bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Methylation profile of a satellite DNA constituting the intercalary G+C-rich heterochromatin of the cut trough shell Spisula subtruncata (Bivalvia, Mactridae)
Authors: García-Souto Daniel , Mravinac Brankica , Šatović Eva , Plohl Miroslav , Morán Paloma , Pasantes Juan J. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractTandemly repeated DNAs usually constitute significant portions of eukaryotic genomes. In bivalves, however, repetitive DNAs are habitually not widespread. In our search for abundant repetitive DNAs in trough shells, we discovered a novel satellite DNA, SSUsat, which constitutes at least 1.3% of the genome of Spisula subtruncata. As foreseen by the satellite DNA library hypothesis, we confirmed that this satellite DNA is also present in two other Mactridae species, showing a highly conserved nucleotide sequence together with a dramatic diminution in the number of repeats. Predominantly located at the G + C-rich intercalary heterochromatin of S. subtruncata, SSUsat displays several DNA methylation peculiarities. The level of methylation of SSUsat is high (3.38%) in comparison with bivalve standards and triplicates the mean of the S. subtruncata genome (1.13%). Methylation affects not only the cytosines in CpG dinucleotides but also those in CHH and CHG trinucleotides, a feature common in plants but scarce and without any clear known relevance in animals. SSUsat segments enriched in methylated cytosines partly overlap those showing higher sequence conservation. The presence of a chromosome pair showing an accumulation of markedly under-methylated SSUsat monomers additionally indicates that the methylation processes that shape repetitive genome compartments are quite complex.
Prion strains depend on different endocytic routes for productive infection
Authors: Fehlinger Andrea , Wolf Hanna , Hossinger André , Duernberger Yvonne , Pleschka Catharina , Riemschoss Katrin , Liu Shu , Bester Romina , Paulsen Lydia , Priola Suzette A. , Groschup Martin H. , Schätzl Hermann M. , Vorberg Ina M. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractPrions are unconventional agents composed of misfolded prion protein that cause fatal neurodegenerative diseases in mammals. Prion strains induce specific neuropathological changes in selected brain areas. The mechanism of strain-specific cell tropism is unknown. We hypothesised that prion strains rely on different endocytic routes to invade and replicate within their target cells. Using prion permissive cells, we determined how impairment of endocytosis affects productive infection by prion strains 22L and RML. We demonstrate that early and late stages of prion infection are differentially sensitive to perturbation of clathrin- and caveolin-mediated endocytosis. Manipulation of canonical endocytic pathways only slightly influenced prion uptake. However, blocking the same routes had drastic strain-specific consequences on the establishment of infection. Our data argue that prion strains use different endocytic pathways for infection and suggest that cell type-dependent differences in prion uptake could contribute to host cell tropism.
Electrophysiological evidence for pre-attention information processing improvement in patients with central hemiplegic after peripheral nerve rewiring: a pilot study
Authors: Li Tie , Hua Xu-Yun , Zheng Mou-Xiong , Zhu Yu-Lan , Qiu Yan-Qun , Shen Yun-Dong , Xu Jian-Guang , Gu Yu-Dong , Xu Wen-Dong 
Published: July 2017

AbstractCentral neurologic injury (CNI) causes dysfunctions not only in limbs but also in cognitive ability. We applied a novel peripheral nerve rewiring (PNR) surgical procedure to restore limb function. Here, we conducted a prospective study to develop estimates for the extent of preattentive processes to cognitive function changes in CNI patients after PNR. Auditory mismatch negativity (MMN) was measured in CNI patients who received the PNR surgery plus conventional rehabilitation treatment. During the 2-year follow-up, the MMN was enhanced with increased amplitude in the PNR plus rehabilitation group compared to the rehabilitation-only group as the experiment progressed, and progressive improvement in behavioural examination tests was also observed. Furthermore, we found a significant correlation between the changes in Fugl-Meyer assessment scale scores and in MMN amplitudes. These results suggested that PNR could affect the efficiency of pre-attention information processing synchronously with the recovery of motor function in the paralyzed arm of the in chronic CNI patients. Such electroencephalographic measures might provide a biological approach with which to distinguish patient subgroups after surgery, and the change in MMN may serve as an objective auxiliary index, indicating the degree of motor recovery and brain cognitive function.
Heterodera schachtii Tyrosinase-like protein - a novel nematode effector modulating plant hormone homeostasis
Authors: Habash Samer S. , Radakovic Zoran S. , Vankova Radomira , Siddique Shahid , Dobrev Petre , Gleason Cynthia , Grundler Florian M. W. , Elashry Abdelnaser 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe beet cyst nematodeHeterodera schachtiicauses major yield losses in sugar beet. Understanding the interaction betweenH. schachtiiand its host plant is important for developing a sustainable management system. Nematode effectors play a crucial role in initializing and sustaining successful parasitism. In our study, we identified a gene (Hs-Tyr) encoding a tyrosinase functional domain (PF00264). We describeHs-Tyras a novel nematode effector.Hs-Tyris localized in the nematode esophageal gland. Up-regulation of its expression coincided with the parasitic developmental stages of the nematode. SilencingHs-Tyrby RNA interference made the treated nematodes less virulent. When RNAi-treated nematodes succeeded in infecting the plant, developing females and their associated syncytial nurse cells were significantly smaller than in control plants. Ectopically expressing theHs-Tyreffector in Arabidopsis increased plant susceptibility toH. schachtii, but not to the root-knot nematodeMeloidogyne incognita. Interestingly,Hs-Tyrin the plant promoted plant growth and changed the root architecture. Additionally, the expression ofHs-Tyrin Arabidopsis caused changes in the homeostasis of several plant hormones especially auxin and the ethylene precursor aminocyclopropane-carboxylic acid.
Cell fusing agent virus and dengue virus mutually interact in Aedes aegypti cell lines
Authors: Zhang Guangmei , Asad Sultan , Khromykh Alexander A. , Asgari Sassan 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe genus Flavivirus contains more than 70 single-stranded, positive-sense arthropod-borne RNA viruses. Some flaviviruses are particularly medically important to humans and other vertebrates including dengue virus (DENV), West Nile virus, and yellow fever virus. These viruses are transmitted to vertebrates by mosquitoes and other arthropod species. Mosquitoes are also infected by insect-specific flaviviruses (ISFs) that do not appear to be infective to vertebrates. Cell fusing agent virus (CFAV) was the first described ISF, which was discovered in an Aedes aegypti cell culture. We found that while CFAV infection could be significantly reduced by application of RNAi against the NS5 gene, removal of the treatment led to quick restoration of CFAV replication. Interestingly, we found that CFAV infection significantly enhanced replication of DENV, and vice versa, DENV infection significantly enhanced replication of CFAV in mosquito cells. We have shown that CFAV infection leads to increase in the expression of ribonuclease kappa (RNASEK), which is known to promote infection of viruses that rely on endocytosis and pH-dependent entry. Knockdown of RNASEK by dsRNA resulted in reduced DENV replication. Thus, increased expression of RNASEK induced by CFAV is likely to contribute to enhanced DENV replication in CFAV-infected cells.
Absence of deformed wing virus and Varroa destructor in Australia provides unique perspectives on honeybee viral landscapes and colony losses
Authors: Roberts John M. K. , Anderson Denis L. , Durr Peter A. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractHoneybee (Apis mellifera) health is threatened globally by the complex interaction of multiple stressors, including the parasitic mite Varroa destructor and a number of pathogenic viruses. Australia provides a unique opportunity to study this pathogenic viral landscape in the absence of V. destructor. We analysed 1,240A. mellifera colonies across Australia by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and next-generation sequencing (NGS). Five viruses were prevalent: black queen cell virus (BQCV), sacbrood virus (SBV), Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV) and the Lake Sinai viruses (LSV1 and LSV2), of which the latter three were detected for the first time in Australia. We also showed several viruses were absent in our sampling, including deformed wing virus (DWV) and slow bee paralysis virus (SBPV). Our findings highlight that viruses can be highly prevalent in A. mellifera populations independently of V. destructor. Placing these results in an international context, our results support the hypothesis that the co-pathogenic interaction of V. destructor and DWV is a key driver of increased colony losses, but additional stressors such as pesticides, poor nutrition, etc. may enable more severe and frequent colony losses to occur.
Use of [C4mim]Cl for efficient extraction of caffeoylquinic acids from sweet potato leaves
Authors: Usuki Toyonobu , Onda Shingo , Yoshizawa-Fujita Masahiro , Rikukawa Masahiro 
Published: July 2017

AbstractSweet potato, Ipomoea batatas, is a widely cultivated vegetable worldwide. The leaves contain polyphenolic natural products called caffeoylquinic acids (CQAs), which possess biological activities including inhibition of aggregation of amyloid peptides. The present study describes an efficient extraction and isolation procedure for CQAs from sweet potato leaves using a cellulose-dissolving ionic liquid. The results showed that, compared to methanol, use of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C4mim]Cl) allowed the extraction of a 6.5-fold greater amount of CQAs. This protocol will enable the efficient extraction of other organic compounds and biopolymers from natural materials.
Dynamics and mechanisms of clonal expansion of HIV-1-infected cells in a humanized mouse model
Authors: Satou Yorifumi , Katsuya Hiroo , Fukuda Asami , Misawa Naoko , Ito Jumpei , Uchiyama Yoshikazu , Miyazato Paola , Islam Saiful , Fassati Ariberto , Melamed Anat , Bangham Charles R. M. , Koyanagi Yoshio , Sato Kei 
Published: July 2017

AbstractCombination anti-retroviral therapy (cART) has drastically improved the clinical outcome of HIV-1 infection. Nonetheless, despite effective cART, HIV-1 persists indefinitely in infected individuals. Clonal expansion of HIV-1-infected cells in peripheral blood has been reported recently. cART is effective in stopping the retroviral replication cycle, but not in inhibiting clonal expansion of the infected host cells. Thus, the proliferation of HIV-1-infected cells may play a role in viral persistence, but little is known about the kinetics of the generation, the tissue distribution or the underlying mechanism of clonal expansion in vivo. Here we analyzed the clonality of HIV-1-infected cells using high-throughput integration site analysis in a hematopoietic stem cell-transplanted humanized mouse model. Clonally expanded, HIV-1-infected cells were detectable at two weeks post infection, their abundance increased with time, and certain clones were present in multiple organs. Expansion of HIV-1-infected clones was significantly more frequent when the provirus was integrated near host genes in specific gene ontological classes, including cell activation and chromatin regulation. These results identify potential drivers of clonal expansion of HIV-1-infected cells in vivo.
Constructal law analysis of Cl− transport in eyes aqueous humor
Authors: Lucia Umberto , Grisolia Giulia , Astori Maria Rosa 
Published: July 2017

AbstractProgressive loss-of-vision related to any intraocular disorder is known as glaucoma. Secretion of aqueous humor is physiologically important to provide nutrients and oxygen to the avascular anterior segment and ensuring normal visual function, even if, nowadays reducing the secretory rate to lower intraocular pressure is a major strategy in treating glaucomatous patients. Understanding the mechanisms and regulation of aqueous humor formation is very important to develop possible new approaches to lower intraocular pressure,but today there isn’t any comprehensive model of the regulation of these component in forming aqueous humor. In this paper Construcal law is used to suggest how the Cl− fluxes can determine the water inflow and outflow, and, consequently, how the intraocular pressure is controlled by these fluxes.
Anti-Fouling Double-Skinned Forward Osmosis Membrane with Zwitterionic Brush for Oily Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Ong Chi Siang , Al-anzi Bader , Lau Woei Jye , Goh Pei Sean , Lai Gwo Sung , Ismail Ahmad Fauzi , Ong Yue Seong 
Published: July 2017

AbstractDespite its attractive features for energy saving separation, the performance of forward osmosis (FO) has been restricted by internal concentration polarization and fast fouling propensity that occur in the membrane sublayer. These problems have significantly affected the membrane performance when treating highly contaminated oily wastewater. In this study, a novel double-skinned FO membrane with excellent anti-fouling properties has been developed for emulsified oil-water treatment. The double-skinned FO membrane comprises a fully porous sublayer sandwiched between a highly dense polyamide (PA) layer for salt rejection and a fairly loose dense bottom zwitterionic layer for emulsified oil particle removal. The top dense PA layer was synthesized via interfacial polymerization meanwhile the bottom layer was made up of a zwitterionic polyelectrolyte brush - (poly(3-(N-2-methacryloxyethyl-N,N-dimethyl) ammonatopropanesultone), abbreviated as PMAPS layer. The resultant double-skinned membrane exhibited a high water flux of 13.7 ± 0.3 L/m2.h and reverse salt transport of 1.6 ± 0.2 g/m2.h under FO mode using 2 M NaCl as the draw solution and emulsified oily solution as the feed. The double-skinned membrane outperforms the single-skinned membrane with much lower fouling propensity for emulsified oil-water separation.
Antidepressant-like effects and cognitive enhancement of Schisandra chinensis in chronic unpredictable mild stress mice and its related mechanism
Authors: Yan Tingxu , He Bosai , Wan Shutong , Xu Mengjie , Yang Huilin , Xiao Feng , Bi Kaishun , Jia Ying 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate whether Schisandra chinensis extract (SCE) administration influences chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced depression and cognitive impairment, and explores underlying mechanisms. Sucrose preference test (SPT) and forced swimming test (FST) were used for assessing depressive symptoms, and Y-maze, Morris water maze were used for evaluating cognition processes. The results showed that CUMS (4 weeks) was effective in producing both depression and memory deficits in mice. Additionally, CUMS exposure significantly decreased brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in hippocampus as indicated by ELISA, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence assays, accompanied by down-regulated tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB)/cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/ protein kinase B (AKT)/ glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) signaling pathways. Chronic administration of SCE (600 or 1200 mg/kg, i.g.) significantly prevented all these CUMS-induced behavioral and biochemical alterations. It suggested that SCE could improve the depression-like emotional status and associated cognitive deficits in CUMS mice, which might be mediated by regulation of BDNF levels in hippocampus, as well as up-regulating of TrkB/CREB/ERK and PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β pathways.
Acute ocular hypertension disrupts barrier integrity and pump function in rat corneal endothelial cells
Authors: Li Xian , Zhang Zhenhao , Ye Lijun , Meng Jufeng , Zhao Zhongyang , Liu Zuguo , Hu Jiaoyue 
Published: July 2017

AbstractAcute ocular hypertension (AOH) frequently compromises corneal endothelial cell (CEC) function in clinical practice. This type of stress induces corneal oedema and a decrease in the corneal endothelial cell density (ECD). The anterior chamber of the right eye of Sprague-Dawley rats was irrigated with Balanced Salt Solution (BSS) for two hours, and the left eye served as a control to determine the time-dependent effects of AOH on endothelial cell morphology and function. The average intraocular pressure (IOP) increased to 82.6 ± 2.3 mmHg (normal range: 10.2 ± 0.4 mmHg) during anterior irrigation. Very soon after initiating irrigation, corneal oedema became evident and the cornea exhibited a significant increase in permeability to FITC-dextran. The peripheral ECD was significantly reduced, and the morphology of CECs became irregular and multiform. The structures of the zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and F-actin were severely disrupted. In addtion, Na,K-ATPase exhibited a dispersed expression pattern. Two days after irrigation, obvious CEC proliferation was observed, the ECD recovered to a normal level, and F-actin was dispersed throughout the cytoplasm. Seven days later, the CEC structure and function were nearly normalized. Based on the results obtained using this model, an acute IOP crisis exerts transient deleterious effects on CEC structure and function in rats.
Untargeted screening for novel autoantibodies with prognostic value in first-episode psychosis
Authors: Zandian A , Wingård L , Nilsson H , Sjöstedt E , Johansson D X , Just D , Hellström C , Uhlén M , Schwenk J M , Häggmark-Månberg A , Norbeck O , Owe-Larsson B , Nilsson P , Persson M A A 
Published: July 2017

AbstractImmunological and inflammatory reactions have been suggested to have a role in the development of schizophrenia, a hypothesis that has recently been supported by genetic data. The aim of our study was to perform an unbiased search for autoantibodies in patients with a first psychotic episode, and to explore the association between any seroreactivity and the development of a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV) disorder characterized by chronic or relapsing psychotic symptoms. We collected plasma samples from 53 patients when they were treated for their first-episode psychosis, and 41 non-psychotic controls, after which the patients were followed for a mean duration of 7 years. Thirty patients were diagnosed with schizophrenia, delusional disorder, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder or a long-term unspecified nonorganic psychosis during follow-up, whereas 23 patients achieved complete remission. At the end of follow-up, plasma samples were analyzed for IgG reactivity to 2304 fragments of human proteins using a multiplexed affinity proteomic technique. Eight patient samples showed autoreactivity to the N-terminal fragment of the PAGE (P antigen) protein family (PAGE2B/PAGE2/PAGE5), whereas no such autoreactivity was seen among the controls. PAGE autoreactivity was associated with a significantly increased risk of being diagnosed with schizophrenia during follow-up (odds ratio 6.7, relative risk 4.6). An immunohistochemistry analysis using antisera raised against the N-terminal fragment stained an unknown extracellular target in human cortical brain tissue. Our findings suggest that autoreactivity to the N-terminal portion of the PAGE protein family is associated with schizophrenia in a subset of patients with first-episode psychosis.
Multiband nonthermal radiative properties of pulsar wind nebulae
Authors: Zhu Bo-Tao , Zhang Li , Fang Jun 
Published: July 2017

Aims.The nonthermal radiative properties of 18 pulsar wind nebulae (PWNe) are studied in the 1D leptonic model.Methods.The dynamical and radiative evolution of a PWN in a nonradiative supernova remnant are self-consistently investigated in this model. The leptons (electrons/positrons) are injected with a broken power-law form, and nonthermal emission from a PWN is mainly produced by time-dependent relativistic leptons through synchrotron radiation and inverse Compton process.Results.Observed spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of all 18 PWNe are reproduced well, where the indexes of low-energy electron components lie in the range of 1.0–1.8 and those of high-energy electron components in the range of 2.1–3.1. Our results show thatFX/Fγ> 10 for young PWNe; 1 <FX/Fγ≤ 10 for evolved PWNe, except for G292.0+1.8; andFX/Fγ≤ 1 for mature/old PWNe, except for CTA 1. Moreover, most PWNe are particle-dominated. Statistical analysis for the sample of 14 PWNe further indicate that (1) not all pulsar parameters have correlations with electron injection parameters, but electron maximum energy and PWN magnetic field correlate with the magnetic field at the light cylinder, the potential difference at the polar cap, and the spin-down power; (2) the spin-down power positively correlates with radio, X-ray, bolometric, and synchrotron luminosities, but does not correlate with gamma-ray luminosity; (3) the spin-down power positively correlates with radio, X-ray, andγ-band surface brightness; and (4) the PWN radius and the PWN age negatively correlate with X-ray luminosity, the ratio of X-ray to gamma-ray luminosities, and the synchrotron luminosity.
Lymphocytic Hypophysitis Successfully Treated with Stereotactic Radiosurgery: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Bogosavljevic Vojislav , Peker Selcuk , Doknic Mirjana , Miljic Dragana , Stojanovic Marko , Skender-Gazibara Milica , Gacic Emilija , Popovic Vera , Petakov Milan , Pekic Sandra 
Published: July 2017

AbstractLymphocytic hypophysitis (LH) is an autoimmune inflammatory infiltration of the pituitary gland, usually with a benign evolution. In rare circumstances the inflammatory process may extend beyond the pituitary and infiltrate the surrounding structures. We present a 42-year-old woman affected by an aggressive form of LH with extension to the cavernous sinus causing internal carotid artery occlusion and right sixth cranial nerve palsy. Prednisone therapy caused severe iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome, and the patient underwent transsphenoidal decompression. The histopathology report was consistent with LH. The patient was symptom free for a short period with reappearance of severe headache, diplopia, and hearing loss (middle ear inflammation) 3 months after surgery. Corticosteroids were reintroduced with the addition of azathioprine, but there was no regression of the pituitary mass. The patient was referred for stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) using Gamma Knife (15 Gy to the margin). After 26 months, azathioprine was stopped, and the dose of prednisone was gradually tapered to 7.5 mg/day. Sellar magnetic resonance imaging showed regression of the pituitary mass. After follow-up for > 3 years after SRS, there was no clinical or radiologic evidence of the disease, but carotid arteries remained occluded. The patient developed secondary hypothyroidism and hypogonadism as consequences of SRS. An aggressive form of LH extending beyond the pituitary gland infiltrating surrounding structures is described. It was successfully treated with SRS after failure of transsphenoidal surgery and combined immunosuppressive therapy (prednisone, azathioprine). The review of the literature presents timely information concerning treatment with azathioprine and SRS of patients with an aggressive form of LH.