bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dysregulation of RNF213 promotes cerebral hypoperfusion
Authors: Morimoto Takaaki , Enmi Jun-ichiro , Hattori Yorito , Iguchi Satoshi , Saito Satoshi , Harada Kouji H. , Okuda Hiroko , Mineharu Yohei , Takagi Yasushi , Youssefian Shohab , Iida Hidehiro , Miyamoto Susumu , Ihara Masafumi , Kobayashi Hatasu , Koizumi Akio 
Published: February 2018

AbstractRNF213is a susceptibility gene for moyamoya disease, yet its exact functions remain unclear. To evaluate the role ofRNF213in adaptation of cerebral blood flow (CBF) under cerebral hypoperfusion, we performed bilateral common carotid artery stenosis surgery using external microcoils onRnf213knockout (KO) and vascular endothelial cell-specificRnf213mutant (human p.R4810K orthologue) transgenic (EC-Tg) mice. Temporal CBF changes were measured by arterial spin-labelling magnetic resonance imaging. In the cortical area, no significant difference in CBF was found before surgery between the genotypes. Three of eight (37.5%) KO mice died after surgery but all wild-type and EC-Tg mice survived hypoperfusion. KO mice had a significantly more severe reduction in CBF on day 7 than wild-type mice (KO, 29.7% of baseline level; wild-type, 49.3%;p = 0.038), while CBF restoration on day 28 was significantly impaired in both KO (50.0%) and EC-Tg (56.1%) mice compared with wild-type mice (69.5%;p = 0.031 and 0.037, respectively). Changes in the subcortical area also showed the same tendency as the cortical area. Additionally, histological analysis demonstrated that angiogenesis was impaired in both EC-Tg and KO mice. These results are indicative of the essential role ofRNF213in the maintenance of CBF.
First profiling of lysine crotonylation of myofilament proteins and ribosomal proteins in zebrafish embryos
Authors: Kwon Oh Kwang , Kim Sun Joo , Lee Sangkyu 
Published: February 2018

AbstractZebrafish embryos are translucent and develop rapidly in individual eggs ex utero; they are widely used as models for embryogenesis and organ development for human diseases and drug discovery. Lysine crotonylation (Kcr) is a type of histone post-translational modifications discovered in 2011. Kcr dynamics are involved in gene expression regulation and acute kidney injury; however, little is known about the effects of Kcr on non-histone proteins. In the present study, we conducted the first proteome-wide profiling of Kcr in zebrafish larvae and identified 557 Kcr sites on 218 proteins, representing the Kcr event in zebrafish. We identified two types of Kcr motifs containing hydrophobic (Leu, Ile, Val) and acidic (Asp and Glu) amino acids near the modified lysine residues. Our results show that both crotonylated proteins and sites of crotonylation were evolutionarily conserved between zebrafish embryos and humans. Specifically, Kcr on ribosomal proteins and myofilament proteins, including myosin, tropomyosin and troponin, were widely enriched. Interestingly, 55 lysine crotonylation sites on myosin were distributed throughout coiled coil regions. Therefore, Kcr may regulate muscle contraction and protein synthesis. Our results provide a foundation for future studies on the effects of lysine crotonylation on aging and heart failure.
Signatures of human impact on self-organized vegetation in the Horn of Africa
Authors: Gowda Karna , Iams Sarah , Silber Mary 
Published: February 2018

AbstractIn many dryland environments, vegetation self-organizes into bands that can be clearly identified in remotely-sensed imagery. The status of individual bands can be tracked over time, allowing for a detailed remote analysis of how human populations affect the vital balance of dryland ecosystems. In this study, we characterize vegetation change in areas of the Horn of Africa where imagery taken in the early 1950s is available. We find that substantial change is associated with steep increases in human activity, which we infer primarily through the extent of road and dirt track development. A seemingly paradoxical signature of human impact appears as an increase in the widths of the vegetation bands, which effectively increases the extent of vegetation cover in many areas. We show that this widening occurs due to altered rates of vegetation colonization and mortality at the edges of the bands, and conjecture that such changes are driven by human-induced shifts in plant species composition. Our findings suggest signatures of human impact that may aid in identifying and monitoring vulnerable drylands in the Horn of Africa.
A small molecule inhibitor of Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase for the treatment of metabolic disorders
Authors: Kannt Aimo , Rajagopal Sridharan , Kadnur Sanjay Venkatachalapathi , Suresh Juluri , Bhamidipati Ravi Kanth , Swaminathan Srinivasan , Hallur Mahanandeesha Siddappa , Kristam Rajendra , Elvert Ralf , Czech Jörg , Pfenninger Anja , Rudolph Christine , Schreuder Herman , Chandrasekar Devaraj Venkatapura , Mane Vishal Subhash , Birudukota Swarnakumari , Shaik Shama , Zope Bharat Ravindra , Burri Raghunadha Reddy , Anand Niranjan Naranapura , Thakur Manish Kumar , Singh Manvi , Parveen Reejuana , Kandan Saravanan , Mullangi Ramesh , Yura Takeshi , Gosu Ramachandraiah , Ruf Sven , Dhakshinamoorthy Saravanakumar 
Published: February 2018

AbstractNicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) is a cytosolic enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group from the co-factor S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) onto the substrate, nicotinamide (NA) to form 1-methyl-nicotinamide (MNA). Higher NNMT expression and MNA concentrations have been associated with obesity and type-2 diabetes. Here we report a small molecule analog of NA, JBSNF-000088, that inhibits NNMT activity, reduces MNA levels and drives insulin sensitization, glucose modulation and body weight reduction in animal models of metabolic disease. In mice with high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity, JBSNF-000088 treatment caused a reduction in body weight, improved insulin sensitivity and normalized glucose tolerance to the level of lean control mice. These effects were not seen in NNMT knockout mice on HFD, confirming specificity of JBSNF-000088. The compound also improved glucose handling in ob/ob and db/db mice albeit to a lesser extent and in the absence of weight loss. Co-crystal structure analysis revealed the presence of the N-methylated product of JBSNF-000088 bound to the NNMT protein. The N-methylated product was also detected in the plasma of mice treated with JBSNF-000088. Hence, JBSNF-000088 may act as a slow-turnover substrate analog, driving the observed metabolic benefits.
Nanobody-Displaying Flagellar Nanotubes
Authors: Klein Ágnes , Kovács Mátyás , Muskotál Adél , Jankovics Hajnalka , Tóth Balázs , Pósfai Mihály , Vonderviszt Ferenc 
Published: February 2018

AbstractIn this work we addressed the problem how to fabricate self-assembling tubular nanostructures displaying target recognition functionalities. Bacterial flagellar filaments, composed of thousands of flagellin subunits, were used as scaffolds to display single-domain antibodies (nanobodies) on their surface. As a representative example, an anti-GFP nanobody was successfully inserted into the middle part of flagellin replacing the hypervariable surface-exposed D3 domain. A novel procedure was developed to select appropriate linkers required for functional internal insertion. Linkers of various lengths and conformational properties were chosen from a linker database and they were randomly attached to both ends of an anti-GFP nanobody to facilitate insertion. Functional fusion constructs capable of forming filaments on the surface of flagellin-deficient host cells were selected by magnetic microparticles covered by target GFP molecules and appropriate linkers were identified. TEM studies revealed that short filaments of 2–900 nm were formed on the cell surface. ITC and fluorescent measurements demonstrated that the fusion protein exhibited high binding affinity towards GFP. Our approach allows the development of functionalized flagellar nanotubes against a variety of important target molecules offering potential applications in biosensorics and bio-nanotechnology.
Intramembranous ossification and endochondral ossification are impaired differently between glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis and estrogen deficiency-induced osteoporosis
Authors: Zhang Hongyang , Shi Xiaojuan , Wang Long , Li Xiaojie , Zheng Chao , Gao Bo , Xu Xiaolong , Lin Xisheng , Wang Jinpeng , Lin Yangjing , Shi Jun , Huang Qiang , Luo Zhuojing , Yang Liu 
Published: February 2018

AbstractA fracture is the most dangerous complication of osteoporosis in patients because the associated disability and mortality rates are high. Osteoporosis impairs fracture healing and prognosis, but how intramembranous ossification (IO) or endochondral ossification (EO) during fracture healing are affected and whether these two kinds of ossification are different between glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) and estrogen deficiency-induced osteoporosis (EDOP) are poorly understood. In this study, we established two bone repair models that exhibited repair via IO or EO and compared the pathological progress of each under GIOP and EDOP. In the cortical drill-hole model, which is repaired through IO, osteogenic differentiation was more seriously impaired in EDOP at the early stage than in GIOP. In the periosteum scratch model, in which EO is replicated, chondrocyte hypertrophy progression was delayed in both GIOP and EDOP. The in vitro results were consistent with the in vivo results. Our study is the first to establish bone repair models in which IO and EO occur separately, and the results strongly describe the differences in bone repair between GIOP and EDOP.
Tolerance of chronic HDACi treatment for neurological, visceral and lung Niemann-Pick Type C disease in mice
Authors: Alam Md. Suhail , Cooper Bruce , Farris Joseph D. , Haldar Kasturi 
Published: February 2018

AbstractHistone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors are of significant interest as drugs. However, their use to treat neurological disorders has raised concern because HDACs are required for brain function. We have previously shown that a triple combination formulation (TCF) of the pan HDACi vorinostat (Vo), 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPBCD) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) 400 improves pharmacokinetic exposure and entry of Vo into the brain. TCF treatment significantly delayed both neurodegeneration and death in theNpc1nmf164murine model of Niemann-Pick Type C (NPC) disease. The TCF induces no metabolic toxicity, but its risk to normal brain functions and potential utility in treating lung disease, a major NPC clinical complication, remain unknown. Here we report that TCF administered in healthy mice for 8–10 months was not detrimental to the brain or neuromuscular functions based on quantitative analyses of Purkinje neurons, neuroinflammation, neurocognitive/muscular disease symptom progression, cerebellar/hippocampal nerve fiber-staining, andHdacgene-expression. The TCF also improved delivery of Vo to lungs and reduced accumulation of foamy macrophages inNpc1nmf164mice, with no injury. Together, these data support feasibility of tolerable, chronic administration of an HDACi formulation that treats murine NPC neurological disease and lung pathology, a frequent cause of death in this and possibly additional disorders.
Optical properties of dense lithium in electride phases by first-principles calculations
Authors: Yu Zheng , Geng Hua Y. , Sun Y. , Chen Y. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThe metal-semiconductor-metal transition in dense lithium is considered as an archetype of interplay between interstitial electron localization and delocalization induced by compression, which leads to exotic electride phases. In this work, the dynamic dielectric response and optical properties of the high-pressure electride phases of cI16, oC40 and oC24 in lithium spanning a wide pressure range from 40 to 200 GPa by first-principles calculations are reported. Both interband and intraband contribution to the dielectric function are deliberately treated with the linear response theory. One intraband and two interband plasmons in cI16 at 70 GPa induced by a structural distortion at 2.1, 4.1, and 7.7 eV are discovered, which make the reflectivity of this weak metallic phase abnormally lower than the insulating phase oC40 at the corresponding frequencies. More strikingly, oC24 as a reentrant metallic phase with higher conductivity becomes more transparent than oC40 in infrared and visible light range due to its unique electronic structure around Fermi surface. An intriguing reflectivity anisotropy in both oC40 and oC24 is predicted, with the former being strong enough for experimental detection within the spectrum up to 10 eV. The important role of interstitial localized electrons is highlighted, revealing diversity and rich physics in electrides.
A preliminary study on efficacy of rupatadine for the treatment of acute dengue infection
Authors: Malavige Gathsaurie Neelika , Wijewickrama Ananda , Fernando Samitha , Jeewandara Chandima , Ginneliya Anushka , Samarasekara Supun , Madushanka Praveen , Punchihewa Chameera , Paranavitane Shiran , Idampitiya Damayanthi , Wanigatunga Chandanie , Dissanayake Harsha , Prathapan Shamini , Gomes Laksiri , Aman Siti A. B. , John Ashley St. , Ogg Graham S. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractCurrently there are no specific treatments available for acute dengue infection. We considered that rupatadine, a platelet-activating factor receptor inhibitor, might modulate dengue-associated vascular leak. The effects of rupatadine were assessed in vitro, and in a dengue model, which showed that rupatadine significantly reduced endothelial permeability by dengue sera in vitro, and significantly inhibited the increased haematocrit in dengue-infected mice with dose-dependency. We conducted a randomised, placebo-controlled trial in 183 adult patients in Sri Lanka with acute dengue, which showed that rupatadine up to 40 mg daily appeared safe and well-tolerated with similar proportions of adverse events with rupatadine and placebo. Although the primary end-point of a significant reduction in fluid leakage (development of pleural effusions or ascites) was not met, post-hoc analyses revealed small but significant differences in several parameters on individual illness days - higher platelet counts and lower aspartate-aminotransferase levels on day 7 in the rupatadine group compared to the placebo group, and smaller effusions on day 8 in the subgroup of patients with pleural effusions. However, due to the small sample size and range of recruitment time, the potential beneficial effects of rupatadine require further evaluation in large studies focused on recruitment during the early febrile phase.
Cross-Linguistic Cognate Production in Spanish–English Bilingual Children With and Without Specific Language Impairment
Authors: Grasso Stephanie M. , Peña Elizabeth D. , Bedore Lisa M. , Hixon J. Gregory , Griffin Zenzi M. 
Published: February 2018

Purpose

Bilinguals tend to produce cognates (e.g.,
telephone
in English and
teléfono
in Spanish) more accurately than they produce noncognates (
table
/
mesa
). We tested whether the same holds for bilingual children with specific language impairment (SLI).

Method
Participants included Spanish–English bilingual children (aged 5;0 to 9;11 [years;months]), 25 with SLI and 92 without, who had comparable language experience. Cognate and noncognate items were taken from English and Spanish versions of the Expressive One-Word Picture Vocabulary Test (Brownell, 2000, 2001).

Results
Although bilingual children with language impairment named fewer items correctly overall, they accurately named cognates more often than noncognates, as did typically developing children. Independent of language ability, accurate naming of a cognate in one language strongly predicted accurate naming in the other language.

Conclusion
Language impairment appears unrelated to the mechanism that produces a cognate advantage in naming accuracy. Given that correct performance for a difficult word in one language is associated with knowing its cognate in another, cognates may be particularly viable targets for language intervention in bilingual children with SLI.
Magnetic circuit designing and structural optimisation for a three degree‐of‐freedom hybrid magnetic bearing
Authors: Xu Zhang , Xu Liu , Bangcheng Han , Xiangyang Ye 
Published: February 2018

The three degree‐of‐freedom (3‐DOF) hybrid magnetic bearing (HMB) sets radial, axial at one entirety, which can effectively save the bearing installation space. Here, a 3‐DOF HMB is designed, optimised, and tested for a 30 kW 60,000 r/min high‐speed motor system. The radial and axial bearing capacity is analysed by equivalent magnetic circuit method and three dimensional finite element model (FEM) of initial model of 3‐DOF HMB is established. Then, the radial bearing capacity, axial bearing capacity, current‐stiffness, and displacement‐stiffness are selected as the optimised design target by using chaos particle swarm optimisation algorithm. Meanwhile, the axial length, eddy‐current loss, and air‐gap flux density are selected as constraints of optimization. The optimal results showed that the axial length is decreased, the eddy‐current loss is reduced, and the harmonics in the air gap is lower while the bearing capacity is improved. Furthermore, a 30 kW 60,000 r/min high‐speed motor with proposed 3‐DOF HMB is manufactured, and the experiments of the radial/axial static bearing capacity test, dynamic performance of high‐speed motor with no load in 60,000 r/min and with load in 55,000 r/min are carried out. Experiment results show that the optimised 3‐DOF HMB has good force performance and dynamic performance.
The GAPS programme with HARPS-N at TNG
Authors: Mancini L. , Esposito M. , Covino E. , Southworth J. , Biazzo K. , Bruni I. , Ciceri S. , Evans D. , Lanza A. F. , Poretti E. , Sarkis P. , Smith A. M. S. , Brogi M. , Affer L. , Benatti S. , Bignamini A. , Boccato C. , Bonomo A. S. , Borsa F. , Carleo I. , Claudi R. , Cosentino R. , Damasso M. , Desidera S. , Giacobbe P. , González-Álvarez E. , Gratton R. , Harutyunyan A. , Leto G. , Maggio A. , Malavolta L. , Maldonado J. , Martinez-Fiorenzano A. , Masiero S. , Micela G. , Molinari E. , Nascimbeni V. , Pagano I. , Pedani M. , Piotto G. , Rainer M. , Scandariato G. , Smareglia R. , Sozzetti A. , Andreuzzi G. , Henning Th. 
Published: February 2018

Context. The measurement of the orbital obliquity of hot Jupiters with different physical characteristics can provide clues to the mechanisms of migration and orbital evolution of this particular class of giant exoplanets.
Aims. We aim to derive the degree of alignment between planetary orbit and stellar spin angular momentum vectors and look for possible links with other orbital and fundamental physical parameters of the star-planet system. We focus on the characterisation of five transiting planetary systems (HAT-P-3, HAT-P-12, HAT-P-22, WASP-39, and WASP-60) and the determination of their sky-projected planet orbital obliquity through the measurement of the Rossiter–McLaughlin effect.
Methods. We used HARPS-N high-precision radial velocity measurements, gathered during transit events, to measure the Rossiter–McLaughlin effect in the target systems and determine the sky-projected angle between the planetary orbital plane and stellar equator. The characterisation of stellar atmospheric parameters was performed by exploiting the HARPS-N spectra, using line equivalent width ratios and spectral synthesis methods. Photometric parameters of the five transiting exoplanets were re-analysed through 17 new light curves, obtained with an array of medium-class telescopes, and other light curves from the literature. Survey-time-series photometric data were analysed for determining the rotation periods of the five stars and their spin inclination.
Results. From the analysis of the Rossiter–McLaughlin effect we derived a sky-projected obliquity of λ = 21.2° ± 8.7°, λ = −54°−13°+41°, λ = −2.1° ± 3.0°, λ = 0° ± 11°, and λ = −129° ± 17° for HAT-P-3 b, HAT-P-12 b, HAT-P-22 b, WASP-39 b, and WASP-60 b, respectively. The latter value indicates that WASP-60 b is moving on a retrograde orbit. These values represent the first measurements of λ for the five exoplanetary systems under study. The stellar activity of HAT-P-22 indicates a rotation period of 28.7 ± 0.4 days, which allowed us to estimate the true misalignment angle of HAT-P-22 b, ψ = 24° ± 18°. The revision of the physical parameters of the five exoplanetary systems returned values that are fully compatible with those existing in the literature. The exception to this is the WASP-60 system, for which, based on higher quality spectroscopic and photometric data, we found a more massive and younger star and a larger and hotter planet.
Circulating CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells paralleled with level of viremia in patients chronically infected with hepatitis B virus
Authors: Abdellatif Hussein 
Published: February 2018

Introduction: Liver regeneration is a heterogeneous process involving proliferation of different cell types in response to injury. Bone marrow derived stem cells may be involved in this process, by making contribution to parenchymal restoration and cellular replacement. We aimed to investigate the correlation between level of circulating mobilized CD34+ hematopoietic stem progenitor cells (HSPCs) and viremia level in patients chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV).
Methods: Blood samples were prospectively collected for assessing percentage and absolute counts of circulating CD34+ HSPCs and viral load level using flow cytometry and RT-PCR respectively. Patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) (n = 30), Entecavir (ETV) treated subjects (n = 30) and 20 age and gender matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Results were expressed as mean ± SD.
Results and discussion: A significant increase in circulating CD34+ HSPCs level was observed in CHB patients (5 ± 3.1, 324 ± 195 × 103/ml) as compared to ETV treated subjects (0.57 ± 0.27,1022 ± 325) and healthy controls (0.53 ± 0.37, 694 ± 254, P < 0.001) in regards to percentage and absolute counts respectively. Levels of CD34+ HSPCs strongly and positively correlated with HBV DNA viral load levels in CHB patients (r2 = 0.8417, 0.649, P < 0.001).Thus, in chronic liver disorders (CHB), when reduced regenerative capacity of hepatocytes is reached, BMSCs mobilization occurs and their level increases in peripheral blood. The level of circulating CD34+ cells in peripheral blood of CHB patients paralleled with the hepatitis B viral load.