bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An investigation of the relationship between arterial aortic stiffness and coronary slow flow that was detected during coronary angiography
Authors: Genc Tapar Gulsen , Elcik Deniz , Dogan Ali , Altunel Ebru , Inanc Mehmet Tugrul , Alcali Bilal , Boylug Sibel , Oguzhan Abdurrahman , Topsakal Ramazan , Ergin Ali , Kalay Nihat 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAimIncreased intimal thickness in coronary arteries, extensive calcification, and atheromatous plaque that does not cause luminal irregularities in a significant portion of the patients with coronary slow flow (CSF). Arterial stiffness is an indicator for atherosclerosis. We aimed to investigate the relation between coronary slow flow phenomenon (CSFP) and arterial stiffness.MethodTotal of 73 patients were included in the study, and a control group was formed with 64 individuals. Aortic stiffness index β (ASIβ) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were used as the determinant of arterial stiffness in all analyses.ResultPulse wave velocity values were significantly higher in the coronary slow flow group than the control group (P < .001). PWV, aortic stiffness index β (ASIβ) values were found to be significantly higher in the CSF group. ASIβ value was 3.4 ± 1.0 in CSF patients and 2.2 ± 0.6 in the control group (P < .001). Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis showed that PWV predicted coronary slow flow with 97% sensitivity and 90% specificity for 7.15 cutoff value. And aortic stiffness index was found to predict coronary slow flow with 83% sensitivity and 75% specificity for 2.63 cutoff value.ConclusionOur findings prove that coronary slow flow phenomenon should be considered a subgroup of coronary artery diseases and that increased PWV is an indicator of CSFP.
Our Italian experience using lung ultrasound for identification, grading and serial follow‐up of severity of lung involvement for management of patients with COVID‐19
Authors: Vetrugno Luigi , Bove Tiziana , Orso Daniele , Barbariol Federico , Bassi Flavio , Boero Enrico , Ferrari Giovanni , Kong Robert 
Published: April 2020

AbstractLung ultrasound (LU) has rapidly become a tool for assessment of patients stricken by the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID‐19). Over the past two and a half months (January, February, and first half of March 2020) we have used this modality for identification of lung involvement along with pulmonary severity in patients with suspected or documented COVID‐19 infection. Use of LU has helped us in clinical decision making and reduced the use of both chest x‐rays and computed tomography (CT).
Silver‐spoon upbringing improves early‐life fitness but promotes reproductive ageing in a wild bird
Authors: Spagopoulou Foteini , Teplitsky Céline , Chantepie Stéphane , Lind Martin I. , Gustafsson Lars , Maklakov Alexei A. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractEarly‐life conditions can have long‐lasting effects and organisms that experience a poor start in life are often expected to age at a faster rate. Alternatively, individuals raised in high‐quality environments can overinvest in early‐reproduction resulting in rapid ageing. Here we use a long‐term experimental manipulation of early‐life conditions in a natural population of collared flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis), to show that females raised in a low‐competition environment (artificially reduced broods) have higher early‐life reproduction but lower late‐life reproduction than females raised in high‐competition environment (artificially increased broods). Reproductive success of high‐competition females peaked in late‐life, when low‐competition females were already in steep reproductive decline and suffered from a higher mortality rate. Our results demonstrate that ‘silver‐spoon’ natal conditions increase female early‐life performance at the cost of faster reproductive ageing and increased late‐life mortality. These findings demonstrate experimentally that natal environment shapes individual variation in reproductive and actuarial ageing in nature.
Mechanisms of breakdown of Haematococcus pluvialis cell wall by ionic liquids, hydrochloric acid and multi‐enzyme treatment
Authors: Ye Zhang , Tan Xing‐He , Liu Zhi‐Wei , Aadil Rana Muhammad , Tan Yi‐Cheng , Inam‐ur‐Raheem Muhammad 
Published: April 2020

SummaryThe robust cell wall structure of Haematococcus pluvialis (H. pluvialis) consists of polysaccharides and tough non‐hydrolysable sporopollenins, which makes it difficult to extract superpotent antioxidant, astaxanthin from these cells. Therefore, breakdown of cell wall is a key step in the overall process of astaxanthin recovery. In this study, the mechanism of three well‐established chemical techniques for cell disruption of H. pluvialis cysts [ionic liquids (IL), hydrochloric acid (HCl) and multiple enzymes (multi‐enzyme, ME)] on deconstruction of the cyst cell wall of H. pluvialis was explored and characterised by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) analyses. The results demonstrated that the three cell wall breakdown techniques exhibited high extraction efficacies for the recovery of astaxanthin from H. pluvialis [IL (86.71 ± 2.06%), HCl (80.52 ± 2.28%) and ME (71.08 ± 2.49%)]. However, their performances on disrupting the trilayered cell walls of H. pluvialis were significantly different, which were confirmed by distinct morphologies of the treated cell walls visualised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Meanwhile, the results of FTIR confirmed that, to some extent, cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin in the cell walls were hydrolysed by HCl, IL and ME treatments. However, ME exhibited a less hydrolytic effect on lignin than HCl and IL. Moreover, XRD and NMR analyses implied that the amorphous region of cell wall was susceptible to hydrolysis/breakdown by the three techniques.
Cryoballoon ablation for pulmonary vein isolation
Authors: Andrade Jason G. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractOver the past 20 years, multiple studies have demonstrated the superiority of percutaneous catheter‐based pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in the management of atrial fibrillation (AF). Unfortunately, the results of catheter ablation can be limited by arrhythmia recurrence, which is often a result of a failure to achieve durable lesions around the pulmonary vein ostia. In response, significant efforts have been directed toward developing technologies to achieve safer and more durable PVI, including the development of dedicated catheters capable of achieving PVI with a single ablation lesion (eg, the Arctic Front Cryoballoon; Medtronic CryoCath, Pointe‐Claire, Canada). The purpose of this review is to discuss the contemporary role of cryoballoon ablation in the invasive management of AF, with a focus on the characteristics that differentiate cryoballoon from radiofrequency ablation.
Effects of aerobic and resistance exercise on cardiac remodelling and skeletal muscle oxidative stress of infarcted rats
Authors: Gomes Mariana J. , Pagan Luana U. , Lima Aline R. R. , Reyes David R. A. , Martinez Paula F. , Damatto Felipe C. , Pontes Thierres H. D. , Rodrigues Eder A. , Souza Lidiane M. , Tosta Ingrid F. , Fernandes Ana A. H. , Zornoff Leonardo A. M. , Okoshi Katashi , Okoshi Marina P. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractWe compared the influence of aerobic and resistance exercise on cardiac remodelling, physical capacity and skeletal muscle oxidative stress in rats with MI‐induced heart failure. Three months after MI induction, Wistar rats were divided into four groups: Sham; sedentary MI (S‐MI); aerobic exercised MI (A‐MI); and resistance exercised MI (R‐MI). Exercised rats trained three times a week for 12 weeks on a treadmill or ladder. Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA or Kruskal‐Wallis test. Functional aerobic capacity was greater in A‐MI and strength gain higher in R‐MI. Echocardiographic parameters did not differ between infarct groups. Reactive oxygen species production, evaluated by fluorescence, was higher in S‐MI than Sham, and lipid hydroperoxide concentration was lower in A‐MI than the other groups. Glutathione peroxidase activity was higher in A‐MI than S‐MI and R‐MI. Superoxide dismutase was lower in S‐MI than Sham and R‐MI. Gastrocnemius cross‐sectional area, satellite cell activation and expression of the ubiquitin‐proteasome system proteins did not differ between groups. In conclusion, aerobic exercise and resistance exercise improve functional capacity and maximum load carrying, respectively, without changing cardiac remodelling in infarcted rats. In the gastrocnemius, infarction increases oxidative stress and changes antioxidant enzyme activities. Aerobic exercise reduces oxidative stress and attenuates superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase changes.
cMet agonistic antibody attenuates apoptosis in ischaemia‐reperfusion–induced kidney injury
Authors: An Jung Nam , Li Lilin , Lee Junghun , Yu Seung‐Shin , Lee Jeonghwan , Kim Yong Chul , Kim Dong Ki , Oh Yun Kyu , Lim Chun Soo , Kim Yon Su , Kim Sunyoung , Yang Seung Hee , Lee Jung Pyo 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAcute kidney injury (AKI) is a very common complication with high morbidity and mortality rates and no fundamental treatment. In this study, we investigated whether the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/cMet pathway is associated with the development of AKI and how the administration of a cMet agonistic antibody (Ab) affects an AKI model. In the analysis using human blood samples, cMet and HGF levels were found to be significantly increased in the AKI group, regardless of underlying renal function. The administration of a cMet agonistic Ab improved the functional and histological changes after bilateral ischaemia‐reperfusion injury. TUNEL‐positive cells and Bax/Bcl‐2 ratio were also reduced by cMet agonistic Ab treatment. In addition, cMet agonistic Ab treatment significantly increased the levels of PI3K, Akt and mTOR. Furthermore, after 24 hours of hypoxia induction in human proximal tubular epithelial cells, treatment with the cMet agonistic Ab also showed dose‐dependent antiapoptotic effects similar to those of the recombinant HGF treatment. Even when the HGF axis was blocked with a HGF‐blocking Ab, the cMet agonistic Ab showed an independent dose‐dependent antiapoptotic effect. In conclusion, cMet expression is associated with the occurrence of AKI. cMet agonistic Ab treatment attenuates the severity of AKI through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and improves apoptosis. cMet agonistic Ab may have important significance for the treatment of AKI.
Selection of sustainable juice extraction techniques for non‐centrifugal sugar industry using multi‐criteria decision‐making methods
Authors: Beeram Sravya , M Srinivas , Raj SP , K.S Reddy 
Published: April 2020

AbstractNon‐centrifugal sugar (NCS) industry is one of the oldest small‐scale cottage industries in India, with crude and inferior production techniques. Toward transforming these inferior techniques for the sustenance of NCS industry, it is necessary to select sustainable methods among the existing technologies at various stages in the production process. In the production of NCS, juice extraction is the primary and essential process. The present article gives an insight in selecting a sustainable juice extraction technology using various decision approaches. Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) integrated multi‐criteria decision‐making (MCDM) is the decision approaches used for selecting the appropriate juice extraction technique among 6 alternatives based on 11 criteria covering various sustainable factors. Through this MCDM approach, it was obtained that crusher with single horizontal roller that uses electrical motor without any usage of hot water is the most sustainable juice extraction method for NCS production in plant mode with 1.38 group priority weight. On the other hand, crusher with single vertical roller that runs on electrical energy without usage of hot water and crusher with single horizontal roller that runs on diesel engines without the usage of hot water is a comparatively least preferred alternative for NCS production with 3.33 and 3.39 group priority weight, respectively.Practical Applications
This article narrates the novel work undertaken to identify a sustainable crushing technology for extracting sugarcane juice to produce non‐centrifugal sugar.
The analysis is carried out to select the most appropriate technology among 6 crushing technologies based on 11 evaluation criteria spreading across various aspects of sustainability.
The analysis used three multi‐criteria decision‐making (MCDM) methods namely TOPSIS, PROMETHEE, and VIKOR.
Based on this analysis it is found that single horizontal crusher that run on electricity without the use of hot water (SHEN) is the best juice extraction technology.
Hence, this technology could be used by the non‐centrifugal sugar (NCS) industry to produce NCS in a sustainable way.
Further, the methodology presented in this article, demonstrates the use of such methods to identify the better processes/subprocesses to produce NCS in a sustainable way.
SHY2 as a node in the regulation of root meristem development by auxin, brassinosteroids, and cytokinin
Authors: Li Taotao , Kang Xinke , Lei Wei , Yao Xiuhong , Zou Lijuan , Zhang Dawei , Lin Honghui 
Published: April 2020

AbstractIn multicellular organisms, the balance between cell division and differentiation determines organ size, and represents a central unknown in developmental biology. In Arabidopsis roots, this balance is mediated between cytokinin and auxin through a regulatory circuit converging on the IAA3/SHORT HYPOCOTYL 2 (SHY2) gene. Here, we show that crosstalk between brassinosteroids (BRs) and auxin occurs in the vascular transition zone to promote root meristem development. We found that BR increases root meristem size by up‐regulating expression of the PINFORMED 7 (PIN7) gene and down‐regulating expression of the SHY2 gene. In addition, BES1 could directly bind to the promoter regions of both PIN7 and SHY2, indicating that PIN7 and SHY2 mediate the BR‐induced growth of the root meristem by serving as direct targets of BES1. Moreover, the PIN7 overexpression and loss‐of‐function SHY2 mutant were sensitive to the effects of BR and could partially suppress the short‐root phenotypes associated with deficient BR signaling. Interestingly, BRs could inhibit the accumulation of SHY2 protein in response to cytokinin. Taken together, these findings suggest that a complex equilibrium model exists in which regulatory interactions among BRs, auxin, and cytokinin regulate optimal root growth.
The TraK accessory factor activates substrate transfer through the pKM101 type IV secretion system independently of its role in relaxosome assembly
Authors: Li Yang Grace , Christie Peter J. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractA large subfamily of the type IV secretion systems (T4SSs), termed the conjugation systems, transmit mobile genetic elements (MGEs) among many bacterial species. In the initiating steps of conjugative transfer, DNA transfer and replication (Dtr) proteins assemble at the origin‐of‐transfer (oriT) sequence as the relaxosome, which nicks the DNA strand destined for transfer and couples the nicked substrate with the VirD4‐like substrate receptor. Here, we defined contributions of the Dtr protein TraK, a predicted member of the Ribbon‐Helix‐Helix (RHH) family of DNA‐binding proteins, to transfer of DNA and protein substrates through the pKM101‐encoded T4SS. Using a combination of cross‐linking/affinity pull‐downs and two‐hybrid assays, we determined that TraK self‐associates as a probable tetramer and also forms heteromeric contacts with pKM101‐encoded TraI relaxase, VirD4‐like TraJ receptor, and VirB11‐like and VirB4‐like ATPases, TraG and TraB, respectively. TraK also promotes stable TraJ–TraB complex formation and stimulates binding of TraI with TraB. Finally, TraK is required for or strongly stimulates the transfer of cognate (pKM101, TraI relaxase) and noncognate (RSF1010, MobA relaxase) substrates. We propose that TraK functions not only to nucleate pKM101 relaxosome assembly, but also to activate the TrapKM101 T4SS via interactions with the ATPase energy center positioned at the channel entrance.
Beyond natural: synthetic expansions of botanical form and function
Authors: Patron Nicola J. 
Published: April 2020

SummaryPowered by developments that enabled genome‐scale investigations, systems biology emerged as a field aiming to understand how phenotypes emerge from network functions. These advances fuelled a new engineering discipline focussed on synthetic reconstructions of complex biological systems with the goal of predictable rational design and control. Initially, progress in the nascent field of synthetic biology was slow due to the ad hoc nature of molecular biology methods such as cloning. The application of engineering principles such as standardisation, together with several key technical advances, enabled a revolution in the speed and accuracy of genetic manipulation. Combined with mathematical and statistical modelling, this has improved the predictability of engineering biological systems of which nonlinearity and stochasticity are intrinsic features leading to remarkable achievements in biotechnology as well as novel insights into biological function. In the past decade, there has been slow but steady progress in establishing foundations for synthetic biology in plant systems. Recently, this has enabled model‐informed rational design to be successfully applied to the engineering of plant gene regulation and metabolism. Synthetic biology is now poised to transform the potential of plant biotechnology. However, reaching full potential will require conscious adjustments to the skillsets and mind sets of plant scientists.
Exploring folds, evolution and host interactions: understanding effector structure/function in disease and immunity
Authors: Mukhi Nitika , Gorenkin Danylo , Banfield Mark J. 
Published: April 2020

SummaryOver the past decade, tremendous progress has been made in plant pathology, broadening our understanding of how pathogens colonize their hosts. To manipulate host cell physiology and subvert plant immune responses, pathogens secrete an array of effector proteins. A co‐evolutionary arms‐race drives the pathogen to constantly reinvent its effector repertoire to undermine plant immunity. In turn, hosts develop novel immune receptors to maintain effector recognition and mount defences. Understanding how effectors promote disease and how they are perceived by the plant's defence network persist as major subjects in the study of plant–pathogen interactions. Here, we focus on recent advances (over roughly the last two years) in understanding structure/function relationships in effectors from bacteria and filamentous plant pathogens. Structure/function studies of bacterial effectors frequently uncover diverse catalytic activities, while structure‐informed similarity searches have enabled cataloguing of filamentous pathogen effectors. We also suggest how such advances have informed the study of plant–pathogen interactions.
Hybrid breeding for biomass yield in winter triticale: II. Combining ability and hybrid prediction
Authors: Trini Johannes , Maurer Hans Peter , Weissmann Sigrid , Würschum Tobias 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAccurate hybrid prediction and knowledge about the relative contribution of general (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) are of utmost importance for efficient hybrid breeding. We therefore evaluated 91 triticale single‐cross hybrids in field trials at seven environments for plant height, heading time, fresh biomass, dry matter content and dry biomass. Fresh and dry biomass showed the highest proportion (23%) of variance due to SCA. Prediction accuracies based on GCA were slightly higher than based on mid‐parent values. Utilizing parental kinship information yielded the highest prediction accuracies when both parental lines have been tested in other hybrid combinations, but still moderate‐to‐low prediction accuracies for two untested parents. Thus, hybrid prediction for biomass traits in triticale is currently promising based on mid‐parent values as emphasized by our simulation study, but can be expected to shift to GCA‐based prediction with an increasing importance of GCA due to selection in hybrid breeding. Moreover, the performance of potential hybrids between newly developed lines can be predicted with moderate accuracy using genomic relationship information.
Role of ventilatory control instability in children with sleep‐disordered breathing
Authors: Siriwardhana Leon S. , Weichard Aidan , Nixon Gillian M. , Davey Margot J. , Walter Lisa M. , Edwards Bradley A. , Horne Rosemary S.C. 
Published: April 2020

The role of physiological traits such as ventilatory control instability in children with SDB is currently unclear. Our study indicates that altered ventilatory control sensitivity may contribute to SDB in a subgroup of children, depending on their degree of upper airway anatomical compromise.See related Editorial
Computationally efficient familywise error rate control in genome‐wide association studies using score tests for generalized linear models
Authors: Halle Kari Krizak , Bakke Øyvind , Djurovic Srdjan , Bye Anja , Ryeng Einar , Wisløff Ulrik , Andreassen Ole A. , Langaas Mette 
Published: April 2020

AbstractIn genetic association studies, detecting phenotype–genotype association is a primary goal. We assume that the relationship between the data—phenotype, genetic markers and environmental covariates—can be modeled by a generalized linear model. The number of markers is allowed to be far greater than the number of individuals of the study. A multivariate score statistic is used to test each marker for association with a phenotype. We assume that the test statistics asymptotically follow a multivariate normal distribution under the complete null hypothesis of no phenotype–genotype association. We present the familywise error rate order k approximation method to find a local significance level (alternatively, an adjusted p‐value) for each test such that the familywise error rate is controlled. The special case k=1 gives the Šidák method. As a by‐product, an effective number of independent tests can be defined. Furthermore, if environmental covariates and genetic markers are uncorrelated, or no environmental covariates are present, we show that covariances between score statistics depend on genetic markers alone. This not only leads to more efficient calculations but also to a local significance level that is determined only by the collection of markers used, independent of the phenotypes and environmental covariates of the experiment at
hand.
Statistical inference for multiple change‐point models
Authors: Wang Wu , He Xuming , Zhu Zhongyi 
Published: April 2020

AbstractIn this article, we propose a new technique for constructing confidence intervals for the mean of a noisy sequence with multiple change‐points. We use the weighted bootstrap to generalize the bootstrap aggregating or bagging estimator. A standard deviation formula for the bagging estimator is introduced, based on which smoothed confidence intervals are constructed. To further improve the performance of the smoothed interval for weak signals, we suggest a strategy of adaptively choosing between the percentile intervals and the smoothed intervals. A new intensity plot is proposed to visualize the pattern of the change‐points. We also propose a new change‐point estimator based on the intensity plot, which has superior performance in comparison with the state‐of‐the‐art segmentation methods. The finite sample performance of the confidence intervals and the change‐point estimator are evaluated through Monte Carlo studies and illustrated with a real data example.