bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Insular threat associations within taxa worldwide
Authors: Leclerc Camille , Courchamp Franck , Bellard Céline 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe global loss of biodiversity can be attributed to numerous threats. While pioneer studies have investigated their relative importance, the majority of those studies are restricted to specific geographic regions and/or taxonomic groups and only consider a small subset of threats, generally in isolation despite their frequent interaction. Here, we investigated 11 major threats responsible for species decline on islands worldwide. We applied an innovative method of network analyses to disentangle the associations of multiple threats on vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants in 15 insular regions. Biological invasions, wildlife exploitation, and cultivation, either alone or in association, were found to be the three most important drivers of species extinction and decline on islands. Specifically, wildlife exploitation and cultivation are largely associated with the decline of threatened plants and terrestrial vertebrates, whereas biological invasions mostly threaten invertebrates and freshwater fish. Furthermore, biodiversity in the Indian Ocean and near the Asian coasts is mostly affected by wildlife exploitation and cultivation compared to biological invasions in the Pacific and Atlantic insular regions. We highlighted specific associations of threats at different scales, showing that the analysis of each threat in isolation might be inadequate for developing effective conservation policies and managements.
A Printed Organic Circuit System for Wearable Amperometric Electrochemical Sensors
Authors: Shiwaku Rei , Matsui Hiroyuki , Nagamine Kuniaki , Uematsu Mayu , Mano Taisei , Maruyama Yuki , Nomura Ayako , Tsuchiya Kazuhiko , Hayasaka Kazuma , Takeda Yasunori , Fukuda Takashi , Kumaki Daisuke , Tokito Shizuo 
Published: April 2018

AbstractWearable sensor device technologies, which enable continuous monitoring of biological information from the human body, are promising in the fields of sports, healthcare, and medical applications. Further thinness, light weight, flexibility and low-cost are significant requirements for making the devices attachable onto human tissues or clothes like a patch. Here we demonstrate a flexible and printed circuit system consisting of an enzyme-based amperometric sensor, feedback control and amplification circuits based on organic thin-film transistors. The feedback control and amplification circuits based on pseudo-CMOS inverters were successfuly integrated by printing methods on a plastic film. This simple system worked very well like a potentiostat for electrochemical measurements, and enabled the quantitative and real-time measurement of lactate concentration with high sensitivity of 1 V/mM and a short response time of a hundred seconds.
High fat diet induces airway hyperresponsiveness in mice
Authors: Fricke Kathrin , Vieira Marcela , Younas Haris , Shin Mi-Kyung , Bevans-Fonti Shannon , Berger Slava , Lee Rachel , D’Alessio Franco R. , Zhong Qiong , Nelson Andrew , Loube Jeff , Sanchez Ian , Hansel Nadia N. , Mitzner Wayne , Polotsky Vsevolod Y. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe experiment was conducted to examine the effect of a high fat diet (HFD) on airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in mice. Twenty-three adult male C57BL/6 J mice were fed with HFD or regular chow diet for two weeks. The total respiratory resistance was measured by forced oscillation technique at baseline and after methacholine aerosol challenge at 1, 3, 10 and 30 mg/mL. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed. Lipid levels and lipid peroxidation in lung tissue were measured along with gene expression of multiple cytokines. Lungs were digested, and IL-1β secretion by pulmonary macrophages was determined. HFD feeding resulted in 11% higher body weight compared to chow. HFD did not affect respiratory resistance at baseline, but significantly augmented airway responses to methacholine compared to chow diet (40.5 ± 17.7% increase at 30 mg/ml methacholine, p < 0.05). HFD induced a 3.2 ± 0.6 fold increase in IL-1β gene expression (p < 0.001) and a 38 fold increase in IL-1β secretion in the lungs. There was no change in BAL and no change in any other cytokines, lipid levels or lipid peroxidation. Hence, HFD induced AHR in mice prior to the development of significant obesity which was associated with up-regulation of pulmonary IL-1β.
Micro RNAs from DNA Viruses are Found Widely in Plasma in a Large Observational Human Population
Authors: Koupenova Milka , Mick Eric , Corkrey Heather A. , Huan Tianxiao , Clancy Lauren , Shah Ravi , Benjamin Emelia J. , Levy Daniel , Kurt-Jones Evelyn A. , Tanriverdi Kahraman , Freedman Jane E. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractViral infections associate with disease risk and select families of viruses encode miRNAs that control an efficient viral cycle. The association of viral miRNA expression with disease in a large human population has not been previously explored. We sequenced plasma RNA from 40 participants of the Framingham Heart Study (FHS, Offspring Cohort, Visit 8) and identified 3 viral miRNAs from 3 different human Herpesviridae. These miRNAs were mostly related to viral latency and have not been previously detected in human plasma. Viral miRNA expression was then screened in the plasma of 2763 participants of the remaining cohort utilizing high-throughput RT-qPCR. All 3 viral miRNAs associated with combinations of inflammatory or prothrombotic circulating biomarkers (sTNFRII, IL-6, sICAM1, OPG, P-selectin) but did not associate with hypertension, coronary heart disease or cancer. Using a large observational population, we demonstrate that the presence of select viral miRNAs in the human circulation associate with inflammatory biomarkers and possibly immune response, but fail to associate with overt disease. This study greatly extends smaller singular observations of viral miRNAs in the human circulation and suggests that select viral miRNAs, such as those for latency, may not impact disease manifestation.
Transient Light Emitting Devices Based on Soluble Polymer Composites
Authors: Chen Yingying , Lu Hang , Xiu Fei , Sun Tao , Ding Yamei , Liu Juqing , Huang Wei 
Published: April 2018

AbstractBuilding transient electronics are promising and emerging strategy to alleviate the pollution issues from electronic waste (e-waste). Although a variety of transient devices comprising organic and inorganic materials have been described, transient light emitting devices are still elusive but highly desirable because of the huge amount of lighting and display related consumer electronics. Here we report a simple and efficient fabrication of large-area flexible transient alternating current electroluminescent (ACEL) device through a full-solution processing method. Using transparent flexible AgNW-polymer as both electrodes, the devices exhibit high flexibility and both ends side light emission, with the features of controlled size and patterned structure. By modulating the mass ratio of blue and yellow phosphors, the emission color is changed from white to blue. Impressively, the fabricated ACEL device can be thoroughly dissolved in water within 30 min. Our strategy combining such advances in transient light emitting devices with simple structure, widely used materials, full solution process, and high solubility will demonstrate great potential in resolving the e-waste from abandoned light-emitting products and expand the opportunities for air-stable flexible light emitting devices.
Mitochondrial DNA induces Foley catheter related bladder inflammation via Toll-like receptor 9 activation
Authors: Puyo Carlos A. , Earhart Alexander , Staten Nicholas , Huang Yuan , Desai Alana , Lai Henry , Venkatesh Ramakrishna 
Published: April 2018

AbstractBladder instrumentation engages the innate immune system via neutrophil activation, promoting inflammation and pain. Elevated levels of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been associated with tissue damage and organ dysfunction. We hypothesized that local bladder trauma induced by a Foley catheter (FC) will result in mtDNA release, migration of neutrophils into the bladder lumen, and activation of the Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway leading to bladder tissue damage. We randomized 10 swine into two groups receiving uncoated, or chloroquine/N-Acetylcysteine (CQ/NAC)-coated FCs. Urine samples were analyzed for mtDNA activation of TLR9/NF-κB as demonstrated by indicators of neutrophil adhesion, migration, and activation. We found that uncoated FCs resulted in a unique active neutrophil phenotype that correlated with bladder epithelial injury, neutrophilia, necrosis, mtDNA release, TLR9/NF-κB activation, transcription and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and enhanced respiratory burst. In our study we observed that the high levels of mtDNA and elevated TLR9/NF-κB activity were ameliorated in the CQ/NAC-coated FC group. These findings suggest that post-migrated bladder luminal neutrophils are involved in local tissue damage and amelioration of the mtDNA/TLR9/NF-κB inflammatory axis may represent a therapeutic target to prevent inflammation, and bladder tissue injury.
Mathematical model of ammonium nitrogen transport with overland flow on a slope after polyacrylamide application
Authors: Ao Chang , Yang Peiling , Ren Shumei , Xing Weimin 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe nutrient loss caused by soil erosion is the main reason for soil degradation and environmental pollution, and polyacrylamide (PAM) as a common soil amendment has a great influence on runoff and erosion processes at the slope. In order to investigate the mechanism of nutrient transport with runoff, a field experiment was conducted and a simple mathematical model was developed in this study. Four PAM application rates (0, 1, 2, and 4 g·m−2) and two rainfall intensities (50 and 80 mm·h−1) were applied in the field experiment. The results revealed that runoff rate of 2 g·m−2 PAM application treatments decreased by 5.3%-10.6% compared with the control groups, but it increased by10.9%-18.7% at 4 g·m−2 PAM application treatments. Polyacrylamide application reduced ammonium nitrogen concentrations of runoff by 10.0% to 44.3% relative to the control groups. The best performance with correlation coefficient (R2) and Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) showed that the ammonium transport with runoff could be well described by the proposed model. Furthermore, the model parameter of the depth of the mixing layer (hm) linearly increased with an increase in flow velocity, but exponentially decreased with an increase in PAM application rate.
Unexplained interannual oscillations of cyanobacterial blooms in the Baltic Sea
Authors: Kahru Mati , Elmgren Ragnar , Di Lorenzo Emanuele , Savchuk Oleg 
Published: April 2018

AbstractPopulation oscillations in multi-species or even single species systems are well-known but have rarely been detected at the lower trophic levels in marine systems. Nitrogen fixing cyanobacteria are a major component of the Baltic Sea ecosystem and sometimes form huge surface accumulations covering most of the sea surface. By analysing a satellite-derived 39-year (1979–2017) data archive of surface cyanobacteria concentrations we have found evidence of strikingly regular interannual oscillations in cyanobacteria concentrations in the northern Baltic Sea. These oscillations have a period of ~3 years with a high-concentration year generally followed by one or two low-concentration years. Changes in abiotic factors known to influence the growth and survival of cyanobacteria could not provide an explanation for the oscillations. We therefore assume that these oscillations are intrinsic to the marine system, caused by an unknown, probably mainly biological mechanism that may be triggered by a combination of environmental factors. Interactions between different life cycle stages of cyanobacteria as well as between predator-prey or host-parasite are possible candidates for causing the oscillations.
Nomogram-based prediction of rebleeding in small bowel bleeding patients: the ‘PRSBB’ score
Authors: Uchida Genta , Hirooka Yoshiki , Nakamura Masanao , Watanabe Osamu , Yamamura Takeshi , Matsushita Masanobu , Suhara Hiroki , Ishikawa Takuya , Furukawa Kazuhiro , Funasaka Kohei , Ohno Eizaburo , Kawashima Hiroki , Miyahara Ryoji , Goto Hidemi 
Published: April 2018

AbstractSmall bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) and balloon-assisted endoscopy (BAE) have revolutionized the diagnosis and treatment of small bowel bleeding (SBB), allowing access to the small bowel and identification of specific bleeding lesions. However, some patients experience rebleeding after small bowel investigation, and there are no definitive algorithms for determining the most appropriate follow-up strategy in SBB patients. We developed and validated a nomogram that can predict rebleeding risk and be used to develop a risk-stratified follow-up strategy in SBB patients. A retrospective study was performed using data from 401 SBB patients who underwent SBCE at Nagoya University Hospital. We developed and internally validated a predictive model for rebleeding in the form of a nomogram using Cox regression models and a bootstrap resampling procedure. Optimal risk factors were selected according to the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO). The LASSO method identified 8 independent predictors of rebleeding that could be assessed to obtain a ‘predicting rebleeding in SBB’, or ‘PRSBB’ score: age, sex, SBB type, transfusion requirement, cardiovascular disease, liver cirrhosis, SBCE findings, and treatment. The c-statistic for the predictive model was 0.681. In conclusion, our PRSBB score can help clinicians devise appropriate follow-up plans.
Tilt-structure and high-performance of hierarchical Bi1.5Sb0.5Te3 nanopillar arrays
Authors: Tan Ming , Hao Yanming , Deng Yuan , Yan Dali , Wu Zehua 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe uniquely tilted nanopillar array favorably influence carrier and phonon transport properties. We present an innovative interfacial design concept and a novel tilt-structure of hierarchical Bi1.5Sb0.5Te3 nanopillar array comprising unique interfaces from nano-scaled open gaps to coherent grain boundaries, and tilted nanopillars assembled by high-quality nanowires with well oriented growth, utilizing a simple vacuum thermal evaporation technique. The unusual structure Bi1.5Sb0.5Te3 nanopillar array with a tilt angle of 45° exhibits a high thermoelectric performance ZT = 1.61 at room temperature. The relatively high ZT value in contrast to that of previously reported Bi1.5Sb0.5Te3 materials and the Bi1.5Sb0.5Te3 nanopillar array with a tilt angle of 60° or 90° evidently reveals the crucial role of the unique interface and tilt-structure in favorably influencing carrier and phonon transport properties, resulting in a significantly improved ZT value. This method opens a new approach to optimize nano-structure film materials.
Influence of age on histologic outcome of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia during observational management: results from large cohort, systematic review, meta-analysis
Authors: Bekos Christine , Schwameis Richard , Heinze Georg , Gärner Marina , Grimm Christoph , Joura Elmar , Horvat Reinhard , Polterauer Stephan , Polterauer Mariella 
Published: April 2018

AbstractAim of this study was to investigate the histologic outcome of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) during observational management. Consecutive women with histologically verified CIN and observational management were included. Histologic findings of initial and follow-up visits were collected and persistence, progression and regression rates at end of observational period were assessed. Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed. A systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis was performed. In 783 women CIN I, II, and III was diagnosed by colposcopically guided biopsy in 42.5%, 26.6% and 30.9%, respectively. Younger patients had higher rates of regression (p < 0.001) and complete remission (< 0.001) and lower rates of progression (p = 0.003). Among women aged < 25, 25 < 30, 30 < 35, 35 < 40 years, and > 40 years, regression rates were 44.7%, 33.7%, 30.9%, 27.3%, and 24.9%, respectively. Pooled analysis of published data showed similar results. Multivariable analysis showed that with each five years of age, the odds for regression reduced by 21% (p < 0.001) independently of CIN grade (p < 0.001), and presence of HPV high-risk infection (p < 0.001). Patient’s age has a considerable influence on the natural history of CIN – independent of CIN grade and HPV high-risk infection. Observational management should be considered for selected young patients with CIN.
Determinants of Antibiotic Consumption - Development of a Model using Partial Least Squares Regression based on Data from India
Authors: Tamhankar Ashok J. , Karnik Shreyasee S. , Stålsby Lundborg Cecilia 
Published: April 2018

AbstractAntibiotic resistance, a consequence of antibiotic use, is a threat to health, with severe consequences for resource constrained settings. If determinants for human antibiotic use in India, a lower middle income country, with one of the highest antibiotic consumption in the world could be understood, interventions could be developed, having implications for similar settings. Year wise data for India, for potential determinants and antibiotic consumption, was sourced from publicly available databases for the years 2000–2010. Data was analyzed using Partial Least Squares regression and correlation between determinants and antibiotic consumption was evaluated, formulating ‘Predictors’ and ‘Prediction models’. The ‘prediction model’ with the statistically most significant predictors (root mean square errors of prediction for train set-377.0 and test set-297.0) formulated from a combination of Health infrastructure + Surface transport infrastructure (HISTI), predicted antibiotic consumption within 95% confidence interval and estimated an antibiotic consumption of 11.6 standard units/person (14.37 billion standard units totally; standard units = number of doses sold in the country; a dose being a pill, capsule, or ampoule) for India for 2014. The HISTI model may become useful in predicting antibiotic consumption for countries/regions having circumstances and data similar to India, but without resources to measure actual data of antibiotic consumption.
Origin and evolution of fungal HECT ubiquitin ligases
Authors: Marín Ignacio 
Published: April 2018

AbstractUbiquitin ligases (E3s) are basic components of the eukaryotic ubiquitination system. In this work, the emergence and diversification of fungal HECT ubiquitin ligases is described. Phylogenetic and structural data indicate that six HECT subfamilies (RSP5, TOM1, UFD4, HUL4, HUL4A and HUL5) existed in the common ancestor of all fungi. These six subfamilies have evolved very conservatively, with only occasional losses and duplications in particular fungal lineages. However, an early, drastic reduction in the number of HECT genes occurred in microsporidians, in parallel to the reduction of their genomes. A significant correlation between the total number of genes and the number of HECT-encoding genes present in fungi has been observed. However, transitions from unicellularity to multicellularity or vice versa apparently had no effect on the evolution of this family. Likely orthologs or co-orthologs of all fungal HECT genes have been detected in animals. Four genes are deduced to be present in the common ancestor of fungi, animals and plants. Protein-protein interactions detected in both the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and humans suggest that some ancient functions of HECT proteins have been conserved since the animals/fungi split.
Endocannabinoids in Caenorhabditis elegans are essential for the mobilization of cholesterol from internal reserves
Authors: Galles Celina , Prez Gastón M. , Penkov Sider , Boland Sebastian , Porta Exequiel O. J. , Altabe Silvia G. , Labadie Guillermo R. , Schmidt Ulrike , Knölker Hans-Joachim , Kurzchalia Teymuras V. , de Mendoza Diego 
Published: April 2018

AbstractProper cholesterol transport is crucial for the functionality of cells. In C. elegans, certain cholesterol derivatives called dafachronic acids (DAs) govern the entry into diapause. In their absence, worms form a developmentally arrested dauer larva. Thus, cholesterol transport to appropriate places for DA biosynthesis warrants the reproductive growth. Recently, we discovered a novel class of glycosphingolipids, PEGCs, required for cholesterol mobilization/transport from internal storage pools. Here, we identify other components involved in this process. We found that strains lacking polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) undergo increased dauer arrest when grown without cholesterol. This correlates with the depletion of the PUFA-derived endocannabinoids 2-arachidonoyl glycerol and anandamide. Feeding of these endocannabinoids inhibits dauer formation caused by PUFAs deficiency or impaired cholesterol trafficking (e.g. in Niemann-Pick C1 or DAF-7/TGF-β mutants). Moreover, in parallel to PEGCs, endocannabinoids abolish the arrest induced by cholesterol depletion. These findings reveal an unsuspected function of endocannabinoids in cholesterol trafficking regulation.
Direct Measurement of the Topological Charge in Elliptical Beams Using Diffraction by a Triangular Aperture
Authors: Melo Leandro A. , Jesus-Silva Alcenísio J. , Chávez-Cerda Sabino , Ribeiro Paulo H. Souto , Soares Willamys C. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractWe introduce a simple method to characterize the topological charge associated with the orbital angular momentum of a m-order elliptic light beam. This method consists in the observation of the far field pattern of the beam carrying orbital angular momentum, diffracted from a triangular aperture. We show numerically and experimentally, for Mathieu, Ince–Gaussian, and vortex Hermite–Gaussian beams, that only isosceles triangular apertures allow us to determine in a precise and direct way, the magnitude m of the order and the number and sign of unitary topological charges of isolated vortices inside the core of these beams.
RUNX1 positively regulates the ErbB2/HER2 signaling pathway through modulating SOS1 expression in gastric cancer cells
Authors: Mitsuda Yoshihide , Morita Ken , Kashiwazaki Gengo , Taniguchi Junichi , Bando Toshikazu , Obara Moeka , Hirata Masahiro , Kataoka Tatsuki R. , Muto Manabu , Kaneda Yasufumi , Nakahata Tatsutoshi , Liu Pu Paul , Adachi Souichi , Sugiyama Hiroshi , Kamikubo Yasuhiko 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe dual function of runt-related transcriptional factor 1 (RUNX1) as an oncogene or oncosuppressor has been extensively studied in various malignancies, yet its role in gastric cancer remains elusive. Up-regulation of the ErbB2/HER2 signaling pathway is frequently-encountered in gastric cancer and contributes to the maintenance of these cancer cells. This signaling cascade is partly mediated by son of sevenless homolog (SOS) family, which function as adaptor proteins in the RTK cascades. Herein we report that RUNX1 regulates the ErbB2/HER2 signaling pathway in gastric cancer cells through transactivating SOS1 expression, rendering itself an ideal target in anti-tumor strategy toward this cancer. Mechanistically, RUNX1 interacts with the RUNX1 binding DNA sequence located in SOS1 promoter and positively regulates it. Knockdown of RUNX1 led to the decreased expression of SOS1 as well as dephosphorylation of ErbB2/HER2, subsequently suppressed the proliferation of gastric cancer cells. We also found that our novel RUNX inhibitor (Chb-M’) consistently led to the deactivation of the ErbB2/HER2 signaling pathway and was effective against several gastric cancer cell lines. Taken together, our work identified a novel interaction of RUNX1 and the ErbB2/HER2 signaling pathway in gastric cancer, which can potentially be exploited in the management of this malignancy.