bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Stimulatory Effect of Intermittent Hypoxia on the Production of Corticosterone by Zona Fasciculata-Reticularis Cells in Rats
Authors: Hwang Guey-Shyang , Chen Chih-Chieh , Chou Jou-Chun , Chang Ling-Ling , Kan Shu-Fen , Lai Wei-Ho , Lieu Fu-Kong , Hu Sindy , Wang Paulus S. , Wang Shyi-Wu 
Published: August 2017

AbstractHypoxia or intermittent hypoxia (IH) have known to alter both synthesis and secretion of hormones. However, the effect of IH on the production of adrenal cortical steroid hormones is still unclear. The aim of present study was to explore the mechanism involved in the effect of IH on the production of corticosterone by rat ZFR cells. Male rats were exposed at 12% O2 and 88% N2 (8 hours per day) for 1, 2, or 4 days. The ZFR cells were incubated at 37 °C for 1 hour with or without ACTH, 8-Br-cAMP, calcium ion channel blockers, or steroidogenic precursors. The concentration of plasma corticosterone was increased time-dependently by administration of IH hypoxia. The basal levels of corticosterone production in cells were higher in the IH groups than in normoxic group. IH resulted in a time-dependent increase of corticosterone production in response to ACTH, 8-Br-cAMP, progesterone and deoxycorticosterone. The production of pregnenolone in response to 25-OH-C and that of progesterone in response to pregnenolone in ZFR cells were enhanced by 4-day IH. These results suggest that IH in rats increases the secretion of corticosterone via a mechanism at least in part associated with the activation of cAMP pathway and steroidogenic enzymes.
Horizontal transfer of a ß-1,6-glucanase gene from an ancestral species of fungal endophyte to a cool-season grass host
Authors: Shinozuka Hiroshi , Hettiarachchige Inoka K. , Shinozuka Maiko , Cogan Noel O. I. , Spangenberg German C. , Cocks Benjamin G. , Forster John W. , Sawbridge Timothy I. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractMolecular characterisation has convincingly demonstrated some types of horizontal gene transfer in eukaryotes, but nuclear gene transfer between distantly related eukaryotic groups appears to have been rare. For angiosperms (flowering plants), nuclear gene transfer events identified to date have been confined to genes originating from prokaryotes or other plant species. In this report, evidence for ancient horizontal transfer of a fungal nuclear gene, encoding a ß-1,6-glucanase enzyme for fungal cell wall degradation, into an angiosperm lineage is presented for the first time. The gene was identified fromde novosequencing and assembly of the genome and transcriptome of perennial ryegrass, a cool-season grass species. Molecular analysis confirmed the presence of the complete gene in the genome of perennial ryegrass. No corresponding sequence was found in other plant species, apart from members of the Poeae sub-tribes Loliinae and Dactylidinae. Evidence suggests that a common ancestor of the two sub-tribes acquired the gene from a species ancestral to contemporary grass-associated fungal endophytes around 9–13 million years ago. This first report of horizontal transfer of a nuclear gene from a taxonomically distant eukaryote to modern flowering plants provides evidence for a novel adaptation mechanism in angiosperms.
Pulmonary inflammation and cytokine dynamics of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from a mouse model of bronchial asthma during A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza infection
Authors: Fujimoto Yousuke , Hasegawa Shunji , Matsushige Takeshi , Wakiguchi Hiroyuki , Nakamura Tamaki , Hasegawa Hideki , Nakajima Noriko , Ainai Akira , Oga Atsunori , Itoh Hiroshi , Shirabe Komei , Toda Shoichi , Atsuta Ryo , Morishima Tsuneo , Ohga Shouichi 
Published: August 2017

AbstractAsthmatic patients present more rapid progression of respiratory distress after A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza infection than after seasonal infection. Here, we sought to clarify the pathophysiology of early deterioration in asthmatic patients after A(H1N1)pdm09 infection. Cytokine levels and virus titres in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from mice with and without asthma after A(H1N1)pdm09 or seasonal H1N1 infection were examined. In asthma/A(H1N1)pdm09 mice, IL-6 and TNF-α levels peaked at 3 days post-infection and were higher than those in all other groups. IFN-γ levels in asthma/A(H1N1)pdm09 mice at 3 days post-infection were higher than in all other mice at any time point, whereas at 7 days post-infection, the levels were lowest in asthma/A(H1N1)pdm09 mice. Virus titres in asthma/A(H1N1)pdm09 mice were highest at 3 days post-infection, and decreased by 7 days post-infection, although the levels at this time point were still higher than that in any other group. Histopathological examination showed more inflammatory cell infiltration and lung tissue destruction in the asthma/A(H1N1)pdm09 group than in any other group. The distinct cytokine profiles in A(H1N1)pdm09-infected asthmatic mice indicated excessive inflammation and virus replication within a few days after infection. Thus, bronchial asthma could be a more exacerbating factor for pandemic influenza infection than for seasonal influenza infection.
Ambient particulate air pollution (PM2.5) is associated with the ratio of type 2 diabetes to obesity
Authors: Mazidi Mohsen , Speakman John R. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractWe used county level data for T2D prevalence across the mainland USA and matched this to county level ambient PM2.5. Multiple linear regression was used to determine the relation between prevalence of T2D with PM2.5 after adjustment for confounding factors. PM2.5 explained 6.3% of the spatial variation in obesity, and 17.9% of the spatial variation in T2D. After correcting the T2D prevalence for obesity, race, poverty, education and temperature, PM2.5 still explained 8.3% of the residual variation in males (P < 0.0001) and 11.5% in females (P < 0.0001). The effect on obesity prevalence corrected for poverty, race education and temperature was much lower and hence the ratio of T2D to obesity prevalence was significantly associated with PM2.5 in males (R2 = 11.1%, P < 0.0001) and females (R2 = 16.8%, P < 0.0001). This association was repeated across non-African countries (R2 = 14.9%, P < 0.0001). High levels of PM2.5 probably contribute to increased T2D prevalence in the USA, but have a more minor effect on the obesity. Exposure to high environmental levels of PM2.5 (relative to the USA) may explain the disproportional risk of T2D in relation to obesity in Asian populations.
Discrimination of three types of homopolymers in single-stranded DNA with solid-state nanopores through external control of the DNA motion
Authors: Akahori Rena , Yanagi Itaru , Goto Yusuke , Harada Kunio , Yokoi Takahide , Takeda Ken-ichi 
Published: August 2017

AbstractTo achieve DNA sequencing with solid-state nanopores, the speed of the DNA in the nanopore must be controlled to obtain sequence-specific signals. In this study, we fabricated a nanopore-sensing system equipped with a DNA motion controller. DNA strands were immobilized on a Si probe, and approach of this probe to the nanopore vicinity could be controlled using a piezo actuator and stepper motor. The area of the Si probe was larger than the area of the membrane, which meant that the immobilized DNA could enter the nanopore without the need for the probe to scan to determine the location of the nanopore in the membrane. We demonstrated that a single-stranded DNA could be inserted into and removed from a nanopore in our experimental system. The number of different ionic-current levels observed while DNA remained in the nanopore corresponded to the number of different types of homopolymers in the DNA.
Stimulation triggers endogenous activity patterns in cultured cortical networks
Authors: Pasquale Valentina , Martinoia Sergio , Chiappalone Michela 
Published: August 2017

AbstractCultures of dissociated cortical neurons represent a powerful trade-off between more realistic experimental models and abstract modeling approaches, allowing to investigate mechanisms of synchronized activity generation. These networks spontaneously alternate periods of high activity (i.e. network bursts) with periods of quiescence in a dynamic state which recalls the fluctuation of in vivo UP and DOWN states. Network bursts can also be elicited by external stimulation and their spatial propagation patterns tracked by means of multi-channel micro-electrode arrays. In this study, we used rat cortical cultures coupled to micro-electrode arrays to investigate the similarity between spontaneous and evoked activity patterns. We performed experiments by applying electrical stimulation to different network locations and demonstrated that the rank orders of electrodes during evoked and spontaneous events are remarkably similar independently from the stimulation source. We linked this result to the capability of stimulation to evoke firing in highly active and “leader” sites of the network, reliably and rapidly recruited within both spontaneous and evoked bursts. Our study provides the first evidence that spontaneous and evoked activity similarity is reliably observed also in dissociated cortical networks.
Aluminum plasmonic nanoshielding in ultraviolet inactivation of bacteria
Authors: Kunz Jeremy N. , Voronine Dmitri V. , Lu Weigang , Liege Zachary , Lee Ho Wai Howard , Zhang Zhenrong , Scully Marlan O. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractUltraviolet (UV) irradiation is an effective bacterial inactivation technique with broad applications in environmental disinfection. However, biomedical applications are limited due to the low selectivity, undesired inactivation of beneficial bacteria and damage of healthy tissue. New approaches are needed for the protection of biological cells from UV radiation for the development of controlled treatment and improved biosensors. Aluminum plasmonics offers attractive opportunities for the control of light-matter interactions in the UV range, which have not yet been explored in microbiology. Here, we investigate the effects of aluminum nanoparticles (Al NPs) prepared by sonication of aluminum foil on the UVC inactivation ofE.colibacteria and demonstrate a new radiation protection mechanism via plasmonic nanoshielding. We observe direct interaction of the bacterial cells with Al NPs and elucidate the nanoshielding mechanism via UV plasmonic resonance and nanotailing effects. Concentration and wavelength dependence studies reveal the role and range of control parameters for regulating the radiation dosage to achieve effective UVC protection. Our results provide a step towards developing improved radiation-based bacterial treatments.
Analyses of Long Non-Coding RNA and mRNA profiling using RNA sequencing in chicken testis with extreme sperm motility
Authors: Liu Yifan , Sun Yanyan , Li Yunlei , Bai Hao , Xue Fuguang , Xu Songshan , Xu Hong , Shi Lei , Yang Ning , Chen Jilan 
Published: August 2017

AbstractSperm motility is the most important indicator in evaluating roosters’ fecundity. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying chicken sperm motility is not yet clear. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) play epigenetic roles in reproduction. In this study, RNA sequencing was employed to profile the testis transcriptome (lncRNA and mRNA) of six Beijing-you cocks divergent in sperm motility. In total, 2,597 lncRNAs were identified in the chicken testis, including 1,267 lincRNAs, 975 anti-sense lncRNAs, and 355 intronic lncRNAs. They shared similar features with previous studies. Of these lncRNAs, 124 were differentially expressed. Among 17,690 mRNAs detected in this study, 544 were differentially expressed, including a bunch of genes with known functions on sperm motility. GO annotation analysis revealed these genes were involved in ATP binding, cilium assembly, and oxidation-reduction processes. Integrating analysis of lncRNA and mRNA profiles predicted 10 lncRNA-gene pairs, including 8 co-regulated and 2 inversely-regulated pairs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first genome-wide investigation of the lncRNAs in the chicken testis associated with sperm motility. Our results provided a catalog of chicken testis lncRNAs and genes worthy of further studies to understand their roles in cocks’ reproductive performance regulation.
Sterol targeting drugs reveal life cycle stage-specific differences in trypanosome lipid rafts
Authors: Sharma Aabha I. , Olson Cheryl L. , Mamede João I. , Gazos-Lopes Felipe , Epting Conrad L. , Almeida Igor C. , Engman David M. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractCilia play important roles in cell signaling, facilitated by the unique lipid environment of a ciliary membrane containing high concentrations of sterol-rich lipid rafts. The African trypanosome Trypanosoma brucei is a single-celled eukaryote with a single cilium/flagellum. We tested whether flagellar sterol enrichment results from selective flagellar partitioning of specific sterol species or from general enrichment of all sterols. While all sterols are enriched in the flagellum, cholesterol is especially enriched. T. brucei cycles between its mammalian host (bloodstream cell), in which it scavenges cholesterol, and its tsetse fly host (procyclic cell), in which it both scavenges cholesterol and synthesizes ergosterol. We wondered whether the insect and mammalian life cycle stages possess chemically different lipid rafts due to different sterol utilization. Treatment of bloodstream parasites with cholesterol-specific methyl-β-cyclodextrin disrupts both membrane liquid order and localization of a raft-associated ciliary membrane calcium sensor. Treatment with ergosterol-specific amphotericin B does not. The opposite results were observed with ergosterol-rich procyclic cells. Further, these agents have opposite effects on flagellar sterol enrichment and cell metabolism in the two life cycle stages. These findings illuminate differences in the lipid rafts of an organism employing life cycle-specific sterols and have implications for treatment.
Embryonic hindbrain patterning genes delineate distinct cardio-respiratory and metabolic homeostatic populations in the adult
Authors: Sun Jenny J. , Huang Teng-Wei , Neul Jeffrey L. , Ray Russell S. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractPrevious studies based on mouse genetic mutations suggest that proper partitioning of the hindbrain into transient, genetically-defined segments called rhombomeres is required for normal respiratory development and function in neonates. Less clear is what role these genes and the neurons they define play in adult respiratory circuit organization. Several Cre drivers are used to access and study developmental rhombomeric domains (Eng1
Cre
, HoxA2-Cre, Egr2
Cre
, HoxB1
Cre
, and HoxA4-Cre) in the adult. However, these drivers show cumulative activity beyond the brainstem while being used in intersectional genetic experiments to map central respiratory circuitry. We crossed these drivers to conditional DREADD mouse lines to further characterize the functional contributions of Cre defined populations. In the adult, we show that acute DREADD inhibition of targeted populations results in a variety of not only respiratory phenotypes but also metabolic and temperature changes that likely play a significant role in the observed respiratory alterations. DREADD mediated excitation of targeted domains all resulted in death, with unique differences in the patterns of cardio-respiratory failure. These data add to a growing body of work aimed at understanding the role of early embryonic patterning genes in organizing adult respiratory homeostatic networks that may be perturbed in congenital pathophysiologies.
Synthesis of Nm-PHB (nanomelanin-polyhydroxy butyrate) nanocomposite film and its protective effect against biofilm-forming multi drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Kiran George Seghal , Jackson Stephen A. , Priyadharsini Sethu , Dobson Alan D. W. , Selvin Joseph 
Published: August 2017

AbstractMelanin is a dark brown ubiquitous photosynthetic pigment which have many varied and ever expanding applications in fabrication of radio-protective materials, food packaging, cosmetics and in medicine. In this study, melanin production in a Pseudomonas sp. which was isolated from the marine sponge Tetyrina citirna was optimized employing one-factor at a time experiments and characterized for chemical nature and stability. Following sonication nucleated nanomelanin (Nm) particles were formed and evaluated for antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Nanocomposite film was fabricated using combinations (% w/v) of polyhydroxy butyrate-nanomelanin (PHB:Nm) blended with 1% glycerol. The Nm was found to be spherical in shape with a diameter of 100–140 nm and showed strong antimicrobial activity against both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. The Nm-PHB nanocomposite film was homogeneous, smooth, without any cracks, and flexible. XRD and DSC data indicated that the film was crystalline in nature, and was thermostable up to 281.87 °C. This study represents the first report on the synthesis of Nm and fabrication of Nm-PHB nanocomposite film which show strong protective effect against multidrug resistant Staphyloccoccus aureus. Thus this Nm-PHB nanocomposite film may find utility as packaging material for food products by protecting the food products from oxidation and bacterial contamination.
DEMETER plant DNA demethylase induces antiviral response by interferon signalling in animal cells
Authors: Mok Young Geun , Choi Ki Young , Hong Seung Hwan , Huh Jin Hoe 
Published: August 2017

AbstractDNA methylation is a prominent epigenetic modification in plants and animals regulated by similar mechanisms but the process of DNA demethylation is profoundly different. Unlike vertebrates that require a series of enzymatic conversions of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) into other bases for DNA demethylation, plants utilize the DEMETER (DME) family of 5mC DNA glycosylases to catalyze a direct removal of 5mC from DNA. Here we introduced Arabidopsis DME into human HEK-293T cells to allow direct 5mC excision, and observed that direct DNA demethylation activity was successfully implemented by DME expression. In addition, DME induced diverse cellular responses such as cell proliferation inhibition, cell cycle dysregulation and S phase arrest. Microarray and methylome analyses revealed that DME upregulated a number of genes including cell cycle components, heat shock proteins, and notably, various interferon-stimulated genes. Moreover, DME-mediated DNA demethylation activated endogenous repeat elements, which are likely to form dsRNAs as viral mimics and eventually trigger interferon cascades to establish the antiviral state. This work demonstrates that plant DNA demethylase catalyzes DNA demethylation with a bypass of initial base conversion steps, and the interferon signaling plays a pivotal role to alleviate genotoxic stresses associated with DME-induced DNA demethylation in mammalian cells.
The function of the inner nuclear envelope protein SUN1 in mRNA export is regulated by phosphorylation
Authors: Li Ping , Stumpf Maria , Müller Rolf , Eichinger Ludwig , Glöckner Gernot , Noegel Angelika A. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractSUN1, a component of the LINC (Linker of Nucleoskeleton and Cytoskeleton) complex, functions in mammalian mRNA export through the NXF1-dependent pathway. It associates with mRNP complexes by direct interaction with NXF1. It also binds to the NPC through association with the nuclear pore component Nup153, which is involved in mRNA export. The SUN1-NXF1 association is at least partly regulated by a protein kinase C (PKC) which phosphorylates serine 113 (S113) in the N-terminal domain leading to reduced interaction. The phosphorylation appears to be important for the SUN1 function in nuclear mRNA export since GFP-SUN1 carrying a S113A mutation was less efficient in restoring mRNA export after SUN1 knockdown as compared to the wild type protein. By contrast, GFP-SUN1-S113D resembling the phosphorylated state allowed very efficient export of poly(A)+RNA. Furthermore, probing a possible role of the LINC complex component Nesprin-2 in this process we observed impaired mRNA export in Nesprin-2 knockdown cells. This effect might be independent of SUN1 as expression of a GFP tagged SUN-domain deficient SUN1, which no longer can interact with Nesprin-2, did not affect mRNA export.
Superfluid flow above the critical velocity
Authors: Paris-Mandoki A. , Shearring J. , Mancarella F. , Fromhold T. M. , Trombettoni A. , Krüger P. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractSuperfluidity and superconductivity have been widely studied since the last century in many different contexts ranging from nuclear matter to atomic quantum gases. The rigidity of these systems with respect to external perturbations results in frictionless motion for superfluids and resistance-free electric current flow in superconductors. This peculiar behaviour is lost when external perturbations overcome a critical threshold, i.e. above a critical magnetic field or a critical current for superconductors. In superfluids, such as liquid helium or ultracold gases, the corresponding quantities are a critical rotation rate and a critical velocity respectively. Enhancing the critical values is of great fundamental and practical value. Here we demonstrate that superfluidity can be completely restored for specific, arbitrarily large flow velocities above the critical velocity through quantum interference-induced resonances providing a nonlinear counterpart of the Ramsauer-Townsend effect occurring in ordinary quantum mechanics. We illustrate the robustness of this phenomenon through a thorough analysis in one dimension and prove its generality by showing the persistence of the effect in non-trivial 2d systems. This has far reaching consequences for the fundamental understanding of superfluidity and superconductivity and opens up new application possibilities in quantum metrology, e.g. in rotation sensing.
Visualization of the internal structure of Didymosphenia geminata frustules using nano X-ray tomography
Authors: Zgłobicka Izabela , Li Qiong , Gluch Jürgen , Płocińska Magdalena , Noga Teresa , Dobosz Romuald , Szoszkiewicz Robert , Witkowski Andrzej , Zschech Ehrenfried , Kurzydłowski Krzysztof J. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractFor the first time, the three-dimensional (3D) internal structure of naturally produced Didymosphenia geminata frustules were nondestructively visualized at sub-100 nm resolution. The well-optimized hierarchical structures of these natural organisms provide insight that is needed to design novel, environmentally friendly functional materials. Diatoms, which are widely distributed in freshwater, seawater and wet soils, are well known for their intricate, siliceous cell walls called ‘frustules’. Each type of diatom has a specific morphology with various pores, ribs, minute spines, marginal ridges and elevations. In this paper, the visualization is performed using nondestructive nano X-ray computed tomography (nano-XCT). Arbitrary cross-sections through the frustules, which can be extracted from the nano-XCT 3D data set for each direction, are validated via the destructive focused ion beam (FIB) cross-sectioning of regions of interest (ROIs) and subsequent observation by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). These 3D data are essential for understanding the functionality and potential applications of diatom cells.