bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hypoglycemia in CDG patients due to PMM2 mutations: Follow up on hyperinsulinemic patients
Authors: Moravej Hossein , Altassan Ruqaiah , Jaeken Jaak , Enns Gregory M. , Ellaway Carolyn , Balasubramaniam Shanti , De Lonlay Pascale , Coman David , Mercimek‐Andrews Saadet , Witters Peter , Morava Eva 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundPhosphomannomutase 2 deficiency (PMM2‐CDG) is the most common congenital disorder of glycosylation (CDG). Hypoglycemia has been reported in various CDG including PMM2‐CDG. The frequency and etiology of hypoglycemia in PMM2‐CDG are not well studied.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review of the literature on genetically and/or biochemically confirmed PMM2‐CDG patients who developed hypoglycemia. Prospective follow‐up information on the patients who received diazoxide therapy was collected and evaluated.ResultsA total of 165 peer‐reviewed articles reporting on 933 PMM2‐CDG patients were assessed. Hypoglycemia was specifically mentioned only in 23 of these patients (2.5%). Hyperinsulinism was identified in 10 patients (43% of all hypoglycemic patients). Among these 10 patients, seven were successfully treated with diazoxide. However, most patients remained on therapy longer than a year to stay free of hypoglycemia.ConclusionHypoglycemia is a rarely reported finding in patients with PMM2‐CDG. Diazoxide‐responsive hyperinsulinism was found to have a good prognosis on medication in our PMM2‐CDG patients with hypoglycemia. No genotype‐phenotype correlation was observed with respect to hyperinsulinism. A prospective study should be undertaken to explore the hypothesis that hypoglycemia is underdiagnosed in PMM2‐CDG and to evaluate whether hyperinsulinism is always associated with hypoglycemia.
Application of Raman spectroscopy in comparative study of antiobesity influence of oxytocin and freeze‐dried extracts of Uvariodendron anisatum Verdeck (Annonaceae) in Sprague Dawley rats
Authors: Birech Zephania , Mwangi Peter W. , Sehmi Prabjot K. , Nyaga Nelly M. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractObesity is a condition affecting a substantial number of people in the world. Obese people have increased risks of developing chronic metabolic diseases such as type II diabetes, hypertension, and cancer, among others. Predicting potential development together with rapid diagnosis of the condition followed by early interventions is therefore necessary. This work investigated, first, utility of Raman spectroscopy in performing comparative antiobesity influence studies of oxytocin and a freeze‐dried extract of a local herbal plant exhibiting oxytocin‐like properties called Uvariodendron anisatum Verdeck (Annonaceae) (UAV) on diet induced obesity in Sprague Dawley rat models. Second, we looked for obesity biomarker Raman spectral bands. The blood extracted from the rats were applied onto conductive silver paste smeared glass slides and excited using a 785‐nm laser. Raman spectra of blood from oxytocin‐ and UAV‐treated rats displayed similar profiles with low doses of UAV (100 mg/kg of body weight) being more similar to oxytocin than high doses (200 mg/kg of body weight) as revealed by cosine similarity value of 0.997. Their profiles were also different from blood of obese and nonobese (normal controls) animals. A prominent peak in spectra of treated rats centred at 401 cm−1 can be oxytocin's biomarker band in blood. Comparison of average intensity trend of fructose bands at around 638 and 812 cm−1 between prepared fructose solution and blood of treated rats revealed elevated levels of fructose in blood of rats intraperitoneally injected oxytocin and UAV extracts. The result implied upregulation of fructose in oxytocin‐ and UAV‐treated animals. Principal component analysis confirmed that Raman spectral profiles from blood of obese rats were different from those of nonobese rats with bands ascribed to fructose (638, 812, and 1,217 cm−1) and branched chain amino acids (BCAAs; 478, 1,318, and 1,443 cm−1), being utilized in the segregation of the spectral data sets. It also showed that spectra from oxytocin‐treated and UAV‐treated rat's blood were similar implying identical influence of the drugs on the animals. The study showed potential of Raman spectroscopy as tool for quick obesity (or metabolic syndrome) screening with intensity of Raman bands associated with fructose and BCAAs as biomarkers. Besides, the same bands may be used in comparative efficacy studies of antiobesity drugs. The results reported here are rare in literature.
Two‐Dimensional Shear Wave Elastography in the Assessment of Salivary Gland Involvement in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome
Authors: Arslan Serdar , Durmaz Mehmet Sedat , Erdogan Hasan , Esmen Serpil Ergulu , Turgut Bekir , Iyisoy Mehmet Sinan 
Published: November 2019

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic performance of two‐dimensional (2D) shear wave elastography (SWE) in the assessment of salivary gland involvement in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS).MethodsFifty‐three patients with pSS and 30 healthy volunteers were included. The echogenicity of all submandibular and parotid glands was evaluated with B‐mode ultrasound, and their elasticity was assessed with 2D SWE. The mean and standard deviation of the shear wave speed and elasticity modes on 2D SWE were calculated.ResultsThe mean shear wave speed and elasticity mode values for the submandibular and parotid glands were significantly higher in the patients with pSS (P < .05). The mean elasticity of the shear wave speed mode was best able to differentiate the parotid glands of patients with pSS from those of healthy volunteers at a cutoff value of 2.48 m/s, whereas the mean elasticity of the elasticity mode was best able to differentiate the submandibular glands of patients with pSS from those of healthy volunteers at a cutoff value of 21 kPa.ConclusionsTwo‐dimensional SWE is an effective technique for assessment of the parenchyma of the salivary glands in patients with pSS and predicts interstitial fibrosis and the severity of histologic damage.
Impact of land use change and soil type on total phosphorus and its fractions in soil aggregates
Authors: Zhang Yaqi , Bhattacharyya Ranjan , Dalal Ram C. , Wang Peng , Menzies Neal W. , Kopittke Peter M. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractConversion of land from native vegetation to long‐term agricultural cropping adversely affects soil phosphorus (P) reserves. We examined surface soils (0–0.1 m) from three paired sites from four land uses (native vegetation, cropping, pasture, and plantation, up to 115 years) from subtropical Australia (a Vertisol from Warra, an Oxisol from Lamington, and an Oxisol from Kingaroy) for the changes in the total P concentrations as well as the fractionation of P in bulk soil and in aggregate fractions. Among different land uses and soil types, the conversion of the Kingaroy Oxisol from native vegetation to cropping decreased soil aggregation markedly. Across all three soils, land use change from native vegetation to cropping decreased total organic C (TOC) concentrations by 68–85% and organic P (Po) by 55–63%. The corresponding decreases in Po upon conversion to pasture and plantation were lower, being 12–23%. These decreases in Po were primarily associated with a decrease in the NaOH‐Po fraction (relatively available P). Although land use change to cropping reduced the proportion of large macroaggregates, the P concentration, including NaOH‐Po fraction was similar across all aggregate sizes. Finally, although the overall contribution of the silt+clay fraction was small, the C and Po reserves in this fraction tended to be more resilient and the C/Po ratio remained relatively constant. This study has demonstrated the impacts of cropping on soil P reserves, but that conversion of cropping to pasture or plantation can largely reverse these adverse effects.
Fixed‐frequency conical beam scanning antenna array with small ripple for Satcom‐on‐the‐Move system
Authors: Liu Qian , Qi Shi‐Shan , Wu Wen , Fang Da‐Gang 
Published: November 2019

AbstractA conical beam antenna array with fixed‐frequency scanning capability is proposed. Twelve open waveguide radiating elements filled with microwave ferrite on a metal ground plane are evenly distributed around a circle to realize small gain ripple and the array is fed by a planar feeding structure to realize low profile. The fixed‐frequency beam scanning can be realized by varying the magnetic bias field applied perpendicularly to the width of the waveguide. The coupled lines with two shorts are utilized to realize the high characteristic impedance. The measured results show that the conical beam scans from 13° to 31° at the center frequency and the gain is better than 8 dBi. The ripple is less than 0.5 dB. Good agreement has been observed between the simulated results and the measured ones.
Differences Between Long Distance Road Runners and Trail Runners in Achilles Tendon Structure and Jumping and Balance Performance
Authors: Dar Gali , Waddington Gordon , Stern Myriam , Dotan Nadav , Steinberg Nili 
Published: November 2019

BackgroundLoad and joint kinematics change with differences in running surface. Running regularly on trails compared to roads might influence the load on the Achilles tendon and its adaptations, along with other factors such as balance, strength, and proprioception.ObjectiveTo investigate Achilles tendon structure and functional tests in road and trail runners.DesignCross‐sectional study.SettingLaboratory, sport sciences college.ParticipantsThe study included 26 road and 17 trail runners who run at least three times per week with a minimum of 20 km per week and who participated in running competitions over the preceding 2 years.MethodsEach participant was examined for Achilles tendon structure (via ultrasound tissue characterization [UTC] imaging) and underwent functional tests in addition to completing a demographic questionnaire.Main Outcome MeasurementsThe percentages of echo types I, II, III, and IV (degree of structural homogeneity) within the tendon, tendon length and width, tendon cross‐sectional area (via UTC imaging); Ankle inversion movement discrimination ability (via Active Movement Extent Discrimination Apparatus device); dynamic postural balance (via Y balance test); jumping performance (by Triple hop distance test); and Hip muscle abduction muscle strength (by hand‐held dynamometry).ResultsPercentage of echo type I was significantly lower while echo type II was higher in the road group compared with the trail group (67.3% type I and 28.9% type II in the road group compared with 74.1% type I and 22.1% type II in the trail group, P < .001). No differences between genders were found and no significant differences between groups were found for the other tests.ConclusionTendon integrity as examined with UTC is different between road and trail runners. This suggests an influence of running surface on Achilles tendon structure. This difference was not reflected in other tests, thus the influence of tendon structure on function needs further examination.
Hydrophobic residues of melittin mediate its binding to αA−crystallin
Authors: Ramirez Lisa M. , Shekhtman Alexander , Pande Jayanti 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe molecular chaperone αA‐crystallin, mainly localized in the human ocular lens, is believed to protect the lens from opacification and cataract, by suppressing the aggregation of the other lens proteins. The present study provides structural and thermodynamic insights into the ability of human αA‐crystallin (HAA) to bind to its partially unfolded clients in the lens, using a small peptide, melittin from bee venom, as a model client. We characterized the thermodynamic parameters of the binding process between melittin and HAA through isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), and found the binding to be endothermic and entropy‐driven. We identified the amino acids in melittin important for binding to HAA by saturation‐transfer difference (STD) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments, and analysis of NMR line broadening upon titration of melittin with HAA. Our results suggest that hydrophobic residues Ile17 and Ile20 on the C‐terminal region of melittin are in close contact with HAA in the melittin‐HAA complex. Information obtained from NMR experiments was used to generate structural models of the melittin‐HAA complex by molecular docking with high‐ambiguity driven docking (HADDOCK). Structural models of the melittin‐HAA complex reveal important principles underlying the interaction of HAA with its clients.
A Robust Nonprecious CuFe Composite as a Highly Efficient Bifunctional Catalyst for Overall Electrochemical Water Splitting
Authors: Inamdar Akbar I. , Chavan Harish S. , Hou Bo , Lee Chi Ho , Lee Sang Uck , Cha SeungNam , Kim Hyungsang , Im Hyunsik 
Published: November 2019

AbstractTo generate hydrogen, which is a clean energy carrier, a combination of electrolysis and renewable energy sources is desirable. In particular, for both the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in electrolysis, it is necessary to develop nonprecious, efficient, and durable catalysts. A robust nonprecious copper–iron (CuFe) bimetallic composite is reported that can be used as a highly efficient bifunctional catalyst for overall water splitting in an alkaline medium. The catalyst exhibits outstanding OER and HER activity, and very low OER and HER overpotentials (218 and 158 mV, respectively) are necessary to attain a current density of 10 mA cm−2. When used in a two‐electrode water electrolyzer system for overall water splitting, it not only achieves high durability (even at a very high current density of 100 mA cm−2) but also reduces the potential required to split water into oxygen and hydrogen at 10 mA cm−2 to 1.64 V for 100 h of continuous operation.
DIN EN 1090‐4 & ‐5 – Normen für den Metallleichtbau
Authors: Podleschny Ralf 
Published: November 2019

AbstractIn den Jahren 2017 und 2018 sind die neuen Normen EN 1090‐4 und EN 1090‐5 für die Herstellung und Anwendung von tragenden Bauteilen und tragenden Profiltafeln des Metallleichtbaus erschienen. Diese Normen basieren auf den bekannten deutschen technischen Regeln DIN 18807‐3, DASt‐Richtlinie 016 und DIN 18807‐9 in aktualisierter Form. EN 1090‐4 und EN 1090‐5 repräsentieren heute erstmals europaweit einen einheitlichen technischen Standard für die Herstellung und die Ausführung von Tragwerken des Metallleichtbaus. Weitere europäische Produktnormen für Bauelemente aus Metall, wie z. B. EN 14782, regeln zum Teil andere Anwendungsbereiche dieser Produkte. Dieser Beitrag soll eine Hilfestellung zur richtigen Anwendung und Abgrenzung der Normen geben.
Zur Bemessung und Ausführung von querkraftbeanspruchten Blindnietverbindungen im Stahlleichtbau
Authors: Kalkowsky Florian , Glienke Ralf , Blunk Christoph , Dörre Maik , Henkel Knuth‐Michael 
Published: November 2019

AbstractDie Blindniettechnik gilt als ein sehr schnelles und prozesssicheres Fügeverfahren. Blindniete werden überall dort eingesetzt, wo klassische Fügeverfahren, wie bspw. das Schweißen oder Schrauben, technologisch oder konstruktiv bedingt nicht eingesetzt werden können oder unwirtschaftlich sind. Zu den klassischen Anwendungsgebieten im Stahlleichtbau gehören die Befestigungen von Dach‐ und Wandverkleidungen. Darüber hinaus werden weitere Anwendungsfelder wie z. B. Hochregallager und Wohncontainer von der Blindniettechnik erobert. Leider bestehen seitens der Ausführung und Bemessung von Verbindungen mit Blindnieten im Stahlleichtbau für zuvor genannte Konstruktionen einige Hürden, sodass bislang immer auf einen bauaufsichtlichen Verwendbarkeitsnachweis zurückgegriffen werden muss. Dieser kann meist nur durch zeit‐ und kostenintensive Einzelfalluntersuchungen erlangt werden. Darüber hinaus ist die bestehende normative Regelung durch DIN EN 1993‐1‐3 sowie DIN EN 1090‐4 nach Meinung der Verfasser unzureichend, was einem breiteren Einsatz der Blindniettechnik momentan noch entgegensteht.In diesem Beitrag werden die Ergebnisse aus systematischen Untersuchungen zur Abscher‐ und Lochleibungstragfähigkeit von Blindnieten und den damit hergestellten Verbindungen vorgestellt. Ziel der Untersuchungen war die Überprüfung und Erweiterung der im EC 3 bestehenden Bemessungs‐ und Ausführungsregeln für Blindnietverbindungen, um zukünftig einen rein rechnerischen Nachweis der DIN EN 1993‐1‐3 für querkraftbeanspruchte Blindnietverbindungen zu erlauben und somit den erforderlichen Aufwand für eine versuchsgestützte Bemessung zu reduzieren.
On the role of mRNA secondary structure in bacterial translation
Authors: Chiaruttini Claude , Guillier Maude 
Published: November 2019

AbstractMessenger RNA (mRNA) is no longer considered as a mere informational molecule whose sole function is to convey the genetic information specified by DNA to the ribosome. Beyond this primary function, mRNA also contains additional instructions that influence the way and the extent to which this message is translated by the ribosome into protein(s). Indeed, owing to its intrinsic propensity to quickly and dynamically fold and form higher order structures, mRNA exhibits a second layer of structural information specified by the sequence itself. Besides influencing transcription and mRNA stability, this additional information also affects translation, and more precisely the frequency of translation initiation, the choice of open reading frame by recoding, the elongation speed, and the folding of the nascent protein. Many studies in bacteria have shown that mRNA secondary structure participates to the rapid adaptation of these versatile organisms to changing environmental conditions by efficiently tuning translation in response to diverse signals, such as the presence of ligands, regulatory proteins, or small RNAs.This article is categorized under:
Regulatory RNAs/RNAi/Riboswitches > Regulatory RNAs
RNA Structure and Dynamics > Influence of RNA Structure in Biological Systems
Translation > Translation Regulation
Impact of river reconstruction on groundwater flow during bank filtration assessed by transient three-dimensional modelling of flow and heat transport
Authors: Wang Wei-shi , Oswald Sascha E. , Gräff Thomas , Lensing Hermann-Josef , Liu Tie , Strasser Daniel , Munz Matthias 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBank filtration (BF) is an established indirect water-treatment technology. The quality of water gained via BF depends on the subsurface capture zone, the mixing ratio (river water versus ambient groundwater), spatial and temporal distribution of subsurface travel times, and subsurface temperature patterns. Surface-water infiltration into the adjacent aquifer is determined by the local hydraulic gradient and riverbed permeability, which could be altered by natural clogging, scouring and artificial decolmation processes. The seasonal behaviour of a BF system in Germany, and its development during and about 6 months after decolmation (canal reconstruction), was observed with a long-term monitoring programme. To quantify the spatial and temporal variation in the BF system, a transient flow and heat transport model was implemented and two model scenarios, ‘with’ and ‘without’ canal reconstruction, were generated. Overall, the simulated water heads and temperatures matched those observed. Increased hydraulic connection between the canal and aquifer caused by the canal reconstruction led to an increase of ~23% in the already high share of BF water abstracted by the nearby waterworks. Subsurface travel-time distribution substantially shifted towards shorter travel times. Flow paths with travel times <200 days increased by ~10% and those with <300 days by 15%. Generally, the periodic temperature signal, and the summer and winter temperature extrema, increased and penetrated deeper into the aquifer. The joint hydrological and thermal effects caused by the canal reconstruction might increase the potential of biodegradable compounds to further penetrate into the aquifer, also by potentially affecting the redox zonation in the aquifer.
Morphogenesis: a focus on marine invertebrates
Authors: Lv Zhiyi , Lu Qiongxuan , Dong Bo 
Published: November 2019

AbstractMorphogenesis is a process describing how the shapes of living tissues and bodies are created during development. Living and fossil organisms exhibit enormously diverse tissue architecture and body forms, although the functions of organs are evolutionally conserved. Current knowledge reveals that relatively conserved mechanisms are applied to control development among different species. However, the regulations of morphogenesis are quite diverse in detail. Animals in the ocean display a wide range of diversity of morphology suitable for their seawater environment. Nevertheless, compared with the intensive studies on terrestrial animals, research on marine animal morphogenesis is still insufficient. The increasing genomic data and the recently available gene editing methods, together with the fast development of imaging techniques, quantitative analyses and biophysical models, provide us the opportunities to have a deeper understanding of the principles that drive the diverse morphogenetic processes in marine animals. In this review, we summarize the recent studies of morphogenesis and evolution at molecular, cellular and tissue levels, with a focus on three model marine animals, namely ascidians, sea urchins and sea anemones.
Characteristics of Shallow Low‐Frequency Earthquakes off the Kii Peninsula, Japan, in 2004 Revealed by Ocean Bottom Seismometers
Authors: Tamaribuchi Koji , Kobayashi Akio , Nishimiya Takahito , Hirose Fuyuki , Annoura Satoshi 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe characteristics of shallow low‐frequency earthquakes (LFEs) are related to stress changes on the shallow plate boundary, which are important for understanding the megathrust earthquake cycle. The 5 September 2004 off the Kii Peninsula earthquakes (MJMA = 7.1, 7.4) occurred near the Nankai trough subduction zone, off southwest Japan. Ocean bottom seismometer observations from 22 September to 30 November 2004 detected many shallow LFEs among the ordinary aftershocks. During the observation period, the frequency of shallow LFEs steadily decayed with the exception of episodic activities, which were very sensitive to stress changes caused by tides and the 23 October 2004 Niigata earthquake (MJMA = 6.8). We also confirmed correlations between shallow LFEs and shallow very low frequency earthquakes, which suggest that these slow events represent the same slip phenomenon. These findings will contribute to clarifying the impact of LFEs on megathrust earthquakes.