bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Protease-activated receptor 2 signaling modulates susceptibility of colonic epithelium to injury through stabilization of YAP in vivo
Authors: He Longmei , Ma Yiming , Li Weiwei , Han Wenxiao , Zhao Xinhua , Wang Hongying 
Published: September 2018

AbstractHippo signaling plays critical roles in intestinal regeneration. However, the mechanisms which regulate its activity in vivo are largely unknown. We hypothesize that protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) signaling, which could be activated by trypsin, might affect YAP activity in the setting of tissue damage and regeneration. It is found that knockout of PAR2 severely aggravates the mucosal damage induced by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in mouse, which correlated with notable repression of YAP protein in colonic epithelial cells. Although the cytokine expression is reduced, the damage of colonic crypt is more severe after DSS-induced colitis in PAR2-/- mouse. In vitro, PAR2 activation causes the accumulation of YAP, while knockdown of PAR2 with shRNA dramatically represses the expression of YAP protein in different intestinal epithelial cell lines. Moreover, forced expression of YAP significantly reduces the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the sensitivity to nitric oxide-induced apoptosis in PAR2-deficient condition. Further studies show that PAR2 signaling stabilizes YAP protein but independent of Lats. Nevertheless PAR2 activation increased the binding of YAP with protein phosphatase PP1. Inhibition of PP1 with specific siRNA blocked PAR2-induced dephosphorylation of YAP. Taken together, PAR2 signaling might modulate susceptibility of colonic epithelium to injury through stabilization of YAP.
Vascularization converts the lineage fate of bone mesenchymal stem cells to endothelial cells in tissue-engineered bone grafts by modulating FGF2-RhoA/ROCK signaling
Authors: Li Donglin , Cheng Pengzhen , Jiang Huijie , Cao Tianqing , Wang Jimeng , Gao Yi , Lin Yangjing , Wang Chunmei , Zhang Shuaishuai , Li Junqin , Liu Bin , Song Yue , Yang Liu , Pei Guoxian 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThe prevascularization of tissue-engineered bone grafts (TEBGs) has been shown to accelerate capillary vessel ingrowth in bone defect remodeling and to enhance new bone formation. However, the exact mechanisms behind this positive effect remain unknown. Here, we report that basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2)-Ras homolog gene family member A (RhoA)/Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) signaling functions as a molecular switch to regulate the lineage fate of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and that prevascularization promotes the cell fate switch, which contributes to increased bone regeneration with the use of prevascularized TEBGs compared with control TEBGs. Prevascularized TEBGs enhanced the in vivo endothelial differentiation of BMSCs by inhibiting RhoA/ROCK signaling. In vitro data more clearly showed that BMSCs differentiated into von Willebrand factor (vWF)-positive endothelial cells, and FGF2-induced inhibition of RhoA/ROCK signaling played a key role. Our novel findings uncovered a new mechanism that stimulates the increased vascularization of engineered bone and enhanced regeneration by promoting the endothelial differentiation of BMSCs implanted in TEBGs. These results offer a new molecular target to regulate TEBG-induced bone regeneration.
Neuroglobin promotes neurogenesis through Wnt signaling pathway
Authors: Yu Zhanyang , Cheng Chongjie , Liu Yu , Liu Ning , Lo Eng H. , Wang Xiaoying 
Published: September 2018

AbstractNeuroglobin (Ngb) has been demonstrated by our lab and others to be neuroprotective against neurological disorders including stroke. However, the roles of Ngb in neurogenesis remain elusive. Neurogenesis can occur in adulthood and can be induced by pathological conditions in the brain such as stroke, and significantly contributes to functional recovery, thus enhancing endogenous neurogenesis may be a promising therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases. In this study we aimed to investigate the roles of Ngb in neurogenesis using Lentivirus overexpressing Ngb (Lv-Ngb). We show that Ngb overexpression promoted the proliferation of neural progenitor cells (NPC) marked by increased neurosphere number and size. Ngb overexpression also enhanced neuronal differentiation of cultured NPC under differentiation conditions. Moreover, subventricular injection of Lv-Ngb in mice after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) increased PSA-NCAM positive neuroblasts and Tuj1 positive immature neurons, suggesting that Ngb overexpression promotes neurogenesis in mice brain after stroke. We further show that the pro-neurogenesis effect of Ngb overexpression might be mediated through Dvl1 up-regulation, and subsequent activation of Wnt signaling, indicated by increased nuclear localization of beta-catenin. These results suggest that Ngb may play an important role in promoting neurogenesis in neurodegenerative diseases such as stroke, which may eventually benefit the development of stroke therapeutics targeting neurogenesis through Ngb upregulation.
Nitrogen availability regulates topsoil carbon dynamics after permafrost thaw by altering microbial metabolic efficiency
Authors: Chen Leiyi , Liu Li , Mao Chao , Qin Shuqi , Wang Jun , Liu Futing , Blagodatsky Sergey , Yang Guibiao , Zhang Qiwen , Zhang Dianye , Yu Jianchun , Yang Yuanhe 
Published: September 2018

AbstractInput of labile carbon may accelerate the decomposition of existing soil organic matter (priming effect), with the priming intensity depending on changes in soil nitrogen availability after permafrost thaw. However, experimental evidence for the linkage between the priming effect and post-thaw nitrogen availability is unavailable. Here we test the hypothesis that elevated nitrogen availability after permafrost collapse inhibits the priming effect by increasing microbial metabolic efficiency based on a combination of thermokarst-induced natural nitrogen gradient and nitrogen addition experiment. We find a negative correlation between the priming intensity and soil total dissolved nitrogen concentration along the thaw sequence. The negative effect is confirmed by the reduced priming effect after nitrogen addition. In contrast to the prevailing view, this nitrogen-regulated priming intensity is independent of extracellular enzyme activities but associated with microbial metabolic efficiency. These findings demonstrate that post-thaw nitrogen availability regulates topsoil carbon dynamics through its modification of microbial metabolic efficiency.
Medicinal value of sunflower pollen against bee pathogens
Authors: Giacomini Jonathan J. , Leslie Jessica , Tarpy David R. , Palmer-Young Evan C. , Irwin Rebecca E. , Adler Lynn S. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractGlobal declines in pollinators, including bees, can have major consequences for ecosystem services. Bees are dominant pollinators, making it imperative to mitigate declines. Pathogens are strongly implicated in the decline of native and honey bees. Diet affects bee immune responses, suggesting the potential for floral resources to provide natural resistance to pathogens. We discovered that sunflower (Helianthus annuus) pollen dramatically and consistently reduced a protozoan pathogen (Crithidia bombi) infection in bumble bees (Bombus impatiens) and also reduced a microsporidian pathogen (Nosema ceranae) of the European honey bee (Apis mellifera), indicating the potential for broad anti-parasitic effects. In a field survey, bumble bees from farms with more sunflower area had lowerCrithidiainfection rates. Given consistent effects of sunflower in reducing pathogens, planting sunflower in agroecosystems and native habitat may provide a simple solution to reduce disease and improve the health of economically and ecologically important pollinators.
Immunological correlates of mycobacterial growth inhibition describe a spectrum of tuberculosis infection
Authors: O’Shea Matthew K. , Tanner Rachel , Müller Julius , Harris Stephanie A. , Wright Danny , Stockdale Lisa , Stylianou Elena , Satti Iman , Smith Steven G. , Dunbar James , Fletcher Thomas E. , Dedicoat Martin , Cunningham Adam F. , McShane Helen 
Published: September 2018

AbstractA major contribution to the burden of Tuberculosis (TB) comes from latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections (LTBI) becoming clinically active. TB and LTBI probably exist as a spectrum and currently there are no correlates available to identify individuals with LTBI most at risk of developing active disease. We set out to identify immune parameters associated with ex vivo mycobacterial growth control among individuals with active TB disease or LTBI to define the spectrum of TB infection. We used a whole blood mycobacterial growth inhibition assay to generate a functional profile of growth control among individuals with TB, LTBI or uninfected controls. We subsequently used a multi-platform approach to identify an immune signature associated with this profile. We show, for the first time, that patients with active disease had the greatest control of mycobacterial growth, whilst there was a continuum of responses among latently infected patients, likely related to the degree of immune activation in response to bacillary load. Control correlated with multiple factors including inflammatory monocytes, activated and atypical memory B cells, IgG1 responses to TB-specific antigens and serum cytokines/chemokines. Our findings offer a method to stratify subclinical TB infections and the future potential to identify individuals most at risk of progressing to active disease and benefit from chemoprophylaxis.
Subsurface seawater methylmercury maximum explains biotic mercury concentrations in the Canadian Arctic
Authors: Wang Kang , Munson Kathleen M. , Beaupré-Laperrière Alexis , Mucci Alfonso , Macdonald Robie W. , Wang Feiyue 
Published: September 2018

AbstractMercury (Hg) is a contaminant of major concern in Arctic marine ecosystems. Decades of Hg observations in marine biota from across the Canadian Arctic show generally higher concentrations in the west than in the east. Various hypotheses have attributed this longitudinal biotic Hg gradient to regional differences in atmospheric or terrestrial inputs of inorganic Hg, but it is methylmercury (MeHg) that accumulates and biomagnifies in marine biota. Here, we present high-resolution vertical profiles of total Hg and MeHg in seawater along a transect from the Canada Basin, across the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA) and Baffin Bay, and into the Labrador Sea. Total Hg concentrations are lower in the western Arctic, opposing the biotic Hg distributions. In contrast, MeHg exhibits a distinctive subsurface maximum at shallow depths of 100–300 m, with its peak concentration decreasing eastwards. As this subsurface MeHg maximum lies within the habitat of zooplankton and other lower trophic-level biota, biological uptake of subsurface MeHg and subsequent biomagnification readily explains the biotic Hg concentration gradient. Understanding the risk of MeHg to the Arctic marine ecosystem and Indigenous Peoples will thus require an elucidation of the processes that generate and maintain this subsurface MeHg maximum.
Crown ethers reverse P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance in cancer cells
Authors: Guberović Iva , Marjanović Marko , Mioč Marija , Ester Katja , Martin-Kleiner Irena , Šumanovac Ramljak Tatjana , Mlinarić-Majerski Kata , Kralj Marijeta 
Published: September 2018

AbstractMultidrug resistance (MDR) is a widespread phenomenon exhibited by many cancers and represents a fundamental obstacle for successful cancer treatments. Tumour cells commonly achieve MDR phenotype through overexpression and/or increased activity of ABC transporters. P-glycoprotein transporter (P-gp, ABCB1) is a major cause of MDR and therefore represents a valuable target for MDR reversal. Several naturally occurring potassium ionophores (e.g. salinomycin) were shown to inhibit P-gp effectively. We have previously shown antitumour activity of a number of 18-crown-6 ether compounds that transport potassium ions across membranes. Here we present data on P-gp inhibitory activity of 16 adamantane-substituted monoaza- and diaza-18-crown-6 ether compounds, and their effect on MDR reversal in model cell lines. We show that crown ether activity depends on their lipophilicity as well as on the linker to adamantane moiety. The most active crown ethers were shown to be more effective in sensitising MDR cells to paclitaxel and adriamycin than verapamil, a well-known P-gp inhibitor. Altogether our data demonstrate a novel use of crown ethers for inhibition of P-gp and reversal of MDR phenotype.
Multiple processes acting from local to large geographical scales shape bacterial communities associated with Phormidium (cyanobacteria) biofilms in French and New Zealand rivers
Authors: Echenique-Subiabre Isidora , Zancarini Anouk , Heath Mark W. , Wood Susanna A. , Quiblier Catherine , Humbert Jean-François 
Published: September 2018

AbstractRiver biofilms dominated byPhormidium(cyanobacteria) are receiving increased attention worldwide because of a recent expansion in their distribution and their ability to produce neurotoxins leading to animal mortalities. Limited data are available on the composition and structure of bacterial communities (BCs) associated withPhormidiumbiofilms despite the important role they potentially play in biofilm functioning. By using a high-throughput sequencing approach, we compared the BCs associated withPhormidiumbiofilms in several sampling sites of the Tarn River (France) and in eight New Zealand rivers. The structure of the BCs from both countries displayed spatial and temporal variations but were well conserved at the order level and 28% of the OTUs containing 90% of the reads were shared by these BCs. This suggests that micro-environmental conditions occurring within thickPhormidiumbiofilms strongly shape the associated BCs. A strong and significant distance-decay relationship (rp = 0.7; P = 0.001) was found in BCs from New Zealand rivers but the Bray-Curtis dissimilarities between French and New Zealand BCs are in the same order of magnitude of those found between New Zealand BCs. All these findings suggest that local environmental conditions seem to have more impact on BCs than dispersal capacities of bacteria.
Scanning Acoustic Microscopy and Time-Resolved Fluorescence Spectroscopy for Characterization of Atherosclerotic Plaques
Authors: Bilen Bukem , Gokbulut Belkis , Kafa Ulku , Heves Emre , Inci Mehmet Naci , Unlu Mehmet Burcin 
Published: September 2018

AbstractAtherosclerotic plaques constitute the primary cause of heart attack and stroke. However, we still lack a clear identification of the plaques. Here, we evaluate the feasibility of scanning acoustic microscopy (SAM) and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy (TRFS) in atherosclerotic plaque characterization. We perform dual-modality microscopic imaging of the human carotid atherosclerotic plaques. We first show that the acoustic impedance values are statistically higher in calcified regions compared with the collagen-rich areas. We then use CdTe/CdS quantum dots for imaging the atherosclerotic plaques by TRFS and show that fluorescence lifetime values of the quantum dots in collagen-rich areas are notably different from the ones in calcified areas. In summary, both modalities are successful in differentiating the calcified regions from the collagen-rich areas within the plaques indicating that these techniques are confirmatory and may be combined to characterize atherosclerotic plaques in the future.
A novel class of oxynitrides stabilized by nitrogen dimer formation
Authors: Kim Sangtae , Gwon Hyo Jin , Paek Sung Wook , Kim Seong Keun , Choi Ji-Won , Kim Jin-Sang , Choi Jung-Hae , Kang Chong-Yun , Baek Seung-Hyub 
Published: September 2018

AbstractDespite the wide applicability of oxynitrides from photocatalysis to refractory coatings, our understanding of the materials has been limited in terms of their thermodynamics. The configurational entropy via randomly mixed O/N or via cation vacancies are known to stabilize oxynitrides, despite the positive formation enthalpies. Here, using tin oxynitrides as a model system, we show byab initiocomputations that oxynitrides in seemingly charge-unbalanced composition stabilize by forming pernitrides among metal-(O,N)6octahedra. The nitrogen pernitride dimer, =(N-N)=, results in the effective charge of −4, facilitating the formation of nitrogen-rich oxynitrides. We report that the dimer forms only in structures with corner-sharing octahedra, since the N-N bond formation requires sufficient rotational degrees of freedom among the octahedra. X-ray photoemission spectra of the synthesized tin oxynitride films reveal two distinct nitrogen bonding environments, confirming the computation results. This work opens the search space for a novel kind of oxynitrides stabilized by N dimer formation, with specific structural selection rules.
Constraining the geometry of the nuclear wind in PDS 456 using a novel emission model
Authors: Luminari A. , Piconcelli E. , Tombesi F. , Zappacosta L. , Fiore F. , Piro L. , Vagnetti F. 
Published: September 2018

Context. Outflows from active galactic nuclei (AGN) are often invoked to explain the co-evolution of AGN and their host galaxies, and the scaling relations between the central black hole mass and the bulge velocity dispersion. Nuclear winds are often seen in the X-ray spectra through Fe K shell transitions and some of them are called ultra fast outflows (UFOs) due to their high velocities, up to some fractions of the speed of light. If they were able to transfer some percentage of the AGN luminosity to the host galaxy, this might be enough to trigger an efficient feedback mechanism.
Aims. We aim to establish new constraints on the covering fraction and on the kinematic properties of the UFO in the powerful (Lbol ∼ 1047 erg s−1) quasar PDS 456, an established Rosetta stone for studying AGN feedback from disk winds. This will allow us to estimate the mass outflow rate and the energy transfer rate of the wind, which are key quantities to understand the potential impact on the host galaxy.
Methods. We analyze two sets of simultaneous XMM-Newton and NuSTAR observations taken in September 2013 and reported in Nardini et al. (2015, Science, 347, 860) as having similar broadband spectral properties. We fit the Fe K features with a P-Cygni profile between 5 and 14 keV, using a novel Monte Carlo model for the WINd Emission (WINE).
Results. We find an outflow velocity ranging from 0.17 to 0.28 c, with a mean value of 0.23 c. We obtain an opening angle of the wind of 71−8+13 deg and a covering fraction of 0.7−0.3+0.2, suggesting a wide-angle outflow. We check the reliability of the WINE model by performing extensive simulations of joint XMM-Newton and NuSTAR observations. Furthermore, we test the accuracy of the WINE model in recovering the geometrical properties of UFOs by simulating observations with the forthcoming Advanced Telescope for High-Energy Astrophysics (ATHENA) in the X-ray band.
Open cluster kinematics with Gaia DR2
Authors: Soubiran C. , Cantat-Gaudin T. , Romero-Gómez M. , Casamiquela L. , Jordi C. , Vallenari A. , Antoja T. , Balaguer-Núñez L. , Bossini D. , Bragaglia A. , Carrera R. , Castro-Ginard A. , Figueras F. , Heiter U. , Katz D. , Krone-Martins A. , Le Campion J.-F. , Moitinho A. , Sordo R. 
Published: September 2018

Context. Open clusters are very good tracers of the evolution of the Galactic disc. Thanks to Gaia, their kinematics can be investigated with an unprecedented precision and accuracy.
Aims. The distribution of open clusters in the 6D phase space is revisited with Gaia DR2.
Methods. The weighted mean radial velocity of open clusters was determined, using the most probable members available from a previous astrometric investigation that also provided mean parallaxes and proper motions. Those parameters, all derived from Gaia DR2 only, were combined to provide the 6D phase-space information of 861 clusters. The velocity distribution of nearby clusters was investigated, as well as the spatial and velocity distributions of the whole sample as a function of age. A high-quality subsample was used to investigate some possible pairs and groups of clusters sharing the same Galactic position and velocity.
Results. For the high-quality sample of 406 clusters, the median uncertainty of the weighted mean radial velocity is 0.5 km s−1. The accuracy, assessed by comparison to ground-based high-resolution spectroscopy, is better than 1 km s−1. Open clusters nicely follow the velocity distribution of field stars in the close solar neighbourhood as previously revealed by Gaia DR2. As expected, the vertical distribution of young clusters is very flat, but the novelty is the high precision to which this can be seen. The dispersion of vertical velocities of young clusters is at the level of 5 km s−1. Clusters older than 1 Gyr span distances to the Galactic plane of up to 1 kpc with a vertical velocity dispersion of 14 km s−1, typical of the thin disc. Five pairs of clusters and one group with five members might be physically related. Other binary candidates that have been identified previously are found to be chance alignments.
Morphological and molecular characterization ofOnchocerca fasciata(Nematoda, Onchocercidae) from dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Iran
Authors: Mirzaei Mohammad , Ghahvei Younes , Lefoulon Emilie , Lia Riccardo Paolo , Otranto Domenico , Martin Coralie , Sazmand Alireza 
Published: September 2018

Skin nodules ofOnchocerca fasciataRailliet and Henry, 1910 (Spirurida, Onchocercidae) are a common finding in dromedary camels, though with a minimal clinical impact. There is little information about the morphology, molecular make-up and pathological impact of this parasite.Onchocerca fasciatanodules (1.3–2.1 cm in diameter and 509–841 mg in weight) were detected on the neck region in 31.5% of dromedary camels examined in Kerman province, southeastern Iran. Of 38 isolated nodules, only 23 (60.5%) contained viable worms. Measurement and morphological analyses were performed on isolated female worms by light microscopy. The identification ofO. fasciataspecimens was confirmed by sequence analysis of two mitochondrial genes (12S rDNA andcox1), which showed 0.4% divergence from availableO. fasciatasequences. In addition, a phylogeny of filarial nematodes was constructed, based on these two mitochondrial genes and five nuclear genes (18S rDNA, 28S rDNA,MyoHC,rbp1,hsp70); this indicated thatO. fasciatabelongs to clade ONC3 of Onchocercidae, with representatives of the generaOnchocercaandDirofilaria. Within the genusOnchocerca,O.fasciatais grouped with bovine parasitic species and the human parasiticOnchocerca volvulus, which suggests an impact of domestication on the radiation of the genus. Data provided here on the distribution and morphology ofO. fasciatacontribute to the molecular identification and phylogenetic position of the species.
Wie ist das, wenn man Stimmen hört?
Authors: Pätz Stefan , Klostermann Alena-Lynn 
Published: September 2018

ZusammenfassungWie fühlen sich Menschen, die akustische Halluzinationen wahrnehmen? Annähernd nachempfinden lässt sich diese Erfahrung mithilfe binauraler Tonaufnahmen. Unsere
Autoren zeigen, wie dieses Hilfsmittel in der Ausbildung professioneller Helfer eingesetzt wird und zur Entstigmatisierung psychotischer Erkrankungen beitragen
kann.
Mit Nadeln gegen die Sucht
Authors: Perl Linda 
Published: September 2018

ZusammenfassungWelche Auswirkung hat die Ohrakupunktur nach dem NADA-Protokoll auf die Behandlung von Suchtkrankheiten? Um diese Frage beantworten zu können, hat unsere Autorin
Experten interviewt – und Empfehlungen für die Praxis erhalten, um die Balance bei Suchtkranken wiederherzustellen.