bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Serum deprivation/starvation leads to reactivation of HIV-1 in latently infected monocytes via activating ERK/JNK pathway
Authors: Raja Rameez , Lata Sneh , Trivedi Shubhendu , Banerjea Akhil C. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractDespite the high success rate, antiretroviral therapy does not cure the disease completely due to presence of latent viral reservoirs. Although several studies have addressed this issue earlier, the role of serum starvation/deprivation in HIV-1 latency has not been studied. So, we investigated the role of serum starvation in regulating HIV-1 latency. The impact of serum starvation on HIV-1 latency was assessed in latently infected monocytes U1 and T-cells J1.1. Serum starvation breaks HIV-1 latency in U1 cells. Under similar conditions, J1.1 cells failed to show reactivation of virus. We investigated the involvement of cell death pathway and autophagy during the serum starvation in viral reactivation. Inhibition of these pathways did not affect viral reactivation. Furthermore, other crucial factors like NF-κB, SP1 and AKT did not play any role in regulating viral latency. Here, we report that serum deprivation up-regulates ERK/JNK pathway. This leads to phosphorylation of c-Jun which plays an important role in viral reactivation. Treatment of cells with U0126, an ERK kinase inhibitor, potently inhibited viral replication. In summary, we show that serum starvation leads to reactivation of HIV-1 in latently infected monocytes through the ERK/JNK pathway.
An emotional modulation model as signature for the identification of children developmental disorders
Authors: Mencattini Arianna , Mosciano Francesco , Comes Maria Colomba , Di Gregorio Tania , Raguso Grazia , Daprati Elena , Ringeval Fabien , Schuller Bjorn , Di Natale Corrado , Martinelli Eugenio 
Published: September 2018

AbstractIn recent years, applications like Apple’s Siri or Microsoft’s Cortana have created the illusion that one can actually “chat” with a machine. However, a perfectly natural human-machine interaction is far from real as none of these tools can empathize. This issue has raised an increasing interest in speech emotion recognition systems, as the possibility to detect the emotional state of the speaker. This possibility seems relevant to a broad number of domains, ranging from man-machine interfaces to those of diagnostics. With this in mind, in the present work, we explored the possibility of applying a precision approach to the development of a statistical learning algorithm aimed at classifying samples of speech produced by children with developmental disorders(DD) and typically developing(TD) children. Under the assumption that acoustic features of vocal production could not be efficiently used as a direct marker of DD, we propose to apply the Emotional Modulation function(EMF) concept, rather than running analyses on acoustic features per se to identify the different classes. The novel paradigm was applied to the French Child Pathological & Emotional Speech Database obtaining a final accuracy of 0.79, with maximum performance reached in recognizing language impairment (0.92) and autism disorder (0.82).
Improved Global Surface Temperature Simulation using Stratospheric Ozone Forcing with More Accurate Variability
Authors: Xie Fei , Li Jianping , Sun Cheng , Ding Ruiqiang , Xing Nan , Yang Yun , Zhou Xin , Ma Xuan 
Published: September 2018

AbstractIncreasingly, studies have pointed out that variations of stratospheric ozone significantly influence climate change in the Northern and Southern hemispheres. This leads us to consider whether making the variations of stratospheric ozone in a climate model closer to real ozone changes would improve the simulation of global climate change. It is found that replacing the original specified stratospheric ozone forcing with more accurate stratospheric ozone variations improves the simulated variations of surface temperature in a climate model. The improved stratospheric ozone variations in the Northern Hemisphere lead to better simulation of variations in Northern Hemisphere circulation. As a result, the simulated variabilities of surface temperature in the middle of the Eurasian continent and in lower latitudes are improved. In the Southern Hemisphere, improvements in surface temperature variations that result from improved stratospheric ozone variations influence the simulation of westerly winds. The simulations also suggest that the decreasing trend of stratospheric ozone may have enhanced the warming trend at high latitudes in the second half of the 20th century. Our results not only reinforce the importance of accurately simulating the stratospheric ozone but also imply the need for including fully coupled stratospheric dynamical–radiative–chemical processes in climate models to predict future climate changes.
Climate change-driven range losses among bumblebee species are poised to accelerate
Authors: Sirois-Delisle Catherine , Kerr Jeremy T. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractClimate change has shaped bee distributions over the past century. Here, we conducted the first species-specific assessment of future climate change impacts on North American bumblebee distributions, using the most recent global change scenarios developed in the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). We assessed potential shifts in bumblebee species distributions with models generated using Maxent. We tested different assumptions about bumblebee species’ dispersal capacities, drawing on observed patterns of range shifts to date, dispersal rates observed for bumblebee queens, and, lastly, assuming unlimited dispersal. Models show significant contractions of current ranges even under scenarios in which dispersal rates were high. Results suggest that dispersal rates may not suffice for bumblebees to track climate change as rapidly as required under any IPCC scenario for future climate change. Areas where species losses are projected overlap for many species and climate scenarios, and are concentrated in eastern parts of the continent. Models also show overlap for range expansions across many species, suggesting the presence of “hotspots” where management activities could benefit many species, across all climate scenarios. Broad-scale strategies are likely to be necessary to improve bumblebee conservation prospects under climate change.
Aphid infestation in the phyllosphere affects primary metabolic profiles in the arbuscular mycorrhizal hyphosphere
Authors: Cabral Carmina , Wollenweber Bernd , António Carla , Rodrigues Ana Margarida , Ravnskov Sabine 
Published: September 2018

AbstractWhile effects of (a)biotic stress events in the phyllosphere have been studied intensively, possible influences of stress on the arbuscular mycorrhizal hyphosphere has scarcely been investigated. We hypothesised that stress challenge in the phyllosphere could alter primary metabolite profiles of the hyphosphere - the mycelial network connecting plants. Donor plants, connected to receiver plants by mycelial networks, were aphid-challenged during 84 h. Primary metabolite profiles in the hyphosphere were investigated. Gene-expression of plant defence gene PR1 was measured in one of the receiver plants during the challenge. Hexose levels in the hyphosphere increased when donor plants were aphid-challenged. This change in metabolic profile was influenced by leaf sampling from receiver plant. PR1 expression increased in donor plants 48 h after challenge, and consequently 60 h after, in receiver plants. We conclude that aphid infestation of donor plants modified primary carbon metabolism in the hyphosphere. Plant defence response in receiver plants, occurred 12 h after detection of response in the aphid-challenged donor plants. While this work is the first to reveal primary metabolic profiles of the AM hyphosphere, more work is needed to elucidate the possible role of transient changes of hexose metabolism in stress response and signalling processes in the hyphosphere of connected plants.
Preparation and characterization of thermo-sensitive gel with phenolated alkali lignin
Authors: Jiang Pan , Sheng Xueru , Yu Sheng , Li Haiming , Lu Jie , Zhou Jinghui , Wang Haisong 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThermo-sensitive gel exhibits great potential industrial application. It has been widely used in tissue repair, drug release and water purification for its property of phase transition in response to external stimuli, reusability and biocompatibility. In this study, a novel lignin-based thermo-sensitive gel was synthesized with alkali lignin by two steps. Firstly, phenolated lignin (PPAL) was synthesized with purified alkali lignin (PAL) catalyzed by sulfuric acid. Subsequently, thermo-sensitive gel was achieved by thermal polymerization of phenolated alkali lignin and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm). Furthermore, the prepared hydrogels were characterized in terms of thermal behavior, interior morphology and their swelling behavior. Compared with PAL-based gel, the obtained PPAL-based gel exhibits a higher crosslinking density and lower critical solution temperature (LCST) due to the increase of reaction site and smaller space volume of the hydrophobic side groups grafted on NIPAAm. TGA data revealed that thermal stability of gel was enhanced (50% weight loss at ~380 °C) by using lignin as precursor. SEM images showed that a more regular interior morphology, better compressive strength was also found (PPAL0.05, 11.15 KPa). Furthermore, the swelling ratio of PPAL-based gel was lower than that of PAL-based gel due to its more complex structure.
Baicalin, the major component of traditional Chinese medicine Scutellaria baicalensis induces colon cancer cell apoptosis through inhibition of oncomiRNAs
Authors: Tao Yili , Zhan Shoubin , Wang Yanbo , Zhou Geyu , Liang Hongwei , Chen Xi , Shen Hong 
Published: September 2018

AbstractColorectal cancer (CRC) is among the most frequently occurring cancers worldwide. Baicalin is isolated from the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis and is its dominant flavonoid. Anticancer activity of baicalin has been evaluated in different types of cancers, especially in CRC. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the contribution of baicalin to the treatment of CRC are still unknown. Here, we confirmed that baicalin can effectively induce and enhance apoptosis in HT-29 cells in a dose-dependent manner and suppress tumour growth in xenografted nude mice. We further performed a miRNA microarray analysis of baicalin-treated and untreated HT-29 cells. The results showed that a large number of oncomiRs, including miR-10a, miR-23a, miR-30c, miR-31, miR-151a and miR-205, were significantly suppressed in baicalin-treated HT-29 cells. Furthermore, our in vitro and in vivo studies showed that baicalin suppressed oncomiRs by reducing the expression of c-Myc. Taken together, our study shows a novel mechanism for anti-cancer action of baicalin, that it induces apoptosis in colon cancer cells and suppresses tumour growth by reducing the expression of c-Myc and oncomiRs.
Parallelized, real-time, metabolic-rate measurements from individual Drosophila
Authors: Fiorino Anthony , Thompson Dakotah , Yadlapalli Swathi , Jiang Chang , Shafer Orie. T. , Reddy Pramod , Meyhofer Edgar 
Published: September 2018

AbstractSignificant recent evidence suggests that metabolism is intricately linked to the regulation and dysfunction of complex cellular and physiological responses ranging from altered metabolic programs in cancers and aging to circadian rhythms and molecular clocks. While the metabolic pathways and their fundamental control mechanisms are well established, the precise cellular mechanisms underpinning, for example, enzymatic pathway control, substrate preferences or metabolic rates, remain far less certain. Comprehensive, continuous metabolic studies on model organisms, such as the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, may provide a critical tool for deciphering these complex physiological responses. Here, we describe the development of a high-resolution calorimeter, which combines sensitive thermometry with optical imaging to concurrently perform measurements of the metabolic rate of ten individual flies, in real-time, with ~100 nW resolution. Using this calorimeter we have measured the mass-specific metabolic rates of flies of different genotypes, ages, and flies fed with different diets. This powerful new approach enables systematic studies of the metabolic regulation related to cellular and physiological function and disease mechanisms.
Bioprocessing strategies to enhance the challenging isolation of neuro-regenerative cells from olfactory mucosa
Authors: Georgiou Melanie , Reis Joana Neves dos , Wood Rachael , Esteban Patricia Perez , Roberton Victoria , Mason Chris , Li Daqing , Li Ying , Choi David , Wall Ivan 
Published: September 2018

AbstractOlfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) are a promising potential cell therapy to aid regeneration. However, there are significant challenges in isolating and characterizing them. In the current study, we have explored methods to enhance the recovery of cells expressing OEC marker p75NTR from rat mucosa. With the addition of a 24-hour differential adhesion step, the expression of p75NTR was significantly increased to 73 ± 5% and 46 ± 18% on PDL and laminin matrices respectively. Additionally, the introduction of neurotrophic factor NT-3 and the decrease in serum concentration to 2% FBS resulted in enrichment of OECs, with p75NTR at nearly 100% (100 ± 0% and 98 ± 2% on PDL and laminin respectively), and candidate fibroblast marker Thy1.1 decreased to zero. Culturing OECs at physiologically relevant oxygen tension (2–8%) had a negative impact on p75NTR expression and overall cell survival. Regarding cell potency, co-culture of OECs with NG108-15 neurons resulted in more neuronal growth and potential migration at atmospheric oxygen. Moreover, OECs behaved similarly to a Schwann cell line positive control. In conclusion, this work identified key bioprocessing fundamentals that will underpin future development of OEC-based cell therapies for potential use in spinal cord injury repair. However, there is still much work to do to create optimized isolation methods.
The critical role of dietary foliage in maintaining the gut microbiome and metabolome of folivorous sifakas
Authors: Greene Lydia K. , McKenney Erin A. , O’Connell Thomas M. , Drea Christine M. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThe gut microbiome (GMB) of folivores metabolizes dietary fiber into nutrients, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs); however, experiments probing the consequences of foliage quality on host GMBs are lacking. We therefore examined GMB structure and function via amplicon sequencing and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy in 31 captive sifakas (Propithecus coquereli) during dietary manipulations associated with husbandry. Supplementing standard diets with diverse foliage blends, versus with a single plant species, promoted more diverse GMBs, enriched for taxa implicated in plant-fiber metabolism, but depleted in taxa implicated in starch metabolism and bile tolerance. The consumption of diverse blends was associated with greater concentrations of colonic SCFAs. Abundant foliage, via forest access, promoted compositionally distinct and more stable GMBs, but reduced concentrations of SCFAs, possibly reflecting selection of high-quality leaves. In 11 subjects denied forest access, we examined the temporal pace of microbial shifts when supplemental foliage was abruptly switched between diverse blends and single species. The sifaka GMB responded within days, with community diversity and composition closely tracking foliage diversity. By providing experimental evidence that the folivore GMB is sensitive to minor changes in dietary foliage, we reveal the fragility of specialist GMBs, with implications for managing the wellbeing of endangered wildlife.
Shear Wave Elasticity Measurements of Three-Dimensional Cancer Cell Cultures Using Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging
Authors: Chao Pei-Yu , Liu Wei-Wen , You Shih-Feng , Li Pai-Chi 
Published: September 2018

AbstractShear wave elastography (SWE) has been widely adopted for clinical in vivo imaging of tissue elasticity for disease diagnosis, and this modality can be a valuable tool for in vitro mechanobiology studies but its full potential has yet to be explored. Here we present a laser speckle contrast SWE system for noncontact monitoring the spatiotemporal changes of the extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness in three-dimensional cancer cell culture system while providing submillimeter spatial resolution and temporal resolution of 10 s. The shear modulus measured was found to be strongly correlated with the ECM fiber density in two types of cell culture system (r = 0.832 with P < 0.001, and r = 0.642 with P = 0.024 for cell culture systems containing 4 mg/ml Matrigel with 1 mg/ml and 2 mg/ml collagen type I hydrogel, respectively). Cell migration along the stiffness gradient in the cell culture system and an association between cell proliferation and the local ECM stiffness was observed. As the elasticity measurement is performed without the need of exogenous probes, the proposed method can be used to study how the microenvironmental stiffness interacts with cancer cell behaviors without possible adverse effects of the exogenous particles, and could potentially be an effective screening tool when developing new treatment strategies.
Impact of deep ocean mixing on the climatic mean state in the Southern Ocean
Authors: Tatebe Hiroaki , Tanaka Yuki , Komuro Yoshiki , Hasumi Hiroyasu 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThe Southern Ocean is of great importance for the global stratification and biological carbon storage because it is connected to the global ocean conveyor by which atmospheric information absorbed in the Southern Ocean is redistributed globally and buffered over centuries. Therefore, understanding what controls the Southern Ocean climate, the global ocean conveyor, and links between them is a key to quantifying uncertainties in future climate projections. Based on a set of climate model experiments, here we show that the tide-induced micro-scale mixing in the Pacific deep ocean has significant impacts on the wintertime Southern Ocean climate through basin-scale reorganization of ocean stratification and resultant response of the global ocean conveyor. Specifically, Pacific deep water, which is modified by the deep ocean mixing while travelling south, reinforces the subsurface stratification and suppresses deep convection in the Southern Ocean. Resultant increase of the Ross Sea sea-ice leads to decrease of incoming shortwave radiation and strengthening of the westerly and storms. Because the Southern Ocean could regulate the global warming progress through its role as heat and carbon sink, our study implies that better representation of deep ocean mixing in climate models contributes to reliability improvement in regional-to-global climate projections.
Circadian rhythmicity persists through the Polar night and midnight sun in Svalbard reindeer
Authors: Arnold Walter , Ruf Thomas , Loe Leif Egil , Irvine R. Justin , Ropstad Erik , Veiberg Vebjørn , Albon Steve D. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractStudies of locomotor activity in Svalbard reindeer reported the temporary absence of diel rhythms under Arctic photic conditions. However, using Lomb-Scargle periodogram analyses with high statistical power we found diel or circadian rhythmicity throughout the entire year in measures of behaviour, temperature in the rumen and heart rate in free-living Svalbard reindeer. Significant diel rhythmicity was only lacking during some of the 15-day intervals analysed in the less frequently measured heart rate. During Polar Night these rhythms were free-running and attenuated. During continual daylight in summer, rhythms where entrained to 24 hours corresponding with the daily variation in the intensity of solar radiation, but attenuated when continuous daylight coincided with the period of growing forage. Diel rhythmicity was reduced during this short period of peak foraging activity, which coincided with peak heart rate and temperature in the rumen, most likely to facilitate fattening when food is abundant. For the rest of the year, heart rate and temperature showed the most pronounced and long-lasting suppression ever found in ungulates. The profound seasonal changes in foraging, metabolic activity, and power of diel and circadian rhythmicity of Svalbard reindeer can be viewed as adaptations to the extreme living conditions in the High Arctic.
Paraoxonase 1 knockout rats have impaired T cell development at the CD4/CD8 double-negative to double-positive transition stage
Authors: Bai Lin , Shi Guiying , Ma Yuanwu , Zhang Li , Guan Feifei , Zhang Xu , Xu Yanfeng , Chen Houzao , Zhang Lianfeng 
Published: September 2018

AbstractParaoxonase 1 (PON1) is a high-density lipoprotein-associated enzyme that performs multiple physiological activities. Previous studies suggest that PON1 plays an anti-inflammatory role in the cardiovascular system, although its roles in hematopoiesis and adaptive immunity have not been clarified. To investigate the impact of PON1 on the immune system, we generated PON1-knockout (PON1−/−) rats using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. The thymus was smaller in PON1−/− rats than that in wild-type (PON1+/+) rats. Furthermore, analysis of thymocyte development revealed diminished total T cell numbers and a decrease in CD4+, CD8+ and double-positive T cells in peripheral blood and thymus from PON1−/− rats. This may be due to a block in the transition of T cells from the double-negative to the double-positive stage. We also showed that the activation of p38 MAPK phosphorylation contributed to the increased apoptosis and defective T cell development in PON−/− rats. Therefore, our results indicate that PON1 functions as a novel regulator of T cell development.
A single reporter mouse line for Vika, Flp, Dre, and Cre-recombination
Authors: Karimova Madina , Baker Oliver , Camgoz Aylin , Naumann Ronald , Buchholz Frank , Anastassiadis Konstantinos 
Published: September 2018

AbstractSite-specific recombinases (SSR) are utilized as important genome engineering tools to precisely modify the genome of mice and other model organisms. Reporter mice that mark cells that at any given time had expressed the enzyme are frequently used for lineage tracing and to characterize newly generated mice expressing a recombinase from a chosen promoter. With increasing sophistication of genome alteration strategies, the demand for novel SSR systems that efficiently and specifically recombine their targets is rising and several SSR-systems are now used in combination to address complex biological questions in vivo. Generation of reporter mice for each one of these recombinases is cumbersome and increases the number of mouse lines that need to be maintained in animal facilities. Here we present a multi-reporter mouse line for loci-of-recombination (X) (MuX) that streamlines the characterization of mice expressing prominent recombinases. MuX mice constitutively express nuclear green fluorescent protein after recombination by either Cre, Flp, Dre or Vika recombinase, rationalizing the number of animal lines that need to be maintained. We also pioneer the use of the Vika/vox system in mice, illustrating its high efficacy and specificity, thereby facilitating future designs of sophisticated recombinase-based in vivo genome engineering strategies.