bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Levantine jellyfish Rhopilema nomadica and Rhizostoma pulmo swim faster against the flow than with the flow
Authors: Malul Dror , Lotan Tamar , Makovsky Yizhaq , Holzman Roi , Shavit Uri 
Published: December 2019

AbstractJellyfish locomotion and orientation have been studied in the past both in the laboratory, testing mostly small jellyfish, and in the field, where it was impossible to control the seawater currents. Utilizing an outdoor water flume, we tested the locomotion of jellyfish when swimming against and with currents of up to 4.5 cm s−1. We used adult jellyfish from two of the most abundant species in the eastern Mediterranean, Rhopilema nomadica and Rhizostoma pulmo, and measured their pulsation frequency and swimming speed relative to the water. While pulsation frequency was not affected by the water velocity, jellyfish swam faster against the current than with it. This finding suggests that jellyfish possess a sensory ability, whose mechanism is currently unknown, enabling them to gauge the flow and react to it, possibly in order to reduce the risk of stranding.
Immunotherapy using anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 in Leishmania amazonensis-infected BALB/c mice reduce parasite load
Authors: da Fonseca-Martins Alessandra M. , Ramos Tadeu D. , Pratti Juliana E. S. , Firmino-Cruz Luan , Gomes Daniel Claudio Oliveira , Soong Lynn , Saraiva Elvira M. , de Matos Guedes Herbert L. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractLeishmaniasis is a neglected disease, for which current treatment presents numerous issues.Leishmania amazonensisis the etiological agent of cutaneous and diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis. The roles of the programmed death-1 (PD-1) receptor on lymphocytes and its ligand (PD-L1) on antigen-presenting cells have been well studied in tumor and other infection models; but little is known about their roles in non-healing cutaneous leishmaniasis. In this study, we observed thatL. amazonensisinduced PD-1 expression on both CD4+and CD8+T cells and PD-L1 on dendritic cells on BALB/c mice. We tested the therapeutic potential of anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) against a non-healingL. amazonensisinfection in BALB/c mice, and that anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 treatment significantly increased IFN-γ-producing CD4+and CD8+T cells, respectively. Compared with infection controls, mice treated with anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1, but not anti-PD-L2, displayed bigger lesions with significantly lower parasite loads. Treatment did not affect anti-Leishmaniaantibody (IgM, IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a) or IL-10 production, but anti-PD-1 treatment reduced both IL-4 and TGF-β production. Together, our results highlight the therapeutic potential of an anti-PD-1-based treatment in promoting the reinvigoration of T cells for the control of parasite burden.
Short-term effects of air pollution on blood pressure
Authors: Choi You-Jung , Kim Sun-Hwa , Kang Si-Hyuck , Kim Sun-Young , Kim Ok-Jin , Yoon Chang-Hwan , Lee Hae-Young , Youn Tae-Jin , Chae In-Ho , Kim Cheol-Ho 
Published: December 2019

AbstractElevated blood pressure (BP) has been proposed as a possible pathophysiological mechanism linking exposure to ambient air pollution and the increased risk of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. In this study, we investigated the hourly relationship between ambient air pollutants and BP. BP measurements were extracted from the electronic health record database of the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital from February 2015 to June 2017. A total of 98,577 individual BP measurements were matched to the hourly levels of air pollutants. A generalized additive model was constructed for hour lags of 0–8 of air pollutants adjusting for age, sex, meteorological variables, and time trend. Systolic BP was shown to be significantly lower at 2–4 hours and 3–5 hours after increased levels of SO2 and CO, respectively (0.24 mmHg and 0.26 mmHg for an interquartile range, respectively). In contrast, O3 and NO2 were associated with significantly increased systolic BP at 3–5 lag hours and at 0–2 lag hours, respectively. BP elevation in association with O3 and NO2 was shown to be significantly greater in hypertensive patients than normotensive subjects. Our findings suggest that short-term exposure to air pollution may be associated with elevated BP.
RORγt+ Treg to Th17 ratios correlate with susceptibility to Giardia infection
Authors: Yordanova Ivet A. , Cortés Alba , Klotz Christian , Kühl Anja A. , Heimesaat Markus M. , Cantacessi Cinzia , Hartmann Susanne , Rausch Sebastian 
Published: December 2019

AbstractInfections withGiardiaare among the most common causes of food and water-borne diarrheal disease worldwide. Here, we investigated Th17, Treg and IgA responses, and alterations in gut microbiota in two mouse lines with varying susceptibility toGiardia murisinfection. Infected BALB/c mice shed significantly more cysts compared with C57BL/6 mice. Impaired control of infection in BALB/c mice was associated with lower Th17 activity and lower IgA levels compared with C57BL/6 mice. The limited metabolic activity, proliferation and cytokine production of Th17 cells in BALB/c mice was associated with higher proportions of intestinal Foxp3+RORγt+regulatory T cells and BALB/c mice developed increased RORγt+Treg:Th17 ratios in response toG. murisinfection. Furthermore,G. muriscolonization led to a significantly reduced evenness in the gut microbial communities of BALB/c mice. Our data indicate that differential susceptibility toGiardiainfections may be related to RORγt+Treg controlling Th17 activity and that changes in the microbiota composition uponGiardiainfection partially depend on the host background.
A coupled forage-grazer model predicts viability of livestock production and wildlife habitat at the regional scale
Authors: Kowal Virginia A. , Jones Sharon M. , Keesing Felicia , Allan Brian F. , Schieltz Jennifer M. , Chaplin-Kramer Rebecca 
Published: December 2019

AbstractInformed management of livestock on rangelands underpins both the livelihoods of communities that depend on livestock for sustenance, and the conservation of wildlife that often depend on livestock-dominated landscapes for habitat. Understanding spatial patterns of rangeland productivity is therefore crucial to designing global development strategies that balance social and environmental benefits. Here we introduce a new rangeland production model that dynamically links the Century ecosystem model with a basic ruminant diet selection and physiology model. With lightweight input data requirements that can be met with global sources, the model estimates the viability of broad livestock management decisions, and suggests possible implications of these management decisions for grazing wildlife. Using minimal field data, the new rangeland production model enables the reliable estimation of cattle stocking density; this is an important predictor of the viability of livestock production and forage available for grazing wildlife.
First validation of a novel assessgame quantifying selective voluntary motor control in children with upper motor neuron lesions
Authors: Keller Jeffrey W. , Balzer Julia , Fahr Annina , Lieber Jan , Keller Urs , van Hedel Hubertus J. A. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe question whether novel rehabilitation interventions can exploit restorative rather than compensatory mechanisms has gained momentum in recent years. Assessments measuring selective voluntary motor control could answer this question. However, while current clinical assessments are ordinal-scaled, which could affect their sensitivity, lab-based assessments are costly and time-consuming. We propose a novel, interval-scaled, computer-based assessment game using low-cost accelerometers to evaluate selective voluntary motor control. Participants steer an avatar owl on a star-studded path by moving the targeted joint of the upper or lower extremities. We calculate a target joint accuracy metric, and an outcome score for the frequency and amplitude of involuntary movements of adjacent and contralateral joints as well as the trunk. We detail the methods and, as a first proof of concept, relate the results of select children with upper motor neuron lesions (n = 48) to reference groups of neurologically intact children (n = 62) and adults (n = 64). Linear mixed models indicated that the cumulative therapist score, rating the degree of selectivity, was a good predictor of the involuntary movements outcome score. This highlights the validity of this assessgame approach to quantify selective voluntary motor control and warrants a more thorough exploration to quantify changes induced by restorative interventions.
Host exposure history modulates the within-host advantage of virulence in a songbird-bacterium system
Authors: Leon Ariel E. , Fleming-Davies Arietta E. , Hawley Dana M. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe host immune response can exert strong selective pressure on pathogen virulence, particularly when host protection against reinfection is incomplete. Since emerging in house finch populations, the bacterial pathogen Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) has been increasing in virulence. Repeated exposure to low-doses of MG, a proxy for what birds likely experience while foraging, provides significant but incomplete protection against reinfection. Here we sought to determine if the within-host, pathogen load advantage of high virulence is mediated by the degree of prior pathogen exposure, and thus the extent of immune memory. We created variation in host immunity by experimentally inoculating wild-caught, MG-naïve house finches with varying doses and number of exposures of a single pathogen strain of intermediate virulence. Following recovery from priming exposures, individuals were challenged with one of three MG strains of distinct virulence. We found that the quantitative pathogen load advantage of high virulence was strongly mediated by the degree of prior exposure. The greatest within-host load advantage of virulence was seen in hosts given low-dose priming exposures, akin to what many house finches likely experience while foraging. Our results show that incomplete host immunity produced by low-level prior exposure can create a within-host environment that favors more virulent pathogens.
Differential protein profiling of soil diazotroph Rhodococcus qingshengii S10107 towards low-temperature and nitrogen deficiency
Authors: Suyal Deep Chandra , Joshi Divya , Kumar Saurabh , Soni Ravindra , Goel Reeta 
Published: December 2019

AbstractProtein-based biomarkers can be a promising approach for identification and real-time monitoring of the bio-inoculants employed under sustainable agricultural plans. In this perspective, differential proteomics of psychrophilic diazotroph Rhodococcus qingshengii S10107 (JX173283) was performed to unravel its adaptive responses towards low-temperature nitrogen deficiency and identification of a biomarker for respective physiological conditions. LC-MS/MS-based proteome analysis mapped more than 4830 proteins including 77 up-regulated and 47 down-regulated proteins (p ≤ 0.05). Differential expression of the structural genes of nif regulon viz. nifH, nifD, and nifK along with their response regulators i.e. nifA, nifL, and nifB indicated that the nitrogenase complex was activated successfully. Besides up-regulating the biosynthesis of certain amino acids viz. Leucine, Lysine, and Alanine; the expression of the peptidoglycan synthesis proteins were also increased; while, the enzymes involved in Lipid biosynthesis were found to decrease. Furthermore, two important enzymes of the pentose phosphate pathway viz. Transketolase and Transaldolase along with Ribose import ATP-binding protein RbsA were also found to induce significantly under low temperature a nitrogen deficient condition, which suggests the cellular need for ample ribose sugar instantly. Additionally, comparative protein profiling of S10107 strain with our previous studies revealed that CowN protein was significantly up-regulated in all the cases under low-temperature nitrogen deficient conditions and therefore, can be developed as a biomarker. Conclusively, present study for the first time provides an in-depth proteome profiling of R. qingshengii S10107 and proclaims CowN as a potential protein biomarker for monitoring BNF under cold niches.
Nanometrology: Absolute Seebeck coefficient of individual silver nanowires
Authors: Kockert M. , Kojda D. , Mitdank R. , Mogilatenko A. , Wang Z. , Ruhhammer J. , Kroener M. , Woias P. , Fischer S. F. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThermoelectric phenomena can be strongly modified in nanomaterials. The determination of the absolute Seebeck coefficient is a major challenge for metrology with respect to micro- and nanostructures due to the fact that the transport properties of the bulk material are no more valid. Here, we demonstrate a method to determine the absolute Seebeck coefficient S of individual metallic nanowires. For highly pure and single crystalline silver nanowires, we show the influence of nanopatterning on S in the temperature range between 16 K and 300 K. At room temperature, a nanowire diameter below 200 nm suppresses S by 50% compared to the bulk material to less than S = 1 μVK−1, which is attributed to the reduced electron mean free path. The temperature dependence of the absolute Seebeck coefficient depends on size effects. Thermodiffusion and phonon drag are reduced with respect to the bulk material and the ratio of electron-phonon to phonon-phonon interaction is significantly increased.
CIBER-CLAP (CIBERCV Cardioprotection Large Animal Platform): A multicenter preclinical network for testing reproducibility in cardiovascular interventions
Authors: Rossello Xavier , Rodriguez-Sinovas Antonio , Vilahur Gemma , Crisóstomo Verónica , Jorge Inmaculada , Zaragoza Carlos , Zamorano José L. , Bermejo Javier , Ordoñez Antonio , Boscá Lisardo , Vázquez Jesús , Badimón Lina , Sánchez-Margallo Francisco M. , Fernández-Avilés Francisco , Garcia-Dorado David , Ibanez Borja 
Published: December 2019

AbstractDespite many cardioprotective interventions have shown to protect the heart against ischemia/reperfusion injury in the experimental setting, only few of them have succeeded in translating their findings into positive proof-of-concept clinical trials. Controversial and inconsistent experimental and clinical evidence supports the urgency of a disruptive paradigm shift for testing cardioprotective therapies. There is a need to evaluate experimental reproducibility before stepping into the clinical arena. The CIBERCV (acronym for Spanish network-center for cardiovascular biomedical research) has set up the “Cardioprotection Large Animal Platform” (CIBER-CLAP) to perform experimental studies testing the efficacy and reproducibility of promising cardioprotective interventions based on a pre-specified design and protocols, randomization, blinding assessment and other robust methodological features. Our first randomized, control-group, open-label blinded endpoint experimental trial assessing local ischemic preconditioning (IPC) in a pig model of acute myocardial infarction (n = 87) will be carried out in three separate sets of experiments performed in parallel by three laboratories. Each set aims to assess: (A) CMR-based outcomes; (B) histopathological-based outcomes; and (C) protein-based outcomes. Three core labs will assess outcomes in a blinded fashion (CMR imaging, histopathology and proteomics) and 2 methodological core labs will conduct the randomization and statistical analysis.
An Experimental Study on the Performance Evaluation and Thermodynamic Modeling of a Thermoelectric Cooler Combined with Two Heatsinks
Authors: Siahmargoi Marzieh , Rahbar Nader , Kargarsharifabad Hadi , Sadati Seyed Esmaeil , Asadi Amin 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe present study aims to investigate the performance of a one-stage thermoelectric cooler using mathematical and thermodynamic modeling and proposing a new correlation for performance evaluation of a thermoelectric cooler combined with two heatsinks. Validating the results of the proposed correlation, a series of experiments have been carried out on the same system. The system consists of a thermoelectric cooler and a heatsink on each side. Deriving the governing equations of the system, the effects of changing the voltage and the thermal resistance of the cold- and hot-side heatsink on cooling power, the cold-side temperature of thermoelectric, and the coefficient of performance of the system have been investigated. The results indicated that changes in voltage have a considerable effect on the performance of the system. Moreover, the maximum cooling power of the system takes place at the voltage of 14 V, which is the optimum voltage of the system. Furthermore, decreasing the thermal resistance of the hot-side heatsink leads to increasing the cooling power and the cold-side temperature of the thermoelectric cooler. On the other hand, increasing the thermal resistance of the cold-side heatsink leads to decreasing the cooling power of the system.
Ecological and economic benefits of planting winter rapeseed (Brassica rapa L.) in the wind erosion area of northern China
Authors: Ma Li , Wang Xuefang , Pu Yuanyuan , Wu Junyan , Coulter Jeffrey A. , Li Xuecai , Wang Lijun , Liu Lijun , Fang Yan , Niu Zaoxia , Yue Jinli , Bai Jing , Zhao Yuhong , Jin Jiaojiao , Chang Yu , Sun Wancang 
Published: December 2019

AbstractWinter and early spring wind soil erosion have considerable impacts on ecosystems, human well-being and agricultural production in the low precipitation zones of northern China. Little is known about the impact of growing winter rapeseed on ecological cropping systems and the associated economic benefits in the wind erosion area. To explore the winter rapeseed cover effect, we conducted a field experiment in which we covered the soil with winter rapeseed, winter wheat and wheat stubble at different plant density levels and used the spring bare ground as the control (CK). The effects of wind erosion, the “winter rapeseed + ” multiple cropping system, and the economic benefits were compared. There was a large difference in the dry matter, the maximum water absorption, the maximum water storage, the soil evaporation and total wind erosion, the amount of sediment transported in the stratum and the wind erosion modulus. Among them, the mean wind erosion modulus of spring sowing bare land was as high as 490.9 kg·hm−2·h−1, which was 7 and 13 times that of winter wheat and winter rapeseed, respectively. As the wind speed increased from 14 to 22 m·s−1, from a small density to a large density, the mean wind erosion modulus decreased from 68 to 17 kg·hm−2·h−1 for winter rapeseed, and 150 to 31 kg·hm−2·h−1 for winter wheat. Total wind-erosion of sediment transport of CK was 18.6 g·m−2 min−1, which was 16 and 31 times the mean value of winter wheat and winter rapeseed, respectively. “Winter rapeseed + ” replanting peanuts, potatoes, rice, seed melons and other crops generally increased the production value by 5–74% compared with wheat and corn intercropping, which was 98–255% higher than the traditional wheat single crop. Our results suggested that the suitable area for planting winter rapeseed in northern China was approximately 3.3 × 106 hm2, and in terms of the best economic and ecological effects, the appropriate density was 5 × 105 plants·hm−2 in northern China. Our results indicated that Chinese winter rapeseed was the best choice for preventing wind erosion and improving ecological and economic benefits in winter and spring in northern China; additionally, winter rapeseed has important impacts on agricultural sustainability in semi-arid and arid climates.
Distinct climate influences on the risk of typhoid compared to invasive non-typhoid Salmonella disease in Blantyre, Malawi
Authors: Thindwa Deus , Chipeta Michael G. , Henrion Marc Y. R. , Gordon Melita A. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractInvasiveSalmonelladiseases, both typhoid and invasive non-typhoidalSalmonella(iNTS), are seasonal bloodstream infections causing important morbidity and mortality globally in Africa. The reservoirs and transmission of both are not fully understood. We hypothesised that differences in the time-lagged relationships of rainfall or temperature with typhoid and iNTS incidence might infer differences in epidemiology. We assessed the dynamics of invasiveSalmonellaincidence over a 16-year period of surveillance, quantifying incidence peaks, seasonal variations, and nonlinear effects of rainfall and temperature exposures on the relative risks of typhoid and iNTS, using monthly lags. An increased relative risk of iNTS incidence was short-lasting but immediate after the onset of the rains, whereas that of typhoid was long-lasting but with a two months delayed start, implying a possible difference in transmission. The relative-risk function of temperature for typhoid was bimodal, with higher risk at both lower (with a 1 month lag) and higher (with a ≥4 months lag) temperatures, possibly reflecting the known patterns of short and long cycle typhoid transmission. In contrast, the relative-risk of iNTS was only increased at lower temperatures, suggesting distinct transmission mechanisms. Environmental and sanitation control strategies may be different for iNTS compared to typhoid disease.
Characterization of a new podovirus infecting Paenibacillus larvae
Authors: Ribeiro Henrique G. , Melo Luís D. R. , Oliveira Hugo , Boon Maarten , Lavigne Rob , Noben Jean-Paul , Azeredo Joana , Oliveira Ana 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe Paenibacillus larvae infecting phage API480 (vB_PlaP_API480) is the first reported podovirus for this bacterial species, with an 58 nm icosahedral capsid and a 12 × 8 nm short, non-contractile tail. API480 encodes 77 coding sequences (CDSs) on its 45,026 bp dsDNA genome, of which 47 were confirmed using mass spectrometry. This phage has got very limited genomic and proteomic similarity to any other known ones registered in public databases, including P. larvae phages. Comparative genomics indicates API480 is a new species as it’s a singleton with 28 unique proteins. Interestingly, the lysis module is highly conserved among P. larvae phages, containing a predicted endolysin and two putative holins. The well kept overall genomic organisation (from the structural and morphogenetic modules to the host lysis, DNA replication and metabolism related proteins) confirms a common evolutionary ancestor among P. larvae infecting phages. API480 is able to infect 69% of the 61 field strains with an ERIC I genotype, as well as ERIC II strains. Furthermore, this phage is very stable when exposed to high glucose concentrations and to larval gastrointestinal conditions. This highly-specific phage, with its broad lytic activity and stability in hive conditions, might potentially be used in the biocontrol of American Foulbrood (AFB).