bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
α-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone prevents glutamate excitotoxicity in developing chicken retina via MC4R-mediated down-regulation of microRNA-194
Authors: Zhang Yan , Bo Qiyu , Wu Weihui , Xu Chang , Yu Guangwei , Ma Shan , Yang Qianhui , Cao Yunshan , Han Qian , Ru Yusha , Liu Xun , Hua Wei Rui , Wang Fei E. , Zhang Xiaomin , Li Xiaorong 
Published: October 2015

AbstractGlutamate excitotoxicity is a common pathology to blinding ischemic retinopathies, such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and central retinal vein or artery occlusion. The development of an effective interventional modality to glutamate excitotoxicity is hence important to preventing blindness. Herein we showed that α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) time-dependently protected against glutamate-induced cell death and tissue damage in an improved embryonic chicken retinal explant culture system. α-MSH down-regulated microRNA-194 (miR-194) expression during the glutamate excitotoxicity in the retinal explants. Furthermore, pharmacological antagonists to melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) and lentivirus-mediated overexpression of pre-miR-194 abrogated the suppressing effects of α-MSH on glutamate-induced activities of caspase 3 or 7, the ultimate enzymes for glutamate-induced cell death. These results suggest that the protective effects of α-MSH may be due to the MC4R mediated-down-regulation of miR-194 during the glutamate-induced excitotoxicity. Finally, α-MSH attenuated cell death and recovered visual functions in glutamate-stimulated post-hatch chick retinas. These results demonstrate the previously undescribed protective effects of α-MSH against glutamate-induced excitotoxic cell death in the cone-dominated retina both in vitro and in vivo and indicate a novel molecular mechanism linking MC4R-mediated signaling to miR-194.
Comparative metabolomic analysis highlights the involvement of sugars and glycerol in melatonin-mediated innate immunity against bacterial pathogen in Arabidopsis
Authors: Qian Yongqiang , Tan Dun-Xian , Reiter Russel J. , Shi Haitao 
Published: October 2015

AbstractMelatonin is an important secondary messenger in plant innate immunity against the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringe pv. tomato (Pst) DC3000 in the salicylic acid (SA)- and nitric oxide (NO)-dependent pathway. However, the metabolic homeostasis in melatonin-mediated innate immunity is unknown. In this study, comparative metabolomic analysis found that the endogenous levels of both soluble sugars (fructose, glucose, melibose, sucrose, maltose, galatose, tagatofuranose and turanose) and glycerol were commonly increased after both melatonin treatment and Pst DC3000 infection in Arabidopsis. Further studies showed that exogenous pre-treatment with fructose, glucose, sucrose, or glycerol increased innate immunity against Pst DC3000 infection in wild type (Col-0) Arabidopsis plants, but largely alleviated their effects on the innate immunity in SA-deficient NahG plants and NO-deficient mutants. This indicated that SA and NO are also essential for sugars and glycerol-mediated disease resistance. Moreover, exogenous fructose, glucose, sucrose and glycerol pre-treatments remarkably increased endogenous NO level, but had no significant effect on the endogenous melatonin level. Taken together, this study highlights the involvement of sugars and glycerol in melatonin-mediated innate immunity against bacterial pathogen in SA and NO-dependent pathway in Arabidopsis.
Association of ARNTL and PER1 genes with Parkinson's disease: a case-control study of Han Chinese
Authors: Gu Zhuqin , Wang BinBin , Zhang Yong-Biao , Ding Hui , Zhang Yanli , Yu Jun , Gu Mingliang , Chan Piu , Cai Yanning 
Published: October 2015

AbstractCircadian disruptions may result in sleep problems, oxidative stress and an altered inflammatory response. These symptoms may contribute to PD pathogenesis, despite a lack of direct experimental evidence supporting this relationship. Clock genes are essential to drive and maintain circadian rhythm. To elucidate the possible role of circadian disruptions in PD, we investigated 132 tag variants in eight clock genes. We genotyped these tags within 1,394 Chinese cases and 1,342 controls using Illumina GoldenGate chips. We discovered that SNPs inARNTL(rs900147,P = 3.33 × 10−5, OR = 0.80) andPER1(rs2253820,P = 5.30 × 10−6, OR = 1.31) genes are significantly associated with PD risk. Moreover, the positive association of theARNTLrs900147 variant was more robust in tremor dominant (TD) (P = 3.44 × 10−4) than postural instability and gait difficulty (PIGD) cases (P = 6.06 × 10−2). The association of thePER1rs2253820 variant was more robust in PIGD (P = 5.42 × 10−5) than TD cases (P = 4.2 × 10−2). Haplotype analysis also showed thatARNTLandPER1were associated with PD. Imputation analysis identified more SNPs withinARNTLandPER1associated with PD, some of which may affect gene expression through altering the transcription factor binding site. In summary, our findings suggest that genetic polymorphisms inARNTLandPER1genes, as well as circadian disruptions, may contribute to PD pathogenesis.
Dose-dependent protective effect of nicotine in a murine model of viral myocarditis induced by coxsackievirus B3
Authors: Li-Sha Ge , Jing-Lin Zhao , Guang-Yi Chen , Li Liu , De-Pu Zhou , Yue-Chun Li 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThe alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (alpha7 nAChR) was recently described as an anti-inflammatory target in various inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the dose-related effects of nicotine, an alpha7 nAChR agonist, in murine model of viral myocarditis. BALB/C mice were infected by an intraperitoneally injection with coxsackievirus B3. Nicotine was administered at doses of 0.1, 0.2 or 0.4 mg/kg three times per day for 7 or 14 consecutive days. The effects of nicotine on survival, myocardial histopathological changes, cardiac function and cytokine levels were studied. The survival rate on day 14 increased in a dose-dependent fashion and was markedly higher in the 0.2 and 0.4 mg/kg nicotine groups than in the infected untreated group. Treatment with high-dose nicotine reduced the myocardial inflammation and improved the impaired left ventricular function in infected mice. The mRNA expressions and protein levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-17A were significantly downregulated in dose-dependent manners in the nicotine treatment groups compared to the infected untreated group. Nicotine dose-dependently reduced the severity of viral myocarditis through inhibiting the production of proinflammatory cytokines. The findings suggest that alpha7 nAChR agonists may be a promising new strategy for patients with viral myocarditis.
Strictly Intraventricular Craniopharyngioma: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Cunha Marcelo , Pletz Ana 
Published: October 2015

AbstractStrictly intraventricular craniopharyngiomas are a rare topographical variety of craniopharyngiomas. The correct diagnosis is important in order to define the surgical planning, as the surgical access is different for suprasellar tumors with secondary invasion of the third ventricle. An image diagnosis may be difficult, though suggestive patterns exist. The aim of the present case report and literature review is to add to the scarce literature on strictly intraventricular craniopharyngiomas, as well as to remind the neurosurgeon of this rare diagnosis so that the proper treatment is provided.
Perinatal deiodinase 2 expression in hepatocytes defines epigenetic susceptibility to liver steatosis and obesity
Authors: Fonseca Tatiana L. , Fernandes Gustavo W. , McAninch Elizabeth A. , Bocco Barbara M. L. C. , Abdalla Sherine M. , Ribeiro Miriam O. , Mohácsik Petra , Fekete Csaba , Li Daofeng , Xing Xiaoyun , Wang Ting , Gereben Balázs , Bianco Antonio C. 
Published: October 2015

SignificanceThyroid hormone is secreted mostly as a prohormone that must be activated to gain biological activity. The activation reaction is the removal of one iodine atom, i.e., deiodination of thyroxine to active thyroid hormone triiodothyronine (T3), which is catalyzed by a group of enzymes known as deiodinases. These enzymes control the amounts of intracellular and circulating T3. Here we report that in mice, there is a brief neonatal surge in hepatocyte type 2 deiodinase (D2) that transiently stimulates liver expression of lipid-related genes. The surge in D2 also affects the pattern of DNA methylation and responsiveness of lipid-related genes, modifying metabolic susceptibility to liver steatosis, hypertriglyceridemia, and obesity.
Phase transition-induced band edge engineering of BiVO4to split pure water under visible light
Authors: Jo Won Jun , Kang Hyun Joon , Kong Ki-Jeong , Lee Yun Seog , Park Hunmin , Lee Younghye , Buonassisi Tonio , Gleason Karen K. , Lee Jae Sung 
Published: October 2015

SignificanceHydrogen has been recognized as one of the most promising energy carriers for the future, because it can generate enormous energy by clean combustion chemistry without any greenhouse gas emissions. Water splitting under visible light irradiation is an ideal route to cost-effective, large-scale, and sustainable hydrogen production, but it is challenging, because it requires a rare photocatalyst that carries a combination of suitable band gap energy, appropriate band positions, and photochemical stability. To create this rare photocatalyst, we engineered the band edges of BiVO4by simultaneously substituting In3+for Bi3+and Mo6+for V5+in the host lattice of monoclinic BiVO4, which induced partial phase transformation from pure monoclinic BiVO4to a mixture of monoclinic BiVO4and tetragonal BiVO4.
Hypophagia and metabolic adaptations in mice with defective ATGL-mediated lipolysis cause resistance to HFD-induced obesity
Authors: Schreiber Renate , Hofer Peter , Taschler Ulrike , Voshol Peter J. , Rechberger Gerald N. , Kotzbeck Petra , Jaeger Doris , Preiss-Landl Karina , Lord Caleb C. , Brown J. Mark , Haemmerle Guenter , Zimmermann Robert , Vidal-Puig Antonio , Zechner Rudolf 
Published: October 2015

Significance
The mass of white adipose tissue (WAT) in an organism is tightly controlled by the balance of triglyceride (TG) synthesis and catabolism. Here, we show that these opposing pathways communicate. TG catabolism by adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ), a crucial transcription factor for TG synthesis and storage in WAT. Consequently, ATGL deficiency in WAT not only impairs TG breakdown, but also PPAR-γ–driven TG formation. This decrease in TG synthesis leads to a paradoxical resistance to high fat diet-induced obesity in mice lacking ATGL. Interdependence of lipid catabolism and synthesis provides a rational explanation for the lack of obesity in ATGL-deficient mice and humans and identifies ATGL inhibition as potential treatment target to prevent diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance.
Fundamental insights into ontogenetic growth from theory and fish
Authors: Sibly Richard M. , Baker Joanna , Grady John M. , Luna Susan M. , Kodric-Brown Astrid , Venditti Chris , Brown James H. 
Published: October 2015

Significance
Understanding growth of fish is important, both for regulating harvests of wild populations for sustained yields, and for using artificial selection and genetic engineering to increase productivity of domesticated fish stocks. We developed theory to account for how growth rate varies with body size, within individuals as they grow to maturity and across species as they evolve. Data on fish growth in FishBase supported our theoretical predictions. We found that growth rates scaled differently in populations of the same species than they scaled across species. We suggest that similar developmental programs of close relatives constrain growth, but as species diverge over evolutionary time they evolve the near-optimal −1/4 power scaling predicted by metabolic scaling theory.
The essential gene set of a photosynthetic organism
Authors: Rubin Benjamin E. , Wetmore Kelly M. , Price Morgan N. , Diamond Spencer , Shultzaberger Ryan K. , Lowe Laura C. , Curtin Genevieve , Arkin Adam P. , Deutschbauer Adam , Golden Susan S. 
Published: October 2015

Significance
Cyanobacteria are model organisms for photosynthesis in the laboratory, are key producers of the chemical energy that drives life, and are being developed as biofuel and chemical producers for industry. Despite the importance of these organisms for environmental and biotechnological applications, only a small percentage of cyanobacterial genes and intergenic regions have been experimentally evaluated for their impact on the organisms’ survival. Here, we present experimental analysis of the complete set of genomic regions necessary for survival in a cyanobacterium achieved by screening for the fitness of hundreds of thousands of mutants. In addition to improving our fundamental understanding of Cyanobacteria, this research more broadly provides a snapshot of the essential genes and intergenic regions necessary to live the photosynthetic lifestyle.
Biochemical characteristics and antioxidant activity of crude and purified sulfated polysaccharides from Gracilaria fisheri
Authors: Imjongjairak Siriluck , Ratanakhanokchai Khanok , Laohakunjit Natta , Tachaapaikoon Chakrit , Pason Patthra , Waeonukul Rattiya 
Published: October 2015

Abstract
Sulfated polysaccharides (SPs) from Gracilaria fisheri of Thailand, which were extracted in low-temperature (25 °C) water showed the highest content of phenolic compounds compared with those extracted at high temperature (55 °C). Crude SP antioxidant activity was evaluated by measuring the DPPH free radical scavenging effect which is directly related to the level of phenolic compounds. The sulfate content, total sugar, and SPs yield were also directly related to the extraction temperature. All extracts contained galactose as a major monosaccharide. High antioxidant activity of crude SP, positively correlated with the phenolic compound contents (R2 = 0.996) contributed by the existence of sulfate groups and phenolic compounds. In purified SP, F1 fraction exhibited strong radical scavenging ability, but it was not significantly different compared to crude SP extracted at 25 °C. This indicated that the appropriate density and distribution of sulfate groups in the SP extract showed the best antioxidant activity.
Poor precompetitive sleep habits, nutrients’ deficiencies, inappropriate body composition and athletic performance in elite gymnasts
Authors: Silva M.‐R. G. , Paiva T. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThis study aimed to evaluate body composition, sleep, precompetitive anxiety and dietary intake on the elite female gymnasts’ performance prior to an international competition. Sixty‐seven rhythmic gymnasts of high performance level were evaluated in relation to sport and training practice, body composition, sleep duration, daytime sleepiness by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), sleep quality by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), precompetitive anxiety by the Sport Competition Anxiety Test form A (SCAT‐A) and detailed dietary intake just before an international competition. Most gymnasts (67.2%) suffered from mild daytime sleepiness, 77.6% presented poor sleep quality and 19.4% presented high levels of precompetitive anxiety. The majority of gymnasts reported low energy availability (EA) and low intakes of important vitamins including folate, vitamins D, E and K; and minerals, including calcium, iron, boron and magnesium (p < .05). Gymnasts’ performance was positively correlated with age (p = .001), sport practice (p = .024), number of daily training hours (p = .000), number of hours of training/week (p = .000), waist circumference (WC) (p = .008) and sleep duration (p = .005). However, it was negatively correlated with WC/hip circumference (p = .000), ESS (p = .000), PSQI (p = .042), SCAT‐A (p = .002), protein g/kg (p = .028), EA (p = .002) and exercise energy expenditure (p = .000). High performance gymnasts presented poor sleep habits with consequences upon daytime sleepiness, sleep quality and low energy availability.
Omokage search: shape similarity search service for biomolecular structures in both the PDB and EMDB
Authors: Suzuki Hirofumi , Kawabata Takeshi , Nakamura Haruki 
Published: October 2015

Abstract
Summary: Omokage search is a service to search the global shape similarity of biological macromolecules and their assemblies, in both the Protein Data Bank (PDB) and Electron Microscopy Data Bank (EMDB). The server compares global shapes of assemblies independent of sequence order and number of subunits. As a search query, the user inputs a structure ID (PDB ID or EMDB ID) or uploads an atomic model or 3D density map to the server. The search is performed usually within 1 min, using one-dimensional profiles (incremental distance rank profiles) to characterize the shapes. Using the gmfit (Gaussian mixture model fitting) program, the found structures are fitted onto the query structure and their superimposed structures are displayed on the Web browser. Our service provides new structural perspectives to life science researchers.
Availability and implementation: Omokage search is freely accessible at http://pdbj.org/omokage/.
Contact: hirofumi@protein.osaka-u.ac.jp
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
caRpools: an R package for exploratory data analysis and documentation of pooled CRISPR/Cas9 screens
Authors: Winter Jan , Breinig Marco , Heigwer Florian , Brügemann Dirk , Leible Svenja , Pelz Oliver , Zhan Tianzuo , Boutros Michael 
Published: October 2015

Abstract
Motivation: Genetic screens by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome engineering have become a powerful tool for functional genomics. However, there is currently a lack of end-to-end software pipelines to analyze CRISPR/Cas9 screens based on next generation sequencing.
Results: The CRISPR-AnalyzeR for pooled screens (caRpools) is an R package for exploratory data analysis that provides a complete workflow to analyze CRISPR/Cas9 screens. To further support the analysis of large-scale screens, caRpools integrates screening documentation and generation of standardized analysis reports.
Availability and implementation: caRpools, manuals and an open virtual appliance are available at http://github.com/boutroslab/caRpools.
Contact: m.boutros@dkfz.de
PPIXpress: construction of condition-specific protein interaction networks based on transcript expression
Authors: Will Thorsten , Helms Volkhard 
Published: October 2015

AbstractSummary: Protein–protein interaction networks are an important component of modern systems biology. Yet, comparatively few efforts have been made to tailor their topology to the actual cellular condition being studied. Here, we present a network construction method that exploits expression data at the transcript-level and thus reveals alterations in protein connectivity not only caused by differential gene expression but also by alternative splicing. We achieved this by establishing a direct correspondence between individual protein interactions and underlying domain interactions in a complete but condition-unspecific protein interaction network. This knowledge was then used to infer the condition-specific presence of interactions from the dominant protein isoforms. When we compared contextualized interaction networks of matched normal and tumor samples in breast cancer, our transcript-based construction identified more significant alterations that affected proteins associated with cancerogenesis than a method that only uses gene expression data. The approach is provided as the user-friendly tool PPIXpress.Availability and implementation: PPIXpress is available at https://sourceforge.net/projects/ppixpress/.Contact: volkhard.helms@bioinformatik.uni-saarland.deSupplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Do radio mini-halos and gas heating in cool-core clusters have a common origin?
Authors: Bravi L. , Gitti M. , Brunetti G. 
Published: October 2015

Abstract
In this Letter, we present a study of the central regions of cool-core clusters hosting radio mini-halos, which are diffuse synchrotron sources extended on cluster-scales surrounding the radio-loud brightest cluster galaxy. We aim to investigate the interplay between the thermal and non-thermal components in the intracluster medium in order to get more insights into these radio sources, whose nature is still unclear. It has recently been proposed that turbulence plays a role for heating the gas in cool cores. By assuming that mini-halos are powered by the same turbulence, we expect that the integrated radio luminosity of mini-halos, νPν, depends on the cooling flow power, PCF, which in turn constrains the energy available for the non-thermal components and emission in the cool-core region. We carried out a homogeneous re-analysis of X-ray Chandra data of the largest sample of cool-core clusters hosting radio mini-halos currently available (∼20 objects), finding a quasi-linear correlation, $\nu P_{\nu } \propto P_{\rm CF}^{0.8}$. We show that the scenario of a common origin of radio mini-halos and gas heating in cool-core clusters is energetically viable, provided that mini-halos trace regions where the magnetic field strength is B ≫ 0.5 μG.
Zhu Chen: health care reform in China
Authors: Poo Mu-ming , Wang Ling 
Published: October 2015

Abstract
As China's economy continues to prosper, adequate health care for all people has become an uppermost issue for the government. In 2007, as China began its reform of the health care system on a scale unprecedented in recent history, Zhu Chen was appointed to head the Ministry of Health and took charge of this formidable task. Since leaving his Ministry post in 2013, Chen remains actively involved in the formulation of China's health care-related policies in his capacity as a Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, the Chairman of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party, and most recently the President of the Red Cross Society of China. In addition to his achievements in administrative services, Chen also had a distinguished research career and is internationally recognized for his contribution in developing the most effective therapy for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). In a recent interview with NSR, Chen summarized and reflected upon his experience as the Health Minister, and expressed his view on the current status and future prospect of health care reform in China, and a variety of related issues in translational medicine, medical personnel training, precision medicine, and big data for health care in China.