bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An Indacenodithieno[3,2‐b]thiophene‐Based Organic Dye for Solid‐State p‐Type Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Xu Bo , Wrede Sina , Curtze Allison , Tian Lei , Pati Palas Baran , Kloo Lars , Wu Yiying , Tian Haining 
Published: May 2019

AbstractAn indacenodithieno[3,2‐b]thiophene (IDTT) unit is used as a linker moiety to design a new p‐type dye—TIP—for solid‐state p‐type dye‐sensitized solar cells. Solar cells based on the TIP dye offered an efficiency of 0.18 % with an open‐circuit photovoltage of 550 mV and a short‐circuit photocurrent density of 0.86 mA cm−2, which is better than those of two reference dyes, PB6 and BH4. Charge lifetime experiments reveal that the IDTT linker‐based TIP dye significantly suppresses charge recombination losses in the devices.
Tale of two Indians: Heterogeneity in type 2 diabetes pathophysiology
Authors: Staimez Lisa R. , Deepa Mohan , Ali Mohammed K. , Mohan Viswanathan , Hanson Robert L. , Narayan K.M. Venkat 
Published: May 2019

AbstractAimsType 2 diabetes is a heterogeneous disease and may manifest from multiple disease pathways. We examined insulin secretion and insulin resistance across two ethnicities with particularly high risk for diabetes yet with widely different distributions of weight class.Materials and MethodsIn this population‐based, cross‐sectional study, Pima Indians from Southwestern United States (n = 865) and Asian Indians from Chennai, India (n = 2374) had a 75‐g oral glucose tolerance test. We analysed differences in plasma glucose, plasma insulin, insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR), and insulin secretion (ΔI0‐30/ΔG0‐30) across categories of body mass index (BMI) and glycemic status per American Diabetes Association criteria.ResultsPima Indians were younger (mean 27.4 ± SD 6.6, Asian: 33.9 ± 6.7 years) and had higher BMI (33.6 ± 8.1, Asian: 25.7 ± 4.9 kg/m2). Among normal weight participants (mean BMI: Pima 22.4 SE 0.2; Asian 22.2 SE 0.06 kg/m2), fasting glucose was higher in Asian Indians (5.2 vs Pima: 4.8 mmol/L, P = .003), adjusted for age and sex. Pima Indians were three times as insulin resistant as Asian Indians (HOMA‐IR: 7.7 SE 0.1, Asian: 2.5 SE 0.07), while Asian Indians had three times less insulin secretion (Pima: 2.8 SE 1.0 vs Asian: 0.9 SE 1.0 pmol/mmol), a pattern evident across age, BMI, and glycemic strata.ConclusionsMetabolic differences between Pima and Asian Indians suggest heterogeneous pathways of type 2 diabetes in the early natural history of disease, with emphasis of insulin resistance in Pima Indians and emphasis of poor insulin secretion in Asian Indians.
Parthenogenetic vs. sexual reproduction in oribatid mite communities
Authors: Maraun Mark , Caruso Tancredi , Hense Jonathan , Lehmitz Ricarda , Mumladze Levan , Murvanidze Maka , Nae Ioana , Schulz Julia , Seniczak Anna , Scheu Stefan 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe dominance of sex in Metazoa is enigmatic. Sexual species allocate resources to the production of males, while potentially facing negative effects such as the loss of well‐adapted genotypes due to recombination, and exposure to diseases and predators during mating. Two major hypotheses have been put forward to explain the advantages of parthenogenetic versus sexual reproduction in animals, that is, the Red Queen hypothesis and the Tangled Bank/Structured Resource Theory of Sex. The Red Queen hypothesis assumes that antagonistic predator—prey/ parasite–host interactions favor sex. The Structured Resource Theory of Sex predicts sexual reproduction to be favored if resources are in short supply and aggregated in space. In soil, a remarkable number of invertebrates reproduce by parthenogenesis, and this pattern is most pronounced in oribatid mites (Oribatida, Acari). Oribatid mites are abundant in virtually any soil across very different habitats, and include many sexual and parthenogenetic (thelytokous) species. Thereby, they represent an ideal model group to investigate the role of sexual versus parthenogenetic reproduction across different ecosystems and habitats. Here, we compiled data on oribatid mite communities from different ecosystems and habitats across biomes, including tropical rainforests, temperate forests, grasslands, arable fields, salt marshes, bogs, caves, and deadwood. Based on the compiled dataset, we analyzed if the percentage of parthenogenetic species and the percentage of individuals of parthenogenetic species are related to total oribatid mite density, species number, and other potential driving factors of the reproductive mode including altitude and latitude. We then interpret the results in support of either the Red Queen hypothesis or the Structured Resource Theory of Sex. Overall, the data showed that high density of oribatid mites, indicating abundance of resources, is associated with high frequency of parthenogenesis supporting predictions of the Structured Resource Theory of Sex rather than the Red Queen hypothesis.
Th2 cell‐derived IL‐4/IL‐13 promote ILC2 accumulation in the lung by ILC2‐intrinsic STAT6 signaling in mice
Authors: Symowski Cornelia , Voehringer David 
Published: May 2019

AbstractInfection of mice with the gastrointestinal helminth Nippostrongylus brasiliensis elicits profound local proliferation and accumulation of type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) in the lung. The regulation of ILC2 proliferation and accumulation in the lung is poorly understood. Using T cell‐specific IL‐4/IL‐13‐deficient mice, we demonstrate that IL‐4/IL‐13 secretion from Th2 cells promotes proliferation and expansion of the ILC2 population in the lung of N. brasiliensis‐infected mice. Competitive mixed BM chimeras containing normal and STAT6‐deficient ILC2s further indicated that ILC2s have to respond directly to IL‐4/IL‐13 for this effect while STAT6 is not required for IL‐13 production in ILC2s. In addition, expression of a constitutively active form of STAT6 in ILC2s was sufficient to promote their proliferation in uninfected mice. The expression of MHC class II in ILC2s appeared to be enhanced by STAT6 signaling supporting the concept that Th2 cells and ILC2s can communicate in an antigen‐dependent manner resulting in a Th2‐regulated accumulation of ILC2s in the lung during an acute type 2 immune response. Based on our observations, targeting the STAT6 pathway in ILC2s could help to develop new treatments to dampen ILC2 proliferation in the lung and thereby ameliorate ILC2‐mediated allergic inflammation.
Awe and meaning: Elucidating complex effects of awe experiences on meaning in life
Authors: Rivera Grace N. , Vess Matthew , Hicks Joshua A. , Routledge Clay 
Published: May 2019

AbstractResearch on the experience of awe suggests that awe has positive impacts on outcomes like life satisfaction and belongingness. No published work, however, has reported effects of awe on the experience of meaning in life. We reasoned that awe might have complicated effects on meaning. On the one hand, many awe experiences likely contain a positive flavor that contributes to both awe and general positive affectivity (happiness). Positive affectivity has a robust positive effect on meaning in life, suggesting that positive awe experiences might increase meaning. At the same time, however, awe experiences lead to a diminished self that reflects feelings of smallness and insignificance, which might negatively predict meaning. We thus hypothesized that awe experiences can, in some contexts, produce competing indirect effects on judgments of meaning in life through happiness and small‐self feelings. The results of five studies (N = 1,690) supported these predictions.
Breeding runner bean for short‐day adaptation, grain yield, and disease resistance in eastern Africa
Authors: Kimani Paul M. , Njau Serah , Mulanya Mabel , Narla Rama D. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractRunner bean (Phaseolus coccineus L.), also known as butter bean in Kenya, is a high value vegetable and grain crop traditionally grown in high altitudes (>1,800 m) of eastern Africa for domestic consumption and processing. However, it has not received attention from breeders. Consequently, farmers rely on low‐yielding landraces which are susceptible to diseases. Available long‐day vegetable type varieties are poorly adapted to tropical conditions. In 2005, a regional program was initiated at the University of Nairobi to develop tropically adapted short‐day varieties with better agronomic potential to meet both producer and consumer requirements. The objective of this study was to determine the agronomic potential of advanced grain‐type runner bean lines selected from populations derived from crosses between local landraces and long‐day European varieties. Fifty lines were selected from 139 F6.8 lines based on their previous performance at Kabete Field Station and Ol Joro Orok in 2012 and 2013. The 50 lines were evaluated at both sites during the 2014 long rain season. The best 20 lines from both sites were further evaluated for agronomic characteristics, disease resistance, and yield. Results showed considerable variation for duration to flowering (40–55 days at three different sites), plant vigor, racemes per plant, reaction to diseases, and grain yield. The crop was extremely vigorous in Naivasha due to supplementary irrigation and fertilization regimes. The results indicated that new high‐yielding grain runner bean varieties with resistance to major diseases and tropical adaptation can contribute to improved productivity, food and nutritional security, and resilient livelihoods in the region, and regular supply of raw materials for the canning industry.
Ensemble modelling of ice cover for a reservoir affected by pumped‐storage operation and climate change
Authors: Kobler Ulrike Gabriele , Schmid Martin 
Published: May 2019

AbstractEnsemble modelling was used to assess the robustness of projected impacts of pumped‐storage (PS) operation and climate change on reservoir ice cover. To this end, three one‐dimensional and a two‐dimensional laterally averaged hydrodynamic model were set up. For the latter, the strength of the impacts with increasing distance from the dam was also investigated. Climate change effects were simulated by forcing the models with 150 years of synthetic meteorological time series created with a weather generator based on available air temperature scenarios for Switzerland. Future climate by the end of the 21st century was projected to shorten the ice‐covered period by ~2 months and decrease ice thicknesses by ~13 cm. Under current climate conditions, the ice cover would already be affected by extended PS operation. For example, the average probability of ice coverage on a specific day was projected to decrease by ~13% for current climate and could further be reduced from ~45% to ~10% for future climate. Overall, the results of all models were consistent. Although the number of winters without ice cover was projected to increase for all one‐dimensional models, studying individual segments of the two‐dimensional model showed that the impact was pronounced for segments close to the PS intake/outlet. In summary, the reservoir's ice cover is expected to partially vanish with higher probability of open water conditions closer to the PS intake/outlet.
MicroRNA‐25 aggravates Aβ1‐42‐induced hippocampal neuron injury in Alzheimer's disease by downregulating KLF2 via the Nrf2 signaling pathway in a mouse model
Authors: Duan Qiang , Si Erwang 
Published: May 2019

AbstractRecently, numerous microRNAs (miRNAs) have been considered as key players in the regulation of neuronal processes. The purpose of the present study is to explore the effect of miR‐25 on hippocampal neuron injury in Alzheimer's disease (AD) induced by amyloid β (Aβ) peptide fragment 1 to 42 (Aβ1‐42) via Kruppel‐like factor 2 (KLF2) through the nuclear factor‐E2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway. A mouse model of AD was established through Aβ1‐42 induction. The underlying regulatory mechanisms of miR‐25 were analyzed through treatment of miR‐25 mimics, miR‐25 inhibitors, or small interfering RNA (siRNA) against KLF2 in hippocampal tissues and cells isolated from AD mice. The targeting relationship between miR‐25 and KLF2 was predicted using a target prediction program and verified by luciferase activity determination. MTT assay was used to evaluate the proliferative ability and flow cytometry to detect cell cycle distribution and apoptosis. KLF2 was confirmed as a target gene of miR‐25. When the mice were induced by Aβ1‐42, proliferation was suppressed while apoptosis was promoted in hippocampal neurons as evidenced by lower levels of KLF2, Nrf2, haem oxygenase, glutathione S transferase α1, glutathione, thioredoxin, and B‐cell lymphoma‐2 along with higher bax level. However, such alternations could be reversed by treatment of miR‐25 inhibitors. These findings indicate that miR‐25 may inhibit hippocampal neuron proliferation while promoting apoptosis, thereby aggravating hippocampal neuron injury through downregulation of KLF2 via the Nrf2 signaling pathway.
MicroRNA‐421 inhibition alleviates bronchopulmonary dysplasia in a mouse model via targeting Fgf10
Authors: Yuan Hua‐Shu , Xiong Dai‐Qun , Huang Fang , Cui Jian , Luo Hui 
Published: May 2019

AbstractBronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a common and refractory disease affecting newborn children and infants with alveolar dysplasia and declined pulmonary function. Several microRNAs (miRNAs) have been found to be differentially expressed in BPD progression. This study further explores the role of miR‐421 via fibroblast growth factor 10 (Fgf10) in mice with BPD. A mouse model of BPD was established through the induction of hyperoxia, in which the expression pattern of miR‐421 and Fgf10 was identified. Furthermore, adenovirus‐packed vectors were injected in mice to intervene miR‐421 and Fgf10 expression, including miR‐421 mimics or inhibitors, and si‐Fgf10 to explore the role of miR‐421 and Fgf10 in BPD. The target relationship between miR‐421 and Fgf10 was investigated. Inflammatory response and cell apoptosis were observed in the mice, with inflammatory cytokines and apoptosis‐related factors detected by applying Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blot analysis, and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Fgf10 was confirmed as a target gene of miR‐421. Elevated expression of miR‐421 was evident, while Fgf10 was poorly expressed in BPD. upregulation of miR‐421 and silence of Fgf10 aggravated inflammatory response in lung tissue and promoted lung cell apoptosis in BPD. The aforementioned alterations could be reversed by downregulation of miR‐421. Collectively, inhibition of miR‐421 can assist in the development of BPD in mice BPD by upregulating Fgf10. Therefore, the present study provides a probable target for the treatment of BPD.
Retracted: Silence of lncRNA HEIH suppressed liver cancer cell growth and metastasis through miR‐199a‐3p/mTOR axis
Authors: Ma Yongbiao , Cao De , Li Gaoxue , Hu Jingxia , Liu Xin , Liu Jianling 
Published: May 2019

AbstractBackground/AimsHigh expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HEIH) is an long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) which is highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Aberrant expression of HEIH is implicated in regulating HCC cells growth and metastasis. This study attempted to illustrate the effects of HEIH on HCC cell lines.MethodsThe expression changes of HEIH in HCC tumor tissues and the paracancerous tissues derived from 20 patients with HCC were tested. Effects of HEIH on Huh7 and Hep3B cells viability, apoptosis, migration, and invasion were assessed by silencing HEIH in vitro. Furthermore, downstream effector and signaling of HEIH were studied.ResultsAs compared with the paracancerous tissues, the HEIH expression was highly expressed in tumor tissues. Silence of HEIH significantly reduced Huh7 and Hep3B cells viability, migration, and invasion, but induced apoptosis. It was coupled with the downregulated CyclinD1, Bcl‐2, MMP‐2, MMP‐8, Vimentin, the upregulated p53, Bax, as well as the cleaved caspase‐3. MicroRNA (miR)‐199a‐3p was identified as a downstream effector of HEIH, as its expression was upregulated by HEIH silence, and the functional effects of HEIH on Huh7 and Hep3B cells were all attenuated when miR‐199a‐3p expression was suppressed. Furthermore, HEIH silence suppressed the activation of mTOR signaling via upregulating miR‐199a‐3p.ConclusionHEIH silence might be a promising target for suppressing HCC cells growth and metastasis. Silence of HEIH exerted its antitumor properties possibly through upregulating miR‐199a‐3p, and thereby blockage of mTOR signaling.
PTEN improve renal fibrosis in vitro and in vivo through inhibiting FAK/AKT signaling pathway
Authors: Du Yongchao , Liu Peihua , Chen Zhi , He Yao , Zhang Bo , Dai Guoyu , Xia Weiping , Liu Yuhang , Chen Xiang 
Published: May 2019

AbstractRenal ﬁbrosis, the ultimate common pathway of progressive nephropathy, is characterized by excess accumulation and deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) within the renal interstitium and glomeruli, finally resulting in end‐stage kidney failure. TGFβ1 is not only abnormally increased during fibrosis but also involved in ECM induction and accumulation. Based on the bioinformative analyses, phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signaling pathway might be involved in TGFβ1 functions on renal fibrosis development. In the present study, fibrosis was induced in HK‐2 cells using TGFβ1 and PTEN expression was significantly suppressed by 24 or 48 hours TGFβ1 treatment. PTEN overexpression in HK‐2 cells improved TGFβ1‐induced fibrosis within α‐SMA and E‐cadherin. According to the KEGG signaling pathway annotation analyses on microarray profiles (GSE23338 and GSE20247) and immunoblotting validation, FAK signaling might be involved in PTEN functions in TGFβ1‐induced fibrosis. PTEN overexpression significantly inhibited TGFβ1‐ or unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)‐induced FAK signaling pathway activation both in vitro and in vivo; more importantly, PTEN silence enhanced TGFβ1‐ or UUO‐induced fibrosis, while FAK inhibitor PF567721 significantly reversed the effects of PTEN silence, indicating that PTEN exerted its effects on TGFβ1‐ and UUO‐induced fibrotic development in vitro and in vivo via inhibiting FAK signaling pathway. In summary, these findings indicate that PTEN could improve cellular fibrotic changes and renal fibrosis via inhibiting FAK/AKT signaling pathway. Restoring PTEN expression to target FAK/AKT signaling pathway might be a potent strategy for renal fibrosis treatment.
Association analysis of the common varieties of IL17A and IL17F genes with the risk of knee osteoarthritis
Authors: Bafrani Hassan Hassani , Ahmadi Monavvareh , Jahantigh Danial , Karimian Mohammad 
Published: May 2019

AbstractOsteoarthritis is mediated by various types of cytokines, growth factors, and inflammatory factors that the role of the interleukin‐17 family in this disease is becoming increasingly apparent. The aim of this study is to determine the association between the common polymorphisms of IL17A (including rs2275913) and IL17F (including rs2397084 and rs763780) genes with the knee osteoarthritis risk which was followed by a bioinformatics approach. In a case‐control study, 254 participants consisting of 127 healthy individuals and 127 subjects with knee osteoarthritis referring to Shahid Beheshti Hospital dependents on Kashan University of Medical Sciences (Kashan, Iran) were enrolled. After samples collection, the polymorphisms genotyping was determined by the polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) method. Finally, some bioinformatics tools were used to analyze the molecular effects of the three studied polymorphisms. Data analysis showed a significant association between rs2275913‐GA genotype and the decreased risk of knee osteoarthritis (OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.33‐0.97, P = .040). However, rs763780‐AG genotype (OR = 2.29, 95%CI = 1.11‐4.69, P = .024) and rs763780‐G allele (OR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.09‐3.72, P = .026) were associated with an increased risk of knee osteoarthritis. However, no significant associations were found between the rs2397084 polymorphism and knee osteoarthritis risk. Our structural analysis revealed that the rs2275913 polymorphism could create a new binding site for TFII‐I at the promoter region of IL17A. Also, rs2397084 and rs763780 could significantly affect the function and structure of IL17A. Based on our findings, rs2275913 and rs763780 could be considered as protective and risk factors for knee osteoarthritis, respectively. Therefore, these polymorphisms can be considered as biomarkers for the screening of knee osteoarthritis susceptible persons.
Wnt7a, frequently silenced by CpG methylation, inhibits tumor growth and metastasis via suppressing epithelial‐mesenchymal transition in gastric cancer
Authors: Liu Yuzhen , Qiao Yanchun , Zhang Hangyu , Li Wentong , Zheng Jie 
Published: May 2019

AbstractWnt7a is a member of the Wnt family and has been reported to be involved in the carcinogenesis and progression of many types of human cancer. However, little is known about Wnt7a expression and function in gastric cancer (GC). In the present study, Wnt7a expression in GC tissues and cells was investigated, the correlation between Wnt7a expression and the prognosis was also examined. The effects of Wnt7a on proliferation, invasion, and metastasis were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the expression of epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and hypermethylation of the Wnt7a promoter were both detected. Wnt7a was downregulated in GC and its expression was associated with poor prognosis of patients with GC. Moreover, upregulation of Wnt7a significantly suppressed the growth, invasion, and metastasis abilities of GC cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, Wnt7a was found to inhibit EMT process of GC cells. In addition, the reducing expression of Wnt7a was due to methylation of 5′‐CpG island within the promoter. Furthermore, the tumor suppressor role of Wnt7a is independent of canonical Wnt/β‐catenin signaling in GC cells. In conclusion, our findings demonstrated that Wnt7a could be used as a potential diagnostic marker and target for GC management.