bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Piezo1 channel activation in response to mechanobiological acoustic radiation force in osteoblastic cells
Authors: Zhang Guangdao , Li Xiaofei , Wu Lin , Qin Yi-Xian 
Published: March 2021

AbstractMechanobiological stimuli, such as low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS), have been shown to promote bone regeneration and fresh fracture repair, but the fundamental biophysical mechanisms involved remain elusive. Here, we propose that a mechanosensitive ion channel of Piezo1 plays a pivotal role in the noninvasive ultrasound-induced mechanical transduction pathway to trigger downstream cellular signal processes. This study aims to investigate the expression and role of Piezo1 in MC3T3-E1 cells after LIPUS treatment. Immunofluorescence analysis shows that Piezo1 was present on MC3T3-E1 cells and could be ablated by shRNA transfection. MC3T3-E1 cell migration and proliferation were significantly increased by LIPUS stimulation, and knockdown of Piezo1 restricted the increase in cell migration and proliferation. After labeling with Fluo-8, MC3T3-E1 cells exhibited fluorescence intensity traces with several high peaks compared with the baseline during LIPUS stimulation. No obvious change in the fluorescence intensity tendency was observed after LIPUS stimulation in shRNA-Piezo1 cells, which was similar to the results in the GsMTx4-treated group. The phosphorylation ratio of ERK1/2 in MC3T3-E1 cells was significantly increased (P < 0.01) after LIPUS stimulation. In addition, Phalloidin-iFluor-labeled F-actin filaments immediately accumulated in the perinuclear region after LIPUS stimulation, continued for 5 min, and then returned to their initial levels at 30 min. These results suggest that Piezo1 can transduce LIPUS-induced mechanical signals into intracellular calcium. The influx of Ca2+ serves as a second messenger to activate ERK1/2 phosphorylation and perinuclear F-actin filament polymerization, which regulate the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells.
AAV9-mediated Schwann cell-targeted gene therapy rescues a model of demyelinating neuropathy
Authors: Kagiava Alexia , Karaiskos Christos , Richter Jan , Tryfonos Christina , Jennings Matthew J. , Heslegrave Amanda J. , Sargiannidou Irene , Stavrou Marina , Zetterberg Henrik , Reilly Mary M. , Christodoulou Christina , Horvath Rita , Kleopa Kleopas A. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractMutations in the GJB1 gene, encoding the gap junction (GJ) protein connexin32 (Cx32), cause X-linked Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT1X), an inherited demyelinating neuropathy. We developed a gene therapy approach for CMT1X using an AAV9 vector to deliver the GJB1/Cx32 gene under the myelin protein zero (Mpz) promoter for targeted expression in Schwann cells. Lumbar intrathecal injection of the AAV9-Mpz.GJB1 resulted in widespread biodistribution in the peripheral nervous system including lumbar roots, sciatic and femoral nerves, as well as in Cx32 expression in the paranodal non-compact myelin areas of myelinated fibers. A pre-, as well as post-onset treatment trial in Gjb1-null mice, demonstrated improved motor performance and sciatic nerve conduction velocities along with improved myelination and reduced inflammation in peripheral nerve tissues. Blood biomarker levels were also significantly ameliorated in treated mice. This study provides evidence that a clinically translatable AAV9-mediated gene therapy approach targeting Schwann cells could potentially treat CMT1X.
Down-regulation of Fra a 1.02 in strawberry fruits causes transcriptomic and metabolic changes compatible with an altered defense response
Authors: Orozco-Navarrete Begoña , Song Jina , Casañal Ana , Sozzani Rosangela , Flors Victor , Sánchez-Sevilla José F. , Trinkl Johanna , Hoffmann Thomas , Merchante Catharina , Schwab Wilfried , Valpuesta Victoriano 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe strawberry Fra a 1 proteins belong to the class 10 Pathogenesis-Related (PR-10) superfamily. In strawberry, a large number of members have been identified, but only a limited number is expressed in the fruits. In this organ, Fra a 1.01 and Fra a 1.02 are the most abundant Fra proteins in the green and red fruits, respectively, however, their function remains unknown. To know the function of Fra a 1.02 we have generated transgenic lines that silence this gene, and performed metabolomics, RNA-Seq, and hormonal assays. Previous studies associated Fra a 1.02 to strawberry fruit color, but the analysis of anthocyanins in the ripe fruits showed no diminution in their content in the silenced lines. Gene ontology (GO) analysis of the genes differentially expressed indicated that oxidation/reduction was the most represented biological process. Redox state was not apparently altered since no changes were found in ascorbic acid and glutathione (GSH) reduced/oxidized ratio, but GSH content was reduced in the silenced fruits. In addition, a number of glutathione-S-transferases (GST) were down-regulated as result of Fra a 1.02-silencing. Another highly represented GO category was transport which included a number of ABC and MATE transporters. Among the regulatory genes differentially expressed WRKY33.1 and WRKY33.2 were down-regulated, which had previously been assigned a role in strawberry plant defense. A reduced expression of the VQ23 gene and a diminished content of the hormones JA, SA, and IAA were also found. These data might indicate that Fra a 1.02 participates in the defense against pathogens in the ripe strawberry fruits.
Methyl jasmonate mediates melatonin-induced cold tolerance of grafted watermelon plants
Authors: Li Hao , Guo Yanliang , Lan Zhixiang , Xu Kai , Chang Jingjing , Ahammed Golam Jalal , Ma Jianxiang , Wei Chunhua , Zhang Xian 
Published: March 2021

AbstractRoot–shoot communication has a critical role in plant adaptation to environmental stress. Grafting is widely applied to enhance the abiotic stress tolerance of many horticultural crop species; however, the signal transduction mechanism involved in this tolerance remains unknown. Here, we show that pumpkin- or figleaf gourd rootstock-enhanced cold tolerance of watermelon shoots is accompanied by increases in the accumulation of melatonin, methyl jasmonate (MeJA), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Increased melatonin levels in leaves were associated with both increased melatonin in rootstocks and MeJA-induced melatonin biosynthesis in leaves of plants under cold stress. Exogenous melatonin increased the accumulation of MeJA and H2O2 and enhanced cold tolerance, while inhibition of melatonin accumulation attenuated rootstock-induced MeJA and H2O2 accumulation and cold tolerance. MeJA application induced H2O2 accumulation and cold tolerance, but inhibition of JA biosynthesis abolished rootstock- or melatonin-induced H2O2 accumulation and cold tolerance. Additionally, inhibition of H2O2 production attenuated MeJA-induced tolerance to cold stress. Taken together, our results suggest that melatonin is involved in grafting-induced cold tolerance by inducing the accumulation of MeJA and H2O2. MeJA subsequently increases melatonin accumulation, forming a self-amplifying feedback loop that leads to increased H2O2 accumulation and cold tolerance. This study reveals a novel regulatory mechanism of rootstock-induced cold tolerance.
Towards explicit regulating-ion-transport: nanochannels with only function-elements at outer-surface
Authors: Ma Qun , Li Yu , Wang Rongsheng , Xu Hongquan , Du Qiujiao , Gao Pengcheng , Xia Fan 
Published: March 2021

AbstractFunction elements (FE) are vital components of nanochannel-systems for artificially regulating ion transport. Conventionally, the FE at inner wall (FEIW) of nanochannel−systems are of concern owing to their recognized effect on the compression of ionic passageways. However, their properties are inexplicit or generally presumed from the properties of the FE at outer surface (FEOS), which will bring potential errors. Here, we show that the FEOS independently regulate ion transport in a nanochannel−system without FEIW. The numerical simulations, assigned the measured parameters of FEOS to the Poisson and Nernst-Planck (PNP) equations, are well fitted with the experiments, indicating the generally explicit regulating-ion-transport accomplished by FEOS without FEIW. Meanwhile, the FEOS fulfill the key features of the pervious nanochannel systems on regulating-ion-transport in osmotic energy conversion devices and biosensors, and show advantages to (1) promote power density through concentrating FE at outer surface, bringing increase of ionic selectivity but no obvious change in internal resistance; (2) accommodate probes or targets with size beyond the diameter of nanochannels. Nanochannel-systems with only FEOS of explicit properties provide a quantitative platform for studying substrate transport phenomena through nanoconfined space, including nanopores, nanochannels, nanopipettes, porous membranes and two-dimensional channels.
The epigenetic pioneer EGR2 initiates DNA demethylation in differentiating monocytes at both stable and transient binding sites
Authors: Mendes Karina , Schmidhofer Sandra , Minderjahn Julia , Glatz Dagmar , Kiesewetter Claudia , Raithel Johanna , Wimmer Julia , Gebhard Claudia , Rehli Michael 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe differentiation of human blood monocytes (MO), the post-mitotic precursors of macrophages (MAC) and dendritic cells (moDC), is accompanied by the active turnover of DNA methylation, but the extent, consequences and mechanisms of DNA methylation changes remain unclear. Here, we profile and compare epigenetic landscapes during IL-4/GM-CSF-driven MO differentiation across the genome and detect several thousand regions that are actively demethylated during culture, both with or without accompanying changes in chromatin accessibility or transcription factor (TF) binding. We further identify TF that are globally associated with DNA demethylation processes. While interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) is found to control hallmark dendritic cell functions with less impact on DNA methylation, early growth response 2 (EGR2) proves essential for MO differentiation as well as DNA methylation turnover at its binding sites. We also show that ERG2 interacts with the 5mC hydroxylase TET2, and its consensus binding sequences show a characteristic DNA methylation footprint at demethylated sites with or without detectable protein binding. Our findings reveal an essential role for EGR2 as epigenetic pioneer in human MO and suggest that active DNA demethylation can be initiated by the TET2-recruiting TF both at stable and transient binding sites.
Study on a new type of environment-friendly polymer and its preliminary application as soil consolidation agent during tree transplanting
Authors: Wang Shaoli , Wei Donglu , Yang Xuping , Song Shengju , Sun Lifang , Xin Xuebing , Zheng Guangshun , Wang Ran , Liu LiLi , Sun Jingshuang , Wang Haixia , Lv Fuling , Mo Wenjuan , Wang Hong , Luo Chaoxing , Xiong Zhengqi , Wang Shaobo , Li Shaofeng , Xia Yongxiu 
Published: March 2021

AbstractTransplanting trees with rhizospheric soil is an important way to facilitate tree survival in the process of landscaping and reforestation. Traditional way to prevent looseness of rhizospheric soil is forming soil balls around the roots with bags, boxes or rope wrapping, which is cumbersome, laborious and easy to break. This study is aimed to develop a new type of degradable environment-friendly polymer as soil consolidation agent to facilitate tree transplanting. In this paper, the KGM/CA/PVA ternary blending soil consolidation agent was prepared by using Konjac glucomannan (KGM), chitosan (CA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as raw materials. Through the verification and evaluation, the clay and sandy soil can be consolidated and formed into soil balls by the ternary blend adhesive, which was convenient for transportation. The preliminary application of the ternary blend adhesive in the transplanting process of sierra salvia, Japanese Spindle (Euonymus japonicus) and Juniperus sabina ‘Tamaricifolia’ confirmed that the application of soil consolidation agent can effectively solve the problem that the root ball of seedling is easily broken in the process of transplant. And the application of soil consolidation agent has no adverse effect on the growth of transplanted seedlings. The research and development of ternary blending soil consolidation agent and its preliminary application in seedling transplanting will provide a new solution to solve the problem of soil ball breakage in the process of seedling transplanting. This is an important stage in the development of new seedling transplanting technology. Therefore, the research and development of soil consolidation agent is of great significance.
Comparison of leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein-1 (LRG-1) plasma levels between patients with and without appendicitis, a case–controlled study
Authors: Lontra Marcelo Bentancor , Savaris Ricardo F. , Cavazzola Leandro Totti , Maissiat Jackson 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAcute appendicitis (AA) is the first cause of emergency surgery. Leucine-Rich Alpha-2-Glycoprotein 1 (LRG1) has been shown to be a potential biomarker in cases of AA in children, but there are conflicting results for its use in adults. The objective of this study is to compare the median plasma values of LRG1 in patients with acute abdomen with and without appendicitis. This case–control study was conducted prospectively at the emergency room (ER) of a tertiary teaching hospital, between March 1st, 2011 and December 31st, 2012. Patients with recent abdominal pain, aged 18–70 years who attended at the ER were included in the study. Blood samples were drawn at the first presentation. Those who were submitted to surgery and had a pathology report of AA were considered as cases. Those without a need for surgery and treated for other conditions, e.g., pelvic inflammatory disease, were considered as controls. Follow-up in controls was made up to 30 days. LRG1 plasma median values were measured using an ELISA kit and compared between groups. A total of 28 participants, 14 cases with acute appendicitis and 14 controls, were included. The median (range) values of leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein-1 level in the group with appendicitis and control group were 8.8 ng/ml (5.5–31) and 11 (4.6–108) ng/ml, respectively (Mann–Whitney test P = 0.26). Median plasma leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein-1 levels were not useful in diagnosing Acute Appendicitis in patients with acute abdominal pain.
DAAM2 is elevated in the circulation and placenta in pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction and is regulated by hypoxia
Authors: de Alwis Natasha , Beard Sally , Binder Natalie K. , Pritchard Natasha , Kaitu’u-Lino Tu’uhevaha J. , Walker Susan P. , Stock Owen , Groom Katie , Petersen Scott , Henry Amanda , Said Joanne M. , Seeho Sean , Kane Stefan C. , Hui Lisa , Tong Stephen , Hannan Natalie J. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractPreviously, we identified increased maternal circulating DAAM2 mRNA in pregnancies complicated by preterm fetal growth restriction (FGR). Here, we assessed whether circulating DAAM2 mRNA could detect FGR, and whether the DAAM2 gene, known to play roles in the Wnt signalling pathway is expressed in human placenta and associated with dysfunction and FGR. We performed linear regression analysis to calculate area under the ROC curve (AUC) for DAAM2 mRNA expression in the maternal circulation of pregnancies complicated by preterm FGR. DAAM2 mRNA expression was assessed across gestation by qPCR. DAAM2 protein and mRNA expression was assessed in preterm FGR placenta using western blot and qPCR. DAAM2 expression was assessed in term cytotrophoblasts and placental explant tissue cultured under hypoxic and normoxic conditions by qPCR. Small interfering RNAs were used to silence DAAM2 in term primary cytotrophoblasts. Expression of growth, apoptosis and oxidative stress genes were assessed by qPCR. Circulating DAAM2 mRNA was elevated in pregnancies complicated by preterm FGR [p < 0.0001, AUC = 0.83 (0.78–0.89)]. Placental DAAM2 mRNA was detectable across gestation, with highest expression at term. DAAM2 protein was increased in preterm FGR placentas but demonstrated no change in mRNA expression. DAAM2 mRNA expression was increased in cytotrophoblasts and placental explants under hypoxia. Silencing DAAM2 under hypoxia decreased expression of pro-survival gene, BCL2 and oxidative stress marker, NOX4, whilst increasing expression of antioxidant enzyme, HMOX-1. The increased DAAM2 associated with FGR and hypoxia implicates a potential role in placental dysfunction. Decreasing DAAM2 may have cytoprotective effects, but further research is required to elucidate its role in healthy and dysfunctional placentas.
The structure dilemma in biological and artificial neural networks
Authors: Pircher Thomas , Pircher Bianca , Schlücker Eberhard , Feigenspan Andreas 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBrain research up to date has revealed that structure and function are highly related. Thus, for example, studies have repeatedly shown that the brains of patients suffering from schizophrenia or other diseases have a different connectome compared to healthy people. Apart from stochastic processes, however, an inherent logic describing how neurons connect to each other has not yet been identified. We revisited this structural dilemma by comparing and analyzing artificial and biological-based neural networks. Namely, we used feed-forward and recurrent artificial neural networks as well as networks based on the structure of the micro-connectome ofC. elegansand of the human macro-connectome. We trained these diverse networks, which markedly differ in their architecture, initialization and pruning technique, and we found remarkable parallels between biological-based and artificial neural networks, as we were additionally able to show that the dilemma is also present in artificial neural networks. Our findings show that structure contains all the information, but that this structure is not exclusive. Indeed, the same structure was able to solve completely different problems with only minimal adjustments. We particularly put interest on the influence of weights and the neuron offset value, as they show a different adaption behaviour. Our findings open up new questions in the fields of artificial and biological information processing research.
Utilizing distributed acoustic sensing and ocean bottom fiber optic cables for submarine structural characterization
Authors: Cheng Feng , Chi Benxin , Lindsey Nathaniel J. , Dawe T. Craig , Ajo-Franklin Jonathan B. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe sparsity of permanent seismic instrumentation in marine environments often limits the availability of subsea information on geohazards, including active fault systems, in both time and space. One sensing resource that provides observational access to the seafloor environment are existing networks of ocean bottom fiber optic cables; these cables, coupled to modern distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) systems, can provide dense arrays of broadband seismic observations capable of recording both seismic events and the ambient noise wavefield. Here, we report a marine DAS application which demonstrates the strength and limitation of this new technique on submarine structural characterization. Based on ambient noise DAS records on a 20 km section of a fiber optic cable offshore of Moss Landing, CA, in Monterey Bay, we extract Scholte waves from DAS ambient noise records using interferometry techniques and invert the resulting multimodal dispersion curves to recover a high resolution 2D shear-wave velocity image of the near seafloor sediments. We show for the first time that the migration of coherently scattered Scholte waves observed on DAS records can provide an approach for resolving sharp lateral contrasts in subsurface properties, particularly shallow faults and depositional features near the seafloor. Our results provide improved constraints on shallow submarine features in Monterey Bay, including fault zones and paleo-channel deposits, thus highlighting one of many possible geophysical uses of the marine cable network.
Transition from continental rifting to oceanic spreading in the northern Red Sea area
Authors: El Khrepy Sami , Koulakov Ivan , Gerya Taras , Al-Arifi Nassir , Alajmi Mamdouh S. , Qadrouh Ayman N. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractLithosphere extension, which plays an essential role in plate tectonics, occurs both in continents (as rift systems) and oceans (spreading along mid-oceanic ridges). The northern Red Sea area is a unique natural geodynamic laboratory, where the ongoing transition from continental rifting to oceanic spreading can be observed. Here, we analyze travel time data from a merged catalogue provided by the Egyptian and Saudi Arabian seismic networks to build a three-dimensional model of seismic velocities in the crust and uppermost mantle beneath the northern Red Sea and surroundings. The derived structures clearly reveal a high-velocity anomaly coinciding with the Red Sea basin and a narrow low-velocity anomaly centered along the rift axis. We interpret these structures as a transition of lithospheric extension from continental rifting to oceanic spreading. The transitional lithosphere is manifested by a dominantly positive seismic anomaly indicating the presence of a 50–70-km-thick and 200–300-km-wide cold lithosphere. Along the forming oceanic ridge axis, an elongated low-velocity anomaly marks a narrow localized nascent spreading zone that disrupts the transitional lithosphere. Along the eastern margins of the Red Sea, several low-velocity anomalies may represent crustal zone of massive Cenozoic basaltic magmatism.
Safety and effectiveness of kidney transplantation using a donation after brain death donor with acute kidney injury: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Kim Kyeong Deok , Lee Kyo Won , Kim Sang Jin , Lee Okjoo , Lim Manuel , Jeong Eun Sung , Kwon Jieun , Yang Jaehun , Oh Jongwook , Park Jae Berm 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe use of kidneys from donation after brain death (DBD) donors with acute kidney injury (AKI) is a strategy to expand the donor pool. The aim of this study was to evaluate how kidney transplantation (KT) from a donor with AKI affects long-term graft survival in various situations. All patients who underwent KT from DBD donors between June 2003 and April 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. The KDIGO (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes) criteria were used to classify donor AKI. The cohort included 376 donors (no AKI group, n = 117 [31.1%]; AKI group n = 259 [68.9%]). Death-censored graft survival was similar according to the presence of AKI, AKI severity, and the AKI trend (p = 0.929, p = 0.077, and p = 0.658, respectively). Patients whose donors had AKI who received using low dose (1.5 mg/kg for three days) rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (r-ATG) as the induction agent had significantly superior death-censored graft survival compared with patients in that group who received basiliximab (p = 0.039). AKI in DBD donors did not affect long-term death-censored graft survival. Low-dose r-ATG may be considered as an induction immunosuppression in recipients receiving kidneys with AKI because it showed better graft survival than basiliximab.