bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ectopic expression of Hoxb1 induces cardiac and craniofacial malformations
Authors: Zaffran Stéphane , Odelin Gaëlle , Stefanovic Sonia , Lescroart Fabienne , Etchevers Heather C. 
Published: August 2018

SummaryMembers of the large family of Hox transcription factors are encoded by genes whose tightly regulated expression in development and in space within different embryonic tissues confer positional identity from the neck to the tips of the limbs. Many structures of the face, head, and heart develop from cell populations expressing few or no Hox genes. Hoxb1 is the member of its chromosomal cluster expressed in the most rostral domain during vertebrate development, but never by the multipotent neural crest cell population anterior to the cerebellum. We have developed a novel floxed transgenic mouse line, CAG‐Hoxb1,‐EGFP (CAG‐Hoxb1), which upon recombination by Cre recombinase conditionally induces robust Hoxb1 and eGFP overexpression. When induced within the neural crest lineage, pups die at birth. A variable phenotype develops from E11.5 on, associating frontonasal hypoplasia/aplasia, micrognathia/agnathia, major ocular and forebrain anomalies, and cardiovascular malformations. Neural crest derivatives in the body appear unaffected. Transcription of effectors of developmental signaling pathways (Bmp, Shh, Vegfa) and transcription factors (Pax3, Sox9) is altered in mutants. These outcomes emphasize that repression of Hoxb1, along with other paralog group 1 and 2 Hox genes, is strictly necessary in anterior cephalic NC for craniofacial, visual, auditory, and cardiovascular development.
Links between blood parasites, blood chemistry, and the survival of nestling American crows
Authors: Townsend Andrea K. , Wheeler Sarah S. , Freund David , Sehgal Ravinder N. M. , Boyce Walter M. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractMany studies have used the avian hemosporidians (Leucocytozoon,Plasmodium, andHemoproteus) to test hypotheses of host–parasite co‐evolution, yet documented health and survival consequences of these blood parasites vary among studies and generalizations about their pathogenicity are debatable. In general, the negative effects of the hemosporidians are likely to be greatest during acute infections of young birds, yet most previous studies in wild passerines have examined chronic effects in adults. Here, we evaluated responses of nestling American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) to acute infection (prevalence and burden), as well as its short‐ and long‐term survival consequences. We used panel of nine hematological and biochemical parameters that are regularly used to evaluate the health of domestic animals, including leukocyte profiles, hematocrit, and plasma proteins. We assessed the effects of infection on survival in a mark‐recapture framework. Overall, 56% of crows (n = 321 samples) were infected by at least one of the three genera. Infections by all genera were associated with elevated plasma proteins and globulins, which could indicate an adaptive immune response. However, onlyPlasmodiuminfections were associated with low hematocrit (anemia) and lower fledging success, possibly mediated by the negative effect of low hematocrit values on body condition. Moreover, earlyPlasmodiuminfection (<40 days of age) had long‐term survival implications: it was associated with lower apparent survival probability within 3 years after fledging. These results suggest that young crows mounted an adaptive immune response to all three genera. Short‐ and long‐term pathological effects, however, were only apparent withPlasmodiuminfections.
Multitasking and the evolution of optimal clutch size in fluctuating environments
Authors: Liu Ming , Rubenstein Dustin R. , Cheong Siew‐Ann , Shen Sheng‐Feng 
Published: August 2018

AbstractAdaptive studies of avian clutch size variation across environmental gradients have resulted in what has become known as the fecundity gradient paradox, the observation that clutch size typically decreases with increasing breeding season length along latitudinal gradients, but increases with increasing breeding season length along elevational gradients. These puzzling findings challenge the common belief that organisms should reduce their clutch size in favor of additional nesting attempts as the length of the breeding season increases, an approach typically described as a bet‐hedging strategy. Here, we propose an alternative hypothesis—the multitasking hypothesis—and show that laying smaller clutches represents a multitasking strategy of switching between breeding and recovery from breeding. Both our individual‐based and analytical models demonstrate that a small clutch size strategy is favored during shorter breeding seasons because less time and energy are wasted under the severe time constraints associated with breeding multiply within a season. Our model also shows that a within‐generation bet‐hedging strategy is not favored by natural selection, even under a high risk of predation and in long breeding seasons. Thus, saving time—wasting less time as a result of an inability to complete a breeding cycle at the end of breeding season—is likely to be the primary benefit favoring the evolution of small avian clutch sizes during short breeding seasons. We also synthesize the seasonality hypothesis (pronounced seasonality leads to larger clutch size) and clutch size‐dependent predation hypothesis (larger clutch size causes higher predation risks) within our multitasking hypothesis to develop an integrative model to help resolve the paradox of contrasting patterns of clutch size along elevational and latitudinal gradients. Ultimately, our models provide a new perspective for understanding life‐history evolution under fluctuating environments.
Plastomes of nine hornbeams and phylogenetic implications
Authors: Li Ying , Yang Yongzhi , Yu Le , Du Xin , Ren Guangpeng 
Published: August 2018

AbstractPoor phylogenetic resolution and inconsistency of gene trees are major complications when attempting to construct trees of life for various groups of organisms. In this study, we addressed these issues in analyses of the genus Carpinus (hornbeams) of the Betulaceae. We assembled and annotated the chloroplast (cp) genomes (plastomes) of nine hornbeams representing main clades previously distinguished in this genus. All nine plastomes are highly conserved, with four regions, and about 158–160 kb long, including 121–123 genes. Phylogenetic analyses of whole plastome sequences, noncoding sequences, and the well‐aligned coding genes resulted in high resolution of the sampled species in contrast to the failure based on a few cpDNA markers. Phylogenetic relationships in a few clades based only on the coding genes are slightly inconsistent with those based on the noncoding and total plastome datasets. Moreover, these plastome trees are highly incongruent with those based on bi‐parentally inherited internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence variations. Such high inconsistencies suggest widespread occurrence of incomplete lineage sorting and hybrid introgression during diversification of these hornbeams.
Design of the GutHeart—targeting gut microbiota to treat heart failure—trial: a Phase II, randomized clinical trial
Authors: Mayerhofer Cristiane C.K. , Awoyemi Ayodeji O. , Moscavitch Samuel D. , Lappegård Knut Tore , Hov Johannes R. , Aukrust Pål , Hovland Anders , Lorenzo Andrea , Halvorsen Sigrun , Seljeflot Ingebjørg , Gullestad Lars , Trøseid Marius , Broch Kaspar 
Published: August 2018

AbstractAimsHeart failure (HF) is a multifactorial disease. Current treatments target only a fraction of the putative pathophysiological pathways. In patients with HF, reduced cardiac output and congestion cause increased gut wall permeability. It has been suggested that leakage of microbial products is detrimental to the heart, at least partly through activation of systemic inflammatory pathways, which again could promote gut leakage. Whether manipulating the gut microbiota can improve cardiac function in patients with HF remains unknown. We aim to evaluate the effect of drugs targeting the gut microbiota on left ventricular function, quality of life, and functional capacity, as well as on markers of gut leakage and inflammation, in stable patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction.Methods and resultsGutHeart is a randomized, open‐label, controlled trial. Four centres will randomize 150 patients with stable HF and a left ventricular ejection fraction <40% to receive the antibiotic rifaximin, the probiotic yeast Saccharomyces boulardii (ATCC 74012), or no treatment (control) in a 1:1:1 fashion. Treatment will last for 3 months. The primary endpoint is baseline‐adjusted left ventricular ejection fraction as measured by echocardiography after 3 months. A further follow‐up 6 months after randomization will be undertaken.ConclusionsThis trial is likely to give new insights into important disease processes involving the gut microbiota in HF patients, hereby leading to new potential therapeutic strategies to prevent and down‐regulate the inflammation seen in these patients.
Early Silurian adakitic high‐Mg diorite from the Longshan area: Implication for melting of mantle lithosphere in the south‐eastern Qilian Orogenic Belt
Authors: Zhang Zezhong , Qin Jiangfeng , Lai Shaocong , Long Xiaoping , Li Zhenghua , Ju Yinjuan , Zhu Yu , Wang Xingying , Wang Jiangbo 
Published: August 2018

The Longshan area is located in the junction zone between the Qinling and eastern Qilian orogenic belts. Early Palaeozoic igneous rocks in this area can provide important insights into the evolution of Shangdan Ocean. This paper reports new petrology, chronology, major and trace element geochemistry, Sr–Nd isotope, and zircon Lu–Hf isotopic compositions for the Early Silurian pyroxene diorite in the Longshan area. The pyroxene diorite has a zircon U–Pb age of 432 ± 1 Ma (MSWD = 0.25, n = 27). The pyroxene diorite intrusion displays low SiO2 (53.34 to 56.32 wt.%), high Na2O (3.11% to 3.79 wt.%) and Sr (1112 to 1234 ppm) contents, and moderate Mg# (52.70 to 55.00) values, high Sr/Y (67 to 84) ratios, depleted in Y and HREE; these features are identical with the low‐Si adakite or sanukitoids that derived from melting of metasomatized mantle wedge. The pyroxene diorite intrusion has evolved Sr–Nd isotopic compositions, (87Sr/86Sr) i = 0.705286 to 0.705310, εNd(t) = −3.4 to −3.9. Zircons from the pyroxene diorite display variable εHf(t) values of −3.6 to +0.1. These features suggest that the pyroxene diorite intrusion was derived from a hydrous melting metasomatized mantle wedge which has been modified by slab melts. The occurrence of pyroxene diorite indicates an Early Silurian active continental margin setting in the south‐eastern Qilian Orogenic Belt.
High‐resolution paleoclimatic records spanning the past 30 cal ka BP inferred from Qionghai Lake sediments in south‐west China: Insights from geochemical investigations and grain‐size characteristics
Authors: Wang Gen , Wei Zhifu , Wang Yongli , Zhang Ting , He Wei , Sun Zepeng , Xu Liang , Gong Juncheng 
Published: August 2018

There have been few high‐resolution investigations covering the last glacial and Holocene from Sichuan, Yunnan, or south Asia area in the south‐west monsoon domain region. High‐resolution analyses of lake sediments retrieved from Qionghai Lake, Sichuan Province, were conducted using a combination of variables including total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) concentration, low frequency magnetic susceptibility (χLF), particle size, carbonate content, and δ13C value of organic matter (δ13Corg), to provide a new perspective on the detailed paleoclimate history of south‐west China spanning the past 30 cal ka BP. Our findings suggest that organic matter in the Qionghai Lake was mainly derived from microorganisms, aquatic macrophytes, and terrestrial C3 plants. From 29.1 to 23.2 cal ka BP, low carbonate contents, high median grain size (Md values), and χLF values indicated a warm and wet climate. During the period 23.2 to 15.4 cal ka BP, low χLF, Md values, and high carbonate contents suggested a decrease in temperature and humidity. The cold and dry Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and Heinrich 1 event (H1) were captured between 21.6 and 19.4 cal ka BP and 17.6 and 15.8 cal ka BP, respectively. During the interval 15.4 to 9.7 cal ka BP, low level of χLF values and Md values, together with relatively high carbonates, demonstrated that a dry climate prevailed in this period. Since 9.7 cal ka BP, the climate was warm and humid in the early to mid‐Holocene and shifted towards cold and dry condition in the late Holocene. A cold and dry period at 8.5 to 8.1 cal ka BP and warm and wet interval at 6.6 to 4.6 cal ka BP were identified, corresponding to the 8.2‐ka cold event and Holocene climatic optimum (HCO), respectively. These climate changes may reflect variations of the intensity of the south‐west summer monsoon, primarily in response to the Northern Hemisphere solar insolation on a millennial scale induced by orbital forcing. The position of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) may add a complementary effect on the evolution of the monsoon strength in the Holocene.
U.S. monetary policy and China's exchange rate policy during the great recession
Authors: Tervala Juha 
Published: August 2018

AbstractI examine the transmission of expansionary U.S. monetary policy in cases where emerging economies—including China—peg their currencies to the dollar. I evaluate the value of the dollar peg as a fraction of consumption that households would be willing to pay for the dollar peg to remain as well off under the dollar peg as they would be under a flexible exchange rate. The value of the dollar peg is typically positive for the dollar bloc because the United States can no longer improve its terms of trade at the dollar bloc's expense. This provides a rationale for fixing the exchange rate. The dollar peg is typically harmful to the United States, providing a rationale for criticism of China's exchange rate policy during the Great Recession.
Diagnosis and Improvement of the Collective Irrigation and Drainage Services in Water Users’ Associations of Calabria (Southern Italy)
Authors: Zema Demetrio Antonio , Nicotra Angelo , Zimbone Santo Marcello 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThere is a need of diagnostic processes of collective irrigation and drainage services in southern Italy, helping to identify the weak points of management and to suggest improving actions. To these aims, a comprehensive analysis of the collective services in the water users’ associations (WUAs) operating in Calabria has been carried out, covering the infrastructural, organization and management aspects.The investigation has shown important shortcomings: (i) the old and small irrigation systems need renovation; (ii) the drainage service would benefit from a continuous and planned maintenance activity of the hydraulic network; (iii) a rational reorganization of WUA human resources together with education activities is suggested. Management of WUAs (affected by low service levels and economic imbalance) needs improvement in procedures of water distribution (from rotational scheduling to on‐demand delivery) and water charging (with taxation on actual water consumption instead of on irrigable area), together with reduction of fee evasion and integration of profits (e.g. through sale of hydroelectric energy by small turbines installed in the irrigation networks).This survey proposes a methodological framework which could be a technical and scientific support broadened to all aspects influencing irrigation and drainage activities of collective agencies and transferable to other rural contexts. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inside Cover: Effect of tissue staining in quantitative phase imaging (J. Biophotonics 8/2018)
Authors: Ban Sungbea , Min Eunjung , Ahn Yujin , Popescu Gabriel , Jung Woonggyu 
Published: August 2018

The effect of tissue staining in wide‐field quantitative phase imaging is negligible when using a light source out of the absorption spectrum.Further details can be found in the article by Sungbea Ban, Eunjung Min, Yujin Ahn, Gabriel Popescu, and Woonggyu Jung (e201700402)
image
Effects of aryl methanesulfonate derivatives on acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase
Authors: Zilbeyaz Kani , Stellenboom Nashia , Guney Murat , Oztekin Aykut , Senturk Murat 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThere is a dire need for new treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Principal drugs have reached maturity, and the number of people affected by AD is growing at a rapid rate. After years of research and many clinical trials, only symptomatic treatments are available. An effective disease‐modifying drug for AD needs to be discovered. The research presented in this paper aims to facilitate in the discovery of new potential targets that could help in the ongoing AD research. Aryl methanesulfonate derivatives were screened for their acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) inhibitory activities. IC50 values between 0.660 and 3.397 µM against AChE and 0.885 and 2.596 µM against BuChE were obtained.
Targeting junctional adhesion molecule-C ameliorates sepsis-induced acute lung injury by decreasing CXCR4+ aged neutrophils
Authors: Hirano Yohei , Ode Yasumasa , Ochani Mahendar , Wang Ping , Aziz Monowar 
Published: August 2018

Abstract
Sepsis is a severe inflammatory condition associated with high mortality. Transmigration of neutrophils into tissues increases their lifespan to promote deleterious function. Junctional adhesion molecule-C (JAM-C) plays a pivotal role in neutrophil transmigration into tissues. We aim to study the role of JAM-C on the aging of neutrophils to cause sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI). Sepsis was induced in C57BL/6J mice by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) and JAM-C expression in serum was assessed. Bone marrow-derived neutrophils (BMDN) were treated with recombinant mouse JAM-C (rmJAM-C) ex vivo and their viability was assessed. CLP-operated animals were administrated with either isotype IgG or anti-JAM-C Ab at a concentration of 3 mg/kg and after 20 h, aged neutrophils (CXCR4+) were assessed in blood and lungs and correlated with systemic injury and inflammatory markers. Soluble JAM-C level in serum was up-regulated during sepsis. Treatment with rmJAM-C inhibited BMDN apoptosis, thereby increasing their lifespan. CLP increased the frequencies of CXCR4+ neutrophils in blood and lungs, while treatment with anti-JAM-C Ab significantly reduced the frequencies of CXCR4+ aged neutrophils. Treatment with anti-JAM-C Ab significantly reduced systemic injury markers (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase) as well as systemic and lung inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and IL-1β) and chemokine (macrophage inflammatory protein-2). The blockade of JAM-C improved lung histology and reduced neutrophil contents in lungs of septic mice. Thus, reduction of the pro-inflammatory aged neutrophils by blockade of JAM-C has a novel therapeutic potential in sepsis-induced ALI.
Blood JAM-C levels are increased during sepsis, causing neutrophil aging by up-regulating surface CXCR4 expression. Blocking JAM-C ameliorates sepsis-induced acute lung injury in mice.
Cenicriviroc inhibits trans-endothelial passage of monocytes and is associated with impaired E-selectin expression
Authors: D'Antoni Michelle L , Mitchell Brooks I , McCurdy Sara , Byron Mary Margaret , Ogata-Arakaki Debra , Chow Dominic , Mehta Nehal N , Boisvert William A , Lefebvre Eric , Shikuma Cecilia M , Ndhlovu Lishomwa C , Baumer Yvonne 
Published: August 2018

Abstract
Incidences of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are high among virologically suppressed HIV-infected individuals. Monocyte activation and trafficking are key mechanisms in the evolution of CVD. We studied the ability of cenicriviroc (CVC), a dual C-C chemokine receptor type 2 (CCR2) and CCR5 antagonist, to influence the migration of monocytes from HIV-infected individuals on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Monocytes were derived from 23 ART-suppressed HIV-infected and 16 HIV-uninfected donors. In a trans-endothelial migration model, monocytes, and human aortic endothelial cells (HAoECs) were exposed to cenicriviroc and migrated monocytes, quantified. Expression of CCR2 and CCR5 on monocytes and adhesion molecules (E-selectin, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, PECAM-1, and CD99) on HAoECs were measured. The single antagonists, BMS-22 (CCR2), and maraviroc (CCR5), served as controls. When both HAoECs and monocytes together were exposed to the antagonists, cenicriviroc led to a greater decrease in monocyte migration compared to BMS-22 or vehicle in both HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected groups (P &lt; 0.05), with maraviroc having no inhibitory effect. Cenicriviroc treatment of HAoECs alone decreased monocyte migration in the HIV-infected group when compared to vehicle (P &lt; 0.01). Inhibition of migration was not evident when monocytes alone were exposed to cenicriviroc, BMS-22 or maraviroc. Incubation of HAoECs with cenicriviroc decreased E-selectin expression (P = 0.045) but had limited effects on the other adhesion molecules. Cenicriviroc inhibits monocyte trans-endothelial migration more effectively than single chemokine receptor blockade, which may be mediated via disruption of monocyte-endothelial tethering through reduced E-selectin expression. Cenicriviroc should be considered as a therapeutic intervention to reduce detrimental monocyte trafficking.
Cenicriviroc, a dual CCR2 and CCR5 antagonist, inhibits monocyte trafficking in an in vitro trans-endothelial migration assay more effectively than a single chemokine receptor blockade.
Calculation of the optical phonons in ordered Ba2MgWO6 perovskite using short‐range force field model
Authors: Rodrigues J.E. , Bezerra D.M. , Hernandes A.C. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractBa2MgWO6 is a double perovskite tungstate presenting a cubic structure with cubic space group
. This B‐site ordered system has potential applications as microwave ceramics in communication systems. Here, we present our results on the lattice dynamics calculations using short‐range force field model to describe both Raman (A1g ⊕ Eg ⊕ 2F2g) and infrared (4F1u) optical phonons at Γ‐point of the Brillouin zone in Ba2MgWO6 perovskite. Short‐range interactions were parameterized through four stretching and three bending force constants in light of the Wilson's GF‐matrix method. Satisfactory agreement between experimental and calculated vibrational data was found. We have used the potential energy distribution (PED) coefficients to determine the contribution of each force constant to the optical modes. The PED analysis elucidates that the W atom has a nonnegligible contribution in describing both A1g breathing and Last‐type (F1u) modes. Such a modeling provided insights into vibrational modes, enabling correlation between optical phonons, disorder effects, and physical properties for applications.
Space‐time fractional Dirichlet problems
Authors: Baeumer Boris , Luks Tomasz , Meerschaert Mark M. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThis paper establishes explicit solutions for fractional diffusion problems on bounded domains. It also gives stochastic solutions, in terms of Markov processes time‐changed by an inverse stable subordinator whose index equals the order of the fractional time derivative. Some applications are given, to demonstrate how to specify a well‐posed Dirichlet problem for space‐time fractional diffusions in one or several variables. This solves an open problem in numerical analysis.