bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Manipulation of the Gut Microbiome Alters Acetaminophen Biodisposition in Mice
Authors: Malfatti Michael A. , Kuhn Edward A. , Murugesh Deepa K. , Mendez Melanie E. , Hum Nicholas , Thissen James B. , Jaing Crystal J. , Loots Gabriela G. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe gut microbiota is a vast and diverse microbial community that has co-evolved with its host to perform a variety of essential functions involved in the utilization of nutrients and the processing of xenobiotics. Shifts in the composition of gut microbiota can disturb the balance of organisms which can influence the biodisposition of orally administered drugs. To determine how changes in the gut microbiome can alter drug disposition, the pharmacokinetics (PK), and biodistribution of acetaminophen were assessed in C57Bl/6 mice after treatment with the antibiotics ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin, or a cocktail of ampicillin/neomycin. Altered PK, and excretion profiles of acetaminophen were observed in antibiotic exposed animals. Plasma Cmax was significantly decreased in antibiotic treated animals suggesting decreased bioavailability. Urinary metabolite profiles revealed decreases in acetaminophen-sulfate metabolite levels in both the amoxicillin and ampicillin/neomycin treated animals. The ratio between urinary and fecal excretion was also altered in antibiotic treated animals. Analysis of gut microbe composition revealed that changes in microbe content in antibiotic treated animals was associated with changes in acetaminophen biodisposition. These results suggest that exposure to amoxicillin or ampicillin/neomycin can alter the biodisposition of acetaminophen and that these alterations could be due to changes in gut microbiome composition.
Observer variability in the assessment of renal 18F-FDG uptake in kidney transplant recipients
Authors: Jadoul Alexandre , Lovinfosse Pierre , Bouquegneau Antoine , Weekers Laurent , Pottel Hans , Hustinx Roland , Jouret François 
Published: March 2020

Abstract18F-FDG PET/CT imaging may help non-invasively disprove the diagnosis of acute kidney allograft rejection (AR) in kidney transplant recipients (KTR). The present study aims at evaluating the repeatability and reproducibility of the quantification of renal 18F-FDG uptake in KTR. We prospectively performed 18F-FDG PET/CT in 95 adult KTR who underwent surveillance transplant biopsy between 3 to 6 months post transplantation. Images were obtained 180 minutes after injecting 3 MBq 18F-FDG per kg body weight. Mean standard uptake value (SUVmean) of kidney cortex was independently measured by 2 experienced observers in 4 volumes of interest (VOI) distributed in the upper (n = 2) and lower (n = 2) poles. The first observer repeated SUV assessment in the uppermost VOI, blinded to the initial results. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) and Bland-Altman plots were calculated. An ICC of 0.96 with 95%CI of [0.94; 0.97] was calculated for the intra-observer measurements. The ICC for inter-observer reproducibility for each VOI was 0.87 [0.81–0.91], 0.87 [0.81–0.91], 0.85 [0.78–0.89] and 0.83 [0.76–0.88] for the upper to the lower renal poles, respectively. The repeatability and reproducibility of the quantification of kidney allograft 18F-FDG uptake are both consistent, which makes it transferrable to the clinical routine.
Diabetes Minimally Mediated the Association Between PM2.5 Air Pollution and Kidney Outcomes
Authors: Bowe Benjamin , Xie Yan , Yan Yan , Xian Hong , Al-Aly Ziyad 
Published: March 2020

AbstractEpidemiologic observations suggest that exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetes, a causal driver of CKD. We evaluated whether diabetes mediates the association between PM2.5 and CKD. A cohort of 2,444,157 United States veterans were followed over a median 8.5 years. Environmental Protection Agency data provided PM2.5 exposure levels. Regression models assessed associations and their proportion mediated. A 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 was associated with increased odds of having a diabetes diagnosis (odds ratio: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.06–1.32), use of diabetes medication (1.22, 1.07–1.39), and increased risk of incident eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m2 (hazard ratio:1.20, 95% CI: 1.13–1.29), incident CKD (1.28, 1.18–1.39), ≥30% decline in eGFR (1.23, 1.15–1.33), and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or ≥50% decline in eGFR (1.17, 1.05–1.30). Diabetes mediated 4.7% (4.3–5.7%) of the association of PM2.5 with incident eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m2, 4.8% (4.2–5.8%) with incident CKD, 5.8% (5.0–7.0%) with ≥30% decline in eGFR, and 17.0% (13.1–20.4%) with ESRD or ≥50% decline in eGFR. Diabetes minimally mediated the association between PM2.5 and kidney outcomes. The findings will help inform more accurate estimates of the burden of diabetes and burden of kidney disease attributable to PM2.5 pollution.
Inhibiting saccades to a social stimulus: a developmental study
Authors: Geringswald F. , Afyouni A. , Noblet C. , Grosbras M.-H. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractFaces are an important source of social signal throughout the lifespan. In adults, they have a prioritized access to the orienting system. Here we investigate when this effect emerges during development. We tested 139 children, early adolescents, adolescents and adults in a mixed pro- and anti-saccades task with faces, cars or noise patterns as visual targets. We observed an improvement in performance until about 15 years of age, replicating studies that used only meaningless stimuli as targets. Also, as previously reported, we observed that adults made more direction errors to faces than abstract patterns and cars. The children showed this effect too with regards to noise patterns but it was not specific since performance for cars and faces did not differ. The adolescents, in contrast, made more errors for faces than for cars but as many errors for noise patterns and faces. In all groups latencies for pro-saccades were faster towards faces. We discuss these findings with regards to the development of executive control in childhood and adolescence and the influence of social stimuli at different ages.
Regulation of keratin network dynamics by the mechanical properties of the environment in migrating cells
Authors: Pora Anne , Yoon Sungjun , Dreissen Georg , Hoffmann Bernd , Merkel Rudolf , Windoffer Reinhard , Leube Rudolf E. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractKeratin intermediate filaments provide mechanical resilience for epithelia. They are nevertheless highly dynamic and turn over continuously, even in sessile keratinocytes. The aim of this study was to characterize and understand how the dynamic behavior of the keratin cytoskeleton is integrated in migrating cells. By imaging human primary keratinocytes producing fluorescent reporters and by using standardized image analysis we detect inward-directed keratin flow with highest rates in the cell periphery. The keratin flow correlates with speed and trajectory of migration. Changes in fibronectin-coating density and substrate stiffness induces concordant changes in migration speed and keratin flow. When keratinocytes are pseudo-confined on stripes, migration speed and keratin flow are reduced affecting the latter disproportionately. The regulation of keratin flow is linked to the regulation of actin flow. Local speed and direction of keratin and actin flow are very similar in migrating keratinocytes with keratin flow lagging behind actin flow. Conversely, reduced actin flow in areas of high keratin density indicates an inhibitory function of keratins on actin dynamics. Together, we propose that keratins enhance persistence of migration by directing actin dynamics and that the interplay of keratin and actin dynamics is modulated by matrix adhesions.
Anomalous Perception of Biological Motion in Autism: A Conceptual Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Federici Alessandra , Parma Valentina , Vicovaro Michele , Radassao Luca , Casartelli Luca , Ronconi Luca 
Published: March 2020

AbstractDespite its popularity, the construct of biological motion (BM) and its putative anomalies in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are not completely clarified. In this article, we present a meta-analysis investigating the putative anomalies of BM perception in ASD. Through a systematic literature search, we found 30 studies that investigated BM perception in both ASD and typical developing peers by using point-light display stimuli. A general meta-analysis including all these studies showed a moderate deficit of individuals with ASD in BM processing, but also a high heterogeneity. This heterogeneity was explored in different additional meta-analyses where studies were grouped according to levels of complexity of the BM task employed (first-order, direct and instrumental), and according to the manipulation of low-level perceptual features (spatial vs. temporal) of the control stimuli. Results suggest that the most severe deficit in ASD is evident when perception of BM is serving a secondary purpose (e.g., inferring intentionality/action/emotion) and, interestingly, that temporal dynamics of stimuli are an important factor in determining BM processing anomalies in ASD. Our results question the traditional understanding of BM anomalies in ASD as a monolithic deficit and suggest a paradigm shift that deconstructs BM into distinct levels of processing and specific spatio-temporal subcomponents.
Cloning and characterization of two chlorophyll A/B binding protein genes and analysis of their gene family in Camellia sinensis
Authors: Li Xian-Wen , Zhu Yu-Lin , Chen Chu-Yan , Geng Zhi-Juan , Li Xiang-Yong , Ye Ting-Ting , Mao Xiao-Nan , Du Fang 
Published: March 2020

AbstractIn this study, two chlorophyll A/B binding protein (CAB) genes (CsCP1 and CsCP2) in tea plant were cloned. The proteins encoded by these genes belong to the external or internal antenna proteins of PS II, respectively. They may be the targets of physiological regulation for tea leaf cell PS II because they all contain multiple functional domains and modifiable sites. The CAB gene family in the tea genome consists of 25 homologous genes. We measured the expression patterns of ten genes in the CsCP1 and CsCP2 subfamily under six different stresses. CsCP1 expression was inhibited in response to 6 kinds of stress; CsCP2 expression was slightly upregulated only after cold stress and ABA treatment. However, the expression levels of CSA016997 and CSA030476 were upregulated significantly in the six stresses. The results suggested that the 10 CAB genes may have different functions in tea leaves. Moreover, changes in the expression of the 10 genes under stress appear to be related to ABA- and MeJA-dependent signalling pathways, and their responses to MeJA treatment is faster than those to ABA. In addition, we introduced our experiences for cloning the genes in the context of complex genomes.
Learning to find spatially reversed sounds
Authors: Bermejo Fernando , Di Paolo Ezequiel A. , Gilberto L. Guillermo , Lunati Valentín , Barrios M. Virginia 
Published: March 2020

AbstractAdaptation to systematic visual distortions is well-documented but there is little evidence of similar adaptation to radical changes in audition. We use a pseudophone to transpose the sound streams arriving at the left and right ears, evaluating the perceptual effects it provokes and the possibility of learning to locate sounds in the reversed condition. Blindfolded participants remain seated at the center of a semicircular arrangement of 7 speakers and are asked to orient their head towards a sound source. We postulate that a key factor underlying adaptation is the self-generated activity that allows participants to learn new sensorimotor schemes. We investigate passive listening conditions (very short duration stimulus not permitting active exploration) and dynamic conditions (continuous stimulus allowing participants time to freely move their heads or remain still). We analyze head movement kinematics, localization errors, and qualitative reports. Results show movement-induced perceptual disruptions in the dynamic condition with static sound sources displaying apparent movement. This effect is reduced after a short training period and participants learn to find sounds in a left-right reversed field for all but the extreme lateral positions where motor patterns are more restricted. Strategies become less exploratory and more direct with training. Results support the hypothesis that self-generated movements underlie adaptation to radical sensorimotor distortions.
Network Dynamics of a Financial Ecosystem
Authors: Somin Shahar , Altshuler Yaniv , Gordon Goren , Pentland Alex ’Sandy’ , Shmueli Erez 
Published: March 2020

AbstractGlobal financial crises have led to the understanding that classical econometric models are limited in comprehending financial markets in extreme conditions, partially since they disregarded complex interactions within the system. Consequently, in recent years research efforts have been directed towards modeling the structure and dynamics of the underlying networks of financial ecosystems. However, difficulties in acquiring fine-grained empirical financial data, due to regulatory limitations, intellectual property and privacy control, still hinder the application of network analysis to financial markets. In this paper we study the trading of cryptocurrency tokens on top of the Ethereum Blockchain, which is the largest publicly available financial data source that has a granularity of individual trades and users, and which provides a rare opportunity to analyze and model financial behavior in an evolving market from its inception. This quickly developing economy is comprised of tens of thousands of different financial assets with an aggregated valuation of more than 500 Billion USD and typical daily volume of 30 Billion USD, and manifests highly volatile dynamics when viewed using classic market measures. However, by applying network theory methods we demonstrate clear structural properties and converging dynamics, indicating that this ecosystem functions as a single coherent financial market. These results suggest that a better understanding of traditional markets could become possible through the analysis of fine-grained, abundant and publicly available data of cryptomarkets.
Cholesterol-dependent enrichment of understudied erythrocytic stages of human Plasmodium parasites
Authors: Brown Audrey C. , Moore Christopher C. , Guler Jennifer L. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractFor intracellular pathogens, the host cell provides needed protection and nutrients. A major challenge of intracellular parasite research is collection of high parasite numbers separated from host contamination. This situation is exemplified by the malaria parasite, which spends a substantial part of its life cycle inside erythrocytes as rings, trophozoites, and schizonts, before egress and reinvasion. Erythrocytic Plasmodium parasite forms refractory to enrichment remain understudied due to high host contamination relative to low parasite numbers. Here, we present a method for separating all stages of Plasmodium-infected erythrocytes through lysis and removal of uninfected erythrocytes. The Streptolysin O-Percoll (SLOPE) method is effective on previously inaccessible forms, including circulating rings from malaria-infected patients and artemisinin-induced quiescent parasites. SLOPE can be used on multiple parasite species, under multiple media formulations, and lacks measurable impacts on parasite viability. We demonstrate erythrocyte membrane cholesterol levels modulate the preferential lysis of uninfected host cells by SLO, and therefore modulate the effectiveness of SLOPE. Targeted metabolomics of SLOPE-enriched ring stage samples confirms parasite-derived metabolites are increased and contaminating host material is reduced compared to non-enriched samples. Due to consumption of cholesterol by other intracellular bacteria and protozoa, SLOPE holds potential for improving research on organisms beyond Plasmodium.
Bam complex-mediated assembly of bacterial outer membrane proteins synthesized in an in vitro translation system
Authors: Hussain Sunyia , Peterson Janine H. , Bernstein Harris D. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBacterial outer membrane proteins (OMPs) contain a unique “β barrel” segment that is inserted into the membrane by the barrel assembly machinery (Bam) complex by an unknown mechanism. OMP assembly has been reconstituted in vitro, but assembly reactions have involved the use of urea-denatured protein purified from inclusion bodies. Here we show that the E. coli Bam complex catalyzes the efficient assembly of OMPs synthesized de novo in a coupled in vitro transcription/translation system. Interestingly, the in vitro translated forms of the OMPs we analyzed were assembled more rapidly and were effectively engaged by fewer periplasmic chaperones than their urea-denatured counterparts. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that the mode of production influences the conformational states sampled by OMPs and thereby affects their recognition by both chaperones and the Bam complex. Besides providing insights into OMP biogenesis, our work describes a novel, streamlined method to reconstitute OMP assembly in vitro.
Exogenous GDF11, but not GDF8, reduces body weight and improves glucose homeostasis in mice
Authors: Walker Ryan G. , Barrandon Ornella , Poggioli Tommaso , Dagdeviren Sezin , Carroll Shannon H. , Mills Melanie J. , Mendello Kourtney R. , Gomez Yanet , Loffredo Francesco S. , Pancoast James R. , Macias-Trevino Claudio , Marts Colin , LeClair Katherine B. , Noh Hye-Lim , Kim Taekyoon , Banks Alexander S. , Kim Jason K. , Cohen David E. , Wagers Amy J. , Melton Douglas A. , Lee Richard T. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractInsulin resistance is associated with aging in mice and humans. We have previously shown that administration of recombinant GDF11 (rGDF11) to aged mice alters aging phenotypes in the brain, skeletal muscle, and heart. While the closely related protein GDF8 has a role in metabolism, limited data are available on the potential metabolic effects of GDF11 or GDF8 in aging. To determine the metabolic effects of these two ligands, we administered rGDF11 or rGDF8 protein to young or aged mice fed a standard chow diet, short-term high-fat diet (HFD), or long-term HFD. Under nearly all of these diet conditions, administration of exogenous rGDF11 reduced body weight by 3–17% and significantly improved glucose tolerance in aged mice fed a chow (~30% vs. saline) or HF (~50% vs. saline) diet and young mice fed a HFD (~30%). On the other hand, exogenous rGDF8 showed signifcantly lesser effect or no effect at all on glucose tolerance compared to rGDF11, consistent with data demonstrating that GFD11 is a more potent signaling ligand than GDF8. Collectively, our results show that administration of exogenous rGDF11, but not rGDF8, can reduce diet-induced weight gain and improve metabolic homeostasis.
A novel Asfarvirus-like virus identified as a potential cause of mass mortality of abalone
Authors: Matsuyama Tomomasa , Takano Tomokazu , Nishiki Issei , Fujiwara Atushi , Kiryu Ikunari , Inada Mari , Sakai Takamitsu , Terashima Sachiko , Matsuura Yuta , Isowa Kiyoshi , Nakayasu Chihaya 
Published: March 2020

AbstractA novel Asfarvirus-like virus is proposed as the etiological agent responsible for mass mortality in abalone. The disease, called abalone amyotrophia, originally was recognized in the 1980s, but efforts to identify a causative agent were unsuccessful. We prepared a semi-purified fraction by nuclease treatment and ultracentrifugation of diseased abalone homogenate, and the existence of the etiological agent in the fraction was confirmed by a challenge test. Using next-generation sequencing and PCR-based epidemiological surveys, we obtained a partial sequence with similarity to a member of the family Asfarviridae. BLASTP analysis of the predicted proteins against a virus database resulted in 48 proteins encoded by the novel virus with top hits against proteins encoded by African swine fever virus (ASFV). Phylogenetic analyses of predicted proteins of the novel virus confirmed that ASFV represents the closest relative. Comparative genomic analysis revealed gene-order conservation between the novel virus and ASFV. In situ hybridization targeting the gene encoding the major capsid protein of the novel virus detected positive signals only in tissue from diseased abalone. The results of this study suggest that the putative causative agent should be considered a tentative new member of the family Asfarviridae, which we provisionally designate abalone asfa-like virus (AbALV).
Short sleep is associated with higher prevalence and increased predicted risk of cardiovascular diseases in an Iranian population: Fasa PERSIAN Cohort Study
Authors: Yazdanpanah Mohammad Hosein , Homayounfar Reza , Khademi Ali , Zarei Fariba , Shahidi Ali , Farjam Mojtaba 
Published: March 2020

AbstractCardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. One common factor that may affect CVD risk factors is sleep disturbance. The factors influencing an individual’s sleep may vary among different cultures. The current study investigated sleep quality and quantity in the Fasa cohort population as an Iranian population. In a cross-sectional study using the Fasa PERSIAN cohort study data, 10,129 subjects aged 35–70 were entered. Self-reported sleep duration and cardiovascular events were recorded. The Framingham risk score (FRS) is used to predict cardiovascular events. Adjusted logistic regression showed significant odds ratios in subjects who sleep less than 6 hours for CVD (OR = 1.23; 95% CI:1.03–1.48), coronary heart disease (CHD) (OR = 1.21; 95% CI:1.009–1.46), and hypertension (HTN) (OR = 1.37; 95% CI:1.16–1.62). Higher risk profiles were also seen in the FRS for short sleepers. The highest significant odds ratios in FRS profiles in the intermediate high-risk group compared with the low-risk group were (1.44; 95% CI:1.18–1.75) in CVD and (1.48; 95% CI:1.16–1.88) in CHD risk score profiles. It can be suggested that participants with short durations of sleep had significantly higher CVD, HTN prevalence, and 10-year FRS. Participants with long sleep durations had no increase in CVD, CHD, myocardial infarction (MI), or HTN prevalence. MI prevalence was at the lowest level in subjects who got 8 to 8.9 hours of sleep.
Phenotypic and Transcriptomic Analysis of Two Pinellia ternata Varieties T2 line and T2Plus line
Authors: Lu Jun , Liu Jian Ning , Sarsaiya Surendra , Duns Gregory Joseph , Han Jing , Jin Leilei , Chen Jishuang 
Published: March 2020

AbstractPinellia(Pinellia ternata(Thunb.) Breit.), as important medicinal plant, has been used to treat various ailments for a long time. The sixteen ploid plant (2n = 16 * 13 = 208)PinelliaT2Plus line was obtained from an octoploid (2n = 8 * 13 = 104) T2 line by chromosome-doubling technique. Compared with T2 line, the content of various medicinal components (polysaccharide, guanosine, adenosine and ephedrine) was increased in T2Plus line. In this study, the transcriptome of T2 line and T2Plus line were characterized by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technology. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways enrichment analysis on differential expressed unigenes (DEGs) revealed that multiple metabolic pathway were enriched significantly, such as ‘Starch and sucrose metabolism’, ‘Purine metabolism’, ‘Photosynthesis’ and six transcription factors (MYB, WRKY, bHLH, lateral organ boundaries domain (LBD), homeodomain-zipper (HD-ZIP) and Ethylene-responsive factor (ERF)) play a key role in difference of transcriptome between T2 line and T2Plus line. These metabolic pathways and transcription factors may play an important role in the difference of medicinal components and epigenetic features between these twoPinelliacultivars. This conclusion provides a robust theoretical basis for the mechanism of the formation of medicinal ingredients inPinelliacultivars.