bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of rhythmic auditory cueing on parkinsonian gait: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ghai Shashank , Ghai Ishan , Schmitz Gerd , Effenberg Alfred O. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe use of rhythmic auditory cueing to enhance gait performance in parkinsonian patients’ is an emerging area of interest. Different theories and underlying neurophysiological mechanisms have been suggested for ascertaining the enhancement in motor performance. However, a consensus as to its effects based on characteristics of effective stimuli, and training dosage is still not reached. A systematic review and meta-analysis was carried out to analyze the effects of different auditory feedbacks on gait and postural performance in patients affected by Parkinson’s disease. Systematic identification of published literature was performed adhering to PRISMA guidelines, from inception until May 2017, on online databases; Web of science, PEDro, EBSCO, MEDLINE, Cochrane, EMBASE and PROQUEST. Of 4204 records, 50 studies, involving 1892 participants met our inclusion criteria. The analysis revealed an overall positive effect on gait velocity, stride length, and a negative effect on cadence with application of auditory cueing. Neurophysiological mechanisms, training dosage, effects of higher information processing constraints, and use of cueing as an adjunct with medications are thoroughly discussed. This present review bridges the gaps in literature by suggesting application of rhythmic auditory cueing in conventional rehabilitation approaches to enhance motor performance and quality of life in the parkinsonian community.
Assessing kinetic fractionation in brachiopod calcite using clumped isotopes
Authors: Bajnai David , Fiebig Jens , Tomašových Adam , Milner Garcia Sara , Rollion-Bard Claire , Raddatz Jacek , Löffler Niklas , Primo-Ramos Cristina , Brand Uwe 
Published: January 2018

AbstractBrachiopod shells are the most widely used geological archive for the reconstruction of the temperature and the oxygen isotope composition of Phanerozoic seawater. However, it is not conclusive whether brachiopods precipitate their shells in thermodynamic equilibrium. In this study, we investigated the potential impact of kinetic controls on the isotope composition of modern brachiopods by measuring the oxygen and clumped isotope compositions of their shells. Our results show that clumped and oxygen isotope compositions depart from thermodynamic equilibrium due to growth rate-induced kinetic effects. These departures are in line with incomplete hydration and hydroxylation of dissolved CO2. These findings imply that the determination of taxon-specific growth rates alongside clumped and bulk oxygen isotope analyses is essential to ensure accurate estimates of past ocean temperatures and seawater oxygen isotope compositions from brachiopods.
Genome-based classification of micromonosporae with a focus on their biotechnological and ecological potential
Authors: Carro Lorena , Nouioui Imen , Sangal Vartul , Meier-Kolthoff Jan P. , Trujillo Martha E. , Montero-Calasanz Maria del Carmen , Sahin Nevzat , Smith Darren Lee , Kim Kristi E. , Peluso Paul , Deshpande Shweta , Woyke Tanja , Shapiro Nicole , Kyrpides Nikos C. , Klenk Hans-Peter , Göker Markus , Goodfellow Michael 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThere is a need to clarify relationships within the actinobacterial genus Micromonospora, the type genus of the family Micromonosporaceae, given its biotechnological and ecological importance. Here, draft genomes of 40 Micromonospora type strains and two non-type strains are made available through the Genomic Encyclopedia of Bacteria and Archaea project and used to generate a phylogenomic tree which showed they could be assigned to well supported phyletic lines that were not evident in corresponding trees based on single and concatenated sequences of conserved genes. DNA G+C ratios derived from genome sequences showed that corresponding data from species descriptions were imprecise. Emended descriptions include precise base composition data and approximate genome sizes of the type strains. antiSMASH analyses of the draft genomes show that micromonosporae have a previously unrealised potential to synthesize novel specialized metabolites. Close to one thousand biosynthetic gene clusters were detected, including NRPS, PKS, terpenes and siderophores clusters that were discontinuously distributed thereby opening up the prospect of prioritising gifted strains for natural product discovery. The distribution of key stress related genes provide an insight into how micromonosporae adapt to key environmental variables. Genes associated with plant interactions highlight the potential use of micromonosporae in agriculture and biotechnology.
Issues with the Specificity of Immunological Reagents for NLRP3: Implications for Age-related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Kosmidou Cassandra , Efstathiou Nikolaos E. , Hoang Mien V. , Notomi Shoji , Konstantinou Eleni K. , Hirano Masayuki , Takahashi Kosuke , Maidana Daniel E. , Tsoka Pavlina , Young Lucy , Gragoudas Evangelos S. , Olsen Timothy W. , Morizane Yuki , Miller Joan W. , Vavvas Demetrios G. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractContradictory data have been presented regarding the implication of the NACHT, LRR and PYD domains-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of vision loss in the Western world. Recognizing that antibody specificity may explain this discrepancy and in line with recent National Institutes of Health (NIH) guidelines requiring authentication of key biological resources, the specificity of anti-NLRP3 antibodies was assessed to elucidate whether non-immune RPE cells express NLRP3. Using validated resources, NLRP3 was not detected in human primary or human established RPE cell lines under multiple inflammasome-priming conditions, including purported NLRP3 stimuli in RPE such as DICER1 deletion and Alu RNA transfection. Furthermore, NLRP3 was below detection limits in ex vivo macular RPE from AMD patients, as well as in human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived RPE from patients with overactive NLRP3 syndrome (Chronic infantile neurologic cutaneous and articulate, CINCA syndrome). Evidence presented in this study provides new data regarding the interpretation of published results reporting NLRP3 expression and upregulation in RPE and addresses the role that this inflammasome plays in AMD pathogenesis.
Optimizing human Treg immunotherapy by Treg subset selection and E-selectin ligand expression
Authors: Donnelly Conor , Dykstra Brad , Mondal Nandini , Huang Junning , Kaskow Belinda J. , Griffin Russell , Sackstein Robert , Baecher-Allan Clare 
Published: January 2018

AbstractWhile human Tregs hold immense promise for immunotherapy, their biologic variability poses challenges for clinical use. Here, we examined clinically-relevant activities of defined subsets of freshly-isolated and culture-expanded human PBMC-derived Tregs. Unlike highly suppressive but plastic memory Tregs (memTreg), naïve Tregs (nvTreg) exhibited the greatest proliferation, suppressive capacity after stimulation, and Treg lineage fidelity. Yet, unlike memTregs, nvTregs lack Fucosyltransferase VII and display low sLeXexpression, with concomitant poor homing capacity.In vitronvTreg expansion augmented their suppressive function, but did not alter the nvTreg sLeX-l°wglycome. However, exofucosylation of the nvTreg surface yielded high sLeXexpression, promoting endothelial adhesion and enhanced inhibition of xenogeneic aGVHD. These data indicate that the immature Treg glycome is under unique regulation and that adult PBMCs can be an ideal source of autologous-derived therapeutic Tregs, provided that subset selection and glycan engineering are engaged to optimize both their immunomodulation and tropism for inflammatory sites.
Assembly of an atypical α-macroglobulin complex from Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Zouhir Samira , Robert-Genthon Mylène , Trindade Daniel Maragno , Job Viviana , Nedeljković Marko , Breyton Cécile , Ebel Christine , Attrée Ina , Dessen Andréa 
Published: January 2018

AbstractAlpha-2-macroglobulins (A2Ms) are large spectrum protease inhibitors that are major components of the eukaryotic immune system. Pathogenic and colonizing bacteria, such as the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, also carry structural homologs of eukaryotic A2Ms. Two types of bacterial A2Ms have been identified: Type I, much like the eukaryotic form, displays a conserved thioester that is essential for protease targeting, and Type II, which lacks the thioester and to date has been poorly studied despite its ubiquitous presence in Gram-negatives. Here we show that MagD, the Type II A2M from P. aeruginosa that is expressed within the six-gene mag operon, specifically traps a target protease despite the absence of the thioester motif, comforting its role in protease inhibition. In addition, analytical ultracentrifugation and small angle scattering show that MagD forms higher order complexes with proteins expressed in the same operon (MagA, MagB, and MagF), with MagB playing the key stabilization role. A P. aeruginosa strain lacking magB cannot stably maintain MagD in the bacterial periplasm, engendering complex disruption. This suggests a regulated mechanism of Mag complex formation and stabilization that is potentially common to numerous Gram-negative organisms, and that plays a role in periplasm protection from proteases during infection or colonization.
Xyloglucan Fucosylation Modulates Arabidopsis Cell Wall Hemicellulose Aluminium binding Capacity
Authors: Wan Jiang-Xue , Zhu Xiao-Fang , Wang Yu-Qi , Liu Lin-Yu , Zhang Bao-Cai , Li Gui-Xin , Zhou Yi-Hua , Zheng Shao-Jian 
Published: January 2018

AbstractAlthough xyloglucan (XyG) is reported to bind Aluminium (Al), the influence of XyG fucosylation on the cell wall Al binding capacity and plant Al stress responses is unclear. We show that Arabidopsis T-DNA insertion mutants with reduced AXY3 (XYLOSIDASE1) function and consequent reduced levels of fucosylated XyG are more sensitive to Al than wild-type Col-0 (WT). In contrast, T-DNA insertion mutants with reduced AXY8 (FUC95A) function and consequent increased levels of fucosylated XyG are more Al resistant. AXY3 transcript levels are strongly down regulated in response to 30 min Al treatment, whilst AXY8 transcript levels also repressed until 6 h following treatment onset. Mutants lacking AXY3 or AXY8 function exhibit opposing effects on Al contents of root cell wall and cell wall hemicellulose components. However, there was no difference in the amount of Al retained in the pectin components between mutants and WT. Finally, whilst the total sugar content of the hemicellulose fraction did not change, the altered hemicellulose Al content of the mutants is shown to be a likely consequence of their different XyG fucosylation levels. We conclude that variation in XyG fucosylation levels influences the Al sensitivity of Arabidopsis by affecting the Al-binding capacity of hemicellulose.
Conditional punishment is a double-edged sword in promoting cooperation
Authors: Huang Feng , Chen Xiaojie , Wang Long 
Published: January 2018

AbstractPunishment is widely recognized as an effective approach for averting from exploitation by free-riders in human society. However, punishment is costly, and thus rational individuals are unwilling to take the punishing action, resulting in the second-order free-rider problem. Recent experimental study evidences that individuals prefer conditional punishment, and their punishing decision depends on other members’ punishing decisions. In this work, we thus propose a theoretical model for conditional punishment and investigate how such conditional punishment influences cooperation in the public goods game. Considering conditional punishers only take the punishing action when the number of unconditional punishers exceeds a threshold number, we demonstrate that such conditional punishment induces the effect of a double-edged sword on the evolution of cooperation both in well-mixed and structured populations. Specifically, when it is relatively easy for conditional punishers to engage in the punishment activity corresponding to a low threshold value, cooperation can be promoted in comparison with the case without conditional punishment. Whereas when it is relatively difficult for conditional punishers to engage in the punishment activity corresponding to a high threshold value, cooperation is inhibited in comparison with the case without conditional punishment. Moreover, we verify that such double-edged sword effect exists in a wide range of model parameters and can be still observed in other different punishment regimes.
Glutathione S-transferase (GST) of American Cockroach, Periplaneta americana: Classes, Isoforms, and Allergenicity
Authors: Sookrung Nitat , Reamtong Onrapak , Poolphol Rojana , Indrawattana Nitaya , Seesuay Watee , Saelim Nawannaporn , Tantilipikorn Pongsakorn , Bunnag Chaweewan , Chaicumpa Wanpen , Tungtrongchitr Anchalee 
Published: January 2018

AbstractInsect glutathioneS-transferases (GSTs) play important roles in insecticide/drug resistance and stress response. Medically, GSTs of house dust mites (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinusandBlomia tropicalis) and German cockroach (Blattella germanica) are human allergens. In this study, classes, isoforms and B-cell and allergenic epitopes of GST of American cockroach,Periplaneta americana, the predominant species in the tropics and subtropics were investigated for the first time. Enzymatically active native and recombinantP.americana-GSTs bound to IgE in sera of allP.americanaallergic patients that were tested. By gel-based proteomics and multiple sequence alignments, the native GST comprises three isoforms of delta and sigma classes. All isoforms interacted with serum IgE of the cockroach allergic subjects. Molecularly, the protein contains six B-cell epitopes; two epitopes located at β1-α1 and β4-α3 regions bound to patients’ serum IgE, indicating that they are allergenic.P.americanaare ubiquitous and their GST can sensitize humans to allergic diseases; thus, the protein should be included in the allergen array for component resolved diagnosis (CRD) of allergic patients, either by skin prick test or specific IgE determination. The GST is suitable also as a target of environmental allergen detection and quantification for intervention of cockroach sensitization and allergic morbidity.
Canopy nitrogen distribution is optimized to prevent photoinhibition throughout the canopy during sun flecks
Authors: Kitao Mitsutoshi , Kitaoka Satoshi , Harayama Hisanori , Tobita Hiroyuki , Agathokleous Evgenios , Utsugi Hajime 
Published: January 2018

AbstractAs photoinhibition primarily reduces the photosynthetic light use efficiency at low light, sunfleck-induced photoinhibition might result in a fatal loss of carbon gain in the shade leaves within a canopy with barely positive carbon balance. We hypothesized that shade leaves at the lower canopy might retain a certain amount of leaf nitrogen (NL) to maintain energy consumption via electron transport, which contributes to circumventing photoinhibition during sunflecks to keep efficient utilization of low light during the rest period of daytime. We investigated excess energy production, a potential measure of susceptibility to photoinhibition, as a function of NL distribution within a Japanese oak canopy. Optimal NL distribution, which maximizes canopy carbon gain, may lead to a higher risk of photoinhibition in shade leaves during sunflecks. Conversely, uniform NL distribution would cause a higher risk of photoinhibition in sun leaves under the direct sunlight. Actual NL distribution equalized the risk of photoinhibition throughout the canopy indicated by the constant excess energy production at the highest light intensities that the leaves received. Such a homeostatic adjustment as a whole canopy concerning photoinhibition would be a key factor to explain why actual NL distribution does not maximize canopy carbon gain.
Temperature-induced surface reconstruction and interface structure evolution on ligament of nanoporous copper
Authors: Liu Wenbo , Cheng Peng , Yan Jiazhen , Li Ning , Shi Sanqiang , Zhang Shichao 
Published: January 2018

AbstractMicromorphology and atomic arrangement on ligament surface of nanoporous metals play a vital role in maintaining the structural stability, adjusting the reaction interface and endowing the functionality. Here we offer an instructive scientific understanding for temperature-induced surface reconstruction and interface structure evolution on ligament of nanoporous copper (NPC) based on systematically experimental observations and theoretical calculations. The results show that with dealloying temperature increasing, ligament surface micromorphology of NPC evolves from smooth to irregularity and to uniformly compressed semisphere, and finally to dispersed single-crystal nanoparticles accompanying with significant changes of interface structure from coherence to semi-coherence and to noncoherence. It can guide us to impart multifunctionality and enhanced reaction activity to porous materials just through surface self-modification of homogeneous atoms rather than external invasion of heteroatoms that may bring about unexpected ill effects, such as shortened operation life owing to poisoning.
High co-expression of IL-34 and M-CSF correlates with tumor progression and poor survival in lung cancers
Authors: Baghdadi Muhammad , Endo Hiraku , Takano Atsushi , Ishikawa Kozo , Kameda Yosuke , Wada Haruka , Miyagi Yohei , Yokose Tomoyuki , Ito Hiroyuki , Nakayama Haruhiko , Daigo Yataro , Suzuki Nao , Seino Ken-ichiro 
Published: January 2018

AbstractDespite recent advances in diagnosis and treatment of lung cancers, the 5-year survival rate remains unsatisfactory, which necessitates the identification of novel factors that associates with disease progression and malignant degree for improving diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Recent progress in cancer immunology research has unveiled critical roles for colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) in multiple aspects of the tumor microenvironment. CSF1R is expressed on tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), and mediates important pro-tumorigenic functions. CSF1R also provides critical autocrine signals that promote cancer cell survival and proliferation. Activation of CSF1R can be achieved by two independent ligands; macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and interleukin 34 (IL-34). Accordingly, the expression of these ligands in cancer is expected to result in poor prognosis. In this study, we show that IL-34 and M-CSF expression correlates with poor survival in a cohort of lung cancer patients. Importantly, high co-expression of IL-34 and M-CSF associates with the poorest survival compared to cancers that show weak or absent expression of the two ligands. Furthermore, high expression of IL-34 and M-CSF associates with advanced stages of lung cancers. Together, these results indicate a correlation between IL-34/M-CSF expression with poor survival and disease progression in lung cancer patients.
Genome-wide association study reveals candidate genes influencing lipids and diterpenes contents in Coffea arabica L
Authors: Sant’Ana Gustavo C. , Pereira Luiz F. P. , Pot David , Ivamoto Suzana T. , Domingues Douglas S. , Ferreira Rafaelle V. , Pagiatto Natalia F. , da Silva Bruna S. R. , Nogueira Lívia M. , Kitzberger Cintia S. G. , Scholz Maria B. S. , de Oliveira Fernanda F. , Sera Gustavo H. , Padilha Lilian , Labouisse Jean-Pierre , Guyot Romain , Charmetant Pierre , Leroy Thierry 
Published: January 2018

AbstractLipids, including the diterpenes cafestol and kahweol, are key compounds that contribute to the quality of coffee beverages. We determined total lipid content and cafestol and kahweol concentrations in green beans and genotyped 107 Coffea arabica accessions, including wild genotypes from the historical FAO collection from Ethiopia. A genome-wide association study was performed to identify genomic regions associated with lipid, cafestol and kahweol contents and cafestol/kahweol ratio. Using the diploid Coffea canephora genome as a reference, we identified 6,696 SNPs. Population structure analyses suggested the presence of two to three groups (K = 2 and K = 3) corresponding to the east and west sides of the Great Rift Valley and an additional group formed by wild accessions collected in western forests. We identified 5 SNPs associated with lipid content, 4 with cafestol, 3 with kahweol and 9 with cafestol/kahweol ratio. Most of these SNPs are located inside or near candidate genes related to metabolic pathways of these chemical compounds in coffee beans. In addition, three trait-associated SNPs showed evidence of directional selection among cultivated and wild coffee accessions. Our results also confirm a great allelic richness in wild accessions from Ethiopia, especially in accessions originating from forests in the west side of the Great Rift Valley.
MiR-152 Regulates Apoptosis and Triglyceride Production in MECs via Targeting ACAA2 and HSD17B12 Genes
Authors: Yang Yuwei , Fang Xibi , Yang Runjun , Yu Haibin , Jiang Ping , Sun Boxing , Zhao Zhihui 
Published: January 2018

AbstractMammary epithelial cells (MECs) affect milk production capacity during lactation and are critical for the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Our previous studies have revealed that the expression of miR-152 was increased significantly in MECs of cows with high milk production. In the present study, bioinformatics analysis identified ACAA2 and HSD17B12 as the potential targets of miR-152, which were further validated by dual-luciferase repoter assay. In addition, the expressions of miR-152 was shown to be negatively correlated with levels of mRNA and protein of ACAA2, HSD17B12 genes by qPCR and western bot analysis. Furthermore, transfection with miR-152 significantly up-regulated triglyceride production, promoted proliferation and inhibited apoptosis in MECs. Furthermore, overexpression of ACAA2 and HSD17B12 could inhibit triglyceride production, cells proliferation and induce apoptosis; but sh234-ACAA2-181/sh234-HSD17B12-474 could reverse the trend. These findings suggested that miR-152 could significantly influence triglyceride production and suppress apoptosis, possibly via the expression of target genes ACAA2 and HSD17B12.
Microwave measurement of giant unilamellar vesicles in aqueous solution
Authors: Cui Yan , Delaney William F. , Darroudi Taghi , Wang Pingshan 
Published: January 2018

AbstractA microwave technique is demonstrated to measure floating giant unilamellar vesicle (GUV) membranes in a 25 μm wide and 18.8 μm high microfluidic channel. The measurement is conducted at 2.7 and 7.9 GHz, at which a split-ring resonator (SRR) operates at odd modes. A 500 nm wide and 100 μm long SRR split gap is used to scan GUVs that are slightly larger than 25 μm in diameter. The smaller fluidic channel induces flattened GUV membrane sections, which make close contact with the SRR gap surface. The used GUVs are synthesized with POPC (16:0–18:1 PC 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine), SM (16:0 Egg Sphingomyelin) and cholesterol at different molecular compositions. It is shown that SM and POPC bilayers have different dielectric permittivity values, which also change with measurement frequencies. The obtained membrane permittivity values, e.g. 73.64-j6.13 for POPC at 2.7 GHz, are more than 10 times larger than previously reported results. The discrepancy is likely due to the measurement of dielectric polarization parallel with, other than perpendicular to, the membrane surface. POPC and SM-rich GUV surface sections are also clearly identified. Further work is needed to verify the obtained large permittivity values and enable accurate analysis of membrane composition.