bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Designing Chimeric Peptides: A Powerful Tool for Enhancing Antibacterial Activity
Authors: Pineda‐Castañeda Héctor Manuel , Huertas‐Ortiz Kevin Andrey , Leal‐Castro Aura Lucía , Vargas‐Casanova Yerly , Parra‐Giraldo Claudia Marcela , García‐Castañeda Javier Eduardo , Rivera‐Monroy Zuly Jenny 
Published: December 2020

AbstractChimeric peptides containing short sequences derived from bovine Lactoferricin (LfcinB) and Buforin II (BFII) were synthetized using solid‐phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) and characterized via reversed‐phase liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. The chimeras were obtained with high purity, demonstrating their synthetic viability. The chimeras’ antibacterial activity against Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative strains was evaluated. Our results showed that all the chimeras exhibited greater antibacterial activity against the evaluated strains than the individual sequences, suggesting that chemical binding of short sequences derived from AMPs significantly increased the antibacterial activity. For each strain, the chimera with the best antibacterial activity exerted a bacteriostatic and/or bactericidal effect, which was dependent on the concentration. It was found that: (i) the antibacterial activity of a chimera is mainly influenced by the linked sequences, the palindromic motif RLLRRLLR being the most relevant one; (ii) the inclusion of a spacer between the short sequences did not significantly affect the chimera's synthesis process; however, it enhanced its antibacterial activity against Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive strains; on the other hand, (iii) the replacement of Arg with Lys in the LfcinB or BFII sequences improved the chimeras’ synthesis process without significantly affecting their antibacterial activity. These results illustrate the great importance of the synthesis of chimeric peptides for the generation of promising antibacterial peptides.
Influence of cultivation method, seeding rate, and fertilizer rate on the establishment of creeping bentgrass for putting green renovation
Authors: Carroll Devon E. , Kaminski John E. , Landschoot Peter J. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractDuring putting green renovation in northern regions of the United States, golf course superintendents must select a method to quickly establish creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.)(CBG). This study aimed to assess the impact of cultivation method, seeding rate, and cumulative starter fertilizer rate on CBG establishment during putting green renovation. A field study on putting greens at the Joseph Valentine Turfgrass Research Center (University Park, PA) was initiated in late summer–autumn of 2017 and 2018. Cultivation treatments included slicing + 0.5‐inch hollow tines, slicing + 0.25‐inch hollow tines, slicing only, surface dimpling with the Jobsaver attachment, and no cultivation. Seeding rates included 0.75 and 1.5 lb seed 1,000 ft−2 with a 50–50 blend of ‘Penn A‐1’ and ‘Penn A‐4’ CBG. Cumulative starter fertilizer treatments were 0.5–0.4–0.3, 1.0–0.9–0.6, or 1.5–1.3–0.8 lb N–P–K 1,000 ft−2. Seedling vigor and turfgrass cover were visually assessed at 1 wk and 6, 10, and 36 wk after seeding, respectively. Slicing alone produced turfgrass cover equal to or greater than slicing + hollow‐tine cultivation. At the high seeding rate, surface dimpling produced similar turfgrass cover to treatments involving slicing. The 1.5 lb 1,000 ft−2 seeding rate increased the turfgrass cover of CBG compared with 0.75 lb 1,000 ft−2. Establishment rate improved as cumulative fertilizer rates increased. The results indicate that slicing alone is effective for establishing CBG during late summer and autumn in sand rootzone putting green renovation programs and may be more cost‐effective than core cultivation.
The effects of nitrogen and accumulation interval on stockpiled cool‐season forage in the Coastal Plain
Authors: Rushing J. Brett , Lemus Rocky W. , Lyles Johnson C. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractPerennial cool‐season forage grasses comprise a majority of pastures and hayfields for livestock production east of the Mississippi River. In areas outside of the traditional tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) zone of adaptation, there exists an opportunity to evaluate other sources of germplasm that can help extend the grazing season. The objective of this research was to quantify the response of tall fescue (‘Kentucky‐31’ [KY31] and ‘Texoma MaxQ II’ [MAXQ]) and southeastern wildrye (SEWR) [Elymus glabriflorus (Vasey ex L.H. Dewey) Scribn. & C.R. Ball] to synthetic N application and stockpiling accumulation intervals during 2017–2018 (Year 1) and 2018–2019 (Year 2) growing seasons in eastern–central Mississippi. Year was significant for all main effects. Forage mass (FM) analysis displayed a species × interval interaction in which both tall fescue cultivars had greater mean FM than SEWR across all N rates and accumulation intervals. Leaf area index (LAI) was also greater for fescue cultivars than SEWR. Normalized differential vegetation index (NDVI) was affected by species and accumulation interval, with all cultivars and species experiencing decline as the season progressed. Nutritive value analysis observed differences between accumulation interval and species. Southeastern wildrye had greater crude protein (CP) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) and lower fiber fractions in Year 1 than tall fescue cultivars. Nutritive analysis suggests SEWR has potential as a perennial, cool‐season forage crop outside the tall fescue zone of adaptation.
Evaluation of upper labial frenectomy: A randomized, controlled comparative study of conventional scalpel technique and Er:YAG laser technique
Authors: Sarmadi Roxana , Gabre Pia , Thor Andreas 
Published: December 2020

AbstractObjectivesAbnormalities in the maxillary frenum may lead to esthetic or functional limitations and need to be corrected with a surgical intervention called frenectomy. The aim of the study was to compare frenectomies performed using Er:YAG laser technology with those using a conventional scalpel technique. Comparisons were of patients' experiences, treatment times, bleeding during treatment and wound healing.Material and methodsThe trial was performed as a prospective, randomized and controlled, single‐blind investigation. A total of 40 patients requiring frenectomy were randomly assigned to groups which underwent either conventional or Er:YAG laser treatment. Patients' experiences, treatment time, bleeding and wound healing were evaluated immediately after surgery and 5 days, 12 days and 3 months after surgery.ResultsSignificant increase in time spent in surgery and bleeding was seen with conventional scalpel surgery. Directly after surgery the wound area was significantly larger in the laser group but at the 5‐day evaluation no difference could be observed between the groups. Finally, patients were satisfied with both methods, giving them the same assessments.ConclusionIn the frenectomy procedure, laser surgery is faster and causes less bleeding and may be advantageous in frenectomies.
Activity‐based anorexia disrupts systemic oxidative state and induces cortical mitochondrial fission in adolescent female rats
Authors: Hurley Matthew M. , Murlanova Kateryna , Macias Lindsey K. , Sabir Aliasgher I. , O'Brien Shannon C. , Bhasin Harshit , Tamashiro Kellie L. , Pletnikov Mikhail V. , Moran Timothy H. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractObjectivePatients with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) display increased levels of oxidative stress that correlates with disease severity. Unfortunately, the biological ramifications of AN‐induced oxidative stress on the brain are largely unknown. Our lab uses the preclinical activity–based anorexia (ABA) paradigm to model symptoms of AN. The goal of the present study was to determine how ABA experience affects oxidative state and its consequences in adolescent female rats.MethodWe compared systemic glutathione and cysteine plasma concentrations and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) mitochondrial fission in ABA animals at maximum weight loss or following 10‐days of weight recovery to levels in age‐matched sedentary (SED) control rats.ResultsABA animals at maximum weight loss had significantly lower plasma levels of cysteine and glutathione compared to SED controls. Additionally, ABA animals at max weight loss have significantly more mPFC mitochondrial fission. There were no significant differences in plasma analyte levels or mitochondrial fission between weight recovered ABA animals and SED controls.DiscussionThese data suggest that ABA experience results in oxidative stress that is remedied after weight restoration. The long‐lasting ramifications of transient periods of increased oxidative stress are unknown and can lead to significant consequences on brain function and behavior.
Shake table test of a two‐story steel building seismically retrofitted using gravity‐controlled rocking braced frame system
Authors: Mottier Paul , Tremblay Robert , Rogers Colin 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThis article describes a shake table test program that was conducted to investigate the seismic behavior of a half‐scale two‐story gravity‐controlled rocking braced steel frame building. In this system, braced frame columns are designed to uplift from the foundation under severe earthquakes to reduce the seismic force demands on the frame members. Self‐centering capacity is solely provided by the gravity loads carried by the rocking frame. Energy dissipative devices are added at the base of the braced frame columns to control drifts. The system can be used for new structures as well as the retrofit of seismically deficient structures. In the test program, the specimen represented a gravity‐controlled rocking frame that had been proposed for seismic retrofit in a previous study. The test structure was subjected to ground motions expected for two site classes in two seismically active regions in Canada. Three different energy dissipative devices located at the rocking interface were studied: friction, friction spring dampers, and steel bars yielding in tension and elastically buckling in compression. The focus of the tests was on peak axial loads in the columns and additional moments and shears in the beams resulting from column impact upon rocking. Axial loads in the braces and columns from higher mode response were also examined. The tests revealed significant increases in beam forces due to column impacts. Large axial forces due to the second vibration mode response were measured in the second story braces. A numerical model is proposed to accurately predict the measured force demands.
The repeatable opportunity for selection differs between pre- and postcopulatory fitness components
Authors: Marie-Orleach Lucas , Vellnow Nikolas , Schärer Lukas 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIn species with multiple mating, intense sexual selection may occur both before and after copulation. However, comparing the strength of pre- and postcopulatory selection is challenging, because (i) postcopulatory processes are generally difficult to observe and (ii) the often-used opportunity for selection (I) metric contains both deterministic and stochastic components. Here, we quantified pre- and postcopulatory male fitness components of the simultaneously hermaphroditic flatworm, Macrostomum lignano. We did this by tracking fluorescent sperm—using transgenics—through the transparent body of sperm recipients, enabling to observe postcopulatory processes in vivo. Moreover, we sequentially exposed focal worms to three independent mating groups, and in each assessed their mating success, sperm-transfer efficiency, sperm fertilizing efficiency, and partner fecundity. Based on these multiple measures, we could, for each fitness component, combine the variance (I) with the repeatability (R) in individual success to assess the amount of repeatable variance in individual success—a measure we call the repeatable opportunity for selection (IR). We found higher repeatable opportunity for selection in sperm-transfer efficiency and sperm fertilizing efficiency compared to mating success, which clearly suggests that postcopulatory selection is stronger than precopulatory selection. Our study demonstrates that the opportunity for selection contains a repeatable deterministic component, which can be assessed and disentangled from the often large stochastic component, to provide a better estimate of the strength of selection.
Associations between quality of parent–child relationships and children's gender typicality: A 4‐year longitudinal study
Authors: Lemelin Emilie , Sirois Marie‐Soleil , Bernier Annie , Martin Carol L. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractLittle is known about influences on gender typicality. To address this issue, the present study examined developmental antecedents of preadolescents' gender typicality. Using a longitudinal multi‐method design, we investigated the prospective associations between the quality of parent–child relationships in childhood and preadolescents' subsequent gender typicality. It was hypothesized that feelings of gender typicality would be positively related to quality of relationship with the corresponding‐gender parent. Sixty‐eight families (40 girls) participated in two home visits. The quality of mother–child and father–child relationships was assessed by observation at age 7 and youths reported on their gender typicality at 11 years. Results indicated that girls who had higher‐quality relationships with their mother at age 7 felt more similar to other girls 4 years later. This finding suggests that mother–child relationships might be a contributing factor in the development of girls' gender typicality.Highlights
This paper examines the role that parents play in their children's gender typicality development.
The results revealed that parent–child relationships were associated with subsequent gender typicality in girls but not in boys.
Girls who had higher‐quality relationships with their mother at age 7 felt more similar to other girls 4 years later.
Development of improved method to identify and analyze lung fibrocytes with flow cytometry in a reporter mouse strain
Authors: Kawano Hiroshi , Koyama Kazuya , Nishimura Haruka , Toyoda Yuko , Kagawa Kozo , Sato Seidai , Naito Nobuhito , Goto Hisatsugu , Inagaki Yutaka , Nishioka Yasuhiko 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIntroductionFibrocytes are emerging myeloid‐derived circulating cells that can migrate into damaged tissues and usually contribute to their repair. Key features of fibrocytes include the expression myeloid markers, production of extracellular matrix proteins, and secretion of various humoral factors that activate resident fibroblasts; they also have the potential to differentiate into fibroblasts. However, no specific surface markers have been identified to identify fibrocytes in vivo. One reason could be that the method used to detect fibrocytes requires intracellular collagen staining.MethodsIn the present study, to establish an improved method for the detection of lung fibrocytes and to analyze viable fibrocytes, we used collagen I(α)2‐green fluorescent protein (Col‐GFP) reporter mice, which had undergone the intratracheal instillation of bleomycin (BLM).ResultsUsing flow cytometry to gate out cells with autofluorescence, we clearly found that CD45+ GFP+ cells resided in the lungs of Col‐GFP mice at a steady state and these cells increased after BLM injury, peaking at Day 14. These cells expressed not only known cell surface markers of fibrocytes, but also some novel markers, in addition to a low level of collagen I in comparison to CD45− GFP+ cells.ConclusionOur findings suggest that the improved method can be a useful for the detection of pure lung fibrocytes and allows us to further analyze the characteristics of viable fibrocytes.
Meta‐analysis of the genetic association between maternal GNB3 C825T polymorphism and risk of pre‐eclampsia
Authors: Song Jiajia , Huang Xianping , Zhou Panpan , Xu Ting , Xu Zhangye 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe relationship between the C825T polymorphism of GNB3 (encoding G‐protein β3 subunit) and pre‐eclampsia risk is unclear.ObjectiveTo systematically explore the association between GNB3 C825T and pre‐eclampsia.Search strategyPubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases were searched to September 1, 2020, using keywords including “GNB3 C825T” and “pre‐eclampsia”.Selection criteriaCase–control and cohort studies investigating the relationship between GNB3 C825T polymorphism and pre‐eclampsia were included.Data collection and analysisTwo reviewers collected the data independently and calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).Main resultsThe meta‐analysis involved eight studies from seven publications, including 2071 cases and 3419 controls. Overall analysis showed that GNB3 C825T was associated with increased pre‐eclampsia risk in the recessive model (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.01–1.44; P = 0.04). Subgroup analysis stratified by Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium revealed a relationship between GNB3 C825T and increased risk of pre‐eclampsia in the allelic (OR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.34–2.05; P < 0.001), homozygous (OR, 2.12, 95% CI, 1.04–4.32; P = 0.04), dominant (OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.18–3.11; P = 0.009), and recessive (OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.03–2.81; P = 0.04) models.ConclusionsMaternal GNB3 C825T polymorphism seems to be a risk factor for pre‐eclampsia.
Obstetric outcomes in thyroid cancer survivors: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Liu Dongming , Wei Yuan , Zhao Yangyu , Li Rong , Yan Jie , Qiao Jie 
Published: December 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate whether thyroid cancer survivors would have increased risks of adverse obstetric outcomes.MethodsData from 154 women with a history of thyroid cancer who had a live birth at Peking University Third Hospital from January 2012 to December 2019 were collected. The control group consisted of 308 women without any thyroid disease or malignant tumor. Age and year of delivery were matched between the two groups.ResultsSerum levels of thyroid stimulating hormone and free thyroxine were significantly lower and higher in thyroid cancer patients, respectively (P < 0.001). After adjusting for age, pre‐pregnancy body mass index, pre‐pregnancy hypertension, pre‐pregnancy diabetes mellitus, previous cesarean section, and conception by in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic injection, adverse obstetric outcomes including preterm birth (odds ratio [OR] 0.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.32–1.67), low birth weight infant (OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.44–2.50), gestational diabetes mellitus (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.54–1.39), and pre‐eclampsia (OR 1.11, 95% CI 0.34–3.57) showed no differences between thyroid cancer survivors and the control group. However, pregnant women with a history of thyroid cancer had a higher risk of abnormally invasive placentation (OR 10.57, 95% CI 1.22–91.97, P = 0.032).ConclusionAlthough the thyroid function status of thyroid cancer patients was different from that of pregnant women without any thyroid disease or malignancy, they would not be at a higher risk of most adverse obstetric outcomes except for abnormally invasive placentation.
Synthesis of new pyrazoles, oxadiazoles, triazoles, pyrrolotriazines, and pyrrolotriazepines as potential cytotoxic agents
Authors: Abu‐Hashem Ameen Ali 
Published: December 2020

Abstract4‐Oxo‐4‐phenylbutanehydrazide (1) reacted with many active methylene reagents such as acetylacetone, diethylmalonate, ethylacetoacetate, ethylcyanoacetate, benzoyl‐acetonitrile, and malononitrile under neat conditions to afford the corresponding pyrazoles (2–7), also, treatment of butanehydrazide (1) with electrophilic reagents as triethylorthoformate, dimethylformamide‐dimethylacetal, acetic anhydride, and carbon disulfide to give 1,3,4‐oxadiazoles (8,10,11) and N′‐acetyl‐butanehydrazide (9). Reacted of butanehydrazide (1) with potassium thiocyanate gave 1,2,4‐triazoles (12). Similarly, treatment of (1) with chloroacetamide gave 1,2,4‐triazinones (13). The pyrrolotriazinones (14) was obtained by cyclization of (13). Also, butanehydrazide (1) was utilized as a starting material for the synthesized of new Schiff bases as N′‐(4‐sub‐benzylidene)‐phenylbutane‐hydrazide (15a‐c), which are used as an initiative to prepare new compounds such as 1,2,4‐triazepinones (16a‐c), pyrrolotriazepinones (17a‐c), 1,2,4‐triazines (18a‐c), and pyrrolotriazines (19a‐c) by reacted of (15a‐c) with each chloroacetamide or formamide. The chemical structure of the newly prepared compounds was determined through the spectrum data, including IR, NMR, and MS. The prepared compounds were tested for their in vitro antitumor activities. The compounds 17a‐c, 16a‐c, and 19a‐c displayed activity against several types of cancer cell lines.
Clinical feasibility of single‐shot fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery with wide inversion recovery pulse designed to reduce cerebrospinal fluid and motion artifacts for evaluation of uncooperative patients in acute stroke protocol
Authors: Kubota Yoshihiro , Yokota Hajime , Sakai Takayuki , Yoneyama Masami , Ohira Kenji , Uno Takashi 
Published: December 2020

Fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) imaging is a key sequence for stroke assessment. Motion artifact reduction with short acquisition time is still challenging, but necessary in the magnetic resonance (MR) stroke protocol, especially for uncooperative patients suspected of stroke. The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of modified single‐shot FLAIR with wide inversion recovery pulses for use in stroke patients. This is a prospective study, which included 30 patients clinically suspected of stroke who were examined by MR stroke protocol from January 2018 to September 2018. A 1.5 T, multi‐shot‐turbo spin‐echo (TSE) conventional FLAIR, and single‐shot‐TSE‐FLAIR with wide inversion recovery pulse were used. Modified single‐shot FLAIR was obtained for 30 patients with suspected stroke who moved during conventional FLAIR scan. Motion artifacts were randomly and independently scored using a 5‐grade scale by three radiologists in blinded fashion. Whether the FLAIR vessel hyperintensity sign was present was visually evaluated. Statistical tests included Wilcoxon‐signed rank test and weighted Cohen's kappa statistics. The motion artifact score was significantly lower in single‐shot FLAIR than in conventional FLAIR (0.37 ± 0.56 vs. 1.83 ± 1.18; p < 0.05. The vessel hyperintensity sign was visualized in 6 and 5 patients on single‐shot and conventional FLAIR images, respectively. This study demonstrates the value of single‐shot FLAIR for stroke assessment. Single‐shot FLAIR reduced motion artifact and visualized vessel hyperintensity sign more than conventional FLAIR.Level of Evidence2.Technical Efficacy Stage2.
Development of health behaviour questionnaire for breast cancer women in Mainland China
Authors: Xu Hui , Jiang Guichun , Zhang Xiujie , Wang Daqiu , Xu Lei , Wang Aiping 
Published: December 2020

AbstractAimTo develop a questionnaire on the health behaviour of breast cancer women with adjuvant endocrine therapy and to test its reliability and validity.DesignAn instrument‐development study was applied that comprised three steps: conceptualization, item generation, content validity and field testing of the health behavior properties.MethodsOn the basis of literature review, the conceptual framework and initial items of each dimension of were designed. The questionnaire investigation was divided into two steps: pre‐experiment (group 1) and psychometrics evaluation (group 2). Correlation procedure and factor analysis were employed to rescreen the items. Reliability testing and validity testing were conducted to analyse the psychometric properties of questionnaire.ResultsExploratory and confirmatory factor analyses yielded a five‐factor solution. Cronbach's α was 0.93, the sub‐semi‐reliability of the questionnaire was 0.79 and internal consistency coefficients was 0.70.