bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluating physicochemical properties of crude oil as indicators of low-salinity–induced wettability alteration in carbonate minerals
Authors: Song Jin , Rezaee Sara , Guo Wenhua , Hernandez Brianna , Puerto Maura , Vargas Francisco M. , Hirasaki George J. , Biswal Sibani L. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe injection of low-salinity brine enhances oil recovery by altering the mineral wettability in carbonate reservoirs. However, the reported effectiveness of low-salinity water varies significantly in the literature, and the underlying mechanism of wettability alteration is controversial. In this work, we investigate the relationships between characteristics of crude oils and the oils’ response to low-salinity water in a spontaneous imbibition test, aiming (1) to identify suitable indicators of the effectiveness of low-salinity water and (2) to evaluate possible mechanisms of low-salinity–induced wettability alteration, including rock/oil charge repulsion and microdispersion formation. Seven oils are tested by spontaneous imbibition and fully characterized in terms of their acidity, zeta potential, interfacial tension, microdispersion propensity, water-soluble organics content and saturate-aromatic-resin-asphaltene fractionation. For the first time, the effectiveness of low-salinity water is found to positively correlate with the oil interfacial tension in low-salinity water. Oils with higher interfacial activity are found to respond more positively to low-salinity water. Moreover, cryogenic transmission electron microscopy images suggest that microdispersion is essentially macroemulsion, and its formation is an effective indicator – but not the root cause – of wettability alteration. The repulsive zeta potential for the rock and the oil in low-salinity water is found to be an insufficient condition for wettability alteration in carbonate minerals.
Digital scanning is more accurate than using a periodontal probe to measure the keratinized tissue width
Authors: Lee Jung-Seok , Jeon Yoon-Sun , Strauss Franz-Josef , Jung Hoi-In , Gruber Reinhard 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThis study aimed to compare the accuracy and reliability of digital versus conventional clinical measurements of the width of keratinized tissue. To this end, the keratinized tissue width was measured at 110 tooth sites in 5 pig jaws. The measurements were made at each site using three-dimensional (3D) scanned images and a periodontal probe. The actual keratinized tissue width was subsequently measured on histologic slides prepared from the same sites, and differences between the histologic slides and the digital and clinical measurements were analyzed to determine their accuracy in two measurement rounds. Furthermore, intrarater and interrater reliabilities were evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Here we show that the mean differences (and lower/upper limits of agreement) between the histologic and the digital/clinical measurements were 0.10 mm (−1.34/1.54 mm) and 1.11 mm (−0.69/2.92 mm), respectively, in the first round of measurements (p < 0.01), and 0.04 mm (−1.52/1.59 mm) and 1.05 mm (−0.37/2.48 mm) in the second round of measurements (p < 0.01). Moreover, we found that the intrarater reliability was higher for the digital measurements (ICC = 0.97, confidence interval [CI] = 0.96–0.97) than for the clinical measurements (ICC = 0.87, CI = 0.86–0.89; p < 0.01). Taken together, our results demonstrate that digital measurements of the keratinized tissue width using 3D scanned images can replace conventional clinical measurements using a periodontal probe since they are more accurate and reliable.
Α 10-gigawatt attosecond source for non-linear XUV optics and XUV-pump-XUV-probe studies
Authors: Makos I. , Orfanos I. , Nayak A. , Peschel J. , Major B. , Liontos I. , Skantzakis E. , Papadakis N. , Kalpouzos C. , Dumergue M. , Kühn S. , Varju K. , Johnsson P. , L’Huillier A. , Tzallas P. , Charalambidis D. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe quantum mechanical motion of electrons and nuclei in systems spatially confined to the molecular dimensions occurs on the sub-femtosecond to the femtosecond timescales respectively. Consequently, the study of ultrafast electronic and, in specific cases, nuclear dynamics requires the availability of light pulses with attosecond (asec) duration and of sufficient intensity to induce two-photon processes, essential for probing the intrinsic system dynamics. The majority of atoms, molecules and solids absorb in the extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) spectral region, in which the synthesis of the required attosecond pulses is feasible. Therefore, the XUV spectral region optimally serves the study of such ultrafast phenomena. Here, we present a detailed review of the first 10-GW class XUV attosecond source based on laser driven high harmonic generation in rare gases. The pulse energy of this source largely exceeds other laser driven attosecond sources and is comparable to the pulse energy of femtosecond Free-Electron-Laser (FEL) XUV sources. The measured pulse duration in the attosecond pulse train is 650 ± 80 asec. The uniqueness of the combined high intensity and short pulse duration of the source is evidenced in non-linear XUV-optics experiments. It further advances the implementation of XUV-pump-XUV-probe experiments and enables the investigation of strong field effects in the XUV spectral region.
Gradient acoustic focusing of sub-micron particles for separation of bacteria from blood lysate
Authors: Van Assche David , Reithuber Elisabeth , Qiu Wei , Laurell Thomas , Henriques-Normark Birgitta , Mellroth Peter , Ohlsson Pelle , Augustsson Per 
Published: February 2020

AbstractHandling of submicron-sized objects is important in many biochemical and biomedical applications, but few methods today can precisely manipulate this range of particles. We present gradient acoustic focusing that enables flow-through particle separation of submicron particles and cells and we apply it for separation of bacteria from blood lysate to facilitate their detection in whole blood for improved diagnostics. To control suspended objects below the classical 2µm size limit for acoustic focusing, we introduce a co-flowing acoustic impedance gradient to generate a stabilizing acoustic volume force that supresses acoustic streaming. The method is validated theoretically and experimentally using polystyrene particles, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. The applicability of the method is demonstrated by the separation of bacteria from selectively chemically lysed blood. Combined with downstream operations, this new approach opens up for novel methods for sepsis diagnostics.
miR-142 induces accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by inhibiting pexophagy in aged bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Houri Kei , Mori Tatsufumi , Onodera Yuta , Tsujimoto Takatoshi , Takehara Toshiyuki , Nakao Shinichi , Teramura Takeshi , Fukuda Kanji 
Published: February 2020

AbstractElevation of the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a major tissue-degenerative phenomenon involved in aging and aging-related diseases. The detailed mechanisms underlying aging-related ROS generation remain unclear. Presently, the expression of microRNA (miR)-142-5p was significantly upregulated in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) of aged mice. Overexpression of miR-142 and subsequent observation revealed that miR-142 involved ROS accumulation through the disruption of selective autophagy for peroxisomes (pexophagy). Mechanistically, attenuation of acetyltransferase Ep300 triggered the upregulation of miR-142 in aged BMMSCs, and miR-142 targeted endothelial PAS domain protein 1 (Epas1) was identified as a regulatory protein of pexophagy. These findings support a novel molecular mechanism relating aging-associated ROS generation and organelle degradation in BMMSCs, and suggest a potential therapeutic target for aging-associated disorders that are accompanied by stem cell degeneration.
Social Dilemmas in Nature-Based Tourism Depend on Social Value Orientations
Authors: Honjo Keita , Kubo Takahiro 
Published: February 2020

AbstractNature-based tourism (NBT) is vulnerable to a rapid increase in visitors because natural resources are often open access. Market failure caused by over-exploitation of natural resources is an example of social dilemmas in common-pool resource systems. Game theory, which describes people’s decision making under conflicts, has been applied to the analysis of social dilemmas in NBT. However, previous studies use non-cooperative games assuming individualistic players and discuss the emergence of social dilemmas only in a limited situation. Here, we demonstrate, by developing a two-player non-cooperative game of wildlife viewing, that the traditional game-theoretic approach fails to find social dilemmas. By analysing the competition between tour operators (players) with different social value orientations (SVOs), we found that concentration of tours becomes a Pareto-inefficient Nash equilibrium (PINE) when both players are competitive. Whether the wildlife-viewing market is a Prisoner’s dilemma depends on players’ SVOs. Furthermore, we found that fair punishment on competitive players promotes rather than suppresses the emergence of PINE. Our results suggest that the diversity of SVOs is an essential factor in understanding social dilemmas in NBT.
Development of Oxytolerant Salmonella typhimurium Using Radiation Mutation Technology (RMT) for Cancer Therapy
Authors: Gao Shuang , Jung Jong-Hyun , Lin Shun-Mei , Jang A-Yeung , Zhi Yong , Bum Ahn Ki , Ji Hyun-Jung , Hyang Lim Jae , Guo Huichen , Choy Hyon E. , Lim Sangyong , Seo Ho Seong 
Published: February 2020

AbstractA critical limitation of Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium) as an anti-cancer agent is the loss of their invasive or replicative activities, which results in no or less delivery of anti-cancer agents inside cancer cells in cancer therapy. Here we developed an oxytolerant attenuated Salmonella strain (KST0650) from the parental KST0649 (ΔptsIΔcrr) strain using radiation mutation technology (RMT). The oxytolerant KST0650 strain possessed 20-times higher replication activity in CT26 cancer cells and was less virulent than KST0649. Furthermore, KST0650 migrated effectively into tumor tissues in mice. KST0650 was further equipped with a plasmid harboring a spliced form of the intracellular pro-apoptotic protein sATF6, and the expression of sATF6 was controlled by the radiation-inducible recN promoter. The new strain was named as KST0652, in which sATF6 protein expression was induced in response to radiation in a dose-dependent manner. This strain was effectively delivered inside cancer cells and tumor tissues via the Salmonella type III secretion system (T3SS). In addition, combination treatment with KST0652 and radiation showed a synergistic anti-tumor effect in murine tumor model with complete inhibition of tumor growth and protection against death. In conclusion, we showed that RMT can be used to effectively develop an anti-tumor Salmonella strain for delivering anti-cancer agents inside tumors.
Difference in Clinical Features between Right- and Left-Sided Acute Colonic Diverticulitis
Authors: Lee Kil-yong , Lee Jaeim , Park Youn Young , Kim Younglim , Oh Seong Taek 
Published: February 2020

AbstractRight colonic diverticulitis (RCD) and left colonic diverticulitis (LCD) may have different clinical features due to the different embryologic origins and anatomical locations of each colon. Therefore, we aimed to compare RCD and LCD in terms of the associated clinical features. We retrospectively collected clinical data from patients who were diagnosed with acute colonic diverticulitis based on computed tomography findings between 2011 and 2017. RCD was defined as colonic diverticulitis extending from the caecum to the transverse colon, and LCD was defined as extending from the splenic flexure to the sigmoid colon. These analyses included 667 patients with RCD and 58 patients with LCD. Relative to the patients with LCD, the patients with RCD were younger (P < 0.001), were more likely to be male (P = 0.033), were taller (P < 0.001), had lower body mass index values (P < 0.001), had less advanced modified Hinchey stages (P < 0.001), and had shorter hospital stays (P < 0.001). Having LCD rather than RCD was a predictor of recurrent colonic diverticulitis (P = 0.003). Relative to LCD, RCD occurs at younger ages, is expressed at less advanced modified Hinchey stages, and is associated with lower risks of recurrence.
A mouse model of pulmonary Mycobacteroides abscessus infection
Authors: Maggioncalda Emily C. , Story-Roller Elizabeth , Mylius Julian , Illei Peter , Basaraba Randall J. , Lamichhane Gyanu 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThere is no preclinical mouse model to investigate pulmonaryMycobacteroides abscessus(formerlyMycobacterium abscessus) infection in an immunocompetent mouse strain, especially in the context of antibiotic testing and regimen development. We developed a mouse model of pulmonaryM. abscessusinfection using the aerosolized route of infection that leads to an increase in bacterial burden post- implantation and develops pathology as a result. In this mouse model, treatment with corticosteroid allows for initial proliferation and sustainedM. abscessuspulmonary infection and permits evaluation of efficacies of antibiotics. Administration of corticosteroids that permitted higher levels of bacterial burden in the lungs were more likely to have pathology. Treatment of mice with antibiotics administered intranasally or subcutaneously significantly reduced lungM. abscessusburden. In addition to the reference strain, independent clinical isolates ofM. abscessusalso readily establish infection and proliferate in the lungs of mice in this model.
Neutron Total Scattering Studies of Group II Titanates (ATiO3, A2+ = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba)
Authors: Culbertson Charles M. , Flak Alexander T. , Yatskin Michael , Cheong Paul H.-Y. , Cann David P. , Dolgos Michelle R. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractNeutron total scattering measurements were conducted on MgTiO3, CaTiO3, SrTiO3, and BaTiO3 to simultaneously investigate the local and average structure of these materials. The local structures of MgTiO3, CaTiO3, and SrTiO3 were well modelled using the refined average structural models: trigonal R$$\bar{3}$$3¯, orthorhombic Pbnm, and cubic Pm$$\bar{3}$$3¯m respectively. However the local structure for BaTiO3, at both temperatures where the average structure is orthorhombic Amm2 and tetragonal P4mm, was best described by the rhombohedral R3m model. Only the R3m model was able to account for the observed displacement of titanium in the [111] direction. Furthermore, box-car type refinements were conducted. These refinements show that the coherence length of the rhombohedral distortion is around 10 Å, at larger r-ranges the local distortions become misaligned and average out to Amm2 and P4mm.
Prediction of Molecular Mutations in Diffuse Low-Grade Gliomas using MR Imaging Features
Authors: Shboul Zeina A. , Chen James , M. Iftekharuddin Khan 
Published: February 2020

AbstractDiffuse low-grade gliomas (LGG) have been reclassified based on molecular mutations, which require invasive tumor tissue sampling. Tissue sampling by biopsy may be limited by sampling error, whereas non-invasive imaging can evaluate the entirety of a tumor. This study presents a non-invasive analysis of low-grade gliomas using imaging features based on the updated classification. We introduce molecular (MGMT methylation, IDH mutation, 1p/19q co-deletion, ATRX mutation, and TERT mutations) prediction methods of low-grade gliomas with imaging. Imaging features are extracted from magnetic resonance imaging data and include texture features, fractal and multi-resolution fractal texture features, and volumetric features. Training models include nested leave-one-out cross-validation to select features, train the model, and estimate model performance. The prediction models of MGMT methylation, IDH mutations, 1p/19q co-deletion, ATRX mutation, and TERT mutations achieve a test performance AUC of 0.83 ± 0.04, 0.84 ± 0.03, 0.80 ± 0.04, 0.70 ± 0.09, and 0.82 ± 0.04, respectively. Furthermore, our analysis shows that the fractal features have a significant effect on the predictive performance of MGMT methylation IDH mutations, 1p/19q co-deletion, and ATRX mutations. The performance of our prediction methods indicates the potential of correlating computed imaging features with LGG molecular mutations types and identifies candidates that may be considered potential predictive biomarkers of LGG molecular classification.
Characterization of a bacteriophage, vB_Eco4M-7, that effectively infects many Escherichia coli O157 strains
Authors: Necel Agnieszka , Bloch Sylwia , Nejman-Faleńczyk Bożena , Grabski Michał , Topka Gracja , Dydecka Aleksandra , Kosznik-Kwaśnicka Katarzyna , Grabowski Łukasz , Jurczak-Kurek Agata , Wołkowicz Tomasz , Węgrzyn Grzegorz , Węgrzyn Alicja 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe characterization of a recently isolated bacteriophage, vB_Eco4M-7, which effectively infects many, though not all, Escherichia coli O157 strains, is presented. The genome of this phage comprises double-stranded DNA, 68,084 bp in length, with a GC content of 46.2%. It contains 96 putative open reading frames (ORFs). Among them, the putative functions of only 35 ORFs were predicted (36.5%), whereas 61 ORFs (63.5%) were classified as hypothetical proteins. The genome of phage vB_Eco4M-7 does not contain genes coding for integrase, recombinase, repressors or excisionase, which are the main markers of temperate viruses. Therefore, we conclude that phage vB_Eco4M-7 should be considered a lytic virus. This was confirmed by monitoring phage lytic development by a one-step growth experiment. Moreover, the phage forms relatively small uniform plaques (1 mm diameter) with no properties of lysogenization. Electron microscopic analyses indicated that vB_Eco4M-7 belongs to the Myoviridae family. Based on mass spectrometric analyses, including the fragmentation pattern of unique peptides, 33 phage vB_Eco4M-7 proteins were assigned to annotated open reading frames. Importantly, genome analysis suggested that this E. coli phage is free of toxins and other virulence factors. In addition, a similar, previously reported but uncharacterized bacteriophage, ECML-117, was also investigated, and this phage exhibited properties similar to vB_Eco4M-7. Our results indicate that both studied phages are potential candidates for phage therapy and/or food protection against Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, as the majority of these strains belong to the O157 serotype.
Characterization of Induced High Yielding Cowpea Mutant Lines Using Physiological, Biochemical and Molecular Markers
Authors: Raina Aamir , Laskar Rafiul Amin , Tantray Younas Rasheed , Khursheed Shahnawaz , Wani Mohd. Rafiq , Khan Samiullah 
Published: February 2020

AbstractCowpea, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. is an important grain legume grown in the dry agro-ecologies of the tropics with considerably low yield due to lack of improved varieties, aggravated by prevalent narrow genetic base. Thus, induced mutagenesis was employed using sodium azide and gamma rays to increase genetic variability in cowpea genotypes that resulted in isolation of eleven high yielding mutant lines at the M4 generation from the genetic background of cowpea varieties Gomati VU-89 and Pusa-578. In order to analyze the induced genetic divergence among the mutant lines and parent genotypes, biochemical and molecular characterization was carried out with sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), simple sequence repeat (SSR) and CAAT box derived polymorphism (CBDP) markers. Activity of nitrate reductase (NR) and content of chlorophyll, carotenoid, protein and mineral were found to be significantly high in the selected mutant lines compared to their respective parent genotypes. SDS-PAGE profile of seed proteins generated 54 and 28 polymorphic bands and a total polymorphism of 62.06 and 41.17% in Gomati VU-89 and Pusa-578, respectively. SSR primers amplified a total of 16 and 24 polymorphic bands with an average polymorphism of 20.69 and 50.74% in Gomati VU-89 and Pusa-578, respectively. CBDP markers, used for the first time in mutagenized population, generated 175 bands with 77 bands being polymorphic in Gomati VU-89 and 121 bands with 59 bands being polymorphic in Pusa-578. Physiological, biochemical and molecular profiling of the selected promising mutants lines showed that Gomati VU-89-G and Pusa-578-C are genetically most diverged high yielding genotypes with significant increase in protein and micronutrient content, therefore, could be recommended for further research considerations. Thus, the favorable combination of genes induced in the novel cowpea mutants selected through the present study are valuable to correspond farmers requirements for new improved cultivars (direct or hybrids).
Integrated RNA and metabolite profiling of urine liquid biopsies for prostate cancer biomarker discovery
Authors: Lee Bongyong , Mahmud Iqbal , Marchica John , Dereziński Paweł , Qi Feng , Wang Fubo , Joshi Piyush , Valerio Felipe , Rivera Inoel , Patel Vipul , Pavlovich Christian P. , Garrett Timothy. J. , Schroth Gary P. , Sun Yinghao , Perera Ranjan J. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractSensitive and specific diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for prostate cancer (PCa) are urgently needed. Urine samples are a non-invasive means to obtain abundant and readily accessible “liquid biopsies”. Herein we used urine liquid biopsies to identify and characterize a novel group of urine-enriched RNAs and metabolites in patients with PCa and normal individuals with or without benign prostatic disease. Differentially expressed RNAs were identified in urine samples by deep sequencing and metabolites in urine were measured by mass spectrometry. mRNA and metabolite profiles were distinct in patients with benign and malignant disease. Integrated analysis of urinary gene expression and metabolite signatures unveiled an aberrant glutamate metabolism and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle node in prostate cancer-derived cells. Functional validation supported a role for glutamate metabolism and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase 1 (GOT1)-dependent redox balance in PCa, which could be exploited for novel biomarkers and therapies. In this study, we discovered cancer-specific changes in urinary RNAs and metabolites, paving the way for the development of sensitive and specific urinary PCa diagnostic biomarkers either alone or in combination. Our methodology was based on single void urine samples (i.e., without prostatic massage). The integrated analysis of metabolomic and transcriptomic data from these liquid biopsies revealed a glutamate metabolism and tricarboxylic acid cycle node that was specific to prostate-derived cancer cells and cancer-specific metabolic changes in urine.