bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Spirulina breath test indicates differences in gastric emptying based on age, gender, and BMI
Authors: Orsagh‐Yentis Danielle K. , Bai Shasha , Bobbey Adam , Hayes Caitlin , Pusateri Antoinette , Williams Kent 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBackgroundMeasurements of gastric emptying (GE) by scintigraphy in the pediatric population are based on adult standards. Due to radiation exposure, scintigraphy cannot be performed on healthy children to establish norms of GE in the pediatric population. Stable isotope breath tests (GEBTs) pose no such health risk to children. This study sought to determine the feasibility of a GEBT in children and to investigate whether GE may differ by age, gender, or body mass index (BMI).MethodsFifty healthy children 6 to 18 years underwent a 13C‐Spirulina platensis GEBT. Breath samples were obtained at baseline, every 15 min for 1 h, and at 30‐min intervals for 3 h thereafter. Seventeen similarly aged patients with dyspeptic symptoms concurrently underwent scintigraphy and the GEBT.Key ResultsForty‐six healthy subjects were included in the final analysis. Females had an overall slower rate of GE than did males. At nearly all timepoints, children with a BMI >85th percentile had slower GE than normally weighted children. The GE rate of children aged 6–9 reached a maximum later than did the rate of older children. Thirteen patients undergoing scintigraphy were included in the comparative analysis. The agreement between scintigraphic and GEBT half‐times as measured by the concordance correlation coefficient was 0.383 (95% CI: 0.02–0.65).Conclusions and InferencesGEBT was easily accomplished in healthy children. Differences of GE rates by age, gender, and BMI support the need for establishing pediatric standards of GE. One way to establish such standards may be through the use of a GEBT.
Pollen sterols are associated with phylogeny and environment but not with pollinator guilds
Authors: Zu Pengjuan , Koch Hauke , Schwery Orlando , Pironon Samuel , Phillips Charlotte , Ondo Ian , Farrell Iain W. , Nes W. David , Moore Elynor , Wright Geraldine A. , Farman Dudley I. , Stevenson Philip C. 
Published: January 2021

Summary

Phytosterols are primary plant metabolites that have fundamental structural and regulatory functions. They are also essential nutrients for phytophagous insects, including pollinators, that cannot synthesize sterols. Despite the well‐described composition and diversity in vegetative plant tissues, few studies have examined phytosterol diversity in pollen.

We quantified 25 pollen phytosterols in 122 plant species (105 genera, 51 families) to determine their composition and diversity across plant taxa. We searched literature and databases for plant phylogeny, environmental conditions, and pollinator guilds of the species to examine the relationships with pollen sterols.

24‐methylenecholesterol, sitosterol and isofucosterol were the most common and abundant pollen sterols. We found phylogenetic clustering of twelve individual sterols, total sterol content and sterol diversity, and of sterol groupings that reflect their underlying biosynthesis pathway (C‐24 alkylation, ring B desaturation). Plants originating in tropical‐like climates (higher mean annual temperature, lower temperature seasonality, higher precipitation in wettest quarter) were more likely to record higher pollen sterol content. However, pollen sterol composition and content showed no clear relationship with pollinator guilds.

Our study is the first to show that pollen sterol diversity is phylogenetically clustered and that pollen sterol content may adapt to environmental conditions.
The development of posttraumatic stress disorder in individuals with visual impairment: a systematic search and review
Authors: van der Ham Alida J , van der Aa Hilde PA , Brunes Audun , Heir Trond , de Vries Ralph , van Rens Ger HMB , van Nispen Ruth MA 
Published: January 2021

AbstractPurposePosttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health problem with a negative impact on quality of life. Little is known about the relationship between PTSD and visual impairment. According to diagnostic criteria for PTSD, vision loss in itself is generally not considered as a traumatic event. PTSD in people with visual impairment is more likely to be the result of traumatic events, which are not directly related, or are only indirectly related to, visual impairment. The purpose of this systematic review was to describe and discuss the literature on the development of PTSD in people with visual impairment.MethodsA literature search in PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO and Web of Science was performed up to 15 November 2019 in collaboration with a medical information specialist. Additional search strategies included hand searches of references of retrieved papers and free‐text hand searches in Google Scholar. Thematic content analysis of the extracted data was carried out in order to identify main themes and subthemes.ResultsFindings from 13 articles are presented in a narrative manner along three main themes: (1) posttraumatic stress disorder; (2) traumatic events and (3) impact of traumatic events. People with visual impairments may be at higher risk of being exposed to certain potentially traumatic events. Limited/restricted access to situational information during events may contribute to the stressfulness of the experience. Furthermore, visual impairment may shape the impact of traumatic events.ConclusionsThe current evidence suggests some unique experiences and challenges for people who are visually impaired. PTSD was prevalent in this population, and prevalence rates ranged from 4% to 50%. Future research may focus on gaining insight into the extent and burden of PTSD, and exploring help‐seeking behaviour and treatment needs among those with visual impairment and PTSD.
A transgenic RNAi approach for developing tomato plants immune to Pepinomosaic virus
Authors: Leibman Diana , Ortega‐Parra Nelia , Wolf Dalia , Shterkman Meital , Hanssen Inge , Gal‐On Amit 
Published: January 2021

AbstractRNA interference (RNAi) or gene silencing is a natural defence response of plants to invading viruses. Here, we applied this approach against pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) isolates in their natural host, tomato. PepMV isolates differ in their genetic sequences, the severity of the disease they induce, and their worldwide distribution. PepMV causes heavy crop losses, mainly due to impaired tomato fruit quality. Resistant varieties are not yet available, despite many years of resistance breeding efforts within the tomato seed industry. To generate broad resistance to PepMV strains, conserved sequences from three different strains of PepMV (US1, LP, and CH2) were synthesized as a single insert and cloned in a hairpin configuration into a binary vector, which was used to transform tomato plants. Transgenic tomato lines that expressed a high level of transgene‐siRNA exhibited immunity to PepMV strains, including a new Israeli isolate. This immunity was maintained even after graft inoculation, in which a transgenic scion was grafted onto nontransgenic infected rootstocks. However, an immune transgenic rootstock was unable to induce resistance in a nontransformed scion. These results provide the first example of engineered immunity to diverse PepMV strains in transgenic tomato based on gene silencing.
Assessing new SSR markers for utility and informativeness in genetic studies of brown rust fungi on wheat, triticale, and rye
Authors: Czajowski Grzegorz , Kosman Evsey , Słowacki Piotr , Park Robert F. , Czembor Paweł 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe aim of the present study was to validate new simple‐sequence repeat (SSR) markers and use them to assess genetic variability among 24 isolates of Puccinia triticina collected from wheat (Pt‐wheat) and triticale (Pt‐triticale), and 15 isolates of P. recondita f. sp. secalis (Prs) collected from rye. The Pt and Prs isolates were tested for virulence on a set of 35 Thatcher wheat near‐isogenic lines, eight rye lines with known resistance genes, and 53 triticale cultivars with uncharacterized leaf rust resistance. Molecular genotypes were determined using a newly developed set of 34 SSR microsatellite primer pairs. All SSR markers tested on Pt isolates successfully amplified fragments of appropriate size. When tested on the Prs isolates, 21 out of the 34 Pt SSRs amplified expected fragments. Sixteen of these 21 SSRs were polymorphic, providing for the first time microsatellite markers to study genetic variation in Prs. Based on virulence data, variation among Prs isolates was low, probably due to the small number of rye differential lines available. Much higher variation for virulence was observed within the collection of Pt isolates from wheat and triticale, and two separate groups were established with mixed host origin. Substantial genetic variation was detected among the isolates studied with the SSR markers, assuming two different models of SSR evolution (infinite alleles model and stepwise mutation model). The newly developed set of SSR markers proved their effectiveness in detecting genetic variation and should be useful in further population genetics investigations of the two pathogens.
Alpine forbs rely on different photoprotective strategies during spring snowmelt
Authors: Fernández‐Marín Beatriz , Sáenz‐Ceniceros Ana , Solanki Twinkle , Robson Thomas Matthew , García‐Plazaola José Ignacio 
Published: January 2021

AbstractSnowmelt in alpine ecosystems brings ample water, and together with above‐freezing temperatures, initiates plant growth. In this scenario, rapid activation of photosynthesis is essential for a successful life‐history strategy. But, strong solar radiation in late spring enhances the risk of photodamage, particularly before photosynthesis is fully functional. We compared the photoprotective strategy of five alpine forbs: one geophyte not particularly specialised in subnival life (Crocus albiflorus) and four wintergreens differing in their degree of adaptation to subnival life, from least to most specialised: Gentiana acaulis, Geum montanum, Homogyne alpina and Soldanella alpina. We used distance to the edge of snow patches as a proxy to study time‐dependent changes after melting. We postulated that the photoprotective response of snowbed specialists would be stronger than of more‐generalist alpine meadow species. Fv/Fm was relatively low across wintergreens and even lower in the geophyte C. albiflorus. This species also had the largest xanthophyll‐cycle pool and lowest tocopherol and flavonoid glycoside contents. After snow melting, all the species progressively activated ETR, but particularly the intermediate snowbed species G. acaulis and G. montanum. The photoprotective responses after snowmelt were idiosyncratic: G. montanum rapidly accumulated xanthophyll‐cycle pigments, tocopherol and flavonoid glycosides; while S. alpina showed the largest increase in plastochromanol‐8 and chlorophyll contents and the greatest changes in optical properties. Climate warming scenarios might shift the snowmelt date and consequently alter the effectiveness of photoprotection mechanisms, potentially changing the fitness outcome of the different strategies adopted by alpine forbs.
Audiovisual interactions in speeded discrimination of a visual event
Authors: Kaya Utku , Kafaligonul Hulusi 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe integration of information from different senses is central to our perception of the external world. Audiovisual interactions have been particularly well studied in this context and various illusions have been developed to demonstrate strong influences of these interactions on the final percept. Using audiovisual paradigms, previous studies have shown that even task‐irrelevant information provided by a secondary modality can change the detection and discrimination of a primary target. These modulations have been found to be significantly dependent on the relative timing between auditory and visual stimuli. Although these interactions in time have been commonly reported, we have still limited understanding of the relationship between the modulations of event‐related potentials (ERPs) and final behavioral performance. Here, we aimed to shed light on this important issue by using a speeded discrimination paradigm combined with electroencephalogram (EEG). During the experimental sessions, the timing between an auditory click and a visual flash was varied over a wide range of stimulus onset asynchronies and observers were engaged in speeded discrimination of flash location. Behavioral reaction times were significantly changed by click timing. Furthermore, the modulations of evoked activities over medial parietal/parieto‐occipital electrodes were associated with this effect. These modulations were within the 126–176 ms time range and more importantly, they were also correlated with the changes in reaction times. These results provide an important functional link between audiovisual interactions at early stages of sensory processing and reaction times. Together with previous research, they further suggest that early crossmodal interactions play a critical role in perceptual performance.
A Panicum‐derived chromosomal segment captured by Hordeum a few million years ago preserves a set of stress‐related genes
Authors: Mahelka Václav , Krak Karol , Fehrer Judith , Caklová Petra , Nagy Nejedlá Michaela , Čegan Radim , Kopecký David , Šafář Jan 
Published: January 2021

SummaryIntra‐specific variability is a cornerstone of evolutionary success of species. Acquiring genetic material from distant sources is an important adaptive mechanism in bacteria, but it can also play a role in eukaryotes. In this paper, we investigate the nature and evolution of a chromosomal segment of panicoid (Poaceae, Panicoideae) origin occurring in the nuclear genomes of species of the barley genus Hordeum (Pooideae). The segment, spanning over 440 kb in the Asian Hordeum bogdanii and 219 kb in the South American Hordeum pubiflorum, resides on a pair of nucleolar organizer region (NOR)‐bearing chromosomes. Conserved synteny and micro‐collinearity of the segment in both species indicate a common origin of the segment, which was acquired before the split of the respective barley lineages 5–1.7 million years ago. A major part of the foreign DNA consists of several approximately 68 kb long repeated blocks containing five stress‐related protein‐coding genes and transposable elements (TEs). Whereas outside these repeats, the locus was invaded by multiple TEs from the host genome, the repeated blocks are rather intact and appear to be preserved. The protein‐coding genes remained partly functional, as indicated by conserved reading frames, a low amount of non‐synonymous mutations, and expression of mRNA. A screen across Hordeum species targeting the panicoid protein‐coding genes revealed the presence of the genes in all species of the section Stenostachys. In summary, our study shows that grass genomes can contain large genomic segments obtained from distantly related species. These segments usually remain undetected, but they may play an important role in the evolution and adaptation of species.
Hypothermic storage of leukoreduced red blood cells for greater than 21 days is a safe alternative to irradiation
Authors: Mykhailova Olga , Turner Tracey R. , Olafson Carly , Howell Anita , Nahirniak Susan N. , Wizniak Juanita , Gerges Hanan Y. N. , Baldwin Troy , Clarke Gwen , Acker Jason P. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBackgroundIrradiation of red blood cells (RBCs) inactivates residual donor T lymphocytes to prevent transfusion‐associated graft‐vs‐host disease (TA‐GVHD) but can have adverse effects on recipients and inventory management. Reported incidence of TA‐GVHD is lower when leukoreduced RBCs and older blood products are transfused; therefore, the impact of leukoreduction and storage was evaluated as an alternative prevention strategy.Study Design and MethodsEffectiveness of leukoreduction filters on white blood cell (WBC) proliferation was evaluated by filtering buffy coat (BC) products and isolating residual WBCs. Additionally, leukoreduced RBCs were spiked with 5 × 106 WBCs on Day 21 of hypothermic storage, then stored and processed on Days 7, 14, and 21 to obtain residual WBCs to investigate the impact of hypothermic storage on their viability and proliferative ability. Viability of residual WBCs was assessed by staining with annexin V and an antibody cocktail for flow cytometry analysis. Proliferative ability was assessed by placing carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester–labeled residual WBCs into culture for 6 days with phytohemagglutinin before flow cytometry assessment.ResultsFiltration of BC units depleted WBCs, particularly T lymphocytes, to 0.001% ± 0.003% cells/unit, although proliferative activity remained consistent with prefiltration levels of WBCs. WBCs in stored RBCs remained viable even on Day 21 of storage; however, the proliferative activity decreased to 0.24% ± 0.41%.ConclusionsHypothermic storage of RBCs for 21 days or more is sufficient to inactivate T lymphocytes, which may help prevent TA‐GVHD when irradiated RBCs are not available.
Detection of Trypanosoma cruzi in the saliva of diverse neotropical bats
Authors: Bergner Laura M. , Becker Daniel J. , Tello Carlos , Carrera Jorge E. , Streicker Daniel G. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractTrypanosoma cruzi is widely reported in bats, yet transmission routes remain unclear. We present evidence from metagenomic sequence data that T. cruzi occurs in the saliva of diverse Neotropical bats. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that the bat‐associated T. cruzi sequences described here formed part of a bat‐specific clade, suggesting an independent transmission cycle. Our results highlight the value in repurposing metagenomic data generated for viral discovery to reveal insights into the biology of other parasites. Evaluating whether the presence of T. cruzi in the saliva of two hematophagous bat species represents an ecological route for zoonotic transmission of Chagas disease is an interesting avenue for future research.
Changes in corticospinal excitability during the preparation phase of ballistic and ramp contractions
Authors: Baudry Stéphane , Duchateau Jacques 
Published: January 2021

Key points
Changes in corticospinal excitability prior to a contraction may depend on its characteristics, including the rate of torque development.
This study compared the specific modulation of cortical and spinal excitability during the preparation phase (last 500 ms before contraction) of fast (ballistic) and ramp contractions of ankle dorsiflexors, using transcranial magnetic stimulation and peripheral nerve stimulation.
The results indicate earlier changes at the cortical than at the spinal level during the preparation phase of both contraction types.
However, these adjustments are delayed prior to ballistic relative to ramp contractions.
This study suggests that the time course of change in cortical and spinal excitability during the preparation phase of a voluntary action is specific to the intended rate of torque development of the upcoming contraction.
AbstractThe present study investigated cortical and spinal excitability during the preparation phase of ballistic (BAL) and ramp (RAMP) isometric contractions. To this end, young adults performed BAL and RAMP (1500 ms torque rise time) contractions, reaching a similar torque level, with the ankle dorsiflexor muscles. Transcranial magnetic stimulation of the motor cortex was randomly applied to record motor evoked potentials (MEP) in the tibialis anterior during the last 500 ms preceding the contraction (n = 16). Short‐interval intracortical inhibition (SICI; n = 10) and spinal motor neurone excitability (F‐wave occurrence; n = 8) were also assessed during this period. Data were averaged over 100 ms time windows beginning 500 ms prior to the onset of contractions. An increase in MEP amplitude and a decrease in SICI were observed from the 200–100 ms and 300–200 ms time windows prior to BAL and RAMP contractions (P < 0.05), respectively, with greater changes prior to RAMP than to BAL within the 300–200 ms time window (P < 0.05). F‐wave occurrence, used to assess spinal motor neurone excitability, increased prior to RAMP (200–100 ms, P < 0.05) but not BAL contractions. Data obtained in a few participants during the last 100 ms confirmed a delayed and steeper rise in corticospinal excitability prior to BAL contractions. These results indicate earlier changes at the cortical than at the spinal level, with delayed changes prior to BAL contractions. This study suggests that the time course of change in cortical and spinal excitability during the preparation phase of a voluntary action is specific to the intended rate of torque development of the upcoming contraction.
Contact Stability and Contact Safety of a Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided Robotic Catheter Under Heart Surface Motion
Authors: Hao Ran , Erdem Tuna E. , Çavuşoğlu M. Cenk 
Published: January 2021

AbstractContact force quality is one of the most critical factors for safe and effective lesion formation during catheter based atrial fibrillation ablation procedures. In this paper, the contact stability and contact safety of a novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-actuated robotic cardiac ablation catheter subject to surface motion disturbances are studied. First, a quasi-static contact force optimization algorithm, which calculates the actuation needed to achieve a desired contact force at an instantaneous tissue surface configuration is introduced. This algorithm is then generalized using a least-squares formulation to optimize the contact stability and safety over a prediction horizon for a given estimated heart motion trajectory. Four contact force control schemes are proposed based on these algorithms. The first proposed force control scheme employs instantaneous heart position feedback. The second control scheme applies a constant actuation level using a quasi-periodic heart motion prediction. The third and the last contact force control schemes employ a generalized adaptive filter-based heart motion prediction, where the former uses the predicted instantaneous position feedback, and the latter is a receding horizon controller. The performance of the proposed control schemes is compared and evaluated in a simulation environment.