bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
MicroRNA miR-23a cluster promotes osteocyte differentiation by regulating TGF-β signalling in osteoblasts
Authors: Zeng Huan-Chang , Bae Yangjin , Dawson Brian C. , Chen Yuqing , Bertin Terry , Munivez Elda , Campeau Philippe M. , Tao Jianning , Chen Rui , Lee Brendan H. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractOsteocytes are the terminally differentiated cell type of the osteoblastic lineage and have important functions in skeletal homeostasis. Although the transcriptional regulation of osteoblast differentiation has been well characterized, the factors that regulate differentiation of osteocytes from mature osteoblasts are poorly understood. Here we show that miR-23a∼27a∼24-2 (miR-23a cluster) promotes osteocyte differentiation. Osteoblast-specific miR-23a cluster gain-of-function mice have low bone mass associated with decreased osteoblast but increased osteocyte numbers. By contrast, loss-of-function transgenic mice overexpressing microRNA decoys for either miR-23a or miR-27a, but not miR24-2, show decreased osteocyte numbers. Moreover, RNA-sequencing analysis shows altered transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signalling. Prdm16, a negative regulator of the TGF-β pathway, is directly repressed by miR-27a with concomitant alteration of sclerostin expression, and pharmacological inhibition of TGF-β rescues the phenotypes observed in the gain-of-function transgenic mice. Taken together, the miR-23a cluster regulates osteocyte differentiation by modulating the TGF-β signalling pathway through targeting of Prdm16.
The impact of host sex on the outcome of co-infection
Authors: Thompson Olivia , Gipson Stephen A. Y. , Hall Matthew D. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractMales and females vary in many characteristics that typically underlie how well a host is able to fight infection, such as body-size, immune capacity, or energy availability. Although well studied in the context of sexual signalling, there is now growing recognition that these differences can influence aspects of pathogen evolution as well. Here we consider how co-infection between multiple pathogen strains is shaped by male-female differences. In natural populations, infections by more than one pathogen strain or species are believed to be a widespread occurrence. Using the water flea, Daphnia magna, we exposed genetically identical males and females to replicated bacterial co-infections. We found that pathogen transmission and virulence were much higher in females. However, males did not simply lower average pathogen fitness, but rather the influence of co-infection was more varied and less defined than in females. We discuss how pathogens may have more fitness benefits to gain, and consequently to lose, when infecting one sex over the other.
Strain softening of nano-scale fuzzy interfaces causes Mullins effect in thermoplastic polyurethane
Authors: Sui T. , Salvati E. , Ying S. , Sun G. , Dolbnya I. P. , Dragnevski K. , Prisacariu C. , Korsunsky A. M. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractThe strain-induced softening of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers (TPUs), known as the Mullins effect, arises from their multi-phase structure. We used the combination of small- and wide- angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) during in situ repeated tensile loading to elucidate the relationship between molecular architecture, nano-strain, and macro-scale mechanical properties. Insights obtained from our analysis highlight the importance of the ‘fuzzy interface’ between the hard and soft regions that governs the structure evolution at nanometre length scales and leads to macroscopic stiffness reduction. We propose a hierarchical Eshelby inclusion model of phase interaction mediated by the ‘fuzzy interface’ that accommodates the nano-strain gradient between hard and soft regions and undergoes tension-induced softening, causing the Mullins effect that becomes apparent in TPUs even at moderate tensile strains.
A lack of coordination between sister-chromatids segregation and cytokinesis in the oocytes of B6.YTIR (XY) sex-reversed female mice
Authors: Zhu Jia-Qiao , Tan Seang Lin , Taketo Teruko 
Published: April 2017

AbstractThe B6.YTIR (XY) mouse develops bilateral ovaries despite the expression of the testis-determining gene Sry during gonadal differentiation. We reported that the oocytes of the XY female are defective in their cytoplasm, resulting in a failure in the second meiotic division after activation or fertilization in vitro. However, the mechanism of meiotic failure or the cause of infertility remained to be clarified. In the present study, we obtained mature oocytes from XY females by superovulation and confirmed that these oocytes also fail in zygotic development. By using confocal microscopy 3D-analysis, we demonstrated that meiotic spindles were properly positioned and oriented in the MII-oocytes from XY females. After parthenogenic activation, fewer oocytes from XY females extruded the second polar body, and in those oocytes, sister-chromatids were often separated but neither set entered the second polar body. ARP2, F-actin, and ORC4, known to play roles in asymmetric meiotic division, were initially localized along the ooplasmic membrane and concentrated over the MII-spindle but lost their cortical polarity after activation while the sister-chromatids moved away from the oolemma in the oocytes from XY females. Our results indicate that the second polar body extrusion is uncoupled from the sister-chromatids separation in the oocytes from XY female mouse.
Dietary behaviour of man-eating lions as revealed by dental microwear textures
Authors: DeSantis Larisa R. G. , Patterson Bruce D. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractLions (Panthera leo) feed on diverse prey species, a range that is broadened by their cooperative hunting. Although humans are not typical prey, habitual man-eating by lions is well documented. Fathoming the motivations of the Tsavo and Mfuwe man-eaters (killed in 1898 in Kenya and 1991 in Zambia, respectively) may be elusive, but we can clarify aspects of their behaviour using dental microwear texture analysis. Specifically, we analysed the surface textures of lion teeth to assess whether these notorious man-eating lions scavenged carcasses during their depredations. Compared to wild-caught lions elsewhere in Africa and other large feliforms, including cheetahs and hyenas, dental microwear textures of the man-eaters do not suggest extreme durophagy (e.g. bone processing) shortly before death. Dental injuries to two of the three man-eaters examined may have induced shifts in feeding onto softer foods. Further, prompt carcass reclamation by humans likely limited the man-eaters’ access to bones. Man-eating was likely a viable alternative to hunting and/or scavenging ungulates due to dental disease and/or limited prey availability.
Luciferase-Specific Coelenterazine Analogues for Optical Contamination-Free Bioassays
Authors: Nishihara Ryo , Abe Masahiro , Nishiyama Shigeru , Citterio Daniel , Suzuki Koji , Kim Sung Bae 
Published: April 2017

AbstractSpectral overlaps among the multiple optical readouts commonly cause optical contamination in fluorescence and bioluminescence. To tackle this issue, we created five-different lineages of coelenterazine (CTZ) analogues designed to selectively illuminate a specific luciferase with unique luciferase selectivity. In the attempt, we found that CTZ analogues with ethynyl or styryl groups display dramatically biased bioluminescence to specific luciferases and pHs by modifying the functional groups at the C-2 and C-6 positions of the imidazopyradinone backbone of CTZ. The optical contamination-free feature was exemplified with the luciferase-specific CTZ analogues, which illuminated anti-estrogenic and rapamycin activities in a mixture of optical probes. This unique bioluminescence platform has great potential for specific and high throughput imaging of multiple optical readouts in bioassays without optical contamination.
The prevalence of thalassemia in mainland China: evidence from epidemiological surveys
Authors: Lai Ketong , Huang Guifeng , Su Li , He Yunyan 
Published: April 2017

AbstractComprehensive data regarding the epidemiology and prevalence of thalassemia in mainland China are lacking. To assess the prevalence of thalassemia, we performed a meta-analysis including 16 articles published from 1981 to 2015. The overall prevalence of α-thalassemia, β-thalassemia and α + β-thalassemia was 7.88%, 2.21% and 0.48%, respectively. Trends in thalassemia prevalence in mainland China were not steady; a prevalence map based on a geographic information system (GIS) showed that the geographic distribution of thalassemia was highest in the south of China and decreased from south to north. Additionally, the most common α- and β-globin gene mutation was --SEA and CD41/42, respectively. The current study provides valuable information regarding epidemiology and intervention and supports the planning, implementation and management of prevention programmes for public health.
Regulation of intraocular pressure by microRNA cluster miR-143/145
Authors: Li Xinyu , Zhao Fangkun , Xin Mei , Li Guorong , Luna Coralia , Li Guigang , Zhou Qinbo , He Yuguang , Yu Bo , Olson Eric , Gonzalez Pedro , Wang Shusheng 
Published: April 2017

AbstractGlaucoma is a major cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), which causes optic nerve damage and retinal ganglion cell death, is the primary risk factor for blindness in glaucoma patients. IOP is controlled by the balance between aqueous humor secretion from the ciliary body (CB) and its drainage through the trabecular meshwork (TM). How microRNAs (miRs) regulate IOP and glaucoma in vivo is largely unknown. Here we show that miR-143 and miR-145 expression is enriched in the smooth muscle and trabecular meshwork in the eye. Targeted deletion of miR-143/145 in mice results in significantly reduced IOP, consistent with an ~2-fold increase in outflow facilities. However, aqueous humor production in the same mice appears to be normal based on a microbeads-induced glaucoma model. Mechanistically, we found that miR-143/145 regulates actin dynamics and the contractility of TM cells, consistent with its regulation of actin-related protein complex (ARPC) subunit 2, 3, and 5, as well as myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) in these cells. Our data establish miR-143/145 as important regulators of IOP, which may have important therapeutic implications in glaucoma.
Thermally Triggered Mechanically Destructive Electronics Based On Electrospun Poly(ε-caprolactone) Nanofibrous Polymer Films
Authors: Gao Yang , Sim Kyoseung , Yan Xin , Jiang Jiang , Xie Jingwei , Yu Cunjiang 
Published: April 2017

AbstractElectronics, which functions for a designed time period and then degrades or destructs, holds promise in medical implants, reconfigurable electronic devices and/or temporary functional systems. Here we report a thermally triggered mechanically destructive device, which is constructed with an ultra-thin electronic components supported by an electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) nanofibrous polymer substrate. Upon heated over the melting temperature of the polymer, the pores of the nanofibers collapse due to the nanofibers’ microscopic polymer chain relaxing and packing. As a result, the polymer substrate exhibits approximately 97.5% area reduction. Ultra-thin electronic components can therefore be destructed concurrently. Furthermore, by integrating a thin resistive heater as the thermal trigger of Joule heating, the device is able to on-demand destruct. The experiment and analytical results illustrate the essential aspects and theoretical understanding for the thermally triggered mechanical destructive devices. The strategy suggests a viable route for designing destructive electronics.
Response of peanut Arachis hypogaea roots to the presence of beneficial and pathogenic fungi by transcriptome analysis
Authors: Hao Kun , Wang Feng , Nong Xiangqun , McNeill Mark Richard , Liu Shaofang , Wang Guangjun , Cao Guangchun , Zhang Zehua 
Published: April 2017

AbstractEntomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae obtain survival benefit meanwhile promote the nutrient absorption of root as an endophyte. However, little is known concerning molecular mechanisms in the process. We performed the transcriptome sequencing of A. hypogaea roots inoculated M. anisopliae and pathogenic Fusarium axysporum, respectively. There were 81323 unigenes from 132023 transcripts. Total 203 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) respond to the two fungi, including specific 76 and 34 DEGs distributed respectively in M. anisopliae and F. axysporum treatment. KEGG pathway enrichment for DEGs showed the two top2 were signal transductions of plant-pathogen interaction and plant hormone. By qRT-PCR, the mRNA level of 26 genes involved in plant-fungus interaction confirmed the reliability of the RNA-Seq data. The expression pattern of the key DEGs on jasmonic acid (JA) or salicylic acid (SA) signaling pathway presented regulating consistency with JA or SA concentration detected by HPLC-MS. Those significantly stronger down-regulated DEGs by M. anisopliae thanby F. axysporum linking to hypersensitive response and negative regulation of defense, and those specific up-regulated genes in M. anisopliae treatment may predict that the less immunity is conducive to symbiosis F. axysporum may trigger JA-mediated defense regulated by ERF branch of JA signaling pathway, whereas M. anisopliae does not.
The Chemical Characterization of Nigerian Propolis samples and Their Activity Against Trypanosoma brucei
Authors: Omar Ruwida , Igoli John O. , Zhang Tong , Gray Alexander I. , Ebiloma Godwin U. , Clements Carol J. , Fearnley James , Edrada Ebel RuAngeli , Paget Tim , de Koning Harry P. , Watson David G. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractProfiling of extracts from twelve propolis samples collected from eight regions in Nigeria was carried out using high performance liquid chromatography (LC) coupled with evaporative light scattering (ELSD), ultraviolet detection (UV) and mass spectrometry (MS), gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). Principal component analysis (PCA) of the processed LC-MS data demonstrated the varying chemical composition of the samples. Most of the samples were active against Trypanosoma b. brucei with the highest activity being in the samples from Southern Nigeria. The more active samples were fractionated in order to isolate the component(s) responsible for their activity using medium pressure liquid chromatography (MPLC). Three xanthones, 1,3,7-trihydroxy-2,8-di-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)xanthone, 1,3,7-trihydroxy-4,8-di-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)xanthone a previously undescribed xanthone and three triterpenes: ambonic acid, mangiferonic acid and a mixture of α-amyrin with mangiferonic acid (1:3) were isolated and characterised by NMR and LC-MS. These compounds all displayed strong inhibitory activity against T.b. brucei but none of them had higher activity than the crude extracts. Partial least squares (PLS) modelling of the anti-trypanosomal activity of the sample extracts using the LC-MS data indicated that high activity in the extracts, as judged from LCMS2 data, could be correlated to denticulatain isomers in the extracts.
A sublethal dose of a neonicotinoid insecticide disrupts visual processing and collision avoidance behaviour in Locusta migratoria
Authors: Parkinson Rachel H. , Little Jacelyn M. , Gray John R. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractNeonicotinoids are known to affect insect navigation and vision, however the mechanisms of these effects are not fully understood. A visual motion sensitive neuron in the locust, the Descending Contralateral Movement Detector (DCMD), integrates visual information and is involved in eliciting escape behaviours. The DCMD receives coded input from the compound eyes and monosynaptically excites motorneurons involved in flight and jumping. We show that imidacloprid (IMD) impairs neural responses to visual stimuli at sublethal concentrations, and these effects are sustained two and twenty-four hours after treatment. Most significantly, IMD disrupted bursting, a coding property important for motion detection. Specifically, IMD reduced the DCMD peak firing rate within bursts at ecologically relevant doses of 10 ng/g (ng IMD per g locust body weight). Effects on DCMD firing translate to deficits in collision avoidance behaviours: exposure to 10 ng/g IMD attenuates escape manoeuvers while 100 ng/g IMD prevents the ability to fly and walk. We show that, at ecologically-relevant doses, IMD causes significant and lasting impairment of an important pathway involved with visual sensory coding and escape behaviours. These results show, for the first time, that a neonicotinoid pesticide directly impairs an important, taxonomically conserved, motion-sensitive visual network.
[18F]tetrafluoroborate-PET/CT enables sensitive tumor and metastasis in vivo imaging in a sodium iodide symporter-expressing tumor model
Authors: Diocou S. , Volpe A. , Jauregui-Osoro M. , Boudjemeline M. , Chuamsaamarkkee K. , Man F. , Blower P. J. , Ng T. , Mullen G. E. D. , Fruhwirth G. O. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractCancer cell metastasis is responsible for most cancer deaths. Non-invasive in vivo cancer cell tracking in spontaneously metastasizing tumor models still poses a challenge requiring highest sensitivity and excellent contrast. The goal of this study was to evaluate if the recently introduced PET radiotracer [18F]tetrafluoroborate ([18F]BF4−) is useful for sensitive and specific metastasis detection in an orthotopic xenograft breast cancer model expressing the human sodium iodide symporter (NIS) as a reporter. In vivo imaging was complemented by ex vivo fluorescence microscopy and γ-counting of harvested tissues. Radionuclide imaging with [18F]BF4− (PET/CT) was compared to the conventional tracer [123I]iodide (sequential SPECT/CT). We found that [18F]BF4− was superior due to better pharmacokinetics, i.e. faster tumor uptake and faster and more complete clearance from circulation. [18F]BF4−-PET was also highly specific as in all detected tissues cancer cell presence was confirmed microscopically. Undetected comparable tissues were similarly found to be free of metastasis. Metastasis detection by routine metabolic imaging with [18F]FDG-PET failed due to low standard uptake values and low contrast caused by adjacent metabolically active organs in this model. [18F]BF4−-PET combined with NIS expressing disease models is particularly useful whenever preclinical in vivo cell tracking is of interest.
Human Cytomegalovirus Induces Cellular and Humoral Virus-specific Immune Responses in Humanized BLT Mice
Authors: Crawford Lindsey B. , Tempel Rebecca , Streblow Daniel N. , Kreklywich Craig , Smith Patricia , Picker Louis J. , Nelson Jay A. , Caposio Patrizia 
Published: April 2017

AbstractThe strict species specificity of Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has impeded our understanding of antiviral adaptive immune responses in the context of a human immune system. We have previously shown that HCMV infection of human hematopoietic progenitor cells engrafted in immune deficient mice (huNSG) results in viral latency that can be reactivated following G-CSF treatment. In this study, we characterized the functional human adaptive immune responses in HCMV latently-infected huBLT (humanized Bone marrow-Liver-Thymus) mice. Following infection, huBLT mice generate human effector and central memory CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses reactive to peptides corresponding to both IE and pp65 proteins. Additionally, both HCMV specific IgM and IgG B-cell responses with the ability to neutralize virus were detected. These results indicate that the HCMV huBLT mouse model may provide a valuable tool to study viral latency and reactivation as well as evaluate HCMV vaccines and immune responses in the context of a functional human immune system.
Paraquat poisoning induced pulmonary epithelial mesenchymal transition through Notch1 pathway
Authors: Li Tiegang , Yang Xiangming , Xin Shiyu , Cao Yan , Wang Nana 
Published: April 2017

AbstractProgressive pulmonary fibrosis is the most characteristic feature of subacute PQ poisoning. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is reported to be involved in the pulmonary fibrosis after PQ exposure. Recent evidence suggested Notch signaling is required for EMT. In this study, we investigated whether Notch1 and TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling was involved in EMT caused by PQ. It is demonstrated that A549 cells underwent EMT after treated with PQ at dose of 300 μmol/L for 6 days, charactered by increasing expression of mesenchymal marker α-SMA and decreasing expression of epithelial marker E-cadherin. We found that there was an apparent increased expression of Notch1 and jagged-1 in PQ induced EMT process. EMT could be enhanced by Jagged-1 ligand of Notch1, and be blocked by DAPT, a γ-secretase inhibitor. Our data also showed that the expression of TGF-β1/Smad3 increased after Notch1 is elevated in EMT caused by PQ. Jagged-1 significantly induced SMA expression, and this induction was completely inhibited by SB431542 in A549 cells. In conclusion, we demonstrated that Notch1 pathway was important in EMT induced by PQ, and TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling partly plays a role as the downstream of Notch1.
Tissue-engineered cornea constructed with compressed collagen and laser-perforated electrospun mat
Authors: Kong Bin , Sun Wei , Chen Guoshi , Tang Song , Li Ming , Shao Zengwu , Mi Shengli 
Published: April 2017

AbstractWhile Plastic Compressed (PC) collagen technique is often used to fabricate bioengineered constructs, PC collagen gels are too weak to be sutured or conveniently handled for clinical applications. To overcome this limitation, electrospun poly (lactic-co-glycolide) (PLGA) mats, which have excellent biocompatibility and mechanical properties, were combined with PC collagen to fabricate sandwich-like hybrid constructs. By laser-perforating holes with different sizes and spacings in the electrospun mats to regulate the mechanical properties and light transmittance of the hybrid constructs, we produced hybrid constructs with properties very suitable to apply in corneal tissue engineering. The maximum tensile stress of the optimal hybrid construct was 3.42 ± 0.22 MPa. The light transmittance of the hybrid construct after perforation was approximately 15-fold higher than before, and light transmittance increased gradually with increasing time. After immersing into PBS for 7 days, the transmittance of the optimal construct changed from 63 ± 2.17% to 72 ± 1.8% under 500 nm wavelength. The live/dead staining, cell proliferation assay and immunohistochemistry study of human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) and human keratocytes (HKs) cultured on the optimal hybrid construct both demonstrated that the cells adhered, proliferated, and maintained their phenotype well on the material. In addition, after culturing for 2 weeks, the HCECs could form stratified layers. Thus, our designed construct is suitable for the construction of engineered corneal tissue.