bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impaired erythropoietin synthesis in chronic kidney disease is caused by alterations in extracellular matrix composition
Authors: Olmos Gemma , Muñoz‐Félix José M. , Mora Inés , Müller Anton Gerhard , Ruiz‐Torres Maria Piedad , López‐Novoa José M. , Rodríguez‐Puyol Diego 
Published: August 2017

AbstractRenal fibrosis and anaemia are two of the most relevant events in chronic kidney disease. Fibrosis is characterized by the accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins in the glomeruli and tubular interstitium. Anaemia is the consequence of a decrease in erythropoietin production in fibrotic kidneys. This work analyses the possibility that the accumulation of abnormal collagens in kidney interstitium could be one of the mechanisms responsible for erythropoietin decreased synthesis. In renal interstitial fibroblast grown on collagen I, erythropoietin mRNA expression and HIF‐2α protein decreased, whereas focal adhesion kinase protein (FAK) phosphorylation and proteasome activity increased, compared to cells grown on collagen IV. Proteasome inhibition or FAK inactivation in cells plated on collagen I restored erythropoietin and HIF‐2α expression. FAK inhibition also decreased the collagen I‐dependent proteasome activation. In a model of tubulointerstitial fibrosis induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction in mice, increased collagen I protein content and an almost complete disappearance of erythropoietin mRNA expression were observed in the ureteral ligated kidney with respect to the contralateral control. Interestingly, erythropoietin synthesis was recovered in obstructed mice treated with proteasome inhibitor. These data suggest that reduced kidney erythropoietin synthesis could be caused by the accumulation of abnormal extracellular matrix proteins.
cAMP response element‐binding protein and Yes‐associated protein form a feedback loop that promotes neurite outgrowth
Authors: Chen Lei , Feng Peimin , Peng Anjiao , Qiu Xiangmiao , Zhu Xi , He Shixu , Zhou Dong 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe cAMP response element‐binding (CREB) protein is a member of the CREB/activating transcription factor family that is activated by various extracellular stimuli. It has been shown that CREB‐dependent transcription stimulation plays a key role in neuronal differentiation and plasticity, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely elusive. Here, we show that Yes‐associated protein (YAP) is a direct target induced by CREB upon retinoic acid (RA)‐induced neurite outgrowth stimuli in N2a cells. Interestingly, YAP knockout using the CRISPR/Cas9 system inhibits neuronal differentiation and reduced neurite length. We further show that YAP could directly bind to CREB via its N‐terminal region, and loss of YAP results in instability of phosphorylated CREB upon neurite outgrowth stimuli. Transient expression of YAP could largely restore CREB expression and neurite outgrowth in YAP knockout cells. Together, our results suggest that CREB and YAP form a positive feedback loop that is critical to maintain the stability of phosphorylated CREB and promote neurite outgrowth.
Tenascin‐c renders a proangiogenic phenotype in macrophage via annexin II
Authors: Wang Zhiyang , Wei Qi , Han Liang , Cao Keqing , Lan Tianfeng , Xu Zhenjie , Wang Yingjuan , Gao Yuan , Xue Jing , Shan Fei , Feng Jun , Xie Xin 
Published: August 2017

AbstractTenascin‐c is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein, the expression of which relates to the progression of atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction and heart failure. Annexin II acts as a cell surface receptor of tenascin‐c. This study aimed to delineate the role of tenascin‐c and annexin II in macrophages presented in atherosclerotic plaque. Animal models with atherosclerotic lesions were established using ApoE‐KO mice fed with high‐cholesterol diet. The expression of tenascin‐c and annexin II in atherosclerotic lesions was determined by qRT‐PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry analysis. Raw 264.7 macrophages and human primary macrophages were exposed to 5, 10 and 15 μg/ml tenascin‐c for 12 hrs. Cell migration as well as the proangiogenic ability of macrophages was examined. Additionally, annexin II expression was delineated in raw 264.7 macrophages under normal condition (20% O2) for 12 hrs or hypoxic condition (1% O2) for 6–12 hrs. The expression of tenascin‐c and annexin II was markedly augmented in lesion aorta. Tenascin‐c positively regulated macrophage migration, which was dependent on the expression of annexin II in macrophages. VEGF release from macrophages and endothelial tube induction by macrophage were boosted by tenascin‐c and attenuated by annexin II blocking. Furthermore, tenascin‐c activated Akt/NF‐κB and ERK signalling through annexin II. Lastly, hypoxia conditioning remarkably facilitates annexin II expression in macrophages through hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF)‐1α but not HIF‐2α. In conclusion, tenascin‐c promoted macrophage migration and VEGF expression through annexin II, the expression of which was modulated by HIF‐1α.
DRMDA: deep representations‐based miRNA–disease association prediction
Authors: Chen Xing , Gong Yao , Zhang De‐Hong , You Zhu‐Hong , Li Zheng‐Wei 
Published: August 2017

AbstractRecently, microRNAs (miRNAs) are confirmed to be important molecules within many crucial biological processes and therefore related to various complex human diseases. However, previous methods of predicting miRNA–disease associations have their own deficiencies. Under this circumstance, we developed a prediction method called deep representations‐based miRNA–disease association (DRMDA) prediction. The original miRNA–disease association data were extracted from HDMM database. Meanwhile, stacked auto‐encoder, greedy layer‐wise unsupervised pre‐training algorithm and support vector machine were implemented to predict potential associations. We compared DRMDA with five previous classical prediction models (HGIMDA, RLSMDA, HDMP, WBSMDA and RWRMDA) in global leave‐one‐out cross‐validation (LOOCV), local LOOCV and fivefold cross‐validation, respectively. The AUCs achieved by DRMDA were 0.9177, 08339 and 0.9156 ± 0.0006 in the three tests above, respectively. In further case studies, we predicted the top 50 potential miRNAs for colon neoplasms, lymphoma and prostate neoplasms, and 88%, 90% and 86% of the predicted miRNA can be verified by experimental evidence, respectively. In conclusion, DRMDA is a promising prediction method which could identify potential and novel miRNA–disease associations.
Commentary: Is there a there there in hair? A reflection on child maltreatment and hair cortisol concentrations in White et al. (2017)
Authors: Fisher Philip A. 
Published: August 2017

Both chronic and acute stressors have typically been understood to produce elevations in cortisol, as a means to maintaining homeostatic balance. In the past two decades, however, individuals experiencing high levels of chronic early adversity have been shown to manifest an alternate profile involving blunted cortisol levels. In the context of this emerging evidence, a number of questions about diminished cortisol have remained unclear. The study by White et al. (2017) is the first to measure hair cortisol concentrations in the context of adversity, and provides validation for the stability of diminished cortisol in maltreated individuals, the association between neglect and low cortisol, and a mediating role for dysregulated hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis activity in the association between early maltreatment and behavioral dysregulation.
Retrospective 8‐year analysis of negative pressure wound therapy in dermatosurgery: a single‐centre experience
Authors: Wertenauer A. , Gräber S. , Müller C.S.L. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractBackgroundNegative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is an established treatment modality in dermatologic surgery, but proof of evidence for efficacy is inconclusive.PurposeTo evaluate patient characteristics, treatment modalities and outcomes in a single dermatosurgery centre with NPWT applied over chronic and acute surgical wounds.MethodsOf all surgical patients between 2008 and 2015, we selected those who were treated and hospitalized due to NPWT for treatment of acute and chronic wounds. The medical records of 188 patients were retrospectively evaluated and statistically calculated.ResultsMethod of surgical defect closure depends significantly on localization of the surgical defect, cardiovascular comorbidity and age. Hence, outcome depends significantly on the surgical situation that indexes NPWT, the underlying diagnosis and the vacuum system used, but is not associated with distinct treatment modalities or gender of the patients. Hospitalization significantly depends on the vacuum system used, surgical situation that indexes NPWT and underlying diagnoses.ConclusionNPWT has a fixed role in distinct, well‐defined clinical indications in dermatosurgery as the treatment of acute surgical wounds, fixation of skin grafts and treatment of skin substitutes, as well as an important treatment option for refractory, superinfected chronic wounds in dermatologic patients.
Do retail mergers affect competition? Evidence from grocery retailing
Authors: Hosken Daniel S. , Olson Luke M. , Smith Loren K. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThis study estimates the price effects of horizontal mergers in the U.S. grocery retailing industry. We examine fourteen regions affected by mergers, including mergers in highly concentrated and relatively unconcentrated markets. We identify price effects by comparing markets affected by mergers to unaffected markets using difference‐in‐difference estimation with three different comparison groups, propensity score weights, and by using the synthetic control method. Our results are robust to the choice of control group and estimation technique. We find that mergers in highly concentrated markets are most frequently associated with price increases, and mergers in less concentrated markets are most often associated with price decreases.
Enhanced antioxidant properties of tara (Caesalpinia spinosa) gallotannins by thermal hydrolysis and its synergistic effects with α‐tocopherol, ascorbyl palmitate, and citric acid on sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis) oil
Authors: Terán‐Hilares Ruly , Chirinos Rosana , Pedreschi Romina , Campos David 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe antioxidant potential of thermally hydrolyzed tara pod extracts (HTEs) at 121 °C, 103 kPa for different time were tested against sacha inchi oil (SIO) oxidation. The antioxidant efficacy on SIO of 200–400 ppm HTE for 180 min were compared to α‐tocopherol (α‐T), citric acid (CA) and ascorbyl palmitate (AP). Additionally, synergistic or antagonistic effects in binary mixtures of HTE with α‐T or CA or AP were tested. Accelerated storage tests (55 °C for 30 days) were used to evaluate peroxide (PV), p‐anisidine values (p‐AV) and stability of naturally occurring SIO tocopherols and phytosterols. Antioxidant capacity (AC) and the antioxidant efficacy on SIO significantly increased as the HTE hydrolysis degree (HD) increased. The mixture of 400 ppm HTE and 100 ppm AP displayed a synergistic effect and reduced the rate of peroxide formation, p‐AV and better protected SIO tocopherols. HTEs protect oils due to their high AC being an interesting alternative as natural antioxidant.Practical applicationsTara pods are an important source of gallotannins with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties widely used by the pharmaceutical, chemical, painting, and tannery industries. The partial thermal hydrolysis of gallotannins results in an increment of antioxidant activity determined in vitro by the ABTS, FRAP, and ORAC assays and to increase the efficacy against oxidation of sacha inchi oil (a food matrix rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids). These results demonstrate that partially hydrolyzed gallotannins with a high antioxidant activity are an important alternative for the functional and nutraceutical industries.
Physical activity levels and hepatic steatosis: A longitudinal follow‐up study in adults
Authors: Gerage Aline Mendes , Ritti‐Dias Raphael Mendes , Balagopal P Babu , Conceição Raquel Dilguerian de Oliveira , Umpierre Daniel , Santos Raul D , Cucato Gabriel Grizzo , Bittencourt Márcio Sommer 
Published: August 2017

AbstractBackground and AimThis study aimed to evaluate the impact of physical activity (PA) on the course of hepatic steatosis (HS) in adults.MethodsHepatic steatosis status (ultrasonography) and PA levels were evaluated in 5860 subjects at baseline and after approximately 2.5 years (range: 19–50 months). At follow up, possible exposures to different PA levels were those who remained inactive, became inactive, became active, and remained active. After follow up, subjects were then classified according to the four possible states (outcomes): “remained without HS,” “developed HS” (subjects without HS at baseline), “remained with HS,” or “reverted HS.”ResultsAfter multivariate adjustments, individuals without HS that became or remained physically active were less likely to develop HS compared with those who remained physically inactive (odds ratio = 0.75, P = 0.04 and 0.75, P = 0.03, respectively). Among those with HS at baseline, becoming and remaining physically active beneficially improved the HS status (odds ratio = 0.64, P = 0.01 and 0.66, P = 0.01, respectively). However, the significance was lost when adjusted for changes in body mass index.ConclusionHigher levels of PA were associated with prevention and treatment of HS, with evidence of effect mediation by changes in body mass index.
A Revision of What Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment Should Entail: Towards Modeling the Net Impact on Human Well‐Being
Authors: Schaubroeck Thomas , Rugani Benedetto 
Published: August 2017

SummaryThe main goal of a sustainability assessment is to evaluate the impact of systems (e.g., human or natural ones) on areas sought to be protected and maintained over time (e.g., human well‐being, ecosystems, etc.). These are called areas of protection (AoPs). Life cycle sustainability assessment is a type of sustainability assessment that focuses on the impact of industrial production systems on AoPs. To further this field, three conceptual challenges should be tackled: (1) framing which areas should primarily be sustained and hence on which the impact should be assessed, that is, (re)defining of the AoPs; (2) accounting for the interconnectedness among AoPs (e.g., influence of ecosystems on human well‐being); and (3) the assessment of both benefit and damage to the AoPs (e.g., benefit of industrial products and damage of their production). The aim of this study is to provide a first roadmap to address these three issues and to suggest potential solutions. Regarding the first issue, our conclusion is that human well‐being, encompassing health and happiness, is the primary AoP. This is based on the argument that the sustainability concept is inherently anthropocentric. In this regard, other entities such as ecosystems as a whole are sustained in light of human well‐being. The well‐being adjusted life years, interpreted as years of perfect well‐being, is pinpointed as the most promising holistic indicator. To conduct a respective sustainability assessment that tackles the remaining two issues—integrated system modeling of the earth and its support to well‐being—is argued as the most suitable approach.
Characterization of Fusarium spp. associated with pineapple fruit rot and leaf spot in Peninsular Malaysia
Authors: Ibrahim Nurul Faziha , Mohd Masratul Hawa , Mohamed Nor Nik Mohd Izham , Zakaria Latiffah 
Published: August 2017

AbstractPineapple (Ananas comosus) is one the important fruit crops planted in Malaysia, and this study was conducted to determine Fusarium spp. associated with diseases of the fruit crop as Fusarium is prevalent in tropical countries. Our objective was to identify and characterize Fusarium spp. associated with pineapple fruit rot and leaf spot mainly found on the fruits and leaves in Peninsular Malaysia. Fusarium isolates (n = 108) associated with pineapple fruit rot and leaf spot were characterized by morphological, molecular and phylogenetic analyses, a mating study and pathogenicity testing. TEF‐1α sequence analysis identified Fusarium proliferatum, Fusarium verticillioides, Fusarium sacchari and Fusarium sp. Mating was successful only between tester strains of F. proliferatum and F. verticillioides. Sexual crosses with standard tester strains showed that 82 isolates of F. proliferatum produced fertile crosses with mating population D (Gibberella intermedia) and three isolates of F. verticillioides were fertile with the tester strain of mating population A (Gibberella moniliformis). All isolates were pathogenic, causing pineapple fruit rot and leaf spot, thus fulfilling Koch's postulates.
Plant growth regulators and signal molecules enhance resistance against bacterial blight disease of pomegranate
Authors: Lalithya Konduvally Annegowda , Manjunatha Girigowda , Raju Besagarahally , Kulkarni Mukund S. , Lokesh Veeresh 
Published: August 2017

AbstractBacterial blight caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. punicae is a devastating disease causing huge economic losses in major pomegranate growing areas. Thus, this study has been undertaken to assess the effect of plant growth regulators (PGRs) and signal molecules on disease incidence of bacterial blight in addition to its impact on yield and productivity under field condition in disease endemic area. Considering the environmental concern for reduction in synthetics and antibiotics, PGRs offers cost‐effective and an eco‐friendly schedule for management of this disease. Foliar application of ethylene at 200 ppm resulted in significant reduction in disease incidence in leaves (from 33.01% to 4.87%), fruits (from 25.77% to 2.05%) and twigs (from 1.76% and 0.97% to 0%), as compared to untreated plants. Treatment with salicylic acid and paclobutrazol also resulted in reduction of disease incidence. Further, higher accumulation of total phenols and anthocyanin content in rind as well as in arils was observed in ethylene treatment with enhanced fruit yield in pomegranate plants. The enhanced disease tolerance by recording less disease incidence with increased accumulation of defence compounds like phenols and anthocyanins by ethylene, salicylic acid and paclobutrazol treatments resulted in improving fruit yield and quality of pomegranate fruits. Thus, judicious application of PGRs and signal molecules contributed for induction of resistance while improving developmental and reproductive parameters of pomegranate and thus could be a viable option for their synergistic use in pomegranate farming.
Determining the Effectiveness of Visual Input Enhancement Across Multiple Linguistic Cues
Authors: Comeaux Ian , McDonald Janet L. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractVisual input enhancement (VIE) increases the salience of grammatical forms, potentially facilitating acquisition through attention mechanisms. Native English speakers were exposed to an artificial language containing four linguistic cues (verb agreement, case marking, animacy, word order), with morphological cues either unmarked, marked in the same color, or marked in different colors. Cue validity (how often a cue was present and correct) and dominance were also manipulated. In Experiment 1, where the morphological cues were low in validity but highly dominant, VIE helped participants to acquire and strengthen one morphological cue (case marking) but not the other (verb agreement). In Experiment 2, where animacy was highly dominant, there was no benefit of VIE; indeed, the same color VIE condition impeded the acquisition of the marked cues. Thus, VIE may only be beneficial in certain circumstances and this may depend on the type of cue as well as its validity and dominance.Open PracticesThis article has been awarded Open Materials and Open Data badges. All materials are publicly accessible in the IRIS digital repository at http://www.iris-database.org. All data are publicly accessible via the Open Science Framework at https://osf.io/re48w. Learn more about the Open Practices badges from the Center for Open Science: https://osf.io/tvyxz/wiki.
Determinants of anemia among women and children in Nepal and Pakistan: An analysis of recent national survey data
Authors: Harding Kassandra L. , Aguayo Víctor M. , Namirembe Grace , Webb Patrick 
Published: August 2017

AbstractAnemia remains one of the most intractable public health challenges in South Asia. This paper analyzes individual‐level and household‐level determinants of anemia among children and women in Nepal and Pakistan. Applying multivariate modified Poisson models to recent national survey data, we find that the prevalence of anemia was significantly higher among women from the poorest households in Pakistan (adjusted prevalence ratio [95% CI]: 1.10 [1.04–1.17]), women lacking sanitation facilities in Nepal (1.22 [1.12–1.33]), and among undernourished women (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2) in both countries (Nepal: 1.10 [1.00–1.21] and Pakistan: 1.07 [1.02–1.13]). Similarly, children in both countries were more likely to be anemic if stunted (Nepal: 1.19 [1.09–1.30] and Pakistan: 1.10 [1.07–1.14]) and having an anemic mother (Nepal: 1.31 [1.20–1.42] and Pakistan: 1.21 [1.17–1.26]). Policies and programs need to target vulnerable and hard‐to‐reach subpopulations who continue to bear a disproportionate burden of anemia. Covariates of poverty underpin rates of anemia among children and their mothers, but income growth alone will not suffice to resolve such deeply entrenched problems. Greater understanding of the relative role of various diet, health, sanitation, and educational factors by local context should guide investments to resolve anemia in tandem with stunting and maternal underweight.
Increased myoendothelial feedback is associated with increased connexin37 and IK1 channel expression in mesenteric arteries of diet‐induced hyperhomocysteinemic mice
Authors: Looft‐Wilson Robin C. , Goodell Cara R. , Mutch Christina A. , Mutchler Stephanie M. , Miller Kayla L. , Guraya Monique 
Published: August 2017

AbstractObjectivePreviously, we found that diet‐induced HHcy in mice caused decreased eNOS expression and signaling in mesenteric arteries, but greatly enhanced non‐NOS, non‐prostacyclin‐dependent vasodilation, which involves MEJ communication. To further assess whether HHcy enhances MEJ communication, this study examined endothelium‐dependent attenuation of phenylephrine‐induced vasoconstriction (myoendothelial feedback) and key molecules involved.MethodsMyoendothelial feedback was examined in isolated mouse mesenteric arteries, after 6‐weeks diet‐induced HHcy, using pressure myography. Gap junction (Cx37, Cx40, Cx43), NOS (eNOS, nNOS, iNOS), and potassium channel (IK1) protein expression were measured with immunoblots, and connexin mRNAs with real‐time PCR. Contribution of nNOS + iNOS to vasomotor responses was assessed using the drug TRIM.ResultsMyoendothelial feedback was significantly (P < .05) enhanced in HHcy arteries compared to control, coincident with significantly greater Cx37 and IK1 protein and Cx37 mRNA. Cx43 protein, but not mRNA, was significantly less in HHcy, and Cx40 was not different. eNOS protein was significantly less in HHcy. nNOS and iNOS were not different. TRIM had little effect on vasomotor function.ConclusionsDiet‐induced HHcy enhanced myoendothelial feedback, and increased Cx37 and IK1 expression may contribute. nNOS or iNOS did not upregulate to compensate for decreased eNOS, and they had little involvement in vasomotor function.