bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of a lactobacilli-containing gel on vulvovaginal candidosis and the vaginal microbiome
Authors: Oerlemans Eline F. M. , Bellen Gert , Claes Ingmar , Henkens Tim , Allonsius Camille Nina , Wittouck Stijn , van den Broek Marianne F. L. , Wuyts Sander , Kiekens Filip , Donders Gilbert G. G. , Lebeer Sarah 
Published: May 2020

AbstractVulvovaginal candidosis (VVC) is a common condition with severe symptoms and high recurrence rates. Probiotic lactobacilli are explored as alternatives to azole treatments. Although the vaginal microbiota is generally not depleted in lactobacilli during VVC, studies indicate that the functionality and antimicrobial activity of the lactobacilli is impaired. We selected three strains from the Lactobacillus genus complex (L. rhamnosus GG, L. pentosus KCA1 and L. plantarum WCFS1) based on in vitro evaluation and formulated them in a gel for vaginal application. This gel was evaluated in 20 patients suffering from acute VVC, who were followed for four weeks including a 10-day treatment period. The microbiome was assessed through 16S rRNA (bacteria) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS; fungi) amplicon sequencing, supplemented with quantitative PCR, culture and microscopy for Candida evaluation. 45% of women did not require rescue medication (3×200 mg fluconazole), implying an improvement of their symptoms. These women showed similar end concentrations of fungi as women treated with fluconazole. Moreover, fluconazole appeared to reduce numbers of endogenous lactobacilli. Our study points towards important aspects for future selection of lactobacilli for probiotic use in VVC and the need to investigate possible negative influences of azoles on the vaginal bacterial community.
High resolution behavioral and neural activity representation using a geometrical approach
Authors: Brand Zev , Avital Avi 
Published: May 2020

AbstractAvailable tools for recording neuronal activity are limited and reductive due to massive data arising from high-frequency measurements. We have developed a method that utilizes variance within the physiological activity and includes all data points per measurement. Data is expressed geometrically in a physiologically meaningful manner, to represent a precise and detailed view of the recorded neural activity. The recorded raw data from any pair of electrodes was plotted and following a covariance calculation, an eigenvalues and chi-square distribution were used to define the ellipse which bounds 95% of the raw data. We validated our method by correlating specific behavioral observation and physiological activity with behavioral tasks that require similar body movement but potentially involve significantly different neuronal activity. Graphical representation of telemetrically recorded data generates a scatter plot with distinct elliptic geometrical properties that clearly and significantly correlated with behavior. Our reproducible approach improves on existing methods by allowing a dynamic, accurate and comprehensive correlate using an intuitive output. Long-term, it may serve as the basis for advanced machine learning applications and animal-based artificial intelligence models aimed at predicting or characterizing behavior.
Synthesis of diindolylmethane (DIM) bearing thiadiazole derivatives as a potent urease inhibitor
Authors: Taha Muhammad , Rahim Fazal , Khan Aftab Ahmad , Anouar El Hassane , Ahmed Naveed , Shah Syed Adnan Ali , Ibrahim Mohamed , Zakari Zainul Amiruddin 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThe current study describes synthesis of diindolylmethane (DIM) derivatives based-thiadiazole as a new class of urease inhibitors. Diindolylmethane is natural product alkaloid reported to use in medicinal chemistry extensively. Diindolylmethane-based-thiadiazole analogs (1–18) were synthesized and characterized by various spectroscopic techniques 1HNMR, 13C-NMR, EI-MS and evaluated for urease (jack bean urease) inhibitory potential. All compounds showed excellent to moderate inhibitory potential having IC50 value within the range of 0.50 ± 0.01 to 33.20 ± 1.20 µM compared with the standard thiourea (21.60 ± 0.70 µM). Compound 8 (IC50 = 0.50 ± 0.01 µM) was the most potent inhibitor amongst all derivatives. Structure-activity relationships have been established for all compounds. The key binding interactions of most active compounds with enzyme were confirmed through molecular docking studies.
Marker enzyme activities in hindleg from creatine-deficient AGAT and GAMT KO mice – differences between models, muscles, and sexes
Authors: Barsunova Karina , Vendelin Marko , Birkedal Rikke 
Published: May 2020

AbstractCreatine kinase (CK) functions as an energy buffer in muscles. Its substrate, creatine, is generated by L-arginine:glycine amidinotransferase (AGAT) and guanidinoacetate N-methyltransferase (GAMT). Creatine deficiency has more severe consequences for AGAT than GAMT KO mice. In the present study, to characterize their muscle phenotype further, we recorded the weight of tibialis anterior (TA), extensor digitorum longus (EDL), gastrocnemius (GAS), plantaris (PLA) and soleus (SOL) from creatine-deficient AGAT and GAMT, KO and WT mice. In GAS, PLA and SOL representing glycolytic, intermediate and oxidative muscle, respectively, we recorded the activities of pyruvate kinase (PK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), citrate synthase (CS) and cytochrome oxidase (CO). In AGAT KO compared to WT mice, muscle atrophy and differences in marker enzyme activities were more pronounced in glycolytic than oxidative muscle. In GAMT KO compared to WT, the atrophy was modest, differences in PK and LDH activities were minor, and CS and CO activities were slightly higher in all muscles. SOL from males had higher CS and CO activities compared to females. Our results add detail to the characterization of AGAT and GAMT KO skeletal muscle phenotypes and illustrate the importance of taking into account differences between muscles, and differences between sexes.
Walnut shell powder as a low-cost adsorbent for methylene blue dye: isotherm, kinetics, thermodynamic, desorption and response surface methodology examinations
Authors: Uddin Mohammad Kashif , Nasar Abu 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThe low cost, eco-friendly and potential biomass, i.e. walnut (Juglans regia) shell powder was deployed for the removal of toxic methylene blue dye from contaminated water solution. The important characterization of the waste material was conducted by using several techniques, i.e. Scanning electron microscope, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analysis, and Thermogravimetric analysis. The marked impact of various operating conditions, i.e. dose, concentration, time, pH and temperature on the adsorption process was investigated. Increasing pH resulted in an increase of percent dye adsorption, and the adsorption mechanism was occurred by electrostatic attraction between negative adsorbent surface and positive dye molecules. The equilibrium data suited with Langmuir isotherm model while the adsorption practice followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Higher temperature reduced the adsorption of dye molecules. The adsorption process was spontaneous, exothermic and chemical. The critical statistical analysis of the experimental results was directed by forming the design of the experiment, which was further, optimized by ANOVA, 3D and perturbation plots. The error and predicted values of both the studied responses as derived from the statistical model showed the agreeable results. 0.1 N HCl was found to be effective in complete desorption. The results are very practical and prove the effectiveness of walnut shell powder in the usage of decolorization for methylene blue.
Odor tracking in aquatic organisms: the importance of temporal and spatial intermittency of the turbulent plume
Authors: Michaelis Brenden T. , Leathers Kyle W. , Bobkov Yuriy V. , Ache Barry W. , Principe Jose C. , Baharloo Raheleh , Park Il Memming , Reidenbach Matthew A. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractIn aquatic and terrestrial environments, odorants are dispersed by currents that create concentration distributions that are spatially and temporally complex. Animals navigating in a plume must therefore rely upon intermittent, and time-varying information to find the source. Navigation has typically been studied as a spatial information problem, with the aim of movement towards higher mean concentrations. However, this spatial information alone, without information of the temporal dynamics of the plume, is insufficient to explain the accuracy and speed of many animals tracking odors. Recent studies have identified a subpopulation of olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) that consist of intrinsically rhythmically active ‘bursting’ ORNs (bORNs) in the lobster, Panulirus argus. As a population, bORNs provide a neural mechanism dedicated to encoding the time between odor encounters. Using a numerical simulation of a large-scale plume, the lobster is used as a framework to construct a computer model to examine the utility of intermittency for orienting within a plume. Results show that plume intermittency is reliably detectable when sampling simulated odorants on the order of seconds, and provides the most information when animals search along the plume edge. Both the temporal and spatial variation in intermittency is predictably structured on scales relevant for a searching animal that encodes olfactory information utilizing bORNs, and therefore is suitable and useful as a navigational cue.
Comparison of Centella with Flavonoids for Treatment of Symptoms in Hemorrhoidal Disease and After Surgical Intervention: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Chiaretti Massimo , Fegatelli Danilo Alunni , Pappalardo Giuseppe , Venti Michele Dello Spedale , Chiaretti Annalisa Italia 
Published: May 2020

AbstractPhlebotonics’ effects were evaluated to reduce time-to-stop bleeding and anal irritation in 130 patients who complained of hemorrhoidal disease (HD); bleeding and pain after hemorrhoidectomy (31 patients) and hemorrhoidal thrombosis (34 patients) in the short time. Sixty patients were randomized to receive the routine treatment (both conservative and surgical) (control Group C). The treated group (both conservative and surgical) was divided into two subgroups: one treated with flavonoids (Group A, n = 73), the other with Centella (Group B, n = 66). Time-to-stop bleeding was checked at baseline and checkups (0 up to day 42). Healing was estimated with Kaplan-Meier method, the Kruskal-Wallis test estimated changes in the VAS scores. The HD median time-to-stop bleeding was 2 weeks for Groups A and B; 3 weeks for Group C. VAS scores comparison among Groups (irritation): A vs C, p = 0.007; B vs C, p = 0.041; and A vs B, p = 0.782 resulted respectively. As for operated hemorrhoids, the time-to-stop bleeding was 3 and 4 weeks in Groups A and B and 5 in Group C. Histopathology showed an association between flavonoids and piles’ fibrosis (p = 0.008). Phlebotonics in HD, as well as after surgery, showed significant beneficial effects. Flavonoids are the most effective phlebotonics against bleeding and anal irritation.
Tendencies, variability and persistence of sea surface temperature anomalies
Authors: Bulgin Claire E. , Merchant Christopher J. , Ferreira David 
Published: May 2020

AbstractQuantifying global trends and variability in sea surface temperature (SST) is of fundamental importance to understanding changes in the Earth’s climate. One approach to observing SST is via remote sensing. Here we use a 37-year gap-filled, daily-mean analysis of satellite SSTs to quantify SST trends, variability and persistence between 1981–2018. The global mean warming trend is 0.09 K per decade globally, with 95% of local trends being between −0.1 K and + 0.35 K. Excluding perennial sea-ice regions, the mean warming trend is 0.11 K per decade. After removing the long-term trend we calculate the SST power spectra over different time periods. The maximum variance in the SST power spectra in the equatorial Pacific is 1.9 K2 on 1–5 year timescales, dominated by ENSO processes. In western boundary currents characterised by an intense mesoscale activity, SST power on sub-annual timescales dominates, with a maximum variance of 4.9 K2. Persistence timescales tend to be shorter in the summer hemisphere due to the shallower mixed layer. The median short-term persistence length is 11–14 days, found over 71–79% of the global ocean area, with seasonal variations. The mean global correlation between monthly SST anomalies with a three-month time-lag is 0.35, with statistically significant correlations over 54.0% of the global oceans, and notably in the northern and equatorial Pacific, and the sub-polar gyre south of Greenland. At six months, the mean global SST anomaly correlation falls to 0.18. The satellite data record enables the detailed characterisation of temporal changes in SST over almost four decades.
Integrative genomics approach identifies molecular features associated with early-stage ovarian carcinoma histotypes
Authors: Engqvist Hanna , Parris Toshima Z. , Biermann Jana , Rönnerman Elisabeth Werner , Larsson Peter , Sundfeldt Karin , Kovács Anikó , Karlsson Per , Helou Khalil 
Published: May 2020

AbstractOvarian cancer comprises multiple subtypes (clear-cell (CCC), endometrioid (EC), high-grade serous (HGSC), low-grade serous (LGSC), and mucinous carcinomas (MC)) with differing molecular and clinical behavior. However, robust histotype-specific biomarkers for clinical use have yet to be identified. Here, we utilized a multi-omics approach to identify novel histotype-specific genetic markers associated with ovarian carcinoma histotypes (CCC, EC, HGSC, and MC) using DNA methylation, DNA copy number alteration and RNA sequencing data for 96 primary invasive early-stage (stage I and II) ovarian carcinomas. More specifically, the DNA methylation analysis revealed hypermethylation for CCC in comparison with the other histotypes. Moreover, copy number imbalances and novel chromothripsis-like rearrangements (n = 64) were identified in ovarian carcinoma, with the highest number of chromothripsis-like patterns in HGSC. For the 1000 most variable transcripts, underexpression was most prominent for all histotypes in comparison with normal ovarian samples. Overall, the integrative approach identified 46 putative oncogenes (overexpressed, hypomethylated and DNA gain) and three putative tumor suppressor genes (underexpressed, hypermethylated and DNA loss) when comparing the different histotypes. In conclusion, the current study provides novel insights into molecular features associated with early-stage ovarian carcinoma that may improve patient stratification and subclassification of the histotypes.
Fisetin induces apoptosis in uterine leiomyomas through multiple pathways
Authors: Lee Jin-Woo , Choi Hyuck Jai , Kim Eun-Jin , Hwang Woo Yeon , Jung Min-Hyung , Kim Kyung Sook 
Published: May 2020

AbstractAlthough uterine leiomyomas are the most common benign uterine tumors in women, there is no effective therapy that can also preserve the uterus and maintain fertility. The work aimed to work was to discover a potential natural agent that has pharmacological activities on uterine leiomyomas with fewer adverse effects. We chose Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) as a candidate after primary cytotoxicity testing, and analyzed the RVS components that showed pharmacological activity. Leiomyoma cells and myometrium cells were cultured from uterine tissues obtained from patients, and were treated with RVS at varying concentrations. RVS was cytotoxic in both leiomyoma and myometrium cells; however, the effects were more prominent in the leiomyoma cells. Among the bioactive components of RVS, fisetin showed significant pharmacological effects on leiomyoma cells. Fisetin showed excellent leiomyoma cell cytotoxicity and induced apoptotic cell death with cell cycle arrest. The apoptotic cell death appeared to involve not one specific pathway but multichannel pathways (intrinsic, extrinsic, MARK, and p53-mediated pathways), and autophagy. The multichannel apoptosis pathways were activated with a low concentration of fisetin (<IC20) and were more vigorously activated at high concentrations (>IC50). This is the first demonstration to show the pharmacological activities of fisetin on leiomyoma cells. These findings suggest that fisetin may be used for the prevention and treatment of uterine leiomyomas. Since fisetin can be obtained from plants, it may be a safe and effective alternative treatment for uterine leiomyomas.
Genetic and environmental influences on human height from infancy through adulthood at different levels of parental education
Authors: Jelenkovic Aline , Sund Reijo , Yokoyama Yoshie , Latvala Antti , Sugawara Masumi , Tanaka Mami , Matsumoto Satoko , Freitas Duarte L. , Maia José Antonio , Knafo-Noam Ariel , Mankuta David , Abramson Lior , Ji Fuling , Ning Feng , Pang Zengchang , Rebato Esther , Saudino Kimberly J. , Cutler Tessa L. , Hopper John L. , Ullemar Vilhelmina , Almqvist Catarina , Magnusson Patrik K. E. , Cozen Wendy , Hwang Amie E. , Mack Thomas M. , Nelson Tracy L. , Whitfield Keith E. , Sung Joohon , Kim Jina , Lee Jooyeon , Lee Sooji , Llewellyn Clare H. , Fisher Abigail , Medda Emanuela , Nisticò Lorenza , Toccaceli Virgilia , Baker Laura A. , Tuvblad Catherine , Corley Robin P. , Huibregtse Brooke M. , Derom Catherine A. , Vlietinck Robert F. , Loos Ruth J. F. , Burt S. Alexandra , Klump Kelly L. , Silberg Judy L. , Maes Hermine H. , Krueger Robert F. , McGue Matt , Pahlen Shandell , Gatz Margaret , Butler David A. , Harris Jennifer R. , Brandt Ingunn , Nilsen Thomas S. , Harden K. Paige , Tucker-Drob Elliot M. , Franz Carol E. , Kremen William S. , Lyons Michael J. , Lichtenstein Paul , Bartels Meike , Beijsterveldt Catharina E. M. van , Willemsen Gonneke , Öncel Sevgi Y. , Aliev Fazil , Jeong Hoe-Uk , Hur Yoon-Mi , Turkheimer Eric , Boomsma Dorret I. , Sørensen Thorkild I. A. , Kaprio Jaakko , Silventoinen Karri 
Published: May 2020

AbstractGenetic factors explain a major proportion of human height variation, but differences in mean stature have also been found between socio-economic categories suggesting a possible effect of environment. By utilizing a classical twin design which allows decomposing the variation of height into genetic and environmental components, we tested the hypothesis that environmental variation in height is greater in offspring of lower educated parents. Twin data from 29 cohorts including 65,978 complete twin pairs with information on height at ages 1 to 69 years and on parental education were pooled allowing the analyses at different ages and in three geographic-cultural regions (Europe, North America and Australia, and East Asia). Parental education mostly showed a positive association with offspring height, with significant associations in mid-childhood and from adolescence onwards. In variance decomposition modeling, the genetic and environmental variance components of height did not show a consistent relation to parental education. A random-effects meta-regression analysis of the aggregate-level data showed a trend towards greater shared environmental variation of height in low parental education families. In conclusion, in our very large dataset from twin cohorts around the globe, these results provide only weak evidence for the study hypothesis.
Chemical cues of an invasive turtle reduce development time and size at metamorphosis in the common frog
Authors: Vodrážková M. , Šetlíková I. , Berec M. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractIn aquatic systems, chemical cues are one of the major sources of information through which animals can assess local predation risk. Non-native red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) have the potential to disrupt aquatic ecosystems in Central Europe because of their superior competitive abilities and omnivorous diets. In this study, we examined whether continuous predator-borne cues are tied to changes in the developmental rates, growth rates and sizes at metamorphosis of common frog tadpoles (Rana temporaria). Our results show rather rarely documented types of amphibian prey responses to caged predators. The presence of turtles shortened the time at metamorphosis of tadpoles from 110 ± 11.7 days to 93 ± 13.0 days (mean ± S.D.). The first metamorphosed individuals were recorded on the 65thday and on the 80thday from hatching in the predator treatment and in the control group, respectively. The froglets were significantly smaller (12.8 ± 0.99 mm) in the presence of the predator than in the control treatment (15.2 ± 1.27 mm). The growth rate trajectories were similar between the predator treatment and the control. Thus, predator-induced tadpole defences were evident in higher developmental rates and smaller sizes at metamorphosis without significant changes in growth.
Interleukin-34 overexpression mediated through tumor necrosis factor-alpha reflects severity of synovitis in knee osteoarthritis
Authors: Udomsinprasert Wanvisa , Jinawath Artit , Teerawattanapong Nipaporn , Honsawek Sittisak 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThis study aimed to investigate whether interleukin-34 (IL-34) mRNA expression is aberrant and modulated by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in knee osteoarthritis (OA) fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) and determine associations of IL-34 mRNA and protein in the systemic and local joint environments with severity of knee OA synovitis. Transcriptional and translational IL-34 levels in FLS, synovium, synovial fluid, and plasma of knee OA were determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Relative mRNA expressions of NF-κB signaling molecules were further measured. In knee OA FLS stimulated with TNF-α, IL-34 mRNA expression was significantly up-regulated in a time-dependent manner. In knee OA synovium with severe synovitis, increased IL-34 mRNA expression was directly associated with IL-6, IκB, NF-κB, and MMP-13, in addition to knee OA FLS. Immunostaining score of IL-34 was considerably greater in knee OA synovium with severe synovitis than that in those with mild and no synovitis. Increments in joint fluid and plasma IL-34 levels in knee OA patients with severe synovitis were closely related to its mRNA and protein expressions in knee OA synovium. Transcriptional and translational expressions of IL-34 were positively correlated with synovitis severity. Collectively, IL-34 overexpression would reflect synovitis severity in knee OA.
Improving root characterisation for genomic prediction in cassava
Authors: Yonis Bilan Omar , Pino del Carpio Dunia , Wolfe Marnin , Jannink Jean-Luc , Kulakow Peter , Rabbi Ismail 
Published: May 2020

AbstractCassava is cultivated due to its drought tolerance and high carbohydrate-containing storage roots. The lack of uniformity and irregular shape of storage roots poses constraints on harvesting and post-harvest processing. Here, we phenotyped the Genetic gain and offspring (C1) populations from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) breeding program using image analysis of storage root photographs taken in the field. In the genome-wide association analysis (GWAS), we detected for most shape and size-related traits, QTL on chromosomes 1 and 12. In a previous study, we found the QTL on chromosome 12 to be associated with cassava mosaic disease (CMD) resistance. Because the root uniformity is important for breeding, we calculated the standard deviation (SD) of individual root measurements per clone. With SD measurements we identified new significant QTL for Perimeter, Feret and Aspect Ratio on chromosomes 6, 9 and 16. Predictive accuracies of root size and shape image-extracted traits were mostly higher than yield trait prediction accuracies. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of the image phenotyping protocol and assess GWAS and genomic prediction for size and shape image-extracted traits. The methodology described and the results are promising and open up the opportunity to apply high-throughput methods in cassava.