bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Antagonism of STAT1 by Nipah virus P gene products modulates disease course but not lethal outcome in the ferret model
Authors: Satterfield Benjamin A. , Borisevich Viktoriya , Foster Stephanie L. , Rodriguez Sergio E. , Cross Robert W. , Fenton Karla A. , Agans Krystle N. , Basler Christopher F. , Geisbert Thomas W. , Mire Chad E. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractNipah virus (NiV) is a pathogenic paramyxovirus and zoononis with very high human fatality rates. Previous protein over-expression studies have shown that various mutations to the common N-terminal STAT1-binding motif of the NiV P, V, and W proteins affected the STAT1-binding ability of these proteins thus interfering with he JAK/STAT pathway and reducing their ability to inhibit type-I IFN signaling, but due to differing techniques it was unclear which amino acids were most important in this interaction or what impact this had on pathogenesis in vivo. We compared all previously described mutations in parallel and found the amino acid mutation Y116E demonstrated the greatest reduction in binding to STAT1 and the greatest reduction in interferon antagonism. A similar reduction in binding and activity was seen for a deletion of twenty amino acids constituting the described STAT1-binding domain. To investigate the contribution of this STAT1-binding motif in NiV-mediated disease, we produced rNiVs with complete deletion of the STAT1-binding motif or the Y116E mutation for ferret challenge studies (rNiVM-STAT1blind). Despite the reduced IFN inhibitory function, ferrets challenged with these rNiVM-STAT1blind mutants had a lethal, albeit altered, NiV-mediated disease course. These data, together with our previously published data, suggest that the major role of NiV P, V, and W in NiV-mediated disease in the ferret model are likely to be in the inhibition of viral recognition/innate immune signaling induction with a minor role for inhibition of IFN signaling.
Fish and maize: Bayesian mixing models of fourteenth- through seventeenth-century AD ancestral Wendat diets, Ontario, Canada
Authors: Feranec Robert S. , Hart John P. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractFreshwater and marine fish have been important components of human diets for millennia. The Great Lakes of North America, their tributaries and smaller regional freshwater bodies are important Native American fisheries. The ethnohistorical record, zooarchaeological remains, and isotopic values on human bone and tooth collagen indicate the importance of fish in fourteenth- through seventeenth-century ancestral Wendat diets in southern Ontario, which is bordered by three of the Great Lakes. Maize (Zea mays ssp. mays) was the primary grain of Native American agricultural systems in the centuries prior to and following sustained European presence. Here we report new Bayesian dietary mixing models using previously published δ13C and δ15N values on ancestral Wendat bone and tooth collagen and tooth enamel. The results confirm previous estimates from δ13C values that ancestral Wendat diets included high proportions of maize but indicate much higher proportions of fish than has previously been recognized. The results also suggest that terrestrial animals contributed less to ancestral Wendat diets than is typically interpreted based on zooarchaeological records.
Mapping thermal conductivity across bamboo cell walls with scanning thermal microscopy
Authors: Shah Darshil U. , Konnerth Johannes , Ramage Michael H. , Gusenbauer Claudia 
Published: November 2019

AbstractScanning thermal microscopy is a powerful tool for investigating biological materials and structures like bamboo and its cell walls. Alongside nanoscale topographical information, the technique reveals local variations in thermal conductivity of this elegant natural material. We observe that at the tissue scale, fibre cells in the scattered vascular tissue would offer preferential pathways for heat transport due to their higher conductivities in both anatomical directions, in comparison to parenchymatic cells in ground tissue. In addition, the transverse orientation offers more resistance to heat flow. Furthermore, we observe each fibre cell to compose of up to ten layers, with alternating thick and thin lamellae in the secondary wall. Notably, we find the thin lamellae to have relatively lower conductivity than the thick lamellae in the fibre direction. This is due to the distinct orientation of cellulose microfibrils within the cell wall layers, and that cellulose microfibrils are highly anisotropic and have higher conductivity along their lengths. Microfibrils in the thick lamellae are oriented almost parallel to the fibre cell axis, while microfibrils in the thin lamellae are oriented almost perpendicular to the cell axis. Bamboo grasses have evolved to rapidly deposit this combination of thick and thin layers, like a polymer composite laminate or cross-laminated timber, for combination of axial and transverse stiffness and strength. However, this architecture is found to have interesting implications on thermal transport in bamboo, which is relevant for the application of engineered bamboo in buildings. We further conclude that scanning thermal microscopy may be a useful technique in plant science research, including for phenotyping studies.
Nutritional status modifies pregnane X receptor regulated transcriptome
Authors: Hassani-Nezhad-Gashti Fatemeh , Kummu Outi , Karpale Mikko , Rysä Jaana , Hakkola Jukka 
Published: November 2019

AbstractPregnane X receptor (PXR) regulates glucose and lipid metabolism, but little is known of the nutritional regulation of PXR function. We investigated the genome wide effects of the nutritional status on the PXR mediated gene regulation in the liver. Mice were treated with a PXR ligand pregnenolone 16α-carbonitrile (PCN) for 4 days and subsequently either fasted for 5 hours or after 4-hour fast treated with intragastric glucose 1 hour before sample collection. Gene expression microarray study indicated that PCN both induced and repressed much higher number of genes in the glucose fed mice and the induction of multiple well-established PXR target genes was potentiated by glucose. A subset of genes, including bile acid synthesis gene Cyp8b1, responded in an opposite direction during fasting and after glucose feeding. PXR knockout abolished these effects. In agreement with the Cyp8b1 regulation, PCN also modified the bile acid composition in the glucose fed mice. Contribution of glucose, insulin and glucagon on the observed nutritional effects was investigated in primary hepatocytes. However, only mild impact on PXR function was observed. These results show that nutritional status modifies the PXR regulated transcriptome both qualitatively and quantitatively and reveal a complex crosstalk between PXR and energy homeostasis.
Sphingolipid serum profiling in vitamin D deficient and dyslipidemic obese dimorphic adults
Authors: Al-Daghri Nasser M. , Torretta Enrica , Barbacini Pietro , Asare Hannah , Ricci Cristian , Capitanio Daniele , Guerini Franca Rosa , Sabico Shaun B. , Alokail Majed S. , Clerici Mario , Gelfi Cecilia 
Published: November 2019

AbstractRecent studies on Saudi Arabians indicate a prevalence of dyslipidemia and vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D) in both normal weight and obese subjects. In the present study the sphingolipid pattern was investigated in 23 normolipidemic normal weight (NW), 46 vitamin D deficient dyslipidemic normal weight (-vitDNW) and 60 vitamin D deficient dyslipidemic obese (-vitDO) men and women by HPTLC-primuline profiling and LC-MS analyses. Results indicate higher levels of total ceramide (Cer) and dihydroceramide (dhCers C18–22) and lower levels of total sphingomyelins (SMs) and dihydrosphingomyelin (dhSM) not only in -vitDO subjects compared to NW, but also in –vitDNW individuals. A dependency on body mass index (BMI) was observed analyzing specific Cer acyl chains levels. Lower levels of C20 and 24 were observed in men and C24.2 in women, respectively. Furthermore, LC-MS analyses display dimorphic changes in NW, -vitDNW and –vitDO subjects. In conclusion, LC-MS data identify the independency of the axis high Cers, dhCers and SMs from obesity per se. Furthermore, it indicates that long chains Cers levels are specific target of weight gain and that circulating Cer and SM levels are linked to sexual dimorphism status and can contribute to predict obese related co-morbidities in men and women.
Rapid metabolism increases the level of 2,4-D resistance at high temperature in common waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus)
Authors: Shyam Chandrima , Jhala Amit J. , Kruger Greg , Jugulam Mithila 
Published: November 2019

AbstractCommon waterhemp emerges throughout the crop growing season in the Midwestern United States, and as a result, the seedlings are exposed to a wide range of temperature regimes. Typically, 2,4-D is used in the Midwest to control winter annual broad-leaf weeds before planting soybean and in an early post-emergence application in corn and sorghum; however, the evolution of 2,4-D-resistant common waterhemp in several Midwestern states may limit the use of 2.4-D for controlling this problem weed. Moreover, temperature is one of the crucial factors affecting weed control efficacy of 2,4-D. This research investigated the effect of temperature on efficacy of 2,4-D to control 2,4-D susceptible (WHS) and -resistant (WHR) common waterhemp. Do se-response of WHS and WHR to 2,4-D was assessed at two temperature regimes, high (HT; 34/20 °C, d/n) and low (LT; 24/10 °C, d/n). Whole plant dose response study indicated an increased level of 2,4-D resistance in WHR at HT compared to LT. Additional investigation of the physiological mechanism of this response indicated that both WHS and WHR common waterhemp plants rapidly metabolized 14C 2,4-D at HT compared to LT. In conclusion, a rapid metabolism of 2,4-D conferred increased level of resistance to 2,4-D in WHR at HT. Therefore, application of 2,4-D when temperatures are cooler can improve control of 2,4-D resistant common waterhemp.
A detailed characterization of complex networks using Information Theory
Authors: Freitas Cristopher G. S. , Aquino Andre L. L. , Ramos Heitor S. , Frery Alejandro C. , Rosso Osvaldo A. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractUnderstanding the structure and the dynamics of networks is of paramount importance for many scientific fields that rely on network science. Complex network theory provides a variety of features that help in the evaluation of network behavior. However, such analysis can be confusing and misleading as there are many intrinsic properties for each network metric. Alternatively, Information Theory methods have gained the spotlight because of their ability to create a quantitative and robust characterization of such networks. In this work, we use two Information Theory quantifiers, namely Network Entropy and Network Fisher Information Measure, to analyzing those networks. Our approach detects non-trivial characteristics of complex networks such as the transition present in the Watts-Strogatz model from k-ring to random graphs; the phase transition from a disconnected to an almost surely connected network when we increase the linking probability of Erdős-Rényi model; distinct phases of scale-free networks when considering a non-linear preferential attachment, fitness, and aging features alongside the configuration model with a pure power-law degree distribution. Finally, we analyze the numerical results for real networks, contrasting our findings with traditional complex network methods. In conclusion, we present an efficient method that ignites the debate on network characterization.
Association between Coronary Artery Measurements and Retinal Microvasculature in Children with New Onset of Kawasaki Disease
Authors: Lim Edward Jianyang , Aris Izzuddin M. , Choo Jonathan , Wong Tien Yin , Li Ling-Jun 
Published: November 2019

AbstractAbout a quarter of children with new onset of Kawasaki disease (KD) encounter coronary arterial involvement. While KD is known to cause vasculitis of medium-sized vessels, few studies have been done to study the involvement of the microcirculation. We aimed to investigate the association between coronary arterial dilatation and retinal microvasculature in a pilot setting, in order to further study the pathophysiological mechanism of KD from the perspective of small vessels changes. We performed a cross-sectional, observational, hospital-based study on 11 children aged 2 years and above with new-onset KD. Cardiac imaging technicians performed the echocardiographic examinations and recorded right coronary artery (RCA), left coronary artery (LCA) and left anterior descending artery (LAD). Qualified retinal graders reviewed and graded standardised retinal photographs to assess retinal microvascular parameters. Among 11 participants, there were 7 boys and 4 girls. Median and interquartile range of participants’ age were 5.92 (3.08) years. After adjusting for age and sex, each unit increase in LAD (mm) was significantly associated with increment of retinal arteriolar tortuosity (4.25 × 10−5 units, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.19, 7.32). Retinal arteriolar geometric changes were associated with LAD dilatation in 11 children with new onset of KD. Our pilot provided proof-of-concept that retinal imaging might be useful for detecting coronary arterial involvement in young children with KD and it needs further investigation.
Assessing Rat Forelimb and Hindlimb Motor Unit Connectivity as Objective and Robust Biomarkers of Spinal Motor Neuron Function
Authors: Harrigan Markus E. , Filous Angela R. , Tosolini Andrew P. , Morris Renee , Schwab Jan M. , Arnold W. David 
Published: November 2019

AbstractSensitive and objective biomarkers of neuronal injury, degeneration, and regeneration can help facilitate translation of experimental findings into clinical testing. Whereas measures of upper motor neuron connectivity have been readily established, functional assessments of lower motor neuron (LMN) innervation of forelimb muscles are lacking. Compound muscle action potential (CMAP) and motor unit (MU) number estimation (MUNE) are well-established methods that allow longitudinal MU integrity monitoring in patients. In analogy we refined CMAP and MUNE methods for assessing spinal MU input in the rat forelimb and hindlimb. Repeated CMAP and MUNE recordings are robust (coefficients of variability: 4.5–11.3%), and MUNE measurements from forelimb wrist flexor muscles (415 ± 8 [SEM]) align with back-traced anatomical LMN counts (336 ± 16 [SEM]). For disease validation, cross-sectional blinded electrophysiological and muscle contractility measurements were obtained in a cohort of G93A SOD1 mutant overexpressing rats and compared with controls. Longitudinal assessment of mutant animals demonstrated progressive motor unit decline in the hindlimb to a greater extent than the forelimb. Hindlimb CMAP and MUNE demonstrated strong correlations with plantarflexion muscle contractility. Cross-species assessment of upper/fore- limb and lower/hind- limb motor units using objective electrophysiological CMAP and MUNE values as biomarkers will guide and improve bi-directional translation.
Serum d-serine accumulation after proximal renal tubular damage involves neutral amino acid transporter Asc-1
Authors: Suzuki Masataka , Gonda Yusuke , Yamada Marina , Vandebroek Arno A. , Mita Masashi , Hamase Kenji , Yasui Masato , Sasabe Jumpei 
Published: November 2019

AbstractChiral separation has revealed enantio-specific changes in blood and urinary levels of amino acids in kidney diseases. Blood d-/l-serine ratio has been identified to have a correlation with creatinine-based kidney function. However, the mechanism of distinctive behavior in serine enantiomers is not well understood. This study was performed to investigate the role of renal tubules in derangement of serine enantiomers using a mouse model of cisplatin-induced tubular injury. Cisplatin treatment resulted in tubular damage histologically restricted to the proximal tubules and showed a significant increase of serum d-/l-serine ratio with positive correlations to serum creatinine and blood urine nitrogen (BUN). The increased d-/l-serine ratio did not associate with activity of a d-serine degrading enzyme, d-amino acid oxidase, in the kidney. Screening transcriptions of neutral amino acid transporters revealed that Asc-1, found in renal tubules and collecting ducts, was significantly increased after cisplatin-treatment, which correlates with serum d-serine increase. In vitro study using a kidney cell line showed that Asc-1 is induced by cisplatin and mediated influx of d-serine preferably to l-serine. Collectively, these results suggest that cisplatin-induced damage of proximal tubules accompanies Asc-1 induction in tubules and collecting ducts and leads to serum d-serine accumulation.
Comparative muscle irritation and pharmacokinetics of florfenicol-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex freeze-dried powder injection and florfenicol commercial injection in beagle dogs
Authors: Fan Guoqing , Zhang Li , Shen Yun , Shu Gang , Yuan Zhixiang , Lin Juchun , Zhang Wei , Peng Guangneng , Zhong Zhijun , Yin Lizi , Fu Hualin 
Published: November 2019

AbstractFlorfenicol (FF) is a novel animal-specific amidohydrin broad-spectrum antibiotic. However, its aqueous solubility is extremely poor, far below the effective dose required for veterinary clinic. Thus, FF is often used in large doses, which significantly limits its preparation and application. To overcome these shortcomings, the FF-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (FF-HP-β-CD) inclusion complexes were developed using the solution-stirring method. The physical properties of FF-HP-β-CD were characterized. A comparison was conducted between FF and FF-HP-β-CD freeze-dried powder injection of their muscle irritation and the pharmacokinetics. The drug loading and saturated solubility of FF-HP-β-CD at 37 °C were 11.78% ± 0.04% and 78.93 ± 0.42 mg/mL, respectively (35.4-fold compared with FF). Results of scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared showed that FF was entrapped in the inner cavity of HP-β-CD, and the inclusion complex formed in an amorphous state. In comparison with FF commercial injection, FF-HP-β-CD increased the elimination half-life (t1/2β), transport rate constant (K10, K12, K21), and maximum concentration (Cmax) after intramuscular injection in beagle dogs. Conversely, it decreased the distribution half-life (t1/2α), absorption rate constant (Ka), apparent volume of distribution (V1/F), and peak time (Tmax). These results suggest that FF-HP-β-CD freeze-dried powder injection is a promising formulation for clinical application.
The inhibition of Bax activation-induced apoptosis by RasGRP2 via R-Ras-PI3K-Akt signaling pathway in the endothelial cells
Authors: Takino Jun-ichi , Sato Takuma , Nagamine Kentaro , Hori Takamitsu 
Published: November 2019

AbstractApoptosis of endothelial cells is a very important event in various diseases and angiogenesis. We recently reported that ras guanyl nucleotide releasing protein 2 (RasGRP2), which is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor, was expressed in the human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and that Rap1 activation by its overexpression inhibited apoptosis by suppressing tumor necrosis factor-α induced-reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. However, other signaling pathways and roles of RasGRP2 not mediated via Rap1 are not well understood. Therefore, we compared the Mock (M) and the RasGRP2-stable overexpression (R) immortalized HUVECs using BAM7 and anisomycin, which are apoptosis inducers. BAM7 and anisomycin induced apoptosis without causing ROS production, and such apoptosis was significantly increased in M cells, but not in R cells. RasGRP2 suppressed BAM7- and anisomycin-induced apoptosis, but not via the Rap1 pathway as observed using Rap1 knockdown. Furthermore, RasGRP2 activated not only Rap1 but also R-Ras, and suppressed apoptosis by activating R-Ras-phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt signaling pathway. The phosphorylation of Akt by RasGRP2 inhibited Bax translocation by promoting translocation of hexokinase-2 (HK-2) from cytoplasm to mitochondria. Taken together, it was suggested that RasGRP2 suppresses the Bax activation-induced apoptosis by promoting HK-2 translocation to mitochondria via R-Ras-PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.
Observation of scalable sub-Poissonian-field lasing in a microlaser
Authors: Ann Byoung-moo , Song Younghoon , Kim Junki , Yang Daeho , An Kyungwon 
Published: November 2019

AbstractSub-Poisson field with much reduced fluctuations in a cavity can boost quantum precision measurements via cavity-enhanced light-matter interactions. Strong coupling between an atom and a cavity mode has been utilized to generate highly sub-Poisson fields. However, a macroscopic number of optical intracavity photons with more than 3 dB variance reduction has not been possible. Here, we report sub-Poisson field lasing in a microlaser operating with hundreds of atoms with well-regulated atom-cavity coupling and interaction time. Its photon-number variance was 4 dB below the standard quantum limit while the intracavity mean photon number scalable up to 600. The highly sub-Poisson photon statistics were not deteriorated by simultaneous interaction of a large number of atoms. Our finding suggests an effective pathway to widely scalable near-Fock-state lasing at the macroscopic scale.
Motor Function Improvement in Children with Ataxia Receiving Interval
Rehabilitation, Including Vibration-Assisted Hometraining: A Retrospective
Study
Authors: Martakis Kyriakos , Stark Christina , Alberg Evelyn , Bossier Christiane , Semler Oliver , Schönau Eckhard , Duran Ibrahim 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Background Physiotherapy, including vibration-assisted therapy, has
been proven to be effective for patients with ataxic cerebral palsy.
Herewith, we studied the effect of a functional, goal-oriented interval
rehabilitation program, including vibration-assisted home-training on the
motor function of children with congenital ataxias.
Patients 45 children (mean age 7.7 years, SD 4.70) with ataxia, having
received a 6-month home-based side-alternating vibration-assisted therapy
combined with intensive, goal-oriented, functional rehabilitation intervals,
were included in the study, classified according to the progressive or
non-progressive ataxia character.
Method Retrospective analysis of the prospectively collected data of
the registry of the Cologne rehabilitation program “Auf die
Beine”. Motor abilities have been assessed prior to the intervention
(M0), after 6 months of home-training (M6) as well as in a follow-up 6
months later (M12). We performed a gait analysis, a 1-minute walking test
(1-MWT), and the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-66).
Results The GMFM-66 improvement (M6–M0 vs. M12–M6) was
statistically significant with median improvement of 2.4 points
(non-progressive) and 2.9 points (progressive) respectively, and clinically
relevant. The 1-MWT improvement was statistically significant and clinically
relevant for non-progressive ataxia.
Conclusion The intensive training, including vibration-assisted
therapy significantly improved the motor function of children with ataxia.
Six months later the skills were preserved in children with progressive
ataxia and could be further developed in non-progressive forms.
Native interpreters in Russian America
Authors: Grinëv Andrei V. , Bland Richard L. 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
This article analyzes the formation of a special professional group of indigenous translator-interpreters in the
Russian colonies of America (including Mestizos-Creoles). They shared with the Russians all the hardships of opening up new lands,
acted as mediators between the new arrivals and the natives, settled conflicts, warned the Russians about dangers, and sometimes
perished during shipwrecks and attacks by hostile locals. Some of the interpreters participated in creating a written language for
the native inhabitants of Alaska.