bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Earliest fossils of giant-sized bony-toothed birds (Aves: Pelagornithidae) from the Eocene of Seymour Island, Antarctica
Authors: Kloess Peter A. , Poust Ashley W. , Stidham Thomas A. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractWhile pelagornithid or ‘bony-toothed’ bird fossils representing multiple species are known from Antarctica, a new dentary fragment of a pelagornithid bird from the middle Eocene Submeseta Formation on Seymour Island, Antarctica represents a species with a body size on par with the largest known species in the clade. Measurements from the partial ‘toothed’ dentary point to a giant body size for the species, although the spacing among the pseudoteeth differs from that published for other pelagornithids. The discrepancy might suggest that previous techniques are not adequate for examination of incomplete material or that another factor such as phylogeny might impact size estimates and comparisons. Combined with a revised stratigraphic position in the early Eocene La Meseta Formation on Seymour Island for the largest pelagornithid tarsometatarsus known, these Antarctic fossils demonstrate the early evolution of giant body size in the clade (by ~ 50 Ma), and they likely represent not only the largest flying birds of the Eocene but also some of the largest volant birds that ever lived (with an estimated 5–6 m wingspan). Furthermore, the distribution of giant-sized pelagornithid fossils across more than 10 million years of Antarctic geological deposits points to a prolonged survival of giant-sized pelagornithids within the southern seas, and their success as a pelagic predatory component of marine and coastal ecosystems alongside early penguins.
Investigating the optimum size of nanoparticles for their delivery into the brain assisted by focused ultrasound-induced blood–brain barrier opening
Authors: Ohta Seiichi , Kikuchi Emi , Ishijima Ayumu , Azuma Takashi , Sakuma Ichiro , Ito Taichi 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe blood–brain barrier (BBB) has hampered the efficiency of nanoparticle delivery into the brain via conventional strategies. The widening of BBB tight junctions via focused ultrasound (FUS) offers a promising approach for enhancing the delivery of nanoparticles into the brain. However, there is currently an insufficient understanding of how nanoparticles pass through the opened BBB gaps. Here we investigated the size-dependence of nanoparticle delivery into the brain assisted by FUS-induced BBB opening, using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) of 3, 15, and 120 nm diameter. For 3- and 15-nm AuNPs, FUS exposure significantly increased permeation across an in vitro BBB model by up to 9.5 times, and the permeability was higher with smaller diameter. However, in vivo transcranial FUS exposure in mice demonstrated that smaller particles were not necessarily better for delivery into the brain. Medium-sized (15 nm) AuNPs showed the highest delivery efficiency (0.22% ID), compared with 3- and 120-nm particles. A computational model suggested that this optimum size was determined by the competition between their permeation through opened BBB gaps and their excretion from blood. Our results would greatly contribute to designing nanoparticles for their delivery into the brain for the treatment of central nervous system diseases.
Role of spin-glass behavior in the formation of exotic magnetic states in GdB6
Authors: Semeno A. V. , Anisimov M. A. , Bogach A. V. , Demishev S. V. , Gilmanov M. I. , Filipov V. B. , Shitsevalova N. Yu. , Glushkov V. V. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractRandomness and frustration are believed to be two crucial criteria for the formation of spin glass state. However, the spin freezing occurs in some well-ordered crystals below the related temperature Tf due to the instability of each spin state, which induces the variation of either magnetic moment value or exchange energy. Here we explore the new mechanism of the in-site originated disorder in antiferromagnets Gd0.73La0.27B6 and GdB6, which is caused by the random mutual shifts of Gd3+ spins from the centrally symmetrical positions in the regular cubic lattice. The universal scaling of ESR linewidth temperature dependencies to the power law ΔH(T) ~ ((T − TD)/TD)α with α = − 1.1 ± 0.05 in the paramagnetic phase of both compounds demonstrates the identity of the origin of magnetic randomness. In Gd0.73La0.27B6 the resulting random spin configurations freeze at Tf ≈ 10.5 K where the maximum of magnetization is observed. Below Tf the splitting of ZFC and FC magnetization curves takes place as well as the magnetic state depends on the antecedent sample history. In the case of GdB6 the coherent displacement of Gd ions compete with these random shifts forming an antiferromagnetic (AFM) phase at TN = 15.5 K, which prevails over the spin freezing at Tf ≈ 13 K, expected from the ESR data. The observation of the hysteresis of the ESR spectrum in the AFM phase suggests that its properties may be determined by the competition of two types of AFM orders, which results in formation of stable magnetic domains with nonequivalent positions of AFM Gd pairs at T < 10 K.
A physiologic overview of the organ-specific transcriptome of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus
Authors: Tirloni Lucas , Braz Gloria , Nunes Rodrigo Dutra , Gandara Ana Caroline Paiva , Vieira Larissa Rezende , Assumpcao Teresa Cristina , Sabadin Gabriela Alves , da Silva Renato Martins , Guizzo Melina Garcia , Machado Josias Alves , Costa Evenilton Pessoa , Santos Daniele , Gomes Helga Fernandes , Moraes Jorge , dos Santos Mota Maria Beatriz , Mesquita Rafael Dias , de Souza Leite Milane , Alvarenga Patricia Hessab , Lara Flavio Alves , Seixas Adriana , da Fonseca Rodrigo Nunes , Fogaça Andrea C. , Logullo Carlos , Tanaka Aparecida Sadae , Daffre Sirlei , Oliveira Pedro L. , da Silva Vaz Itabajara , Ribeiro José M. C. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractTo further obtain insights into the Rhipicephalus microplus transcriptome, we used RNA-seq to carry out a study of expression in (i) embryos; (ii) ovaries from partially and fully engorged females; (iii) salivary glands from partially engorged females; (iv) fat body from partially and fully engorged females; and (v) digestive cells from partially, and (vi) fully engorged females. We obtained > 500 million Illumina reads which were assembled de novo, producing > 190,000 contigs, identifying 18,857 coding sequences (CDS). Reads from each library were mapped back into the assembled transcriptome giving a view of gene expression in different tissues. Transcriptomic expression and pathway analysis showed that several genes related in blood digestion and host-parasite interaction were overexpressed in digestive cells compared with other tissues. Furthermore, essential genes for the cell development and embryogenesis were overexpressed in ovaries. Taken altogether, these data offer novel insights into the physiology of production and role of saliva, blood digestion, energy metabolism, and development with submission of 10,932 novel tissue/cell specific CDS to the NCBI database for this important tick species.
Interannual variability in the lipid and fatty acid profiles of east Australia-migrating humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) across a 10-year timeline
Authors: Groß Jasmin , Virtue Patti , Nichols Peter D. , Eisenmann Pascale , Waugh Courtney A. , Bengtson Nash Susan 
Published: October 2020

AbstractSouthern hemisphere humpback whales are classified as high-fidelity Antarctic krill consumers and as such are vulnerable to variability and long-term changes in krill biomass. Evidence of heterogeneous feeding patterns of east coast of Australia migrating humpback whales has been observed, warranting a comprehensive assessment of interannual variability in their diet. We examined the lipid and fatty acid profiles of individuals of the east coast of Australia migrating stock sampled between 2008 and 2018. The use of live-sampled blubber biopsies showed that fatty acid profiles varied significantly among all years. The two trophic indicator fatty acids for Antarctic krill, 20:5ω3 and 22:6ω3 remained largely unchanged across the 10-year period, suggesting that Antarctic krill is the principal prey item. A distance-based linear model showed that 33% of the total variation in fatty acid profiles was explained by environmental variables and climate indices. Most of the variation was explained by the Southern Annular Mode (23.7%). The high degree of variability observed in this study was unexpected for a species that is thought to feed primarily on one prey item. We propose that the observed variability likely arises from changes in the diet of Antarctic krill rather than changes in the whale’s diet.
Osteogenic potential of human adipose derived stem cells (hASCs) seeded on titanium trabecular spinal cages
Authors: Caliogna Laura , Bina Valentina , Botta Laura , Benazzo Francesco Maria , Medetti Marta , Maestretti Gianluca , Mosconi Mario , Cofano Fabio , Tartara Fulvio , Gastaldi Giulia 
Published: October 2020

AbstractSpine degenerative conditions are becoming increasingly prevalent, affecting about 5.7% of the population in Europe, resulting in a significant reduction of life’s quality. Up to now, many materials have been used in manufacturing cage implants, used as graft substitutes, to achieve immediate and long-term spinal fixation. Particularly, titanium and its alloys are emerging as valuable candidates to develop new types of cages. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the adhesion, proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) seeded on trabecular titanium cages. ASCs adhered, proliferated and produced an abundant extracellular matrix during the 3 weeks of culture. In the presence of osteogenic medium, ASCs differentiated into osteoblast-like cells: the expression of typical bone genes, as well as the alkaline phosphatase activity, was statistically higher than in controls. Furthermore, the dispersive spectrometry microanalysis showed a marked increase of calcium level in cells grown in osteogenic medium. Plus, our preliminary data about osteoinduction suggest that this titanium implant has the potential to induce the ASCs to produce a secretome able to trigger a shift in the ASCs phenotype, possibly towards the osteogenic differentiation, as illustrated by the qRT-PCR and ALP biochemical assay results. The trabecular porous organization of these cages is rather similar to the cancellous bone structure, thus allowing the bone matrix to colonize it efficiently; for these reasons we can conclude that the architecture of this cage may play a role in modulating the osteoinductive capabilities of the implant, thus encouraging its engagement in in vivo studies for the treatment of spinal deformities and diseases.
Association between Ménière’s disease and thyroid diseases: a nested case–control study
Authors: Kim So Young , Song Young Shin , Wee Jee Hye , Min Chanyang , Yoo Dae Myoung , Choi Hyo Geun 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe association of thyroid disease and Ménière’s disease would suggest that both are autoimmune diseases. This study aimed to investigate the relation of goiter, hypothyroidism, thyroiditis, hyperthyroidism, and autoimmune thyroiditis with Ménière’s disease. The Korean National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort data from 2002 through 2015 were used. The 8183 adult patients with Ménière’s disease were 1:4 matched with the 32,732 individuals of the control group for age, sex, income, and region of residence. The previous histories of thyroid disorders including goiter, hypothyroidism, thyroiditis, and hyperthyroidism were investigated using conditional logistic regression analyses. Subgroup analyses were conducted, including for age and sex. Smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, Charlson Comorbidity Index, histories of benign paroxysmal vertigo, vestibular neuronitis, other peripheral vertigo, thyroid cancer, and levothyroxine medication were adjusted in the models. The histories of goiter (5.7% vs. 4.2%), hypothyroidism (4.7% vs. 3.6%), thyroiditis (2.1% vs. 1.6%), hyperthyroidism (3.6% vs. 2.5%), and autoimmune thyroiditis (0.99% vs. 0.67%) were higher in the Meniere’s disease group than in the control group (all P < 0.05). The histories of goiter, hypothyroidism, and hyperthyroidism were associated with Ménière’s disease (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.19 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.04–1.36] for goiter, 1.21 [95% CI 1.02–1.44] for hypothyroidism, and 1.27 [95% CI 1.09–1.49] for hyperthyroidism, each of P < 0.05). In subgroup analyses, hypothyroidism was associated with Ménière’s disease in < 65-year-old women. Hyperthyroidism was related with Ménière’s disease in women overall. Thyroid diseases of goiter, hypothyroidism, and hyperthyroidism were associated with Ménière’s disease.
Optimization of T4 phage engineering via CRISPR/Cas9
Authors: Duong Michelle M. , Carmody Caitlin M. , Ma Qinqin , Peters Joseph E. , Nugen Sam R. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractA major limitation hindering the widespread use of synthetic phages in medical and industrial settings is the lack of an efficient phage-engineering platform. Classical T4 phage engineering and several newly proposed methods are often inefficient and time consuming and consequently, only able to produce an inconsistent range of genomic editing rates between 0.03–3%. Here, we review and present new understandings of the CRISPR/Cas9 assisted genome engineering technique that significantly improves the genomic editing rate of T4 phages. Our results indicate that crRNAs selection is a major rate limiting factor in T4 phage engineering via CRISPR/Cas9. We were able to achieve an editing rate of > 99% for multiple genes that functionalizes the phages for further applications. We envision that this improved phage-engineering platform will accelerate the fields of individualized phage therapy, biocontrol, and rapid diagnostics.
Inhibition of MUC1 exerts cell-cycle arrest and telomerase suppression in glioblastoma cells
Authors: Kim Sojin , Seo Youngbeom , Chowdhury Tamrin , Yu Hyeon Jong , Lee Chae Eun , Kim Kyung-Min , Kang Ho , Kim Hak Jae , Park Soo-Ji , Kim Kyoungmi , Park Chul-Kee 
Published: October 2020

AbstractMucin 1 (MUC1) is a transmembrane glycoprotein involved in tumorigenesis of diverse cancers. However, the role of MUC1 in glioblastoma (GBM) has not yet been fully explored. In this study, the anticancer mechanism of MUC1 suppression in GBM was investigated. The expression level of MUC1 was analyzed in human glioma and paired normal brain tissues. MUC1 was overexpressed in GBM and was negatively associated with overall survival. Moreover, we silenced MUC1 to investigate its effect in GBM cell lines and found that knockdown of MUC1 inhibited cell proliferation and resulted in cell cycle arrest at G1 phase. MUC1 silencing decreased the phosphorylation of RB1 and increased the expression of CDKN1B. Gene set enrichment analysis showed that a series of genes related to cell cycle, telomere maintenance and transforming growth factor Beta (TGF-β) signaling in epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) were influenced by MUC1 knockdown. Notably, the reduced TERT expression levels combined with impaired telomerase activity and the switching of telomere maintenance mechanism to alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) were observed after MUC1 knockdown. Our results support the role of MUC1 in oncological process in GBM which can be developed as a therapeutic target for cell cycle control and telomere maintenance mechanism.
Establishment and application of a novel method based on single nucleotide polymorphism analysis for detecting β-globin gene cluster deletions
Authors: Hu Siqi , Zhan Wenli , Wang Jicheng , Xie Jia , Zhou Weiping , Yang Xiaohan , Zeng Yukun , Hu Tingting , Duan Lei , Chen Keyi , Du Li , Yin Aihua , Luo Mingyong 
Published: October 2020

Abstractβ-Globin gene mutations reduce or terminate the production of beta globin chains, of which approximately 10% are large deletions within the β-globin gene cluster. Because gene deletion leads to loss of heterozygosity at single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), a novel method for detecting β-globin gene cluster deletions based on SNP heterozygosity analysis was established in this study. The location range of SNPs was selected according to the breakpoint of β-globin gene cluster deletions. SNPs were screened using bioinformatics analysis and population sequencing data. A novel method which enables genotyping of multiplex SNPs based on tetra-primer ARMS-PCR was designed and optimized. Forty clinical samples were tested in parallel by this method and MLPA to verify the performance of this method for detecting β-globin gene cluster deletion. Six informative SNPs were obtained, achieving heterozygote coverage of 93.3% in normal individuals. Genotyping of six SNPs were successfully integrated into two multiplex tetra-primer ARMS-PCR reactions. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the method for detecting β-globin gene cluster deletion were 100%, 96.30%, 92.86%, and 100%, respectively. This is a simple, cost-effective and novel method for detecting β-globin gene cluster deletions, which may be suitable for use in combination with MLPA for thalassemia molecular testing.
Formation of the Musca filament: evidence for asymmetries in the accretion flow due to a cloud–cloud collision
Authors: Bonne L. , Bontemps S. , Schneider N. , Clarke S. D. , Arzoumanian D. , Fukui Y. , Tachihara K. , Csengeri T. , Guesten R. , Ohama A. , Okamoto R. , Simon R. , Yahia H. , Yamamoto H. 
Published: October 2020

Context.Dense molecular filaments are ubiquituous in the interstellar medium, yet their internal physical conditions and the role of gravity, turbulence, the magnetic field, radiation, and the ambient cloud during their evolution remain debated.Aims.We study the kinematics and physical conditions in the Musca filament, the ambient cloud, and the Chamaeleon-Musca complex to constrain the physics of filament formation.Methods.We produced CO(2–1) isotopologue maps with the APEX telescope that cut through the Musca filament. We further study a NANTEN212CO(1–0) map of the full Musca cloud, H Iemission of the Chamaeleon-Musca complex, aPlanckpolarisation map, line radiative transfer models,Gaiadata, and synthetic observations from filament formation simulations.Results.The Musca cloud, with a size of ~3–6 pc, contains multiple velocity components. Radiative transfer modelling of the CO emission indicates that the Musca filament consists of a cold (~10 K), dense (nH2∼ 104cm−3) crest, which is best described with a cylindrical geometry. Connected to the crest, a separate gas component atT~ 15 K andnH2∼ 103cm−3is found, the so-called strands. The velocity-coherent filament crest has an organised transverse velocity gradient that is linked to the kinematics of the nearby ambient cloud. This velocity gradient has an angle ≥30° with respect to the local magnetic field orientation derived fromPlanck, and the magnitude of the velocity gradient is similar to the transonic linewidth of the filament crest. Studying the large scale kinematics, we find coherence of the asymmetric kinematics from the 50 pc H Icloud down to the Musca filament. We also report a strong [C18O]/[13CO] abundance drop by an order of magnitude from the filament crest to the strands over a distance <0.2 pc in a weak ambient far-ultraviolet (FUV) field.Conclusions.The dense Musca filament crest is a long-lived (several crossing times), dynamic structure that can form stars in the near future because of continuous mass accretion replenishing the filament. This mass accretion on the filament appears to be triggered by a H Icloud–cloud collision, which bends the magnetic field around dense filaments. This bending of the magnetic field is then responsible for the observed asymmetric accretion scenario of the Musca filament, which is, for instance, seen as a V-shape in the position–velocity (PV) diagram.
Lokale Vibrationstherapie in der Neurorehabilitation – Eignet sich der intraorale Vibrationsspatel zur Verbesserung der Zungenkraft bei Schlaganfallpatienten? – Eine Pilotstudie
Authors: Hricová Marianna , Hammer Sina 
Published: October 2020

Zusammenfassung
Ziel Das Ziel der Pilotstudie ist es die Wirkung der Vibrationstherapie mit den intraoralen Aufsätzen des Novafon Schallwellengerätes auf die Zungenkraft zu messen und diese mit der Wirkung der Standardtherapie – Widerstandsübungen mit dem Holzmundspatel zu vergleichen.
Methode Sechs Probanden wurden in die Interventionsgruppe (Vibrationstherapie) und Kontrollgruppe (Standardtherapie) eingeteilt. Nach Messung des Zungenspitzendrucks mittels IOPI führten beide Gruppen 3 Wochen lang viermal wöchentlich Zungenwiderstandsübungen durch. Nach der Interventionsphase wurde der Zungenspitzendruck gemessen und verglichen.
Ergebnisse Alle Probanden der Interventionsgruppe konnten ihren Zungenspitzendruck im Vergleich mit der Kontrollgruppe messbar steigern.
Schlussfolgerung Widerstandsübungen der Zunge gestützt durch lokale Vibration von 100 Hz können die Zungenkraft bei Schlaganfallpatienten mit Dysphagie messbar verbessern.
Virtual-Reality-Anwendungen für den Einsatz in der Luftfahrt und im All
Authors: Pustowalow Willi , Arz Michael , Petrat Guido , Frett Timo 
Published: October 2020

ZUSAMMENFASSUNGVirtual-Reality-Anwendungen (VR-Anwendungen) werden neben der Unterhaltsbranche auch in vielen industriellen und medizinischen Anwendungsfeldern genutzt 1, 2. Auch in der Raumfahrt wird derzeit der Nutzen von VR-Technologien erforscht. Neben einer Verbesserung bei der Vorbereitung von Experimenten im All steht dabei die Gesunderhaltung der Astronauten besonders bei Langzeitmissionen im Vordergrund 3. Ein möglicher Ansatz ist der Einsatz von VR beim körperlichen Training unter künstlicher Gravitation. Das Ziel ist die Entwicklung eines einfach zu nutzenden VR-Systems, mit dessen Hilfe ein Training unter künstlicher Schwerkraft in einer virtuellen Umgebung zur Erholung genutzt werden kann 1, 4, 5. Am Markt verfügbare VR-Systeme sind für einen statischen Raum konzipiert. Um VR-Systeme in Umgebungen mit erhöhten Beschleunigungen, wie auf einer Zentrifuge, nutzbar zu machen, wurde die Berechnung der virtuellen Realität an die drehende Umgebung angepasst. Erste Tests waren erfolgreich. Ob die Nutzung von virtuellen Umgebungen auch zu einer besseren Gewöhnung an ein Training unter hohen Beschleunigungskräften führen kann, wird im Rahmen von weiteren Studien ergründet.