bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Influence of Atmospheric Stability on the Size Distribution of the Vertical Dust Flux Measured in Eroding Conditions Over a Flat Bare Sandy Field
Authors: Khalfallah B. , Bouet C. , Labiadh M.T. , Alfaro S.C. , Bergametti G. , Marticorena B. , Lafon S. , Chevaillier S. , Féron A. , Hease P. , Henry des Tureaux T. , Sekrafi S. , Zapf P. , Rajot J.L. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractIn spite of their importance for the modeling of the atmospheric cycle of mineral dust, measurements of the intensity and size distribution of the dust emission flux produced by wind erosion in natural conditions remain rare. During the WIND‐O‐V's (WIND erOsion in presence of sparse Vegetation) 2017 experiment, eight major erosion events having occurred on a sandy flat field of southern Tunisia were documented. Consistent with the small size (90 μm) of the erodible sand grains and the low aerodynamic roughness length (Z0 < 0.079 cm), the threshold for wind erosion was low (u*t = 22 cm/s). The classical gradient method was applied to assess the size‐resolved vertical dust flux, and the stability of the atmosphere quantified by the means of the Richardson number (Ri) as well as of its shear stress (u*) and thermal gradient (∂θ/∂z) components. The vertical dust flux increased with u* following a power law but the number size distribution of the dust flux was found to be significantly richer in submicron particles in thermally unstable than in stable periods. This challenges the usual assumption that, independently of their size, the particles smaller than 10 μm follow equally the movements of the air masses in which they are embedded and that the thermal stratification of the surface layer does not affect the size distribution of the surface flux when measured a few meters above the ground. Finally, we propose a simple empirical method for taking this influence of the thermal instability into account.
Transcriptional effects of copy number alterations in a large set of human cancers
Authors: Bhattacharya Arkajyoti , Bense Rico D. , Urzúa-Traslaviña Carlos G. , de Vries Elisabeth G. E. , van Vugt Marcel A. T. M. , Fehrmann Rudolf S. N. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractCopy number alterations (CNAs) can promote tumor progression by altering gene expression levels. Due to transcriptional adaptive mechanisms, however, CNAs do not always translate proportionally into altered expression levels. By reanalyzing >34,000 gene expression profiles, we reveal the degree of transcriptional adaptation to CNAs in a genome-wide fashion, which strongly associate with distinct biological processes. We then develop a platform-independent method—transcriptional adaptation to CNA profiling (TACNA profiling)—that extracts the transcriptional effects of CNAs from gene expression profiles without requiring paired CNA profiles. By applying TACNA profiling to >28,000 patient-derived tumor samples we define the landscape of transcriptional effects of CNAs. The utility of this landscape is demonstrated by the identification of four genes that are predicted to be involved in tumor immune evasion when transcriptionally affected by CNAs. In conclusion, we provide a novel tool to gain insight into how CNAs drive tumor behavior via altered expression levels.
Inhibitory effect of Citrus flavonoids on the in vitro transport activity of human urate transporter 1 (URAT1/SLC22A12), a renal re-absorber of urate
Authors: Toyoda Yu , Takada Tappei , Saito Hiroki , Hirata Hiroshi , Ota-Kontani Ami , Kobayashi Naoyuki , Tsuchiya Youichi , Suzuki Hiroshi 
Published: February 2020

AbstractAs hyperuricemia is a cause of urate-related diseases such as gout, the anti-hyperuricemic and/or uricosuric activity of food ingredients is receiving increased attention. Here, we examined the inhibitory activities of seven Citrus flavonoids against URAT1, a renal transporter involved in urate re-uptake from urine. We found that naringenin and nobiletin strongly inhibited URAT1, and may therefore serve as an anti-hyperuricemic food ingredient that can reduce the risk of urate-related diseases.
Genetic associations with mathematics tracking and persistence in secondary school
Authors: Harden K. Paige , Domingue Benjamin W. , Belsky Daniel W. , Boardman Jason D. , Crosnoe Robert , Malanchini Margherita , Nivard Michel , Tucker-Drob Elliot M. , Harris Kathleen Mullan 
Published: February 2020

AbstractMaximizing the flow of students through the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) pipeline is important to promoting human capital development and reducing economic inequality. A critical juncture in the STEM pipeline is the highly cumulative sequence of secondary school math courses. Students from disadvantaged schools are less likely to complete advanced math courses. Here, we conduct an analysis of how the math pipeline differs across schools using studentpolygenic scores, which are DNA-based indicators of propensity to succeed in education. We integrated genetic and official school transcript data from over 3000 European-ancestry students from U.S. high schools. We used polygenic scores as a molecular tracer to understand how the flow of students through the high school math pipeline differs in socioeconomically advantaged versus disadvantaged schools. Students with higher education polygenic scores were tracked to more advanced math already at the beginning of high school and persisted in math for more years. Analyses using genetics as a molecular tracer revealed that the dynamics of the math pipeline differed by school advantage. Compared to disadvantaged schools, advantaged schools buffered students with low polygenic scores from dropping out of math. Across all schools, even students with exceptional polygenic scores (top 2%) were unlikely to take the most advanced math classes, suggesting substantial room for improvement in the development of potential STEM talent. These results link new molecular genetic discoveries to a common target of educational-policy reforms.
Waist circumference as a vital sign in clinical practice: a Consensus Statement from the IAS and ICCR Working Group on Visceral Obesity
Authors: Ross Robert , Neeland Ian J. , Yamashita Shizuya , Shai Iris , Seidell Jaap , Magni Paolo , Santos Raul D. , Arsenault Benoit , Cuevas Ada , Hu Frank B. , Griffin Bruce A. , Zambon Alberto , Barter Philip , Fruchart Jean-Charles , Eckel Robert H. , Matsuzawa Yuji , Després Jean-Pierre 
Published: February 2020

AbstractDespite decades of unequivocal evidence that waist circumference provides both independent and additive information to BMI for predicting morbidity and risk of death, this measurement is not routinely obtained in clinical practice. This Consensus Statement proposes that measurements of waist circumference afford practitioners with an important opportunity to improve the management and health of patients. We argue that BMI alone is not sufficient to properly assess or manage the cardiometabolic risk associated with increased adiposity in adults and provide a thorough review of the evidence that will empower health practitioners and professional societies to routinely include waist circumference in the evaluation and management of patients with overweight or obesity. We recommend that decreases in waist circumference are a critically important treatment target for reducing adverse health risks for both men and women. Moreover, we describe evidence that clinically relevant reductions in waist circumference can be achieved by routine, moderate-intensity exercise and/or dietary interventions. We identify gaps in the knowledge, including the refinement of waist circumference threshold values for a given BMI category, to optimize obesity risk stratification across age, sex and ethnicity. We recommend that health professionals are trained to properly perform this simple measurement and consider it as an important ‘vital sign’ in clinical practice.
The effectiveness of disinfectant and steam exposure treatments to prevent the spread of the highly invasive killer shrimp, Dikerogammarus villosus
Authors: Bradbeer Stephanie J. , Coughlan Neil E. , Cuthbert Ross N. , Crane Kate , Dick Jaimie T. A. , Caffrey Joe M. , Lucy Frances E. , Renals Trevor , Davis Eithne , Warren Daniel A. , Pile Benjamin , Quinn Claire , Dunn Alison M. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractBiosecurity protocols designed to prevent the spread of invasive alien species (IAS) are now an essential aspect of IAS management. However, the effectiveness of various biosecurity treatments requires further exploration. Killer shrimp,Dikerogammarus villosus, a notoriously high impact and ecosystem destabilising invader, has rapidly spread across Europe, and is of concern to invade Northern America. In this study, we examine the effectiveness of three commonly used, broad-spectrum disinfectants to cause mortality ofD. villosus: Virasure Aquatic, Virkon Aquatic, and Virkon S. Immersion and spray treatments of 1%, 2% and 4% disinfectant solutions were examined for applications of up to 300 secs immersion and for up to ten consecutive sprays. Furthermore, we assessed the effectiveness of steam (≥100 °C) treatments for up to 120 secs. For all disinfectants, immersion in 1% solutions caused 100% mortality at ≥120 secs. At higher concentrations, shorter immersion times caused complete mortality: 60 and 15 secs for 2% and 4% solutions, respectively. Five sprays of 2% and 4% solutions resulted in 100% mortality, for all disinfectants. Direct steam exposure was highly effective, with completeD. villosusmortality occurring at ≥10 secs. Overall, brief exposure to broad-spectrum disinfectants and direct steam could be used to limitD. villosusspread.
Expression and regulation of FRMD6 in mouse DRG neurons and spinal cord after nerve injury
Authors: Lyu Chuang , Lyu Gong-Wei , Mulder Jan , Uhlén Mathias , Cai Xue-Hui , Hökfelt Tomas , Sten Shi Tie-Jun 
Published: February 2020

AbstractFRMD6, a member of the group of FERM-domain proteins, is involved both in communication between cells, interactions with extracellular matrix, cellular apoptotic and regenerative mechanisms. FRMD6 was first discovered in the rodent sciatic nerve, and in the present immunohistochemical study we investigated the distribution of FRMD6 in the dorsal root ganglia (DRGs), sciatic nerve and spinal cord following sciatic nerve injury. FRMD6-immunoreactivity was found in the cytoplasm, nucleus or both, and in a majority of DRG neurons. FRMD6-immunoreactivity co-existed with several well-known neuronal markers, including calcitonin gene-related peptide, isolectin B4 and neurofilament 200 in mouse DRGs. After peripheral nerve injury, the FRMD6 mRNA levels and the overall percentage of FRMD6-positive neuron profiles (NPs) were decreased in ipsilateral lumbar DRGs, the latter mainly affecting small size neurons with cytoplasmic localization. Conversely, the proportion of NPs with nuclear FRMD6-immunoreactivity was significantly increased. In the sciatic nerve, FRMD6-immunoreactivity was observed in non-neuronal cells and in axons, and accumulated proximally to a ligation of the nerve. In the spinal cord FRMD6-immunoreactivity was detected in neurons in both dorsal and ventral horns, and was upregulated in ipsilateral dorsal horn after peripheral nerve axotomy. Our results demonstrate that FRMD6 is strictly regulated by peripheral nerve injury at the spinal level.
UV reflective properties of magnesium oxide increase attraction and probing behavior of Asian citrus psyllids (Hemiptera: Liviidae)
Authors: George Justin , Paris Thomson M. , Allan Sandra A. , Lapointe Stephen L. , Stelinski Lukasz L. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractAsian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri) vectors the bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, the causal pathogen of citrus greening disease that is devastating citrus industries worldwide. Suppressing psyllid populations is crucial to prevent disease spread. An attract-and-kill trap based on psyllid behavior would fill a niche for monitoring and control. To optimize visual attraction of psyllids, the ultraviolet (UV) reflective properties of magnesium oxide (MgO) and/or barium sulfate (BaSO4) were assessed for potential application to a trap surface. Under low UV, high UV and natural sunlight conditions, the reflectance, attraction, and probing behaviors of psyllids were evaluated on surfaces containing magnesium oxide or barium sulfate. Magnesium oxide added to yellow sticky traps enhanced visual response of D. citri. Probing assays demonstrated that magnesium oxide alone or as a mixture with a phagostimulant blend, increased the UV reflectance of substrates, as well as, attraction and probing by psyllids. Results demonstrated that psyllids respond to both short (UV) and long (yellow) wavelengths during orientation, and that these inert compounds can increase UV reflectance and improve attractiveness of an attract-and-kill device.
Structure guided prediction of Pyrazinamide resistance mutations in pncA
Authors: Karmakar Malancha , Rodrigues Carlos H. M. , Horan Kristy , Denholm Justin T. , Ascher David B. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractPyrazinamide plays an important role in tuberculosis treatment; however, its use is complicated by side-effects and challenges with reliable drug susceptibility testing. Resistance to pyrazinamide is largely driven by mutations in pyrazinamidase (pncA), responsible for drug activation, but genetic heterogeneity has hindered development of a molecular diagnostic test. We proposed to use information on how variants were likely to affect the 3D structure of pncA to identify variants likely to lead to pyrazinamide resistance. We curated 610 pncA mutations with high confidence experimental and clinical information on pyrazinamide susceptibility. The molecular consequences of each mutation on protein stability, conformation, and interactions were computationally assessed using our comprehensive suite of graph-based signature methods, mCSM. The molecular consequences of the variants were used to train a classifier with an accuracy of 80%. Our model was tested against internationally curated clinical datasets, achieving up to 85% accuracy. Screening of 600 Victorian clinical isolates identified a set of previously unreported variants, which our model had a 71% agreement with drug susceptibility testing. Here, we have shown the 3D structure of pncA can be used to accurately identify pyrazinamide resistance mutations. SUSPECT-PZA is freely available at: http://biosig.unimelb.edu.au/suspect_pza/.
Varied diets, including broadleaved forage, are important for a large herbivore species inhabiting highly modified landscapes
Authors: Felton Annika M. , Holmström Emma , Malmsten Jonas , Felton Adam , Cromsigt Joris P. G. M. , Edenius Lars , Ericsson Göran , Widemo Fredrik , Wam Hilde K. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractDiet quality is an important determinant of animal survival and reproduction, and can be described as the combination of different food items ingested, and their nutritional composition. For large herbivores, human landscape modifications to vegetation can limit such diet-mixing opportunities. Here we use southern Sweden’s modified landscapes to assess winter diet mixtures (as an indicator of quality) and food availability as drivers of body mass (BM) variation in wild moose (Alces alces). We identify plant species found in the rumen of 323 moose harvested in Oct-Feb, and link variation in average calf BM among populations to diets and food availability. Our results show that variation in calf BM correlates with variation in diet composition, diversity, and food availability. A varied diet relatively rich in broadleaves was associated with higher calf BM than a less variable diet dominated by conifers. A diet high in shrubs and sugar/starch rich agricultural crops was associated with intermediate BM. The proportion of young production forest (0–15 yrs) in the landscape, an indicator of food availability, significantly accounted for variation in calf BM. Our findings emphasize the importance of not only diet composition and forage quantity, but also variability in the diets of large free-ranging herbivores.
Rifampicin Resistant Tuberculosis in Lesotho: Diagnosis, Treatment Initiation and Outcomes
Authors: Katende Bulemba , Esterhuizen Tonya M. , Dippenaar Anzaan , Warren Robin M. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe Lesotho guidelines for the management of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) recommend initiation of patients diagnosed with rifampicin resistant (RR)-TB on a standardized drug resistant regimen while awaiting confirmation of rifampicin resistant TB (RR-TB) and complete drug susceptibility test results. Review of diagnostic records between 2014 and 2016 identified 518 patients with RR-TB. Only 314 (60.6%) patients could be linked to treatment records at the Lesotho MDR hospital. The median delay in treatment initiation from the availability of Xpert MTB/RIF assay result was 12 days (IQR 7–19). Only 32% (101) of patients had a documented first-line drug resistant test. MDR-TB was detected in 56.4% of patients while 33.7% of patients had rifampicin mono-resistance. Only 7.4% of patients assessed for second-line resistance had a positive result (resistance to fluoroquinolone). Treatment success was 69.8%, death rate was 28.8%, loss to follow up was 1.0%, and 0.4% failed treatment. Death was associated with positive or unavailable sputum smear at the end of first month of treatment (Fisher exact p < 0.001) and older age (p = 0.007). Urgent attention needs to be given to link patients with RR-TB to care worldwide. The association of death rate with positive sputum smear at the end of the first month of treatment should trigger early individualization of treatment.
Hurricanes, El Niño and harmful algal blooms in two sub-tropical Florida estuaries: Direct and indirect impacts
Authors: Phlips Edward J. , Badylak Susan , Nelson Natalie G. , Havens Karl E. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractFuture increases in the intensity of hurricanes and El Niño periods predicted by climate change models have focused attention on their role in stimulating harmful algal blooms (HABs). A series of hurricanes that recently impacted Florida (USA) provided a unique opportunity to explore the relationships between hurricanes, El Niño and HABs in two Florida estuaries subject to repeated intense ecosystem disruptive HABs, the Indian River Lagoon and the St. Lucie Estuary. The roles that hurricanes and El Niño play in contributing to HAB events are examined in the context of key structural and functional features of each estuary and their watersheds, including morphology, water residence time and hydrology, such as the influence of Lake Okeechobee discharges into the St. Lucie Estuary. The most direct impact was the increase in rainfall associated with hurricanes and El Niño, resulting in enhanced nutrient loads which drive HABs in the Indian River Lagoon and Lake Okeechobee. Major HABs in Lake Okeechobee also present an indirect threat of freshwater HAB blooms in the St. Lucie Estuary via mandated discharges from the lake into the estuary during high rainfall periods. Conversely, during the absence of HABs in Lake Okeechobee, short water residence times produced by discharges into the St. Lucie Estuary can result in lower bloom intensities.
Melanism influences the use of social information in a polymorphic owl
Authors: Parejo Deseada , Avilés Jesús M. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractSocial information use has well-known fitness benefits. However, causes underlying the apparent inter-individual variability in the propensity to use social information are poorly studied. Melanins are pigments responsible for most of intra-specific color variation in vertebrates and their variation is often associated with changes in behaviour. Here, we explored whether melanism is related to individual propensity to use social information in the color polymorphic scops owl Otus scops. We manipulated social information on predation risk at nests by broadcasting calls of the sympatric little owl Athene noctua and found that owlets of brownish females exposed to alarm calls had lower levels of natural antibodies than those of greyish females. In parallel, we found changes in parental behaviour contingent on coloration because when exposed to the risky treatment brownish females returned earlier to nests than greyish females and owlets raised by brownish females were fed with smaller prey than those raised by greyish ones. These results provide support for a previous ignored role of melanins on the propensity to use social information, which may help to explain the maintenance of melanin-based color polymorphisms wherever social environments are variable.
Stimulus arousal drives amygdalar responses to emotional expressions across sensory modalities
Authors: Lin Huiyan , Müller-Bardorff Miriam , Gathmann Bettina , Brieke Jaqueline , Mothes-Lasch Martin , Bruchmann Maximilian , Miltner Wolfgang H. R. , Straube Thomas 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe factors that drive amygdalar responses to emotionally significant stimuli are still a matter of debate – particularly the proneness of the amygdala to respond to negatively-valenced stimuli has been discussed controversially. Furthermore, it is uncertain whether the amygdala responds in a modality-general fashion or whether modality-specific idiosyncrasies exist. Therefore, the present functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study systematically investigated amygdalar responding to stimulus valence and arousal of emotional expressions across visual and auditory modalities. During scanning, participants performed a gender judgment task while prosodic and facial emotional expressions were presented. The stimuli varied in stimulus valence and arousal by including neutral, happy and angry expressions of high and low emotional intensity. Results demonstrate amygdalar activation as a function of stimulus arousal and accordingly associated emotional intensity regardless of stimulus valence. Furthermore, arousal-driven amygdalar responding did not depend on the visual and auditory modalities of emotional expressions. Thus, the current results are consistent with the notion that the amygdala codes general stimulus relevance across visual and auditory modalities irrespective of valence. In addition, whole brain analyses revealed that effects in visual and auditory areas were driven mainly by high intense emotional facial and vocal stimuli, respectively, suggesting modality-specific representations of emotional expressions in auditory and visual cortices.
Radiosensitization of HER2-positive esophageal cancer cells by pyrotinib
Authors: Lian Xiangyao , Zhu Cuimin , Lin Haishan , Gao Zhengxing , Li Guangxin , Zhang Ninggang , Cao Bangwei , Kang Yan 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Radiation therapy is a widely used treatment for esophageal cancer. However, radiation resistance might result in a poor prognosis. Overexpression of HER2 has been related to adaptive radiation resistance. Pyrotinib is a HER2 inhibitor that shows an anti-tumor effect in breast cancer. The present study aims to explore the influence of pyrotinib combined with radiotherapy on HER2-positive esophageal cancer cells and explore the underlying mechanism. We screened two cell lines (TE-1 and KYSE30) that highly express HER2 from several human esophageal cancer cell lines. Cells were treated with pyrotinib or/and radiation. Cell proliferation, cell cycle distribution, and cell migration were measured. The protein levels involved in cell cycle and DNA repair were measured by Western blot. Results showed that pyrotinib inhibited HER2 activation and exerted an anti-proliferative effect in TE-1 and KYSE30 cells. Furthermore, it enhanced the anti-proliferative effect of radiation in these two cell lines. These effects might be via inhibiting HER2 phosphorylation, inducing G0/G1 arrest, and reducing EMT and DNA repair. Our results indicated that pyrotinib sensitivitied HER2 positive esophageal cancer cells to radiation treatment through various mechanisms. These findings may provide a new therapeutic strategy for treating HER2 positive esophageal cancer.