bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Marine plankton show threshold extinction response to Neogene climate change
Authors: Trubovitz Sarah , Lazarus David , Renaudie Johan , Noble Paula J. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractOngoing climate change is predicted to trigger major shifts in the geographic distribution of marine plankton species. However, it remains unclear whether species will successfully track optimal habitats to new regions, or face extinction. Here we show that one significant zooplankton group, the radiolaria, underwent a severe decline in high latitude species richness presaged by ecologic reorganization during the late Neogene, a time of amplified polar cooling. We find that the majority (71%) of affected species did not relocate to the warmer low latitudes, but went extinct. This indicates that some plankton species cannot track optimal temperatures on a global scale as assumed by ecologic models; instead, assemblages undergo restructuring and extinction once local environmental thresholds are exceeded. This pattern forewarns profound diversity loss of high latitude radiolaria in the near future, which may have cascading effects on the ocean food web and carbon cycle.
Carotenoids modulate kernel texture in maize by influencing amyloplast envelope integrity
Authors: Wang Haihai , Huang Yongcai , Xiao Qiao , Huang Xing , Li Changsheng , Gao Xiaoyan , Wang Qiong , Xiang Xiaoli , Zhu Yidong , Wang Jiechen , Wang Wenqin , Larkins Brian A. , Wu Yongrui 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe mechanism that creates vitreous endosperm in the mature maize kernel is poorly understood. We identified Vitreous endosperm 1 (Ven1) as a major QTL influencing this process. Ven1 encodes β-carotene hydroxylase 3, an enzyme that modulates carotenoid composition in the amyloplast envelope. The A619 inbred contains a nonfunctional Ven1 allele, leading to a decrease in polar and an increase in non-polar carotenoids in the amyloplast. Coincidently, the stability of amyloplast membranes is increased during kernel desiccation. The lipid composition in endosperm cells in A619 is altered, giving rise to a persistent amyloplast envelope. These changes impede the gathering of protein bodies and prevent them from interacting with starch grains, creating air spaces that cause an opaque kernel phenotype. Genetic modifiers were identified that alter the effect of Ven1A619, while maintaining a high β-carotene level. These studies provide insight for breeding vitreous kernel varieties and high vitamin A content in maize.
Genetic control of tracheid properties in Norway spruce wood
Authors: Baison J. , Zhou Linghua , Forsberg Nils , Mörling Tommy , Grahn Thomas , Olsson Lars , Karlsson Bo , Wu Harry X. , Mellerowicz Ewa J. , Lundqvist Sven-Olof , García-Gil María Rosario 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThrough the use of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) mapping it is possible to establish the genetic basis of phenotypic trait variation. Our GWAS study presents the first such effort in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L). Karst.) for the traits related to wood tracheid characteristics. The study employed an exome capture genotyping approach that generated 178 101 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) from 40 018 probes within a population of 517 Norway spruce mother trees. We applied a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) based association mapping method using a functional multi-locus mapping approach, with a stability selection probability method as the hypothesis testing approach to determine significant Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs). The analysis has provided 30 significant associations, the majority of which show specific expression in wood-forming tissues or high ubiquitous expression, potentially controlling tracheids dimensions, their cell wall thickness and microfibril angle. Among the most promising candidates based on our results and prior information for other species are: Picea abies BIG GRAIN 2 (PabBG2) with a predicted function in auxin transport and sensitivity, and MA_373300g0010 encoding a protein similar to wall-associated receptor kinases, which were both associated with cell wall thickness. The results demonstrate feasibility of GWAS to identify novel candidate genes controlling industrially-relevant tracheid traits in Norway spruce.
Risk of early neurodevelopmental disorders associated with in utero exposure to valproate and other antiepileptic drugs: a nationwide cohort study in France
Authors: Coste Joël , Blotiere Pierre-Olivier , Miranda Sara , Mikaeloff Yann , Peyre Hugo , Ramus Franck , Zureik Mahmoud , Weill Alain , Dray-Spira Rosemary 
Published: October 2020

AbstractInformation available on the risks of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDs) associated with in utero exposure to valproate (VPA) and to other antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) is limited. A nationwide population-based cohort study was conducted based on comprehensive data of the French National Health Data System (SNDS). Liveborn infants without brain malformation, born between January 2011 and December 2014, were followed from birth up to December 2016. NDs were identified based on diagnoses of mental or behavioural disorders and utilization of speech therapy, orthoptic or psychiatric services. The risk of NDs was compared between children exposed in utero to AED monotherapy and unexposed children, using Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for maternal and neonatal characteristics. The cohort included 1,721,990 children, 8848 of whom were exposed in utero to AED monotherapy. During a mean follow-up of 3.6 years, 15,458 children had a diagnosis of mental or behavioural disorder. In utero exposure to VPA was associated with an increased risk of NDs overall (aHR: 3.7; 95% CI 2.8–4.9) and among children born to a mother without mental illness (aHR 5.1; 95% CI 3.6–7.3). A dose–response relationship was demonstrated and the risk of NDs was more particularly increased for an exposure to VPA during the second or third trimesters of pregnancy. Among the other AEDs, only pregabalin was consistently associated with an increased risk of NDs (aHR: 1.5; 95% CI 1.0–2.1). This study confirms a four to fivefold increased risk of early NDs associated with exposure to VPA during pregnancy. The risk associated with other AEDs appears much lower.
New intragastric sleeve technique reduces adipose tissue in pig experimental model: tomographic study
Authors: da Silva Ribeiro Mariana , Paiva Araújo dos Scheiba Zorron Ricardo , Quina Silva Saulo José , Ruiz Cadena Silvia Marcela , Borges dos Santos Junior Marcelo , Antunes Fernanda , de Souza Vieira Guilherme , Quirino Celia Raquel , Lacerda de Abreu Oliveira André 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIn order to implement a new bariatric surgery technique, we verify the efficacy of intragastric sleeve to reduce weight gain and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). Animals were divided into two groups: G1 (single-port intragastric sleeve) and G2 (sham group). The stomach was surgically reduced by single-port intragastric sutures to fo a gastric sleeve. Animals were submitted to computer tomography (CT) before the surgical procedure and after 18 weeks.
Images were analyzed and measurements of the thickness of SAT, depth and width of the longissimus dorsi muscle and the rib eye area were made. Body weight and CT measurements were analyzed using the GLM PROC. The correlation coefficients were calculated among weight, moments and measures. There was a significant difference in weight gain, in which G1 had an average of 42.803 ± 3.206 kg, lower than G2 (45.966 ± 4.767 kg). The mean values for SAT and muscle measurements differed significantly between groups, in which G1 achieved the lowest values. All variables had significant correlations and high magnitude. Intragastric sleeve surgery induced a significant decrease of SAT. The new intragastric sleeve technique is feasible, safe and effective, mainly in reducing fat deposition, making it an important alternative in bariatric surgical treatment.
Chronic bryostatin-1 rescues autistic and cognitive phenotypes in the fragile X mice
Authors: Cogram Patricia , Alkon Daniel L. , Crockford David , Deacon Robert M. J. , Hurley Michael J. , Altimiras Francisco , Sun Miao-Kun , Tranfaglia Michael 
Published: October 2020

AbstractFragile X syndrome (FXS), an X-chromosome linked intellectual disability, is the leading monogenetic cause of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental condition that currently has no specific drug treatment. Building upon the demonstrated therapeutic effects on spatial memory of bryostatin-1, a relatively specific activator of protein kinase C (PKC)ε, (also of PKCα) on impaired synaptic plasticity/maturation and spatial learning and memory in FXS mice, we investigated whether bryostatin-1 might affect the autistic phenotypes and other behaviors, including open field activity, activities of daily living (nesting and marble burying), at the effective therapeutic dose for spatial memory deficits. Further evaluation included other non-spatial learning and memory tasks. Interestingly, a short period of treatment (5 weeks) only produced very limited or no therapeutic effects on the autistic and cognitive phenotypes in the Fmr1 KO2 mice, while a longer treatment (13 weeks) with the same dose of bryostatin-1 effectively rescued the autistic and non-spatial learning deficit cognitive phenotypes. It is possible that longer-term treatment would result in further improvement in these fragile X phenotypes. This effect is clearly different from other treatment strategies tested to date, in that the drug shows little acute effect, but strong long-term effects. It also shows no evidence of tolerance, which has been a problem with other drug classes (mGluR5 antagonists, GABA-A and -B agonists). The results strongly suggest that, at appropriate dosing and therapeutic period, chronic bryostatin-1 may have great therapeutic value for both ASD and FXS.
GLP-1 receptor agonist ameliorates experimental lung fibrosis
Authors: Fandiño Juan , Toba Laura , González-Matías Lucas C. , Diz-Chaves Yolanda , Mallo Federico 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive, and fatal lung disease. This disease is characterized by an excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix deposition that modify normal lung physiology. Up to date, there are not efficient therapeutic tools to fight IPF. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) activation plays an essential role in lung functions in normal and in pathological conditions. The aim of the present study was to study the possible beneficial effects of the administration of the GLP-1R agonist, liraglutide, in the pathogenesis of the fibrotic process in an animal model of pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin. We observed that liraglutide decreased mRNA expression of collagen, hydroxyproline and key enzymes for the synthesis of collagen. In addition, GLP-1R activation restored the ACE2 mRNA levels modulating the activities of the RAS components, increased the production of surfactant proteins (SFTPa1, SFTPb, SFTPc) and promoted an improvement in pulmonary and cardiac functionality, including a partial restoration of lung alveolar structure. Liraglutide effects are shown at both the pro-inflammatory and fibrosis phases of the experimental disease. For these reasons, GLP-1 might be regarded as a promising drug for treating pulmonary fibrosis.
A new screening index to better target low-level lead exposure in Atlanta, Georgia
Authors: Distler Samantha , Saikawa Eri 
Published: October 2020

AbstractLead poisoning is often seen as a problem of the past. While acute cases are now rare, there is no known safe level of lead for children and blood lead levels at and below 5 μg/dL are associated with neurological deficits. Previous work has established that risk factors for lead exposure include race/ethnicity, poverty, Medicaid enrollment, housing built before 1950, and age. Efficient blood lead screening is crucial in the greater Atlanta area as pockets of poverty and old housing put some children at particularly high risk for chronic exposure to low levels of lead. Here, 20 years of data on children’s blood lead levels in Georgia were used to create maps to assess the spatial distribution of blood lead screening and blood lead levels in the Atlanta area. ZIP code tabulation area (ZCTA)-level screening rates continue to be associated with relative poverty but not with housing age, a well-established risk factor for lead exposure. Building on previous research, a priority screening index based on poverty and housing age was also created to identify specific high-risk census tracts for screening within Atlanta ZCTAs. This index shows a total of 18 highest-priority census tracts in the greater Atlanta area. Together, these 18 tracts contain 2715 children under six years old, 1.7% of all children under six years old in the entire greater Atlanta area.
Plastic, nutrition and pollution; relationships between ingested plastic and metal concentrations in the livers of two Pachyptila seabirds
Authors: Roman Lauren , Kastury Farzana , Petit Sophie , Aleman Rina , Wilcox Chris , Hardesty Britta Denise , Hindell Mark A. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractNaturally occurring metals and metalloids [metal(loid)s] are essential for the physiological functioning of wildlife; however, environmental contamination by metal(loid) and plastic pollutants is a health hazard. Metal(loid)s may interact with plastic in the environment and there is mixed evidence about whether plastic ingested by wildlife affects metal(loid) absorption/assimilation and concentration in the body. We examined ingested plastic and liver concentration of eleven metal(loid)s in two seabird species: fairy (Pachyptila turtur) and slender-billed prions (P. belcheri). We found significant relationships between ingested plastic and the concentrations of aluminium (Al), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in the liver of prions. We investigated whether the pattern of significant relationships reflected plastic-metal(loid) associations predicted in the scientific literature, including by transfer of metals from ingested plastics or malnutrition due to dietary dilution by plastics in the gut. We found some support for both associations, suggesting that ingested plastic may be connected with dietary dilution / lack of essential nutrients, especially iron, and potential transfer of zinc. We did not find a relationship between plastic and non-essential metal(loid)s, including lead. The effect of plastic was minor compared to that of dietary exposure to metal(oid)s, and small plastic loads (< 3 items) had no discernible link with metal(loid)s. This new evidence shows a relationship between plastic ingestion and liver metal(loid) concentrations in free-living wildlife.
Automatic construction of molecular similarity networks for visual graph mining in chemical space of bioactive peptides: an unsupervised learning approach
Authors: Aguilera-Mendoza Longendri , Marrero-Ponce Yovani , García-Jacas César R. , Chavez Edgar , Beltran Jesus A. , Guillen-Ramirez Hugo A. , Brizuela Carlos A. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe increasing interest in bioactive peptides with therapeutic potentials has been reflected in a large variety of biological databases published over the last years. However, the knowledge discovery process from these heterogeneous data sources is a nontrivial task, becoming the essence of our research endeavor. Therefore, we devise a unified data model based on molecular similarity networks for representing a chemical reference space of bioactive peptides, having an implicit knowledge that is currently not explicitly accessed in existing biological databases. Indeed, our main contribution is a novel workflow for the automatic construction of such similarity networks, enabling visual graph mining techniques to uncover new insights from the “ocean” of known bioactive peptides. The workflow presented here relies on the following sequential steps: (i) calculation of molecular descriptors by applying statistical and aggregation operators on amino acid property vectors; (ii) a two-stage unsupervised feature selection method to identify an optimized subset of descriptors using the concepts of entropy and mutual information; (iii) generation of sparse networks where nodes represent bioactive peptides, and edges between two nodes denote their pairwise similarity/distance relationships in the defined descriptor space; and (iv) exploratory analysis using visual inspection in combination with clustering and network science techniques. For practical purposes, the proposed workflow has been implemented in our visual analytics software tool (http://mobiosd-hub.com/starpep/), to assist researchers in extracting useful information from an integrated collection of 45120 bioactive peptides, which is one of the largest and most diverse data in its field. Finally, we illustrate the applicability of the proposed workflow for discovering central nodes in molecular similarity networks that may represent a biologically relevant chemical space known to date.
InP/ZnS quantum dots doped blue phase liquid crystal with wide temperature range and low driving voltage
Authors: Tang Jiayue , Liu Fashun , Lu Mengli , Zhao Dongyu 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBlue-phase liquid crystals (BPLCs) are regarded as potential materials for the exploitation of next-generation optical devices due to the rapid response, wide viewing angle, and simple industrial production procedures. However, practical application of traditional BPLCs is limited by their narrow temperature range and high driving voltage. Herein, we demonstrated that doping of chiral molecular isosorbide hexyloxybenzoate (R811) into BPLCs is able to increase the temperature range. More importantly, addition of InP/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) with oleylamine surface groups could also effectively broaden the temperature range of the BPLCs further while decreasing the driving voltage, which is attributed to the quantum dot trapped by BPLCs lattice defect that reduces its free energy. Since the trapped quantum dot subsequently forms a local electric field under electric field, the effective electric field of the surrounding liquid crystal molecules is enhanced and the rotation of the liquid crystal molecules is accelerated. Specially, the temperature range is widened by 1.4 °C, and the driving voltage is reduced by 57%, under the optimal concentration of R811 and lnP/ZnS QDs. The accomplishment we proposed in this work is a prospective optimization which makes the practical application of blue phase liquid crystals one step closer.
Relationship between media multitasking and functional connectivity in the dorsal attention network
Authors: Kobayashi Kei , Oishi Naoya , Yoshimura Sayaka , Ueno Tsukasa , Miyagi Takashi , Murai Toshiya , Fujiwara Hironobu 
Published: October 2020

AbstractWith the development of digital technology, media multitasking behaviour, which is using two or more media simultaneously, has become more commonplace. There are two opposing hypotheses of media multitasking with regard to its impact on attention. One hypothesis claims that media multitasking can strengthen attention control, and the other claims heavy media multitaskers are less able to focus on relevant tasks in the presence of distractors. A total of 103 healthy subjects took part in this study. We measured the Media Multitasking Index (MMI) and subjects performed the continuous performance test. Resting state and oddball task functional MRI were conducted to analyse functional connectivity in the dorsal attention network, and the degree centrality (DC) was calculated using graph theory analysis. We found that the DCs in the dorsal attention network were higher during resting state than during the oddball task. Furthermore, the DCs during the task were positively correlated with the MMI. These results indicated that the DC reduction from resting state to the oddball task in high media multitaskers was attenuated compared with low media multitaskers. This study not only reveals more about the neurophysiology of media multitasking, but could also indicate brain biomarkers of media multitasking behaviour.
Development and external validation of a clinical prediction model for MRSA carriage at hospital admission in Southeast Lower Saxony, Germany
Authors: Raschpichler Gabriele , Raupach-Rosin Heike , Akmatov Manas K. , Castell Stefanie , Rübsamen Nicole , Feier Birgit , Szkopek Sebastian , Bautsch Wilfried , Mikolajczyk Rafael , Karch André 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIn countries with low endemic Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) prevalence, identification of risk groups at hospital admission is considered more cost-effective than universal MRSA screening. Predictive statistical models support the selection of suitable stratification factors for effective screening programs. Currently, there are no universal guidelines in Germany for MRSA screening. Instead, a list of criteria is available from the Commission for Hospital Hygiene and Infection Prevention (KRINKO) based on which local strategies should be adopted. We developed and externally validated a model for individual prediction of MRSA carriage at hospital admission in the region of Southeast Lower Saxony based on two prospective studies with universal screening in Braunschweig (n = 2065) and Wolfsburg (n = 461). Logistic regression was used for model development. The final model (simplified to an unweighted score) included history of MRSA carriage, care dependency and cancer treatment. In the external validation dataset, the score showed a sensitivity of 78.4% (95% CI: 64.7–88.7%), and a specificity of 70.3% (95% CI: 65.0–75.2%). Of all admitted patients, 25.4% had to be screened if the score was applied. A model based on KRINKO criteria showed similar sensitivity but lower specificity, leading to a considerably higher proportion of patients to be screened (49.5%).
Natural convection of $$\mathrm {Al}_{2}\mathrm {O}_{3}$$-water nanofluid in a non-Darcian wavy porous cavity under the local thermal non-equilibrium condition
Authors: Alsabery Ammar I. , Tayebi Tahar , Chamkha Ali J. , Hashim Ishak 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThis study investigates thermal natural convective heat transfer in a nanofluid filled-non-Darcian porous and wavy-walled domain under the local thermal non-equilibrium condition. The considered cavity has corrugated and cold vertical walls and insulated horizontal walls except the heated part positioned at the bottom wall. The transport equations in their non-dimensional model are numerically solved based on the Galerkin finite-element discretization technique. The dimensionless governing parameters of the present work are the nanoparticle in volume concentration, the Darcy number, number of undulations, modified heat conductivity ratio, dimensionless heated part length, and location. Comparisons with other published theoretical and experimental results show good agreement with the present outcomes. The findings indicate that the heater length, its position, and the waves number on the side vertical walls as well as the nanoparticles concentration can be the control parameters for free convective motion and heat transport within the wavy cavity.