bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Severe below-maintenance feed intake increases methane yield from enteric fermentation in cattle
Authors: Goopy J. P. , Korir D. , Pelster D. , Ali A. I. M. , Wassie S. E. , Schlecht E. , Dickhoefer U. , Merbold L. , Butterbach-Bahl K. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe relationship between feed intake at production levels and enteric CH4 production in ruminants consuming forage-based diets is well described and considered to be strongly linear. Unlike temperate grazing systems, the intake of ruminants in rain-fed tropical systems is typically below maintenance requirements for part of the year (dry seasons). The relationship between CH4 production and feed intake in animals fed well below maintenance is unexplored, but changes in key digestive parameters in animals fed at low levels suggest that this relationship may be altered. We conducted a study using Boran yearling steers (n 12; live weight: 162·3 kg) in a 4 × 4 Latin square design to assess the effect of moderate to severe undernutrition on apparent digestibility, rumen turnover and enteric CH4 production of cattle consuming a tropical forage diet. We concluded that while production of CH4 decreased (1133·3–65·0 g CH4/d; P < 0·0001), over the range of feeding from about 1·0 to 0·4 maintenance energy requirement, both CH4 yield (29·0−31·2 g CH4/kg DM intake; P < 0·001) and CH4 conversion factor (Ym 9·1–10·1 MJ CH4/MJ gross energy intake; P < 0·01) increased as intake fell and postulate that this may be attributable to changes in nutrient partitioning. We suggest there is a case for revising emission factors of ruminants where there are seasonal nutritional deficits and both environmental and financial benefits for improved feeding of animals under nutritional stress.
Examining the sentence superiority effect for sentences presented and reported in forwards or backwards order
Authors: Roverud Elin , Bradlow Ann R. , Kidd Gerald 
Published: March 2020

AbstractMemory for speech benefits from linguistic structure. Recall is better for sentences than for random strings of words (the “sentence superiority effect”; SSE), and evidence suggests that ongoing speech may be organized advantageously as clauses in memory (recall by word position shows within-clause U shape). In this study, we examined the SSE and clause-based organization for closed-set speech materials with low semantic predictability and without typical prosody. An overall SSE was observed and accuracy by word position was enhanced at the clause boundaries for these materials. Next, we tested the effects of mental manipulation on the SSE and clause-based organization. Listeners heard word strings that were syntactic, were arranged syntactically then presented backwards, or were random draws. Participants responded to materials as presented or in reversed order, requiring mental manipulation. Clause-level organization was apparent only for materials presented in syntactic order regardless of response order. After accounting for benefits due to reductions in uncertainty for these close-set materials, an SSE was present for syntactic materials regardless of response order, and for the syntactic backwards condition with reverse-order response (yielding a syntactically correct sentence in the response). Thus, the SSE was both resistant to and could be obtained following mental manipulation.
Congenital right ventricular aneurysm with characteristics of a pseudoaneurysm
Authors: Umapathi Krishna K. , Bokowski John W. , Nguyen Hoang H. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractWe report a case of an isolated congenital right ventricular outpouching detected incidentally on foetal echocardiogram that was performed due to suspicion of CHD. Subsequent echocardiogram after birth revealed an aneurysm with features of a pseudoaneurysm having a thin and hypokinetic wall connected to the ventricleʼs cavity via a narrow neck. This pseudoaneurysm appears to be stable in size and of no clinical significance during the short-term follow-up.
Device-Measured Physical Activity and Cognitive Processing Speed Impairment in a Large Sample of Persons with Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Sandroff Brian M. , Motl Robert W. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractObjective:There is accumulating evidence regarding the beneficial effects of physical activity (PA) on cognitive processing speed in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, one overarching limitation of this research is that researchers have not recruited samples who have the actual problem of being studied (i.e., cognitive processing speed impairment). This study examined associations between device-measured PA and cognitive processing speed in a large sample of persons with MS overall and between those with and without cognitive processing speed impairment.Method:Three hundred eighty-five persons with MS underwent the oral Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) and wore an accelerometer for 7 days for PA measurement. We divided the overall sample into subsamples with (n = 140) and without (n = 245) cognitive processing speed impairment based on age, sex, and education-adjusted SDMT Z-scores.Results:After controlling for age and disability status, higher levels of device-measured PA were significantly associated with faster cognitive processing speed overall, and the association was significantly stronger among persons with MS who presented with cognitive processing speed impairment.Conclusions:This examination provides initial cross-sectional support for informing the development of PA interventions as a possible approach for managing MS-related cognitive processing speed impairment. This highlights the importance of developing purposefully designed trials involving PA interventions for targeting cognitive processing speed as a primary end point among persons with MS with impaired cognitive processing speed.
Effect of drought stress on agro-morphological traits in sunflower (Helianthus annuusL.) genotypes and identification of informative ISSR markers
Authors: Darbani S. P. , Mehrabi A. A. , Pordad S. S. , Maleki A. , Farshadfar M. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe aims of the current study were to investigate the effect of drought stress on phenological and morphological traits of sunflower genotypes and to determine the important traits for identifying drought-tolerant and drought-sensitive cultivars. For this purpose, a lattice square-design experiment was conducted with 64 sunflower genotypes in an 8 × 8 pattern with two replications under non-stress and moisture-stress conditions (irrigation holding at the flowering stage) during 2 years 2016 and 2017. Measured and recorded traits were included the some phenological and morphological traits seeds. Sil-96 genotype showed the highest yield under both non-stress and moisture-stress conditions. Among the morphological traits, the head and stem diameters were highly significant to determine the final yield. In comparing the genotypes, it was concluded that the number of seeds per head was the most influential component affecting the yield. Furthermore, 1000-seed weight was the most important factor affecting grain yield under moisture-stress conditions. The result of association analysis study shows that 45 of inter-simple sequence repeat markers in a general linear model are associated with yield and yield component traits and 23 of them were verified in a mixed linear model (MLM) association approach. Also, 32 markers were informative for morpho-physiological traits and 24 of them verified using the MLM. Finally, 19 informative markers were identified for phenological traits and 10 of them were verified by the MLM.
Cropland Carbon Uptake Delayed and Reduced by 2019 Midwest Floods
Authors: Yin Yi , Byrne Brendan , Liu Junjie , Wennberg Paul O. , Davis Kenneth J. , Magney Troy , Köhler Philipp , He Liyin , Jeyaram Rupesh , Humphrey Vincent , Gerken Tobias , Feng Sha , Digangi Joshua P. , Frankenberg Christian 
Published: March 2020

AbstractWhile large‐scale floods directly impact human lives and infrastructures, they also profoundly impact agricultural productivity. New satellite observations of vegetation activity and atmospheric CO2 offer the opportunity to quantify the effects of such extreme events on cropland carbon sequestration. Widespread flooding during spring and early summer 2019 induced conditions that delayed crop planting across the U.S. Midwest. As a result, satellite observations of solar‐induced chlorophyll fluorescence from TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument and Orbiting Carbon Observatory reveal a 16‐day shift in the seasonal cycle of photosynthesis relative to 2018, along with a 15% lower peak value. We estimate a reduction of 0.21 PgC in cropland gross primary productivity in June and July, partially compensated in August and September (+0.14 PgC). The extension of the 2019 growing season into late September is likely to have benefited from increased water availability and late‐season temperature. Ultimately, this change is predicted to reduce the crop productivity in the Midwest Corn/Soy belt by ~15% compared to 2018. Using an atmospheric transport model, we show that a decline of ~0.1 PgC in the net carbon uptake during June and July is consistent with observed CO2 enhancements of up to 10 ppm in the midday boundary layer from Atmospheric Carbon and Transport‐America aircraft and over 3 ppm in column‐averaged dry‐air mole fractions from Orbiting Carbon Observatory. This study quantifies the impact of floods on cropland productivity and demonstrates the potential of combining solar‐induced chlorophyll fluorescence with atmospheric CO2 observations to monitor regional carbon flux anomalies.
Direct Observations of a Polar Cap Patch Formation Associated With Dayside Reconnection Driven Fast Flow
Authors: Ren Jiaen , Zou Shasha , Kendall Elizabeth , Coster Anthea , Sterne Kevin , Ruohoniemi Michael 
Published: March 2020

AbstractDayside solar‐produced concentrated F region plasma can be transported from the midlatitude region into the polar cap during geomagnetically disturbed period, creating plasma density irregularities like polar cap patches, which can cause scintillation and degrade performance of satellite communication and navigation at polar latitudes. In this paper, we observed and investigated a dynamic formation process of a polar cap patch during the 13 October 2016 intense geomagnetic storm. During the storm main phase, storm‐enhanced density (SED) was formed within an extended period of strong southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) Bz condition. Total electron content (TEC) map shows that a polar cap patch was segmented from the SED plume. The Sondrestrom Incoherent Scatter Radar (ISR) was right underneath the segmentation region and captured the dynamic process. It shows that the patch segmentation was related with a sudden northeastward flow enhancement reaching ~2 km/s near the dayside cusp inflow region. The flow surge was observed along with abrupt E region electron temperature increase, F region ion temperature increase, and density decrease. The upstream solar wind and IMF observations suggest that the flow enhancement was associated with dayside magnetic reconnection triggered by a sudden and short period of IMF By negative excursion. Quantitative estimation suggests that plasma density loss due to enhanced frictional heating was insufficient for the patch segmentation because the elevated F region density peaking at ~500 km made dissociative recombination inefficient. Instead, the patch was segmented from the SED by low‐density plasma transported by the fast flow channel from earlier local time.
SIRT7: an influence factor in healthy aging and the development of age-dependent myeloid stem-cell disorders
Authors: Kaiser Alexander , Schmidt Martin , Huber Otmar , Frietsch Jochen J. , Scholl Sebastian , Heidel Florian H. , Hochhaus Andreas , Müller Jörg P. , Ernst Thomas 
Published: March 2020

AbstractMolecular alterations within the hematopoietic system influence cellular longevity and development of age-related myeloid stem-cell disorders like acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). A reduced SIRT7-expression in aged murine hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) resulted in reduced longevity and increased proliferation. In this study we investigated age-related changes of SIRT7-expression in healthy humans and relevant pathomechanisms in AML and CML. SIRT7-expression in leukocytes of healthy people decreased in an age-dependent manner. Low SIRT7 mRNA levels were also detected in AML and CML patients. With positive treatment response, SIRT7-expression increased, but showed reduction when patients progressed or relapsed. Pharmacologic inhibition of driver mutations in AML (FLT3-ITD) or CML (BCR-ABL) also restored SIRT7 levels in cell lines and patient samples. Furthermore, SIRT7-expression increased with time during PMA-mediated monocyte differentiation of THP-1 cells. SIRT7-overexpression in THP-1 cells resulted in increased expression of differentiation markers. BCR-ABL, FLT3-ITD, and differentiation-associated SIRT7-expression in general were positively regulated by C/EBPα, -β, and -ε binding to two different C/EBP-binding sites within the SIRT7 promoter. SIRT7 is important in human hematopoietic cell aging and longevity. It might act as tumor suppressor and could potentially serve as general biomarker for monitoring treatment response in myeloid stem-cell disorders.
Clinical activity of a htert (vx-001) cancer vaccine as post-chemotherapy maintenance immunotherapy in patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer: final results of a randomised phase 2 clinical trial
Authors:   on behalf of the Vx-001-201 trial team, Gridelli Cesare , Ciuleanu Tudor , Domine Manuel , Szczesna Aleksandra , Bover Isabel , Cobo Manuel , Kentepozidis Nikolaos , Zarogoulidis Konstantinos , Kalofonos Charalabos , Kazarnowisz Andrzej , Korozan Magdalena , de las Penas Ramon , Majem Margarita , Chella Antonio , Griesinger Frank , Bournakis Evangelos , Sadjadian Parvis , Kotsakis Athanasios , Chinet Thierry , Syrigos Kostantinos N. , Correale Pierpaolo , Gallou Catherine , Jamet Jeanne- Menez , Vetsika Eleni- Kyriaki , Kosmatopoulos Kostas , Georgoulias Vassilis 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background
The cancer vaccine Vx-001, which targets the universal tumour antigen TElomerase Reverse Transcriptase (TERT), can mount specific Vx-001/TERT572 CD8 + cytotoxic T cells; this immune response is associated with improved overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods
A randomised, double blind, phase 2b trial, in HLA-A*201-positive patients with metastatic, TERT-expressing NSCLC, who did not progress after first-line platinum-based chemotherapy were randomised to receive either Vx-001 or placebo. The primary endpoint of the trial was OS.

Results
Two hundred and twenty-one patients were randomised and 190 (101 and 89 patients in the placebo and the Vx-001 arm, respectively) were analysed for efficacy. There was not treatment-related toxicity >grade 2. The study did not meet its primary endpoint (median OS 11.3 and 14.3 months for the placebo and the Vx-001, respectively; p = 0.86) whereas the median Time to Treatment Failure (TTF) was 3.5 and 3.6 months, respectively. Disease control for >6months was observed in 30 (33.7%) and 26 (25.7%) patients treated with Vx-001 and placebo, respectively. There was no documented objective CR or PR. Long lasting TERT-specific immune response was observed in 29.2% of vaccinated patients who experienced a significantly longer OS compared to non-responders (21.3 and 13.4 months, respectively; p = 0.004).

Conclusion
Vx-001 could induce specific CD8+ immune response but failed to meet its primary endpoint. Subsequent studies have to be focused on the identification and treatment of subgroups of patients able to mount an effective immunological response to Vx-001.

Clinical trial registration
NCT01935154
First-line exome sequencing in Palestinian and Israeli Arabs with neurological disorders is efficient and facilitates disease gene discovery
Authors: Hengel Holger , Buchert Rebecca , Sturm Marc , Haack Tobias B. , Schelling Yvonne , Mahajnah Muhammad , Sharkia Rajech , Azem Abdussalam , Balousha Ghassan , Ghanem Zaid , Falana Mohammed , Balousha Osama , Ayesh Suhail , Keimer Reinhard , Deigendesch Werner , Zaidan Jimmy , Marzouqa Hiyam , Bauer Peter , Schöls Ludger 
Published: March 2020

AbstractA high rate of consanguinity leads to a high prevalence of autosomal recessive disorders in inbred populations. One example of inbred populations is the Arab communities in Israel and the Palestinian Authority. In the Palestinian Authority in particular, due to limited access to specialized medical care, most patients do not receive a genetic diagnosis and can therefore neither receive genetic counseling nor possibly specific treatment. We used whole-exome sequencing as a first-line diagnostic tool in 83 Palestinian and Israeli Arab families with suspected neurogenetic disorders and were able to establish a probable genetic diagnosis in 51% of the families (42 families). Pathogenic, likely pathogenic or highly suggestive candidate variants were found in the following genes extending and refining the mutational and phenotypic spectrum of these rare disorders: ACO2, ADAT3, ALS2, AMPD2, APTX, B4GALNT1, CAPN1, CLCN1, CNTNAP1, DNAJC6, GAMT, GPT2, KCNQ2, KIF11, LCA5, MCOLN1, MECP2, MFN2, MTMR2, NT5C2, NTRK1, PEX1, POLR3A, PRICKLE1, PRKN, PRX, SCAPER, SEPSECS, SGCG, SLC25A15, SPG11, SYNJ1, TMCO1, and TSEN54. Further, this cohort has proven to be ideal for prioritization of new disease genes. Two separately published candidate genes (WWOX and PAX7) were identified in this study. Analyzing the runs of homozygosity (ROHs) derived from the Exome sequencing data as a marker for the rate of inbreeding, revealed significantly longer ROHs in the included families compared with a German control cohort. The total length of ROHs correlated with the detection rate of recessive disease-causing variants. Identification of the disease-causing gene led to new therapeutic options in four families.
A subset of SMN complex members have a specific role in tissue regeneration via ERBB pathway-mediated proliferation
Authors: Pei Wuhong , Xu Lisha , Chen Zelin , Slevin Claire C. , Pettie Kade P. , Wincovitch Stephen ,   NISC Comparative Sequencing Program, Barnabas Beatrice B. , Black Sean , Bouffard Gerard G. , Brooks Shelise Y. , Coleman Holly , Dekhtyar Lyudmila , Guan Xiaobin , Han Joel , Ho Shi-ling , Legaspi Richelle , Maduro Quino L. , Masiello Catherine A. , McDowell Jennifer C. , Montemayor Casandra , Mullikin James C. , Park Morgan , Riebow Nancy L. , Schandler Karen , Scharer Chanthra , Schmidt Brian , Sison Christina , Stantripop Sirintorn , Thomas James W. , Thomas Pamela J. , Vemulapalli Meghana , Young Alice C. , Burgess Shawn M. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractSpinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is the most common genetic disease in children. SMA is generally caused by mutations in the gene SMN1. The survival of motor neurons (SMN) complex consists of SMN1, Gemins (2–8), and Strap/Unrip. We previously demonstrated smn1 and gemin5 inhibited tissue regeneration in zebrafish. Here we investigated each individual SMN complex member and identified gemin3 as another regeneration-essential gene. These three genes are likely pan-regenerative, since they affect the regeneration of hair cells, liver, and caudal fin. RNA-Seq analysis reveals that smn1, gemin3, and gemin5 are linked to a common set of genetic pathways, including the tp53 and ErbB pathways. Additional studies indicated all three genes facilitate regeneration by inhibiting the ErbB pathway, thereby allowing cell proliferation in the injured neuromasts. This study provides a new understanding of the SMN complex and a potential etiology for SMA and potentially other rare unidentified genetic diseases with similar symptoms.
Pregnancy has a minimal impact on the acute transcriptional signature to vaccination
Authors: Tregoning John S. , Weiner January , Cizmeci Deniz , Hake Danielle , Maertzdorf Jeroen , Kaufmann Stefan H. E. , Leroux-Roels Geert , Maes Cathy , Aerssens Annelies , Calvert Anna , Jones Christine E. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractVaccination in pregnancy is an effective tool to protect both the mother and infant; vaccines against influenza, pertussis and tetanus are currently recommended. A number of vaccines with a specific indication for use in pregnancy are in development, with the specific aim of providing passive humoral immunity to the newborn child against pathogens responsible for morbidity and mortality in young infants. However, the current understanding about the immune response to vaccination in pregnancy is incomplete. We analysed the effect of pregnancy on early transcriptional responses to vaccination. This type of systems vaccinology approach identifies genes and pathways that are altered in response to vaccination and can be used to understand both the acute inflammation in response to the vaccine and to predict immunogenicity. Pregnant women and mice were immunised with Boostrix-IPV, a multivalent vaccine, which contains three pertussis antigens. Blood was collected from women before and after vaccination and RNA extracted for analysis by microarray. While there were baseline differences between pregnant and non-pregnant women, vaccination induced characteristic patterns of gene expression, with upregulation in interferon response and innate immunity gene modules, independent of pregnancy. We saw similar patterns of responses in both women and mice, supporting the use of mice for preclinical screening of novel maternal vaccines. Using a systems vaccinology approach in pregnancy demonstrated that pregnancy does not affect the initial response to vaccination and that studies in non-pregnant women can provide information about vaccine immunogenicity and potentially safety.
Two-dimensional finite element analysis of elastic adhesive contact of a rough surface
Authors: Radhakrishnan Harish , Akarapu Sreekanth 
Published: March 2020

AbstractAdhesive contact of a rigid flat surface with an elastic substrate having Weierstrass surface profile is numerically analyzed using the finite element method. In this work, we investigate the relationship between load and contact area spanning the limits of non-adhesive normal contact to adhesive contact for various substrate material properties, surface energy and roughness parameters. In the limit of non-adhesive normal contact, our results are consistent with published work. For the adhesive contact problem, we employ Lennard-Jones type local contact interaction model with numerical regularization to study the transition from partial to full contact including jump-to-contact instabilities as well as load-depth hysteresis. We have investigated evolution of bonded contact area and pull-off force for various surface roughness parameters, substrate material properties and surface energy. We have identified two non-dimensional parameters to adequately explain experimentally observed adhesion weakening and strengthening phenomena. A design chart of the relative pull-off force as function of non-dimensional parameters is also presented.