bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous lipid production for biodiesel feedstock and decontamination of sago processing wastewater using Candida tropicalis ASY2
Authors: Thangavelu Kiruthika , Sundararaju Pugalendhi , Srinivasan Naganandhini , Muniraj Iniyakumar , Uthandi Sivakumar 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background
Without sufficient alternatives to crude oil, as demand continues to rise, the global economy will undergo a drastic decline as oil prices explode. Dependence on crude oil and growing environmental impairment must eventually be overcome by creating a sustainable and profitable alternative based on renewable and accessible feedstock. One of the promising solutions for the current and near-future is the substitution of fossil fuels with sustainable liquid feedstock for biofuel production. Among the different renewable liquid feedstock’s studied, wastewater is the least explored one for biodiesel production. Sago wastewater is the byproduct of the cassava processing industry and has starch content ranging from 4 to 7%. The present investigation was aimed to produce microbial lipids from oleaginous yeast, Candida tropicalis ASY2 for use as biodiesel feedstock and simultaneously decontaminate the sago processing wastewater for reuse. Initial screening of oleaginous yeast to find an efficient amylolytic with maximum lipid productivity resulted in a potent oleaginous yeast strain, C. tropicalis ASY2, that utilizes SWW as a substrate. Shake flask experiments are conducted over a fermentation time of 240 h to determine a suitable fatty acid composition using GC-FID for biodiesel production with simultaneous removal of SWW pollutants using ASY2.

Results
The maximum biomass of 0.021 g L−1 h−1 and lipid productivity of 0.010 g L−1 h−1 was recorded in SWW with lipid content of 49%. The yeast strain degraded cyanide in SWW (79%) and also removed chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), nitrate (NO3), ammoniacal (NH4), and phosphate (PO4) ions (84%, 92%, 100%, 98%, and 85%, respectively). GC-FID analysis of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) revealed high oleic acid content (41.33%), which is one of the primary fatty acids for biodiesel production.

Conclusions
It is evident that the present study provides an innovative and ecologically sustainable technology that generates valuable fuel, biodiesel using SWW as a substrate and decontaminates for reuse.
Developmental nicotine exposure engenders intergenerational downregulation and aberrant posttranslational modification of cardinal epigenetic factors in the frontal cortices, striata, and hippocampi of adolescent mice
Authors: Buck Jordan M. , O’Neill Heidi C. , Stitzel Jerry A. 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background
Maternal smoking of traditional or electronic cigarettes during pregnancy, which constitutes developmental nicotine exposure (DNE), heightens the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders including ADHD, autism, and schizophrenia in children. Modeling the intergenerationally transmissible impacts of smoking during pregnancy, we previously demonstrated that both the first- and second-generation adolescent offspring of nicotine-exposed female mice exhibit enhanced nicotine preference, hyperactivity and risk-taking behaviors, aberrant rhythmicity of home cage activity, nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and dopamine transporter dysfunction, impaired furin-mediated proBDNF proteolysis, hypocorticosteronemia-related glucocorticoid receptor hypoactivity, and global DNA hypomethylation in the frontal cortices and striata. This ensemble of multigenerational DNE-induced behavioral, neuropharmacological, neurotrophic, neuroendocrine, and DNA methylomic anomalies recapitulates the pathosymptomatology of neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD, autism, and schizophrenia. Further probing the epigenetic bases of DNE-induced multigenerational phenotypic aberrations, the present study examined the expression and phosphorylation of key epigenetic factors via an array of immunoblot experiments.

Results
Data indicate that DNE confers intergenerational deficits in corticostriatal DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A) expression accompanied by downregulation of methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) and histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) in the frontal cortices and hippocampi, while the expression of ten-eleven translocase methylcytosine dioxygenase 2 (TET2) is unaltered. Moreover, DNE evokes multigenerational abnormalities in HDAC2 (Ser394) but not MeCP2 (Ser421) phosphorylation in the frontal cortices, striata, and hippocampi.

Conclusions
In light of the extensive gene regulatory roles of DNMT3A, MeCP2, and HDAC2, the findings of this study that DNE elicits downregulation and aberrant posttranslational modification of these factors in both first- and second-generation DNE mice suggest that epigenetic perturbations may constitute a mechanistic hub for the intergenerational transmission of DNE-induced neurodevelopmental disorder-like phenotypes.
Effect of practice on learning to maintain balance under dynamic conditions in children: are there sex differences?
Authors: Schedler Simon , Brueckner Dennis , Kiss Rainer , Muehlbauer Thomas 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background
In youth, sex-related differences in balance performances have been reported with girls usually outperforming same-aged boys. However, it is not known whether sex also has an influence on learning of a new balance task in primary school-aged children. Therefore, the present study investigated sex-related differences in children learning to maintain balance under dynamic conditions.

Methods
Thirty-two children (16 girls, 16 boys) aged 8.5 ± 0.5 years practiced balancing on a stabilometer (i.e., to keep it as horizontal as possible) for seven trials (90 s each) on two consecutive days. Knowledge of results (KR) (i.e., time in balance) was provided after each trial. On day three learning was assessed using a retention test (i.e., balance task only) and a test of automation (i.e., balance plus concurrent motor interference task). Root-mean-square-error (RMSE) was recorded for all trials and used for further analysis.

Results
During practicing (Day 1, Day 2) RMSE values significantly decreased over the days (p = 0.019, d = 0.92) and trials (p = 0.003, d = 0.70) in boys and girls. Further, the main effect of sex showed a tendency toward significance (p = 0.082, d = 0.67). On day 3, the girls showed significantly smaller RMSE values compared to boys in the retention (p = 0.012, d = 1.00) and transfer test (p = 0.045, d = 0.74).

Conclusions
Performance increases during the acquisition phase tended to be larger in girls than in boys. Further, learning (i.e., retention and automation) was significantly larger in girls compared to boys. Therefore, practitioners (e.g., teachers, coaches) should supply boys and grils with balance exercises of various task difficulties and complexities to address their diverse learning progress.
Microbial community profiles grown on 1020 carbon steel surfaces in seawater-isolated microcosm
Authors: Procópio Luciano 
Published: March 2020

AbstractCorrosion of metallic alloys is a concern worldwide, with impacts affecting different production sectors and consequent economic losses in the order of billions of dollars annually. Biocorrosion is a form of corrosion where the participation of microorganisms can induce, accelerate, or inhibit corrosive processes. In this study, it was evaluated that the changes in profile communities, by the sequencing of the 16S ribosomal gene, grown over steel coupons in a microcosm with no additional oxygen supplementation for 120 days. Analysis of abundance and diversity indices indicates marked changes in microbial structures throughout the 120-day period. Homology results of OTUs generated by Illumina sequencing indicated Proteobacteria phylum as the dominant group, comprising about 85.3% of the total OTUs, followed by Firmicutes and Bacteriodetes, both with 7.35%. Analyses at lower taxonomic levels suggested the presence of representatives described as corroders, such asCitreicella thiooxidans,Thalassospirasp., andLimnobacter thiooxidans. In conclusion, the results suggest that no additional oxygen supplementation profoundly altered the core of microbial communities, with a predominance of facultative anaerobic species.
Akkermansia muciniphila protects intestinal mucosa from damage caused by S. pullorum by initiating proliferation of intestinal epithelium
Authors: Zhu Linda , Lu Xiaoxi , Liu Li , Voglmeir Josef , Zhong Xiang , Yu Qinghua 
Published: March 2020

AbstractAkkermansia muciniphila, a novel mucin-degrading bacterium, has been demonstrated to prevent the development of obesity and related complications. However, whether it can protect poultry from intestinal mucosal damage by enteropathogens has never been mentioned. In this study, we found that A. muciniphila colonized in the intestine and then relieved intestinal mucosal damage in chicks caused by S. pullorum, including anatomical and morphological damage, alleviation of body weight and intestinal inflammation. The repair process activated by A. muciniphila is accompanied by an increase in the number of goblet cells in the chick’s intestine and an up-regulation of Mucin 2 and trefoil factor 2 (Tff2). In addition, we also demonstrate that A. muciniphila improved colon length, crypt depth, increased the proliferating cell nuclear antigen, with the accelerated proliferation of intestinal epithelium through Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, thereby restoring the damaged intestinal mucosa. This study suggests that A. muciniphila activates the proliferation of intestinal cells protecting the intestinal barrier, thus relieving infection with S. pullorum in chickens.
Cloning and characterization of low-temperature adapted GH5-CBM3 endo-cellulase from Bacillus subtilis 1AJ3 and their application in the saccharification of switchgrass and coffee grounds
Authors: Ma Lingling , Aizhan Rakhmanova , Wang Xin , Yi Yanglei , Shan Yuanyuan , Liu Bianfang , Zhou Yuan , Lü Xin 
Published: March 2020

AbstractEndocellulase is a key cellulase for cellulosic material pretreatment in the industry by hydrolyzing long cellulose chains into short chains. To investigate the endocellulase characteristics from Bacillus subtilis 1AJ3, and increase its production yield, this paper cloned an endocellulase gene denoted CEL-5A from strain 1AJ3 and expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3). The CEL-5A gene was sequenced with a full-length of 1500 bp, encoding a totally of 500 amino acids, and containing two domains: the GH5 family catalytic domain (CD) and the CBM3 family cellulose-binding domain (CBD). Recombinant endocellulase Cel-5A with a His-tag was purified of the Ni-NTA column, and SDS-PAGE results demonstrated that Cel-5A exhibited a molecular weight of 56.4 kDa. The maximum enzyme activity of Cel-5A was observed at pH 4.5 and 50 °C. Moreover, it was active over the broad temperature region of 30–60 °C, and stable within the pH range of 4.5–10.0. In addition, Co2+ was able to increase enzyme activity, while the majority of metal ions demonstrated stable enzyme activity under low- concentration. The substrate specificity of Cel-5A exhibited a high specific activity on the β-1,3-1,4 glucan linkage from barley. The Michaelis–Menten constant and the maximum velocity of the recombinant Cel-5A for CMC-Na were determined as 14.87 mg/mL and 19.19 μmol/min/mg, respectively. When Cel-5A was applied to the switchgrass and coffee grounds, its color became lighter and the biomass was observed to loosen following hydrolyzation. The saccharification rate reached 12% of the total weight of switchgrass in 20 h. These properties highlight the potential application of Cel-5A as an endocellulase in the pretreatment of biomass, for example, in the coffee grounds/waste, and related industries.
Glutaminase-1 (GLS1) inhibition limits metastatic progression in osteosarcoma
Authors: Ren L. , Ruiz-Rodado V. , Dowdy T. , Huang S. , Issaq S. H. , Beck J. , Wang H. , Tran Hoang C. , Lita A. , Larion M. , LeBlanc A. K. 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background
Osteosarcoma (OS) is a malignant bone tumor that often develops during the period of rapid growth associated with adolescence. Despite successful primary tumor control accompanied by adjuvant chemotherapy, death from pulmonary metastases occurs in approximately 30% of patients within 5 years. As overall survival in patients remains unchanged over the last 30 years, urgent needs for novel therapeutic strategies exist. Cancer metastasis is characterized by complex molecular events which result from alterations in gene and protein expression/function. Recent studies suggest that metabolic adaptations, or “metabolic reprogramming,” may similarly contribute to cancer metastasis. The goal of this study was to specifically interrogate the metabolic vulnerabilities of highly metastatic OS cell lines in a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments, in order to identify a tractable metabolically targeted therapeutic strategy for patients.

Methods
Nutrient deprivation and drug treatment experiments were performed in MG63.3, 143B, and K7M2 OS cell lines to identify the impact of glutaminase-1 (GLS1) inhibition and metformin treatment on cell proliferation. We functionally validated the impact of drug treatment with extracellular flux analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. 13C-glucose and 13C-glutamine tracing was employed to identify specific contributions of these nutrients to the global metabolic profiles generated with GLS1 inhibition and metformin treatment in vivo.

Results
Highly metastatic OS cell lines require glutamine for proliferation, and exposure to CB-839, in combination with metformin, induces both primary tumor growth inhibition and a distinct reduction in metastatic outgrowth in vivo. Further, combination-treated OS cells showed a reduction in cellular mitochondrial respiration, while NMR confirmed the pharmacodynamic effects of glutaminase inhibition in tumor tissues. We observed global decreases in glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle functionality, alongside an increase in fatty acid oxidation and pyrimidine catabolism.

Conclusions
This data suggests combination-treated cells cannot compensate for metformin-induced electron transport chain inhibition by upregulating glutaminolysis to generate TCA cycle intermediates required for cell proliferation, translating into significant reductions in tumor growth and metastatic progression. This therapeutic approach could be considered for future clinical development for OS patients presenting with or at high risk of developing metastasis.
Tracing outliers in the dataset of Drosophila suzukii records with the Isolation Forest method
Authors: Santosuosso Ugo , Cini Alessandro , Papini Alessio 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe analysis of big data is a fundamental challenge for the current and future stream of data coming from many different sources. Geospatial data is one of the sources currently less investigated. A typical example of always increasing data set is that produced by the distribution data of invasive species on the concerned territories. The dataset of Drosophila suzuki invasion sites in Europe up to 2011 was used to test a possible method to pinpoint its outliers (anomalies). Our aim was to find a method of analysis that would be able to treat large amount of data in order to produce easily readable outputs to summarize and predict the status and, possibly, the future development of a biological invasion. To do that, we aimed to identify the so called anomalies of the dataset, identified with a Python script based on the machine learning algorithm “Isolation Forest”. We used also the K-Means clustering method to partition the dataset. In our test, based on a real dataset, the Silhouette method yielded a number of clusters of 10 as the best result. The clusters were drawn on the map with a Voronoi tessellation, showing that 8 clusters were centered on industrial harbours, while the last two were in the hinterland. This fact led us to guess that: (1) the main entrance mechanisms in Europe may be the wares import fluxes through ports, occurring apparently several times; (2) the spreading into the inland may be due to road transportation of wares; (3) the outliers (anomalies) found with the isolation forest method would identify individuals or populations that tend to detach from their original cluster and hence represent indications about the lines of further spreading of the invasion. This type of analysis aims hence to identify the future direction of an invasion, rather than the center of origin as in the case of geographic profiling. Isolation Forest provides therefore complimentary results with respect to PGP. The recent records of the invasive species, mainly localized close to the outliers position, are an indication that the isolation forest method can be considered predictive and proved to be a useful method to treat large datasets of geospatial data.
Characterization of Electrical Heating of Graphene/PLA Honeycomb Structure Composite Manufactured by CFDM 3D Printer
Authors: Kim Hyelim , Lee Sunhee 
Published: March 2020

AbstractConveyor fused deposition modelling (CFDM) 3D printing of graphene (GR)/polylactic acid (PLA) composite filament offers a unique capability to manufacture tailorable honeycomb structures which can be designed and optimized for specific applications. Among the various filaments that can be used for 3D printing, PLA, carbon black (CB)/PLA, and GR/PLA filaments were collected and then examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermal gravity analysis (TGA), and Raman spectra. A stereolithography (STL) file with a 3D honeycomb structure model was prepared and transformed into a G-code file using a G-code generator. The extrusion conditions for CFDM 3D printing were controlled by infill and print speed. PLA, CB/PLA, and GR/PLA composite honeycomb samples were manufactured by 3D printing based on FDM using PLA, CB/PLA, and GR/PLA filaments. CFDM 3D printed honeycomb samples prepared by PLA, CB/PLA and GR/PLA filament were analyzed for morphology, surface resistance, electrical heating properties. For the 3D printed honeycomb structure sample using CB/PLA and GR/PLA, the optimum condition was set up 230 °C and 220 °C respectively of the printer temperature, 50 °C of bed temperature, and 30 mm/s of printer speed. Surface resistivity of honeycomb structure sample using CB/PLA and GR/PLA is about 299.0 Ω/sq and 118.0 Ω/sq. The maximum surface temperature of honeycomb structure sample using CB/PLA and GR/PLA is ca. 78.7 °C and 143.0 °C applied to 25 V.
Effects of aqueous leaf extract of avocado (Persea americana) on total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, protein and haematological parameters in CCl4-intoxicated rats
Authors: Brai B. I. C. , Falode J. A. , Adisa R. A. , Odetola A. A. 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background
Avocado (Persea americana) is one of the plants widely used in ethnomedicine in Nigeria. The present study was aimed at investigating effects of aqueous Avocado (Persea americana) leaf extract on total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, protein and haematological parameters in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-intoxicated rats.

Methods
We evaluated the possible effects of pre-treatment with aqueous extract of Persea americana (AEPA) on protein, total cholesterol (T-CHOL), triacylglycerols (TAGs) and haematological parameters in Wistar male albino rats intoxicated with CCl4. Group 1 was the healthy control; group 2 rats were pre-treated with Reducdyn® (100 mg/kg/day) as a standard drug, groups 4 and 5 rats were pre-treated with AEPA at a dose of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg per day respectively, the treatments were administered orally for 7 days. On the seventh day, rats in the treatment groups were injected with a fresh mixture of CCl4 and olive oil (3 ml/kg, 1:1; sc).

Results
Pre-treatment of rats with AEPA resulted in marked increase (p < 0.05) in total protein and reduction in T-CHOL (19–34%) compared to CCl4 alone. Also, there was significant decrease (p < 0.05) in serum TAG concentration when rats were pre-treated with 100 mg and 200 mg kg− 1 b. wt. AEPA. Similarly, AEPA provoked (p < 0.05) a lowering of T-CHOL and TAG levels and an increase in liver protein concentration in the rats. Administration of AEPA at both concentrations restored (p < 0.05) WBC count and ameliorated neutropenia and lymphocytosis caused by CCl4 intoxication.

Conclusion
These results suggest that AEPA could be protective against the development of fatty liver and might also be exhibiting the potential to prevent alterations in haematological parameters caused by CCl4 intoxication in rats.
Role of nerve ultrasound versus electrophysiological studies in the evaluation of nerve injuries
Authors: Elfayoumy Neveen Mohamed , Elgendy Hanan Helmy , Saad Marwa Saad Afify , Labib Amira A. 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background
High-resolution ultrasonography (US) is a non-invasive, readily applicable imaging modality capable of depicting real-time static and dynamic information concerning the peripheral nerves and their surrounding tissues. Although electrophysiological studies are the gold standard in the evaluation of nerve injuries, US can be used also to evaluate the morphological changes of nerve injuries.

Objectives
To evaluate the role of the high-resolution US in the assessment of nerve injuries and to compare it to the role of electrodiagnostic studies.

Subjects and methods
A total of 30 nerves from 22 consecutive patients with clinically definite nerve injury were considered. Two independent and blinded clinicians perform electrodiagnosis and US. The clinical, neurophysiological, and US findings were collected, and the contribution of US was then classified as “ contributive” or “non-contributive”, according to whether US confirmed the clinical and neurophysiological diagnosis or not.

Results
US was “contributive” (confirming the electrophysiological diagnosis) in 66.67% of cases (n = 20), providing information about continuity of the nerve, morphological changes after injury as swelling, scar tissue formation, or neuroma formation with sensitivity of 75% compared to the electrodiagnostic studies and accuracy of 66.67%.

Conclusion
Ultrasound can be used, when available, as a complementary tool for electrodiagnostic studies to provide anatomical information about the injured nerves in case of complete axonal lesion.