bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ultra-purified alginate gel implantation decreases inflammatory cytokine levels, prevents intervertebral disc degeneration, and reduces acute pain after discectomy
Authors: Ura Katsuro , Yamada Katsuhisa , Tsujimoto Takeru , Ukeba Daisuke , Iwasaki Norimasa , Sudo Hideki 
Published: January 2021

AbstractLumbar intervertebral disc (IVD) herniation causes severe low back pain (LBP), which results in substantial financial and emotional strains. Despite the effectiveness of discectomy, there is no existing treatment for post-operative LBP induced by progressive IVD degeneration. Two key factors of LBP are intradiscal inflammation, indicated by tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and sensory nerve ingrowth into the inner layer of the annulus fibrosus, triggered by nerve growth factor/high-affinity tyrosine kinase A (TrkA) signalling. In an animal models of discectomy, the bioresorbable ultra-purified alginate (UPAL) gel with an extremely low-toxicity has been effective in acellular tissue repair. We aimed to investigate whether UPAL gel can alleviate LBP using a rat nucleus pulposus (NP) punch model and a rabbit NP aspirate model. In both models, we assessed TNF-α and IL-6 production and TrkA expression within the IVD by immunohistochemistry. Further, histological analysis and behavioural nociception assay were conducted in the rat model. UPAL gel implantation suppressed TNF-α and IL-6 production, downregulated TrkA expression, inhibited IVD degeneration, and reduced nociceptive behaviour. Our results suggest the potential of UPAL gel implantation as an innovative treatment for IVD herniation by reducing LBP and preventing IVD degeneration after discectomy.
Endophytic fungal community structure in olive orchards with high and low incidence of olive anthracnose
Authors: Martins Fátima , Mina Diogo , Pereira José Alberto , Baptista Paula 
Published: January 2021

AbstractFungal endophytes have been increasingly recognized to promote host plant protection to pathogens, but knowledge of the multiple effects that they could have in crop diseases is still scarce. This work attempts to understand the role of fungal endophytes in crop diseases, specifically in reducing disease development and interfering on lifestyle transition of the pathogen. To accomplish this, the endophytic fungal community of reproductive organs of olive tree from two orchards showing different levels of anthracnose incidence, a major disease of olive fruits, was characterized and compared between them. The two orchards showed distinct endophytic communities, differing in species richness, abundance and composition, with highest isolation rates and richness of endophytes in the orchard with low anthracnose incidence. These differences among orchards were greater on fruits than on flowers, suggesting that these changes in endophytic fungal composition may influence the lifestyle shifts in pathogen (from latent to pathogen). A number of fungal taxa were found to be positively associated to one of the two orchards. The fungal endophytes best correlated with high incidence of anthracnose are pathogens, while endophytes-associated to low anthracnose incidence are described to protect plants. Altogether, the results suggest varying pathogen–endophyte interactions among the two orchards.
Natural sonic crystal absorber constituted of seagrass (Posidonia Oceanica) fibrous spheres
Authors: Barguet L. , Romero-García V. , Jiménez N. , Garcia-Raffi L. M. , Sánchez-Morcillo V. J. , Groby J.-P. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractWe present a 3-dimensional fully natural sonic crystal composed of spherical aggregates of fibers (called Aegagropilae) resulting from the decomposition of Posidonia Oceanica. The fiber network is first acoustically characterized, providing insights on this natural fiber entanglement due to turbulent flow. The Aegagropilae are then arranged on a principal cubic lattice. The band diagram and topology of this structure are analyzed, notably via Argand representation of its scattering elements. This fully natural sonic crystal exhibits excellent sound absorbing properties and thus represents a sustainable alternative that could outperform conventional acoustic materials.
Inhibition of microbiota-dependent TMAO production attenuates chronic kidney disease in mice
Authors: Zhang Wenchao , Miikeda Aika , Zuckerman Jonathan , Jia Xun , Charugundla Sarada , Zhou Zhiqiang , Kaczor-Urbanowicz Karolina Elżbieta , Magyar Clara , Guo Fangfei , Wang Zeneng , Pellegrini Matteo , Hazen Stanley L. , Nicholas Susanne B. , Lusis Aldons J. , Shih Diana M. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractPatients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have elevated circulating levels of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a metabolite derived from gut microbes and associated with cardiovascular diseases. High circulating levels of TMAO and its dietary precursor, choline, predict increased risk for development of CKD in apparently healthy subjects, and studies in mice fed TMAO or choline suggest that TMAO can contribute to kidney impairment and renal fibrosis. Here we examined the interactions between TMAO, kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease in mouse models. We observed that while female hyperlipidemic apoE KO mice fed a 0.2% adenine diet for 14 weeks developed CKD with elevated plasma levels of TMAO, provision of a non-lethal inhibitor of gut microbial trimethylamine (TMA) production, iodomethylcholine (IMC), significantly reduced multiple markers of renal injury (plasma creatinine, cystatin C, FGF23, and TMAO), reduced histopathologic evidence of fibrosis, and markedly attenuated development of microalbuminuria. In addition, while the adenine-induced CKD model significantly increased heart weight, a surrogate marker for myocardial hypertrophy, this was largely prevented by IMC supplementation. Surprisingly, adenine feeding did not increase atherosclerosis and significantly decreased the expression of inflammatory genes in the aorta compared to the control groups, effects unrelated to TMAO levels. Our data demonstrate that inhibition of TMAO production attenuated CKD development and cardiac hypertrophy in mice, suggesting that TMAO reduction may be a novel strategy in treating CKD and its cardiovascular disease complications.
The perception of interpersonal distance is distorted by the Müller-Lyer illusion
Authors: Bunce Carl , Gray Katie L. H. , Cook Richard 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThere is growing interest in how human observers perceive social scenes containing multiple people. Interpersonal distance is a critical feature when appraising these scenes; proxemic cues are used by observers to infer whether two people are interacting, the nature of their relationship, and the valence of their current interaction. Presently, however, remarkably little is known about how interpersonal distance is encoded within the human visual system. Here we show that the perception of interpersonal distance is distorted by the Müller-Lyer illusion. Participants perceived the distance between two target points to be compressed or expanded depending on whether face pairs were positioned inside or outside the to-be-judged interval. This illusory bias was found to be unaffected by manipulations of face direction. These findings aid our understanding of how human observers perceive interpersonal distance and may inform theoretical accounts of the Müller-Lyer illusion.
The calcium dynamics of human dental pulp stem cells stimulated with tricalcium silicate-based cements determine their differentiation and mineralization outcome
Authors: Rathinam Elanagai , Govindarajan Srinath , Rajasekharan Sivaprakash , Declercq Heidi , Elewaut Dirk , De Coster Peter , Martens Luc , Leybaert Luc 
Published: January 2021

AbstractCalcium (Ca2+) signalling plays an indispensable role in dental pulp and dentin regeneration, but the Ca2+ responses of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) stimulated with tricalcium silicate-based (TCS-based) dental biomaterials remains largely unexplored. The objective of the present study was to identify and correlate extracellular Ca2+ concentration, intracellular Ca2+ dynamics, pH, cytotoxicity, gene expression and mineralization ability of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) stimulated with two different TCS-based biomaterials: Biodentine and ProRoot white MTA. The hDPSCs were exposed to the biomaterials, brought in contact with the overlaying medium, with subsequent measurements of extracellular Ca2+ and pH, and intracellular Ca2+ changes. Messenger RNA expression (BGLAP, TGF-β, MMP1 and BMP2), cytotoxicity (MTT and TUNEL) and mineralization potential (Alizarin red and Von Kossa staining) were then evaluated. Biodentine released significantly more Ca2+ in the α-MEM medium than ProRoot WMTA but this had no cytotoxic impact on hDPSCs. The larger Biodentine-linked Ca2+ release resulted in altered intracellular Ca2+ dynamics, which attained a higher maximum amplitude, faster rise time and increased area under the curve of the Ca2+ changes compared to ProRoot WMTA. Experiments with intracellular Ca2+ chelation, demonstrated that the biomaterial-triggered Ca2+ dynamics affected stem cell-related gene expression, cellular differentiation and mineralization potential. In conclusion, biomaterial-specific Ca2+ dynamics in hDPSCs determine differentiation and mineralization outcomes, with increased Ca2+ dynamics enhancing mineralization.
Endovascular management of giant visceral artery aneurysms
Authors: Tipaldi Marcello Andrea , Krokidis Miltiadis , Orgera Gianluigi , Pignatelli Matteo , Ronconi Edoardo , Laurino Florindo , Laghi Andrea , Rossi Michele 
Published: January 2021

AbstractEndovascular management of small visceral artery aneurysms is an established treatment with satisfactory outcomes. However, when size exceeds 5 cm visceral aneurysms are considered as “giant” (giant visceral artery aneurysms or GVAAs) and management is significantly more complex. Between August 2007 and June 2019 eleven cases of GVAAs that were endovascularly treated were retrospectively reviewed and included in this single center study. Mean size was 80 mm (± 26.3 mm) x 46 mm (+ \-11.8 mm). Nine of the lesions were true aneurysms, and two were pseudoaneurysms. In 8 patients, the lesion was causing compression symptoms in the surrounding organs, one patient developed a contained rupture while 2 patients were completely asymptomatic. However, all patients were hemodynamically stable at the time of treatment. Technical success was defined as immediate complete exclusion of the aneurysmal sac, and clinical success as complete relief from clinical symptoms. Follow-up was performed with CT angiography, ultrasound and clinical examination. Mean follow-up was 45 months (range 6–84). Technical and clinical success were both 91%. Complications were one lack of control of contained rupture that was subsequently operated, one case of self-limiting non-target spleen embolization and one case of splenic abscess. Three patients died, one due to the contained rupture 15 days after procedure, the other two for other causes and occurred during the long-term follow-up. This series suggests that endovascular treatment of giant visceral artery aneurysms and pseudoaneuryms is a valid minimally invasive solution with very satisfactory immediate and long-term outcomes unless the aneurysm is already ruptured. A variety of endovascular tools may be required for successful treatment.
Multi-level remodelling of chromatin underlying activation of human T cells
Authors: Bediaga Naiara G. , Coughlan Hannah D. , Johanson Timothy M. , Garnham Alexandra L. , Naselli Gaetano , Schröder Jan , Fearnley Liam G. , Bandala-Sanchez Esther , Allan Rhys S. , Smyth Gordon K. , Harrison Leonard C. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractRemodelling of chromatin architecture is known to regulate gene expression and has been well characterized in cell lineage development but less so in response to cell perturbation. Activation of T cells, which triggers extensive changes in transcriptional programs, serves as an instructive model to elucidate how changes in chromatin architecture orchestrate gene expression in response to cell perturbation. To characterize coordinate changes at different levels of chromatin architecture, we analyzed chromatin accessibility, chromosome conformation and gene expression in activated human T cells. T cell activation was characterized by widespread changes in chromatin accessibility and interactions that were shared between activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and with the formation of active regulatory regions associated with transcription factors relevant to T cell biology. Chromatin interactions that increased and decreased were coupled, respectively, with up- and down-regulation of corresponding target genes. Furthermore, activation was associated with disruption of long-range chromatin interactions and with partitioning of topologically associating domains (TADs) and remodelling of their TAD boundaries. Newly formed/strengthened TAD boundaries were associated with higher nucleosome occupancy and lower accessibility, linking changes in lower and higher order chromatin architecture. T cell activation exemplifies coordinate multi-level remodelling of chromatin underlying gene transcription.
Effects of stimulus and task structure on temporal perceptual learning
Authors: Xu Rannie , Church Russell M. , Sasaki Yuka , Watanabe Takeo 
Published: January 2021

AbstractOur ability to discriminate temporal intervals can be improved with practice. This learning is generally thought to reflect an enhancement in the representation of a trained interval, which leads to interval-specific improvements in temporal discrimination. In the present study, we asked whether temporal learning is further constrained by context-specific factors dictated through the trained stimulus and task structure. Two groups of participants were trained using a single-interval auditory discrimination task over 5 days. Training intervals were either one of eight predetermined values (FI group), or random from trial to trial (RI group). Before and after the training period, we measured discrimination performance using an untrained two-interval temporal comparison task. Our results revealed a selective improvement in the FI group, but not the RI group. However, this learning did not generalize between the trained and untrained tasks. These results highlight the sensitivity of TPL to stimulus and task structure, suggesting that mechanisms of temporal learning rely on processes beyond changes in interval representation.
Identification of significantly mutated subnetworks in the breast cancer genome
Authors: Ajwad Rasif , Domaratzki Michael , Liu Qian , Feizi Nikta , Hu Pingzhao 
Published: January 2021

AbstractRecent studies showed that somatic cancer mutations target genes that are in specific signaling and cellular pathways. However, in each patient only a few of the pathway genes are mutated. Current approaches consider only existing pathways and ignore the topology of the pathways. For this reason, new efforts have been focused on identifying significantly mutated subnetworks and associating them with cancer characteristics. We applied two well-established network analysis approaches to identify significantly mutated subnetworks in the breast cancer genome. We took network topology into account for measuring the mutation similarity of a gene-pair to allow us to infer the significantly mutated subnetworks. Our goals are to evaluate whether the identified subnetworks can be used as biomarkers for predicting breast cancer patient survival and provide the potential mechanisms of the pathways enriched in the subnetworks, with the aim of improving breast cancer treatment. Using the copy number alteration (CNA) datasets from the METABRIC (Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium) study, we identified a significantly mutated yet clinically and functionally relevant subnetwork using two graph-based clustering algorithms. The mutational pattern of the subnetwork is significantly associated with breast cancer survival. The genes in the subnetwork are significantly enriched in retinol metabolism KEGG pathway. Our results show that breast cancer treatment with retinoids may be a potential personalized therapy for breast cancer patients since the CNA patterns of the breast cancer patients can imply whether the retinoids pathway is altered. We also showed that applying multiple bioinformatics algorithms at the same time has the potential to identify new network-based biomarkers, which may be useful for stratifying cancer patients for choosing optimal treatments.
Characterization of Bacillus velezensis AK-0 as a biocontrol agent against apple bitter rot caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides
Authors: Kim Young Soo , Lee Younmi , Cheon Wonsu , Park Jungwook , Kwon Hyeok-Tae , Balaraju Kotnala , Kim Jungyeon , Yoon Yeo Jun , Jeon Yongho 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBacillusgenus produces several secondary metabolites with biocontrol ability against various phytopathogens.Bacillus velezensisAK-0 (AK-0), an antagonistic strain isolated from Korean ginseng rhizospheric soil, was found to exhibit antagonistic activity against several phytopathogens. To further display the genetic mechanism of the biocontrol traits of AK-0, we report the complete genome sequence of AK-0 and compared it with complete genome sequences of closely related strains. We report the biocontrol activity of AK-0 against apple bitter rot caused byColletotrichum gloeosporioides, which could lead to commercialization of this strain as a microbial biopesticide in Korea. To retain its biocontrol efficacy for a longer period, AK-0 has been formulated with ingredients for commercialization, named AK-0 product formulation (AK-0PF). AK-0PF played a role in the suppression of the mycelial growth of the fungicide-resistant pathogenC. gloeosporioidesYCHH4 at a greater level than the non-treated control. Moreover, AK-0PF exhibited greater disease suppression of bitter rot in matured under field conditions. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of the AK-0 strain, which has a 3,969,429 bp circular chromosome with 3808 genes and a G+C content of 46.5%. The genome sequence of AK-0 provides a greater understanding of theBacillusspecies, which displays biocontrol activity via secondary metabolites. The genome has eight potential secondary metabolite biosynthetic clusters, among which,ituDandbacDgenes were expressed at a greater level than other genes. This work provides a better understanding of the strain AK-0, as an effective biocontrol agent (BCA) against phytopathogens, including bitter rot in apple.
Effect of gallic acid on the larvae of Spodoptera litura and its parasitoid Bracon hebetor
Authors: Punia Abhay , Chauhan Nalini Singh , Singh Drishtant , Kesavan Anup Kumar , Kaur Sanehdeep , Sohal Satwinder Kaur 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe antibiosis effect of gallic acid onSpodoptera lituraF. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and its parasitoid evaluated by feeding six days old larvae on artificial diet incorporated with different concentrations (5 ppm, 25 ppm, 125 ppm, 625 ppm, 3125 ppm) of the phenolic compound revealed higher concentration (LC50) of gallic acid had a negative impact on the survival and physiology ofS. lituraand its parasitoidBracon hebetor(Say) (Hymenoptera:Braconidae). The mortality ofS. lituralarvae was increased whereas adult emergence declined with increasing concentration of gallic acid. The developmental period was delayed significantly and all the nutritional indices were reduced significantly with increase in concentration. Higher concentration (LC50) of gallic acid adversely affected egg hatching, larval mortality, adult emergence and total development period ofB. hebetor.At lower concentration (LC30) the effect onB. hebetoradults and larvae was non-significant with respect to control. Gene expression for the enzymes viz.,Superoxide dismutase, Glutathione peroxidase, Peroxidase, Esterases and Glutathione S transferases increased while the total hemocyte count ofS. lituralarvae decreased with treatment. Our findings suggest that gallic acid even at lower concentration (LC30) can impair the growth ofS. lituralarvae without causing any significant harm to its parasitoidB. hebetorand has immense potential to be used as biopesticides.
White-naped mangabeys’ viable insurance population within European Zoo Network
Authors: Iglesias Pastrana Carlos , Navas González Francisco Javier , Ruiz Aguilera María Josefa , Dávila García José Antonio , Delgado Bermejo Juan Vicente , Abelló María Teresa 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe success and viability of an ex-situ conservation program lie in the establishment and potential maintenance of a demographically and genetically viable insurance population. Such population reserve may support reintroduction and reinforcement activities of wild populations. White-naped mangabeys are endangered restricted-range African primates which have experienced a dramatic population decrease in their natural habitats over the last few decades. Since 2001, some European zoos singularly monitor an ex-situ population aiming to seek the recovery of the current wild population. The aim of the present paper is to evaluate the genetic status and population demographics of European zoo-captive white-naped mangabeys based on pedigree data. The captive population is gradually growing and preserves specific reproductive and demographic parameters linked to the species. The intensive management program that is implemented has brought about the minimization of inbreeding and average relatedness levels, thus maintaining high levels of genetic diversity despite the existence of fragmented populations. This finding suggests white-naped mangabey ex-situ preservation actions may be a good example of multifaceted conservation throughout studbook management which could be used as a model for other ex-situ live-animal populations.
The additive nature of the human multisensory evoked pupil response
Authors: Van der Stoep Nathan , Van der Smagt M. J. , Notaro C. , Spock Z. , Naber M. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractPupillometry has received increased interest for its usefulness in measuring various sensory processes as an alternative to behavioural assessments. This is also apparent for multisensory investigations. Studies of the multisensory pupil response, however, have produced conflicting results. Some studies observed super-additive multisensory pupil responses, indicative of multisensory integration (MSI). Others observed additive multisensory pupil responses even though reaction time (RT) measures were indicative of MSI. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the nature of the multisensory pupil response by combining methodological approaches of previous studies while using supra-threshold stimuli only. In two experiments we presented auditory and visual stimuli to observers that evoked a(n) (onset) response (be it constriction or dilation) in a simple detection task and a change detection task. In both experiments, the RT data indicated MSI as shown by race model inequality violation. Still, the multisensory pupil response in both experiments could best be explained by linear summation of the unisensory pupil responses. We conclude that the multisensory pupil response for supra-threshold stimuli is additive in nature and cannot be used as a measure of MSI, as only a departure from additivity can unequivocally demonstrate an interaction between the senses.