bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Species-Specific Contribution of the Four C-Terminal Amino Acids of Influenza A Virus NS1 Protein to Virulence
Authors: Soubies Sébastien M. , Volmer Christelle , Croville Guillaume , Loupias Josianne , Peralta Brigitte , Costes Pierrette , Lacroux Caroline , Guérin Jean-Luc , Volmer Romain 
Published: April 2010

ABSTRACT

Large-scale sequence analyses of influenza viruses revealed that nonstructural 1 (NS1) proteins from avian influenza viruses have a conserved C-terminal ESEV amino acid motif, while NS1 proteins from typical human influenza viruses have a C-terminal RSKV motif. To test the influence of the C-terminal domains of NS1 on the virulence of an avian influenza virus, we generated a wild-type H7N1 virus with an ESEV motif and a mutant virus with an NS1 protein containing a C-terminal RSKV motif by reverse genetics. We compared the phenotypes of these viruses
in vitro
in human, mouse, and duck cells as well as
in vivo
in mice and ducks. In human cells, the human C-terminal RSKV domain increased virus replication. In contrast, the avian C-terminal ESEV motif of NS1 increased virulence in mice. We linked this increase in pathogenicity in mice to an increase in virus replication and to a more severe lung inflammation associated with a higher level of production of type I interferons. Interestingly, the human C-terminal RSKV motif of NS1 increased viral replication in ducks. H7N1 virus with a C-terminal RSKV motif replicated to higher levels in ducks and induced higher levels of
Mx
, a type I interferon-stimulated gene. Thus, we identify the C-terminal domain of NS1 as a species-specific virulence domain.
Human Nature: A Comparative Overview
Authors: Høgh-Olesen Henrik 
Published: April 2010

AbstractThe differences and similarities between human and non-human animals are constantly up for discussion and an overview is needed. Four central fields of behaviour related to (1) complex symbolic activities, (2) tool making and tool use, (3) culture and social transmission and (4) sociality and morality, are surveyed and comparatively analysed to identify particular human characteristics. Data from a broad range of sciences are brought together to introduce light and shade into the picture. The differences found inside field four are especially striking. Humans are “ultra-social”. Evolution seems to have favoured a more collaborative kind of sociality in our species, and features like other-regarding preferences, large scale cooperation with non-kin, and strangers as well as third-party sanctions, appear to be derived properties of humans that have evolved after Homo and Pan diverged.
Language and Experience Influence Children's Biological Induction
Authors: Anggoro Florencia , Medin Douglas , Waxman Sandra 
Published: April 2010

Abstract
Children's reasoning about biological concepts is influenced not only by their experiences in the natural world and in their classrooms, but also by the way that these concepts are named. In English, 'animal' can refer either to (a) exclusively non-human animals, or (b) all animate beings (human and non-human animals). In Indonesian, this category of animate beings has no dedicated name. Here, we ask whether this difference in naming has consequences for children's reasoning about humans and non-human animals. Results from English- and Indonesian-speaking children reveals differences in reasoning at age 6, differences that become attenuated by age 9. These results suggest that not only naming practices, but also biologically-relevant formal and informal learning experiences, influence children's reasoning about biological concepts.
Naming the Animals that Come to Mind: Effects of Culture and Experience on Category Fluency
Authors: Winkler-Rhoades Nathan , Medin Douglas , Waxman Sandra , Woodring Jennie , Ross Norbert 
Published: April 2010

Abstract
This article considers the semantic structure of the animal category from a cross-cultural developmental perspective. Children and adults from three North American communities (urban majority culture, rural majority culture and rural Native American) were prompted to generate animal names, and the resulting lists were analyzed for their underlying dimensionality and for the typicality or salience of specific animal names. The semantic structure of the animal category appeared to be consistent across cultural groups, but the relative salience of animal kinds varied as a function of culture and first-hand experience with the natural world. These results provide evidence of a shared representation of animals across disparate cultures but also indicate a role for culture in shaping animal concepts.
NAM Model Forecasts of Warm-Season Quasi-Stationary Frontal Environments in the Central United States
Authors: Wang Shih-Yu , Clark Adam J. 
Published: April 2010

Abstract
Using a composite procedure, North American Mesoscale Model (NAM) forecast and observed environments associated with zonally oriented, quasi-stationary surface fronts for 64 cases during July–August 2006–08 were examined for a large region encompassing the central United States. NAM adequately simulated the general synoptic features associated with the frontal environments (e.g., patterns in the low-level wind fields) as well as the positions of the fronts. However, kinematic fields important to frontogenesis such as horizontal deformation and convergence were overpredicted. Surface-based convective available potential energy (CAPE) and precipitable water were also overpredicted, which was likely related to the overprediction of the kinematic fields through convergence of water vapor flux. In addition, a spurious coherence between forecast deformation and precipitation was found using spatial correlation coefficients. Composite precipitation forecasts featured a broad area of rainfall stretched parallel to the composite front, whereas the composite observed precipitation covered a smaller area and had a WNW–ESE orientation relative to the front, consistent with mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) propagating at a slight right angle relative to the thermal gradient. Thus, deficiencies in the NAM precipitation forecasts may at least partially result from the inability to depict MCSs properly. It was observed that errors in the precipitation forecasts appeared to lag those of the kinematic fields, and so it seems likely that deficiencies in the precipitation forecasts are related to the overprediction of the kinematic fields such as deformation. However, no attempts were made to establish whether the overpredicted kinematic fields actually contributed to the errors in the precipitation forecasts or whether the overpredicted kinematic fields were simply an artifact of the precipitation errors. Regardless of the relationship between such errors, recognition of typical warm-season environments associated with these errors should be useful to operational forecasters.
Sex Differences in Patient-Reported Outcomes After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Ageberg Eva , Forssblad Magnus , Herbertsson Pär , Roos Ewa M. 
Published: April 2010

Background: Female gender is a risk factor for sustaining anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. However, little is known about possible sex differences in patients with ACL injury/reconstruction. Purpose: To study sex differences in patient-reported outcomes before and at 1 and 2 years after ACL reconstruction and to present reference values. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: Between 2005 and 2008, 10164 patients (mean age, 27 years; SD, 9.8; 42% females) with primary ACL reconstruction were registered in the Swedish national knee ligament register. There were 4438 (44%) of these patients (42% females) who had completed the knee-specific questionnaire, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and 5255 (52%) who had completed the generic score of health status, EQ-5D, before surgery and were included in this study. Independent t tests were used to study sex differences in KOOS and EQ-5D preoperatively, 1 and 2 years postoperatively, and over time. Results: Preoperatively, female patients reported worse scores than male patients in 4 KOOS subscales (pain, symptoms, sport/recreation, quality of life) and EQ-5D, with the largest difference seen in KOOS sport/recreation (mean difference, 4.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.0-6.3). At 1 year postoperatively, female patients reported worse scores than male patients in KOOS pain (mean difference, 1.4; 95% CI, 0.4-2.4) and KOOS sport/recreation (mean difference, 2.7; 95% CI, 0.9-4.4) and at 2 years postoperatively in KOOS sport/recreation (mean difference, 4.4; 95% CI, 2.1-6.7) and KOOS quality of life (mean difference, 2.4; 95% CI, 0.4-4.4). Female patients reported less improvement from 1 to 2 years postoperatively than male patients in KOOS sport/recreation (mean difference, 3.2; 95% CI, 0.3-6.1). In some age groups, female patients reported a clinically relevant worse KOOS sport/recreation score than male patients (mean difference ≥8). Conclusion: Female patients reported statistically significant worse outcomes than male patients before and at 1 and 2 years after ACL reconstruction. In some age groups, this difference was also clinically relevant. There were no clinically relevant sex differences in improvements over time. We suggest that possible sex differences be analyzed in future studies on evaluation after ACL injury/reconstruction.
Differential ability of Tribbles family members to promote degradation of C/EBPα and induce acute myelogenous leukemia
Authors: Dedhia Priya H. , Keeshan Karen , Uljon Sacha , Xu Lanwei , Vega Maria E. , Shestova Olga , Zaks-Zilberman Meirav , Romany Candice , Blacklow Stephen C. , Pear Warren S. 
Published: April 2010

AbstractTrib1, Trib2, and Trib3 are mammalian homologs of Tribbles, an evolutionarily conserved Drosophila protein family that mediates protein degradation. Tribbles proteins function as adapters to recruit E3 ubiquitin ligases and enhance ubiquitylation of the target protein to promote its degradation. Increased Trib1 and Trib2 mRNA expression occurs in human myeloid leukemia and induces acute myeloid leukemia in mice, whereas Trib3 has not been associated with leukemia. Given the high degree of structural conservation among Tribbles family members, we directly compared the 3 mammalian Tribbles in hematopoietic cells by reconstituting mice with hematopoietic stem cells retrovirally expressing these proteins. All mice receiving Trib1 or Trib2 transduced hematopoietic stem cells developed acute myeloid leukemia, whereas Trib3 mice did not. Our previous data indicated that Trib2-mediated degradation of the transcription factor, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-alpha (C/EBPα), is important for leukemogenesis. Similar to Trib2, Trib1 induced C/EBPα degradation and inhibited its function. In contrast, Trib3 failed to inactivate or promote efficient degradation of C/EBPα. These data reveal that the 3 Tribbles homologs differ in their ability to promote degradation of C/EBPα, which account for their differential ability to induce leukemia.
HSP27 controls GATA-1 protein level during erythroid cell differentiation
Authors: de Thonel Aurelie , Vandekerckhove Julie , Lanneau David , Selvakumar Subramaniam , Courtois Geneviève , Hazoume Adonis , Brunet Mathilde , Maurel Sebastien , Hammann Arlette , Ribeil Jean Antoine , Zermati Yael , Gabet Anne Sophie , Boyes Joan , Solary Eric , Hermine Olivier , Garrido Carmen 
Published: April 2010

AbstractHeat shock protein 27 (HSP27) is a chaperone whose cellular expression increases in response to various stresses and protects the cell either by inhibiting apoptotic cell death or by promoting the ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of specific proteins. Here, we show that globin transcription factor 1 (GATA-1) is a client protein of HSP27. In 2 models of erythroid differentiation; that is, in the human erythroleukemia cell line, K562 induced to differentiate into erythroid cells on hemin exposure and CD34+ human cells ex vivo driven to erythroid differentiation in liquid culture, depletion of HSP27 provokes an accumulation of GATA-1 and impairs terminal maturation. More specifically, we demonstrate that, in the late stages of the erythroid differentiation program, HSP27 is phosphorylated in a p38-dependent manner, enters the nucleus, binds to GATA-1, and induces its ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation, provided that the transcription factor is acetylated. We conclude that HSP27 plays a role in the fine-tuning of terminal erythroid differentiation through regulation of GATA-1 content and activity.
Interaction of retinoic acid and scl controls primitive blood development
Authors: de Jong Jill L. O. , Davidson Alan J. , Wang Yuan , Palis James , Opara Praise , Pugach Emily , Daley George Q. , Zon Leonard I. 
Published: April 2010

AbstractHematopoietic development during embryogenesis involves the interaction of extrinsic signaling pathways coupled to an intrinsic cell fate that is regulated by cell-specific transcription factors. Retinoic acid (RA) has been linked to stem cell self-renewal in adults and also participates in yolk sac blood island formation. Here, we demonstrate that RA decreases gata1 expression and blocks primitive hematopoiesis in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos, while increasing expression of the vascular marker, fli1. Treatment with an inhibitor of RA biosynthesis or a retinoic acid receptor antagonist increases gata1+ erythroid progenitors in the posterior mesoderm of wild-type embryos and anemic cdx4−/− mutants, indicating a link between the cdx-hox signaling pathway and RA. Overexpression of scl, a DNA binding protein necessary for hematopoietic development, rescues the block of hematopoiesis induced by RA. We show that these effects of RA and RA pathway inhibitors are conserved during primitive hematopoiesis in murine yolk sac explant cultures and embryonic stem cell assays. Taken together, these data indicate that RA inhibits the commitment of mesodermal cells to hematopoietic fates, functioning downstream of cdx4 and upstream of scl. Our studies establish a new connection between RA and scl during development that may participate in stem cell self-renewal and hematopoietic differentiation.
Distinct patterns of circulating endothelial cells in pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Smadja D.M. , Mauge L. , Sanchez O. , Silvestre J-S. , Guerin C. , Godier A. , Henno P. , Gaussem P. , Israël-Biet D. 
Published: April 2010

The respective abundance of circulating endothelial cells and endothelial progenitor cells may reflect the balance between vascular injury and repair. As pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) can share features of pulmonary remodelling, we postulated that the two disorders might be associated with different types of pulmonary endothelial dysfunction.We studied 25 consecutive patients undergoing cardiac catheterisation for suspected pulmonary hypertension. Nine patients had PAH, nine had CTEPH, and seven had normal pulmonary arterial pressure and served as controls. Circulating endothelial cells were isolated with CD146-coated beads. CD34+CD133+cell and endothelial progenitor cell numbers were respectively determined by flow cytometry and cell culture, in peripheral vein and pulmonary artery blood. Plasma levels of soluble vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), soluble E-selectin and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule (sVCAM) were measured by ELISA.No difference in progenitor counts or VEGF levels was found across the three groups. Compared to controls, circulating endothelial cell numbers were significantly increased in PAH but not in CTEPH, in keeping with the elevated soluble E-selectin and sVCAM levels found in PAH alone.In conclusion, PAH, in contrast to CTEPH, is associated with markers of vascular injury (circulating endothelial cells, soluble E-selectin and sVCAM) but not with markers of remodelling (endothelial progenitor cells, CD34+CD133+cells and VEGF).
Allergic airway inflammation induces a pro-secretory epithelial ion transport phenotype in mice
Authors: Anagnostopoulou P. , Dai L. , Schatterny J. , Hirtz S. , Duerr J. , Mall M.A. 
Published: April 2010

The airway epithelium is a central effector tissue in allergic inflammation and T-helper cell (Th) type 2-driven epithelial responses, such as mucus hypersecretion contribute to airflow obstruction in allergic airway disease. Previousin vitrostudies demonstrated that Th2 cytokines also act as potent modulators of epithelial ion transport and fluid secretion, but thein vivoeffect of allergic inflammation on airway ion transport remains unknown.We, therefore, induced allergic inflammation by intratracheal instillation ofAspergillus fumigatusextract or interleukin-13 in mice and determined effects on ion transport in native tracheal and bronchial tissues.We demonstrate that allergic inflammation enhanced basal Cl-secretion in both airway regions and inhibited epithelial Na+channel (ENaC)-mediated Na+absorption and increased Ca2+-dependent Cl-secretion in bronchi. Allergen-induced alterations in bronchial ion transport were associated with reduced transcript levels of α-, β- and γENaC, and were largely abrogated in signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat)6-/-mice.Our studies demonstrate that Th2-dependent airway inflammation produced a pro-secretory ion transport phenotypein vivo, which was largely Stat6-dependent. These results suggest that Th2-mediated fluid secretion may improve airway surface hydration and clearance of mucus that is hypersecreted in allergic airway diseases such as asthma, and identify epithelial Stat6 signalling as a potential therapeutic target to promote mucus hydration and airway clearance.
Comparative genomics of metabolic networks of free-living and parasitic eukaryotes
Authors: Nerima Barbara , Nilsson Daniel , Mäser Pascal 
Published: April 2010

Abstract

Background
Obligate endoparasites often lack particular metabolic pathways as compared to free-living organisms. This phenomenon comprises anabolic as well as catabolic reactions. Presumably, the corresponding enzymes were lost in adaptation to parasitism. Here we compare the predicted core metabolic graphs of obligate endoparasites and non-parasites (free living organisms and facultative parasites) in order to analyze how the parasites' metabolic networks shrunk in the course of evolution.

Results
Core metabolic graphs comprising biochemical reactions present in the presumed ancestor of parasites and non-parasites were reconstructed from the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes. While the parasites' networks had fewer nodes (metabolites) and edges (reactions), other parameters such as average connectivity, network diameter and number of isolated edges were similar in parasites and non-parasites. The parasites' networks contained a higher percentage of ATP-consuming reactions and a lower percentage of NAD-requiring reactions. Control networks, shrunk to the size of the parasites' by random deletion of edges, were scale-free but exhibited smaller diameters and more isolated edges.

Conclusions
The parasites' networks were smaller than those of the non-parasites regarding number of nodes or edges, but not regarding network diameters. Network integrity but not scale-freeness has acted as a selective principle during the evolutionary reduction of parasite metabolism. ATP-requiring reactions in particular have been retained in the parasites' core metabolism while NADH- or NADPH-requiring reactions were lost preferentially.
Socio-environmental and endocrine influences on developmental and caste-regulatory gene expression in the eusocial termite Reticulitermes flavipes
Authors: Tarver Matthew R , Zhou Xuguo , Scharf Michael E 
Published: April 2010

AbstractBackgroundStrict regulation of caste differentiation, at the molecular level, is thought to be important to maintain social structure in insect societies. Previously, a number of extrinsic and intrinsic factors have been shown to influence caste composition in termite colonies. One important factor is the influence of nestmates; in particular, soldier termites are known to inhibit hormone-dependent worker-to-soldier differentiation. However, soldier influences on nestmates at the molecular level are virtually unknown. Here, to test the hypothesis that soldiers can influence nestmate gene expression, we investigated the impact of four treatments on whole-body gene expression in totipotentReticulitermes flavipesworkers: (i) juvenile hormone III (JHIII; a morphogenetic hormone), (ii) soldier head extracts (SHE), (iii) JHIII+SHE, and (iv) live soldiers.ResultsUsing quantitative-real-time PCR we determined the expression patterns of 49 previously identified candidate genes in response to the four treatments at assay days 1, 5, and 10. Thirty-eight total genes from three categories (chemical production/degradation, hemolymph protein, and developmental) showed significant differential expression among treatments. Most importantly, SHE and live soldier treatments had a significant impact on a number of genes from families known to play roles in insect development, supporting previous findings and hypotheses that soldiers regulate nestmate caste differentiation via terpene primer pheromones contained in their heads.ConclusionsThis research provides new insights into the impacts that socio-environmental factors (JH, soldiers, primer pheromones) can have on termite gene expression and caste differentiation, and reveals a number of socially-relevant genes for investigation in subsequent caste differentiation research.
In vitro and in vivo anticancer properties of a Calcarea carbonica derivative complex (M8) treatment in a murine melanoma model
Authors: Guimarães Fernando SF , Andrade Lucas F , Martins Sharon T , Abud Ana PR , Sene Reginaldo V , Wanderer Carla , Tiscornia Inés , Bollati-Fogolín Mariela , Buchi Dorly F , Trindade Edvaldo S 
Published: April 2010

Abstract

Background
Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer and the most rapidly expanding cancer in terms of worldwide incidence. Chemotherapeutic approaches to treat melanoma have had only marginal success. Previous studies in mice demonstrated that a high diluted complex derived from Calcarea carbonica (M8) stimulated the tumoricidal response of activated lymphocytes against B16F10 melanoma cells in vitro.

Methods
Here we describe the in vitro inhibition of invasion and the in vivo anti-metastatic potential after M8 treatment by inhalation in the B16F10 lung metastasis model.

Results
We found that M8 has at least two functions, acting as both an inhibitor of cancer cell adhesion and invasion and as a perlecan expression antagonist, which are strongly correlated with several metastatic, angiogenic and invasive factors in melanoma tumors.

Conclusion
The findings suggest that this medication is a promising non-toxic therapy candidate by improving the immune response against tumor cells or even induce direct dormancy in malignancies.