bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
China's War on Air Pollution: Can Existing Governance Structures Support New Ambitions?
Authors: Wong Christine , Karplus Valerie J. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractUnprecedented and highly visible degraded air quality in China's urban centres has prompted a step change in central government control efforts in recent years. This “War on Air Pollution” has included a mixture of administrative controls, regulatory clampdowns, economic incentives and public education campaigns. A critical constraint on how policies are designed and implemented is the central government's capacity to access accurate cost information, and monitor, evaluate and enforce the policies at subordinate levels of government. We examine in detail the directives and arrangements that underpin China's “War on Air Pollution” at the provincial level, taking Hebei province as a case study. Located upwind of Beijing, Hebei's heavy industries have been a particular focus of the environmental policies. The current approach, which requires highly specific and costly local actions, yet allocates funds centrally, suffers from misaligned incentives and does not address longstanding weaknesses in local policy monitoring, evaluation and enforcement.
Physiological and ecological implications of an iron- or hydrogen-oxidizing member of the Zetaproteobacteria, Ghiorsea bivora, gen. nov., sp. nov.
Authors: Mori Jiro F , Scott Jarrod J , Hager Kevin W , Moyer Craig L , Küsel Kirsten , Emerson David 
Published: August 2017

Abstract
Chemosynthetic Fe-oxidizing communities are common at diffuse-flow hydrothermal vents throughout the world’s oceans. The foundational members of these communities are the Zetaproteobacteria, a class of Proteobacteria that is primarily associated with ecosystems fueled by ferrous iron, Fe(II). We report here the discovery of two new isolates of Zetaproteobacteria isolated from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (TAG-1), and the Mariana back-arc (SV-108), that are unique in that they can utilize either Fe(II) or molecular hydrogen (H2) as sole electron donor and oxygen as terminal electron acceptor for growth. Both strains precipitated Fe-oxyhydroxides as amorphous particulates. The cell doubling time on H2 vs Fe(II) for TAG-1 was 14.1 vs 21.8 h, and for SV-108 it was 16.3 vs 20 h, and it appeared both strains could use either H2 or Fe(II) simultaneously. The strains were close relatives, based on genomic analysis, and both possessed genes for the uptake NiFe-hydrogenase required for growth on H2. These two strains belong to Zetaproteobacteria operational taxonomic unit 9 (ZetaOTU9). A meta-analysis of public databases found ZetaOTU9 was only associated with Fe(II)-rich habitats, and not in other environments where known H2-oxidizers exist. These results expand the metabolic repertoire of the Zetaproteobacteria, yet confirm that Fe(II) metabolism is the primary driver of their physiology and ecology.
USP26 functions as a negative regulator of cellular reprogramming by stabilising PRC1 complex components
Authors: Ning Bo , Zhao Wei , Qian Chen , Liu Pinghua , Li Qingtian , Li Wenyuan , Wang Rong-Fu 
Published: August 2017

AbstractDespite much progress in the comprehension of the complex process of somatic cell reprogramming, many questions regarding the molecular mechanism of regulation remain to be answered. At present, the knowledge on the negative regulation of reprogramming process is indeed poor in contrary to the identification of positive regulators. Here we report for the first time that ubiquitin-specific protease 26 negatively regulates somatic cell-reprogramming process by stabilizing chromobox (CBX)-containing proteins CBX4 and CBX6 of polycomb-repressive complex 1 through the removal of K48-linked polyubiquitination. Thus, accumulated CBX4 and CBX6 repress the expression of pluripotency genes, such as Sox2 and Nanog, through PRC1 complexes to ubiquitinate histone H2A at their promoters. In all, our findings have revealed an essential role for ubiquitin-specific protease 26 in cellular reprogramming through polycomb-repressive complex 1.
Reinforcement determines the timing dependence of corticostriatal synaptic plasticity in vivo
Authors: Fisher Simon D. , Robertson Paul B. , Black Melony J. , Redgrave Peter , Sagar Mark A. , Abraham Wickliffe C. , Reynolds John N.J. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractPlasticity at synapses between the cortex and striatum is considered critical for learning novel actions. However, investigations of spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) at these synapses have been performed largely in brain slice preparations, without consideration of physiological reinforcement signals. This has led to conflicting findings, and hampered the ability to relate neural plasticity to behavior. Using intracellular striatal recordings in intact rats, we show here that pairing presynaptic and postsynaptic activity induces robust Hebbian bidirectional plasticity, dependent on dopamine and adenosine signaling. Such plasticity, however, requires the arrival of a reward-conditioned sensory reinforcement signal within 2 s of the STDP pairing, thus revealing a timing-dependent eligibility trace on which reinforcement operates. These observations are validated with both computational modeling and behavioral testing. Our results indicate that Hebbian corticostriatal plasticity can be induced by classical reinforcement learning mechanisms, and might be central to the acquisition of novel actions.
Ancestor of land plants acquired the DNA-3-methyladenine glycosylase (MAG) gene from bacteria through horizontal gene transfer
Authors: Fang Huimin , Huangfu Liexiang , Chen Rujia , Li Pengcheng , Xu Shuhui , Zhang Enying , Cao Wei , Liu Li , Yao Youli , Liang Guohua , Xu Chenwu , Zhou Yong , Yang Zefeng 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe origin and evolution of land plants was an important event in the history of life and initiated the establishment of modern terrestrial ecosystems. From water to terrestrial environments, plants needed to overcome the enhanced ultraviolet (UV) radiation and many other DNA-damaging agents. Evolving new genes with the function of DNA repair is critical for the origin and radiation of land plants. In bacteria, the DNA-3-methyladenine glycosylase (MAG) recognizes of a variety of base lesions and initiates the process of the base excision repair for damaged DNA. The homologs of MAG gene are present in all major lineages of streptophytes, and both the phylogenic and sequence similarity analyses revealed that green plant MAG gene originated through an ancient horizontal gene transfer (HGT) event from bacteria. Experimental evidence demonstrated that the expression of the maize ZmMAG gene was induced by UV and zeocin, both of which are known as DNA-damaging agents. Further investigation revealed that Streptophyta MAG genes had undergone positive selection during the initial evolutionary period in the ancestor of land plants. Our findings demonstrated that the ancient HGT of MAG to the ancestor of land plants probably played an important role in preadaptation to DNA-damaging agents in terrestrial environments.
Caesarean Section is associated with reduced perinatal cytokine response, increased risk of bacterial colonization in the airway, and infantile wheezing
Authors: Liao Sui-Ling , Tsai Ming-Han , Yao Tsung-Chieh , Hua Man-Chin , Yeh Kuo-Wei , Chiu Chih-Yung , Su Kuan-Wen , Huang Shih-Yin , Kao Chuan-Chi , Lai Shen-Hao , Huang Jing-Long 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe relationship between cesarean section (CS) and allergic disorders such as asthma and wheezing has been inconsistent, and the mechanisms for their connection remained largely unknown. We aimed to investigate whether CS is associated with infantile wheeze and to explore the connection between CS and several risk factors known to correlate with allergy development. Mononuclear cells were isolated from cord blood and assessed for cytokine responses by ELISA. Bacteria from nasopharyngeal specimens were identified with traditional culture methods. Infant lung function tests were performed at 6 and 12 months of age. IgE levels and clinical outcomes were assessed at 12 months. The result showed that children delivered by CS were associated with increased risk of wheezing (aHR 1.63; 95% CI: 1.01–2.62) and decreased compliance of the respiratory system at 12 months (p = 0.045). In addition, CS was associated with reduced TLR1–2- triggered TNF-α and IL-6 responses at birth. By12 months of age, children delivered by CS had significantly less airway bacterial clearance. Our findings suggested that CS was associated with decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine response to TLR1–2 stimulation, followed by higher abundance of bacterial colonization in the airway during late infancy, thus increasing the risk of infantile wheezing.
Genetic determinants restricting the reassortment of heterologous NSP2 genes into the simian rotavirus SA11 genome
Authors: Mingo Rebecca , Zhang Shu , Long Courtney P. , LaConte Leslie E. W. , McDonald Sarah M. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractRotaviruses (RVs) can evolve through the process of reassortment, whereby the 11 double-stranded RNA genome segments are exchanged among strains during co-infection. However, reassortment is limited in cases where the genes or encoded proteins of co-infecting strains are functionally incompatible. In this study, we employed a helper virus-based reverse genetics system to identify NSP2 gene regions that correlate with restricted reassortment into simian RV strain SA11. We show that SA11 reassortants with NSP2 genes from human RV strains Wa or DS-1 were efficiently rescued and exhibit no detectable replication defects. However, we could not rescue an SA11 reassortant with a human RV strain AU-1 NSP2 gene, which differs from that of SA11 by 186 nucleotides (36 amino acids). To map restriction determinants, we engineered viruses to contain chimeric NSP2 genes in which specific regions of AU-1 sequence were substituted with SA11 sequence. We show that a region spanning AU-1 NSP2 gene nucleotides 784–820 is critical for the observed restriction; yet additional determinants reside in other gene regions. In silico and in vitro analyses were used to predict how the 784–820 region may impact NSP2 gene/protein function, thereby informing an understanding of the reassortment restriction mechanism.
Melittin-induced alterations in morphology and deformability of human red blood cells using quantitative phase imaging techniques
Authors: Hur Joonseok , Kim Kyoohyun , Lee SangYun , Park HyunJoo , Park YongKeun 
Published: August 2017

AbstractHere, the actions of melittin, the active molecule of apitoxin or bee venom, were investigated on human red blood cells (RBCs) using quantitative phase imaging techniques. High-resolution real-time 3-D refractive index (RI) measurements and dynamic 2-D phase images of individual melittin-bound RBCs enabled in-depth examination of melittin-induced biophysical alterations of the cells. From the measurements, morphological, intracellular, and mechanical alterations of the RBCs were analyzed quantitatively. Furthermore, leakage of haemoglobin (Hb) inside the RBCs at high melittin concentration was also investigated.
Biodiversity conservation gaps in the Brazilian protected areas
Authors: Oliveira Ubirajara , Soares-Filho Britaldo Silveira , Paglia Adriano Pereira , Brescovit Antonio D. , de Carvalho Claudio J. B. , Silva Daniel Paiva , Rezende Daniella T. , Leite Felipe Sá Fortes , Batista João Aguiar Nogueira , Barbosa João Paulo Peixoto Pena , Stehmann João Renato , Ascher John S. , de Vasconcelos Marcelo Ferreira , De Marco Paulo , Löwenberg-Neto Peter , Ferro Viviane Gianluppi , Santos Adalberto J. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractAlthough Brazil is a megadiverse country and thus a conservation priority, no study has yet quantified conservation gaps in the Brazilian protected areas (PAs) using extensive empirical data. Here, we evaluate the degree of biodiversity protection and knowledge within all the Brazilian PAs through a gap analysis of vertebrate, arthropod and angiosperm occurrences and phylogenetic data. Our results show that the knowledge on biodiversity in most Brazilian PAs remain scant as 71% of PAs have less than 0.01 species records per km2. Almost 55% of Brazilian species and about 40% of evolutionary lineages are not found in PAs, while most species have less than 30% of their geographic distribution within PAs. Moreover, the current PA network fails to protect the majority of endemic species. Most importantly, these results are similar for all taxonomic groups analysed here. The methods and results of our countrywide assessment are suggested to help design further inventories in order to map and secure the key biodiversity of the Brazilian PAs. In addition, our study illustrates the most common biodiversity knowledge shortfalls in the tropics.
Mast cell activation in the acupoint is important for the electroacupuncture effect against pituitrin-induced bradycardia in rabbits
Authors: Zhu Haining , Wang Xuezhi , Huang Meng , Jing Yi , Zhang Di , Ding Guanghong 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThis research was conducted to verify the structural and functional characteristics of mast cells in the electroacupuncture (EA) effects on bradycardia. First, we examined the mast cell density at PC 6, adjacent acupoint LU 7, and a non-acupoint. We tested the effects of EA at PC 6 on heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) in rabbits with pituitrin-induced bradycardia. We also injected sodium cromolyn (Cro), a mast cell membrane stabilizer, at PC 6 30 min before EA to investigate if it affected the EA effects. The results showed that in both PC 6 and LU 7, the mast cell densities were higher than in the non-acupoint (P < 0.05). EA could induce mast cell degranulation at PC 6, which could be suppressed by sodium cromolyn (P < 0.05). EA improved HR, though the change was relatively small in the initial stage with a significant change at 35 min after modelling (P < 0.05). BP significantly improved at 10 min after the onset of pituitrin-induced bradycardia (P < 0.05). The EA effects on both HR and BP were suppressed by sodium cromolyn (P < 0.05). Therefore, we concluded that mast cells in the acupoint are important for the EA effects against pituitrin-induced bradycardia in rabbits.
Genetics of body fat mass and related traits in a pig population selected for leanness
Authors: Reyer Henry , Varley Patrick F. , Murani Eduard , Ponsuksili Siriluck , Wimmers Klaus 
Published: August 2017

AbstractObesity is characterized as the excessive accumulation of body fat and has a complex genetic foundation in humans including monogenic high-risk mutations and polygenic contributions. Domestic pigs represent a valuable model on an obesity-promoting high-caloric diet while constantly evaluated for body characteristics. As such, we investigated the genetics of obesity-related traits, comprising subcutaneous fat thickness, lean mass percentage, and growth rate, in a pig population. We conducted genome-wide association analyses using an integrative approach of single-marker regression models and multi-marker Bayesian analyses. Thus, we identified 30 genomic regions distributed over 14 different chromosomes contributing to the variation in obesity-related traits. In these regions, we validated the association of four candidate genes that are functionally connected to the regulation of appetite, processes of adipogenesis, and extracellular matrix formation. Our findings revealed fundamental genetic factors which deserves closer attention regarding their roles in the etiology of obesity.
A comparative analysis of longitudinal computed tomography and histopathology for evaluating the potential of mesenchymal stem cells in mitigating radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Perez Jessica R. , Lee Sangkyu , Ybarra Norma , Maria Ola , Serban Monica , Jeyaseelan Krishinima , Wang Li Ming , Seuntjens Jan , Naqa Issam El 
Published: August 2017

AbstractRadiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis (RIPF) is a debilitating side effect that occurs in up to 30% of thoracic irradiations in breast and lung cancer patients. RIPF remains a major limiting factor to dose escalation and an obstacle to applying more promising new treatments for cancer cure. Limited treatment options are available to mitigate RIPF once it occurs, but recently, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and a drug treatment stimulating endogenous stem cells (GM-CSF) have been investigated for their potential in preventing this disease onset. In a pre-clinical rat model, we contrasted the application of longitudinal computed tomography (CT) imaging and classical histopathology to quantify RIPF and to evaluate the potential of MSCs in mitigating RIPF. Our results on histology demonstrate promises when MSCs are injected endotracheally (but not intravenously). While our CT analysis highlights the potential of GM-CSF treatment. Advantages and limitations of both analytical methods are contrasted in the context of RIPF.
Transcriptome changes in Arabidopsis thaliana infected with Pseudomonas syringae during drought recovery
Authors: Gupta Aarti , Senthil-Kumar Muthappa 
Published: August 2017

AbstractField-grown plants experience cycles of drought stress and recovery due to variation in soil moisture status. Physiological, biochemical and transcriptome responses instigated by recovery are expected to be different from drought stress and non-stressed state. Such responses can further aid or antagonize the plant’s interaction with the pathogen. However, at molecular level, not much is known about plant-pathogen interaction during drought recovery. In the present study, we performed a microarray-based global transcriptome profiling and demonstrated the existence of unique transcriptional changes in Arabidopsis thaliana inoculated with Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 at the time of drought recovery (drought recovery pathogen, DRP) when compared to the individual drought (D) or pathogen (P) or drought recovery (DR). Furthermore, the comparison of DRP with D or DR and P transcriptome revealed the presence of a few common genes among three treatments. Notably, a gene encoding proline dehydrogenase (AtProDH1) was found to be commonly up-regulated under drought recovery (DR), DRP and P stresses. We also report an up-regulation of pyrroline-5-carboxylate biosynthesis pathway during recovery. We propose that AtProDH1 influences the defense pathways during DRP. Altogether, this study provides insight into the understanding of defense responses that operate in pathogen-infected plants during drought recovery.
Inflammatory cytokine-induced changes in neural network activity measured by waveform analysis of high-content calcium imaging in murine cortical neurons
Authors: Clarkson Benjamin D. S. , Kahoud Robert J. , McCarthy Christina B. , Howe Charles L. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractDuring acute neuroinflammation, increased levels of cytokines within the brain may contribute to synaptic reorganization that results in long-term changes in network hyperexcitability. Indeed, inflammatory cytokines are implicated in synaptic dysfunction in epilepsy and in an array of degenerative and autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system. Current tools for studying the impact of inflammatory factors on neural networks are either insufficiently fast and sensitive or require complicated and costly experimental rigs. Calcium imaging offers a reasonable surrogate for direct measurement of neuronal network activity, but traditional imaging paradigms are confounded by cellular heterogeneity and cannot readily distinguish between glial and neuronal calcium transients. While the establishment of pure neuron cultures is possible, the removal of glial cells ignores physiologically relevant cell-cell interactions that may be critical for circuit level disruptions induced by inflammatory factors. To overcome these issues, we provide techniques and algorithms for image processing and waveform feature extraction using automated analysis of spontaneous and evoked calcium transients in primary murine cortical neuron cultures transduced with an adeno-associated viral vector driving the GCaMP6f reporter behind a synapsin promoter. Using this system, we provide evidence of network perturbations induced by the inflammatory cytokines TNFα, IL1β, and IFNγ.
Frequency, moisture content, and temperature dependent dielectric properties of potato starch related to drying with radio-frequency/microwave energy
Authors: Zhu Zhuozhuo , Guo Wenchuan 
Published: August 2017

AbstractTo develop advanced drying methods using radio-frequency (RF) or microwave (MW) energy, dielectric properties of potato starch were determined using an open-ended coaxial-line probe and network analyzer at frequencies between 20 and 4,500 MHz, moisture contents between 15.1% and 43.1% wet basis (w.b.), and temperatures between 25 and 75 °C. The results showed that both dielectric constant (ε′) and loss factor (ε″) were dependent on frequency, moisture content, and temperature. ε′ decreased with increasing frequency at a given moisture content or temperature. At low moisture contents (≤25.4% w.b.) or low temperatures (≤45 °C), ε″ increased with increasing frequency. However, ε″ changed from decrease to increase with increasing frequency at high moisture contents or temperatures. At low temperatures (25–35 °C), both ε′ and ε″ increased with increasing moisture content. At low moisture contents (15.1–19.5% w.b.), they increased with increasing temperature. The change trends of ε′ and ε″ were different and dependent on temperature and moisture content at their high levels. The penetration depth (d
p
) decreased with increasing frequency. RF treatments may provide potential large-scale industrial drying application for potato starch. This research offers useful information on dielectric properties of potato starch related to drying with electromagnetic energy.
Retinal Vascular Imaging Markers and Incident Chronic Kidney Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Yip Wanfen , Ong Peng Guan , Teo Boon Wee , Cheung Carol Yim-lui , Tai E Shyong , Cheng Ching-Yu , Lamoureux Ecosse , Wong Tien Yin , Sabanayagam Charumathi 
Published: August 2017

AbstractRetinal microvascular changes indicating microvascular dysfunction have been shown to be associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cross-sectional studies, but findings were mixed in prospective studies. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between retinal microvascular parameters and incident CKD in an Asian population. We examined 1256 Malay adults aged 40–80 years from the Singapore Malay Eye Study, who attended both the baseline (2004–07) and the follow-up (2011–13) examinations and were free of prevalent CKD. We measured quantitative retinal vascular parameters (arteriolar and venular calibre, tortuosity, fractal dimension and branching angle) using a computer-assisted program (Singapore I Vessel Assessment, SIVA) and retinopathy (qualitative parameter) using the modified Airlie house classification system from baseline retinal photographs. Incident CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 + 25% decrease in eGFR during follow-up. Over a median follow-up period of 6 years, 78 (6.21%) developed CKD (70.5% had diabetes). In multivariable models, smaller retinal arterioles (hazards ratio [95% confidence interval] = 1.34 [1.00–1.78]), larger retinal venules (2.35 [1.12–5.94] and presence of retinopathy (2.54 [1.48–4.36]) were associated with incident CKD. Our findings suggest that retinal microvascular abnormalities may reflect subclinical renal microvascular abnormalities involved in the development of CKD.