bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Analysis of the Factors Influencing Choice of Microcredit Sources and Impact of Participation on Household Income
Authors: Ding Zhao , Abdulai Awudu
Published: April 2020

It is widely accepted that rural microcredit has the potential to contribute to poverty reduction in developing countries. This paper examines the factors that affect rural residents' decisions to participate in different types of microcredit sources and how these factors influence household income and consumption, using cross‐sectional data from a recent survey in China. We use a multinomial endogenous switching regression model to account for selection bias and treatment effects. The empirical findings indicate that family size, dependency ratio, local casual wage rate, credit information and shocks mainly determine the selection of different credit sources. Furthermore, the estimates reveal that participation of households in microcredit programmes contributes to an increase in both per capita income and consumption significantly. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Harmonized global maps of above and belowground biomass carbon density in the year 2010
Authors: Spawn Seth A. , Sullivan Clare C. , Lark Tyler J. , Gibbs Holly K.
Published: April 2020

Remotely sensed biomass carbon density maps are widely used for myriad scientific and policy applications, but all remain limited in scope. They often only represent a single vegetation type and rarely account for carbon stocks in belowground biomass. To date, no global product integrates these disparate estimates into an all-encompassing map at a scale appropriate for many modelling or decision-making applications. We developed an approach for harmonizing vegetation-specific maps of both above and belowground biomass into a single, comprehensive representation of each. We overlaid input maps and allocated their estimates in proportion to the relative spatial extent of each vegetation type using ancillary maps of percent tree cover and landcover, and a rule-based decision schema. The resulting maps consistently and seamlessly report biomass carbon density estimates across a wide range of vegetation types in 2010 with quantified uncertainty. They do so for the globe at an unprecedented 300-meter spatial resolution and can be used to more holistically account for diverse vegetation carbon stocks in global analyses and greenhouse gas inventories.
Effects of the surface processing on the tribological performance of C/SiCs under dry friction
Authors: Lin Bin , Wei Jinhua , Sui Tianyi , Wang Haoji
Published: April 2020

A new friction counterpart for carbon fiber-reinforced silicon carbide ceramic-matrix composites (C/SiCs) and zirconia (ZrO2) toughened by magnesia ceramics is proposed. The effects of the C/SiC surface processing parameters friction on the tribological performance are investigated under dry friction and ambient temperature conditions. The wear tests are carried out using the pin-on-disc friction method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on an instrument equipped with an energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) is used to observe the surfaces of the pins and discs before and after the application of friction to reveal the wear mechanism. The results show that surface processing influenced the tribological properties of C/SiC significantly. When the pressure is 30 N, the speed is 0.5 m/s, and the C/SiC surface is ground using 1500# sandpaper, the counterpart tribological performance is the best among the samples considered herein. It is found that the retention ability of the counterparts influenced the tribology performance significantly.
A feasible linker transformation strategy towards the formation of Cu2O nanoparticles for immobilization in hierarchical CuBTC for adsorption desulfurization
Authors: Feng Tao , Wang Ying , Wu Yi-nan , Kabtamu Daniel Manaye , László Krisztina , Li Fengting
Published: April 2020

A powerful strategy, called linker transformation, can create mesopores and Cu2O nanoparticles in CuBTC simultaneously.
Artificial visual memory device based on a photo-memorizing composite and one-step manufacturing
Authors: Xiao Meng , Wang Huide , Liu Jianfeng , Yang Hui , Zhang Han
Published: April 2020

A new way of thinking about the physical behavior of polymers is demonstrated to design a multi-functional material for artificial photo memory devices, realizing light perception and memory itself instead of integrating distinct electronic elements.
Work function and band alignment of few-layer violet phosphorene
Authors: Zhang Bo , Wang Zhenyu , Huang Hongyang , Zhang Lihui , Gu Mengyue , Cheng Yonghong , Wu Kai , Zhou Jun , Zhang Jinying
Published: April 2020

The work function and band alignment of violet phosphorene are demonstrated, giving a practical route for heterojunction structure design.
Unexpected electrochemical behavior of an anolyte redoxmer in flow battery electrolytes: solvating cations help to fight against the thermodynamic–kinetic dilemma
Authors: Zhao Yuyue , Yu Zhou , Robertson Lily A. , Zhang Jingjing , Shi Zhangxing , Bheemireddy Sambasiva R. , Shkrob Ilya A. , Y Z  , Li Tao , Zhang Zhengcheng , Cheng Lei , Zhang Lu
Published: April 2020

Solvating cations help to lift the thermodynamic-kinetic constrain of an anolyte redoxmer by achieving a synergetic improvement of two conflicting properties: a lower redox potential AND a higher stability of the charged radical anion.
Bismuth nanorod networks confined in a robust carbon matrix as long-cycling and high-rate potassium-ion battery anodes
Authors: Jiao Tianpeng , Wu Shuilin , Cheng Junye , Chen Da , Shen Dong , Wang Hui , Tong Zhongqiu , Li Heng , Liu Bin , Kai Ji-Jung , Lee Chun-Sing , Zhang Wenjun
Published: April 2020

A novel composite structure comprising bismuth nanorod networks confined into robust micro-sized N, S co-doped carbon matrix was synthesized as a highly stable alloy-type anode for potassium-ion batteries.
Measuring precise fusion cross sections using an 8T superconducting solenoid
Authors: Bezzina L. T. , Simpson E. C. , Hinde D. J. , Dasgupta M. , Carter I. P. , Rafferty D. C.
Published: April 2020

A novel fusion-evaporation residue separator based on a gas-filled superconducting solenoid has been developed at the Australian National University. Though the transmission efficiency of the solenoid is very high, precision cross sections measurements require this efficiency to be accurately known and vitally, requires knowledge of the angular distribution of the evaporation residues. We have developed a method to deduce the angular distribution of the evaporation residues from the laboratory-frame velocity distribution of the evaporation residues transmitted by the solenoid. The method will be discussed, focusing on benchmarking examples for 34S+89Y, where the angular distributions have been independently measured using a velocity filter (A. Mukherjee et al., Phys. Rev. C. 66, 034607 (2002)) . The establishment of this method now allows the novel solenoidal separator to be used to obtain reliable, precise fusion cross-sections.
Beyond 132Sn: Examples of new data on exotic neutron-rich Te isotopes from fission and β-decay
Authors: Lozeva Radomira , Si Min , Häfner Guillaume
Published: April 2020

Exotic nuclei beyond the 132Sn double shell-closure have both single-particle and collective particlehole excitations and are expected to have competing excitation patterns from both type of excitations together with possible structural changes. We are, therefore, studying the region in the close vicinity beyond 132Sn and further with the neutron increase with experimental methods such as induced fission and β decay. A short overview of this knowledge will be given together with examples of newly obtained data at preliminary stage.
„Pilze suchen – was hilft?“
Authors: Schuh S. , Drechsel C. , Welzel J.
Published: April 2020

Pilzinfektionen verursachen häufig eine Entzündung der Haut, die je nach Erreger und Lokalisation unterschiedlich stark ist. Diese Beobachtung kann bei der Auswahl der antimykotischen Therapie eine Hilfe sein.

Durch den Einsatz nichtinvasiver Geräte wie der Dermatoskopie, konfokalen Lasermikroskopie (KLM), optischen Kohärenztomografie (OCT) und dynamischen optischen Kohärenztomografie (D-OCT) gelingt eine Darstellung der Haut und auch ihrer Veränderungen bei entzündlichen Mykosen.
Die Rechtsfrage: Der MDK hebt Arbeitsunfähigkeit auf – was tun?
Authors: Bossow Karsten
Published: April 2020

„Ein Mitarbeiter ist nach einem Sportunfall und anschließender Knie-OP erkennbar krank, ein Kontrolltermin beim Arzt soll über eine weitere Krankschreibung entscheiden. Dem ist der MDK zuvorgekommen und meint, der Mitarbeiter sei arbeitsfähig. Was ist, wenn ein Patient zu Schaden kommt? Wie können wir uns verhalten?“

Therapeutin via E-Mail
Manuelle Therapie für Säuglinge in der Pädiatrie – Protokoll einer Anwendungsbeobachtung
Authors: Loudovici-Krug Dana , Lange Antje , Best Norman
Published: April 2020

Hintergrund Manuelle Therapie bei bestehender Funktionsstörung des Körperstamms von Säuglingen; bei Bestehen von neurologischen Auffälligkeiten sollte zeitnah eine neurophysiologische Therapie beginnen.

Methodik Dreimalige Dokumentation (ausgewählte Lagereaktionen und manualtherapeutisch) der routinemäßig erhobenen Untersuchungsergebnissen von ca. 100 Säuglingen; Verordnung von Manueller Therapie (MT); T1=vor Therapiebeginn/ T2=nach der 3. Behandlung/ T3= U5 bzw. physiotherapeutische Nachuntersuchung.

Diskussion Die Häufigkeit von Behandlungserfolgen nach MT bzw. dem Bestehen von auffälligen Lagereaktionen könnte eine Aussage zum möglichst frühen Therapiebeginn auf neurophysiologischer Basis liefern.

Studienregistrierung DRKS00020886
Effects of input on L2 writing in English and Dutch
Authors: Van Mensel Luk , Bulon Amélie , Hendrikx Isa , Meunier Fanny , Van Goethem Kristel
Published: April 2020

This study aims to explore the impact of formal and informal input on learners’ variability in writing, and to compare two target-language
conditions (Dutch and English) in CLIL and non-CLIL settings in French-speaking Belgium. A regression model shows that CLIL is a
significant predictor of L2 outcomes for both target languages, but that the relative impact of formal and informal input differs
depending on the target language. In short, the amount of formal language exposure predicts the outcomes of the written
productions of the learners of English, and the frequency of informal exposure those of the learners of Dutch. We argue that this
observation is likely related to the difference in status that each of these languages holds among the pupils in our sample. The
findings thus highlight the importance of the L2 status in research on CLIL, since different L2s can yield different results.
Shear viscosity of massless classical fields in scalar theory
Authors: Matsuda Hidefumi , Kunihiro Teiji , Ohnishi Akira , Takahashi Toru T
Published: April 2020

We investigate the shear viscosity of massless classical scalar fields in the $\phi^4$ theory on a lattice by using the Green–Kubo formula. Based on the scaling property of the classical field, the shear viscosity is represented using a scaling function. The equilibrium expectation value of the time-correlation function of the energy–momentum tensor is evaluated as the ensemble average of the classical field configurations, whose time evolution is obtained by solving the classical equation of motion starting from the initial condition in thermal equilibrium. It is found that there are two distinct damping time scales in the time-correlation function, which is found to show damped oscillation behavior in the early stage around a slow monotonic decay with an exponential form, and the slow decay part is found to dominate the shear viscosity in the massless classical field theory. This kind of slow decay is also known to exist in molecular dynamics simulations, so it may be a generic feature of dense matter.
Cell morphology changes in 3T3‐L1 cells grown in monolayer and treated with cinnamon extract
Authors: Baxendell Kayla , Aulthouse Amy , Stockert Amy
Published: April 2020

Cinnamon has long been used medicinally and has gained attention more recently due to its ability to decrease blood glucose values in type 2 diabetes. Research has suggested potential targets in the cell responsible for the metabolic effects observed with cinnamon, however, a collective mechanism of action is still unknown. This study demonstrates morphological changes observed in 3T3‐L1 cells grown in monolayer and treated with cinnamon extract that mimic cell differentiation observed in some three‐dimensional models. Data is presented that demonstrates changes in cell shape with increasing concentrations of cinnamon extract. Evidence of lipid accumulation is visualized by oil red O staining as early as 0.5 weeks following cinnamon treatment. Monolayer cells exhibit round morphology when treated with cytochalasin D, an actin polymerization inhibitor. Together these data suggest that one potential metabolic target of cinnamon extract may result to alter actin polymerization leading to cell rounding. The morphological change from flat to round cells potentially stimulates changes in gene expression that lead to differentiation. Future work will determine the extent of differentiation observed in the cinnamon treated cells compared to those grown with cytochalasin D and those grown in three‐dimensional culture. This study outlines possible unique therapeutic approachs for the alteration of cell differentiation that could result in desired metabolic changes.

Support or Funding Information

Ohio Northern University Raabe College of Pharmacy and the Department of Biological and Allied Health

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Gender specific effects of Nr4a1 on functional β‐cell mass
Authors: Herring Jacob A. , Smith Courtney J. , Kener Kyle B. , Wynn Adam G. , Austin Matt C. , Tessem Jeffery Sivert
Published: April 2020

Nuclear hormone receptor4a1 (Nr4a1) plays a critical role in β‐cell replication, function, and survival. β‐cell replication is tightly regulated, most β‐cells in the body are formed during development and shortly after birth. Nr4a1 full body knock‐out mice have a 50% reduction in total β‐cell area. Nr4a1 knock down INS‐1 832/13 β‐cells have decreased mitochondrial respiration, glucose stimulated insulin secretion and cellular proliferation. Fatty acids regulate Nr4a1 activity and expression. Here we present the effects of β‐cell specific Nr4a1 deletion on mice exposed to a high fat or normal chow diet beginning at 3‐months of age. Our data demonstrate that loss of β‐cell Nr4a1 results in improved non‐fasting blood glucose and glucose tolerance in male mice fed a high fat diet for 4 months. Interestingly, female mice deficient for Nr4a1 have impaired glucose tolerance as early as 1 months of high fat feeding. Furthermore, we show data regarding β‐cell mass and glucose stimulated insulin secretion. These data demonstrate a clear gender bias in Nr4a1 function in the β‐cell.

Support or Funding Information

ADA 1‐17‐IBS‐101 to JST

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Potential Role of Exosomes in Countering Vedolizumab‐Based Therapy in IBD Patients
Authors: Domenis Rossana , Cifù Adriana , Fabris Martina , Scardino Giulia , Zilli Maurizio , Marino Marco , Curcio Francesco
Published: April 2020

Introduction

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are chronic and debilitating inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. In the development of new treatment options, it was realized that the attenuation of lymphocyte translocation into the inflamed gut tissue results in a reduction in local inflammation and thus decrease IBD severity. Vedolizumab (VDZ) is a monoclonal antibody targeting α4β7 integrin, which is expressed specifically by a subset of gastrointestinal‐homing T‐lymphocytes. Although VDZ showed promising results in various clinical studies, in common with all existing IBD therapies, a significant number of patients do not respond and validated markers and mechanistic insights to predict the populations that will derive sustained benefit are currently lacking. We hypothesized that circulating exosomes express on their surface high levels of α4β7 integrin, which could bind VDZ and interfere with its activity and therapeutic efficacy.

Methods

Exosomes were isolated from serum of blood donors and VDZ‐treated patients by polymer‐based precipitation (Exoquick), analysed for concentration (Exocet) and validated for exosomal markers expression. The surface expression of α4β7 integrin was evaluated by flow cytometry on exosomes‐bound beads. The levels of exosome‐bound VDZ were investigated by Promonitor‐VDZ ELISA kit and western blot analysis. Finally, exosomes isolated from blood donor's serum were incubated with increasing concentration of VDZ and then exosomal‐bound VDZ levels were analysed.

Results

Flow cytometry analysis revealed that serum exosomes, either from the patients and from the donors, express high levels of the VDZ target, α4β7 integrin. A significant VDZ levels were measured in exosomes purified from VDZ‐treated patient's serum exosomes. Of note, we found that exosomes purified from blood donor's serum were able to bind VDZ in dose‐dependent manner.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that circulating serum exosomes bind VDZ, as they express on the surface the target integrin. Accordingly, exosomes might contribute to drug sequestration, possibly affecting the therapeutic efficacy of VDZ in IBD patients. Further studies are needed to define the possible correlation between VDZ exosomal sequestration and patient's response.

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Sex differences in anxiety‐like behaviors following chronic intermittent ethanol and/or repeated stress exposures using an adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) model
Authors: Devaud Leslie , Johnson Heather , Lally Jessica , Perez Erica
Published: April 2020

Studies on ethanol use have found that stress often impacts responses, such that it may promote increased ethanol intake and, therefore, risk for harm. Additional evidence suggests that stress, especially severe stress, may have a greater negative effect from ethanol in females than males. To improve our understanding of these potential interactions, we used an adult zebrafish model to assess behavioral activities in 6 mth old male and female zebrafish following treatment with chronic intermittent ethanol exposure and/or repeated stress exposure. The 4 treatment conditions were: control (tanks moved to the testing bench but no other manipulations), twice‐daily 60 min 0.5% ethanol exposure and/or 3 times daily 40 sec stress exposures for a total of five days. We used a custom light/dark tank to assess behaviors at approximately 16 hr after the final treatments. Zebrafish were tested individually with data collected for a total of 8 min every 10 seconds: (1) light vs. dark preference, (2) crossings between light and dark, (3) preference for tank top vs. bottom and (4) general activity levels (normal, hyperactive or freezing). Time spent in each activity was summated across the testing period for each animal and averaged by sex within treatment condition. Overall, control females spent more time in the dark (20%) compared to males, suggesting a greater sensitivity to the novelty of the testing tank for female than male fish. We observed a large increase in time spent in the dark for both males (34%) and females (59%) compared to control values for the EtOH‐only treatment whereas the stress + EtOH condition values were similar to controls. There was a prominent sex difference in hyperactivity with the stress only males showing a 26% reduction compared to control levels and females having a 38% increase compared to males. Interestingly, we also saw a reduction (17%) in hyperactivity for EtOH only males compared to control values but a large increase (40%) for the ethanol only females. Again, the stress + EtOH condition values were similar to controls for both sexes, suggestive of some resiliency when exposed to both the intermittent EtOH as well as the repeated stress procedure. We also noted less freezing (believed to reflect high levels of fear/anxiety in the fish) in males and females that were treated with the repeated stress, suggesting that this helped the fish adapt to the novelty of the testing tank more than for the other treatment conditions. These data support the utility of zebrafish as an animal model to study the impact of stress on ethanol responses and showed that behavioral responses support an interaction of stress with ethanol by sex.

Support or Funding Information

Supported by Pacific University School of Pharmacy RIG (LLD)

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Determining the Molecular Characteristics of How Ligands Interact with an ABC Transporter
Authors: Gose Tomoka , Fukuda Yu , Das Sourav , Wang Yao , Lynch John , Shelat Anang , Schuetz John D.
Published: April 2020

ABC transporters have key roles in cellular response to chemotherapy and drug bioavailability. The engagement of drugs and other ligands with ABC transporters is the crucial first step in the transport cycle. For mammalian ABC transporters, conventional knowledge regards the high affinity ligand‐binding state as when ATP is not bound to the ABC transporter; however, in vivo, this circumstance would be rare as the ATP concentration in most cells is approximately 5 mM. Using ABCG2 and the important class of drugs (tyrosine kinase inhibitors) we performed a thermal shift assay using two models (intact cells and isolated membranes) to investigate how these ligands engage ABCG2. We discovered, unexpectedly, that drug binding to ABCG2 can be either ATP‐independent, or ATP‐dependent. These findings run counter to the prevailing concept that ligands engage ABC transporters with high affinity when ATP concentrations are low and are reduced when ATP concentrations are high. Further, for those ligands requiring ATP for binding, ATP‐binding (not hydrolysis) appears to be the sole determinant because an ABCG2 mutant incapable of hydrolyzing ATP appeared to have little effect on ligand binding. For the ATP‐independent ligand, the EC50 of binding was minimally affected by ATP, while the affinity and maximum binding of the ATP‐dependent ligand was markedly enhanced by the presence of ATP. Using a non‐hydrolyzable ATP‐coupled bead as a probe for ATP binding, further studies showed that the binding to ABCG2 of this ATP mimetic was strongly influenced by the ligand, but only when the ligand's binding was impacted by ATP, thus suggesting communication occurs between the nucleotide binding domain and the ligand binding site. Previous studies have suggested ATP lowers the binding affinity for ligands. This contrasts with the current findings showing some ligands require ATP for ligand binding, while others do not. This has important mechanistic implications for interpreting not just ABC transporter function, studied in dynamic systems, but also for the development of ABCG2 inhibitors and understanding substrate interactions.

Support or Funding Information

This work was supported by NIH and by ALSAC.

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Absence of Angiotensin ll type 2 (AT2) Receptors Increases Airway Inflammation and Responsiveness in an Allergic Mouse Model of Asthma
Authors: Bhavsar Riyakumar , Rajalingam Sahith , Patel Mehaben , Prasad Praveena , Ponnoth Dovenia S
Published: April 2020

Angiotensin ll (Ang ll) is produced locally in the lungs and may potentiate airway responsiveness in asthmatic patients. Ang ll induces its effects by activating two GPCR subtypes: Ang II receptor type‐1 and type‐2 (AT1 and AT2). This lab has previously found that AT2 receptor agonist plays a significant role in reducing airway inflammation and reactivity (FASEB J April 2018 32: 829.6). For the current study, we characterized the role of AT2 receptors in airway hyperreactivity and inflammation using AT2 receptor knockout (AT2KO; Hein L, Barsh et. al. Nature. 1995;377:744–747) and corresponding wild‐type (WT) mice that were divided into two experimental groups each: control (CON) and allergen sensitized‐challenged (SEN). Mice were sensitized (i.p.) on days 1, 6 with 0.2μg ovalbumin (OVA) followed by 5% OVA aerosol challenges on days 11–13. Whole body plethysmography (measuring airway responsiveness as enhanced pause, Penh) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) studies were performed. Methacholine (MCh; 48mg/ml) produced significantly higher airway responsiveness in AT2KO SEN mice compared to WT SEN (324.7±66% in AT2KO SEN vs 166±56.3%, p<0.05). Total cell count analysis showed increased number of cells in AT2KO SEN (3.3±0.2 × 106 vs. 1.4±5 × 106 in WT SEN, p<0.001). Differential BAL cell analysis showed increased eosinophils (73±8% in AT2KO SEN vs. 50.11±2.84% in WT SEN, p<0.05). Macrophages were lower in AT2KO SEN than WT SEN (15±4% vs. 40±3%; p<0.001). These data indicate that absence of AT2 receptors increases airway inflammation and responsiveness in our model of asthma.

Support or Funding Information

Institutional Research Grant Long Island University

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Cholesterol regulates cardiac KATP subunit expression through an SREBP‐dependent mechanism
Authors: Geiger Robert , Fatima Naheed , Schooley James , Flagg Thomas
Published: April 2020

We recently discovered that the histone deacetylase inhibitor, trichostatin A (TSA), increases the expression of the sulfonylurea receptor 2 (SUR2; Abcc9) subunit of the ATP‐sensitive K+ (KATP) channel in HL‐1 cardiomyocytes. Importantly, the effects of TSA were abolished if cells were treated with exogenous cholesterol, suggesting that cholesterol may suppress channel expression. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that TSA increases SUR2 by depleting cholesterol and activating the sterol response element binding protein (SREBP) family of transcription factors. As expected, treatment of HL‐1 cardiomyocytes with TSA (30 ng/mL) caused a time dependent increase in SUR2 mRNA expression that correlates with the time course of cholesterol depletion assessed by filipin staining. This is specific for SUR2 and we observe little or no change in expression of the SUR1 subunit. Consistent with a central role for cholesterol‐dependent activation of SREBP in driving the increase in SUR2 mRNA expression, we observe a marked increase in the cleavage of SREBP1 following TSA, and this is inhibited by addition of cholesterol to the media. Further supporting the role of SREBP following TSA treatment, we observe increased expression of other SREBP‐dependent genes including PCSK9 and inducible degrader of LDLr (IDOL). Lastly, in luciferase promoter assays SREBP‐1a markedly increased reporter gene expression driven by the upstream SUR2, but not SUR1, promoter. Taken together, our data are consistent with the conclusion that cholesterol depletion by TSA leads to activation the SREBP signaling pathway that directly acts on the SUR2 promoter to increase gene expression. This finding suggests a novel means by which hypercholesterolemia may exert negative effects on the cardiovascular system by suppressing expression of the KATP channel.

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Expression of chondroitin sulfotransferases (CHST3,7,11,15) and chondroitin sulfatases in normal and malignant prostate stroma and epithelium
Authors: Tobacman Joanne Kramer , Feferman Leo , Bhattacharyya Sumit
Published: April 2020

Previous work demonstrated marked decline in arylsulfatase B (ARSB; N‐acetylgalactosamine‐4‐sulfatase) in malignant prostate tissues by immunohistochemistry, activity assay, and mRNA expression. In contrast, activity of galactosamine‐N‐acetyl‐6‐sulfatase (GALNS; N‐acetylgalactosamine‐6‐sulfatase) was significantly increased in malignant prostate tissues. These findings were associated with marked increase in chondroitin 4‐sulfate (C4S), decline in chondroitin 6‐sulfate (C6S), and increased C4S:C6S ratio in the malignant tissues. To further evaluate the chondroitin sulfation, mRNA expression of chondroitin sulfotransferases and chondroitin sulfatases was detected in malignant and normal prostate stromal and epithelial tissues obtained by laser capture microdissection (LCMD) of prostate tissues obtained from the Biorepository of the University of Illinois at Chicago. Primers were identified using Primer3, and QPCR was used to determine expression levels. Confirmation of epithelial vs. stromal content was confirmed by comparative expression of vimentin and E‐cadherin. ARSB expression was similar in the control and malignant stromal tissue and more than two‐fold higher than in the normal epithelial tissue. ARSB expression was reduced by over 50% in the malignant epithelium compared to normal epithelium. In contrast, GALNS expression was over 50% less in the stromal tissues than in the epithelium, and was increased almost two‐fold in the malignant vs. normal prostate epithelium. The expression of CHST15, which adds a 6‐sulfate group to C4S, was increased over four‐fold in the malignant prostate epithelium, and significantly reduced in both normal and malignant stromal tissue. Expression of the 6‐O sulfotransferases CHST3 and CHST7 was also determined. Normal and malignant stromal CHST3 was about 50% the level in the normal and malignant epithelium. CHST7 was slightly less in the malignant epithelium, compared to the normal epithelium and the normal and malignant stroma. The 4‐O sulfotransferase CHST11 was reduced about 50% in the malignant epithelium, compared to normal epithelium, and increased about 80% in the normal and malignant stroma. These findings suggest that increased expression of CHST15 and GALNS in the epithelium may lead to enhanced production of C4S. This is perhaps compensatory, due to decline in CHST11. However, in association with decline in ARSB, these effects lead to increased epithelial C4S. Since increased C4S has been associated with reduced activity of SHP2, the tyrosine‐protein phosphatase non‐receptor type 11 (PTPN11) and increased availability of galectin‐3, these changes have important consequences for cell signaling, growth, and metabolism and for stromal‐epithelial interactions.

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Endothelium‐specific disruption of IGF‐1 signaling impairs blood flow regulation in mice
Authors: Tarantini Stefano , Fulop Gabor A , Yabluchanskiy Andriy , Kiss Tamas , Balasubramanian Priya , Csipo Tamas , Lipecz Agnes , Sonntag William E , Csiszar Anna , Ungvari Zoltan
Published: April 2020

Circulating levels of IGF‐1 decline during aging in humans, which significantly increases the risk for cardiovascular diseases and promotes cerebromicrovascular impairment. To test the hypothesis that impaired IGF‐1 input to endothelial cells promote aging‐like microvascular dysfunction, we utilized a novel mouse model: Igfr1f/f VE‐Cadherin‐Cre mice. We found that endothelium‐dependent increases in cerebral blood flow in response to contralateral whisker stimulation (laser speckle contrast imaging) were attenuated in mice with endothelium‐specific disruption of IGF‐1 signaling. In control mice functional hyperemia was significantly decreased by pharmacological inhibition of NO synthesis (L‐NAME). In contrast, increases in cerebral blood flow in response to contralateral whisker stimulation were unaffected by L‐NAME in Igfr1f/f VE‐Cadherin‐Cre mice. Collectively, our findings support the concept that IGF‐1 signaling is essential for healthy cerebromicrovascular endothelial function and provide evidence that decreased IGF‐1 input to endothelial cells results in impaired NO mediation of functional hyperemia, which may contribute to cognitive decline associated with age‐related IGF‐1 deficiency.

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Age Reduces Autophagy and Mitochondria Related Gene Expression in Human Skeletal Muscle
Authors: Wu Hexirui , Dridi Sami , Baum Jamie , Ferrando Arny , Wolfe Robert
Published: April 2020

In the US, the population of older adults over 65 reach 98 million by 2060. Aging is associated with increased risk for multiple chronic diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and sarcopenia (age‐related muscle loss). Skeletal muscle is a major site of metabolic activity and the most abundant tissue in the human body. Mitochondria play a key role in ensuring adequate levels of ATP needed for skeletal muscle contraction. Moreover, when subcellular organelles are found to be dysfunctional or the cells discover themselves in a critical state, they will start a recycling process called autophagy to ensure survival. Autophagy that recycles damaged or dysfunctional mitochondria is called mitophagy. In skeletal muscle from elderly, there is lower ratio of healthy mitochondria versus damaged mitochondria. This could be caused by reduced autophagy. The objective of this study was to determine if there was an effect of age on the genes related to mitochondrial function, autophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscle from young and old participants. Muscle biopsies from vastus lateralis were taken from young (n=23, thirteen males and ten females, ages 29.7±1.02) and old (n=20, ten males and ten females, ages 65.6±4.29) adults. Gene expression related to autophagy and metabolism was measured using real‐time PCR. The expression of autophagy‐related genes such as p62, ATG5, Atrogin1, Beclin1, LC3B and MURF1 was lower in old subjects compared with their young (p<0.05). Two genes, ATF4 and GADD54A, involved in cell survival were decreased in old subjects compared to young (p<0.05). Genes relate to mitochondrial functions, UCP2, NRF1, PGC1α, PPARγ, and Tfam, showed no changes with age. Genes related to fatty acid metabolism, ACC, FATP1, FATP4, PPARα, SREBP1, were down‐regulated in old subjects (p<0.05). In conclusion, these data suggest dysfunctional autophagy could be the reason for mitochondrial damages found in older skeletal muscle in other reports, and the compromise in fatty acid metabolism which leads to intramuscular fat accumulation.

Support or Funding Information

Arkansas Biosciences Instiute

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Glucose Metabolism Regulates Mitochondrial Supercomplex Abundance in Murine Heart
Authors: shang velma owusua , Zheng Yu‐Ting , Liu Si Qi , McNally Lindsey Adene , Hill Bradford
Published: April 2020

Background

Mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) complexes assemble to form supercomplexes, which are thought to optimize ATP production via electron channelling. Supercomplexes appear to be more abundant in organs with a large energy demand, such as the heart. Nevertheless, the mechanisms that regulate supercomplex abundance in the heart remain unclear.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to determine how glycolytic activity regulates the abundance and activity of mitochondrial supercomplexes in the adult mouse heart.

Methods

Mitochondria isolated from adult, male FVB/NJ mouse hearts were solubilized with 2% digitonin. Mitochondrial supercomplexes (>1 MDa) were then resolved by electrophoresis on 3–12% blue native‐polyacrylamide (BN‐PAGE) gradient gels, and the protein constituents of each supercomplex were identified by mass spectrometry and Western blotting. To determine how glycolysis affects mitochondrial supercomplex abundance in the heart, we assessed mitochondrial supercomplexes in cardiac mitochondria isolated from mice that express cardiac‐specific, dominant‐negative (GlycoLo) or dominant‐positive (GlycoHi) forms of 6‐phosphofructo‐2‐kinase/fructose‐2,6‐bisphosphatase, which constitutively lower or augment glycolytic rate, respectively. The enzymatic activities of supercomplex components were assessed using in‐gel activity assays. Differences in supercomplex abundances and activities were calculated using one‐way ANOVA, followed by Tukey post‐hoc tests.

Results

Cardiac mitochondria contained at least six distinct supercomplexes, with each supercomplex comprising NADH dehydrogenase, cytochrome bc1 complex, cytochrome c oxidase, and ATP synthase. In Coomassie‐stained BN‐PAGE gels and in Western blots, mitochondria from GlycoLo hearts showed higher supercomplex abundance than mitochondria from WT and GlycoHi mice. Furthermore, we found that mitochondria from GlycoLo hearts had a higher abundance of NADH dehydrogenase and cytochrome bc1 complex. Furthermore, the enzymatic activities of supercomplex‐associated NADH dehydrogenase and cytochrome c oxidase were higher in GlycoLo hearts than in GlycoHi and WT hearts.

Conclusion

Low glycolytic activity in the heart increases mitochondrial supercomplex abundance and activity. These findings could provide new insights into the metabolic mechanisms that regulate cardiac health and remodeling.

Support or Funding Information

NIH (HL122580, HL130174, ES028268, HL78825, and GM103492) and from the American Diabetes Association (1‐16‐JDF‐041)

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Role of Nicotine Mediated Neuroprotection in MPTP‐induced Parkinson's disease
Authors: Arafa El‐Shaimaa A. , Buabeid Manal
Published: April 2020

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, leading to the loss of dopaminergic tone in the striatum. Billions of dollars are spent around the world to address health issues due to neurodegeneration mediated memory loss and cognitive deficits. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop novel neuroprotective strategies to reduce the neurodegeneration.1‐methyl‐4‐pheneyl‐1,2,3,6‐terahydropriydine (MPTP) is a potent neurotoxin that causes selective loss of dopaminergic neurons and causing Parkinson's disease like symptoms. Acetylcholine (ACh) is a prominent neurotransmitter in the striatum and exerts part of its actions through nicotinic cholinergic receptors. Activation of these receptors has been associated with the enhancement of learning and certainly is instrumental in habitual use of nicotine. Dopamine release is modulated by activation of nicotinic receptors in the dorsal striatum. Nicotine can either protect neurons from neurodegeneration or induce oxidative stress, depending on its dose and degree of oxidative stress impairment. However, the relationship between nicotine and oxidative stress in the PD remains largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of nicotine on glutathione (GSH)‐centered antioxidant system and oxidative stress. Parkinson's disease animal model was induced in mice by systemic injection of MPTP and then we investigated the behavioral, neurochemical, biochemical and neuropathological hallmarks of the disease. Inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and altered GABA/Glutamate levels are associated with progressive nigrostriatal neurodegeneration. Nicotine in small dose significantly enhanced dopamine release, suggesting the improvement of the behavioral defect induced by MPTP, scavenged the free radicals, and altered the major endogenous antioxidant molecules and striatal GABA levels leading to neuroprotection. Thus, Nicotine can have therapeutic value due to its neuroprotective effects against various movement disorders. This will have far‐reaching effects in future therapeutics in terms of new treatment strategies.

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Clinical care is evolving: The microbiome for advanced practice nurses
Authors: Lockwood Mark B. , Green Stefan J.
Published: April 2020

Over the course of four billion years, humans have developed an intimate relationship with the more than 37 trillion microbes that inhabit our bodies. This relationship runs the gamut from symbiosis to pathogenesis. The number of microbial cells is roughly equivalent to that of mammalian cells in the body. However, due to substantial microbial diversity in host-associated communities, the genetic content of the microbiome is roughly 150 times greater than that of the human genome. Microbial genes encode for proteins capable of producing a wide variety of molecules essential for our health and survival. Many factors such as mode of birth, diet, chlorination of water, and medications significantly affect the richness and diversity of the microbiome. Advanced practice nurses have important roles to play as clinicians, scientists, educators, and patient advocates as our understanding of the microbiome's effects on health becomes better articulated. An understanding of how the microbiome can affect an individual's health or the efficacy of treatment will soon be essential in the clinical setting, and nurses should be encouraged to educate themselves on the relationship between our microbial partners, the environment, and human health.
Acute liver injury and its association with death risk of patients with COVID-19: a hospital-based prospective case-cohort study
Authors: Fu Lin , Fei Jun , Xu Shen , Xiang Hui-Xian , Xiang Ying , Tan Zhu-Xia , Li Meng-Die , Liu Fang-Fang , Li Ying , Han Ming-Feng , Li Xiu-Yong , Zhao Hui , Xu De-Xiang
Published: April 2020

Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a newly respiratory infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) with multiple organ injuries. The aim of this study was to analyze SARS-CoV-2-induced acute liver injury (ALI), its association with death risk and prognosis after discharge.

Methods

Three-hundred and fifty-five COVID-19 patients were recruited. Clinical data were collected from electronic medical records. ALI was evaluated and its prognosis was tracked. The association between ALI and death risk was analyzed.

Results

Of 355 COVID-19 patients, 211 were common, 88 severe, and 51 critical ill cases, respectively. On admission, 223 (62.8%) patients were with hypoproteinemia, 151(42.5%) with cholestasis, and 101 (28.5%) with hepatocellular injury. As expected, ALI was more common in critical ill patients. By multivariate logistic regression, male, older age and lymphocyte reduction were three important independent risk factors predicting ALI among COVID-19 patients. Death risk analysis shows that fatality rate was higher among patients with hypoproteinemia than those without hypoproteinemia (RR=9.471, P<0.001). Moreover, fatality rate was higher among patients with cholestasis than those without cholestasis (RR=2.182, P<0.05). Follow-up observation found that more than one hepatic functional indexes of two-third patients remained abnormal 14 days after discharge.

Conclusions

ALI at early stage elevates death risk of COVID-19 patients. SARS-CoV-2-induced ALI has not recovered completely 14 days after discharge.
Crystal structure of Arabidopsis thaliana casein kinase 2 α1
Authors: Demulder Manon , De Veylder Lieven , Loris Remy
Published: April 2020

Casein kinase 2 (CK2) is a ubiquitous pleiotropic enzyme that is highly conserved across eukaryotic kingdoms. CK2 is singular amongst kinases as it is highly rigid and constitutively active. Arabidopsis thaliana is widely used as a model system in molecular plant research; the biological functions of A. thaliana CK2 are well studied in vivo and many of its substrates have been identified. Here, crystal structures of the α subunit of A. thaliana CK2 in three crystal forms and of its complex with the nonhydrolyzable ATP analog AMppNHp are presented. While the C-lobe of the enzyme is highly rigid, structural plasticity is observed for the N-lobe. Small but significant displacements within the active cleft are necessary in order to avoid steric clashes with the AMppNHp molecule. Binding of AMppNHp is influenced by a rigid-body motion of the N-lobe that was not previously recognized in maize CK2.
An international investigation of opinion leadership and social media
Authors: Akdevelioglu Duygu , Kara Selcan
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to examine innovativeness and extraversion as antecedents of perceived and social media opinion leadership in different country-level contexts and explore how these antecedents influence product adoption differently.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey method was used to collect data from Turkey and the USA. A total of 415 respondents participated in two studies, and data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

This research shows that innovativeness affects perceived opinion leadership, whereas extraversion affects social media opinion leadership, and these effects are moderated by country-level differences.

Practical implications

Tthis research provides strategic information strategic information on how to identify and target influencers in social media across countries. This paper has implications for marketers who are trying to find influential consumers to increase new product adoption. Social media opinion leaders are important seeding points, because they actively initiate new product adoption for other consumers. Marketers should create strategies that are in line with the country’s cultural orientation in addition to personal/psychological traits.

Social implications

This research provides valuable information to better explain the consumers’ adoption of technological products and the factors affecting this process in the context of social media. Specifically, this paper identifies strategies to use cultural differences across countries (i.e. Turkey versus the USA) and personality traits (i.e., innovativeness and extraversion) in the adoption of new products.

Originality/value

This paper extends prior literature on opinion leadership by uncovering consumer dynamics internationally, which are known to influence social media use. Specifically, by examining the effect of innovativeness and extraversion on opinion leadership in different countries, this research contributes to the literature on new product adoption and has implications for effectively identifying influencers in social media.
Transgenerational maternal age effects in nature: Lessons learnt from Asian elephants
Authors: Spagopoulou Foteini
Published: April 2020

In Focus

Reichert, S., Berger, V., Jackson, J., Chapman, S. N., Htut, W., Mar, K. U., & Lummaa, V. (2019). Maternal age at birth shapes offspring life‐history trajectory across generations in long‐lived Asian elephants. Journal of Animal Ecology, 89, 996–1007. Parental age can have strong effects on offspring life history, but the prevalence and magnitude of such effects in natural populations remain poorly understood. Using a multigenerational dataset of semi‐captive Asian elephants, Reichert et al. (2019) studied the effects of maternal and grandmaternal age on offspring performance and found that offspring from old mothers have lower survival, but higher body condition and reproductive success than offspring from younger mothers. Importantly the observed consequences on survival are long‐lasting and span more than one generation, with grand‐offspring of old grandmothers also showing reduced survival. These findings suggest that persistent transgenerational effects of maternal age on fitness can shape the individual variation in ageing patterns in nature and ultimately the evolution of life histories.