bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
IL-17A blockade or deficiency does not affect progressive renal fibrosis following renal ischaemia reperfusion injury in mice
Authors: Thorenz Anja , Völker Nicole , Bräsen Jan Hinrich , Chen Rongjun , Jang Mi-Sun , Rong Song , Haller Hermann , Kirsch Torsten , Vieten Gertrud , Klemann Christian , Gueler Faikah 
Published: June 2017

Abstract

Objectives
IL-17A contributes to acute kidney injury and fibrosis. Therefore, we asked whether IL-17A deficiency or treatment with a IL-17A blocking antibody impacts severe renal ischaemia reperfusion injury (IRI) and the progression to chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods
IL-17A-deficient and wild-type (WT) mice underwent transient unilateral renal pedicle clamping for 45 min to induce IRI and subsequent renal fibrosis. Furthermore, a neutralizing anti-IL-17A antibody (mAb) was injected into WT mice before induction of renal IRI intravenously. On days 1, 7 and 21, inflammation, fibrosis, leukocyte infiltration and pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic cytokine expression were assessed in kidneys using histology, qPCR and flow cytometry.

Key findings
IL-17A was significantly increased after renal IRI in WT kidneys. Levels of pro-inflammatory (MCP-1) cytokine and pro-fibrotic (collagen 1α1, fibronectin) transcripts were similar in the experimental groups studied. IL-17A deficiency had no effect on renal T-cell influx or the number, inflammatory phenotype, or spatial distribution of macrophages. Similarly, administration of an IL-17A blocking antibody did not attenuate inflammation.

Conclusions
Despite the effects of IL-17 in other inflammation models, neither genetic IL-17A deficiency nor treatment with an IL-17A blocking antibody attenuated IRI and progression to CKD. We conclude that in severe renal IRI IL-17A is not crucially involved in disease progression.
Mitral Regurgitation Severity and Left Ventricular Systolic Dimension Predict Survival in Young Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
Authors: Reimann M.J. , Møller J.E. , Häggström J. , Martinussen T. , Zatrazemi S.S.C. , Svanholm L. , Nielsen L.B.M. , Pedersen H.D. , Olsen L.H. 
Published: June 2017

BackgroundDevelopment and progression of myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) in dogs are difficult to predict. Identification at a young age of dogs at high risk of adverse outcome in the future is desirable.Hypothesis/ObjectivesTo study the predictive value of selected clinical and echocardiographic characteristics associated withMMVDobtained at a young age for prediction of long‐term cardiac and all‐cause mortality in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS).Animals1125 privately ownedCKCS.MethodsA retrospective study includingCKCSexamined at the age of 1–3 years. Long‐term outcome was assessed by telephone interview with owners. The value of variables for predicting mortality was investigated by Cox proportional hazard and Kaplan‐Meier analyses.ResultsPresence of moderate to severe mitral regurgitation (MR) (hazard ratio (HR) = 3.03, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 1.48–6.23,P= 0.0025) even intermittent moderate to severeMR(HR= 2.23, 95%CI= 1.48–6.23,P= 0.039) on color flow Doppler echocardiography was significantly associated with increased hazard of cardiac death. An interaction betweenMRand sex was significant for all‐cause mortality (P= 0.035), showing that males with moderate to severeMRhad a higher all‐cause mortality compared to males with noMR(HR= 2.38, 95%CI= 1.27–4.49,P= 0.0071), whereas no difference was found between femaleMRgroups. The risk of cardiac (HR= 1.37, 95%CI= 1.14–1.63,P< 0.001) and all‐cause (HR= 1.13, 95%CI= 1.02–1.24,P= 0.016) mortality increased with increasing left ventricular end‐systolic internal dimension normalized for body weight (LVIDSN).Conclusions and clinical importanceModerate to severeMR, even if intermittent, and increasedLVIDSNin dogs <3 years of age were associated with cardiac death later in life inCKCS.
Effect of Preoperative Low Maximal Flow Rate on Postoperative Voiding Trials after the Midurethral Sling Procedure in Women with Stress Urinary Incontinence
Authors: CHAE Ji Y. , BAE Jae H. , LEE Jeong G. , PARK Hong S. , MOON Du G. , OH Mi M. 
Published: June 2017

ObjectivesTo evaluate the effects of preoperative low maximal flow rate (Qmax) on voiding trials after the midurethral sling (MUS) procedure in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI).MethodsOne hundred and sixty‐eight women who underwent MUS procedure were enrolled. Preoperative free uroflowmetry was performed and patients were divided by Qmax. Low Qmax was defined as a Qmax under 15 mL/sec with voided volume at least 150 mL. Surgical results, failure of voiding trial, and postoperative uroflowmetry parameters were compared between the groups. Failure of voiding trial was defined by a PVR more than 100 mL on postoperative uroflowmetry.ResultsAt the discharge day, there were 42 cases showing failure of voiding trial and 33 cases requiring CIC, but only one patient showed failure of voiding trial at 12 months postoperatively. Overall, 48 patients had preoperative low Qmax. Low Qmax group showed lower Qmax in all of postoperative uroflowmetry, but there were no significant differences in the rate of postoperative voiding trial failure or CIC. The low Qmax group was then divided into two groups according to the preoperative detrusor pressure at Qmax over and under 20 cmH2O in pressure flow study. Comparing the two groups, no significant differences were observed in the cure rate, voiding trial failure or CIC.ConclusionsOur results suggest that women with preoperative low Qmax experienced no definite unfavorable voiding problem from the MUS procedure compared to those with normal voiding function. MUS procedure may be regarded as a safe and successful procedure in SUI women with low Qmax.
Does Perceptual Consciousness Overflow Cognitive Access? The Challenge from Probabilistic, Hierarchical Processes
Authors: Gross Steven , Flombaum Jonathan 
Published: June 2017

AbstractDoes perceptual consciousness require cognitive access? Ned Block argues that it does not. Central to his case are visual memory experiments that employ post‐stimulus cueing—in particular, Sperling's classic partial report studies, change‐detection work by Lamme and colleagues, and a recent paper by Bronfman and colleagues that exploits our perception of ‘gist’ properties. We argue contra Block that these experiments do not support his claim. Our reinterpretations differ from previous critics' in challenging as well a longstanding and common view of visual memory as involving declining capacity across a series of stores. We conclude by discussing the relation of probabilistic perceptual representations and phenomenal consciousness.
Morality Without Mindreading
Authors: Monsó Susana 
Published: June 2017

AbstractCan animals behave morally if they can't mindread? Does morality require mindreading capacities? Moral psychologists believe that mindreading is contingently involved in moral judgements. Moral philosophers argue that moral behaviour necessarily requires the possession of mindreading capacities. In this paper, I argue that while the former may be right, the latter are mistaken. Using the example of empathy, I show that animals with no mindreading capacities could behave on the basis of emotions that possess an identifiable moral content. Therefore, at least one type of moral motivation does not require mindreading. This means that, a priori, non‐mindreading animals can be moral.
Fecal cortisol radioimmunoassay to monitor adrenal gland activity in the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) under human care
Authors: Biancani Barbara , Dalt Laura Da , Gallina Guglielmo , Capolongo Francesca , Gabai Gianfranco 
Published: June 2017

AbstractFecal glucocorticoid measurement is an important noninvasive tool to monitor animal health. A radioimmunoassay (RIA) method was developed to measure fecal cortisol in bottlenose dolphins under human care. The method was used to measure baseline hormone levels and evaluate the adrenal response to environmental challenges in a small number of individual dolphins. The method was validated by precision and accuracy tests and by comparison with liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry (LC‐MS). The parallelism test suggested few matrix interferences. The assay showed a good degree of precision within assay (CV = 5.4%) and between assays (CV = 4.1%). The RIA significantly correlated with the LC‐MS method (r = 0.838, P < 0.01). The recovery test and the comparison between RIA and LC‐MS suggested that the RIA slightly underestimates fecal cortisol concentrations, although the degree of accuracy was good. This study established that bottlenose dolphins excrete appreciable amounts of fecal cortisol (healthy subjects: 0.2–9.5 ng/g). Therefore, chronic HPA axis activation may be monitored in fecal samples by immunoassays after validating a suitable extraction protocol. The RIA could discriminate conditions of stimulation (pregnancy, parturition, isolation, transportation) and inhibition (diazepam administration) of the HPA axis and may, therefore, be useful for monitoring dolphin well‐being.
Adjusting the scent ratio: using genetically modified Vitis vinifera plants to manipulate European grapevine moth behaviour
Authors: Salvagnin Umberto , Malnoy Mickael , Thöming Gunda , Tasin Marco , Carlin Silvia , Martens Stefan , Vrhovsek Urska , Angeli Sergio , Anfora Gianfranco 
Published: June 2017

SummaryHerbivorous insects use olfactory cues to locate their host plant within a complex olfactory landscape. One such example is the European grapevine moth Lobesia botrana, a key pest of the grape in the Palearctic region, which recently expanded both its geographical and host plant range. Previous studies have showed that a synthetic blend of the three terpenoids, (E)‐β‐caryophyllene, (E)‐β‐farnesene and (E)‐4,8‐dimethyl‐1,3,7‐nonatriene (DMNT), was as attractive for the moth as the complete grape odour profile in laboratory conditions. The same studies also showed that the specific ratio of these compounds in the grape bouquet was crucial because a percentage variation in any of the three volatiles resulted in almost complete inhibition of the blend's attractiveness. Here, we report on the creation of stable grapevine transgenic lines, with modified (E)‐β‐caryophyllene and (E)‐β‐farnesene emission and thus with an altered ratio compared to the original plants. When headspace collections from these plants were tested in wind tunnel behavioural assays, they were less attractive than control extracts. This result was confirmed by testing synthetic blends imitating the ratio found on natural and transformed plants, as well as by testing the plants themselves. With this evidence, we suggest that a strategy based on volatile ratio modification may also interfere with the host‐finding behaviour of L. botrana in the field, creating avenues for new pest control methods.
Reduction of indole‐3‐acetic acid methyltransferase activity compensates for high‐temperature male sterility in Arabidopsis
Authors: Abbas Mohamad , Hernández‐García Jorge , Blanco‐Touriñán Noel , Aliaga Norma , Minguet Eugenio G. , Alabadí David , Blázquez Miguel A. 
Published: June 2017

SummaryHigh temperature is a general stress factor that causes a decrease in crop yield. It has been shown that auxin application reduces the male sterility caused by exposure to higher temperatures. However, widespread application of a hormone with vast effects on plant physiology may be discouraged in many cases. Therefore, the generation of new plant varieties that locally enhance auxin in reproductive organs may represent an alternative strategy. We have explored the possibility of increasing indole‐3‐acetic acid (IAA) in ovaries by reducing IAA methyltransferase1 (IAMT1) activity in Arabidopsis thaliana. The iamt1 mutant showed increased auxin signalling in funiculi, which correlated with a higher growth rate of wild‐type pollen in contact with mutant ovaries and premature ovule fertilization. While the production of seeds per fruit was similar in the wild type and the mutant at 20 °C, exposure to 29 °C caused a more severe decrease in fertility in the wild type than in the mutant. Loss of IAMT1 activity was also associated with the production of more nodes after flowering and higher tolerance of the shoot apical meristem to higher temperatures. As a consequence, the productivity of the iamt1 mutant under higher temperatures was more than double of that of the wild type, with almost no apparent trade‐off.
Investigating the exploitative and empowering potential of the prosumption phenomenon
Authors: Dusi Davide 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThis article underscores the increasing attention devoted to the concept of prosumption in the social sciences, outlines its historical evolution as a phenomenon, and highlights the emergence of a vivid debate about its beneficial or harmful consequences for individuals. It also unveils the importance of the settings in which prosumptive practices are investigated in contributing to the understanding of prosumption as an exploitative or empowering phenomenon. Drawing on the ever‐expanding literature on the topic, 5 main types of prosumption (infra) are presented and their linkage with pessimistic and optimistic analytical and rhetorical strategies underlined.
VEGF‐A165b protects against proteinuria in a mouse model with progressive depletion of all endogenous VEGF‐A splice isoforms from the kidney
Authors: Stevens Megan , Neal Christopher R. , Salmon Andrew H. J. , Bates David O. , Harper Steven J. , Oltean Sebastian 
Published: June 2017

Key points
Progressive depletion of all vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF‐A) splice isoforms from the kidney results in proteinuria and increased glomerular water permeability, which are both rescued by over‐expression of VEGF‐A165b only.
VEGF‐A165b rescues the increase in glomerular basement membrane and podocyte slit width, as well as the decrease in sub‐podocyte space coverage, produced by VEGF‐A depletion.
VEGF‐A165b restores the expression of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule in glomerular endothelial cells and glomerular capillary circumference.
VEGF‐A165b has opposite effects to VEGF‐A165 on the expression of genes involved in endothelial cell migration and proliferation.
AbstractChronic kidney disease is strongly associated with a decrease in the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF‐A). However, little is known about the contribution of VEGF‐A splice isoforms to kidney physiology and pathology. Previous studies suggest that the splice isoform VEGF‐A165b (resulting from alternative usage of a 3′ splice site in the terminal exon) is protective for kidney function. In the present study, we show, in a quad‐transgenic model, that over‐expression of VEGF‐A165b alone is sufficient to rescue the increase in proteinuria, as well as glomerular water permeability, in the context of progressive depletion of all VEGF‐A isoforms from the podocytes. Ultrastructural studies show that the glomerular basement membrane is thickened, podocyte slit width is increased and sub‐podocyte space coverage is reduced when VEGF‐A is depleted, all of which are rescued in VEGF‐A165b over‐expressors. VEGF‐A165b restores the expression of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule‐1 in glomerular endothelial cells and glomerular capillary circumference. Mechanistically, it increases VEGF receptor 2 expression both in vivo and in vitro and down‐regulates genes involved in migration and proliferation of endothelial cells, otherwise up‐regulated by the canonical isoform VEGF‐A165. The results of the present study indicate that manipulation of VEGF‐A splice isoforms could be a novel therapeutic avenue in chronic glomerular disease.
Genome Sequence of Roseovarius mucosus Strain SMR3, Isolated from a Culture of the Diatom
Skeletonema marinoi
Authors: Töpel Mats , Pinder Matthew I. M. , Johansson Oskar N. , Kourtchenko Olga , Godhe Anna , Clarke Adrian K. 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACT

We present the genome of
Roseovarius mucosus
strain SMR3, a marine bacterium isolated from the diatom
Skeletonema marinoi
strain RO5AC sampled from top layer sediments at 14 m depth. Its 4,381,426 bp genome consists of a circular chromosome and two circular plasmids and contains 4,178 coding sequences (CDSs).
Draft Genome Sequences of Thermophiles Isolated from Yates Shaft, a Deep-Subsurface Environment
Authors: Singh Nitin K. , Carlson Courtney , Sani Rajesh K. , Venkateswaran Kasthuri 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACT
The whole-genome sequences of seven thermophiles that could grow at >55°C, but not at 37°C, were generated. These thermophilic bacteria will play a useful role as model microorganisms, and analyzing their genomes will help to understand the observed production of novel bioactive compounds, including thermozymes and macromolecules.
Four Complete Paenibacillus larvae Genome Sequences
Authors: Dingman Douglas W. 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACT

Four complete genome sequences of genetically distinct
Paenibacillus larvae
strains have been determined. Pacific BioSciences single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing technology was used as the sole method of sequence determination and assembly. The chromosomes exhibited a G+C content of 44.1 to 44.2% and a molecular size range of 4.29 to 4.67 Mbp.
Complete Genome Sequencing of
Streptomyces
sp. Strain MOE7, Which Produces an Extracellular Polysaccharide with Antioxidant and Antitumor Activities
Authors: Elnahas Marwa O. , De León Kara B. , Amin Magdy A. , Hussein Mohamed M. D. , Ali Amal E. , Wall Judy D. 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACT

Streptomyces
sp. strain MOE7 is a Gram-positive filamentous bacterium isolated from agricultural soil in Columbia, Missouri, USA. Strain MOE7 produces an extracellular polysaccharide with antioxidant and antitumor activities. Through PacBio RSII sequencing, the MOE7 genome was found to be a linear chromosome of 8,399,509 bp with 6,782 protein-coding sequences.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Streptomyces
sp. B9173, a Producer of Indole Diketopiperazine Maremycins
Authors: Luo Fang , Zou Yi , Huang Tingting , Lin Shuangjun 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACT

Streptomyces
sp. B9173 is a producer of maremycins, a group of naturally occurring 2,5-diketopiperazines. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of
Streptomyces
sp. B9173, which comprises ~8.77 Mb, with a G+C content of 71.8%.
Complete Genome Sequence of Escherichia coli Strain M8, Isolated from
ob/ob
Mice
Authors: Siddharth Jay , Membrez Mathieu , Chakrabarti Anirikh , Betrisey Bertrand , Chou Chieh Jason , Parkinson Scott James 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACT

Escherichia coli
is one of the common inhabitants of the mammalian gastrointestinal track. We isolated a strain from an
ob/ob
mouse and performed whole-genome sequencing, which yielded a chromosome of ~5.1 Mb and three plasmids of ~160 kb, ~6 kb, and ~4 kb.
Draft Genome Sequence of the Vancomycin-Resistant Clinical Isolate Staphylococcus aureus VRS3b
Authors: Panthee Suresh , Paudel Atmika , Hamamoto Hiroshi , Sekimizu Kazuhisa 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACT

We report here the draft genome sequence of the vancomycin-resistant strain
Staphylococcus aureus
VRS3b. The 2.8-Mb genome, assembled into 46 contigs, harbored 2,915 putative coding sequences. The G+C content of the genome was 32.7%.
Draft Genome Sequence of a Porcine Commensal, Rothia nasimurium, Encoding a Nonribosomal Peptide Synthetase Predicted To Produce the Ionophore Antibiotic Valinomycin
Authors: Gaiser Rogier A. , Medema Marnix H. , Kleerebezem Michiel , van Baarlen Peter , Wells Jerry M. 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACT

We report the draft whole-genome sequence of
Rothia nasimurium
isolated from a porcine tonsil. The genome encodes a nonribosomal peptide synthetase predicted to produce valinomycin, a cyclic dodecadepsipeptide ionophore. Previously, valinomycin was known to be produced only by
Streptomyces
species and isolates belonging to the
Bacillus pumilus
group.
Complete Genome Sequences of Four Avian Paramyxoviruses of Serotype 10 Isolated from Rockhopper Penguins on the Falkland Islands
Authors: Goraichuk Iryna V. , Dimitrov Kiril M. , Sharma Poonam , Miller Patti J. , Swayne David E. , Suarez David L. , Afonso Claudio L. 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACT
The first complete genome sequences of four avian paramyxovirus serotype 10 (APMV-10) isolates are described here. The viruses were isolated from rockhopper penguins on the Falkland Islands, sampled in 2007. All four genomes are 15,456 nucleotides in length, and phylogenetic analyses show them to be closely related.
Increase body weight to treat superior mesenteric artery syndrome
Authors: Albano Miguel Nico , Costa Almeida Carlos , Louro João Mendes , Martinez Guillermo 
Published: June 2017

IntroductionSuperior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome is a rare cause of duodenal obstruction resulting from vascular compression of the third part of the duodenum in the angle between the abdominal aorta and SMA.Case presentationA 19-year-old woman with anorexia nervosa with upper gastrointestinal obstruction symptoms resorted to the emergency department. A diagnosis of SMA syndrome was made. Symptoms were solved with conservative treatment aimed at increase body weight.DiscussionSMA syndrome is most commonly associated with debilitating illnesses. Patients present with acute or insidious upper gastrointestinal obstruction symptoms. Aortomesenteric artery angle of ≤25° is the most sensitive measure of diagnosis. Advances in both enteral and parenteral nutrition led to a shift towards conservative treatment.ConclusionsLow threshold of suspicion is important to make a timely diagnosis and treatment. A conservative treatment aimed at increasing body weight is the first-line approach, leaving surgical intervention for failure cases.
The effect of minimalist footwear and instruction on running: an observational study
Authors: Barcellona Massimo Giuseppe , Buckley Linda , Palmer Lisa J M , Ormond Roisin M , Owen Gwawr , Watson Daniel J , Woledge Roger , Newham Di 
Published: June 2017

BackgroundIt is not known whether the effects on altered running style which are attributed to minimalist footwear can be achieved by verbal instructions in standard running shoes (SRS).AimTo explore the effect of Vibram FiveFingers (VFF) versus SRS plus running instruction on lower extremity spatiotemporal parameters and lower limb joint kinematics.Methods35 healthy subjects (mean=30 years, 18 females) were assessed on two occasions with 3D motion analysis. At each session subjects ran on a treadmill (3.58 m/s) for 2 min in either VFF or SRS (randomised order); with and without running instruction. Differences between spatiotemporal parameters and lower limb joint kinematics between conditions were assessed using a 2x2 repeated-measures ANOVA.ResultsWearing VFF significantly increased cadence (p<0.001) and reduced stride length (p<0.01). Prior to initial contact, both instruction and VFF significantly increased foot (p<0.001 and p=0.02, respectively) and ankle (p<0.001 and p=0.02, respectively) plantarflexion, while wearing VFF significantly increased knee extension (p=0.04). At initial contact, instruction significantly increased knee flexion (p=0.04), and foot (p=0.001) and ankle (p=0.03) plantarflexion. At mid-stance and toe-off, instruction significantly increased knee flexion (p=0.048 and p<0.001, respectively) and foot plantarflexion (p<0.001 and p=0.01, respectively). Instruction had a greater effect on increasing knee flexion (p=0.007) and plantarflexion angle (p<0.001) when subjects wore SRS and VFF, respectively.ConclusionAlterations in spatiotemporal parameters observed when running in VFF are likely to be attributable to the minimalist footwear. However, the kinematic adaptations observed following instruction suggests that changes in joint angles previously attributed to minimalist footwear alone may be similarly achieved with instruction.