bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessment of differential intraocular pressure response to dexamethasone treatment in perfusion cultured Indian cadaveric eyes
Authors: Haribalaganesh Ravinarayanan , Gowri Priya Chidambaranathan , Sharmila Rajendrababu , Krishnadas Subbaiah , Muthukkaruppan Veerappan , Willoughby Colin E. , Senthilkumari Srinivasan 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe purpose of the present study was to assess the differential intraocular pressure response (IOP) to dexamethasone (DEX) treatment at two dose levels (100 or 500 nM) in perfusion cultured Indian cadaveric eyes to investigate glucocorticoid (GC) responsiveness. In a human organ-cultured anterior segment (HOCAS) set-up, the eye pressure was monitored for every 24 h post DEX infusion (100 or 500 nM) or 0.1% ethanol treatment for 7 days after baseline stabilization. The expression of DEX-inducible proteins such as myocilin and fibronectin in HOCAS-TM tissues was assessed by immunostaining. Elevated IOP was observed in 6/16 eyes [Mean ± SEM (mΔIOP): 15.50 ± 1.96 mmHg; 37.5% responders] and 3/15 eyes (Mean ± SEM mΔIOP: 10 ± 0.84 mmHg; 20% responders) in 100 nM and 500 nM dose groups respectively. Elevated IOP in GC responder eyes was substantiated with a significant increase in myocilin (11.8-fold; p = 0.0002) and fibronectin (eightfold; p = 0.04) expression as compared to vehicle-treated eyes by immunofluorescence analysis. This is the first study reporting the GC responsiveness in Indian cadaveric eyes. The observed GC response rate was comparable with the previous studies and hence, this model will enable us to investigate the relationship between differential gene expression and individual GC responsiveness in our population.
Genome wide association study and genomic prediction for stover quality traits in tropical maize (Zea mays L.)
Authors: Vinayan M. T. , Seetharam K. , Babu Raman , Zaidi P. H. , Blummel M. , Nair Sudha K. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractMaize is rapidly replacing traditionally cultivated dual purpose crops of South Asia, primarily due to the better economic remuneration. This has created an impetus for improving maize for both grain productivity and stover traits. Molecular techniques can largely assist breeders in determining approaches for effectively integrating stover trait improvement in their existing breeding pipeline. In the current study we identified a suite of potential genomic regions associated to the two major stover quality traits—in-vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) and metabolizable energy (ME) through genome wide association study. However, considering the fact that the loci identified for these complex traits all had smaller effects and accounted only a small portion of phenotypic variation, the effectiveness of following a genomic selection approach for these traits was evaluated. The testing set consists of breeding lines recently developed within the program and the training set consists of a panel of lines from the working germplasm comprising the founder lines of the newly developed breeding lines and also an unrelated diversity set. The prediction accuracy as determined by the Pearson’s correlation coefficient between observed and predicted values of these breeding lines were high even at lower marker density (200 random SNPs), when the training and testing set were related. However, the accuracies were dismal, when there was no relationship between the training and the testing set.
Expression and function of the cdgD gene, encoding a CHASE–PAS-DGC-EAL domain protein, in Azospirillum brasilense
Authors: Cruz-Pérez José Francisco , Lara-Oueilhe Roxana , Marcos-Jiménez Cynthia , Cuatlayotl-Olarte Ricardo , Xiqui-Vázquez María Luisa , Reyes-Carmona Sandra Raquel , Baca Beatriz Eugenia , Ramírez-Mata Alberto 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe plant growth-promoting bacterium Azospirillum brasilense contains several genes encoding proteins involved in the biosynthesis and degradation of the second messenger cyclic-di-GMP, which may control key bacterial functions, such as biofilm formation and motility. Here, we analysed the function and expression of the cdgD gene, encoding a multidomain protein that includes GGDEF-EAL domains and CHASE and PAS domains. An insertional cdgD gene mutant was constructed, and analysis of biofilm and extracellular polymeric substance production, as well as the motility phenotype indicated that cdgD encoded a functional diguanylate protein. These results were correlated with a reduced overall cellular concentration of cyclic-di-GMP in the mutant over 48 h compared with that observed in the wild-type strain, which was recovered in the complemented strain. In addition, cdgD gene expression was measured in cells growing under planktonic or biofilm conditions, and differential expression was observed when KNO3 or NH4Cl was added to the minimal medium as a nitrogen source. The transcriptional fusion of the cdgD promoter with the gene encoding the autofluorescent mCherry protein indicated that the cdgD gene was expressed both under abiotic conditions and in association with wheat roots. Reduced colonization of wheat roots was observed for the mutant compared with the wild-type strain grown in the same soil conditions. The Azospirillum-plant association begins with the motility of the bacterium towards the plant rhizosphere followed by the adsorption and adherence of these bacteria to plant roots. Therefore, it is important to study the genes that contribute to this initial interaction of the bacterium with its host plant.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Chitosan hydrogel/silk fibroin/Mg(OH)2 nanobiocomposite as a novel scaffold with antimicrobial activity and improved mechanical properties
Authors: Eivazzadeh-Keihan Reza , Radinekiyan Fateme , Aliabadi Hooman Aghamirza Moghim , Sukhtezari Sima , Tahmasebi Behnam , Maleki Ali , Madanchi Hamid 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Herein, a novel nanobiocomposite scaffold based on modifying synthesized cross-linked terephthaloyl thiourea-chitosan hydrogel (CTT-CS hydrogel) substrate using the extracted silk fibroin (SF) biopolymer and prepared Mg(OH)2 nanoparticles was designed and synthesized. The biological capacity of this nanobiocomposite scaffold was evaluated by cell viability method, red blood cells hemolytic and anti-biofilm assays. According to the obtained results from 3 and 7 days, the cell viability of CTT-CS/SF/Mg(OH)2 nanobiocomposite scaffold was accompanied by a considerable increment from 62.5 to 89.6% respectively. Furthermore, its low hemolytic effect (4.5%), and as well, the high anti-biofilm activity and prevention of the P. aeruginosa biofilm formation confirmed its promising hemocompatibility and antibacterial activity. Apart from the cell viability, blood biocompatibility, and antibacterial activity of CTT-CS/SF/Mg(OH)2 nanobiocomposite scaffold, its structural features were characterized using spectral and analytical techniques (FT-IR, EDX, FE-SEM and TG). As well as, given the mechanical tests, it was indicated that the addition of SF and Mg(OH)2 nanoparticles to the CTT-CS hydrogel could improve its compressive strength from 65.42 to 649.56 kPa.
Increased levels of pentraxins protein and cytokines bear good association in patients with severe dengue infection
Authors: Patra Goutam , Saha Bibhuti , Mukhopadhyay Sumi 
Published: January 2021

AbstractDengue is an arboviral infection with high rates of morbidity and mortality throughout the tropics and sub-tropics. This work studied the status of pentraxin (CRP/SAP) protein, ferritin, TNF-α and IL-1β levels in Dengue patients of different pathophysiological manifestations. Accordingly, clinically confirmed Dengue cases (n = 97) were enrolled and subsequently blood parameters were studied by Haematology cell counter and Biochemistry Autoanalyser. CRP, SAP, ferritin, TNF-α and IL-1β ELISA were done in all the samples by using standard ELISA kits. Statistical Analysis was done in all the experiments. The levels of CRP (p < 0.0001), SAP (p < 0.0001), ferritin (p < 0.0001), TNF-α (p < 0.0001) and IL-1β (p < 0.0001) were high in patients with Severe Dengue as compared to Dengue without warning signs. High levels of SGOT, SGPT and decreased platelet counts were found in severe patients as compared to Healthy donor. CRP/SAP as well as TNF-α/IL-1β were independently associated with both dengue severity and overall disease manifestation. Statistically significant increased CRP, SAP, ferritin, TNF-α and IL-1β titres were correlated in patients with severe clinical manifestations as compared to mild disease forms of dengue. Elevated levels of pentraxin, TNF-α/IL-1β in blood during dengue infection could act as an early predictor in Severe Dengue infection.
3D enamel profilometry reveals faster growth but similar stress severity in Neanderthal versus Homo sapiens teeth
Authors: McGrath Kate , Limmer Laura Sophia , Lockey Annabelle-Louise , Guatelli-Steinberg Debbie , Reid Donald J. , Witzel Carsten , Bocaege Emmy , McFarlin Shannon C. , El Zaatari Sireen 
Published: January 2021

AbstractEarly life stress disrupts growth and creates horizontal grooves on the tooth surface in humans and other mammals, yet there is no consensus for their quantitative analysis. Linear defects are considered to be nonspecific stress indicators, but evidence suggests that intermittent, severe stressors create deeper defects than chronic, low-level stressors. However, species-specific growth patterns also influence defect morphology, with faster-growing teeth having shallower defects at the population level. Here we describe a method to measure the depth of linear enamel defects and normal growth increments (i.e., perikymata) from high-resolution 3D topographies using confocal profilometry and apply it to a diverse sample ofHomo neanderthalensisandH. sapiensanterior teeth. Debate surrounds whether Neanderthals exhibited modern human-like growth patterns in their teeth and other systems, with some researchers suggesting that they experienced more severe childhood stress. Our results suggest that Neanderthals have shallower features thanH. sapiensfrom the Upper Paleolithic, Neolithic, and medieval eras, mirroring the faster growth rates in Neanderthal anterior teeth. However, when defect depth is scaled by perikymata depth to assess their severity, Neolithic humans have less severe defects, while Neanderthals and the otherH. sapiensgroups show evidence of more severe early life growth disruptions.
Gene expression in blood reflects smoking exposure among cancer-free women in the Norwegian Women and Cancer (NOWAC) postgenome cohort
Authors: Baiju Nikita , Sandanger Torkjel M. , Sætrom Pål , Nøst Therese H. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractActive smoking has been linked to modulated gene expression in blood. However, there is a need for a more thorough understanding of how quantitative measures of smoking exposure relate to differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in whole-blood among ever smokers. This study analysed microarray-based gene expression profiles from whole-blood samples according to smoking status and quantitative measures of smoking exposure among cancer-free women (n = 1708) in the Norwegian Women and Cancer postgenome cohort. When compared with never smokers and former smokers, current smokers had 911 and 1082 DEGs, respectively and their biological functions could indicate systemic impacts of smoking.LRRN3was associated with smoking status with the lowest FDR-adjusted p-value. When never smokers and all former smokers were compared, no DEGs were observed, butLRRN3was differentially expressed when never smokers were compared with former smokers who quit smoking ≤ 10 years ago. Further,LRRN3was positively associated with smoking intensity, pack-years, and comprehensive smoking index score among current smokers; and negatively associated with time since cessation among former smokers. Consequently,LRRN3expression in whole-blood is a molecular signal of smoking exposure that could supplant self-reported smoking data in further research targeting blood-based markers related to the health effects of smoking.
Anomalous shape effect of nanosized helium bubble on the elastic field in irradiated tungsten
Authors: Huang Xinlong , Lv Chenyangtao , Chu Haijian 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBubble pressure and elastic response in helium-irradiated tungsten are systematically investigated in this study. An anomalous shape effect is found that the radial normal stress and mean stress distributions around a nanosized void or bubble are far from the spherical symmetry, which is ascribed to polyhedral geometry characteristic of the nanosized bubble and physical mechanism transition from crystal surfaces dominated to the surface ledges and triple junctions dominated. Molecular simulation shows that Young–Laplace equation is not suitable for directly predicting equilibrium pressure for nanosized bubble in crystals. Consequently, a new criterion of average radial normal stress of spherical shell is proposed to polish the concept of equilibrium pressure of helium bubbles. Moreover, the dependences of bubble size, temperature and helium/vacancy ratio (He/Vac ratio) on the bubble pressure are all documented, which may provide an insight into the understanding of mechanical properties of helium-irradiated tungsten.
Evolution of ribosomal protein network architectures
Authors: Timsit Youri , Sergeant-Perthuis Grégoire , Bennequin Daniel 
Published: January 2021

AbstractTo perform an accurate protein synthesis, ribosomes accomplish complex tasks involving the long-range communication between its functional centres such as the peptidyl transfer centre, the tRNA bindings sites and the peptide exit tunnel. How information is transmitted between these sites remains one of the major challenges in current ribosome research. Many experimental studies have revealed that some r-proteins play essential roles in remote communication and the possible involvement of r-protein networks in these processes have been recently proposed. Our phylogenetic, structural and mathematical study reveals that of the three kingdom’s r-protein networks converged towards non-random graphs where r-proteins collectively coevolved to optimize interconnection between functional centres. The massive acquisition of conserved aromatic residues at the interfaces and along the extensions of the newly connected eukaryotic r-proteins also highlights that a strong selective pressure acts on their sequences probably for the formation of new allosteric pathways in the network.
Summary of the COVID-19 epidemic and estimating the effects of emergency responses in China
Authors: Tao Junwen , Ma Yue , Luo Caiying , Huang Jiaqi , Zhang Tao , Yin Fei 
Published: January 2021

AbstractCoronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected millions of people since December 2019. Summarizing the development of COVID-19 and assessing the effects of control measures are very critical to China and other countries. A logistic growth curve model was employed to compare the development of COVID-19 before and after the emergency response took effect. We found that the number of confirmed cases peaked 9–14 days after the first detection of an imported case, but there was a peak lag in the province where the outbreak was concentrated. Results of the growth curves indicated that the fitted cumulative confirmed cases were close to the actual observed cases, and the R2 of all models was above 0.95. The average growth rate decreased by 44.42% nationally and by 32.5% outside Hubei Province. The average growth rate in the 12 high-risk areas decreased by 29.9%. The average growth rate of cumulative confirmed cases decreased by approximately 50% after the emergency response. Areas with frequent population migration have a high risk of outbreak. The emergency response taken by the Chinese government was able to effectively control the COVID-19 outbreak. Our study provides references for other countries and regions to control the COVID-19 outbreak.
The effects of maternal separation on behaviours under social-housing environments in adult male C57BL/6 mice
Authors: Endo Nozomi , Makinodan Manabu , Mannari-Sasagawa Takayo , Horii-Hayashi Noriko , Somayama Nami , Komori Takashi , Kishimoto Toshifumi , Nishi Mayumi 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAdverse experience in early life can affect the formation of neuronal circuits during postnatal development and exert long-lasting influences on neural functions that can lead to the development of a variety of psychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Many studies have demonstrated that daily repeated maternal separation, an animal model of early-life stress, can induce impairments in emotional behaviours and cognitive function during adolescence and adulthood. However, the behavioural phenotypes of maternally separated mice under long-term group-housing conditions are largely unknown. In this study, we applied our newly developed assay system to investigate the effects of maternal separation on behaviours under group-housing conditions during four days of continuous observations. Using our system, we found that repeated maternal separation resulted in inappropriate social distance from cagemates, altered approach preferences to others, and induced a lower rank in the time spent on the running wheel under group-housing conditions in adult male mice. Focussing on these behavioural abnormalities that appear in an environment with a social context will be important insights to understand the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders.
Magnetic domains oscillation in the brain with neurodegenerative disease
Authors: Kletetschka Gunther , Bazala Robert , Takáč Marian , Svecova Eva 
Published: January 2021

AbstractGeomagnetic fields interfere with the accumulation of iron in the human brain. Magnetic sensing of the human brain provides compelling evidence of new electric mechanisms in human brains and may interfere with the evolution of neurodegenerative diseases. We revealed that the human brain may have a unique susceptibility to conduct electric currents as feedback of magnetic dipole fluctuation in superparamagnetic grains. These grains accumulate and grow with brain aging. The electric feedback creates an electronic noise background that depends on geomagnetic field intensity and may compromise functional stability of the human brain, while induced currents are spontaneously generated near superparamagnetic grains. Grain growth due to an increase of iron mobility resulted in magnetic remanence enhancement during the final years of the studied brains.
Collapsed mitochondrial cristae in goat spermatozoa due to mercury result in lethality and compromised motility along with altered kinematic patterns
Authors: Kushawaha Bhawna , Yadav Rajkumar Singh , Swain Dilip Kumar , Kumari Priyambada , Kumar Akhilesh , Yadav Brijesh , Anand Mukul , Yadav Sarvajeet , Singh Dipty , Garg Satish Kumar 
Published: January 2021

AbstractEarlier we have reported mercury-induced alterations in functional dynamics of buck spermatozoa through free radicals-mediated oxidative stress and spontaneous acrosome reaction. Based on our earlier findings, we aimed to investigate the effect of mercury exposure on motility, kinematic patterns, DNA damage, apoptosis and ultra-structural alterations in goat spermatozoa following in vitro exposure to different concentrations (0.031–1.25 µg/ml) of mercuric chloride for 15 min and 3 h. Following exposure of sperm cells to 0.031 µg/ml of mercuric chloride for 3 h, livability and motility of sperms was significantly reduced along with altered kinematic patterns, significant increase in per cent necrotic sperm cells and number of cells showing DNA damage; and this effect was dose- and time-dependent. Contrary to up-regulation of Bax gene after 3 h in control group, there was significant increase in expression of Bcl-2 in mercury-treated groups. Transmission electron microscopy studies revealed rifts and nicks in plasma and acrosomal membrane, mitochondrial sheath, and collapsed mitochondria with loss of helical organization of mitochondria in the middle piece of spermatozoa. Our findings evidently suggest that mercury induces necrosis instead of apoptosis and targets the membrane, acrosome, mid piece of sperms; and the damage to mitochondria seems to be responsible for alterations in functional and kinematic attributes of spermatozoa.
Temperature induced changes in the optical properties of skin in vivo
Authors: Iorizzo Tyler W. , Jermain Peter R. , Salomatina Elena , Muzikansky Alona , Yaroslavsky Anna N. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractKnowledge of temperature-induced changes of skin optical properties is required for accurate dosimetry of photothermal treatments. We determined and compared in vivo optical properties of mouse ear skin at different temperatures. The diffuse reflectance, total and diffuse transmittance were measured in the spectral range from 400 to 1650 nm using an integrating sphere spectrometer at the temperatures of 25 °C, 36 °C and 60 °C. Target temperatures were attained and maintained using an automated heater equipped with a sensor for feed-back and control. Temperature and temperature induced morphological changes of skin were monitored using an infrared thermal camera and reflectance confocal microscopy, respectively. An inverse Monte Carlo technique was utilized to determine absorption, scattering, and anisotropy factors from the measured quantities. Our results indicate significant differences between the optical properties of skin at different temperatures. Absorption and scattering coefficients increased, whereas anisotropy factors decreased with increasing temperature. Changes in absorption coefficients indicate deoxygenation of hemoglobin, and a blue shift of water absorption bands. Confocal imaging confirmed that our observations can be explained by temperature induced protein denaturation and blood coagulation. Monitoring spectral responses of treated tissue may become a valuable tool for accurate dosimetry of light treatments.
The N-terminal region of Jaw1 has a role to inhibit the formation of organized smooth endoplasmic reticulum as an intrinsically disordered region
Authors: Kozono Takuma , Sato Hiroyuki , Okumura Wataru , Jogano Chifuyu , Tamura-Nakano Miwa , Kawamura Yuki I. , Rohrer Jack , Tonozuka Takashi , Nishikawa Atsushi 
Published: January 2021

AbstractJaw1/LRMP is a type II integral membrane protein that is localized at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and outer nuclear membrane. We previously reported that a function of Jaw1 is to maintain the nuclear shape as a KASH protein via its carboxyl terminal region, a component of linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton complex in the oligomeric state. Although the oligomerization of some KASH proteins via the cytosolic regions serves to stabilize protein-protein interactions, the issue of how the oligomerization of Jaw1 is regulated is not completely understood. Therefore, we focused on three distinct regions on the cytosolic face of Jaw1: the N-terminal region, the coiled-coil domain and the stem region, in terms of oligomerization. A co-immunoprecipitation assay showed that its coiled-coil domain is a candidate for the oligomerization site. Furthermore, our data indicated that the N-terminal region prevents the aberrant oligomerization of Jaw1 as an intrinsically disordered region (IDR). Importantly, the ectopic expression of an N-terminal region deleted mutant caused the formation of organized smooth ER (OSER), structures such as nuclear karmellae and whorls, in B16F10 cells. Furthermore, this OSER interfered with the localization of the oligomer and interactors such as the type III inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor (IP3R3) and SUN2. In summary, the N-terminal region of Jaw1 inhibits the formation of OSER as an IDR to maintain the homeostatic localization of interactors on the ER membrane.