bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Right and left ventricular interaction in pulmonary hypertension: Insight from velocity vector imaging
Authors: Meng Hong , Chandrasekaran Krishnaswamy , Villarraga Hector R. , Shah Aijaz A. , Kittipovanonth Maytinee , Cha Stephen S. , Pellikka Patricia A. , Seward James B. 
Published: April 2019

ObjectiveTo evaluate whether global peak systolic strain (PSS) and peak systolic strain rate (PSSR) derived from velocity vector imaging (VVI) allow early recognition of regional and global right ventricular (RV) dysfunction and the impact of this on left ventricular (LV) function in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PHT).BackgroundRV function is an important determinant of prognosis in patients with heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, heart transplant, and congenital heart diseases. However, evaluation of the right ventricle is often limited by its complex geometry and inadequate visualization of RV free wall. Furthermore, the impact of RV dysfunction on the LV function is not well elucidated.MethodsNinety‐nine participants, 35 control patients with normal RV systolic pressure (RVSP) (<30 mm Hg) and 64 patients with PHT (25 with mild‐to‐moderate increase in RVSP [≥36 and <60 mm Hg] and 39 with severe increase in RVSP [≥60 mm Hg]), underwent comprehensive echo‐Doppler assessment and velocity vector imaging (VVI) for strain rate analysis. RV regional peak systolic and diastolic tangential velocity, strain, and strain rate were obtained from the basal, mid and apical segments of the RV free wall and interventricular septum (IVS) from apical 4‐chamber view at end‐expiration. Similar data were obtained from eighteen LV segments from apical 4‐chamber, 2‐chamber, and long‐axis views.ResultsPeak systolic strain, strain rate, and tangential velocity at all segments in the RV free wall and IVS were decreased compared to controls in patients with PHT (P < 0.001). Significant correlation (r > 0.60; P < 0.001) was noted between RVSP and systolic and diastolic strain and strain rate at basal segment in IVS and global RV function. Peak early diastolic strain rate at all segments was also decreased in PHT patients compared with control patients (P < 0.01). Furthermore, RV systolic and diastolic strain and strain rate were lower in group 2 with mild‐to‐moderate hypertension while the conventional echo parameters were normal. Except for IVS segments, other LV segments had no statistical differences in systolic and diastolic velocity, strain, and strain rate compared to controls. However, they were lower than the published normal range.ConclusionsStrain and strain rate derived from VVI demonstrates early recognition of systolic and diastolic RV dysfunction in patients with PHT compared to controls. PHT is associated with global and regional RV systolic and diastolic dysfunction. Systolic and diastolic strain and strain rate from LV was lower compared to controls but were not statistically significant. This may indicate subclinical LV dysfunction in these patients, suggesting that conventional LV function parameters may not be sensitive to recognize subclinical LV dysfunction.
The role of long non‐coding RNAs in multiple myeloma
Authors: Cui Yu‐Shan , Song Yong‐Ping , Fang Bai‐Jun 
Published: April 2019

AbstractMultiple myeloma (MM) is still an incurable disease, and its pathogenesis involves cytogenetics and epigenetics. In recent years, the roles of long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in MM have been deeply studied by scholars. LncRNAs are defined as a class of non‐protein‐coding transcripts greater than 200 nucleotides in length, which are involved in a large spectrum of biological processes, including proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, invasion, and chromatin remodeling. However, little is known about the specific mechanisms of these lncRNAs. They can act as oncogenic and/or tumor‐suppressive factors in the development and progression of MM. But that how do they work remains unclear. In this review, the recent progress in the study of functional lncRNAs associated with MM was summarized and the present knowledge about their expression and roles was discussed, to provide guidance for the in‐depth functional study of lncRNAs.
Species‐specific real‐time PCR for diagnosis of Phyllosticta citricarpa on Citrus species
Authors: Schirmacher A. M. , Tomlinson J. A. , Barnes A. V. , Barton V. C. 
Published: April 2019

Phyllosticta citricarpa (teleomorph Guignardia citricarpa) is the causal agent of citrus black spot, a disease causing lesions on fruits and leaves of different Citrus species in Asia, Australia, South Africa and South America. It is a quarantine organism in the European Union and the USA and hence a reliable differentiation between this species and other Phyllosticta species found on Citrus is essential. A differentiation based on morphology is often problematic, hence a range of molecular tests have been developed to distinguish P. citricarpa from other species present on citrus fruits, especially the endophyte Phyllosticta capitalensis (teleomorph Guignardia mangiferae). However, these tests cannot distinguish P. citricarpa from the closely related Phyllosticta citriasiana, the causal agent of tan spot disease. In this study, a real‐time PCR was designed which is specific for P. citricarpa and does not amplify P. citriasiana or P. capitalensis DNA.
Sex‐specific lateralization during aggressive interactions in breeding king penguins
Authors: Lemaire Bastien S. , Viblanc Vincent A. , Jozet‐Alves Christelle 
Published: April 2019

AbstractBrain and behavioral asymmetries (termed "lateralization"; e.g., preferential eye‐use) have been mostly described in controlled laboratory conditions, although striking similarities of hemispheric brain control for specific behaviors have also been shown in the wild. Visual lateralization may provide ecological advantages by allowing complementary roles played by the left–right lateral and frontal visual field in distant or close motion detection of predators or other threats. In this study, we tested for lateralization in aggressive behavior in wild king penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus), seabirds breeding in a context of strong colonial aggressiveness, and subject to on‐land‐based predation of their egg or chick. We show that males initiated more agonistic interactions when a congener was located in their right frontal visual field and in their left lateral visual field. The results obtained in females were the exact opposite for each subdivision of their visual fields. Complementary lateralization in male and female penguins may be part of a more general phenomenon, allowing partners to coordinate their behavior during reproduction. This may be especially true during the period of courtship, during which these seasonally monogamous and monomorphic seabirds engage in mutual mate choice based on a complex and ritualized display of ornaments located on the left and right lateral sides of the head. Those results open exciting questions as to whether hemispheric control of aggression is a commonly selected phenotypic trait across colonial seabirds.
Managing predators: The influence of kangaroo rat antipredator displays on sidewinder rattlesnake hunting behavior
Authors: Whitford Malachi D. , Freymiller Grace A. , Clark Rulon W. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractUpon sensing predators in their vicinity, many prey species perform antipredator displays that are thought to provide information to the predator that deters it from attacking (predator‐deterrent signals). These displays can be complex, incorporating a variety of signaling elements as well as direct physical harassment of the predator. Although the display behaviors in these communication systems are often well characterized, evidence of the efficacy of these displays in deterring predators is limited due to the challenges associated with studying free‐ranging predators. Here, we examine how the anti‐snake signals of the desert kangaroo rat (Dipodomys deserti) influence the ambush hunting behaviors of sidewinder rattlesnakes (Crotalus cerastes). We found that, although desert kangaroo rats incorporate a number of signal elements into their antipredator display, only sand kicking behavior was a significant factor in motivating sidewinder rattlesnakes to cease hunting: high rates of sand kicking led to early abandonment of ambush coils. These results indicate that anti‐snake displays of small mammals may be especially effective at mitigating the threat posed by rattlesnakes when those displays incorporate physical harassment as well as signaling.
Divergent transcriptomic signatures in response to salinity exposure in two populations of an estuarine fish
Authors: Jeffries Ken M. , Connon Richard E. , Verhille Christine E. , Dabruzzi Theresa F. , Britton Monica T. , Durbin‐Johnson Blythe P. , Fangue Nann A. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractIn estuary and coastal systems, human demand for freshwater, climate change‐driven precipitation variability, and extreme weather impact salinity levels, reducing connectivity between mesohaline coastal fish populations and potentially contributing to genomic divergence. We examined gill transcriptome responses to salinity in wild‐caught juveniles from two populations of Sacramento splittail (Pogonichthys macrolepidotus), a species of conservation concern that is endemic to the San Francisco Estuary, USA, and the lower reaches of its tributaries. Recent extreme droughts have led to salinities above the tolerance limits for this species, creating a migration barrier between these populations, which potentially contributed to population divergence. We identified transcripts involved in a conserved response to salinity; however, the more salinity‐tolerant San Pablo population had greater transcriptome plasticity (3.6‐fold more transcripts responded than the Central Valley population) and a response consistent with gill remodeling after 168 hr of exposure to elevated salinity. The reorganization of the gill in response to changing osmotic gradients is a process critical for acclimation and would facilitate enhanced salinity tolerance. We detected an upregulation of receptors that control the Wnt (wingless‐type) cell signaling pathway that may be required for an adaptive response to increases in salinity, patterns not observed in the relatively salinity‐sensitive Central Valley population. We detected 62 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in coding regions of 26 transcripts that differed between the populations. Eight transcripts that contained SNPs were associated with immune responses, highlighting the importance of diversity in immune gene sequences as a defining characteristic of genomic divergence between these populations. Our data demonstrate that these populations have divergent transcriptomic responses to salinity, which is consistent with observed physiological differences in salinity tolerance.
INDUCING VARIETY: A THEORY OF INNOVATION CONTESTS
Authors: Letina Igor , Schmutzler Armin 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThis article analyzes the design of innovation contests when the quality of an innovation depends on the research approach, but the best approach is unknown. Inducing a variety of research approaches generates an option value. We show that suitable contests can induce such variety. The buyer‐optimal contest is abonus tournament, where suppliers can choose only between a low bid and a high bid. This contest implements the socially optimal variety for a suitable parameter range. Finally, we compare the optimal contest to scoring auctions and fixed‐prize tournaments.
What do parents expect from a genetic diagnosis of their child with intellectual disability?
Authors: Dikow Nicola , Moog Ute , Karch Stephanie , Sander Anja , Kilian Samuel , Blank Rainer , Reuner Gitta 
Published: April 2019

AbstractBackgroundCaring for a child with intellectual disability (ID) has been associated with increased social and psychological burdens. Diagnostic and prognostic uncertainty may enhance emotional stress in families.MethodThe present authors assessed the motivations, expectations, mental health, physical health and the quality of life of 194 parents whose children with intellectual disability were undergoing a genetic diagnostic workup.ResultsMost parents considered a diagnosis highly relevant for their own emotional relief, their child's therapies and education, or family planning. Parental mental health was significantly lower compared with the normative sample, but physical health was not different. The severity of the child's intellectual disability correlated negatively with their parents' mental and physical health, quality of life, and positively with parental anxiety.ConclusionHealthcare providers should be aware of the disadvantages facing families with intellectually disabled children. Receiving practical, social and psychological support as well as genetic testing might be particularly relevant for families with severely disabled children.
Ultra‐rapid high‐density mapping system with the phase singularity technique is feasible in identifying rotors and focal sources and predicting AF termination
Authors: Vicera Jennifer Jeanne B. , Lo Li‐Wei , Shinya Yamada , Chou Yu‐Hui , Lin Yenn‐Jiang , Lo Men‐Tzung , Lin Wei‐Lun , Liu Shin‐Huei , Cheng Wen‐Han , Tsai Tsung‐Ying , Chen Shih‐Ann 
Published: April 2019

AbstractIntroductionPhase singularity (PS) mapping provides additional insight into the AF mechanism and is accurate in identifying rotors. The study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of PS mapping in identifying AF rotors using data obtained from an automatic ultra‐rapid high‐resolution mapping system with a high‐density mini‐basket catheter.MethodsTwenty‐three pigs underwent rapid right atrial (RA) pacing (RAP 480 bpm) for 5 weeks before the experiment. During AF, RA endocardial automatic continuous mappings with a mini‐basket catheter were generated using an automatic ultra‐rapid mapping system. Both fractionation mapping and waveform similarity measurements using a PS mapping algorithm were applied on the same recording signals to localize substrates maintaining AF.ResultsSeventeen (74%) pigs developed sustained AF after RAP. Three were excluded because of periprocedural ventricular arrhythmia and corrupted digital data. RA fractionation maps were acquired with 6.17 ± 4.29 minutes mean acquisition time, 13768 ± 12698 acquisition points mapped during AF from 581 ± 387 beats. Fractionation mapping identified extensively distributed (66.7%) RA complex fractionated atrial electrogram (CFAE), whereas the nonlinear analysis identified high similarity index (SI > 0.7) parts in limited areas (23.7%). There was an average of 1.67 ± 0.87 SI sites with 0.43 ± 0.76 rotor/focal source/chamber. AF termination occurred in 11/16 (68.75%) AF events in 14 pigs during ablation targeting max CFAE. There was a higher incidence of rotor/focal source at AF termination sites compared with non‐AF termination sites (54.5% vs 0%, P = 0.011).ConclusionsThe data obtained from ultra‐rapid high‐density automatic mapping is feasible and effective in identifying AF rotors/focal sources using PS technique, and those critical substrates were closely related to AF procedural termination.
NF‐κB p65 promotes ovarian cancer cell proliferation and migration via regulating mortalin
Authors: Li Shan , Lv Mengyuan , Qiu Shi , Meng Jiaqi , Liu Wen , Zuo Ji , Yang Ling 
Published: April 2019

AbstractPrevious studies show that mortalin, a HSP70 family member, contributes to the development and progression of ovarian cancer. However, details of the transcriptional regulation of mortalin remain unknown. We aimed to determine whether NF‐κB p65 participates in the regulation of mortalin expression in ovarian cancer cells and to elucidate the underlying mechanism. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter assay were used to identify mortalin gene sequences, to which NF‐κB p65 binds. Results indicated that NF‐κB p65 binds to the mortalin promoter at a site with the sequence ‘CGGGGTTTCA’. Using lentiviral pLVX‐NF‐κB‐puro and Lentivirus‐delivered NF‐κB short hairpin RNA (shRNA), we created ovarian cancer cell lines in which NF‐κB p65 was stably up‐regulated and down‐regulated. Using these cells, we found that downregulation of NF‐κB p65 inhibits the growth and migration of ovarian cancer cells. Further experimental evidence indicated that downregulation of NF‐κB p65 reduced mortalin, and upregulation of mortalin rescued the proliferation and migration of ovarian cancer cells reduced by NF‐κB p65 knockdown. In conclusion, NF‐κB p65 binds to the mortalin promoter and promotes ovarian cancer cells proliferation and migration via regulating mortalin.
Evaluation of cowpea mini core accessions for resistance to flower bud thrips Megalurothrips sjostedti Trybom (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)
Authors: Togola Abou , Boukar Ousmane , Chamarthi Siva , Belko Nouhoun , Tamò Manuele , Oigiangbe Nathaniel , Ojo Joseph , Ibikunle Mumini , Fatokun Christian 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe flower bud thrips, Megalurothrips sjostedti Trybom (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is an economically important pest of cowpea in sub‐Saharan Africa. Varietal resistance is the most preferred, environmentally friendly, cost‐effective and sustainable option for controlling this pest. The objective of this study was to identify sources of resistance to M. sjostedti among mini core accessions from the largest world cowpea germplasm collection maintained at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). The study was conducted during the 2015 and 2016 cropping seasons where 365 accessions were screened under field conditions. Each accession was rated visually for thrips damage score, flower abortion rate, number of pods per plant and number of thrips per flower. The resistance levels observed in genotypes TVu8631, TVu16368, TVu8671 and TVu7325 were similar to that of the resistant check “Sanzisabinli” (called Sanzi) during both seasons. In addition, 56 mini core genotypes showed moderate resistance to thrips damage. High heritability values were associated with thrips damage scores at 65 days after planting (0.60), percentage of effective peduncles (0.59), flower bud abortion rate (0.59), number of pods per plant (0.51) and number of peduncles with pods (0.5). The accessions identified with good levels of resistance to flower bud thrips will be used in cowpea breeding programs to develop improved resistant varieties.
Acaricidal properties of essential oils from agro‐industrial waste products from citric fruit against Tetranychus urticae
Authors: Ribeiro Nicolle C. , da Camara Claudio A. G. , Melo João P. R. , de Moraes Marcílio M. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractTetranychus urticae is a major agricultural pest with worldwide distribution that has caused considerable damage to vegetable crops in north‐eastern Brazil. The aim of the present study was to investigate the chemical and lethal/sublethal effects of essential oils from the peels of the lime (Citrus aurantiifolia), lemon (C. limon), mandarin orange (C. reticulata) and (C. reticulata × C. sinensis) as well as selected constituents (linalool, α‐terpineol, α‐pinene, β‐pinene, terpinolene and limonene) against T. urticae. The greatest yield was achieved with the mandarin and tangerine peel oils. The chemical analysis (gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry) of the essential oils from the Citrus fruit peels enabled the identification of 127 compounds, revealing a predominance of monoterpenes. Limonene was the major constituent, and α‐pinene, β‐pinene, linalool and α‐terpineol were found in substantial quantities. Regarding the susceptibility of T. urticae, the Citrus oils and selected constituents were more effective by fumigation than residual contact. The C. reticulata oil was the most toxic by fumigation, and the C. limon oil was the most toxic by residual contact. The constituent α‐terpineol exhibited the highest toxicity with both methods. At a sublethal concentration, the oils and selected constituents had significant effects on the fecundity, feeding preference and oviposition of the mite. Citrus oils and their constituents are potentially useful for the future integrated management of T. urticae due to their lethal and sublethal properties. However, further studies are needed to evaluate the action of these essential oils against non‐target organisms and determine the cost–benefit ratio for the formulation of an acaricide harvested from agro‐industrial waste from citric fruit processing activities for use in the integrated control of T. urticae.
Effect of ball milling time on physicochemical properties of Cordyceps militaris ultrafine particles
Authors: An Yanjun , Sun Yanan , Zhang Min , Adhikari Benu , Li Zhongqin 
Published: April 2019

AbstractCordyceps militaris powder with different particle sizes, a fungus rich in cordycepin and carotenoids, has different physicochemical properties. To explore the influence of different ball milling time on the properties, a batch ball‐mill was used before high energy nano‐impact mill to produce ultrafine particles from Cordyceps militaris. The particle formation kinetics was covering 2 to 16 hr of grinding was measured and explained. The surface charge (zeta potential), surface activity (surface tension), polarity and cordycepin, and carotenoids contents of particles during dissolution in water were measured and explained. The yield of ultrafine particles ~200 nm did not increase too much during 6–10 hr of grinding but they aggregated significantly at 16 hr of milling. The zeta potential, air‐water surface tension reducing ability, and particle polarity of these ultrafine particles were particle size dependent. The dissolution of cordycepin and carotenoids in water was faster in these ultrafine particles but their dissolution patterns were different. The ultrafine particles of C. militaris can be preferably used in nutraceuticals and as emulsifiers.Practical applicationsConsumers have recently become more favorite for the ultrafine particles of Cordyceps militaris with respect to its good active ingredient and nutrition. Hence, a comprehensive understanding of the effect of micronization on the particle size and also particle characteristics of Cordyceps would be useful for improving their functionality and to broaden their application. The research found that, ultrafine particles of Cordyceps militaris produced by ball milling have higher physicochemical characteristics.