bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Peripheral blood aspirates overexpressing IGF‐I via rAAV gene transfer undergo enhanced chondrogenic differentiation processes
Authors: Frisch Janina , Orth Patrick , Rey‐Rico Ana , Venkatesan Jagadeesh Kumar , Schmitt Gertrud , Madry Henning , Kohn Dieter , Cucchiarini Magali 
Published: May 2017

AbstractImplantation of peripheral blood aspirates induced towards chondrogenic differentiation upon genetic modification in sites of articular cartilage injury may represent a powerful strategy to enhance cartilage repair. Such a single‐step approach may be less invasive than procedures based on the use of isolated or concentrated MSCs, simplifying translational protocols in patients. In this study, we provide evidence showing the feasibility of overexpressing the mitogenic and pro‐anabolic insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I) in human peripheral blood aspirates via rAAV‐mediated gene transfer, leading to enhanced proliferative and chondrogenic differentiation (proteoglycans, type‐II collagen, SOX9) activities in the samples relative to control (reporter rAAV‐lacZ) treatment over extended periods of time (at least 21 days, the longest time‐point evaluated). Interestingly, IGF‐I gene transfer also triggered hypertrophic, osteo‐ and adipogenic differentiation processes in the aspirates, suggesting that careful regulation of IGF‐I expression may be necessary to contain these events in vivo. Still, the current results demonstrate the potential of targeting human peripheral blood aspirates via therapeutic rAAV transduction as a novel, convenient tool to treat articular cartilage injuries.
Specialization, Risk Sharing and the Euro
Authors: Ballabriga Fernando , Villegas‐Sánchez Carolina 
Published: May 2017

AbstractUnder the prospect of productive specialization, the degree of potential success of the euro since its inception was seen as closely linked to the development of effective risk‐sharing mechanisms across EU members. Without shared fiscal resources, financial integration was expected to play a leading role in this respect. This paper documents the failure in fulfilling this expectation: Along with an analysis of the evolution of specialization and risk‐sharing, we present evidence supporting the claim that progress in financial integration has not been conducive to income risk‐sharing across euro area members, while it might have favoured a specialization split between countries with low‐medium and high technology productive structures. As a result, monetary union members face higher income fluctuation risk without enhanced insurance protection. Additionally, evidence suggests a differential impact of the specialization split on sector productivity, contributing to making the monetary union a club of non equals.
Expression of G protein‐coupled oestrogen receptor in melanoma and in pregnancy‐associated melanoma
Authors: Fábián M. , Rencz F. , Krenács T. , Brodszky V. , Hársing J. , Németh K. , Balogh P. , Kárpáti S. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractBackgroundThe hormone sensitivity of melanoma and the role of ‘classical’ oestrogen receptor (ER) α and β in tumour progression have been intensively studied with rather contradictory results. The presence of ‘non‐classical’ G protein‐coupled oestrogen receptor (GPER) has not been investigated on human melanoma tissues.ObjectiveTo analyse the expression of GPER, ERα and ERβ in pregnancy‐associated (PAM) and in non‐pregnancy‐associated (NPAM) melanomas in correlation with traditional prognostic markers and disease‐free survival (DFS).MethodsReceptor protein levels were tested using immunohistochemistry in 81 formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded melanoma tissues. PAMs (n = 38) were compared with age‐ and Breslow thickness‐matched cases (n = 43) including non‐pregnant women (NPAM‐W) (n = 22) and men (NPAM‐M) (n = 21). The association between receptor expression and DFS was analysed by uni‐ and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression.ResultsG protein‐coupled oestrogen receptor was detected both in PAMs and NPAMs. In 39 of the 41 (95.1%) GPER‐positive melanomas, GPER and ERβ were co‐expressed. GPER/ERβ‐positive melanomas were significantly more common in PAM compared to NPAM (P = 0.0001) with no significant difference between genders (P = 0.4383). In PAMs, the distribution of GPER and ERβ was similar (78.4% vs. 81.6%; P = 0.8504), while in NPAM, ERβ was the representative ER (60.5% vs. 27.9%; P = 0.0010) without gender difference (59.1% vs. 61.9%). GPER‐/ERβ‐positive melanomas were associated with lower Breslow thickness, lower mitotic rate and higher presence of peritumoral lymphocyte infiltration (PLI) compared to GPER‐/ERβ‐negative cases (P = 0.0156, P = 0.0036 and P = 0.0001) predicting a better DFS (HR = 0.785, 95% CI 0.582–1.058). Despite the significantly higher frequency of GPER and ERβ expression in PAM, no significant difference was found in DFS between PAM and NPAM. All but one case failed to show ERα expression.ConclusionsThe presence of GPER and its simultaneous expression with ERβ can serve as a new prognostic indicator in a significant subpopulation of melanoma patients.
Preliminary investigation of urine N‐telopeptide concentration as a biomarker of bone resorption in dogs receiving glucocorticoids
Authors: Adamany J. L. , Cross G. F. , Gardner D. , Dunning M. D. 
Published: May 2017

ObjectivesThe influence of glucocorticoid therapy on bone resorption in dogs using a urine N‐telopeptide assay was investigated.Materials and MethodsThirty‐one dogs receiving oral glucocorticoids and 31 age‐matched healthy control dogs were enrolled. Urine N‐telopeptide concentration was measured using a commercially available immunoassay and results were expressed as a ratio against urinary creatinine concentration. Dogs receiving glucocorticoids were divided into three subgroups based on daily glucocorticoid dose and three subgroups based on treatment duration. Urine N‐telopeptide concentration was then compared between groups.ResultsUrine N‐telopeptide concentration was significantly higher in dogs receiving glucocorticoids compared to the control group.Clinical SignificanceThis preliminary study demonstrates significant increase in urine N‐telopeptide concentration in dogs receiving glucocorticoid therapy compared to control dogs. Further studies are needed to assess whether this increase in urine N‐telopeptide concentration correlates with decreases in bone mineral density as has been identified in humans.
Energy and nutrient intake increased by 47–67% when amylase was added to fortified blended foods—a study among 12‐ to 35‐month‐old Burkinabe children
Authors: Kampstra Nynke A. , Van Hoan Nguyen , Koenders Damiet J.P.C. , Schoop Rotraut , Broersen Britt C. , Mouquet‐Rivier Claire , Traoré Tahirou , Bruins Maaike J. , de Pee Saskia 
Published: May 2017

AbstractAdding amylase to fortified blended foods can improve energy density, and increase child's energy and nutrient intake. The efficacy of this strategy is unknown for the World Food Programme's Super Cereal Plus (SC+) and Super Cereal (SC) blends. The primary goal of this study was to investigate the increased energy intake from amylase‐containing SC+ and SC compared to control porridges in Burkinabe children. Secondly, energy intake from amylase‐containing porridges compared to CERELAC®, Vitazom, and eeZeeBAR™ was studied. Thirdly, caregivers' (n = 100) porridge acceptability was investigated. The design was a randomized double‐blind controlled cross‐over trial studying the effect of amylase addition to SC+ and SC flours on porridge energy and nutrient intake in healthy Burkinabe children aged 12–23 (n = 80) and 24–35 months (n = 40). Amylase added to porridges increased energy density from 0.68 to 1.16 kcal/g for SC+ and from 0.66 to 1.03 kcal/g for SC porridges. Among children aged 12–23 months, mean energy intake from all porridges with amylase (135–164 kcal/meal) was significantly higher compared to control SC+ porridges (84–98 kcal/meal; model‐based average). Among children aged 24–35 months, mean energy intakes were also significantly higher from all porridges with amylase added (245–288 kcal/meal) compared to control SC porridges (175–183 kcal/meal). Acceptability of the porridges among caregivers was rated neutral to good, both for amylase‐added and non‐amylase‐containing porridges. These findings suggest that, among 12–35‐month‐old, adding amylase to fortified blended foods significantly increased energy and consequently nutrient intake per meal by 67% for SC+ and 47% for SC. Moreover, amylase‐containing porridges were well accepted by the caregivers.
From structure to function – a family portrait of plant subtilases
Authors: Schaller Andreas , Stintzi Annick , Rivas Susana , Serrano Irene , Chichkova Nina V. , Vartapetian Andrey B. , Martínez Dana , Guiamét Juan J. , Sueldo Daniela J. , van der Hoorn Renier A. L. , Ramírez Vicente , Vera Pablo 
Published: May 2017

Contents

Summary
901

I.
Introduction
901

II.
Biochemistry and structure of plant SBTs
902

III.
Phylogeny of plant SBTs and family organization
903

IV.
Physiological roles of plant SBTs
905

V.
Conclusions and outlook
911

Acknowledgements
912

References
912

SummarySubtilases (SBTs) are serine peptidases that are found in all three domains of life. As compared with homologs in other Eucarya, plant SBTs are more closely related to archaeal and bacterial SBTs, with which they share many biochemical and structural features. However, in the course of evolution, functional diversification led to the acquisition of novel, plant‐specific functions, resulting in the present‐day complexity of the plant SBT family. SBTs are much more numerous in plants than in any other organism, and include enzymes involved in general proteolysis as well as highly specific processing proteases. Most SBTs are targeted to the cell wall, where they contribute to the control of growth and development by regulating the properties of the cell wall and the activity of extracellular signaling molecules. Plant SBTs affect all stages of the life cycle as they contribute to embryogenesis, seed development and germination, cuticle formation and epidermal patterning, vascular development, programmed cell death, organ abscission, senescence, and plant responses to their biotic and abiotic environments. In this article we provide a comprehensive picture of SBT structure and function in plants.
Government‐spending multipliers and the zero lower bound in an open economy
Authors: Mao Takongmo Charles Olivier 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThis paper assesses the size of the government‐spending multiplier in an open economy when the zero lower bound (ZLB) on the nominal interest rate is binding. In a theoretical framework, in a closed economy, other authors have shown that when the nominal interest rate is binding the government‐spending multiplier can be very large (close to four). Their theory helps illuminate the government‐spending multiplier in the ZLB, but it is difficult to match that theory with the data. We argue that, in an open economy, another channel exists for the crowding‐out effect via the real exchange rate. For an open economy, the government‐spending multiplier is not large owing to the appreciation of the real exchange rate, induced by the appreciation of aggregate demand that follows the increases in government spending. To test the robustness of our open economic model, we conduct the same analysis in a corresponding closed economy model. The result from our closed economy model confirms the result obtained in the other work. Our theoretical results are consistent with the results obtained in the empirical literature, which uses the vector autoregressive method and the structural vector autoregressive approach to measure the impact of government‐spending shock on the real gross domestic product and revealed that the government‐spending multiplier tends to be lower in open economy.
Comparison of bacterial attachment to platelet bags with and without preconditioning with plasma
Authors: Loza‐Correa M. , Kalab M. , Yi Q.‐L. , Eltringham‐Smith L. J. , Sheffield W. P. , Ramirez‐Arcos S. 
Published: May 2017

Background and ObjectivesCanadian Blood Services produces apheresis and buffy coat pooled platelet concentrates (PCs) stored in bags produced by two different manufacturers (A and B, respectively), both made of polyvinyl chloride‐butyryl trihexyl citrate. This study was aimed at comparing Staphylococcus epidermidis adhesion to the inner surface of both bag types in the presence or absence of plasma factors.Materials and MethodsSets (N = 2–6) of bags type A and B were left non‐coated (control) or preconditioned with platelet‐rich, platelet‐poor or defibrinated plasma (PRP, PPP and DefibPPP, respectively). Each bag was inoculated with a 200‐ml S. epidermidis culture adjusted to 0·5 colony‐forming units/ml. Bags were incubated under platelet storage conditions for 7 days. After culture removal, bacteria attached to the plastic surface were either dislodged by sonication for bacterial quantification or examined in situ by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).ResultsHigher bacterial adhesion was observed to preconditioned PC bags than control containers for both bag types (P < 0·0001). Bacterial attachment to preconditioned bags was confirmed by SEM. Bacteria adhered equally to both types of containers in the presence of PRP, PPP and DefibPPP residues (P > 0·05). By contrast, a significant increase in bacterial adherence was observed to type A bags compared with type B bags in the absence of plasma (P < 0·05) [Correction added on 16 June 2017, after first online publication: this sentence has been corrected].ConclusionThe ability of S. epidermidis to adhere to preconditioned platelet collection bags depends on the presence of plasma factors. Future efforts should be focused on reducing plasma proteins' attachment to platelet storage containers to decrease subsequent bacterial adhesion.
Functionality testing of stem cell grafts to predict infectious complications after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Nilsson J. , Granrot I. , Mattsson J. , Omazic B. , Uhlin M. , Thunberg S. 
Published: May 2017

Background and ObjectivesAllogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a routine clinical procedure performed to treat patients with haematological malignancies, primary immune deficiencies or metabolic disorders. Infections during lymphopenia after allogeneic HSCT are associated with high mortality and morbidity. Typical infectious agents are Epstein–Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, varicella‐zoster virus and fungi. The study aim was to evaluate whether measurement of the responses of antigen‐specific T‐cells, recognizing infectious pathogens would correlate to protective functions in the stem cell recipient post‐transplant.Materials and MethodsTwenty‐one grafts were analysed by flow cytometry and cells were stimulated in vitro with relevant infectious antigens, followed by evaluation of T‐cell proliferation and cytokine production. Results were compared to the recipients’ clinical records 1‐year post‐transplantation.ResultsWe show that an extensive repertoire of transferred antigen‐specific T‐cells from allogeneic donor grafts against infectious agents, involved in post‐transplant infections, are linked to an absence of infectious complications for the recipient up‐to 1‐year post‐transplant. The protective effect was associated with antigen‐specific T‐cell proliferation and IL‐1β secretion.ConclusionOur results suggest that assaying T‐cell function before HSCT could determine individual risks for infectious complications and thus aid in clinical decision‐making regarding prophylactic and pre‐emptive anti‐infective therapy.
Extra! Extracellular Effector Delivery into Host Cells via the Type 3 Secretion System
Authors: Kendall Melissa M. 
Published: May 2017

ABSTRACT

The type three secretion system (T3SS) is critical for the virulence of diverse bacterial pathogens. Pathogens use the T3SS to deliver effector proteins into host cells and manipulate host signaling pathways. The prevailing mechanism is that effectors translocate from inside the T3SS directly into the host cell. Recent studies reveal an alternative mechanism of effector translocation, in which an effector protein located outside the bacterial cell relies on the T3SS for delivery into host cells. Tejeda-Dominguez et al. (F. Tejeda-Dominguez, J. Huerta-Cantillo, L. Chavez-Dueñas, and F. Navarro-Garcia, mBio 8:e00184-17, 2017,
https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.00184-17
) demonstrate that the EspC effector of enteropathogenic
Escherichia coli
is translocated by binding to the outside of the T3SS and subsequently gains access to the host cell cytoplasm through the T3SS pore embedded within the host cell membrane. This work reveals a novel mechanism of translocation that is likely relevant for a variety of other pathogens that use the T3SS as part of their virulence arsenal.
Middle cerebral artery flow velocity increases more in patients with delayed intraparenchymal hemorrhage after Pipeline
Authors: Brunozzi Denise , Shakur Sophia F , Hussein Ahmed E , Charbel Fady T , Alaraj Ali 
Published: May 2017

ObjectivePipeline Embolization Devices (PED) are commonly used for endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysms but can be associated with delayed ipsilateral intraparenchymal hemorrhage (DIPH). The role that altered intracranial hemodynamics may play in the pathophysiology of DIPH is poorly understood. We assess middle cerebral artery (MCA) flow velocity changes after PED deployment.Materials and methodsPatients with aneurysms located proximal to the internal carotid artery terminus treated with PED at our institution between 2015 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were included if MCA flow velocities were measured using transcranial Doppler. Bilateral MCA flow velocities, ratio of ipsilateral to contralateral MCA flow velocity, and bilateral MCA pulsatility index before and after PED deployment were assessed.Results10 patients of mean age 52 years were included. Two patients had DIPH within 48 hours after PED deployment. We observed that these two patients had a higher increase in ipsilateral MCA mean flow velocity after treatment compared with patients without DIPH (39.5% vs 5.5%). Additionally, before PED deployment, patients with DIPH had a higher ipsilateral MCA pulsatility index (1.55 vs 0.98) and a higher ratio of ipsilateral to contralateral MCA mean flow velocity (1.35 vs 1.04).ConclusionsAfter PED, ipsilateral MCA mean flow velocity increases more in patients with DIPH. These flow velocity changes suggest the possible role of altered distal intracranial hemodynamics in DIPH after PED treatment of cerebral aneurysms. Further data are required to confirm this observation.
Influence of Ti content and sintering temperature on dielectric properties of Bi4Ti3O12 ceramics
Authors: Chen Yong , Li Zhaozhi , Su Huyin , Xue Simin , Bian Mengyun , Xu Lingfang , Cao Wanqiang , Huang Zhaoxiang 
Published: May 2017

An ultra-broad working temperature dielectric material, Bi4Ti[Formula: see text]O[Formula: see text]([Formula: see text] = 2.96, 2.98, 3.0, 3.02 and 3.04), prepared by a conventional mixed oxide route was investigated which is supposed to replace lead-containing ceramics for its outstanding dielectric properties. Microstructure and dielectric properties of well-sintered samples (at 1040[Formula: see text]C, 1060[Formula: see text]C, 1080[Formula: see text]C, 1100[Formula: see text]C and 1120[Formula: see text]C) were studied. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the new material was in a single Bi-layered perovskite phase. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss at different frequencies (10, 100 and 1000 kHz) were measured at 1100[Formula: see text]C. With the increasing frequency, the dielectric constant decreased and the dielectric loss was almost unchanged. While at 100 kHz, there is the highest relative permittivity ([Formula: see text]) of 2822.8 and the lowest dielectric loss of 0.0040 ([Formula: see text] = 2.98), the Curie temperature ([Formula: see text]) is 668.9[Formula: see text]C. At the frequency of 1 MHz, the highest relative permittivity ([Formula: see text]) is 1115.8 when Ti content is 3.02, and the Curie temperature is 672.2[Formula: see text]C. SEM can explain the results of the dielectric spectrum at different Ti content and sintering temperatures. [Formula: see text] plots show that Bi4Ti3O[Formula: see text] ceramics are a kind of dielectrics. Since it possesses large dielectric constant, low dielectric loss and stable temperature character, this material shows promising applications for the ultra-broad temperature range components, such as high-temperature multilayer ceramic capacitors and microwave ceramics.
Nanoplate-like tungsten trioxide (hydrate) films prepared by crystal-seed-assisted hydrothermal reaction
Authors: Wang P. , Yang L. , Dai B. , Yang Z. , Guo S. , Zhu J. 
Published: May 2017

Vertically-aligned WO3 nanoplates on transparent conducting fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass were prepared by a facile template-free crystal-seed-assisted hydrothermal method. The effects of the hydrothermal temperature and reaction time on the crystal structure and morphology of the products were investigated by XRD and SEM. The XRD results showed that the as-prepared thin films obtained below 150[Formula: see text]C comprised orthorhombic WO3 ⋅ H2O and completely converted to monoclinic WO3 at 180[Formula: see text]C. It was also noted that there was a phase transformation from orthorhombic to monoclinic by increasing the reaction time from 1 to 12 h. SEM analysis revealed that WO3 thin films are composed of plate-like nanostructures.
Ube3a loss increases excitability and blunts orientation tuning in the visual cortex of Angelman syndrome model mice
Authors: Wallace Michael L. , van Woerden Geeske M. , Elgersma Ype , Smith Spencer L. , Philpot Benjamin D. 
Published: May 2017

Angelman syndrome (AS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by loss of the maternally inherited allele of UBE3A. Ube3aSTOP/p+ mice recapitulate major features of AS in humans and allow conditional reinstatement of maternal Ube3a with the expression of Cre recombinase. We have recently shown that AS model mice exhibit reduced inhibitory drive onto layer (L)2/3 pyramidal neurons of visual cortex, which contributes to a synaptic excitatory/inhibitory imbalance. However, it remains unclear how this loss of inhibitory drive affects neural circuits in vivo. Here we examined visual cortical response properties in individual neurons to explore the consequences of Ube3a loss on intact cortical circuits and processing. Using in vivo patch-clamp electrophysiology, we measured the visually evoked responses to square-wave drifting gratings in L2/3 regular-spiking (RS) neurons in control mice, Ube3a-deficient mice, and mice in which Ube3a was conditionally reinstated in GABAergic neurons. We found that Ube3a-deficient mice exhibited enhanced pyramidal neuron excitability in vivo as well as weaker orientation tuning. These observations are the first to show alterations in cortical computation in an AS model, and they suggest a basis for cortical dysfunction in AS. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Angelman syndrome (AS) is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder caused by the loss of the gene UBE3A. Using electrophysiological recording in vivo, we describe visual cortical dysfunctions in a mouse model of AS. Aberrant cellular properties in AS model mice could be improved by reinstating Ube3a in inhibitory neurons. These findings suggest that inhibitory neurons play a substantial role in the pathogenesis of AS.