparallel peptides that have been suggested to have a special affinity for RNA.
Integrating Nonnative Species in Niche Models to Prioritize Native Fish Restoration Activity Locations along a Desert River Corridor
Authors: Walsworth Timothy E. , Budy Phaedra 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe efficient allocation of restoration resources is critical for the effective conservation of species. Here, we developed an ecological niche model to predict the response of three imperiled desert fishes to potential restoration actions along the longitudinal gradient of a desert river. The San Rafael River, Utah, is home to a complex of three endemic fishes (Flannelmouth Sucker Catostomus latipinnis, Bluehead Sucker C. discobolus, and Roundtail Chub Gila robusta; referred to as the “three species”). Like many Colorado River basin tributaries, the river is overallocated for human use, has experienced extensive physical degradation, and is now home to several nonnative fish species. To determine the factors most limiting to the three species, we first fit random forest models to fish CPUE and habitat data. We next combined these models with a longitudinal habitat survey and modeled nonnative species abundance to predict the continuous distribution of the three species in the lower San Rafael River, under current conditions and following simulated restoration. Nonnative fishes were important negative predictors of Flannelmouth Sucker and Bluehead Sucker relative abundance, and broadscale habitat variables were important positive predictors for all of the three species. Each of the three species was predicted to experience a significant increase in abundance following simulated eradication of nonnative fishes. Responses to simulated reach‐specific habitat restoration were dependent on the reach restored, demonstrating that the choice of restoration location is critical. Nonnative species removal and restoring degraded reaches near already suitable habitat were predicted to be the most beneficial to the three species. Ecological niche models developed at the river scale, and incorporating both physical and biotic predictor variables, can provide spatially explicit information that appropriately parallels the spatial distribution of the needs of endemic fishes and can facilitate effective management and conservation decisions.
Impulsivity in an Epidemiological Catchment Area Sample of the General Population: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (Version 11a)
Authors: Weinstein Kerry , Crocker Anne G. , Ayllon Andrea Reyes , Caron Jean 
Published: June 2015

Impulsivity is associated with aggression and major mental disorders. The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) is arguably the most commonly administered self-report measure of impulsiveness. However, some confusion surrounding the versions of the BIS—in particular version 11a—can be seen in the extant literature, especially regarding differences in item content and factor structures. Furthermore, no study has validated the factor structure of the BIS-11a. Thus, our study aimed to support the BIS-11a's internal validity based on Barratt's (1994) original factor model. Data was collected through the southwest Montreal psychiatric epidemiological catchment area study (Caron, Fleury et al., 2012). Randomly selected participants completed the English ( n = 703) or French ( n = 1,450) BIS-11a. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that Barratt's factor structure fit both language versions almost identically well. However, results suggest that a higher order factor structure might be optimal. This marks the first study to explore the BIS-11a's psychometric properties with a large general population sample, using both English and French versions of the scale. This is also the first study to bring to light that certain versions of the BIS, and their respective properties, are being misreported. As such, we hope to clarify the distinctions between the various versions for future research.
Melatonin inhibits granulocyte adhesion to ICAM via MT3/QR2 and MT2 receptors
Authors: Černyšiov Vitalij , Mauricas Mykolas , Girkontaite Irute 
Published: June 2015

AbstractNeutrophils are cells of the innate immune system that first respond and arrive to the site of infection. Melatonin modulates acute inflammatory responses by interfering with leukocyte recruitment. It is known that melatonin modulates granulocyte migration though the endothelial layer thereby acting on the endothelial cell. Here we investigated whether melatonin could modulate granulocyte infiltration by acting directly on granulocytes. Granulocyte infiltration into the peritoneal cavity was investigated in mice kept at normal light/dark conditions and mice kept under constant lighting. To induce migration of neutrophils from the blood into the injury site via the endothelial layer, a bacterial product N-formyl-l-methionyl- l-leucyl- l-phenylalanine (fMLP) was injected into the peritoneal cavity. We found that the number of infiltrated granulocytes during the dark time was lower than that during the light time. It did not depend on circadian time. Moreover, the expression of an adhesion molecule, CD18, on granulocytes, was also lower during the dark time as compared with the light time. We have found that melatonin inhibited fMLP-induced CD18 up-regulation. Importantly, melatonin also inhibited the integrin-mediated granulocyte adhesion to intercellular adhesion molecule-coated plates. This study additionally showed that melatonin receptors MT2 and MT3/quinone reductase 2 (QR2) are expressed on granulocytes. Interestingly, melatonin increases the expression of its MT3/QR2 receptor. The fMLP-mediated CD18 up-regulation was inhibited by melatonin via MT2 receptor and the integrin-mediated granulocyte adhesion was inhibited by melatonin via MT3/QR2 and MT2 receptors. In conclusion, we show that melatonin suppresses granulocyte migration via endothelium by acting directly on granulocytes.