bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Background matching in the brown shrimp Crangon crangon: adaptive camouflage and behavioural-plasticity
Authors: Siegenthaler Andjin , Mastin Alexander , Dufaut Clément , Mondal Debapriya , Benvenuto Chiara 
Published: February 2018

AbstractA combination of burrowing behaviour and very efficient background matching makes the brown shrimp Crangon crangon almost invisible to potential predators and prey. This raises questions on how shrimp succeed in concealing themselves in the heterogeneous and dynamic estuarine habitats they inhabit and what type of environmental variables and behavioural factors affect their colour change abilities. Using a series of behavioural experiments, we show that the brown shrimp is capable of repeated fast colour adaptations (20% change in dark pigment cover within one hour) and that its background matching ability is mainly influenced by illumination and sediment colour. Novel insights are provided on the occurrence of non-adaptive (possibly stress) responses to background changes after long-time exposure to a constant background colour or during unfavourable conditions for burying. Shrimp showed high levels of intra- and inter-individual variation, demonstrating a complex balance between behavioural-plasticity and environmental adaptation. As such, the study of crustacean colour changes represents a valuable opportunity to investigate colour adaptations in dynamic habitats and can help us to identify the mayor environmental and behavioural factors influencing the evolution of animal background matching.
Epistasis between FLG and IL4R Genes on the Risk of Allergic Sensitization: Results from Two Population-Based Birth Cohort Studies
Authors: Ziyab Ali H. , Hankinson Jenny , Ewart Susan , Schauberger Eric , Kopec-Harding Kamilla , Zhang Hongmei , Custovic Adnan , Arshad Hasan , Simpson Angela , Karmaus Wilfried J. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractImmune-specific genes as well as genes responsible for the formation and integrity of the epidermal barrier have been implicated in the pathogeneses of allergic sensitization. This study sought to determine whether an epistatic effect (gene-gene interaction) between genetic variants within interleukin 4 receptor (IL4R) and filaggrin (FLG) genes predispose to the development of allergic sensitization. Data from two birth cohort studies were analyzed, namely the Isle of Wight (IOW; n = 1,456) and the Manchester Asthma and Allergy Study (MAAS; n = 1,058). In the IOW study, one interaction term (IL4Rrs3024676 × FLGvariants) showed statistical significance (interaction term:P = 0.003). To illustrate the observed epistasis, stratified analyses were performed, which showed thatFLGvariants were associated with allergic sensitization only amongIL4Rrs3024676 homozygotes (OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.27–3.05;P = 0.003). In contrast,FLGvariants effect was masked amongIL4Rrs3024676 heterozygotes (OR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.22–1.32;P = 0.175). Similar results were demonstrated in the MAAS study. Epistasis between immune (IL4R) and skin (FLG) regulatory genes exist in the pathogenesis of allergic sensitization. Hence, genetic susceptibility towards defective epidermal barrier and deviated immune responses could work together in the development of allergic sensitization.
Impact of aromatase absence on murine intraocular pressure and retinal ganglion cells
Authors: Chen Xiaomin , Liu Yang , Zhang Yi , Kam Wendy R. , Pasquale Louis R. , Sullivan David A. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractWe hypothesize that aromatase, an enzyme that regulates estrogen production, plays a significant role in the control of intraocular pressure (IOP) and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). To begin to test our hypothesis, we examined the impact of aromatase absence, which completely eliminates estrogen synthesis, in male and female mice. Studies were performed with adult, age-matched wild type (WT) and aromatase knockout (ArKO) mice. IOP was measured in a masked fashion in both eyes of conscious mice at 12 and 24 weeks of age. Retinas were obtained and processed for RGC counting with a confocal microscope. IOP levels in both 12- and 24-week old female ArKO mice were significantly higher than those of age- and sex-matched WT controls. The mean increase in IOP was 7.9% in the 12-week-, and 19.7% in the 24-week-old mice, respectively. These changes were accompanied by significant 9% and 7% decreases in RGC numbers in the ArKO female mice, relative to controls, at 12- and 24-weeks, respectively. In contrast, aromatase deficiency did not lead to an increased IOP in male mice. There was a significant reduction in RGC counts in the 12-, but not 24-, week-old male ArKO mice, as compared to their age- and sex-matched WT controls. Overall, our findings show that aromatase inhibition in females is associated with elevated IOP and reduced RGC counts.
c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 defective CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ cells prolong islet allograft survival in diabetic mice
Authors: Tripathi Deepak , Cheekatla Satyanarayana S. , Paidipally Padmaja , Radhakrishnan Rajesh Kumar , Welch Elwyn , Thandi Ramya Sivangala , Tvinnereim Amy R. , Vankayalapati Ramakrishna 
Published: February 2018

AbstractCD4+CD25+FoxP3+ cells (Tregs) inhibit inflammatory immune responses to allografts. Here, we found that co-transplantation of allogeneic pancreatic islets with Tregs that are defective in c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1) signaling prolongs islet allograft survival in the liver parenchyma of chemically induced diabetic mice (CDM). Adoptively transferred JNK1−/− but not wild-type (WT) Tregs survive longer in the liver parenchyma of CDM. JNK1−/− Tregs are resistant to apoptosis and express anti-apoptotic molecules. JNK1−/− Tregs express higher levels of lymphocyte activation gene-3 molecule (LAG-3) on their surface and produce higher amounts of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-10 compared with WT Tregs. JNK1−/− Tregs inhibit liver alloimmune responses more efficiently than WT Tregs. JNK1−/− but not WT Tregs are able to inhibit IL-17 and IL-21 production through enhanced LAG-3 expression and IL-10 production. Our study identifies a novel role of JNK1 signaling in Tregs that enhances islet allograft survival in the liver parenchyma of CDM.
Effects of predispersal insect seed predation on the early life history stages of a rare cold sand-desert legume
Authors: Han Yi J. , Baskin Jerry M. , Tan Dun Y. , Baskin Carol C. , Wu Ming Y. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractSeed predation by insects is common in seeds of Fabaceae (legume) species with physical dormancy (PY). However, the consequences of insect seed predation on the life history of legumes with PY have been little studied. In the largest genus of seed plants, Astragalus (Fabaceae), only one study has tested the effects of insect predation on germination, and none has tested it directly on seedling survival. Thus, we tested the effects of insect predation on seed germination and seedling growth and survival of Astragalus lehmannianus, a central Asian sand-desert endemic. Under laboratory conditions, seeds lightly predated in the natural habitat of this perennial legume germinated to a much higher percentage than intact seeds, and seedlings from predated and nonpredated seeds survived and grew about equally well. Further, in contrast to our prediction seedlings from predated seeds that germinated “out-of-season” under near-natural conditions in NW China survived over winter. The implication of our results is that individual plants from predated seeds that germinate early (in our case autumn) potentially have a fitness advantage over those from nonpredated seeds, which delay germination until spring of a subsequent year.
Rapid emergence of independent “chromosomal lineages” in silvered-leaf monkey triggered by Y/autosome translocation
Authors: Capozzi Oronzo , Stanyon Roscoe , Archidiacono Nicoletta , Ishida Takafumi , Romanenko Svetlana A. , Rocchi Mariano 
Published: February 2018

AbstractSex/autosome translocations are rare events. The only known example in catarrhines is in the silvered-leaf monkey. Here the Y chromosome was reciprocally translocated with chromosome 1. The rearrangement produced an X1X2Y1Y2 sex chromosome system. At least three chromosomal variants of the intact chromosome 1 are known to exist. We characterized in high resolution the translocation products (Y1 and Y2) and the polymorphic forms of the intact chromosome 1 with a panel of more than 150 human BAC clones. We showed that the translocation products were extremely rearranged, in contrast to the high level of marker order conservation of the other silvered-leaf monkey chromosomes. Surprisingly, each translocation product appeared to form independent “chromosome lineages”; each having a myriad of distinct rearrangements. We reconstructed the evolutionary history of the translocation products by comparing the homologous chromosomes of two other colobine species: the African mantled guereza and the Indian langur. The results showed a massive reuse of breakpoints: only 12, out of the 40 breaks occurred in domains never reused in other rearrangements, while, strikingly, some domains were used up to four times. Such frequent breakpoint reuse if proved to be a general phenomenon has profound implications for mechanisms of chromosome evolution.
Imaging of electrical activity in small diameter fibers of the murine peripheral nerve with virally-delivered GCaMP6f
Authors: Anderson Hans E. , Fontaine Arjun K. , Caldwell John H. , Weir Richard F. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractCurrent neural interfaces are hampered by lack of specificity and selectivity for neural interrogation. A method that might improve these interfaces is an optical peripheral nerve interface which communicates with individual axons via optogenetic reporters. To determine the feasibility of such an interface, we delivered the genetically encoded calcium indicator GCaMP6f to the mouse peripheral nerve by intramuscular injection of adenoassociated viral vector (AAV1) under the control of the CAG (chicken beta actin- cytomegalovirus hybrid promoter). Small diameter axons in the common peroneal nerve were transduced and demonstrated electrically inducible calcium transients ex vivo. Responses to single electrical stimuli were resolvable, and increasing the number of stimuli resulted in a monotonic increase in maximum fluorescence and a prolongation of calcium transient kinetics. This work demonstrates the viability of using a virally-delivered, genetically-encoded calcium indicator to read-out from peripheral nerve axons.
Vesicle-based secretion in schistosomes: Analysis of protein and microRNA (miRNA) content of exosome-like vesicles derived from Schistosoma mansoni
Authors: Samoil Vitalie , Dagenais Maude , Ganapathy Vinupriya , Aldridge Jerry , Glebov Anastasia , Jardim Armando , Ribeiro Paula 
Published: February 2018

AbstractExosomes are small vesicles of endocytic origin, which are released into the extracellular environment and mediate a variety of physiological and pathological conditions. Here we show that Schistosoma mansoni releases exosome-like vesicles in vitro. Vesicles were purified from culture medium by sucrose gradient fractionation and fractions containing vesicles verified by western blot analyses and electron microscopy. Proteomic analyses of exosomal contents unveiled 130 schistosome proteins. Among these proteins are common exosomal markers such as heat shock proteins, energy-generating enzymes, cytoskeletal proteins, and others. In addition, the schistosome extracellular vesicles contain proteins of potential importance for host-parasite interaction, notably peptidases, signaling proteins, cell adhesion proteins (e.g., integrins) and previously described vaccine candidates, including glutathione-S-transferase (GST), tetraspanin (TSP-2) and calpain. S. mansoni exosomes also contain 143 microRNAs (miRNA), of which 25 are present at high levels, including miRNAs detected in sera of infected hosts. Quantitative PCR analysis confirmed the presence of schistosome-derived miRNAs in exosomes purified from infected mouse sera. The results provide evidence of vesicle-mediated secretion in these parasites and suggest that schistosome-derived exosomes could play important roles in host-parasite interactions and could be a useful tool in the development of vaccines and therapeutics.
Small molecule metabolite biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma with bile duct tumor thrombus diagnosis
Authors: Tan Weifeng , He Jingquan , Deng Junliang , Yang Xinwei , Cui Longjiu , Ran Rongzheng , Du Guangwei , Jiang Xiaoqing 
Published: February 2018

AbstractHepatocellular carcinoma with bile duct tumor thrombus (BDTT) is a malignant disease. The most commonly used diagnosis methods for BDTT are MRCP/ERCP, ultrasonic diagnosis or CT scan. However, BDTT is often misdiagnosed as other bile duct diseases, such as extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EHCC), choledochal cyst (Cyst) and common bile duct stone (Stone). Diagnostic methods, which are more accurate and less destructive, are urgently needed. In this paper, we analyzed the small molecule metabolites in the serum of BDTT, Stone, Cyst and EHCC patients and normal people using untargeted GC-MS, and identified 21 metabolites that show different levels among different samples. Using targeted UHPLC-QQQ-MS analysis, we found that several metabolites are significantly changed. ROC curve analysis revealed two metabolites, L-citrulline and D-aspartic acid, as potential biomarkers that can distinguish BDTT from other bile duct diseases.
Genomic Variants in NEURL, GJA1 and CUX2 Significantly Increase Genetic Susceptibility to Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Wang Pengxia , Qin Weixi , Wang Pengyun , Huang Yufeng , Liu Ying , Zhang Rongfeng , Li Sisi , Yang Qin , Wang Xiaojing , Chen Feifei , Liu Jingqiu , Yang Bo , Cheng Xiang , Liao Yuhua , Wu Yanxia , Ke Tie , Tu Xin , Ren Xiang , Yang Yanzong , Xia Yunlong , Luo Xiaoping , Liu Mugen , Li He , Liu Jingyu , Xiao Yi , Chen Qiuyun , Xu Chengqi , Wang Qing K. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractAtrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia. In 2014, two new meta-GWAS identified 5 AF loci, including the NEURL locus, GJA1 locus, CAND2 locus, and TBX5 locus in the European ancestry populations and the NEURL locus and CUX2 locus in a Japanese population. The TBX5 locus for AF was reported by us in 2013 in the Chinese population. Here we assessed the association between AF and SNPs in the NEURL, GJA1, CAND2 and CUX2 loci in the Chinese Han population. We carried out a large case-control association study with 1,164 AF patients and 1,460 controls. Significant allelic and genotypic associations were identified between NEURL variant rs6584555 and GJA1 variant rs13216675 and AF. Significant genotypic association was found between CUX2 SNP rs6490029 and AF. No association was found between CAND2 variant rs4642101 and AF, which may be due to an insufficient power of the sample size for rs4642101. Together with our previous findings, seven of fifteen AF loci (<50%) identified by GWAS in the European ancestry populations conferred susceptibility to AF in the Chinese population, and explained approximately 14.5% of AF heritability. On the other hand, two AF loci identified in the Japanese population were both replicated in the Chinese population.
Gray and white matter integrity influence TMS signal propagation: a multimodal evaluation in cocaine-dependent individuals
Authors: Kearney-Ramos Tonisha E. , Lench Daniel H. , Hoffman Michaela , Correia Brittany , Dowdle Logan T. , Hanlon Colleen A. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractTranscranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can stimulate cortical and subcortical brain regions. However, in order to reach subcortical targets, intact monosynaptic connections are required. The goal of this investigation was to evaluate the contribution of white matter integrity and gray matter volume to frontal pole TMS-evoked striatal activity in a large cohort of chronic cocaine users. 49 cocaine users received single pulses of TMS to the frontal pole while BOLD data were acquired – a technique known as interleaved TMS/fMRI. Diffusion tensor imaging and voxel-based morphometry were used to quantify white matter integrity and gray matter volume (GMV), respectively. Stepwise regression was used to evaluate the contribution of clinical and demographic variables to TMS-evoked BOLD. Consistent with previous studies, frontal pole TMS evoked activity in striatum and salience circuitry. The size of the TMS-evoked response was related to fractional anisotropy between the frontal pole and putamen and GMV in the left frontal pole and left ACC. This is the first study to demonstrate that the effect of TMS on subcortical activity is dependent upon the structural integrity of the brain. These data suggest that these structural neuroimaging data types are biomarkers for TMS-induced mobilization of the striatum.
Identification and characterization of SSE15206, a microtubule depolymerizing agent that overcomes multidrug resistance
Authors: Manzoor Safia , Bilal Aishah , Khan Sardraz , Ullah Rahim , Iftikhar Sunniya , Emwas Abdul-Hamid , Alazmi Meshari , Gao Xin , Jawaid Ali , Saleem Rahman Shah Zaib , Faisal Amir 
Published: February 2018

AbstractMicrotubules are highly dynamic structures that form spindle fibres during mitosis and are one of the most validated cancer targets. The success of drugs targeting microtubules, however, is often limited by the development of multidrug resistance. Here we describe the discovery and characterization of SSE15206, a pyrazolinethioamide derivative [3-phenyl-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-1-carbothioamide] that has potent antiproliferative activities in cancer cell lines of different origins and overcomes resistance to microtubule-targeting agents. Treatment of cells with SSE15206 causes aberrant mitosis resulting in G2/M arrest due to incomplete spindle formation, a phenotype often associated with drugs that interfere with microtubule dynamics. SSE15206 inhibits microtubule polymerization both in biochemical and cellular assays by binding to colchicine site in tubulin as shown by docking and competition studies. Prolonged treatment of cells with the compound results in apoptotic cell death [increased Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage and Annexin V/PI staining] accompanied by p53 induction. More importantly, we demonstrate that SSE15206 is able to overcome resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs in different cancer cell lines including multidrug-resistant KB-V1 and A2780-Pac-Res cell lines overexpressing MDR-1, making it a promising hit for the lead optimization studies to target multidrug resistance.
Comparative transcriptomics with self-organizing map reveals cryptic photosynthetic differences between two accessions of North American Lake cress
Authors: Nakayama Hokuto , Sakamoto Tomoaki , Okegawa Yuki , Kaminoyama Kaori , Fujie Manabu , Ichihashi Yasunori , Kurata Tetsuya , Motohashi Ken , Al-Shehbaz Ihsan , Sinha Neelima , Kimura Seisuke 
Published: February 2018

AbstractBecause natural variation in wild species is likely the result of local adaptation, it provides a valuable resource for understanding plant-environmental interactions. Rorippa aquatica (Brassicaceae) is a semi-aquatic North American plant with morphological differences between several accessions, but little information available on any physiological differences. Here, we surveyed the transcriptomes of two R. aquatica accessions and identified cryptic physiological differences between them. We first reconstructed a Rorippa phylogeny to confirm relationships between the accessions. We performed large-scale RNA-seq and de novo assembly; the resulting 87,754 unigenes were then annotated via comparisons to different databases. Between-accession physiological variation was identified with transcriptomes from both accessions. Transcriptome data were analyzed with principal component analysis and self-organizing map. Results of analyses suggested that photosynthetic capability differs between the accessions. Indeed, physiological experiments revealed between-accession variation in electron transport rate and the redox state of the plastoquinone pool. These results indicated that one accession may have adapted to differences in temperature or length of the growing season.
Ultrafast electron-phonon coupling and photo-induced strain in the morphotropic phase boundary of BixDy1−xFeO3 films
Authors: Zhang Zeyu , You Lu , Du Juan , Wang Junling , Jin Zuanming , Ma Guohong , Leng Yuxin 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThe interplay among ferroelectric, magnetic and elastic degrees of freedom in multiferroics is the key issues in condensed matters, which has been widely investigated by various methods. Here, using ultrafast two-color pump-probe spectroscopy, the picosecond electron-phonon and spin-lattice coupling process in Dysprosium doped-BiFeO3 (BDFO) films on SrTiO3 (STO) substrate have been investigated systematically. The Dy-doping induced structural transition and magnetic enhancement in BDFO is observed by ultrafast electron-phonon and spin-lattice interaction, respectively. The elastic anomalies in BDFO films are revealed by the photo-induced coherent acoustic phonon. With increasing the Dy doping ratio, the frequencies of the acoustic phonon in the films are modulated, and the phonon transmission coefficient between films and substrate is found to approach unity gradually. The ultrafast observation of the tunability of the ferroelectric, magnetic and the elastic properties in the morphotropic phase boundary of rare-earth doped BFO films provides new insights into the integration of BFO in next-generation high frequency electro-magnetic and electroacoustic devices.
Elements of the complete blood count associated with cardiovascular disease incidence: Findings from the EPIC-NL cohort study
Authors: Lassale Camille , Curtis Alyscia , Abete Itziar , van der Schouw Yvonne. T. , Verschuren W. M. Monique , Lu Yunxia , Bueno-de-Mesquita H. B. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractAll blood cells (white blood cells [WBC], red blood cells [RBC] and platelets) can play a role in atherosclerosis. Complete blood count (CBC) is widely available in clinical practice but utility as potential risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) is uncertain. Our aim was to assess the associations of pre-diagnostic CBC with incidence of CVD in 14,362 adults free of CVD and aged 47.8 (±11.7) years at baseline, followed-up for 11.4 years (992 incident cases). Cox proportional hazards regressions were used to estimate HRs and 95%CI. Comparing the top (T3) to bottom (T1) tertile, increased total WBC, lymphocyte, monocyte and neutrophil counts were associated with higher CVD risk: 1.31 (1.10; 1.55), 1.20 (1.02; 1.41), 1.21 (1.03; 1.41) and 1.24 (1.05; 1.47), as well as mean corpuscular volume (MCV: 1.23 [1.04; 1.46]) and red cell distribution width (RDW: 1.22 [1.03; 1.44]). Platelets displayed an association for count values above the clinically normal range: 1.49 (1.00; 2.22). To conclude, total and differential WBC count, MCV, RDW and platelet count likely play a role in the aetiology of CVD but only WBC provide a modest improvement for the prediction of 10-year CVD risk over traditional CVD risk factors in a general population.