bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Vitamin D supplementation and inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers in patients with knee osteoarthritis: post hoc analysis of a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Zheng Shuang , Wang Bing , Han Weiyu , Zhu Zhaohua , Wang Xia , Jin Xingzhong , Antony Benny , Cicuttini Flavia , Wluka Anita , Winzenberg Tania , Aitken Dawn , Blizzard Leigh , Jones Graeme , Ding Changhai 
Published: June 2018

AbstractThe aim of this study was to determine whether vitamin D supplementation and maintaining vitamin D sufficiency are associated with changes in inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) and vitamin D deficiency. A total of 413 participants with symptomatic knee OA and vitamin D deficiency were enrolled in a randomised, placebo-controlled trial and received 1·25 mg vitamin D3 or placebo monthly for 24 months across two sites. In this post hoc analysis, 200 participants from one site (ninety-four from the placebo group and 106 from the vitamin D group; mean age 63·1 (sd 7·3) years, 53·3 % women) were randomly selected for measurement of serum levels of inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers at baseline and 24 months using immunoassays. In addition, participants were classified into two groups according to serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels at months 3 and 24: (1) not consistently sufficient (25(OH)D≤50 nmol/l at either month 3 or 24, n 61), and (2) consistently sufficient (25(OH)D>50 nmol/l at both months 3 and 24, n 139). Compared with placebo, vitamin D supplementation had no significant effect on change in serum high-sensitive C-reactive protein, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, leptin, adiponectin, resistin, adipsin and apelin. Being consistently vitamin D sufficient over 2 years was also not associated with changes in these biomarkers compared with not being consistently sufficient. Vitamin D supplementation and maintaining vitamin D sufficiency did not alter serum levels of inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers over 2 years in knee OA patients who were vitamin D insufficient, suggesting that they may not affect systemic inflammation in knee OA patients.
Effect of liquid ubiquinol supplementation on glucose, lipids and antioxidant capacity in type 2 diabetes patients: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Yen Chi-Hua , Chu Ying-Ju , Lee Bor-Jen , Lin Yi-Chin , Lin Ping-Ting 
Published: June 2018

AbstractUbiquinone is a lipid antioxidant, and a novel liquid ubiquinol (a hydro-soluble, reduced form of coenzyme Q10) supplement was recently developed. The purpose of this study was to examine the levels of glucose, lipids and antioxidant capacity of type 2 diabetes patients after liquid ubiquinol supplementation. This study was designed as a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. In all, fifty participants were randomly assigned to a placebo (n 25) or liquid ubiquinol (100 mg/d, n 25) group, and the intervention lasted for 12 weeks. Plasma coenzyme Q10, glucose homoeostasis parameters, lipid profiles, oxidative stress and antioxidative enzyme activities were measured during the study. After 12 weeks of supplementation, glyco Hb (HbA1c) value was significantly decreased in the liquid ubiquinol group (P=0·03), and subjects in the liquid ubiquinol group had significantly lower anti-glycaemic medication effect scores (MES) compared with those in the placebo group (P=0·03). The catalase (P<0·01) and glutathione peroxidase (P=0·03) activities were increased significantly after supplementation. Plasma coenzyme Q10 was correlated with the insulin level (P=0·05), homoeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (P=0·07), quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (P=0·03) and the anti-hyperglycaemic agents’ MES (P=0·03) after supplementation. Lipid profiles did not change after supplementation; however, the subjects in the placebo group had a significantly lower level of HDL-cholesterol after 12 weeks of intervention. In conclusion, oral intake of 100 mg/d liquid ubiquinol might benefit type 2 diabetes patients by increasing antioxidant enzyme activity levels, reducing HbA1c levels and maintaining HDL-cholesterol levels.
Expression of the candidate fat taste receptors in human fungiform papillae and the association with fat taste function
Authors: Liu Dongli , Costanzo Andrew , Evans Margaret D. M. , Archer Nicholas S. , Nowson Caryl , Duesing Konsta , Keast Russell 
Published: June 2018

AbstractSignificant experimental evidence supports fat as a taste modality; however, the associated peripheral mechanisms are not well established. Several candidate taste receptors have been identified, but their expression pattern and potential functions in human fungiform papillae remain unknown. The aim of this study is to identify the fat taste candidate receptors and ion channels that were expressed in human fungiform taste buds and their association with oral sensory of fatty acids. For the expression analysis, quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) from RNA extracted from human fungiform papillae samples was used to determine the expression of candidate fatty acid receptors and ion channels. Western blotting analysis was used to confirm the presence of the proteins in fungiform papillae. Immunohistochemistry analysis was used to localise the expressed receptors or ion channels in the taste buds of fungiform papillae. The correlation study was analysed between the expression level of the expressed fat taste receptors or ion channels indicated by qRT-PCR and fat taste threshold, liking of fatty food and fat intake. As a result, qRT-PCR and western blotting indicated that mRNA and protein of CD36, FFAR4, FFAR2, GPR84 and delayed rectifying K+channels are expressed in human fungiform taste buds. The expression level ofCD36was associated with the liking difference score (R−0·567,β=−0·04,P=0·04) between high-fat and low-fat food andFFAR2was associated with total fat intake (ρ=−0·535,β=−0·01,P=0·003) and saturated fat intake (ρ=−0·641,β=−0·02,P=0·008).
Voluntary fortification is ineffective to maintain the vitamin B12and folate status of older Irish adults: evidence from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA)
Authors: Laird Eamon J. , O’Halloran Aisling M. , Carey Daniel , O’Connor Deirdre , Kenny Rose A. , Molloy Anne M. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractMandatory fortification of staple grains with folic acid and/or vitamin B12(B12) is under debate in many countries including Ireland, which has a liberal, but voluntary, fortification policy. Older adults can be at risk of both deficiency and high folate status, although little is known on the actual prevalence and the major predictors. Population prevalence estimates from older adults (n5290 ≥50 years) from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) (Wave 1) are presented here. Measures included plasma total vitamin B12and folate, whereas predictors included detailed demographic, socio-economic, geographic, seasonal and health/lifestyle data. The prevalence of deficient or low B12status (<185 pmol/l) was 12 %, whereas the prevalence of deficient/low folate status was 15 %. High folate status (>45 nmol/l) was observed in 8·9 %, whereas high B12status was observed in 3·1 % (>601 pmol/l). The largest positive predictor of B12concentration was self-reported B12injection and/or supplement use (coefficient 51·5 pmol/; 95 % CI 9·4, 93·6;P=0·016) followed by sex and geographic location. The largest negative predictor was metformin use (−33·6; 95 % CI −51·9, −15·4;P<0·0001). The largest positive predictor of folate concentration was folic acid supplement use (6·0; 95 % CI 3·0, 9·0 nmol/l;P<0·001) followed by being female and statin medications. The largest negative predictor was geographic location (−5·7; 95 % CI −6·7, −4·6;P<0·0001) followed by seasonality and smoking. B-vitamin status in older adults is affected by health and lifestyle, medication, sampling period and geographic location. We observed a high prevalence of low B12and folate status, indicating that the current policy of voluntary fortification is ineffective for older adults.
ON DEGENERATE SIGMA-FUNCTIONS IN GENUS 2
Authors: BERNATSKA JULIA , LEYKIN DMITRY 
Published: June 2018

AbstractWe obtain explicit expressions for genus 2 degenerate sigma-function in terms of genus 1 sigma-function and elementary functions as solutions of a system of linear partial differential equations satisfied by the sigma-function. By way of application, we derive a solution for a class of generalized Jacobi inversion problems on elliptic curves, a family of Schrödinger-type operators on a line with common spectrum consisting of a point and two segments, explicit construction of a field of three-periodic meromorphic functions. Generators of rank 3 lattice in ℂ2are given explicitly.
Solar‐Induced Fluorescence Detects Interannual Variation in Gross Primary Production of Coniferous Forests in the Western United States
Authors: Zuromski Lauren M. , Bowling David R. , Köhler Philipp , Frankenberg Christian , Goulden Michael L. , Blanken Peter D. , Lin John C. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractQuantifying gross primary production (GPP), the largest flux of the terrestrial carbon cycle, remains difficult at the landscape scale. Evergreen needleleaf (coniferous) forests in the western United States constitute an important carbon reservoir whose annual GPP varies from year‐to‐year due to drought, mortality, and other ecosystem disturbances. Evergreen forest productivity is challenging to determine via traditional remote sensing indices (i.e., NDVI and EVI), because detecting environmental stress conditions is difficult. We investigated the utility of solar‐induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) to detect year‐to‐year variation in GPP in four coniferous forests varying in species composition in the western United States (Sierra Nevada, Cascade, and Rocky Mountains). We show that annually averaged, satellite‐based observations of SIF (retrieved from GOME‐2) were significantly correlated with annual GPP observed at eddy covariance towers over several years. Further, SIF responded quantitatively to drought‐induced mortality, suggesting that SIF may be capable of detecting ecosystem disturbance in coniferous forests.
Self‐Consistent Modeling of Electron Precipitation and Responses in the Ionosphere: Application to Low‐Altitude Energization During Substorms
Authors: Yu Yiqun , Jordanova Vania K. , McGranaghan Ryan M. , Solomon Stanley C. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractWe report a new modeling capability that self‐consistently couples physics‐based magnetospheric electron precipitation with its impact on the ionosphere. Specifically, the ring current model RAM‐SCBE is two‐way coupled to an ionospheric electron transport model GLOW (GLobal airglOW), representing a significant improvement over previous models, in which the ionosphere is either treated as a 2‐D spherical boundary of the magnetosphere or is driven by empirical precipitation models that are incapable of capturing small‐scale, transient variations. The new model enables us to study the impact of substorm‐associated, spectrum‐resolved electron precipitation on the 3‐D ionosphere. We found that after each substorm injection, a high‐energy tail of precipitation is produced in the dawn sector outside the plasmapause, by energetic electrons (10 < E < 100 keV) scattered by whistler‐mode chorus waves. Consequently, an ionospheric sublayer characterized by enhanced Pedersen conductivity arises at unusually low altitude (∼85 km), with its latitudinal width of ∼5–10° in the auroral zone. The sublayer structure appears intermittently, in correlation with recurrent substorm injections. It propagates eastward from the nightside to the dayside in the same drift direction of source electrons injected from the plasma sheet, resulting in global impact within the ionosphere. This study demonstrates the model's capability of revealing complex cross‐scale interactions in the geospace environment.
How Uneven Are Changes to Impact‐Relevant Climate Hazards in a 1.5 °C World and Beyond?
Authors: Harrington Luke J. , Frame Dave , King Andrew D. , Otto Friederike E. L. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractIn the last decade, climate mitigation policy has galvanized around staying below specified thresholds of global mean temperature, with an understanding that exceeding these thresholds may result in dangerous interference of the climate system. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change texts have developed thresholds in which the aim is to limit warming to well below 2 °C of warming above preindustrial levels, with an additional aspirational target of 1.5 °C. However, denoting a specific threshold of global mean temperatures as a target for avoiding damaging climate impacts implicitly obscures potentially significant regional variations in the magnitude of these projected impacts. This study introduces a simple framework to quantify the magnitude of this heterogeneity in changing climate hazards at 1.5 °C of warming, using case studies of emergent increases in temperature and rainfall extremes. For example, we find that up to double the amount of global warming (3.0 °C) is needed before people in high‐income countries experience the same relative changes in extreme heat that low‐income nations should anticipate after only 1.5 °C of warming. By mapping how much warming is needed in one location to match the impacts of a fixed temperature threshold in another location, this “temperature of equivalence” index is a flexible and easy‐to‐understand communication tool, with the potential to inform where targeted support for adaptation projects should be prioritized in a warming world.
Regional Trends in Weather Systems Help Explain Antarctic Sea Ice Trends
Authors: Schemm Sebastian 
Published: June 2018

AbstractIn contrast to Arctic sea ice extent, Antarctic sea ice extent has increased since 1979. On a regional scale, however, the trends exhibit high spatial variability and are even of the opposite sign. This study examines connections between sea ice extent and the frequencies of extratropical cyclones and blocks. Consideration is given to regions that exhibit long‐term sea ice trends during spring and autumn. Significant connections exist in almost all examined regions. Typically, the region of maximum correlation is shifted upstream or downstream of the sea ice target region, which indicates that the 10‐m wind associated with the examined weather systems is the chief thermodynamic and dynamic agent underlying sea ice variability. Along the ice edge of the Weddell and Ross Seas, the correlation between springtime sea ice extent and cyclone frequencies displays a wave number 3 pattern. Eastward of the Ross Sea, along the transition into the Amundsen Sea, spring sea ice extent is connected to cyclone and blocking frequencies during spring and the preceding autumn. Westward of the Ross Sea, autumn sea ice extent is strongly connected to blocking frequencies during the preceding spring. For the Bellingshausen Sea, an inverse relationship exists between autumn cyclone frequencies and autumn sea ice extent. Significant cyclone and blocking trends that are consistent with long‐term sea ice trends exist in most examined regions. These findings point toward identifying regional trends in extratropical cyclone and blocking frequencies as a useful step toward a better understanding of couplings between Southern Hemisphere climate and regional trends in sea ice extent.
Context-dependent AMPK activation distinctly regulates TAp73 stability and transcriptional activity
Authors: Li Dan , Dulloo Iqbal , Sabapathy Kanaga 
Published: June 2018

AbstractTAp73, the homologue of the tumour suppressor p53, has dual roles in tumourigenesis: both as a tumour suppressor and as a promoter of tumour growth. We have recently shown that hypoxia, a condition prevalent in tumours, results in the stabilisation of TAp73 through a mechanism involving HIF-1α-mediated repression of the E3 ligase Siah1. Elevated TAp73 in turn regulates the angiogenic transcriptional programme, exemplified by vegf-A activation, thereby promoting angiogenesis and tumour growth. To further understand hypoxia-mediated TAp73 regulation, we have focused on the Adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-dependent protein kinase (AMPK) signalling pathway induced by hypoxia. We show that hypoxia-mediated AMPK activation is required for efficient TAp73 stabilisation, through multiple means by using AMPK-deficient cells or inhibiting its activity and expression. Conversely, direct AMPK activation using its activator AICAR is also sufficient to induce TAp73 stabilisation but this is independent of putative AMPK phosphorylation sites on TAp73, HIF-1α activation, and transcriptional repression of Siah1. Furthermore, while vegf-A up-regulation upon hypoxia requires AMPK, direct activation of AMPK by AICAR does not activate vegf-A. Consistently, supernatant from cells exposed to hypoxia, but not AICAR, was able to induce tube formation in HUVECs. These data therefore highlight that the processes of TAp73 stabilisation and transcriptional activation of angiogenic target genes by AMPK activation can be decoupled. Collectively, these results suggest that the context of AMPK activation determines the effect on TAp73, and proposes a model in which hypoxia-induced TAp73 stabilisation occurs by parallel pathways converging to mediate its transactivation potential.
Macroevolution of gastric Helicobacter species unveils interspecies admixture and time of divergence
Authors: Smet Annemieke , Yahara Koji , Rossi Mirko , Tay Alfred , Backert Steffen , Armin Ensser , Fox James G , Flahou Bram , Ducatelle Richard , Haesebrouck Freddy , Corander Jukka 
Published: June 2018

Abstract
Since the discovery of the human pathogen Helicobacter pylori, various other Helicobacter species have been identified in the stomach of domesticated and wild mammals. To better understand the evolutionary history of these ecologically similar but genetically distinct species, we analyzed 108 gastric Helicobacter genomes and included 54 enterohepatic Helicobacter genomes for comparison purposes. An admixture analysis supported the presence of an ecological barrier, preventing the genetic exchange between the gastric and enterohepatic Helicobacter species, and unraveled many gene flow events within and across species residing in the stomach. As pets can be colonized by multiple gastric Helicobacter species, the genetic exchange between the canine and feline strains was evident, with H. heilmannii and H. bizzozeronii showing the highest interspecies recombination. An admixture between H. pylori (in particular, the ancestral African strains), H. acinonychis from wild felines and H. cetorum from marine mammals was also identified. Because these latter species do not share the same host, this phenomenon is most likely a remaining signal of shared ancestry. A reconstruction of the time of divergence of the gastric Helicobacter spp. revealed that the domestic animal-related Helicobacter species evolved in parallel with H. pylori and its two closest relatives (H. acinonychis and H. cetorum), rather than together.
NLRP3 inflammasome is expressed and regulated in human islets
Authors: Lebreton Fanny , Berishvili Ekaterine , Parnaud Géraldine , Rouget Caroline , Bosco Domenico , Berney Thierry , Lavallard Vanessa 
Published: June 2018

AbstractNRLP3 inflammasome is a protein complex involved in the maturation of IL1β. In the onset of type 1 diabetes as well as in islet transplantation, IL-1β is one of the cytokines involved in the recruitment of immune cells in islets and eventually in islet destruction. Whether IL-1β is produced by islet cells is still under debate and NLRP3 inflammasome-dependent IL-1β production has not been yet determined in human islets. The aim of this study was to determine the expression and the regulation of the NRLP3 inflammasome in human islets. Human islets were stimulated with LPS and successively with ATP (LPS + ATP) in the presence or absence of the inflammasome inhibitor glyburide. Islets were also incubated in hypoxic or normoxic conditions for 24 h in the presence or absence of glyburide. Then, IL1B and NLRP3 expression was studied by real time PCR, protein expression by western blot, protein localization by immunofluorescence and protein secretion by ELISA. LPS + ATP increased gene expression of NRLP3 and IL1B. Glyburide partially prevented this effect. IL-1β protein was localized in β and non-β cells. Moreover, LPS + ATP increased IL-1β protein expression and production, which were prevented by glyburide. Hypoxia increased gene expression of NRLP3 and IL1B and induced IL-1β and caspase-1 production. Finally, hypoxia-induced cell death which was not prevented by inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome. NRLP3 inflammasome is expressed and plays a role in IL-1β production by human islets. By contrast, NRLP3 inflammasome activation is not involved in islet cell death induced by hypoxia.
Osteocytic oxygen sensing controls bone mass through epigenetic regulation of sclerostin
Authors: Stegen Steve , Stockmans Ingrid , Moermans Karen , Thienpont Bernard , Maxwell Patrick H. , Carmeliet Peter , Carmeliet Geert 
Published: June 2018

AbstractPreservation of bone mass is crucial for healthy ageing and largely depends on adequate responses of matrix-embedded osteocytes. These cells control bone formation and resorption concurrently by secreting the WNT/β-catenin antagonist sclerostin (SOST). Osteocytes reside within a low oxygen microenvironment, but whether and how oxygen sensing regulates their function remains elusive. Here, we show that conditional deletion of the oxygen sensor prolyl hydroxylase (PHD) 2 in osteocytes results in a high bone mass phenotype, which is caused by increased bone formation and decreased resorption. Mechanistically, enhanced HIF-1α signalling increases Sirtuin 1-dependent deacetylation of the Sost promoter, resulting in decreased sclerostin expression and enhanced WNT/β-catenin signalling. Additionally, genetic ablation of PHD2 in osteocytes blunts osteoporotic bone loss induced by oestrogen deficiency or mechanical unloading. Thus, oxygen sensing by PHD2 in osteocytes negatively regulates bone mass through epigenetic regulation of sclerostin and targeting PHD2 elicits an osteo-anabolic response in osteoporotic models.
Early-warning signals for Dansgaard-Oeschger events in a high-resolution ice core record
Authors: Boers Niklas 
Published: June 2018

AbstractThe Dansgaard–Oeschger (DO) events, as observed in oxygen isotope ratios from the North Greenland Ice Core Project (NGRIP) record, are an outstanding example of past abrupt climate transitions. Their physical cause remains debated, and previous research indicated that they are not preceded by classical early-warning signals (EWS). Subsequent research hypothesized that the DO events are caused by bifurcations of physical mechanisms operating at decadal timescales, and proposed to search for EWS in the high-frequency fluctuation levels. Here, a time series with 5-year resolution is obtained from the raw NGRIP record, and significant numbers of EWS in terms of variance and autocorrelation increases are revealed in the decadal-scale variability. Wavelet analysis indicates that the EWS are most pronounced in the 10–50-year periodicity band, confirming the above hypothesis. The DO events are hence neither directly noise-induced nor purely externally forced, which provides valuable constraints regarding potential physical causes.