bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Extracellular Alkalinization Assay for the Detection of Early Defense Response
Authors: Moroz Natalia , Huffaker Alisa , Tanaka Kiwamu 
Published: September 2017

AbstractPlant recognition of invading organisms occurs through identification of foreign molecules associated with attackers and of self‐derived, damage‐associated molecules. Perception of these molecules activates signaling processes including dynamic changes in ion balance, production of second messengers such as reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide, increased levels of plant hormones, and map kinase cascade activation. Together these signaling events stimulate transcriptional changes to initiate plant defense responses. Among the earliest detectable signaling events is a rapid increase in apoplastic pH, i.e., extracellular alkalinization. Here, an assay for quantification of this alkalinization response using suspension‐cultured cell lines for Arabidopsis, potato, and maize is described. This assay is an inexpensive, fast, simple, and reproducible method to quantify defense signaling output, providing a powerful tool for evaluating early plant responses to elicitors and pathogens. Results from the alkalinization assay are comparable to other more costly and time‐consuming methods for assessing defense signaling, such as measurement of the oxidative burst, calcium influx, and marker gene expression. This bioassay is a quantitative and robust method for evaluation of plant defense output. © 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Aqueous and Template‐Free Synthesis of Meso–Macroporous Polymers for Highly Selective Capture and Conversion of Carbon Dioxide
Authors: Huang Kuan , Liu Fujian , Jiang Lilong , Dai Sheng 
Published: September 2017

AbstractMeso–macroporous polymers possessing nitrogen functionality were innovatively synthesized through an aqueous and template‐free route herein. Specifically, the polymerization of 1‐(4‐vinylbenzyl)‐1,3,5,7‐tetraazaadamantan‐1‐ium chloride in aqueous solution under high temperatures induces the decomposition of the hexamethylenetetramine unit into ammonia and formaldehyde molecules, followed by the cross‐linking of benzene rings through “resol chemistry”. During this process, extended meso–macroporous frameworks were constructed, and active nitrogen species were incorporated. Taking the advantage of the meso–macroporosity and nitrogen functionality, the synthesized polymers offer competitive CO2 capacities (0.37–1.58 mmol g−1 at 0 °C and 0.15 bar) and outstanding CO2/N2 selectivities (155–324 at 0 °C). Furthermore, after complexed with metal ions, the synthesized polymers show excellent activity for catalyzing the cycloaddition of propylene oxide with CO2 (yield>98.5 %, turnover frequency: 612.9–761.1 h−1).
Horse hair follicles: A novel dermal stem cell source for equine regenerative medicine
Authors: Michler Jule K. , Hillmann Aline , Savkovic Vuk , Mülling Christoph K. W. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractThe easily accessible niche represented by skin and its appendages may serve as a promising source to complement modern regenerative medicine for horses. In humans and in animal models for human medicine, the hair follicle and its stem cell niches are well characterized. Since literature in this field of equine research is scarce, we sought to analyze cells of the dermal stem cell niche of the equine hair follicle morphologically and for a subset of markers useful for cell characterization via immunolabeling. We cultured equine forelock skin explants to obtain cultures with cells migrating from the hair follicles. Isolation of cells revealed typical fibroblast morphology with a strong tendency to aggregate and form spheroids. For immunofluorescent characterization of primary isolations, we tested an antibody panel consisting of lineage makers for the dermal compartment of the hair follicle, markers associated with an undifferentiated cell status and markers for epithelial cell types as negative controls. All antibodies used were also tested on equine skin sections. The isolated cells displayed clear profiles of dermal and undifferentiated cells. To substantiate our findings, we tested our primary isolations for established equine multipotent mesenchymal stromal cell antigen expression markers in flow cytometry experiments yielding strong convergence. The data presented here provide insights to a stem cell source in horses almost unnoticed to date. The basic investigations of the equine dermal hair follicle stem cell niche confirm the expression of standard markers used in other species and lay the foundation for future studies on this easily available adult stem cell source. © 2017 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Automated and simplified identification of normal and abnormal plasma cells in Multiple Myeloma by flow cytometry
Authors: Alaterre Elina , Raimbault Sébastien , Garcia Jean‐Michel , Rème Thierry , Requirand Guilhem , Klein Bernard , Moreaux Jérôme 
Published: September 2017

BackgroundMultiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable disease characterized by clonal plasma cell (PC) proliferation within the bone marrow (BM). Next‐generation flow cytometry has become the reference tool to follow minimal residual disease (MRD). We developed a new simpler and cheaper flow cytometry method to analyze bone marrow samples in patients with MM.MethodsTo identify and characterize abnormal PCs, we designed a simple panel composed of anti‐CD38, antikappa, and antilambda light chain antibodies, combined with two antibody pools with the same fluorophore (anti‐CD19 and anti‐CD27 for the negative pool and anti‐CD56, anti‐CD117, and anti‐CD200 antibodies for the positive pool). We also developed dedicated software for the automated identification of malignant PCs and MRD assessment. We then compared PC identification with our simple antibody panel and with the larger antibody panel routinely used at Montpellier University Hospital Center in 52 patients with MM (M‐CHU cohort).ResultsResults for total PC detection (r2 = 0.9965; P < 0.001; n = 52) and malignant PC detection (r2 = 0.9486; P < 0.001; n = 38) obtained with the two panels were significantly correlated. Moreover, comparison of the results obtained by automated detection with our software and by manual gating analysis in 80 BM samples (38 from the M‐CHU cohort and 42 patients from another MM cohort) showed strong correlation for both total and malignant PC selection (respectively, r2 = 0.936; P < 0.001 and r2 = 0.9505; P < 0.001).ConclusionsOur simple and automated strategy for MRD assessment in MM could help increasing reproducibility and productivity without compromising sensitivity and specificity, while decreasing the test cost. © 2017 International Clinical Cytometry Society
Effect of climate change on bud phenology of young aspen plants (Populus tremula. L)
Authors: Sivadasan Unnikrishnan , Randriamanana Tendry , Chenhao Cao , Virjamo Virpi , Nybakken Line , Julkunen‐Tiitto Riitta 
Published: September 2017

AbstractBoreal tree species are excellent tools for studying tolerance to climate change. Bud phenology is a trait, which is highly sensitive to environmental fluctuations and thus useful for climate change investigations. However, experimental studies of bud phenology under simulated climate change outdoors are deficient. We conducted a multifactorial field experiment with single (T, UVA, UVB) and combined treatments (UVA+T, UVB+T) of elevated temperature (T, +2°C) and ultraviolet‐B radiation (+30% UVB) in order to examine their impact on both male and female genotypes of aspen (Populus tremula L.). This study focuses on the effect of the treatments in years 2 and 3 after planting (2013, 2014) and follows how bud phenology is adapting in year 4 (2015), when the treatments were discontinued. Moreover, the effect of bud removal was recorded. We found that elevated temperature played a key role in delaying bud set and forcing bud break in intact individuals, as well as slightly delaying bud break in bud‐removed individuals. UVB delayed the bud break in bud‐removed males. In addition, both UVA and UVB interacted with temperature in year 3 and even in year 4, when the treatments were off, but only in male individuals. Axillary bud removal forced both bud break and bud set under combined treatments (UVA+T, UVB+T) and delayed both under individual treatments (T, UVB). In conclusion, male aspens were more responsive to the treatments than females and that effect of elevated temperature and UV radiation on bud set and bud break of aspen is not disappearing over 4‐year study period.
Jointly modeling niche width and phylogenetic distance to explain species co‐occurrence
Authors: Elliott Tammy L. , Davies T. Jonathan 
Published: September 2017

AbstractCompetitive exclusion is most likely when there are large differences in competitive ability and the strength of competitive interactions between species is high, but predicting competitive outcomes is not straightforward. Assuming a trade‐off between competitive ability and ecological generalism, we would predict larger competitive differences between species with different niche widths. Community phylogenetic theory predicts that competition will be stronger among more closely related species, assuming that phylogenetic distance reflects ecological similarity. We would therefore expect the probability of competitive exclusion to be highest among closely related species with different niche widths. Here, we assess how well differences in niche width and phylogenetic distance correlate with co‐occurrences among 34 species of Cyperaceae (sedges) in the eastern Canadian subarctic. The Cyperaceae is a species‐rich family, with many species sharing similar niches and environmental tolerances, making it a model clade for evaluating the importance of niche width differences and phylogenetic distances on co‐occurrence. Consistent with both hypotheses, we found that higher co‐occurrence scores correlated with species pairs that were distantly or only intermediately related and that had similar niche widths. Furthermore, we show that this correlation is stronger when considering only more recently diverged species pairs and that there is a triangular relationship between phylogenetic distance and species co‐occurrence, suggesting that distantly related species might have both strong and weak competitive interactions. Using co‐occurrence as a proxy for competitive outcomes, our results support both a negative correlation between phylogenetic distance and strength of competitive interactions, and a trade‐off between niche width and competitive ability.
Immediate signaling flexibility in response to experimental noise in urban, but not rural, white‐crowned sparrows
Authors: Gentry Katherine E. , Derryberry Elizabeth P. , Danner Raymond M. , Danner Julie E. , Luther David A. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractBackground noise can interfere with acoustic communication. Signal modifications have the potential to increase signal‐to‐noise ratios and reduce the masking effect of noise. Immediate signaling flexibility, a type of vocal plasticity, allows animals to modify their signal to optimize transmission depending on ambient noise conditions. Results from previous studies provide conflicting evidence about whether expression of immediate signaling flexibility is dependent upon the signaler having prior experience with noisy environments. To improve our understanding of vocal plasticity, we examined immediate signaling flexibility in white‐crowned sparrows Zonotrichia leucophrys nuttalli in urban and rural locations. We experimentally broadcast noise with three different spectral profiles—city (low frequency), inverse of city (high frequency), and white (equal intensity at all frequencies)—successfully to 107 males and measured multiple features of songs produced prior to and during the experiment. We predicted that all males would adjust their song structure during the noise broadcast, but that the extent of plasticity would be greater in noisier territories and the manner of adjustment would depend on the type of experimental noise broadcast. Instead, we found that only urban males exhibit immediate signaling flexibility, through which bandwidth decreases in response to experimental noise. Signal modification did not change with type of noise broadcast or territory background noise. Although songs were less flexible than predicted, the relative reduction in signal bandwidth in urban birds could improve their signal‐to‐noise ratio during the noise broadcast.
Zebra migration strategies and anthrax in Etosha National Park, Namibia
Authors: Zidon Royi , Garti Shimon , Getz Wayne M. , Saltz David 
Published: September 2017

AbstractPartial seasonal migration is ubiquitous in many species. We documented this phenomenon in plains zebra (Equus burchelli) in Etosha National Park, Namibia (ENP), and provided a cost–benefit analysis as it relates to the spatial distribution of water, vegetation, and endemic anthrax. This analysis draws upon two years ofENPzebra movement data that reveal two sub‐populations: migrators and non‐migrators. Migrators are shown to be behaviorally dominant in the way they utilize space and use water holes. We raise the possibility that the co‐existence of these two groups reflects an evolutionary process, and the size of each group maintains evolutionary equilibrium.
A modelling framework to simulate field‐scale nitrate response and transport during snowmelt: The WINTRA model
Authors: Costa Diogo , Roste Jennifer , Pomeroy John , Baulch Helen , Elliott Jane , Wheater Howard , Westbrook Cherie 
Published: September 2017

AbstractModelling nutrient transport during snowmelt in cold regions remains a major scientific challenge. A key limitation of existing nutrient models for application in cold regions is the inadequate representation of snowmelt, including hydrological and biogeochemical processes. This brief period can account for more than 80% of the total annual surface runoff in the Canadian Prairies and Northern Canada and processes such as atmospheric deposition, overwinter redistribution of snow, ion exclusion from snow crystals, frozen soils, and snow‐covered area depletion during melt influence the distribution and release of snow and soil nutrients, thus affecting the timing and magnitude of snowmelt runoff nutrient concentrations.Research in cold regions suggests that nitrate (NO3) runoff at the field‐scale can be divided into 5 phases during snowmelt. In the first phase, water and ions originating from ion‐rich snow layers travel and diffuse through the snowpack. This process causes ion concentrations in runoff to gradually increase. The second phase occurs when this snow ion meltwater front has reached the bottom of the snowpack and forms runoff to the edge‐of‐the‐field. During the third and fourth phases, the main source of NO3 transitions from the snowpack to the soil. Finally, the fifth and last phase occurs when the snow has completely melted, and the thawing soil becomes the main source of NO3 to the stream.In this research, a process‐based model was developed to simulate hourly export based on this 5‐phase approach. Results from an application in the Red River Basin of southern Manitoba, Canada, shows that the model can adequately capture the dynamics and rapid changes of NO3 concentrations during this period at relevant temporal resolutions. This is a significant achievement to advance the current nutrient modelling paradigm in cold climates, which is generally limited to satisfactory results at monthly or annual resolutions. The approach can inform catchment‐scale nutrient models to improve simulation of this critical snowmelt period.
Hyaluronic acid‐hydroxyapatite nanocomposite hydrogels for enhanced biophysical and biological performance in a dermal matrix
Authors: Jeong Seol‐Ha , Fan Yingfang , Cheon Kwang‐Hee , Baek Jaeuk , Kim Sukwha , Kim Hyoun‐Ee 
Published: September 2017

AbstractA hyaluronic acid (HAc)‐hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanocomposite (HAc‐nanoHAp) hydrogel was fabricated through an in situ precipitation process for mechanical and biological enhancement as a soft tissue augmentation product. In this study, these composite hydrogel fillers were analyzed from three different perspectives and compared with pure HAc hydrogel for soft tissue augmentation application: (1) rheological behaviors, (2) in vivo lateral diffusion under mouse skin, and (3) wrinkle improvement in a photo‐aged mouse model. HAc‐nanoHAp provided great improvement to wrinkles because of its higher stiffness and gel cohesiveness in comparison with that of pure HAc. HAc‐nanoHAp also presented great enhancement in strengthening the dermal matrix by stimulating the synthesis of collagen and elastin. Thus, HAc‐nanoHAp filler has great potential as a soft tissue augmentation product, improving the biophysical and biological performance in skin tissue. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 3315–3325, 2017.
The extracts of bredigite bioceramics enhanced the pluripotency of human dental pulp cells
Authors: Chen Lihong , Liu Lu , Wu Chengtie , Yang Ruiqi , Chang Jiang , Wei Xi 
Published: September 2017

AbstractBiomaterials have a profound effect on tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, but few studies have reported the role of extracts from bioceramics in the regulation of stem cell pluripotency. The present study investigated the effects of bioceramics extracts, including silicate bredigite (Ca7MgSi4O16) and conventional β‐tricalcium phosphate (β‐TCP), on the pluripotency and the multilineage differentiation potential of human dental pulp cells (hDPCs). Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), which is a known regulator of hDPCs pluripotency, was used as a reference. Bredigite extracts significantly promoted cell growth, proliferation, TERT expression and maintained hDPCs in a presenescent state. The extracts of bredigite significantly up‐regulated the expression of pluripotency‐related genes such as Stro1, Oct4 and Sox2, and further promoted the multilineage differentiation of hDPCs after odontogenic/adipogenic induction. The stimulation of bredigite extracts on hDPCs pluripotency was comparable to that of bFGF, whereas β‐TCP extracts lacked these properties. Our results suggested for the first time that bredigite extracts enhance the pluripotency of dental‐derived stem cells, paving the way for extended applications in regenerative medicine. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 3465–3474, 2017.
Quercetin and alendronate multi‐functionalized materials as tools to hinder oxidative stress damage
Authors: Forte Lucia , Torricelli Paola , Boanini Elisa , Rubini Katia , Fini Milena , Bigi Adriana 
Published: September 2017

AbstractIn spite of its remarkable anti‐oxidant, anti‐inflammatory, anti‐cancer properties and its possible inhibition activity towards bone resorption, quercetin therapeutic use is limited by its poor bioavailability. Herein we developed a new multifunctionalized system for the local administration of quercetin and alendronate, one of the most potent anti‐osteoporotic drugs, with the aim to get a material with enhanced properties. To this purpose we loaded quercetin on hydroxyapatite functionalized with alendronate, as well as on hydroxyapatite. Characterization was performed by means of X‐ray diffraction, FT‐IR and Raman spectroscopies, thermogravimetric and spectrophotometric analyses. Loading of quercetin from hydro‐alcoholic solution increased with time and reached a constant value of about 5 weight% on both substrates, without causing significant structural and morphological modifications. Quercetin functionalized materials exhibit relevant anti‐oxidant properties, in agreement with their high radical scavenging activity, and a quercetin sustained release in phosphate buffer. In vitro osteoblast and osteoclast co‐culture in a microenvironment altered by oxidative stress shows that both alendronate and quercetin significantly reduce osteoclast viability, whereas they are able to counteract the negative effect of oxidative stress on osteoblast viability and differentiation, suggesting that their relative amount in the functionalized materials can be utilized to tailor bone cells response. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 3293–3303, 2017.
Quercetin reduces neural tissue damage and promotes astrocyte activation after spinal cord injury in rats
Authors: Wang Yeyang , Li Wenjun , Wang Mingsen , Lin Chuangxin , Li Guitao , Zhou Xiaozhong , Luo Junnan , Jin Dadi 
Published: September 2017

AbstractSpinal cord injury (SCI) is lead to locomotor impairment because of neurological damage after following trauma. Quercetin (Que) has been confirmed to have a neuro‐protective effect during nerve damage processes. The purpose of this study was to determine the roles of Que in functional recovery, cavity formation, astrocyte activation, and nerve regeneration following SCI. Sprague‐Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: Sham group, SCI group, and Que + SCI group. A rat model of SCI was made at T10 using the modified Allen's method. In the Que + SCI group, animals underwent laminectomy and were then intraperitoneally injected with 20 mg/kg Que for 7 days. Locomotor function was determined with the Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan (BBB) scores at 1, 3, 5, and 7 days post‐injury. At 7 days post‐injury, somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) and motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were recorded. Hematoxylin‐Eosin (HE) staining was used to investigate cavity formation. Astrocyte activation was assayed by immunohistochemistry staining with an antibody specific for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), as well as the expression of GFAP and S100β. Axons were stained using an antibody specific for neurofilament 200 (NF200) and 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT). In addition, the protein level of BDNF, p‐JNK2, and p‐STAT3 was detected using Western blot. Que promoted locomotor function and electrophysiological recovery, reduced cavity formation, contributed to astrocyte activation and axonal regeneration after acute SCI. Moreover, Que up‐regulated the expression of BDNF, but reduced p‐JNK2 and p‐STAT3 expression after acute SCI. Taken together, Que promoted locomotor and electrophysiological functional recovery, astrocyte activation and axonal regeneration after acute SCI, possibly through BDNF and JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathways.
Effects of long‐term low oxygen tension in human chondrosarcoma cells
Authors: Piltti Juha , Bygdell Joakim , Qu Chengjuan , Lammi Mikko J. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractThe cell‐based therapies could be potential methods to treat damaged cartilage tissues. Instead of native hyaline cartilage, the current therapies generate mainly weaker fibrocartilage‐type of repair tissue. A correct microenvironment influences the cellular phenotype, and together with external factors it can be used, for example, to aid the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells to defined types of differentiated adult cells. In this study, we investigated the effect of long‐term exposure to 5% low oxygen atmosphere on human chondrosarcoma HCS‐2/8 cells. This atmosphere is close to normal oxygen tension of cartilage tissue. The proteome was analyzed with label‐free mass spectrometric method and further bioinformatic analysis. The qRT‐PCR method was used to gene expression analysis, and ELISA and dimethylmethylene blue assays for type II collagen and sulfated glycosaminoglycan measurements. The 5% oxygen atmosphere did not influence cell proliferation, but enhanced slightly ACAN and COL2A1 gene expression. Proteomic screening revealed a number of low oxygen‐induced protein level responses. Increased ones included NDUFA4L2, P4HA1, NDRG1, MIF, LDHA, PYGL, while TXNRD1, BAG2, TXN2, AQSTM1, TNFRSF1B, and EPHX1 decreased during the long‐term low oxygen atmosphere. Also a number of proteins previously not related to low oxygen tension changed during the treatment. Of those S100P, RPSS26, NDUFB11, CDV3, and TUBB8 had elevated levels, while ALCAM, HLA‐B, EIF1, and ACOT9 were lower in the samples cultured at low oxygen tension. In conclusion, low oxygen condition causes changes in the cellular amounts of several proteins.