bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Melatonin alleviates brain injury in mice subjected to cecal ligation and puncture via attenuating inflammation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress: the role of SIRT1 signaling
Authors: Zhao Lei , An Rui , Yang Yang , Yang Xiangmin , Liu Haixiao , Yue Liang , Li Xia , Lin Yan , Reiter Russel J. , Qu Yan 
Published: June 2015

AbstractSepsis is a systemic inflammatory response to infection that causes severe neurological complications. Previous studies have suggested that melatonin is protective during sepsis. Additionally, silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) was reported to be beneficial in sepsis. However, the role of SIRT1 signaling in the protective effect of melatonin against septic encephalopathy remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of SIRT1 in the protective effect of melatonin. EX527, a SIRT1 inhibitor, was used to reveal the role of SIRT1 in melatonin's action. Cecal ligation and puncture or sham operation was performed in male C57BL/6J mice. Melatonin was administrated intraperitoneally (30 mg/kg). The survival rate of mice was recorded for the 7‐day period following the sham or CLP operation. The blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity, brain water content, levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and HMGB1), and the level of oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA)) and apoptosis were assessed. The expression of SIRT1, Ac‐FoxO1, Ac‐p53, Ac‐NF‐κB, Bcl‐2, and Bax was detected by Western blot. The results suggested that melatonin improved survival rate, attenuated brain edema and neuronal apoptosis, and preserved BBB integrity. Melatonin decreased the production of TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and HMGB1. Melatonin increased the activity of SOD and CAT and decreased the MDA production. Additionally, melatonin upregulated the expression of SIRT1 and Bcl‐2 and downregulated the expression of Ac‐FoxO1, Ac‐p53, Ac‐NF‐κB, and Bax. However, the protective effects of melatonin were abolished by EX527. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that melatonin attenuates sepsis‐induced brain injury via SIRT1 signaling activation.
Nutrient limitation of algal periphyton in streams along an acid mine drainage gradient
Authors: DeNicola Dean M. , Lellock Amber J. 
Published: June 2015

Metal oxyhydroxide precipitates that form from acid mine drainage (AMD) may indirectly limit periphyton by sorbing nutrients, particularly P. We examined effects of nutrient addition on periphytic algal biomass (chl a), community structure, and carbon and nitrogen content along an AMD gradient. Nutrient diffusing substrata with treatments of +P, +NP and control were placed at seven stream sites. Conductivity and SO4 concentration ranged over an order of magnitude among sites and were used to define the AMD gradient, as they best indicate mine discharge sources of metals that create oxyhydroxide precipitates. Aqueous total phosphorous (TP) ranged from 2 to 23 μg · L−1 and significantly decreased with increasing SO4. Mean chl a concentrations at sites ranged from 0.2 to 8.1 μg · cm−2. Across all sites, algal biomass was significantly higher on +NP than control treatments (Co), and significantly increased with +NP. The degree of nutrient limitation was determined by the increase in chl a concentration on +NP relative to Co (response ratio), which ranged from 0.6 to 9.7. Response to nutrient addition significantly declined with increasing aqueous TP, and significantly increased with increasing SO4. Thus, nutrient limitation of algal biomass increased with AMD impact, indicating metal oxyhydroxides associated with AMD likely decreased P availability. Algal species composition was significantly affected by site but not nutrient treatment. Percent carbon content of periphyton on the Co significantly increased with AMD impact and corresponded to an increase in the relative abundance of Chlorophytes. Changes in periphyton biomass and cellular nutrient content associated with nutrient limitation in AMD streams may affect higher trophic levels.
Effects of lunar phase on sleep in men and women in Surrey
Authors: Della Monica Ciro , Atzori Giuseppe , Dijk Derk‐Jan 
Published: June 2015

SummaryRecently, evidence has emerged that the phases of the moon may modulate subjective sleep quality and polysomnographically assessed sleep structure in humans. We aimed to explore further the putative effects of circa‐lunar periodicity (~29.5 days) on subjective and objective parameters of human sleep in a retrospective analysis. The baseline sleep recordings of 205 (91 males and 114 females; mean age = 47.47 years, standard deviation =19.01; range: 20–84 years) healthy and carefully screened participants who participated in two clinical trials in the Surrey Clinical Research Centre were included in the analyses. Sleep was recorded in windowless sleep laboratories. For each study night, we calculated the distance, in days, to the date of the closest full moon phase and based on this distance, classified sleep records in three lunar classes. Univariate analysis of variance with factors lunar class, age and sex was applied to each of 21 sleep parameters. No significant main effect for the factor lunar class was observed for any of the objective sleep parameters and subjective sleep quality but some significant interactions were observed. The interaction between lunar class and sex was significant for total sleep time, Stage 4 sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Separate analyses for men and women indicated that in women total sleep time, Stage 4 sleep and REM sleep were reduced when sleep occurred close to full moon, whereas in men REM duration increased around full moon. These data provide limited evidence for an effect of lunar phase on human sleep.
Possible melting produced chondrule destruction in NWA 6604 CK4 chondrite
Authors: Kereszturi A. , Ormandi S. , Jozsa S. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractIn analyzing a thin section of the NWA 6604 CK4 meteorite, only altered chondrules and various components that are probably left behind the destruction of former chondrules can be observed. We suggest that melting, grain size decrease, resorption of the original chondrules, and crystallization of opaque minerals were the main processes that destroyed the chondrules. Four different events could be identified as having occurred during this alteration. First, opaques crystallized along former fractures producing chains of separated grains. Later, opaques and Ca‐rich minerals crystallized together in veins and large melt pockets; this was the strongest recrystallization phase involving the largest volume of melt. This occurred along different fractures than the first phase above. During the third phase, only Ca‐rich plagioclase crystallized along thin veins, and in a fourth phase, fractures formed again, partly along those formed during the second phases but without substantial mineral infill. Two simple possible case models should be considered for this meteorite: alteration by purely impact‐driven processes or mainly by melt‐driven processes. Although for CK4 chondrites, the shock‐produced alteration driven by impact is the more accepted and widespread approach, melting is also compatible with the observed textural characteristics of chondrule destruction. During melting, recrystallization took place producing iron‐rich minerals earlier and Ca‐Si‐rich ones later. The penetration of melts into veins contributed in the chondrule destruction. The stress directions also changed during these alterations, and minerals that formed later filled differently oriented fractures than the earlier ones. From our observations, we favor a view where heat‐driven melting and recrystallization produced the destruction and uniform mineralogy in the sample.
The instrumentally recorded fall of the Križevci meteorite, Croatia, February 4, 2011
Authors: Borovička J. , Spurný P. , Šegon D. , Andreić Ž. , Kac J. , Korlević K. , Atanackov J. , Kladnik G. , Mucke H. , Vida D. , Novoselnik F. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe Križevci H6 meteorite was recovered on the basis of fireball data obtained by the cameras of the Croatian Meteor Network. The fireball, which occurred on February 4, 2011, 23:20:40 UT, was also observed by meteor cameras in Slovenia and by the Autonomous Fireball Observatory in Martinsberg, Austria, which belongs to the European Fireball Network. Here, we present detailed data on fireball trajectory, velocity, deceleration, light curve, and orbit. We also modeled the atmospheric fragmentation of the meteoroid on the basis of the light curve and deceleration. The initial mass of the meteoroid was between 25–100 kg, most probably about 50 kg. Severe fragmentation occurred at heights of approximately 60 and 31 km, under dynamic pressures of 0.1 and 3 MPa, respectively. The peak absolute magnitude of −13.7 was reached during the second severe fragmentation event. The recovered 291 g meteorite was probably the only fragment with a terminal mass exceeding 100 g. The orbit had a low inclination of 0.6 degrees, perihelion distance 0.74 AU, and semimajor axis 1.54 AU. Križevci can be ranked among the 10 best documented meteorite falls.
Phylogeny and biogeography of the American live oaks (QuercussubsectionVirentes): a genomic and population genetics approach
Authors: Cavender‐Bares Jeannine , González‐Rodríguez Antonio , Eaton Deren A. R. , Hipp Andrew A. L. , Beulke Anne , Manos Paul S. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe nature and timing of evolution of niche differentiation among closely related species remains an important question in ecology and evolution. The American live oak clade,Virentes,which spans the unglaciated temperate and tropical regions of North America and Mesoamerica, provides an instructive system in which to examine speciation and niche evolution. We generated a fossil‐calibrated phylogeny ofVirentesusingRADseq data to estimate divergence times and used nuclear microsatellites, chloroplast sequences and an intron region of nitrate reductase (NIA‐i3) to examine genetic diversity within species, rates of gene flow among species and ancestral population size of disjunct sister species. Transitions in functional and morphological traits associated with ecological and climatic niche axes were examined across the phylogeny. We found theVirentesto be monophyletic with three subclades, including a southwest clade, a southeasternUSclade and a Central American/Cuban clade. Despite high leaf morphological variation within species and transpecific chloroplast haplotypes,RADseq and nuclearSSRdata showed genetic coherence of species. We estimated a crown date forVirentesof 11 Ma and implicated the formation of the Sea of Cortés in a speciation event ~5 Ma. Tree height at maturity, associated with fire tolerance, differs among the sympatric species, while freezing tolerance appears to have diverged repeatedly across the tropical–temperate divide. Sympatric species thus show evidence of ecological niche differentiation but share climatic niches, while allopatric and parapatric species conserve ecological niches, but diverge in climatic niches. The mode of speciation and/or degree of co‐occurrence may thus influence which niche axis plants diverge along.
A prezygotic transmission distorter acting equally in female and male zebra finchesTaeniopygia guttata
Authors: Knief Ulrich , Schielzeth Holger , Ellegren Hans , Kempenaers Bart , Forstmeier Wolfgang 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe two parental alleles at a specific locus are usually inherited with equal probability to the offspring. However, at least three processes can lead to an apparent departure from fair segregation: early viability selection, biased gene conversion and various kinds of segregation distortion. Here, we conduct a genome‐wide scan for transmission distortion in a captive population of zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) using 1302 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) followed by confirmatory analyses on independent samples from the same population. In the initial genome‐wide scan, we found significant distortion at three linked loci on chromosomeTgu2and we were able to replicate this finding in each of two follow‐up data sets [overall transmission ratio = 0.567 (95%CI = 0.536–0.600), based on 1101 informative meioses]. Although the driving allele was preferentially transmitted by both heterozygous females [ratio = 0.560 (95%CI = 0.519–0.603)] and heterozygous males [ratio = 0.575 (95%CI = 0.531–0.623)], we could rule out postzygotic viability selection and biased gene conversion as possible mechanisms. Early postzygotic viability selection is unlikely, because it would result in eggs with no visible embryo and hence no opportunity for genotyping, and we confirmed that both females and males heterozygous for the driving allele did not produce a larger proportion of such eggs than homozygous birds. Biased gene conversion is expected to be rather localized, while we could trace transmission distortion in haplotypes of several megabases in a recombination desert. Thus, we here report the rare case of a prezygotically active transmission distorter operating equally effectively in female and male meioses.
Evolution of egg coats: linking molecular biology and ecology
Authors: Shu Longfei , Suter Marc J.‐F. , Räsänen Katja 
Published: June 2015

AbstractOne central goal of evolutionary biology is to explain how biological diversity emerges and is maintained in nature. Given the complexity of the phenotype and the multifaceted nature of inheritance, modern evolutionary ecological studies rely heavily on the use of molecular tools. Here, we show how molecular tools help to gain insight into the role of egg coats (i.e. the extracellular structures surrounding eggs and embryos) in evolutionary diversification. Egg coats are maternally derived structures that have many biological functions from mediating fertilization to protecting the embryo from environmental hazards. They show great molecular, structural and functional diversity across species, but intraspecific variability and the role of ecology in egg coat evolution have largely been overlooked. Given that much of the variation that influences egg coat function is ultimately determined by their molecular phenotype, cutting‐edge molecular tools (e.g. proteomics, glycomics and transcriptomics), combined with functional assays, are needed for rigorous inferences on their evolutionary ecology. Here, we identify key research areas and highlight emerging molecular techniques that can increase our understanding of the role of egg coats in the evolution of biological diversity, from adaptation to speciation.
Regulation of DNA phosphorothioate modifications by the transcriptional regulator DptB in Salmonella
Authors: Cheng Qiuxiang , Cao Bo , Yao Fen , Li Jinli , Deng Zixin , You Delin 
Published: June 2015

SummaryDNA phosphorothioate (PT) modifications, with one non‐bridging phosphate oxygen replaced with sulfur, are widely but sporadically distributed in prokaryotic genomes. Short consensus sequences surround the modified linkage in each strain, although each site is only partially modified. The mechanism that maintains this low‐frequency modification status is still unknown. In Salmonella enterica serovar Cerro 87, PT modification is mediated by a four‐gene cluster called dptBCDE. Here, we found that deletion of dptB led to a significant increase in intracellular PT modification level. In this deletion, transcription of downstream genes was elevated during rapid cell growth. Restoration of dptB on a plasmid restored wild‐type levels of expression of downstream genes and PT modification. In vitro, DptB directly protected two separate sequences within the dpt promoter region from DNase I cleavage. Each protected sequence contained a direct repeat (DR). Mutagenesis assays of the DRs demonstrated that each DR was essential for DptB binding. The observation of two shifted species by gel‐shift analysis suggests dimer conformation of DptB protein. These DRs are conserved among the promoter regions of dptB homologs, suggesting that this regulatory mechanism is widespread. These findings demonstrate that PT modification is regulated at least in part at the transcriptional level.
Long‐term interspecies association patterns of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, and Atlantic spotted dolphins, Stenella frontalis, in the Bahamas
Authors: Elliser Cindy R. , Herzing Denise L. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractWith the exception of primates, detailed interspecies behavioral studies are rare in mammalian species and for cetaceans, most are anecdotal descriptions. This study is the first long‐term study on interspecies associations of regularly interacting groups. In the Bahamas Atlantic bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) and spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) regularly form mixed species encounters (MSE). Both species show strong site fidelity with high resighting rates. During MSE, the majority (>65%) of spotted dolphins (especially males) were continually resighted; however bottlenose dolphins had comparatively low resighting rates (<17%). During MSE group size was significantly larger for spotted dolphins (13.0 ± 11.0) than bottlenose dolphins (4.8 ± 3.5) (F = 93.803, df = 1, P < 0.001). This difference was largest during aggressive encounters, due to the increased spotted dolphin group size (t‐test, t = 4.75, df = 184, P < 0.0001), but no difference in bottlenose dolphin group size. Strong associations (greater than twice the community average) were primarily between male spotted dolphins. Male alliances were prevalent for spotted dolphins but rare for bottlenose dolphins. These species differences were also observed in lagged association rates. These results highlight the differences involved in alliance formation and function for regularly interacting sympatric species and reveal insights into possible ecological and social reasons for these group formations.
Use of enhancer trapping to identify pathogen‐induced regulatory events spatially restricted to plant–microbe interaction sites
Authors: Schroeder Mercedes , Tsuchiya Tokuji , He Shuilin , Eulgem Thomas 
Published: June 2015

SummaryPlant genes differentially expressed during plant–pathogen interactions can be important for host immunity or can contribute to pathogen virulence. Large‐scale transcript profiling studies, such as microarray‐ or mRNA‐seq‐based analyses, have revealed hundreds of genes that are differentially expressed during plant–pathogen interactions. However, transcriptional responses limited to a small number of cells at infection sites can be difficult to detect using these approaches, as they are under‐represented in the whole‐tissue datasets typically generated by such methods. This study examines the interactions between Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) and the pathogenic oomycete Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis (Hpa) by enhancer trapping to uncover novel plant genes involved in local infection responses. We screened a β‐glucuronidase (GUS) reporter‐based enhancer‐trap population for expression patterns related to Hpa infection. Several independent lines exhibited GUS expression in leaf mesophyll cells surrounding Hpa structures, indicating a regulatory response to pathogen infection. One of these lines contained a single enhancer‐trap insertion in an exon of At1g08800 (MyoB1, Myosin Binding Protein 1) and was subsequently found to exhibit reduced susceptibility to Hpa. Two additional Arabidopsis lines with T‐DNA insertions in exons of MyoB1 also exhibited approximately 30% fewer spores than wild‐type plants. This study demonstrates that our enhancer‐trapping strategy can result in the identification of functionally relevant pathogen‐responsive genes. Our results further suggest that MyoB1 either positively contributes to Hpa virulence or negatively affects host immunity against this pathogen.
Brain weight in sudden unexpected death in infancy: experience from a large single‐centre cohort
Authors: Bamber Andrew R. , Paine Simon M. L. , Ridout Deborah A. , Pryce Jeremy W. , Jacques Thomas S. , Sebire Neil J. 
Published: June 2015

AimsPublished reports of brain weight in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) are contradictory, although several have concluded that brain weight is increased in SIDS compared with controls or reference data. This is important as, if brain weight is significantly different, it may be of diagnostic use or provide insights into the aetiology of SIDS. The aim of this study was to use a large series of well‐characterized sudden unexpected infant deaths from a single centre to provide definitive data regarding this issue.MethodsA retrospective review identified 1100 infants who had died suddenly and undergone a comprehensive autopsy at Great Ormond Street Hospital between 1996 and 2011. They were split into two groups: those in whom death could be explained and those whose deaths remained unexplained despite full investigation (SIDS/unexplained sudden unexpected death in infancy).ResultsThere were 1100 cases of whom 573 (52%) were unexplained and 527 (48%) explained. Multiple regression analysis, which adjusted for sex, age and post‐mortem interval, showed no difference in the ratio of brain weight : body weight between those infants dying of explained causes and those in whom no cause could be found. This finding remained true when restricting analysis to those with macroscopically normal brains.ConclusionsIn this large series of infants dying of both explained and unexplained causes, brain weight, once corrected for body weight, did not vary consistently with the cause of death. Brain weight cannot be used as a diagnostic indicator of the cause of death or to inform hypothetical models of the pathogenesis of SIDS.
Motor neurone disease/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis associated with intermediate‐length CAG repeat expansions in Ataxin‐2 does not have 1C2‐positive polyglutamine inclusions
Authors: Highley John Robin , Lorente Pons Alejandro , Cooper‐Knock Johnathan , Wharton Stephen B. , Ince Paul G. , Shaw Pamela J. , Wood Jon , Kirby Janine 
Published: June 2015

BackgroundIntermediate‐length cytosine‐adenine‐guanine repeat expansions in the ATXN2 gene (which encodes for Ataxin‐2 protein) have been linked to increased risk for motor neurone disease/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We screened DNA from cases for which we had post‐mortem brain tissue to enable characterization of the neuropathology associated with this mutation.MethodsPolymerase chain reaction and sequencing of DNA from frozen brain tissue on a cohort of 178 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) autopsy cases from the north of England and 159 controls was performed. This was followed by tinctorial staining and immunohistochemistry (including for Ataxin‐2) on selected blocks from ALS cases with intermediate‐length expansions (ATXN2‐ALS), sporadic ALS cases and neurologically healthy controls.ResultsFour ALS cases with intermediate‐length CAG repeat expansions within ATXN2 were identified. One such case also had a mutation of the C9ORF72 gene. All had lower motor neurone depletion, and three out of four cases had transactive response DNA binding protein 43 (TDP‐43)‐positive neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions (predominantly skein‐like). No inclusions of aggregated polyglutamine proteins were identified. Ataxin‐2 protein expression was largely granular and cytoplasmic with the most prominent staining observed in larger neurones. Ataxin‐2 staining was variable both within and between cases, but no staining pattern that was specific for cases with ATXN2 mutations was seen.ConclusionsIntermediate expansions of the CAG repeat in ATXN2 are associated with ALS. They are mostly associated with TDP‐43 proteinopathy, but not with 1C2‐positive polyglutamine inclusions. In the nervous system, Ataxin‐2 protein expression is predominantly seen in large neurones. There is no consistent histopathological hallmark that is unique to ATXN2‐ALS.