bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Intramolecular 13C analysis of tree rings provides multiple plant ecophysiology signals covering decades
Authors: Wieloch Thomas , Ehlers Ina , Yu Jun , Frank David , Grabner Michael , Gessler Arthur , Schleucher Jürgen 
Published: March 2018

AbstractMeasurements of carbon isotope contents of plant organic matter provide important information in diverse fields such as plant breeding, ecophysiology, biogeochemistry and paleoclimatology. They are currently based on13C/12C ratios of specific, whole metabolites, but we show here that intramolecular ratios provide higher resolution information. In the glucose units of tree-ring cellulose of 12 tree species, we detected large differences in13C/12C ratios (>10‰) among carbon atoms, which provide isotopically distinct inputs to major global C pools, including wood and soil organic matter. Thus, considering position-specific differences can improve characterisation of soil-to-atmosphere carbon fluxes and soil metabolism. In aPinus nigratree-ring archive formed from 1961 to 1995, we found novel13C signals, and show that intramolecular analysis enables more comprehensive and precise signal extraction from tree rings, and thus higher resolution reconstruction of plants’ responses to climate change. Moreover, we propose an ecophysiological mechanism for the introduction of a13C signal, which links an environmental shift to the triggered metabolic shift and its intramolecular13C signature. In conclusion, intramolecular13C analyses can provide valuable new information about long-term metabolic dynamics for numerous applications.
Rapid and damage-free outgassing of implanted helium from amorphous silicon oxycarbide
Authors: Su Qing , Ding Hepeng , Price Lloyd , Shao Lin , Hinks Jonathan A. , Greaves Graeme , Donnelly Stephen E. , Demkowicz Michael J. , Nastasi Michael 
Published: March 2018

AbstractDamage caused by implanted helium (He) is a major concern for material performance in future nuclear reactors. We use a combination of experiments and modeling to demonstrate that amorphous silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) is immune to He-induced damage. By contrast with other solids, where implanted He becomes immobilized in nanometer-scale precipitates, He in SiOC remains in solution and outgasses from the material via atomic-scale diffusion without damaging its free surfaces. Furthermore, the behavior of He in SiOC is not sensitive to the exact concentration of carbon and hydrogen in this material, indicating that the composition of SiOC may be tuned to optimize other properties without compromising resistance to implanted He.
Loss of IDH2 Accelerates Age-related Hearing Loss in Male Mice
Authors: White Karessa , Kim Mi-Jung , Han Chul , Park Hyo-Jin , Ding Dalian , Boyd Kevin , Walker Logan , Linser Paul , Meneses Zaimary , Slade Cole , Hirst Jonathan , Santostefano Katherine , Terada Naohiro , Miyakawa Takuya , Tanokura Masaru , Salvi Richard , Someya Shinichi 
Published: March 2018

AbstractIsocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) 2 participates in the TCA cycle and catalyzes the conversion of isocitrate to α-ketoglutarate and NADP+ to NADPH. In the mitochondria, IDH2 also plays a key role in protecting mitochondrial components from oxidative stress by supplying NADPH to both glutathione reductase (GSR) and thioredoxin reductase 2 (TXNRD2). Here, we report that loss of Idh2 accelerates age-related hearing loss, the most common form of hearing impairment, in male mice. This was accompanied by increased oxidative DNA damage, increased apoptotic cell death, and profound loss of spiral ganglion neurons and hair cells in the cochlea of 24-month-old Idh2−/− mice. In young male mice, loss of Idh2 resulted in decreased NADPH redox state and decreased activity of TXNRD2 in the mitochondria of the inner ear. In HEI-OC1 mouse inner ear cell lines, knockdown of Idh2 resulted in a decline in cell viability and mitochondrial oxygen consumption. This was accompanied by decreased NADPH redox state and decreased activity of TXNRD2 in the mitochondria of the HEI-OC1 cells. Therefore, IDH2 functions as the principal source of NADPH for the mitochondrial thioredoxin antioxidant defense and plays an essential role in protecting hair cells and neurons against oxidative stress in the cochlea of male mice.
Voriconazole-induced photocarcinogenesis is promoted by aryl hydrocarbon receptor-dependent COX-2 upregulation
Authors: Ikeya Shigeki , Sakabe Jun-ichi , Yamada Takahiro , Naito Takafumi , Tokura Yoshiki 
Published: March 2018

AbstractVoriconazole (VRCZ) induces the development of UV-associated skin cancers. The mechanism underlying the VRCZ-induced carcinogenesis has been largely unknown. Here, we showed that VRCZ metabolites plus UVA generated reactive oxygen species and resultant DNA damage of the epidermis, but did not induce substantial apoptosis in human keratinocytes (KCs). Furthermore, VRCZ per se stimulates aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and upregulates COX-2, which is a pivotal enzyme for the promotion of UV-associated tumors, in an AhR-ARNT dependent manner of the classical (genomic) pathway. Our findings suggest that the phototoxic moieties of VRCZ metabolites may participate in the initiation phase of VRCZ skin cancer, while VRCZ per se promotes the tumor development. Therefore, during VRCZ therapy, sun exposure protection is essential to prevent photocarcinogenesis caused by VRCZ metabolites plus UV. Chemoprevention with selective COX-2 inhibitors may be helpful to repress the development of skin cancers derived from DNA-damaged KCs.
Semi-Automated Biomarker Discovery from Pharmacodynamic Effects on EEG in ADHD Rodent Models
Authors: Yokota Tatsuya , Struzik Zbigniew R. , Jurica Peter , Horiuchi Masahito , Hiroyama Shuichi , Li Junhua , Takahara Yuji , Ogawa Koichi , Nishitomi Kohei , Hasegawa Minoru , Cichocki Andrzej 
Published: March 2018

AbstractWe propose a novel semi-automatic approach to design biomarkers for capturing pharmacodynamic effects induced by pharmacological agents on the spectral power of electroencephalography (EEG) recordings. We apply this methodology to investigate the pharmacodynamic effects of methylphenidate (MPH) and atomoxetine (ATX) on attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), using rodent models. We inject the two agents into the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) model of ADHD, the Wistar-Kyoto rat (WKY), and the Wistar rat (WIS), and record their EEG patterns. To assess individual EEG patterns quantitatively, we use an integrated methodological approach, which consists of calculating the mean, slope and intercept parameters of temporal records of EEG spectral power using a smoothing filter, outlier truncation, and linear regression. We apply Fisher discriminant analysis (FDA) to identify dominant discriminants to be heuristically consolidated into several new composite biomarkers. Results of the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and t-test show benefits in pharmacodynamic parameters, especially the slope parameter. Composite biomarker evaluation confirms their validity for genetic model stratification and the effects of the pharmacological agents used. The methodology proposed is of generic use as an approach to investigating thoroughly the dynamics of the EEG spectral power.
Geographical variation of diabetic emergencies attended by prehospital Emergency Medical Services is associated with measures of ethnicity and socioeconomic status
Authors: Villani Melanie , Earnest Arul , Smith Karen , de Courten Barbora , Zoungas Sophia 
Published: March 2018

AbstractGeographical variation of diabetic emergencies attended by prehospital emergency medical services (EMS) and the relationship between area-level social and demographic factors and risk of a diabetic emergency were examined. All cases of hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia attended by Ambulance Victoria between 1/01/2009 and 31/12/2015 were tabulated by Local Government Area (LGA). Conditional autoregressive models were used to create smoothed maps of age and gender standardised incidence ratio (SIR) of prehospital EMS attendance for a diabetic emergency. Spatial regression models were used to examine the relationship between risk of a diabetic emergency and area-level factors. The areas with the greatest risk of prehospital EMS attendance for a diabetic emergency were disperse. Area-level factors associated with risk of a prehospital EMS-attended diabetic emergency were socioeconomic status (SIR 0.70 95% CrI [0.51, 0.96]), proportion of overseas-born residents (SIR 2.02 95% CrI [1.37, 2.91]) and motor vehicle access (SIR 1.47 95% CrI [1.08, 1.99]). Recognition of areas of increased risk of prehospital EMS-attended diabetic emergencies may be used to assist prehospital EMS resource planning to meet increased need. In addition, identification of associated factors can be used to target preventative interventions tailored to individual regions to reduce demand.
A cross-species judgement bias task: integrating active trial initiation into a spatial Go/No-go task
Authors: Hintze Sara , Melotti Luca , Colosio Simona , Bailoo Jeremy D. , Boada-Saña Maria , Würbel Hanno , Murphy Eimear 
Published: March 2018

AbstractJudgement bias tasks are promising tools to assess emotional valence in animals, however current designs are often time-consuming and lack aspects of validity. This study aimed to establish an improved design that addresses these issues and can be used across species. Horses, rats, and mice were trained on a spatial Go/No-go task where animals could initiate each trial. The location of an open goal-box, at either end of a row of five goal-boxes, signalled either reward (positive trial) or non-reward (negative trial). Animals first learned to approach the goal-box in positive trials (Go) and to re-initiate/not approach in negative trials (No-go). Animals were then tested for responses to ambiguous trials where goal-boxes at intermediate locations were opened. The Go:No-go response ratio was used as a measure of judgement bias. Most animals quickly learned the Go/No-go discrimination and performed trials at a high rate compared to previous studies. Subjects of all species reliably discriminated between reference cues and ambiguous cues, demonstrating a monotonic graded response across the different cue locations, with no evidence of learning about the outcome of ambiguous trials. This novel test protocol is an important step towards a practical task for comparative studies on judgement biases in animals.
Magnetic domain interactions of Fe3O4 nanoparticles embedded in a SiO2 matrix
Authors: Fuentes-García J. A. , Diaz-Cano A. I. , Guillen-Cervantes A. , Santoyo-Salazar J. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractCurrently, superparamagnetic functionalized systems of magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (NPs) are promising options for applications in hyperthermia therapy, drug delivery and diagnosis. Fe3O4 NPs below 20 nm have stable single domains (SSD), which can be oriented by magnetic field application. Dispersion of Fe3O4 NPs in silicon dioxide (SiO2) matrix allows local SSD response with uniaxial anisotropy and orientation to easy axis, 90° <001> or 180° <111>. A successful, easy methodology to produce Fe3O4 NPs (6–17 nm) has been used with the Stöber modification. NPs were embedded in amorphous and biocompatible SiO2 matrix by mechanical stirring in citrate and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS). Fe3O4 NPs dispersion was sampled in the range of 2–12 h to observe the SiO2 matrix formation as time function. TEM characterization identified optimal conditions at 4 h stirring for separation of SSD Fe3O4 in SiO2 matrix. Low magnetization (Ms) of 0.001 emu and a coercivity (Hc) of 24.75 Oe indicate that the embedded SSD Fe3O4 in amorphous SiO2 reduces the Ms by a diamagnetic barrier. Magnetic force microscopy (MFM) showed SSD Fe3O4 of 1.2 nm on average embedded in SiO2 matrix with uniaxial anisotropy response according to Fe3+ and Fe2+ electron spin coupling and rotation by intrinsic Neél contribution.
Knowledge and self-reported practices of infection control among various occupational groups in a rural and an urban hospital in Vietnam
Authors: Lien La Thi Quynh , Chuc Nguyen Thi Kim , Hoa Nguyen Quynh , Lan Pham Thi , Thoa Nguyen Thi Minh , Riggi Emilia , Tamhankar Ashok J. , Stålsby Lundborg Cecilia 
Published: March 2018

AbstractStaff practice, driven by knowledge, plays a decisive role in hospital infection control. This study aimed to assess and compare knowledge and self-reported practices of infection control among various occupational groups in a rural and an urban hospital in Vietnam. Questionnaires consisting of items on knowledge and practices were collected from 339 hospital staff with varying occupations. For analysis, total knowledge or practice score ranged from 0–15. Mood’s median test was performed to compare median scores. Post-hoc analysis of ordinal logistic regression models was applied to test differences in scores among occupational groups. The majority of hospital staff had good or adequate knowledge (median score: rural = 11.8; urban = 12), but the score range was wide (1.4–14.5). Self-reported practices in the urban hospital were likely to be better than in the rural one (p = 0.003). Self-reported practices yet not completely satisfactory, indicating the need for continuing professional development in both settings. Overall, cleaners had lower scores than both physicians and nurses, highlighting the need for tailored education in this topic. Future infection control strategies within the hospitals might want to assess the difference between the staff’s self-reported practice and their actual real practice. These findings can be of value in many other similar settings.
The electromagnetic wave energy effect(s) in microwave–assisted organic syntheses (MAOS)
Authors: Horikoshi Satoshi , Watanabe Tomoki , Narita Atsushi , Suzuki Yumiko , Serpone Nick 
Published: March 2018

AbstractOrganic reactions driven by microwaves have been subjected for several years to some enigmatic phenomenon referred to as the microwave effect, an effect often mentioned in microwave chemistry but seldom understood. We identify this microwave effect as an electromagnetic wave effect that influences many chemical reactions. In this article, we demonstrate its existence using three different types of microwave generators with dissimilar oscillation characteristics. We show that this effect is operative in photocatalyzed TiO2 reactions; it negatively influences electro-conductive catalyzed reactions, and yet has but a negligible effect on organic syntheses. The relationship between this electromagnetic wave effect and chemical reactions is elucidated from such energetic considerations as the photon energy and the reactions’ activation energies.
Prior Expectation Modulates Repetition Suppression without Perceptual Awareness
Authors: Barbosa Leonardo S. , Kouider Sid 
Published: March 2018

AbstractStimulus repetition induces attenuated brain responses. This phenomenon, termed repetition suppression (RS), is classically held to stem from bottom-up neuronal adaptation. However, recent studies suggest that RS is driven by top-down predictive mechanisms. It remains controversial whether these top-down mechanisms of RS rely on conscious strategies, or if they represent a more fundamental aspect of perception, coding for physical properties of the repeated feature. The presence of top-down effects in the absence of perceptual awareness would indicate that conscious strategies are not sufficient to explain top-down mechanisms of RS. We combined an unconscious priming paradigm with EEG recordings and tested whether RS can be modulated by the probability of encountering a repetition, even in the absence of awareness. Our results show that both behavioural priming and RS near occipital areas are modulated by repetition probability, regardless of prime awareness. This contradicts previous findings that have argued that RS modulation is a by-product of conscious strategies. In contrast, we found that the increase in theta-band power following unrepeated trials – an index of conflict detection – is modulated only by expectations during conscious primes, implicating the use of conscious strategies. Together, our results suggest that the influence of predictions on RS can be either automatic in sensory brain regions or dependent on conscious strategies.
Cultured bloodstream Trypanosoma brucei adapt to life without mitochondrial translation release factor 1
Authors: Procházková Michaela , Panicucci Brian , Zíková Alena 
Published: March 2018

AbstractTrypanosoma brucei is an extracellular parasite that alternates between an insect vector (procyclic form) and the bloodstream of a mammalian host (bloodstream form). While it was previously reported that mitochondrial release factor 1 (TbMrf1) is essential in cultured procyclic form cells, we demonstrate here that in vitro bloodstream form cells can tolerate the elimination of TbMrf1. Therefore, we explored if this discrepancy is due to the unique bioenergetics of the parasite since procyclic form cells rely on oxidative phosphorylation; whereas bloodstream form cells utilize glycolysis for ATP production and FoF1-ATPase to maintain the essential mitochondrial membrane potential. The observed disruption of intact bloodstream form FoF1-ATPases serves as a proxy to indicate that the translation of its mitochondrially encoded subunit A6 is impaired without TbMrf1. While these null mutants have a decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, they have adapted by increasing their dependence on the electrogenic contributions of the ADP/ATP carrier to maintain the mitochondrial membrane potential above the minimum threshold required for T. brucei viability in vitro. However, this inefficient compensatory mechanism results in avirulent mutants in mice. Finally, the depletion of the codon-independent release factor TbPth4 in the TbMrf1 knockouts further exacerbates the characterized mitchondrial phenotypes.
Cellular response to persistent foot-and-mouth disease virus infection is linked to specific types of alterations in the host cell transcriptome
Authors: Han Lingling , Xin Xiu , Wang Hailong , Li Jiadai , Hao Yao , Wang Mingzhen , Zheng Congyi , Shen Chao 
Published: March 2018

AbstractFood-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is a highly contagious virus that seriously threatens the development of animal husbandry. Although persistent FMDV infection can dramatically worsen the situation, the mechanisms involved in persistent FMDV infection remain unclear. In the present study, we identified the presence of evolved cells in the persistently FMDV-infected cell line. These cells exhibited resistance to the parent FMDV and re-established persistent infection when infected with FMDV-Op (virus supernatant of persistent infection cell lines), emphasizing the decisive role of evolved host cells in the establishment of persistent FMDV infection. Using RNA-seq, we identified the gene expression profiles of these evolved host cells. In total, 4,686 genes were differentially expressed in evolved cells compared with normal cells, with these genes being involved in metabolic processes, cell cycle, and cellular protein catabolic processes. In addition, 1,229 alternative splicing events, especially skipped exon events, were induced in evolved cells. Moreover, evolved cells exhibited a stronger immune defensive response and weaker MAPK signal response than normal cells. This comprehensive transcriptome analysis of evolved host cells lays the foundation for further investigations of the molecular mechanisms of persistent FMDV infection and screening for genes resistant to FMDV infection.
Mitochondrial fragmentation affects neither the sensitivity to TNFα-induced apoptosis of Brucella-infected cells nor the intracellular replication of the bacteria
Authors: Lobet Elodie , Willemart Kevin , Ninane Noëlle , Demazy Catherine , Sedzicki Jaroslaw , Lelubre Christophe , De Bolle Xavier , Renard Patricia , Raes Martine , Dehio Christoph , Letesson Jean-Jacques , Arnould Thierry 
Published: March 2018

AbstractMitochondria are complex organelles that participate in many cellular functions, ranging from ATP production to immune responses against viruses and bacteria. This integration of a plethora of functions within a single organelle makes mitochondria a very attractive target to manipulate for intracellular pathogens. We characterised the crosstalk that exists betweenBrucella abortus, the causative agent of brucellosis, and the mitochondria of infected cells.Brucellareplicates in a compartment derived from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and modulates ER functionality by activating the unfolded protein response. However, the impact ofBrucellaon the mitochondrial population of infected cells still requires a systematic study. We observed physical contacts betweenBrucellacontaining vacuoles and mitochondria. We also found thatB. abortusreplication is independent of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and that mitochondrial reactive oxygen species do not participate to the control ofB. abortusinfectionin vitro. We demonstrated thatB. abortusandB. melitensisinduce a drastic mitochondrial fragmentation at 48 hours post-infection in different cell types, including myeloid and non-myeloid cells. This fragmentation is DRP1-independent and might be caused by a deficit of mitochondrial fusion. However, mitochondrial fragmentation does not change neitherBrucellareplication efficiency, nor the susceptibility of infected cells to TNFα-induced apoptosis.
Proteomic and bioinformatic pipeline to screen the ligands of S. pneumoniae interacting with human brain microvascular endothelial cells
Authors: Jiménez-Munguía Irene , Pulzova Lucia , Kanova Evelina , Tomeckova Zuzana , Majerova Petra , Bhide Katarina , Comor Lubos , Sirochmanova Ivana , Kovac Andrej , Bhide Mangesh 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe mechanisms by which Streptococcus pneumoniae penetrates the blood-brain barrier (BBB), reach the CNS and causes meningitis are not fully understood. Adhesion of bacterial cells on the brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs), mediated through protein-protein interactions, is one of the crucial steps in translocation of bacteria across BBB. In this work, we proposed a systematic workflow for identification of cell wall associated ligands of pneumococcus that might adhere to the human BMECs. The proteome of S. pneumoniae was biotinylated and incubated with BMECs. Interacting proteins were recovered by affinity purification and identified by data independent acquisition (DIA). A total of 44 proteins were identified from which 22 were found to be surface-exposed. Based on the subcellular location, ontology, protein interactive analysis and literature review, five ligands (adhesion lipoprotein, endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidase, PhtA and two hypothetical proteins, Spr0777 and Spr1730) were selected to validate experimentally (ELISA and immunocytochemistry) the ligand-BMECs interaction. In this study, we proposed a high-throughput approach to generate a dataset of plausible bacterial ligands followed by systematic bioinformatics pipeline to categorize the protein candidates for experimental validation. The approach proposed here could contribute in the fast and reliable screening of ligands that interact with host cells.