bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Orbitally Induced Variation of Tropical Cyclone Genesis Potential Over the Western North Pacific During the Mid‐Piacenzian Warm Period: A Modeling Perspective
Authors: Yan Qing , Wei Ting , Zhang Zhongshi , Jiang Nanxuan 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe mid‐Piacenzian (3.264 to 3.025 Ma) is the most recent warmer‐than‐present interval in the geological past, with clear orbital‐scale variability in climate and environments. However, it remains unclear how the orbitally induced climate change may regulate the behavior of tropical cyclones (TCs). Here we use a fully coupled climate model to examine the response of TC genesis potential to different orbital configurations specific to the mid‐Piacenzian time slab. Under the Pliocene Research, Interpretation, and Synoptic Mapping version 3 boundary conditions that use modern orbital configurations, our results show that environmental conditions in the mid‐Piacenzian are less favorable for storm formation over the western North Pacific than the preindustrial. By performing a suite of sensitivity experiments, we find that orbital configurations significantly influence the magnitude and phase of genesis potential via the modification of the atmospheric thermal structure and associated large‐scale circulations. Regarding the overall favorability, increased and decreased orbitally induced insolation leads to less and more favorable conditions for storm formation over the western North Pacific, respectively. Under several extreme orbital parameters (e.g., when northern hemisphere summer insolation is at a minimum), there is an increasing favorability for genesis in the mid‐Piacenzian relative to the preindustrial. This is attributed to the fact that the orbitally induced increase in TC genesis exceeds the reduction from the Pliocene Research, Interpretation, and Synoptic Mapping version 3 boundary conditions. Our results highlight potential orbital‐scale variability in TC activity during the mid‐Piacenzian, implying possible changes in TC‐induced vertical mixing, which might play a potential role in regulating the orbital‐scale variation of tropical/global climate during the Pliocene.
Normalisation of circulating adiponectin levels in obese pregnant mice prevents cardiac dysfunction in adult offspring
Authors: Vaughan Owen R. , Rosario Fredrick J. , Powell Theresa L. , Jansson Thomas 
Published: May 2019

Abstract

Background/objectives
Adiponectin concentrations are low in obese pregnant women. Restoring normal adiponectin concentrations by infusion in obese pregnant mice prevents placental dysfunction, foetal overgrowth and metabolic syndrome in the offspring. We hypothesised that normalising maternal adiponectin in obese late pregnant dams prevents cardiac dysfunction in the adult offspring.

Subjects/methods
Pregnant female mice with diet-induced obesity were infused with adiponectin (0.62 μg g−1 day−1, n = 24) or saline (n = 22) over days 14.5–18.5 of pregnancy (term = day 19.5). Control dams ate standard chow and received saline (n = 22). Offspring were studied at 3 and 6 months of age.

Results
Maternal obesity impaired ventricular diastolic function, increased cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area and upregulated cardiac brain natriuretic peptide (Nppb) and α-skeletal actin (Acta1) gene expression in adult male offspring, compared to control offspring. In adult female offspring, maternal obesity increased Nppb expression, decreased end-diastolic volume and caused age-dependent diastolic dysfunction but not cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Maternal obesity also activated cardiac Akt and mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signalling in male, but not in female, offspring and inhibited cardiac extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) in both sexes. Normalising maternal circulating adiponectin concentrations by infusing obese dams with adiponectin prevented offspring diastolic dysfunction and ventricular dilation and normalised cardiac Akt-mTOR signalling irrespective of sex. Maternal adiponectin infusion also reduced cardiac Nppb expression and increased ERK1/2 signalling in offspring of obese dams. Adiponectin infusion did not prevent cardiomyocyte hypertrophy but reduced ventricular wall thickness in male offspring and increased collagen content in female offspring of obese dams, compared to controls.

Conclusions
Low maternal adiponectin levels in obese mice in late pregnancy are mechanistically linked to in utero programming of cardiac dysfunction in their offspring. Interventions enhancing endogenous adiponectin secretion or signalling in obese pregnant women could prevent the development of cardiac dysfunction in their children.
Self-organisation in striped seagrass meadows affects the distributional pattern of the sessile bivalve Pinna nobilis
Authors: Coppa Stefania , Quattrocchi Giovanni , Cucco Andrea , de Lucia Giuseppe Andrea , Vencato Sara , Camedda Andrea , Domenici Paolo , Conforti Alessandro , Satta Andrea , Tonielli Renato , Bressan Monica , Massaro Giorgio , Falco Giovanni De 
Published: May 2019

AbstractStriped seagrass meadows are formed by narrow ribbons which are elevated over the seabed and separated by channels. Limited information on the genesis and development of this morphological pattern, including the adaptive responses of associated biota, is preventing holistic insight into the functioning of such protected ecosystems. This paper assessed the structural dynamics of a Posidonia oceanica striped meadow and the distribution and 3D orientation of the associated bivalve Pinna nobilis. Our analysis of the interaction between bedforms, bottom currents, and the distribution of P. nobilis revealed that the striped seascape is the result of a self-organisation process driven by feedback interactions among seagrass growth, sediment deposition, and hydrodynamics. The results suggest that the ribbon wall is the most suitable sub-habitat for this species, because it supports the highest density of P. nobilis, compared to the meadow top and bottom. Here, specimens can take advantage of the resuspension induced by hydrodynamics and open their shells towards the current, thus enhancing food intake. Therefore, our results show that self-organisation in striped seagrass meadow affects the distributional pattern of P. nobilis, providing new insights into the autoecology of this species beyond the conservation implications for its habitat.
Extended π-conjugative n-p type homostructural graphitic carbon nitride for photodegradation and charge-storage applications
Authors: Vidyasagar Devthade , Ghugal Sachin G. , Umare Suresh S. , Banavoth Murali 
Published: May 2019

AbstractAn n-p type homostructural metal-free graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) semiconductor is designed and developed for pollutant abatement and energy storage application. The successful grafting of vibrio-like morphology-based g-C3N4 by 2, 5-Thiophenedicarboxylic acid (TDA) molecule and the development of amide-type linkage substantiated the prosperous uniting of g-C3N4 with organic TDA moiety is demonstrated. An extended π-conjugative TDA grafted g-C3N4 exhibited band gap tunability with broadband optical absorbance in the visible region. Mott-Schottky analysis exhibited the formation of n-p type homostructural property. As a result, obtained TDA grafted g-C3N4 has extended π-conjugation, high surface area and adequate separation of charge carriers. The change in the photocatalytic performance of grafted g-C3N4 is inspected for degradation of acid violet 7 (AV 7) dye under visible light irradiation. The charge storage capacity of grafted g-C3N4 was additionally assessed for supercapacitive behaviour. The charge capacitive studies of grafted g-C3N4 exhibited the areal capacitance of 163.17 mF cm−2 and robust cyclic stability of 1000 cycles with capacity retention of 83%.
Recognition of 3′-end L1, Alu, processed pseudogenes, and mRNA stem-loops in the human genome using sequence-based and structure-based machine-learning models
Authors: Shein Alexander , Zaikin Anton , Poptsova Maria 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe role of 3′-end stem-loops in retrotransposition was experimentally demonstrated for transposons of various species, where LINE-SINE retrotransposons share the same 3′-end sequences, containing a stem-loop. We have discovered that 62–68% of processed pseduogenes and mRNAs also have 3′-end stem-loops. We investigated the properties of 3′-end stem-loops of human L1s, Alus, processed pseudogenes and mRNAs that do not share the same sequences, but all have 3′-end stem-loops. We have built sequence-based and structure-based machine-learning models that are able to recognize 3′-end L1, Alu, processed pseudogene and mRNA stem-loops with high performance. The sequence-based models use only sequence information and capture compositional bias in 3′-ends. The structure-based models consider physical, chemical and geometrical properties of dinucleotides composing a stem and position-specific nucleotide content of a loop and a bulge. The most important parameters include shift, tilt, rise, and hydrophilicity. The obtained results clearly point to the existence of structural constrains for 3′-end stem-loops of L1 and Alu, which are probably important for transposition, and reveal the potential of mRNAs to be recognized by the L1 machinery. The proposed approach is applicable to a broader task of recognizing RNA (DNA) secondary structures. The constructed models are freely available at github (https://github.com/AlexShein/transposons/).
Melanoma proteomics suggests functional differences related to mutational status
Authors: Trilla-Fuertes Lucía , Gámez-Pozo Angelo , Prado-Vázquez Guillermo , Zapater-Moros Andrea , Díaz-Almirón Mariana , Fortes Claudia , Ferrer-Gómez María , López-Vacas Rocío , Parra Blanco Verónica , Márquez-Rodas Iván , Soria Ainara , Fresno Vara Juan Ángel , Espinosa Enrique 
Published: May 2019

AbstractMelanoma is the most lethal cutaneous cancer. New drugs have recently appeared; however, not all patients obtain a benefit of these new drugs. For this reason, it is still necessary to characterize melanoma at molecular level. The aim of this study was to explore the molecular differences between melanoma tumor subtypes, based on BRAF and NRAS mutational status. Fourteen formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded melanoma samples were analyzed using a high-throughput proteomics approach, combined with probabilistic graphical models and Flux Balance Analysis, to characterize these differences. Proteomics analyses showed differences in expression of proteins related with fatty acid metabolism, melanogenesis and extracellular space between BRAF mutated and BRAF non-mutated melanoma tumors. Additionally, probabilistic graphical models showed differences between melanoma subgroups at biological processes such as melanogenesis or metabolism. On the other hand, Flux Balance Analysis predicts a higher tumor growth rate in BRAF mutated melanoma samples. In conclusion, differential biological processes between melanomas showing a specific mutational status can be detected using combined proteomics and computational approaches.
Hemidesmus indicus induces apoptosis via proteasome inhibition and generation of reactive oxygen species
Authors: Turrini Eleonora , Catanzaro Elena , Ferruzzi Lorenzo , Guerrini Alessandra , Tacchini Massimo , Sacchetti Gianni , Paganetto Guglielmo , Maffei Francesca , Pellicioni Valentina , Poli Ferruccio , Hrelia Patrizia , Mandrone Manuela , Sestili Piero , Brigotti Maurizio , Fimognari Carmela 
Published: May 2019

AbstractProteasome inhibition represents an important anticancer strategy. Here, we studied the mechanisms at the basis of the pro-apoptotic activity of the standardized decoction of Hemidesmus indicus, a plant evoking a complex anticancer activity, and explored its inhibition of proteasome activity in human leukemia cells. Additionally, we preliminary tested the cytotoxicity of some H. indicus’s phytochemicals on leukemia cells and their intestinal absorption on a human intestinal epithelium model consisting of a monolayer of differentiated Caco2 cells. We observed a potent antileukemic effect for H. indicus, imputable to the modulation of different critical targets at protein and mRNA levels and the reduction of the 26S proteasome expression. We found that some phytomarkers of H. indicus decoction passed through the enterocyte monolayer. Overall, our study supports the pharmacological potential of H. indicus, which can represent an interesting botanical drug in the oncological area.
Inhibition of tumour necrosis factor alpha in the R6/2 mouse model of Huntington’s disease by etanercept treatment
Authors: Pido-Lopez Jeffrey , Tanudjojo Benedict , Farag Sahar , Bondulich Marie-Katrin , Andre Ralph , Tabrizi Sarah J. , Bates Gillian P. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractHuntington’s disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder caused by the expansion of the CAG repeat in exon 1 of the huntingtin (HTT) gene, which results in a mutant protein with an extended polyglutamine tract. Inflammation occurs in both the brain and the periphery of HD patients and mouse models, with increases in brain and/or plasma levels of neurotoxic TNFα and several other proinflammatory cytokines. TNFα promotes the generation of many of these cytokines, such as IL6, which raises the possibility that TNFα is central to the inflammatory milieu associated with HD. A number of mouse studies have reported that the suppression of chronic immune activation during HD has beneficial consequences. Here, we investigated whether TNFα contributes to the peripheral inflammation that occurs in the R6/2 mouse model, and whether thein vivoblockade of TNFα, via etanercept treatment, can modify disease progression. We found that etanercept treatment normalised the elevated plasma levels of some cytokines. This did not modify the progression of certain behavioural measures, but slightly ameliorated brain weight loss, possibly related to a reduction in the elevated striatal level of soluble TNFα.
Association between CT imaging features and KIT mutations in small intestinal gastrointestinal stromal tumors
Authors: Yin Yi-qiong , Liu Chun-juan , Zhang Bo , Wen Yue , Yin Yuan 
Published: May 2019

AbstractSmall intestinal gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) have different clinical outcomes when KIT mutations are in exons 11 or 9, which are also the most common sites of neoplastic KIT mutations. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the CT imaging features in those two groups. A total of 35 patients were enrolled, and both quantitative and qualitative CT imaging features were compared between patient groups with KIT exon 9 mutations (KIT–9) and exon 11 mutations (KIT–11). The KIT–9 group was statistically associated with a tumor size larger than 10 cm and a higher enhancement ratio when compared with those of the KIT–11 group (both P < 0.05). For the enhancement ratio, the receiver operating characteristic curve indicated a cut-off value of 1.60 to differentiate KIT–9 from KIT–11 tumors. Additionally, tumor necrosis was more commonly seen in the KIT-9 group. In multivariate analysis, tumor size (β = 0.206; P = 0.022) and KIT–9 (β = 0.389; P = 0.006) were independent factors associated with tumor necrosis. Taken together, KIT–9 mutant tumors tended to have CT imaging features indicative of more aggressive neoplasms. These findings may be helpful in identifying more aggressive small intestinal GISTs and optimizing treatment.
Metabolites and Lipids Associated with Fetal Swine Anatomy via Desorption Electrospray Ionization – Mass Spectrometry Imaging
Authors: León Marisol , Ferreira Christina R. , Eberlin Livia S. , Jarmusch Alan K. , Pirro Valentina , Rodrigues Ana Clara Bastos , Favaron Phelipe Oliveira , Miglino Maria Angelica , Cooks R. Graham 
Published: May 2019

AbstractChemical imaging by mass spectrometry (MS) has been largely used to study diseases in animals and humans, especially cancer; however, this technology has been minimally explored to study the complex chemical changes associated with fetal development. In this work, we report the histologically-compatible chemical imaging of small molecules by desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) - MS of a complete swine fetus at 50 days of gestation. Tissue morphology was unperturbed by morphologically-friendly DESI-MS analysis while allowing detection of a wide range of small molecules. We observed organ-dependent localization of lipids,e.g. a large diversity of phosphatidylserine lipids in brain compared to other organs, as well as metabolites such as N-acetyl-aspartic acid in the developing nervous system and N-acetyl-L-glutamine in the heart. Some lipids abundant in the lungs, such as PC(32:0) and PS(40:6), were similar to surfactant composition reported previously. Sulfatides were highly concentrated in the fetus liver, while hexoses were barely detected at this organ but were abundant in lung and heart. The chemical information on small molecules recorded via DESI-MS imaging coupled with traditional anatomical evaluation is a powerful source of bioanalytical information which reveals the chemical changes associated with embryonic and fetal development that, when disturbed, causes congenital diseases such as spina bifida and cleft palate.
Heparin Differentially Impacts Gene Expression of Stromal Cells from Various Tissues
Authors: Laner-Plamberger Sandra , Oeller Michaela , Poupardin Rodolphe , Krisch Linda , Hochmann Sarah , Kalathur Ravi , Pachler Karin , Kreutzer Christina , Erdmann Gerrit , Rohde Eva , Strunk Dirk , Schallmoser Katharina 
Published: May 2019

AbstractPooled human platelet lysate (pHPL) is increasingly used as replacement of animal serum for manufacturing of stromal cell therapeutics. Porcine heparin is commonly applied to avoid clotting of pHPL-supplemented medium but the influence of heparin on cell behavior is still unclear. Aim of this study was to investigate cellular uptake of heparin by fluoresceinamine-labeling and its impact on expression of genes, proteins and function of human stromal cells derived from bone marrow (BM), umbilical cord (UC) and white adipose tissue (WAT). Cells were isolated and propagated using various pHPL-supplemented media with or without heparin. Flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry showed differential cellular internalization and lysosomal accumulation of heparin. Transcriptome profiling revealed regulation of distinct gene sets by heparin including signaling cascades involved in proliferation, cell adhesion, apoptosis, inflammation and angiogenesis, depending on stromal cell origin. The influence of heparin on the WNT, PDGF, NOTCH and TGFbeta signaling pathways was further analyzed by a bead-based western blot revealing most alterations in BM-derived stromal cells. Despite these observations heparin had no substantial effect on long-term proliferation and in vitro tri-lineage differentiation of stromal cells, indicating compatibility for clinically applied cell products.
Glendonite occurrences in the Tremadocian of Baltica: first Early Palaeozoic evidence of massive ikaite precipitation at temperate latitudes
Authors: Popov Leonid E. , Álvaro J. Javier , Holmer Lars E. , Bauert Heikki , Ghobadi Pour Mansoureh , Dronov Andrei V. , Lehnert Oliver , Hints Olle , Männik Peep , Zhang Zhifei , Zhang Zhiliang 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe Tremadocian (Early Ordovician) is currently considered a time span of greenhouse conditions with tropical water surface temperature estimates, interpolated from oxygen isotopes, approaching 40 °C. In the mid-latitude Baltoscandian Basin, conodonts displaying low δ18O values, which suggest high temperatures (>40 °C) in the water column, are in contrast with the discovery of contemporaneous glendonite clusters, a pseudomorph of ikaite (CaCO3·6H2O) traditionally considered as indicator of near-freezing bottom-water conditions. The massive precipitation of this temperature sensitive mineral is associated with transgressive conditions and high organic productivity. As a result, the lower Tremadocian sediments of Baltoscandia apparently contain both “greenhouse” pelagic signals and near-freezing substrate indicators. This paradox points to other primary controlling mechanisms for ikaite precipitation in kerogenous substrates, such as carbonate alkalinity, pH and Mg/Ca ratios, as recently constrained by laboratory experiments. Preservation of “hot” conodonts embedded in kerogenous shales rich in δ18O-depleted glendonites suggests both the onset of sharp thermal stratification patterns in a semi-closed basin and the assumed influence of isotopically depleted freshwater yielded by fluvial systems.
Evaluating Cost-Effective Methods for Rapid and Repeatable National Scale Detection and Mapping of Invasive Species Spread
Authors: Aschim Ruth A. , Brook Ryan K. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractInvasive species can spread rapidly at local and national scales, creating significant environmental and economic impacts. A central problem in mitigation efforts is identifying methods that can rapidly detect invasive species in a cost-effective and repeatable manner. This challenge is particularly acute for species that can spread over large areas (>1 million km2). Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are one of the most prolific invasive mammals on Earth and cause extensive damage to agricultural crops, native ecosystems, and livestock, and are reservoirs of disease. They have spread from their native range in Eurasia and North Africa into large areas of Australia, Africa, South America, and North America. We show that the range of invasive wild pigs has increased exponentially in Canada over the last 27 years following initial and ongoing releases and escapes from domestic wild boar farms. The cumulative range of wild pigs across Canada is 777,783 km2, with the majority of wild pig distribution occurring in the Prairie Provinces. We evaluate eight different data collection and evaluation/validation methods for mapping invasive species over large areas, and assess their benefits and limitations. Our findings effectively map the spread of a highly invasive large mammal and demonstrate that management efforts should ideally rely on a set of complementary independent monitoring methods. Mapping and evaluating resulting species occurrences provide baseline maps against which future changes can be rapidly evaluated.
Considering appropriate replication in the design of animal social network studies
Authors: Smith Lesley A. , Swain Dave L. , Innocent Giles T. , Nevison Ian , Hutchings Michael R. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractSocial network analysis has increasingly been considered a useful tool to interpret the complexity of animal social relationships. However, group composition can affect the contact structure of the network resulting in variation between networks. Replication in contact network studies is rarely done but enables determination of possible variation in response across networks. Here we explore the importance of between-group variability in social behaviour and the impact of replication on hypothesis testing. We use an exemplar study of social contact data collected from six replicated networks of cattle before and after the application of a social disturbance treatment. In this replicated study, subtle but consistent changes in animal contact patterns were detected after the application of a social disturbance treatment. We then quantify both within- and between-group variation in this study and explore the importance of varying the number of replicates and the number of individuals within each network, on the precision of the differences in treatment effects for the contact behaviour of the resident cattle. The analysis demonstrates that reducing the number of networks observed in the study would reduce the probability of detecting treatment differences for social behaviours even if the total number of animals was kept the same.