bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Articular cartilage and meniscus reveal higher friction in swing phase than in stance phase under dynamic gait conditions
Authors: Warnecke Daniela , Meßemer Maxi , de Roy Luisa , Stein Svenja , Gentilini Cristina , Walker Robert , Skaer Nick , Ignatius Anita , Dürselen Lutz 
Published: April 2019

AbstractMost previous studies investigated the remarkably low and complex friction properties of meniscus and cartilage under constant loading and motion conditions. However, both load and relative velocity within the knee joint vary considerably during physiological activities. Hence, the question arises how friction of both tissues is affected by physiological testing conditions occurring during gait. As friction properties are of major importance for meniscal replacement devices, the influence of these simulated physiological testing conditions was additionally tested for a potential meniscal implant biomaterial. Using a dynamic friction testing device, three different friction tests were conducted to investigate the influence of either just varying the motion conditions or the normal load and also to replicate the physiological gait conditions. It could be shown for the first time that the friction coefficient during swing phase was statistically higher than during stance phase when varying both loading and motion conditions according to the physiological gait pattern. Further, the friction properties of the exemplary biomaterial were also higher, when tested under dynamic gait parameters compared to static conditions, which may suggest that static conditions can underestimate the friction coefficient rather than reflecting the in vivo performance.
The possibility to make choices modulates feature-based effects of reward
Authors: Heuer Anna , Wolf Christian , Schütz Alexander C. , Schubö Anna 
Published: April 2019

AbstractWhen making decisions, humans can maximize the positive outcome of their actions by choosing the option associated with the highest reward. We have recently shown that choices modulate effects of reward via a bias in spatial attention: Locations associated with a lower reward are anticipatorily suppressed, as indicated by delayed responses to low-reward targets and increased parieto-occipital alpha power. Here, we investigated whether this inhibition also occurs when reward is not coupled to location but to a nonspatial feature (color). We analyzed reaction times to single targets associated with a low or high reward as a function of whether a second trial type, choice-trials, were interleaved. In choice-trials, participants could choose either one of two targets to obtain the associated reward. Indeed, responses to low-reward targets were slower when choice-trials were present, magnifying the influence of reward, and this delay was more pronounced in trials immediately following a choice. No corresponding changes in parieto-occipital alpha power were observed, but the behavioral findings suggest that choices modulate a reward-related bias in feature-based attention in a similar manner as for spatial attention, and support the idea that reward primarily affects behaviour when it is of immediate relevance.
Ability of bifidobacteria to metabolize chitin-glucan and its impact on the gut microbiota
Authors: Alessandri Giulia , Milani Christian , Duranti Sabrina , Mancabelli Leonardo , Ranjanoro Thibaut , Modica Salvatore , Carnevali Luca , Statello Rosario , Bottacini Francesca , Turroni Francesca , Ossiprandi Maria Cristina , Sgoifo Andrea , van Sinderen Douwe , Ventura Marco 
Published: April 2019

AbstractChitin-glucan (CG) represents a natural carbohydrate source for certain microbial inhabitants of the human gut and may act as a prebiotic for a number of bacterial taxa. However, the bifidogenic activity of this substrate is still unknown. In the current study, we evaluated the ability of chitin-glucan to influence growth of 100 bifidobacterial strains belonging to those species commonly identified within the bifidobacterial communities residing in the infant and adult human gut. Such analyses were coupled with transcriptome experiments directed to explore the transcriptional effects of CG on Bifidobacterium breve 2L, which was shown to elicit the highest growth performance on this natural polysaccharide. In addition, an in vivo trial involving a rat model revealed how the colonization efficiency of this bifidobacterial strain was enhanced when the animals were fed with a diet containing CG. Altogether our analyses indicate that CG is a valuable novel prebiotic compound that may be added to the human diet in order to re-establish/reinforce bifidobacteria colonization in the mammalian gut.
Quantitative Variation in m.3243A > G Mutation Produce Discrete Changes in Energy Metabolism
Authors: McMillan Ryan P. , Stewart Sidney , Budnick James A. , Caswell Clayton C. , Hulver Matthew W. , Mukherjee Konark , Srivastava Sarika 
Published: April 2019

AbstractMitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) 3243A > G tRNALeu(UUR) heteroplasmic mutation (m.3243A > G) exhibits clinically heterogeneous phenotypes. While the high mtDNA heteroplasmy exceeding a critical threshold causes mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis with stroke-like episodes (MELAS) syndrome, the low mtDNA heteroplasmy causes maternally inherited diabetes with or without deafness (MIDD) syndrome. How quantitative differences in mtDNA heteroplasmy produces distinct pathological states has remained elusive. Here we show that despite striking similarities in the energy metabolic gene expression signature, the mitochondrial bioenergetics, biogenesis and fuel catabolic functions are distinct in cells harboring low or high levels of the m.3243 A > G mutation compared to wild type cells. We further demonstrate that the low heteroplasmic mutant cells exhibit a coordinate induction of transcriptional regulators of the mitochondrial biogenesis, glucose and fatty acid metabolism pathways that lack in near homoplasmic mutant cells compared to wild type cells. Altogether, these results shed new biological insights on the potential mechanisms by which low mtDNA heteroplasmy may progressively cause diabetes mellitus.
Yield stability analysis reveals sources of large-scale nitrogen loss from the US Midwest
Authors: Basso Bruno , Shuai Guanyuan , Zhang Jinshui , Robertson G. Philip 
Published: April 2019

AbstractLoss of reactive nitrogen (N) from agricultural fields in the U.S. Midwest is a principal cause of the persistent hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico. We used eight years of high resolution satellite imagery, field boundaries, crop data layers, and yield stability classes to estimate the proportion of N fertilizer removed in harvest (NUE) versus left as surplus N in 8 million corn (Zea mays) fields at subfield resolutions of 30 × 30 m (0.09 ha) across 30 million ha of 10 Midwest states. On average, 26% of subfields in the region could be classified as stable low yield, 28% as unstable (low yield some years, high others), and 46% as stable high yield. NUE varied from 48% in stable low yield areas to 88% in stable high yield areas. We estimate regional average N losses of 1.12 (0.64–1.67) Tg N y−1from stable and unstable low yield areas, corresponding to USD 485 (267–702) million dollars of fertilizer value, 79 (45–113) TJ of energy, and greenhouse gas emissions of 6.8 (3.4–10.1) MMT CO2equivalents. Matching N fertilizer rates to crop yield stability classes could reduce regional reactive N losses substantially with no impact on crop yields, thereby enhancing the sustainability of corn-based cropping systems.
Combination of eribulin plus AKT inhibitor evokes synergistic cytotoxicity in soft tissue sarcoma cells
Authors: Hayasaka Naotaka , Takada Kohichi , Nakamura Hajime , Arihara Yohei , Kawano Yutaka , Osuga Takahiro , Murase Kazuyuki , Kikuchi Shohei , Iyama Satoshi , Emori Makoto , Sugita Shintaro , Hasegawa Tadashi , Takasawa Akira , Miyanishi Koji , Kobune Masayoshi , Kato Junji 
Published: April 2019

AbstractAn activated AKT pathway underlies the pathogenesis of soft tissue sarcoma (STS), with over-expressed phosphorylated AKT (p-AKT) correlating with a poor prognosis in a subset of STS cases. Recently, eribulin, a microtubule dynamics inhibitor, has demonstrated efficacy and is approved in patients with advanced/metastatic liposarcoma and breast cancer. However, mechanisms of eribulin resistance and/or insensitivity remain largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that an increased p-AKT level was associated with eribulin resistance in STS cells. We found a combination of eribulin with the AKT inhibitor, MK-2206, synergistically inhibited STS cell growth in vivo as well as in vitro. Mechanistically, eribulin plus MK-2206 induced G1 or G2/M arrest by down-regulating cyclin-dependent kinases, cyclins and cdc2, followed by caspase-dependent apoptosis in STS cells. Our findings demonstrate the significance of p-AKT signaling for eribulin-resistance in STS cells and provide a rationale for the development of an AKT inhibitor in combination with eribulin to treat patients with STS.
Engineering preferentially-aligned nitrogen-vacancy centre ensembles in CVD grown diamond
Authors: Osterkamp Christian , Mangold Martin , Lang Johannes , Balasubramanian Priyadharshini , Teraji Tokuyuki , Naydenov Boris , Jelezko Fedor 
Published: April 2019

AbstractHere we report a method for improving the magnetic field sensitivity of an ensemble of Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) centres in 12C-enriched diamond aligned along the [111] crystal axis. The preferentially-aligned NV centres are fabricated by a Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapour Deposition (PECVD) process and their concentration is quantitatively determined by analysing the confocal microscopy images. We further observe that annealing the samples at high temperature (1500 °C) in vacuum leads to a conversion of substitutional nitrogen into NV centres. This treatment also increases the coherence time of the NV centres electron spins up to 40 μs, which corresponds to enhancement of the sensitivity by a factor of three. However, this procedure also leads to a loss of the preferential alignment by 34%.
Improving the stability of the TetR/Pip-OFF mycobacterial repressible promoter system
Authors: Boldrin Francesca , Anoosheh Saber , Serafini Agnese , Cioetto Mazzabò Laura , Palù Giorgio , Provvedi Roberta , Manganelli Riccardo 
Published: April 2019

AbstractTightly regulated gene expression systems are powerful tools to study essential genes and characterize potential drug targets. In a past work we reported the construction of a very stringent and versatile repressible promoter system for Mycobacterium tuberculosis based on two different repressors (TetR/Pip-OFF system). This system, causing the repression of the target gene in response to anhydrotetracycline (ATc), has been successfully used in several laboratories to characterize essential genes in different mycobacterial species both in vitro and in vivo. One of the limits of this system was its instability, leading to the selection of mutants in which the expression of the target gene was no longer repressible. In this paper we demonstrated that the instability was mainly due either to the loss of the integrative plasmid carrying the genes encoding the two repressors, or to the selection of a frameshift mutation in the gene encoding the repressors Pip. To solve these problems, we (i) constructed a new integrative vector in which the gene encoding the integrase was deleted to increase its stability, and (ii) developed a new integrative vector carrying the gene encoding Pip to introduce a second copy of this gene in the chromosome. The use of these new tools was shown to reduce drastically the selection of escape mutants.
Characterization and identification of selected metal-binding biomolecules from hepatic and gill cytosols of Vardar chub (Squalius vardarensis Karaman, 1928) using various techniques of liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry
Authors: Krasnići Nesrete , Dragun Zrinka , Kazazić Snježana , Muharemović Hasan , Erk Marijana , Jordanova Maja , Rebok Katerina , Kostov Vasil 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
Metals play crucial physiological roles, but they can also cause irreparable toxic effects through binding to important cellular biomolecules in aquatic organisms. The aim of this study was to determine the exact molecular masses and to identify several selected metal-binding biomolecules in hepatic and gill cytosols of Vardar chub (Squalius vardarensis Karaman, 1928). Methods applied for the achievement of this goal were SEC-AEC-HPLC for two-dimensional separation of cytosolic biomolecules, HR ICP-MS for metal measurements, and mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS and LC-MS/MS) for biomolecule mass determination and identification. The analyzed biomolecules included: Fe-binding biomolecules, which were identified as hemoglobin subunit β in the liver (molecular masses of ∼15 kDa), and hemoglobin subunits α and β in the gills (molecular masses of ∼11 kDa, ∼13 kDa and ∼15 kDa); heat-stable Cd-binding biomolecules, which were identified as MT isoforms MT-I and MT-II (molecular mass of ∼6.0 kDa in both liver and gills, and an additional 4.9 kDa isoform in the gills); and heat-stable Mo-binding biomolecules of molecular masses equal to 3.3 kDa (in the gills) and 8.5 kDa (in the liver). An important finding of this study was the obvious presence of different isoforms of the same biomolecules in the liver and gills. This was, among others, manifested through the absence of Zn binding to MTs only in the gills, indicating that the same type of biomolecule can be responsible for different functions in different organs. Thus, for better understanding of metal behaviour in aquatic organisms, it is crucial to identify cellular metal-binding biomolecules and their functions.
The effect of HMGB1 on the clinicopathological and prognostic features of cervical cancer
Authors: Li Pan , Xu Mengfei , Cai Hongbing , Thapa Niresh , He Can , Song Ziye 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
Cervical cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death among women in less-developed regions. Because of the poor survivorship of patients with advanced disease, finding new biomarkers for prognostic prediction is of great importance. In the current study, mRNA datasets (GSE9750 and GSE63514) were retrieved from Gene Expression Omnibus and was used to identify differentially expressed genes. The underlying molecular mechanisms associated with high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) were investigated using bioinformatics analysis. Immunohistochemical analysis of HMGB1 was performed on 239 cases of cervical cancer samples to investigate its possible correlation with clinicopathological characteristics and outcomes. A preliminary validation has been made to explore the possible correlation factors with HMGB1 that promote migration of cervical cancer cells. Bioinformatics analysis showed that adherens junction was significant for both P-value and enrichment scores, which was consistent with the clinical study. The underlying molecular mechanisms might be the interaction among HMGB1, RAC1, and CDC42. HMGB1 expression was significantly associated with tumor size, parametrial infiltration, the depth of cervical stromal invasion, and FIGO stage (P=0.003, 0.019, 0.013, and 0.003, respectively). FIGO stage, lymph mode metastasis, and HMGB1 expression were independent predictors of a poorer prognosis of patients with cervical cancer. Knockdown of HMGB1 inhibits migration of Siha and C33A cells in vitro. Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) showed that the expression of RAC1 and CDC42 was positively correlated with HMGB1. HMGB1 is a useful prognostic indicator and a potential biomarker of cervical cancer. RAC1 and CDC42 may be involved in the progression of cervical cancer migration induced by HMGB1.
miR-517a is up-regulated in glioma and promotes glioma tumorigenesis in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Du Cheng-li , Peng Fei , Liu Ke-qin 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
miR-517a has been reported to act as an oncogenic miRNA in human hepatocellular carcinoma and lung cancer. However, the roles and underlying molecular mechanism of miR-517a in glioma remain unclear. In the present study, the expression of miR-517a in clinical glioma tissues and glioma cell lines was examined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Transfected with knockdown or forced expression of miR-517a, the effects of miR-517a on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were detected through in vitro and in vivo tumorigenesis assays. Here, we report that miR-517a expression was up-regulated in glioma tissues when compared with normal brain tissues, and up-regulation of miR-517a level is tightly correlated with the status of pathology classification of glioma. A functional assay found that overexpression of miR-517a in glioma cells markedly promoted or suppressed cell proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion, respectively. Moreover, we revealed that the knockdown of miR-517a dramatically suppressed glioma cell growth, migration, and invasion in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we found that knockdown of miR-517a significantly induced apoptosis. Therefore, miR–517a acts an oncogenic miRNA that promotes tumor progression in glioma, and thus may become a promising therapeutic candidate for glioma.
Effects of ANRIL variants on the risk of ischemic stroke: a meta-analysis
Authors: Tan Cheng , Liu Junzhi , Wei Jun , Yang Shoujun 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
Background : Several studies investigated the relationship between antisense non-coding RNA in the INK4 locus (ANRIL) variants and the risk of ischemic stroke (IS), yet whether ANRIL variants are associated with IS remain controversial. Therefore, we performed the present study to obtain a more conclusive result. Methods: Literature retrieval was conducted in PubMed, Medline and Embase. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Results: Eighteen studies were enrolled for analyses. Pooled overall analyses showed that rs2383206 (recessive model: P=0.002, OR = 1.22, 95%CI 1.08–1.38; allele model: P=0.003, OR = 0.90, 95%CI 0.84–0.96) and rs10757274 (allele model: P=0.006, OR = 0.91, 95%CI 0.86–0.97) variants were significantly associated with an increased risk of IS. Further subgroup analyses by ethnicity revealed that rs2383206, rs10757274 and rs10757278 variants were all significantly correlated with an increased risk of IS in Asians. Additionally, rs10757278 polymorphism was also significantly correlated with an increased risk of IS in Caucasians. Conclusions: Our findings indicated that rs2383206, rs10757274 and rs10757278 variants may impact individual susceptibility to IS in Asians. Moreover, rs10757278 polymorphism may also impact individual susceptibility to IS in Caucasians.
B-cell dynamics during experimental endotoxemia in humans
Authors: Brinkhoff Alexandra , Zeng Ye , Sieberichs Annette , Dolff Sebastian , Shilei Xu , Sun Ming , Engler Harald , Benson Sven , Korth Johannes , Schedlowski Manfred , Kribben Andreas , Witzke Oliver , Wilde Benjamin 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
Recently, B cells with regulatory functions suppressing T-cell immunity were identified. Inflammation in the context of sepsis is characterized by a profound immune dysfunction increasing the patient’s risk for additional infections. The impact of endotoxemia on B-cell dynamics, regulatory B cells (Breg) and its contribution to immune dysfunction is unknown. It is the aim of the present study to characterize the dynamics of the B-cell compartment and Breg in an experimental human endotoxemia model.
In this randomized placebo-controlled cross-over study, 20 healthy males received an intravenous injection of endotoxin (Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide, LPS, 0.8 ng/kg body weight) or placebo (saline 0.9%) on two otherwise identical study days. B cells were analyzed by flow cytometry at baseline and repeatedly up to 72 h after endotoxin/placebo injection.
Absolute CD19+ B cells counts showed a significant decrease 3 h after endotoxin injection. Memory B cells were partially depleted from the circulation; the total number of Breg was significantly diminished 3 h after LPS challenge. Production of anti-inflammatory interleukin (IL)-10 (IL-10) by Breg was unaltered after LPS challenge. Systemic B-cell activating factor (BAFF) levels were significantly increased with a maximum after 24 h and remained increased up to 72 h post-injection.
Endotoxemia causes a transient depletion of memory B cells and Breg from the circulation. However, the functional capacity of B cells to produce IL-10 is not impaired.
Long non-coding RNA SNHG16 affects cell proliferation and predicts a poor prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer via sponging miR-200a-3p
Authors: Li Yanling , Lu Ying , Chen Yanglong 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
Previous study has explored that SNHG16, a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), mediated cell growth and proliferation. Yet, the role of SNHG16 in human colorectal cancer (CRC) still remains to be explored. Therefore, we conducted the present study to explore the functions of SNHG16 in CRC. In the present study, SNHG16 was significantly up-regulated in CRC tissues and cell lines. Gain- and loss-of-function of SNHG16 further presented that SNHG16 promoted the progression of CRC cells, including proliferation, migration, and invasion. Further, in vivo study also revealed that overexpression of SNHG16 could promote tumor growth. Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assay showed that SNHG16 was a direct target of miR-200a-3p. MiR-200a-3p was inversely correlated with SNHG16 expression in CRC tissues. In brief, the above results elucidate the important role of SNHG16 in CRC tumorigenesis, suggesting that SNHG16 might be quite vital for the diagnosis and development of CRC.
Resveratrol attenuates inflammation environment-induced nucleus pulposus cell senescence in vitro
Authors: Li Xiaoming , Lin Feixiang , Wu Yaohong , Liu Ning , Wang Jun , Chen Rongchun , Lu Zhijun 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
Intervertebral disc degeneration is a disease identified as an inflammation response-participated pathological process. As a classical cellular feature, disc cell senescence is reported to be closely related with disc cell senescence. Resveratrol has a protective role against inflammation in some cells. However, its biological effects on disc cells remain largely unclear. The present study was aimed to study the effects of resveratrol on disc nucleus pulposus (NP) cell senescence in an inflammation environment. Isolated NP cells were cultured in cultured medium with (control group) or without (inflammation group) inflammatory cytokine TNF-α and IL-1β for 14 days. Resveratrol was added along with the NP cells treated with inflammatory cytokines to investigate its effects. NP cell senescence was analyzed by senescence-associated β-Galactosidase (SA-β-Gal) staining, cell proliferation, G0/1 cell cycle arrest, telomerase activity, gene/protein expression of senescence markers (p16 and p53) and NP matrix biosynthesis. In addition, the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was also analyzed. Compared with the control group, inflammation group significantly increased SA-β-Gal activity and ROS content, decreased cell proliferation and telomerase activity, promoted G0/1 cell cycle arrest, up-regulated gene/protein expression of senescence markers (p16 and p53) and matrix catabolism enzymes (MMP-3, MMP-13 and ADAMTS-4), and down-regulated gene/protein expression of NP matrix macromolecules (aggrecan and collagen II). However, resveratrol partly reversed the effects of inflammatory cytokine on these cell senescence-associated parameters. Together, resveratrol was effective to suppress cell senescence in an inflammatory environment. The present study shows new knowledge on how to retard inflammation response-initiated disc degeneration.