bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Health service utilization following symptomatic respiratory tract infections and influencing factors among urban and rural residents in Anhui, China
Authors: Xu Shiyu , Dong Xuemeng , Zhou Rongyao , Shen Xingrong , Feng Rui , Cheng Jing , Chai Jing , Kadetz Paul , Wang Debin 
Published: December 2019

AbstractAim:This study seeks to identify healthcare utilization patterns following symptomatic respiratory tract infections (RTIs) and the variables that may influence these patterns.Background:RTIs are responsible for the bulk of the primary healthcare burden worldwide. Yet, the use of health services for RTIs displays great discrepancies between populations. This research examines the influence of social demographics, economic factors, and accessibility on healthcare utilization following RTIs.Methods:Structured interviews were administered by trained physicians at the households of informants selected by cluster randomization. Descriptive and multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was performed to assess healthcare utilization and associated independent variables.Findings:A total of 60 678 informants completed the interviews. Of the 2.9% informants exhibiting upper RTIs, 69.5–73.9% sought clinical care. Healthcare utilization rates for common cold, influenza, nine acute upper RTIs, and overall RTIs demonstrate statistically significant associations with the variables of age, type of residence, employment, medical insurance, annual food expenditure, distance to medical facilities, and others. The odds ratios for healthcare utilization rates varied substantially, ranging from 0.026 to 9.364. More than 69% of informants with RTIs sought clinical interventions. These findings signify a marked issue with the large amount of healthcare for self-limited RTIs.
First report of molecular basis of resistance to imazethapyr in common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album)
Authors: Huang Zhaofeng , Zhou Xinxin , Zhang Chaoxian , Jiang Cuilan , Huang Hongjuan , Wei Shouhui 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.) is one of the most troublesome weeds in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] and corn (Zea mays L.) fields in northeast China. In 2017, a C. album population that survived imazethapyr at the recommended field rate was collected from a soybean field in Heilongjiang Province in China. Experiments were conducted to determine the basis of resistance to imazethapyr and investigate the herbicide-resistance pattern in C. album. Dose–response tests showed that the resistant population (R) displayed high resistance to imazethapyr (20-fold) compared with the susceptible population (S). An in vitro acetolactate synthase (ALS) activity assay indicated that the ALS of the R population was resistant to imazethapyr compared with the ALS of the S population. Sequence analysis of the ALS gene revealed that the GCA was replaced by ACA at amino acid position 122, which resulted in an alanine to threonine substitution (Ala-122-Thr) in the R population. The R population displayed cross-resistance to thifensulfuron-methyl and flumetsulam but susceptibility to bispyribac-sodium, flucarbazone, glyphosate, mesotrione, and fomesafen. These results confirmed that the basis of imazethapyr resistance in C. album was conferred by the Ala-122-Thr substitution in the ALS enzyme. This is the first report of the target-site basis of ALS-inhibiting herbicide resistance in C. album.
Novel Representation of Leaf Phenology Improves Simulation of Amazonian Evergreen Forest Photosynthesis in a Land Surface Model
Authors: Chen Xiuzhi , Maignan Fabienne , Viovy Nicolas , Bastos Ana , Goll Daniel , Wu Jin , Liu Liyang , Yue Chao , Peng Shushi , Yuan Wenping , da Conceição Adriana Castro , O'Sullivan Michael , Ciais Philippe 
Published: December 2019

AbstractLeaf phenology in the humid tropics largely regulates the seasonality of forest carbon and water exchange. However, it is inadequately represented in most global land surface models due to limited understanding of its controls. Based on intensive field studies at four Amazonian evergreen forests, we propose a novel, quantitative representation of tropical forest leaf phenology, which links multiple environmental variables with the seasonality of new leaf production and old leaf litterfall. The new phenology simulates higher rates of leaf turnover (new leaves replacing old leaves) in dry seasons with more sunlight, which is then implemented in ORCHIDEE, together with recent findings of ontogeny‐associated photosynthetic capacity, and is evaluated against ground‐based measurements of leaf phenology (canopy leaf area index and litterfall), eddy covariance fluxes (photosynthesis and latent heat), and carbon allocations from field observations. Results show the periodical cycles of solar radiation and vapor pressure deficit are the two most important environmental variables that are empirically related to new leaf production and old leaf abscission in tropical evergreen forests. The model with new representation of leaf phenology captures the seasonality of canopy photosynthesis at three out of four sites, as well as the seasonality of litterfall, latent heat, and light use efficiency of photosynthesis at all tested sites, and improves the seasonality of carbon allocations to leaves, roots, and sapwoods. This study advances understanding of the environmental controls on tropical leaf phenology and offers an improved modeling tool for gridded simulations of interannual CO2 and water fluxes in the tropics.
Distribution of Partial Melt Beneath Changbaishan/Paektu Volcano, China/Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Authors: Hammond James O. S. , Wu Jian‐Ping , Ri Kyong‐Song , Wei Wei , Yu Jong‐Nam , Oppenheimer Clive 
Published: December 2019

AbstractChangbaishan/Paektu volcano straddles the border between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and China. It was responsible for one of the largest eruptions in history, the “Millennium Eruption' of 946 CE. An episode of unrest between 2002 and 2005, characterized by inflation and seismicity, refocused attention on this volcano. While satellite remote sensing has provided synoptic observations, ground‐based surveillance has hitherto supported only disparate analyses and geophysical interpretations on either side of the border. Here, we derive receiver functions using seismic records from both Democratic People's Republic of Korea and China. H‐κ stacking indicates thick crust (up to 40 km) and high average crustal VP/VS (up to 1.93) beneath the volcano. Grid search inversions constrain a significant velocity reduction at 4–8 km depth (below sea level), and harmonic analysis suggests this dips away from the volcano, with shallowest depths centered beneath the volcano. Common conversion point migrations show that this anomaly extends ∼30 km from the volcano summit and possibly as far as neighboring volcanoes. The colocation of the velocity reduction with a zone of high‐conductivity, low‐velocity, and low‐density material at the depth of the inflation source implicated in the 2002–2005 unrest indicates that partial melt is present directly beneath Changbaishan/Paektu, likely recharged during the episode of unrest. Our study highlights the importance of continued surveillance of the volcano and the need for further geophysical studies to constrain more fully the triggers for unrest and controls on its evolution.
Understanding and Modeling the Occurrence of E. coli Blooms in Drinking Water Reservoirs
Authors: Bertone Edoardo , Kozak Sonya , Roiko Anne 
Published: December 2019

AbstractCertain strains of Escherichia coli have been reported to bloom in the environment, resulting in high concentrations in waters in the absence of apparent fecal input or human pathogens, and in turn, undermining its reliability as an indicator of recent fecal contamination. Given the capacity of environmental strains of E. coli to replicate in the environment, the objective of this research work was to investigate whether any of the routinely measured parameters could predict the onset of an E. coli bloom in drinking water reservoirs. Information from historical catchment, weather, and water quality data were extracted for a number of Australian reservoirs that experienced E. coli blooms. Data were preprocessed and analyzed with time series analysis, linear and nonlinear regression, and self‐organizing maps. Findings suggest that warm water, dry catchments, algal blooms, and nutrient availability were important factors in increasing the propensity for a bloom. Nutrient availability can be affected by many extrinsic factors that are often not well characterized, such as bushfires and back burning, decomposition of aquatic species, and dust storms. Based on data analysis outputs, a data‐driven Bayesian Network model was developed, which, considering the paucity of data for some key input parameters, should only be used to trigger more intensive monitoring programs whenever the predicted risk of a bloom exceeds predetermined key thresholds. Such new data could be fed into the model to continuously improve its accuracy, and to eventually predict and proactively manage future blooms.
Templated dewetting of single-crystal sub-millimeter-long nanowires and on-chip silicon circuits
Authors: Bollani Monica , Salvalaglio Marco , Benali Abdennacer , Bouabdellaoui Mohammed , Naffouti Meher , Lodari Mario , Corato Stefano Di , Fedorov Alexey , Voigt Axel , Fraj Ibtissem , Favre Luc , Claude Jean Benoit , Grosso David , Nicotra Giuseppe , Mio Antonio , Ronda Antoine , Berbezier Isabelle , Abbarchi Marco 
Published: December 2019

AbstractLarge-scale, defect-free, micro- and nano-circuits with controlled inter-connections represent the nexus between electronic and photonic components. However, their fabrication over large scales often requires demanding procedures that are hardly scalable. Here we synthesize arrays of parallel ultra-long (up to 0.75 mm), monocrystalline, silicon-based nano-wires and complex, connected circuits exploiting low-resolution etching and annealing of thin silicon films on insulator. Phase field simulations reveal that crystal faceting and stabilization of the wires against breaking is due to surface energy anisotropy. Wires splitting, inter-connections and direction are independently managed by engineering the dewetting fronts and exploiting the spontaneous formation of kinks. Finally, we fabricate field-effect transistors with state-of-the-art trans-conductance and electron mobility. Beyond the first experimental evidence of controlled dewetting of patches featuring a record aspect ratio of $$\sim$$~1/60000 and self-assembled $$\sim$$~mm long nano-wires, our method constitutes a distinct and promising approach for the deterministic implementation of atomically-smooth, mono-crystalline electronic and photonic circuits.
Sensory innervation in porous endplates by Netrin-1 from osteoclasts mediates PGE2-induced spinal hypersensitivity in mice
Authors: Ni Shuangfei , Ling Zemin , Wang Xiao , Cao Yong , Wu Tianding , Deng Ruoxian , Crane Janet L. , Skolasky Richard , Demehri Shadpour , Zhen Gehua , Jain Amit , Wu Panfeng , Pan Dayu , Hu Bo , Lyu Xiao , Li Yusheng , Chen Hao , Qi Huabin , Guan Yun , Dong Xinzhong , Wan Mei , Zou Xuenong , Lu Hongbin , Hu Jianzhong , Cao Xu 
Published: December 2019

AbstractSpinal pain is a major clinical problem, however, its origins and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here we report that in mice, osteoclasts induce sensory innervation in the porous endplates which contributes to spinal hypersensitivity in mice. Sensory innervation of the porous areas of sclerotic endplates in mice was confirmed. Lumbar spine instability (LSI), or aging, induces spinal hypersensitivity in mice. In these conditions, we show that there are elevated levels of PGE2 which activate sensory nerves, leading to sodium influx through Nav 1.8 channels. We show that knockout of PGE2 receptor 4 in sensory nerves significantly reduces spinal hypersensitivity. Inhibition of osteoclast formation by knockout Rankl in the osteocytes significantly inhibits LSI-induced porosity of endplates, sensory innervation, and spinal hypersensitivity. Knockout of Netrin-1 in osteoclasts abrogates sensory innervation into porous endplates and spinal hypersensitivity. These findings suggest that osteoclast-initiated porosity of endplates and sensory innervation are potential therapeutic targets for spinal pain.
The marine geological imprint of Antarctic ice shelves
Authors: Smith James A. , Graham Alastair G. C. , Post Alix L. , Hillenbrand Claus-Dieter , Bart Philip J. , Powell Ross D. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractReductions in the thickness and extent of Antarctic ice shelves are triggering increased discharge of marine-terminating glaciers. While the impacts of recent changes are well documented, their role in modulating past ice-sheet dynamics remains poorly constrained. This reflects two persistent issues; first, the effective discrimination of sediments and landforms solely attributable to sub-ice-shelf deposition, and second, challenges in dating these records. Recent progress in deciphering the geological imprint of Antarctic ice shelves is summarised, including advances in dating methods and proxies to reconstruct drivers of change. Finally, we identify several challenges to overcome to fully exploit the paleo record.
In vivo pressure gradient heterogeneity increases flow contribution of small diameter vessels in grapevine
Authors: Bouda Martin , Windt Carel W. , McElrone Andrew J. , Brodersen Craig R. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractLeaves lose approximately 400 H2O molecules for every 1 CO2 gained during photosynthesis. Most long-distance water transport in plants, or xylem sap flow, serves to replace this water to prevent desiccation. Theory predicts that the largest vessels contribute disproportionately to overall sap flow because flow in pipe-like systems scales with the fourth power of radius. Here, we confront these theoretical flow predictions for a vessel network reconstructed from X-ray μCT imagery with in vivo flow MRI observations from the same sample of a first-year grapevine stem. Theoretical flow rate predictions based on vessel diameters are not supported. The heterogeneity of the vessel network gives rise to transverse pressure gradients that redirect flow from wide to narrow vessels, reducing the contribution of wide vessels to sap flow by 15% of the total. Our results call for an update of the current working model of the xylem to account for its heterogeneity.
Effects of methyl jasmonate on the growth and triterpenoid production of diploid and tetraploid Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. hairy root cultures
Authors: Nguyen Khoa Van , Pongkitwitoon Benyakan , Pathomwichaiwat Thanika , Viboonjun Unchera , Prathanturarug Sompop 
Published: December 2019

AbstractIn this study, the effects of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) on the phytomass and triterpenoid production of diploid and tetraploid Centella asiatica hairy roots were investigated. Hairy root cultures were obtained from diploid and induced tetraploid plants of C. asiatica infected by Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain ATCC 43057. MeJA triggered triterpenoid production in both ploidy hairy roots, whereas triterpenoids were not produced in the untreated hairy roots. Among the treatments, the 50 µM MeJA treatment yielded the maximum triterpenoid production in diploid hairy roots of 27.25 ± 0.27 µg/mg Dry weight (DW) total triterpenoid at day 21. For the tetraploid hairy root cultures, the 28th-day hairy root culture produced a maximum amount of triterpenoids of 16.29 ± 6.32 µg/mg DW in response to the 50 µM MeJA treatment, whereas the 100 µM MeJA treatment produced a similar triterpenoid amount (16.31 ± 9.24 µg/mg DW) at day 14. Moreover, in response to 50 µM MeJA, we obtained different ratios of aglycone to glycoside, i.e., 1:7 and 1:2, between the diploid and tetraploid hairy root cultures. Asiaticoside was the dominant phytochemical, followed by asiatic acid and madecassic acid. This study provides valuable information for producing triterpenoids for C. asiatica commercial products and preparations by using hairy root cultures.
Frequency Modulated Möbius Model Accurately Predicts Rhythmic Signals in Biological and Physical Sciences
Authors: Rueda Cristina , Larriba Yolanda , Peddada Shyamal D. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractMotivated by applications in physical and biological sciences, we developed a Frequency Modulated Möbius (FMM) model to describe rhythmic patterns in oscillatory systems. Unlike standard symmetric sinusoidal models, FMM is a flexible parametric model that allows deformations to sinusoidal shape to accommodate commonly seen asymmetries in applications. FMM model parameters are easy to estimate and the model is easy to interpret complex rhythmic data. We illustrate FMM model in three disparate applications, namely, circadian clock gene expression, corticoptropin levels in depressed patients and the temporal light intensity patterns of distant stars. In each case, FMM model is demonstrated to be flexible, scientifically plausible and easy to interpret. Analysis of synthetic data derived from patterns of real data, suggest that FMM model fits the data very well both visually as well as in terms of the goodness of fit measure total mean squared error. An R language based software for implementing FMM model is available.
Tidal amplification and salt intrusion in the Mekong Delta driven by anthropogenic sediment starvation
Authors: Eslami Sepehr , Hoekstra Piet , Nguyen Trung Nam , Ahmed Kantoush Sameh , Van Binh Doan , Duc Dung Do , Tran Quang Tho , van der Vegt Maarten 
Published: December 2019

AbstractNatural resources of the Mekong River are essential to livelihood of tens of millions of people. Previous studies highlighted that upstream hydro-infrastructure developments impact flow regime, sediment and nutrient transport, bed and bank stability, fish productivity, biodiversity and biology of the basin. Here, we show that tidal amplification and saline water intrusion in the Mekong Delta develop with alarming paces. While offshore M2 tidal amplitude increases by 1.2–2 mm yr−1 due to sea level rise, tidal amplitude within the delta is increasing by 2 cm yr−1 and salinity in the channels is increasing by 0.2–0.5 PSU yr−1. We relate these changes to 2–3 m bed level incisions in response to sediment starvation, caused by reduced upstream sediment supply and downstream sand mining, which seems to be four times more than previous estimates. The observed trends cannot be explained by deeper channels due to relative sea level rise; while climate change poses grave natural hazards in the coming decades, anthropogenic forces drive short-term trends that already outstrip climate change effects. Considering the detrimental trends identified, it is imperative that the Mekong basin governments converge to effective transboundary management of the natural resources, before irreversible damage is made to the Mekong and its population.
Manually curated genome-scale reconstruction of the metabolic network of Bacillus megaterium DSM319
Authors: Aminian-Dehkordi Javad , Mousavi Seyyed Mohammad , Jafari Arezou , Mijakovic Ivan , Marashi Sayed-Amir 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBacillus megaterium is a microorganism widely used in industrial biotechnology for production of enzymes and recombinant proteins, as well as in bioleaching processes. Precise understanding of its metabolism is essential for designing engineering strategies to further optimize B. megaterium for biotechnology applications. Here, we present a genome-scale metabolic model for B. megaterium DSM319, iJA1121, which is a result of a metabolic network reconciliation process. The model includes 1709 reactions, 1349 metabolites, and 1121 genes. Based on multiple-genome alignments and available genome-scale metabolic models for other Bacillus species, we constructed a draft network using an automated approach followed by manual curation. The refinements were performed using a gap-filling process. Constraint-based modeling was used to scrutinize network features. Phenotyping assays were performed in order to validate the growth behavior of the model using different substrates. To verify the model accuracy, experimental data reported in the literature (growth behavior patterns, metabolite production capabilities, metabolic flux analysis using 13C glucose and formaldehyde inhibitory effect) were confronted with model predictions. This indicated a very good agreement between in silico results and experimental data. For example, our in silico study of fatty acid biosynthesis and lipid accumulation in B. megaterium highlighted the importance of adopting appropriate carbon sources for fermentation purposes. We conclude that the genome-scale metabolic model iJA1121 represents a useful tool for systems analysis and furthers our understanding of the metabolism of B. megaterium.
Metformin activates KDM2A to reduce rRNA transcription and cell proliferation by dual regulation of AMPK activity and intracellular succinate level
Authors: Tanaka Yuji , Konishi Akimitsu , Obinata Hideru , Tsuneoka Makoto 
Published: December 2019

AbstractMetformin is used to treat type 2 diabetes. Metformin activates AMP-activated kinase (AMPK), which may contribute to the action of metformin. Metformin also shows anti-proliferation activity. However, the mechanism is remained unknown. We found that treatment of MCF-7 cells with metformin induced the demethylase activity of KDM2A in the rDNA promoter, which resulted in reductions of rRNA transcription and cell proliferation. AMPK activity was required for activation of KDM2A by metformin. Because demethylase activities of JmjC-type enzymes require a side reaction converting α-ketoglutarate to succinate, these organic acids may affect their demethylase activities. We found that metformin did not induce KDM2A demethylase activity in conditions of a reduced level of α-ketoglutarate. A four-hour treatment of metformin specifically reduced succinate, and the replenishment of succinate inhibited the activation of KDM2A by metformin, but did not inhibit the activation of AMPK. Metformin reduced succinate even in the conditions suppressing AMPK activity. These results indicate that metformin activates AMPK and reduces the intracellular succinate level, both of which are required for the activation of KDM2A to reduce rRNA transcription. The results presented here uncover a novel factor of metformin actions, reduction of the intracellular succinate, which contributes to the anti-proliferation activity of metformin.
Co-incidence of RCC-susceptibility polymorphisms with HIF cis-acting sequences supports a pathway tuning model of cancer
Authors: Schmid Virginia , Lafleur Veronique N. , Lombardi Olivia , Li Ran , Salama Rafik , Colli Leandro , Choudhry Hani , Chanock Stephen , Ratcliffe Peter J. , Mole David R. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractEmerging evidence suggests that dysregulation of oncogenic pathways requires precise tuning in order for cancer to develop. To test this, we examined the overlap between cis-acting elements of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) pathway and cancer-susceptibility polymorphisms as defined in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). In renal cancer, where HIF is constitutively and un-physiologically activated by mutation of the von Hippel-Lindau tumour suppressor, we observed marked excess overlap, which extended to potential susceptibility polymorphisms that are below the conventional threshold applied in GWAS. In contrast, in other cancers where HIF is upregulated by different mechanisms, including micro-environmental hypoxia, we observed no excess in overlap. Our findings support a ‘pathway tuning’ model of cancer, whereby precise modulation of multiple outputs of specific, activated pathways is important in oncogenesis. This implies that selective pressures to modulate such pathways operate during cancer development and should focus attempts to identify their nature and consequences.