bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
POU domain motif3 (Pdm3) induces wingless (wg) transcription and is essential for development of larval neuromuscular junctions in Drosophila
Authors: Kim Yeon , Cho Kyung-Ok 
Published: January 2020

AbstractWnt is a conserved family of secreted proteins that play diverse roles in tissue growth and differentiation. Identification of transcription factors that regulate wnt expression is pivotal for understanding tissue-specific signaling pathways regulated by Wnt. We identified pdm3m7, a new allele of the pdm3 gene encoding a POU family transcription factor, in a lethality-based genetic screen for modifiers of Wingless (Wg) signaling in Drosophila. Interestingly, pdm3m7 larvae showed slow locomotion, implying neuromuscular defects. Analysis of larval neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) revealed decreased bouton number with enlarged bouton in pdm3 mutants. pdm3 NMJs also had fewer branches at axon terminals than wild-type NMJs. Consistent with pdm3m7 being a candidate wg modifier, NMJ phenotypes in pdm3 mutants were similar to those of wg mutants, implying a functional link between these two genes. Indeed, lethality caused by Pdm3 overexpression in motor neurons was completely rescued by knockdown of wg, indicating that Pdm3 acts upstream to Wg. Furthermore, transient expression of Pdm3 induced ectopic expression of wg-LacZ reporter and Wg effector proteins in wing discs. We propose that Pdm3 expressed in presynaptic NMJ neurons regulates wg transcription for growth and development of both presynaptic neurons and postsynaptic muscles.
Application of CT texture analysis to assess the localization of primary aldosteronism
Authors: Akai Hiroyuki , Yasaka Koichiro , Kunimatsu Akira , Ohtomo Kuni , Abe Osamu , Kiryu Shigeru 
Published: January 2020

AbstractWe performed present study to investigate whether the localization of primary aldosteronism (PA) can be predicted using quantitative texture analysis on unenhanced computed tomography (CT). Plain CT data of 82 PA patients (54 unilateral (right-sided:left-sided = 24:30), 28 bilateral) were analyzed retrospectively. After semi-automatically setting the region of interest to include the whole adrenal gland, texture analyses were performed with or without a Laplacian of Gaussian filter with various spatial scaling factors (SSFs). Logistic regression analysis was performed using the extracted histogram-based texture features to identify parameters capable of predicting excessive aldosterone production. The result of adrenal venous sampling served as gold standard in present study. As a result, logistic regression analysis indicated that the mean gray level intensity (p = 0.026), the mean value of the positive pixels (p = 0.003) in the unfiltered image, and entropy (p = 0.027) in the filtered image (SSF: 2 mm) were significant parameters. Using the model constructed by logistic regression analysis and the optimum cutoff value, the localization of PA (three multiple choices of left, right or bilateral) was determined with an accuracy of 67.1% (55/82). CT texture analysis may provide a potential avenue for less invasive prediction of the localization of PA.
Spatial Variability of Soil Properties and Portable X-Ray Fluorescence-quantified Elements of typical Golf Courses Soils
Authors: Yang Yujian , Tong Xueqin , Zhang Yingpeng 
Published: January 2020

AbstractUnderstanding and quantitative delineation of Portable X-Ray Fluorescence (PXRF) -quantified elements and soil properties spatial variability are important for healthy turf development for golf courses. In this study, PXRF-quantified elements and soil properties (except soil acidity and alkalinity (pH), electric conductivity (EC), and textures) of 200 soil samples were measured by PXRF analyzer at different golf courses in Lubbock, Amarillo, and Midland in Texas, and Hobbs in New Mexico. Furthermore, principal component analysis (PCA), empirical bayesian kriging (EBK) and the ordinary least square model (OLSM) were used in the study. Two kinds of components were extracted and interpreted by PCA, the results showed Zn, Ti, Fe, Rb, V, Mn and Zr were associated with the component 1, while Sr was associated with the component 2, the preliminary classification of PXRF-quantified elements was formed by PCA. The EBK approach was used to evaluate the spatial patterns of PXRF-quantified elements and soil properties. The OLSM model quantitatively related pH to EC, silt texture and the PXRF-quantified K, Ca and Sr. The integration of PCA, EBK and OLSM revealed quantitative links between soil pedogenesis and causes, spatial variability and couple relationships of PXRF-quantified elements and soil properties over golf courses.
Deletion of CD2-like gene from the genome of African swine fever virus strain Georgia does not attenuate virulence in swine
Authors: Borca Manuel V. , O’Donnell Vivian , Holinka Lauren G. , Risatti Guillermo R. , Ramirez-Medina Elizabeth , Vuono Elizabeth A. , Shi Jishu , Pruitt Sarah , Rai Ayushi , Silva Ediane , Velazquez-Salinas Lauro , Gladue Douglas P. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractThe CD2-like African swine fever virus (ASFV) gene 8DR, (also known as EP402R) encodes for a structural transmembrane glycoprotein that has been shown to mediate hemadsorption and be involved in host immunomodulation as well as the induction of protective immune response. In addition, several natural ASFV isolates showing decreased virulence in swine has been shown to be non-hemadsorbing suggesting an association between altered or deleted forms of 8DR and virus attenuation. Here we demonstrate that deletion of 8DR gene from the genome of ASFV Georgia2010 isolate (ASFV-G-Δ8DR) does not significantly alter the virulence of the virus. ASFV-G-Δ8DR inoculated intramuscularly or intranasally (in a range of 102 to 104 TCID50) produced a clinical disease in domestic pigs indistinguishable from that induced by the same doses of the virulent parental ASFV Georgia2010 isolate. In addition, viremia values in ASFV-G-Δ8DR do not differ from those detected in animals infected with parental virus. Therefore, deletion of 8DR gene is not associated with a noticeable decrease in virulence of the ASFV Georgia isolate.
Association of serum uric acid with visceral, subcutaneous and hepatic fat quantified by magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Rospleszcz Susanne , Dermyshi Ditjon , Müller-Peltzer Katharina , Strauch Konstantin , Bamberg Fabian , Peters Annette 
Published: January 2020

AbstractElevated serum uric acid (SUA) is associated with a variety of medical conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes and obesity. Analyses investigating uric acid and obesity were primarily conducted using anthropometric measures like BMI and waist circumference. However, different adipose tissue depots might be differentially affected in uric acid metabolism. We analyzed the relation of SUA with visceral, subcutaneous and hepatic fat as quantified by Magnetic Resonance Imaging in N = 371 individuals from a cross-sectional sample of a population-based cohort. Associations of SUA and fat depots were calculated by regressions adjusted for potential confounders. We found that SUA was correlated with all fat measures (e.g. Pearson’s r between SUA and hepatic fat: 0.50, 95%-CI: 0.42, 0.57). Associations with visceral and hepatic fat, but not with subcutaneous fat, remained evident after adjustment for anthropometric measures (e.g. visceral fat: β = 0.51 l, 95%-CI: 0.30 l, 0.72 l). In conclusion, these results show how different adipose tissue compartments are affected by SUA to varying degrees, thus emphasizing the different physiological roles of these adipose tissues in uric acid metabolism.
Sleep disturbance in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: prevalence and risk factors – A cross-sectional study
Authors: Marinelli C. , Savarino E. V. , Marsilio I. , Lorenzon G. , Gavaruzzi T. , D’Incà R. , Zingone F. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractInflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic relapsing disorders that have a negative impact on quality of life. They can be highly disabling and have been associated with sleep disturbance. The aim of our study was to evaluate the sleep quality of a large cohort of IBD patients to identify possible associated cofactors. We prospectively recruited consecutive patients attending the IBD Unit of “Azienda Ospedaliera” of Padua from November 2018 to May 2019 and collected demographics and clinical characteristics. The patients completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the IBD questionnaire (IBDQ), the IBD-Disability Index (IBD-DI) questionnaire, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (9-HADS). A multivariate regression model was applied to assess independent risk factors of sleep disturbance among IBD-related variables, disability, quality of life, anxiety, and depression. We investigated the sleep quality of 166 patients with IBD, finding 67.5% of them suffering from sleep disturbance. In particular, low quality of life, presence of disability and extraintestinal manifestations were identified as independent risk factors of sleep disturbance. We discovered that all depressed patients were also affected by sleep disturbance, while we found no difference in sleep disturbance between patients with or without anxiety state. However, a positive correlation was reported between both anxiety and depression scores and PSQI score (Spearman correlation: r = 0.31 and r = 0.38 respectively). Our study showed that sleep quality is not directly associated with an active or inactive IBD state or with the ongoing treatment, but it is mostly correlated with the patients’ mood state, disability, and quality of life. Gastroenterologists and psychologists should join forces during clinical outpatients’ visits to evaluate emotional states for a better IBD management.
Structural and catalytic properties of copper silicate nanomaterials
Authors: Bawaked Salem , Narasimharao Katabathini 
Published: January 2020

AbstractNanosized copper silicates with three different structural morphology (amorphous, nanotubes and MEL) were prepared using different synthesis methods. The physico-chemical properties of copper silicates were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, SEM, HRTEM, N2-physisorption, XPS and H2-TPR techniques. The results indicated that the preparation conditions affect reduction behavior and textural properties of nanosized copper silicates. Hydrothermal synthesis method yielded chrysocolla-like CuSiO3 nanotubes, which possessed high surface area and pore volume with easy reducibility. The catalytic performances of synthesized copper silicate nanostructures were evaluated for dehydrogenation of methanol. It was found that dehydrogenation activity is depended on the structural properties of copper silicates. Highest activity was observed for copper silicates with nanotube morphology. Catalytic dehydrogenation activity of copper silicates was also related to presence of more number of Cu-O-Si species, easy reducibility and Lewis acid centers. The CuSiO3 nanotubes sample also exhibited good stability under investigated reaction conditions that deactivation was not detected for 48 h.
Enhanced STAT3 phosphorylation and PD-L1 expression in myeloid dendritic cells indicate impaired IL-27Ralpha signaling in type 1 diabetes
Authors: Parackova Z. , Vrabcova P. , Zentsova I. , Kayserova J. , Richtrova I. , Sojka L. , Stechova K. , Sumnik Z. , Sediva A. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractInterleukin 27 (IL-27), a member of the IL-12 family, is important for T cell differentiation; however, little is known about its effect on dendritic cells (DCs). IL-27 can activate multiple signaling cascades, including the JAK/STAT pathway, and depending on the setting it can both promote and antagonize inflammatory responses. An anti-inflammatory function of IL-27 has been reported in several autoimmune diseases; however, in type 1 diabetes (T1D), an autoimmune disease where autoreactive cytotoxic T cells attack insulin-producing beta cells, IL-27 has been shown to have a dual role and contradictory effects. Here, we show impaired IL-27 signaling in a large cohort of T1D patients (n = 51) compared to age- and gender-matched healthy donors. Increased expression of the IL-27 receptor subunit IL-27Ralpha mRNA in purified myeloid DCs (mDCs), detected by gene expression microarrays was mirrored by enhanced signal transduction in T1D mDCs in response to IL-27 stimulation. Higher STAT phosphorylation in T1D patients was also accompanied by elevated expression of the inhibitory molecules PD-L1, PD-L2 and PD-1, which may suggest not only immunomodulatory mechanisms of IL-27 in T1D but also a compensatory effort of T1D dendritic cells against the ongoing inflammation.
Serum C-reactive protein and albumin are useful biomarkers for tight control management of Crohn’s disease in Japan
Authors: Shiga Hisashi , Abe Izuru , Onodera Motoyuki , Moroi Rintaro , Kuroha Masatake , Kanazawa Yoshitake , Kakuta Yoichi , Endo Katsuya , Kinouchi Yoshitaka , Masamune Atsushi 
Published: January 2020

AbstractTight control management of Crohn’s disease (CD) based on biomarkers is more effective than conventional clinical management; however, fecal calprotectin is not allowed in Asian and some Western countries. To investigate whether tight control management based on readily available serum biomarkers results in better outcomes, we retrospectively reviewed treatment courses of consecutive Japanese CD patients treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor agents between 2003 and 2018. The association between failure of tight control (C-reactive protein (CRP) ≥ 0.5 mg/dL or albumin (Alb) < 3.8 g/dL at week 8 or 24) and subsequent major adverse outcomes (MAOs; hospitalization related to CD worsening, surgery, and discontinuation due to treatment failure) were analyzed. Among 223 patients followed for >8 weeks, 88 patients experienced MAOs. Multivariate analysis identified penetrating type, CRP ≥ 0.5 mg/dL and Alb < 3.8 g/dL at week 8 as independent risk factors (hazard ratios: 2.16, 2.06, and 2.08, respectively). Among 204 patients followed for >24 weeks, 80 patients experienced MAOs. Penetrating type, CRP ≥ 0.5 mg/dL, and Alb < 3.8 g/dL at week 24 were identified as independent risk factors (2.39, 1.90, and 2.20, respectively). Even in settings without fecal calprotectin, tight control management based on serum CRP and Alb may help avoid MAOs.
Three-Dimensional Printing of the Nasal Cavities for Clinical Experiments
Authors: Valtonen Olli , Ormiskangas Jaakko , Kivekäs Ilkka , Rantanen Ville , Dean Marc , Poe Dennis , Järnstedt Jorma , Lekkala Jukka , Saarenrinne Pentti , Rautiainen Markus 
Published: January 2020

Abstract3D printing has produced many beneficial applications for surgery. The technique´s applicability in replicating nasal cavity anatomy for clinical use has not been studied. Our aim was to determine whether 3D printing could realistically replicate the nasal cavities and the airflow passing through them from a clinical point of view. We included Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scans of five patients with symptoms of chronic nasal congestion. These CBCT scans were used to print plastic 3D prints of the nasal cavities, which were also CBCT scanned and the measurements were compared. The results in vivo were higher than the results in vitro in maxillary sinus volumes with a ratio of 1.05 ± 0.01 (mean ± SD) and in the nasal cavities with a ratio of 1.20 ± 0.1 (mean ± SD). Linear measurements in vitro were very close to those in vivo. Rhinomanometric results showed some differences, but rhinomanometric graphs in vitro were close to the graphs in vivo. 3D printing proved to be a suitable and fast method for replicating nasal cavity structures and for the experimental testing of nasal function. It can be used as a complementary examination tool for rhinomanometry.
In vivo rescue of recombinant Zika virus from an infectious cDNA clone and its implications in vaccine development
Authors: Ávila-Pérez Gines , Nogales Aitor , Park Jun-Gyu , Vasquez Desarey Morales , Dean David A. , Barravecchia Michael , Perez Daniel R. , Almazán Fernando , Martínez-Sobrido Luis 
Published: January 2020

AbstractZika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne member of the Flaviviridae family that has been known to circulate for decades causing mild febrile illness. The more recent ZIKV outbreaks in the Americas and the Caribbean associated with congenital malformations and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults have placed public health officials in high alert and highlight the significant impact of ZIKV on human health. New technologies to study the biology of ZIKV and to develop more effective prevention options are highly desired. In this study we demonstrate that direct delivery in mice of an infectious ZIKV cDNA clone allows the rescue of recombinant (r)ZIKV in vivo. A bacterial artificial chromosome containing the sequence of ZIKV strain Paraiba/2015 under the control of the cytomegalovirus promoter was complexed with a commercial transfection reagent and administrated using different routes in type-I interferon receptor deficient A129 mice. Clinical signs and death associated with ZIKV viremia were observed in mice. The rZIKV recovered from these mice remained fully virulent in a second passage in mice. Interestingly, infectious rZIKV was also recovered after intraperitoneal inoculation of the rZIKV cDNA in the absence of transfection reagent. Further expanding these studies, we demonstrate that a single intraperitoneal inoculation of a cDNA clone encoding an attenuated rZIKV was safe, highly immunogenic, and provided full protection against lethal ZIKV challenge. This novel in vivo reverse genetics method is a potentially suitable delivery platform for the study of wild-type and live-attenuated ZIKV devoid of confounding factors typical associated with in vitro systems. Moreover, our results open the possibility of employing similar in vivo reverse genetic approaches for the generation of other viruses and, therefore, change the way we will use reverse genetics in the future.
Delineating a role for the mitochondrial permeability transition pore in diabetic kidney disease by targeting cyclophilin D
Authors: Lindblom Runa S.J. , Higgins Gavin C. , Nguyen Tuong-Vi , Arnstein Maryann , Henstridge Darren C. , Granata Cesare , Snelson Matthew , Thallas-Bonke Vicki , Cooper Mark E. , Forbes Josephine M. , Coughlan Melinda T. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractMitochondrial stress has been widely observed in diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Cyclophilin D (CypD) is a functional component of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) which allows the exchange of ions and solutes between the mitochondrial matrix to induce mitochondrial swelling and activation of cell death pathways. CypD has been successfully targeted in other disease contexts to improve mitochondrial function and reduced pathology. Two approaches were used to elucidate the role of CypD and the mPTP in DKD. Firstly, mice with a deletion of the gene encoding CypD (Ppif−/−) were rendered diabetic with streptozotocin (STZ) and followed for 24 weeks. Secondly, Alisporivir, a CypD inhibitor was administered to the db/db mouse model (5 mg/kg/day oral gavage for 16 weeks). Ppif−/− mice were not protected against diabetes-induced albuminuria and had greater glomerulosclerosis than their WT diabetic littermates. Renal hyperfiltration was lower in diabetic Ppif−/− as compared with WT mice. Similarly, Alisporivir did not improve renal function nor pathology in db/db mice as assessed by no change in albuminuria, KIM-1 excretion and glomerulosclerosis. Db/db mice exhibited changes in mitochondrial function, including elevated respiratory control ratio (RCR), reduced mitochondrial H2O2 generation and increased proximal tubular mitochondrial volume, but these were unaffected by Alisporivir treatment. Taken together, these studies indicate that CypD has a complex role in DKD and direct targeting of this component of the mPTP will likely not improve renal outcomes.
Three‐dimensional nanoporous copper with tunable structure prepared by dealloying titanium–copper–cobalt metallic glasses for supercapacitors
Authors: Yue Xiang , Hu Rui , Qi Jiqiu , Sui Yanwei , He Yezeng , Meng Qingkun , Wei Fuxiang , Ren Yaojian , Zhao Yulong 
Published: January 2020

Three‐dimensional bicontinuous nanoporous copper (NPC) with a pore size of 10–60 nm was fabricated by dealloying titanium–copper–cobalt amorphous ribbons in 0.23 M hydrofluoric acid (HF) solution for 1–12 h. It is found that dealloyed ribbons show sandwich‐like layered structure in the cross‐section and the pore size in the outer layer is larger than that in the core layer. The NPC ribbons, polarised in 1 M potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution for 30 min, delivered an excellent electrochemical performance with a specific capacitance of 202.3 mF/cm2 at the current density of 5 mA/cm2 in 1 M KOH electrolyte and good cycling stability of 90% capacitance retention after 5000 cycles at 20 mA/cm2.
Uncertainties and biases in modelling 16 Cygni A and B
Authors: Bazot M. 
Published: January 2020

Aims.In this study I assess how existing data for the solar analogues 16 Cyg A and B, in particular the asteroseismic measurements obtained fromKepler, constrain theoretical stellar models. The goal is two-fold: first to use these stars as benchmarks to discuss which precisions can realistically be expected on the inferred stellar quantities; and second to determine how well “non-standard” prescriptions, such as microscopic diffusion and overshoot, are constrained.Methods.I used a Bayesian statistical model to infer the values of the stellar parameters of 16 Cyg A and B. I sampled the posterior density of the stellar parameters via a Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm, tested different physical prescription, and examined the impact of using different seismic diagnostics.Results.General good agreement is found with several recent modelling studies on these stars, even though some discrepancies subsist regarding the precise estimates of the uncertainties on the parameters. An age of 6.88 ± 0.12 Gyr is estimated for the binary system. The inferred masses, 1.07 ± 0.02M⊙for Cyg A and 1.05 ± 0.02M⊙for Cyg B, are shown to be stable with respect to changes in the physical prescriptions considered for the modelling. For both stars, microscopic diffusion has a significant effect on the estimates of the initial metallicity. Overshoot is confined to very small regions below the convective zone. I show that a proper treatment of the seismic constraints is necessary to avoid biases in the estimate of the mass.