bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of HIV/HCV Co-Infection on the Protease Evolution of HIV-1B: A Pilot Study in a Pediatric Population
Authors: Domínguez-Rodríguez Sara , Rojas Patricia , Fernández McPhee Carolina , Pagán Israel , Navarro María Luisa , Ramos José Tomás , Holguín África 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThis pilot study evaluates in pediatric patients the impact of HIV/HCV coinfection in the molecular evolution of the HIV-1 subtype B protease (HIV-1BPR). For this study, HIV-1B/HCV coinfected (15) and HIV-1B monoinfected (56) patients with available HIV-1B pol sequences were enrolled. Both groups of patients had comparable gender frequencies and average age, time of infection, antiretroviral treatment (ART) exposure and time under ART. Prevalence of drug resistance mutations (DRM), genetic diversity, number of synonymous (dS) and non-synonymous (dN) mutations per site and selection pressures (dN − dS) in the HIV-1BPR were estimated and compared between mono- and coinfected patients. Both HIV-1B populations presented similar genetic diversity (0.050 ± 0.02 vs. 0.045 ± 0.01) and dS (0.074 ± 0.03 vs. 0.078 ± 0.04). In turn, in coinfected patients the HIV-1BPR had higher dN (0.045 ± 0.01 vs. 0.024 ± 0.01) and dN-dS (−0.026 ± 0.02 vs. −0.048 ± 0.04) values, and less amino acid sites under purifying selection (4.2% vs. 42.1%) than in monoinfected patients. Accordingly, in co-infection with HCV, the HIV-1BPR sites 50, 53, 82, 84 and 88 - associated with resistance to PIs - were under neutral evolution, whereas these sites were under purifying selection in monoinfected patients. This pilot study suggests that HIV-1B may evolve differently in the presence than in the absence of HCV.
Small-molecule MDM2 antagonists attenuate the senescence-associated secretory phenotype
Authors: Wiley Christopher D. , Schaum Nicholas , Alimirah Fatouma , Lopez-Dominguez Jose Alberto , Orjalo Arturo V. , Scott Gary , Desprez Pierre-Yves , Benz Christopher , Davalos Albert R. , Campisi Judith 
Published: January 2018

AbstractProcesses that have been linked to aging and cancer include an inflammatory milieu driven by senescent cells. Senescent cells lose the ability to divide, essentially irreversibly, and secrete numerous proteases, cytokines and growth factors, termed the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Senescent cells that lack p53 tumor suppressor function show an exaggerated SASP, suggesting the SASP is negatively controlled by p53. Here, we show that increased p53 activity caused by small molecule inhibitors of MDM2, which promotes p53 degradation, reduces inflammatory cytokine production by senescent cells. Upon treatment with the MDM2 inhibitors nutlin-3a or MI-63, human cells acquired a senescence-like growth arrest, but the arrest was reversible. Importantly, the inhibitors reduced expression of the signature SASP factors IL-6 and IL-1α by cells made senescent by genotoxic stimuli, and suppressed the ability of senescent fibroblasts to stimulate breast cancer cell aggressiveness. Our findings suggest that MDM2 inhibitors could reduce cancer progression in part by reducing the pro-inflammatory environment created by senescent cells.
Optimization by Self-Organized Criticality
Authors: Hoffmann Heiko , Payton David W. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractSelf-organized criticality (SOC) is a phenomenon observed in certain complex systems of multiple interacting components, e.g., neural networks, forest fires, and power grids, that produce power-law distributed avalanche sizes. Here, we report the surprising result that the avalanches from an SOC process can be used to solve non-convex optimization problems. To generate avalanches, we use the Abelian sandpile model on a graph that mirrors the graph of the optimization problem. For optimization, we map the avalanche areas onto search patterns for optimization, while the SOC process receives no feedback from the optimization itself. The resulting method can be applied without parameter tuning to a wide range of optimization problems, as demonstrated on three problems: finding the ground-state of an Ising spin glass, graph coloring, and image segmentation. We find that SOC search is more efficient compared to other random search methods, including simulated annealing, and unlike annealing, it is parameter free, thereby eliminating the time-consuming requirement to tune an annealing temperature schedule.
The limited prosocial effects of meditation: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Kreplin Ute , Farias Miguel , Brazil Inti A. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractMany individuals believe that meditation has the capacity to not only alleviate mental-illness but to improve prosociality. This article systematically reviewed and meta-analysed the effects of meditation interventions on prosociality in randomized controlled trials of healthy adults. Five types of social behaviours were identified: compassion, empathy, aggression, connectedness and prejudice. Although we found a moderate increase in prosociality following meditation, further analysis indicated that this effect was qualified by two factors: type of prosociality and methodological quality. Meditation interventions had an effect on compassion and empathy, but not on aggression, connectedness or prejudice. We further found that compassion levels only increased under two conditions: when the teacher in the meditation intervention was a co-author in the published study; and when the study employed a passive (waiting list) control group but not an active one. Contrary to popular beliefs that meditation will lead to prosocial changes, the results of this meta-analysis showed that the effects of meditation on prosociality were qualified by the type of prosociality and methodological quality of the study. We conclude by highlighting a number of biases and theoretical problems that need addressing to improve quality of research in this area.
Magnetism of coupled spin tetrahedra in ilinskite-type KCu5O2(SeO3)2Cl3
Authors: Badrtdinov Danis I. , Kuznetsova Elena S. , Verchenko Valeriy Yu. , Berdonosov Peter S. , Dolgikh Valeriy A. , Mazurenko Vladimir V. , Tsirlin Alexander A. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractSynthesis, thermodynamic properties, and microscopic magnetic model of ilinskite-type KCu5O2(SeO3)2Cl3 built by corner-sharing Cu4 tetrahedra are reported, and relevant magnetostructural correlations are discussed. Quasi-one-dimensional magnetic behavior with the short-range order around 50 K is rationalized in terms of weakly coupled spin ladders (tubes) having a complex topology formed upon fragmentation of the tetrahedral network. This fragmentation is rooted in the non-trivial effect of the SeO3 groups that render the Cu–O–Cu superexchange strongly ferromagnetic even at bridging angles exceeding 110°.
Interatomic Potentials Transferability for Molecular Simulations: A Comparative Study for Platinum, Gold and Silver
Authors: Rassoulinejad-Mousavi Seyed Moein , Zhang Yuwen 
Published: January 2018

AbstractA perfectly transferable interatomic potential that works for different materials and systems of interest is lacking. This work considers the transferability of several existing interatomic potentials by evaluating their capability at various temperatures, to determine the range of accuracy of these potentials in atomistic simulations. A series of embedded-atom-method (EAM) based interatomic potentials has been examined for three precious and popular transition metals in nanoscale studies: platinum, gold and silver. The potentials have been obtained from various credible and trusted repositories and were evaluated in a wide temperature range to tackle the lack of a transferability comparison between multiple available force fields. The interatomic potentials designed for the single elements, binary, trinary and higher order compounds were tested for each species using molecular dynamics simulation. Validity of results arising from each potential was investigated against experimental values at different temperatures from 100 to 1000 K. The data covers accuracy of all studied potentials for prediction of the single crystals’ elastic stiffness constants as well as the bulk, shear and Young’s modulus of the polycrystalline specimens. Results of this paper increase users’ assurance and lead them to the right model by a way to easily look up data.
Effects of dietary lysine restriction on inflammatory responses in piglets
Authors: Han Hui , Yin Jie , Wang Bin , Huang Xingguo , Yao Jiming , Zheng Jie , Fan Wenjun , Li Tiejun , Yin Yulong 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate the effects of lysine restriction on inflammatory responses in piglets. 38 male piglets with similar body weight of 9.62 kg were randomly divided into control group (basal diet) and lysine-restricted group (diet containing 70% lysine of the control diet). The results showed that lysine restriction increased the serum concentration of IgG an IgM. Piglets fed the lysine-restricted diet exhibited overexpression of interleukin-8 (IL-8) in the kidney (P < 0.05) and IL-6 and IL-4 in the spleen (P < 0.05). The mRNA abundances of IL-4 in the kidney (P < 0.05) and IL-10 in the liver (P < 0.05) were significantly lower in the lysine-restricted group compared with the control group. Meanwhile, lysine restriction increased the mRNA level of Tlr8 in the kidney (P < 0.05) but decreased the mRNA level of Tlr8 in the liver (P < 0.05). Finally, lysine restriction markedly enhanced extracellular signal regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation in the kidney and liver and nuclear transcription factor kappa B (NF-κB) was activated in the liver and spleen in response to dietary lysine restriction. In conclusion, lysine restriction affected inflammatory responses in the kidney, liver, and spleen via mediating serum antibody volume, inflammatory cytokines, Tlrs system, and ERK1/2 and NF-κB signals in piglets.
Diastolic dysfunction is more apparent in STZ-induced diabetic female mice, despite less pronounced hyperglycemia
Authors: Chandramouli Chanchal , Reichelt Melissa E. , Curl Claire L. , Varma Upasna , Bienvenu Laura A. , Koutsifeli Parisa , Raaijmakers Antonia J. A. , De Blasio Miles J. , Qin Cheng Xue , Jenkins Alicia J. , Ritchie Rebecca H. , Mellor Kimberley M. , Delbridge Lea M. D. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractDiabetic cardiomyopathy is a distinct pathology characterized by early emergence of diastolic dysfunction. Increased cardiovascular risk associated with diabetes is more marked for women, but an understanding of the role of diastolic dysfunction in female susceptibility to diabetic cardiomyopathy is lacking. To investigate the sex-specific relationship between systemic diabetic status andin vivooccurrence of diastolic dysfunction, diabetes was induced in male and female mice by streptozotocin (5x daily i.p. 55 mg/kg). Echocardiography was performed at 7 weeks post-diabetes induction, cardiac collagen content assessed by picrosirius red staining, and gene expression measured using qPCR. The extent of diabetes-associated hyperglycemia was more marked in males than females (males: 25.8 ± 1.2 vs 9.1 ± 0.4 mM; females: 13.5 ± 1.5 vs 8.4 ± 0.4 mM, p < 0.05) yetin vivodiastolic dysfunction was evident in female (E/E′ 54% increase, p < 0.05) but not male diabetic mice. Cardiac structural abnormalities (left ventricular wall thinning, collagen deposition) were similar in male and female diabetic mice. Female-specific gene expression changes in glucose metabolic and autophagy-related genes were evident. This study demonstrates that STZ-induced diabetic female mice exhibit a heightened susceptibility to diastolic dysfunction, despite exhibiting a lower extent of hyperglycemia than male mice. These findings highlight the importance of early echocardiographic screening of asymptomatic prediabetic at-risk patients.
Handling method alters the hedonic value of reward in laboratory mice
Authors: Clarkson Jasmine M. , Dwyer Dominic M. , Flecknell Paul A. , Leach Matthew C. , Rowe Candy 
Published: January 2018

AbstractMice are the most widely used model species for drug discovery and scientific research. Consequently, it is important to refine laboratory procedures and practices to ensure high standards of welfare and scientific data quality. Recent studies have identified that the standard practice of handling laboratory mice by their tails increases behaviours indicative of anxiety, which can be overcome by handling mice using a tunnel. However, despite clear negative effects on mice’s behaviour, tunnel handling has yet to be widely implemented. In this study, we provide the first evidence that tail handling also reduces mice’s responses to reward. Anhedonia is a core symptom of clinical depression, and is measured in rodents by assessing how they consume a sucrose solution: depressed mice consume less sucrose and the size of their licking bouts when drinking (their ‘lick cluster sizes’) also tend to be smaller. We found that tail handled mice showed more anhedonic responses in both measures compared to tunnel handled mice, indicative of a decreased responsiveness to reward and potentially a more depressive-like state. Our findings have significant implications for the welfare of laboratory mice as well as the design and interpretation of scientific studies, particularly those investigating or involving reward.
Coffee Intake as a Risk Indicator for Tooth Loss in Korean Adults
Authors: Song In-Seok , Han Kyungdo , Ryu Jae-Jun , Choi Yeon-Jo , Park Jun-Beom 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe aim of this study was to examine the association between coffee intake and tooth loss. This study hypothesized that the intake of coffee would increase the prevalence of tooth loss in Korean adults. Subject information was obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2010–2011. Sociodemographic and lifestyle variables, anthropometric and biochemical status, metabolic health and glucose tolerance status, as well as oral health behaviors were evaluated. The number of remaining teeth was negatively associated with the frequency of coffee intake (p-value < 0.05). Daily coffee consumers had significantly higher levels of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), total cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (all p-value < 0.05). Individuals with less than 20 remaining teeth had higher BMI, WC, diastolic blood pressure, and LDL-C (all p-value < 0.05). Finally, participants who drank coffee on a daily basis were more likely to have fewer remaining teeth. The prevalence of having less than 20 remaining teeth was 69% higher in groups with daily coffee intake than those with coffee intake of less than once a month after adjustment for potential covariates (Odds Ratio [95% CI] = 1.69 [1.35, 2.13]). In conclusion, daily coffee consumption is closely associated with tooth loss in Korean adults.
Size at emergence improves accuracy of age estimates in forensically-useful beetle Creophilus maxillosus L. (Staphylinidae)
Authors: Matuszewski Szymon , Frątczak-Łagiewska Katarzyna 
Published: January 2018

AbstractInsects colonizing human or animal cadavers may be used to estimate post-mortem interval (PMI) usually by aging larvae or pupae sampled on a crime scene. The accuracy of insect age estimates in a forensic context is reduced by large intraspecific variation in insect development time. Here we test the concept that insect size at emergence may be used to predict insect physiological age and accordingly to improve the accuracy of age estimates in forensic entomology. Using results of laboratory study on development of forensically-useful beetle Creophilus maxillosus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Staphylinidae) we demonstrate that its physiological age at emergence [i.e. thermal summation value (K) needed for emergence] fall with an increase of beetle size. In the validation study it was found that K estimated based on the adult insect size was significantly closer to the true K as compared to K from the general thermal summation model. Using beetle length at emergence as a predictor variable and male or female specific model regressing K against beetle length gave the most accurate predictions of age. These results demonstrate that size of C. maxillosus at emergence improves accuracy of age estimates in a forensic context.
Uncovering hidden disease patterns by simulating clinical diagnostic processes
Authors: Ramezanpour Abolfazl , Mashaghi Alireza 
Published: January 2018

AbstractChoosing a sequence of observations (often with stochastic outcomes) which maximizes the information gain from a system of interacting variables is essential for a wide range of problems in science and technology, such as clinical diagnostic problems. Here, we use a probabilistic model of diseases and signs/symptoms to simulate the effects of medical decisions on the quality of diagnosis by maximizing an appropriate objective function of the medical observations. The study provides a systematic way of proposing new medical tests, considering the significance of diseases and cost of the suggested observations. The efficacy of methods and role of the objective functions as well as initial signs/symptoms are examined by numerical simulations of the diagnostic process by exhaustive or Monte Carlo sampling algorithms.
Mendelian randomisation study of the relationship between vitamin D and risk of glioma
Authors: Takahashi Hannah , Cornish Alex J. , Sud Amit , Law Philip J. , Kinnersley Ben , Ostrom Quinn T. , Labreche Karim , Eckel-Passow Jeanette E. , Armstrong Georgina N. , Claus Elizabeth B. , Il’yasova Dora , Schildkraut Joellen , Barnholtz-Sloan Jill S. , Olson Sara H. , Bernstein Jonine L. , Lai Rose K. , Schoemaker Minouk J. , Simon Matthias , Hoffmann Per , Nöthen Markus M. , Jöckel Karl-Heinz , Chanock Stephen , Rajaraman Preetha , Johansen Christoffer , Jenkins Robert B. , Melin Beatrice S. , Wrensch Margaret R. , Sanson Marc , Bondy Melissa L. , Turnbull Clare , Houlston Richard S. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractTo examine for a causal relationship between vitamin D and glioma risk we performed an analysis of genetic variants associated with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels using Mendelian randomisation (MR), an approach unaffected by biases from confounding. Two-sample MR was undertaken using genome-wide association study data. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with 25(OH)D levels were used as instrumental variables (IVs). We calculated MR estimates for the odds ratio (OR) for 25(OH)D levels with glioma using SNP-glioma estimates from 12,488 cases and 18,169 controls, using inverse-variance weighted (IVW) and maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) methods. A non-significant association between 25(OH)D levels and glioma risk was shown using both the IVW (OR = 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.90–1.62, P = 0.201) and MLE (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 0.98–1.48, P = 0.083) methods. In an exploratory analysis of tumour subtype, an inverse relationship between 25(OH)D levels and glioblastoma (GBM) risk was identified using the MLE method (OR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.43–0.89, P = 0.010), but not the IVW method (OR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.37–1.04, P = 0.070). No statistically significant association was shown between 25(OH)D levels and non-GBM glioma. Our results do not provide evidence for a causal relationship between 25(OH)D levels and all forms of glioma risk. More evidence is required to explore the relationship between 25(OH)D levels and risk of GBM.
Intracellular tracing of amyloid vaccines through direct fluorescent labelling
Authors: Mold Matthew , Kumar Manpreet , Mirza Ambreen , Shardlow Emma , Exley Christopher 
Published: January 2018

AbstractAlzheimer’s disease is a debilitating neurodegenerative condition that progressively causes synaptic loss and major neuronal damage. Immunotherapy utilising Aβ as an active immunogen or via passive treatment utilising antibodies raised to amyloid have shown therapeutic promise. The migratory properties of peripheral blood-borne monocytes and their ability to enter the central nervous system, suggests a beneficial role in mediating tissue damage and neuroinflammation. However, the intrinsic phagocytic properties of such cells have pre-disposed them to internalise misfolded amyloidogenic peptides that could act as seeds capable of nucleating amyloid formation in the brain. Mechanisms governing the cellular fate of amyloid therefore, may prove to be key in the development of future vaccination regimes. Herein, we have developed unequivocal and direct conformation-sensitive fluorescent molecular probes that reveal the intracytoplasmic and intranuclear persistence of amyloid in a monocytic T helper 1 (THP-1) cell line. Use of the pathogenic Aβ42 species as a model antigen in simulated vaccine formulations suggested differing mechanisms of cellular internalisation, in which fibrillar amyloid evaded lysosomal capture, even when co-deposited on particulate adjuvant materials. Taken collectively, direct fluorescent labelling of antigen-adjuvant complexes may serve as critical tools in understanding subsequent immunopotentiation in vaccines directed against amyloidosis and wider dementia.
Insights into RNAi-based antiviral immunity in Lepidoptera: acute and persistent infections in Bombyx mori and Trichoplusia ni cell lines
Authors: Santos Dulce , Wynant Niels , Van den Brande Stijn , Verdonckt Thomas-Wolf , Mingels Lina , Peeters Paulien , Kolliopoulou Anna , Swevers Luc , Vanden Broeck Jozef 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe control of viral infections in insects is a current issue of major concern and RNA interference (RNAi) is considered the main antiviral immune response in this group of animals. Here we demonstrate that overexpression of key RNAi factors can help to protect insect cells against viral infections. In particular, we show that overexpression of Dicer2 and Argonaute2 in lepidopteran cells leads to improved defense against the acute infection of the Cricket Paralysis Virus (CrPV). We also demonstrate an important role of RNAi in the control of persistent viral infections, as the one caused by the Macula-like Latent Virus (MLV). Specifically, a direct interaction between Argonaute2 and virus-specific small RNAs is shown. Yet, while knocking down Dicer2 and Argonaute2 resulted in higher transcript levels of the persistently infecting MLV in the lepidopteran cells under investigation, overexpression of these proteins could not further reduce these levels. Taken together, our data provide deep insight into the RNAi-based interactions between insects and their viruses. In addition, our results suggest the potential use of an RNAi gain-of-function approach as an alternative strategy to obtain reduced viral-induced mortality in Lepidoptera, an insect order that encompasses multiple species of relevant economic value.