bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effective Guest Inclusion by a 6‐O‐Modified β‐Cyclodextrin Dimer in Organic Solvents
Authors: Asahara Chizuru , Iwamoto Takuya , Akashi Mitsuru , Shigemitsu Hajime , Kida Toshiyuki 
Published: July 2018

AbstractA 6‐O‐tert‐butyldimethylsilylated β‐cyclodextrin (TBDMS‐β‐CD) dimer, in which two TBDMS‐β‐CD rings are connected in a head‐to‐head fashion by a m‐xylylene linker, effectively forms inclusion complexes with pyrene and naphthalene in nonpolar organic solvents such as cyclohexane and benzene. This TBDMS‐β‐CD dimer shows a higher inclusion ability toward these guests than a TBDMS‐β‐CD dimer bearing a p‐xylylene linker due to the greater cooperation of the two TBDMS‐β‐CD rings for the guest inclusion. Unlike the corresponding monomer, the TBDMS‐β‐CD dimer bearing a m‐xylylene linker is also a good host even in polar organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran. High chiral recognition of aromatic amines and alcohol is realized by utilizing inclusion within the cavity of the TBDMS‐β‐CD dimer in cyclohexane. In particular, an extremely high binding selectivity for (S)‐1‐(1‐naphthyl)ethylamine and (S)‐1‐(1‐naphthyl)ethanol over the corresponding (R)‐isomers is achieved. Moreover, by utilizing the high chiral recognition with the TBDMS‐β‐CD dimer in cyclohexane, a non‐enzymatic kinetic resolution of racemic 1‐(1‐naphthyl)ethylamine via enantioselective N‐benzoylation is attained with an enantiomer excess of up to 87 % and an s‐factor of 15.
The KHENERGY Study: Safety and Efficacy of KH176 in Mitochondrial m.3243A>G Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Janssen Mirian C.H. , Koene Saskia , de Laat Paul , Hemelaar Pleun , Pickkers Peter , Spaans Edwin , Beukema Rypko , Beyrath Julien , Groothuis Jan , Verhaak Chris , Smeitink Jan 
Published: July 2018

KH176 is a potent intracellular reduction–oxidation‐modulating compound developed to treat mitochondrial disease. We studied tolerability, safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and efficacy of twice daily oral 100 mg KH176 for 28 days in a double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled, two‐way crossover phase IIA study in 18 adult m.3243A>G patients without cardiovascular involvement. Efficacy parameters included clinical and functional outcome measures and biomarkers. The trial was registered within ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02909400), the European Clinical Trials Database (2016‐001696‐79), and ISRCTN (43372293) (The KHENERGY study). Twice daily oral 100 mg KH176 was well tolerated and appeared safe. No serious treatment‐emergent adverse events were reported. No significant improvements in gait parameters or other outcome measures were obtained, except for a positive effect on alertness and mood, although a coincidence due to multiplicity cannot be ignored. The results of the study provide first data on safety and efficacy of KH176 in patients with mitochondrial disease and will be instrumental in designing future clinical trials.
Provable secure lightweight hyper elliptic curve‐based communication system for wireless sensor networks
Authors: Naresh Vankamamidi S. , Sivaranjani Reddi , V.E.S. Murthy Nistala 
Published: July 2018

SummaryIt is widely believed that hyper elliptic curve cryptosystems (HECCs) are not attractive for wireless sensor network because of their complexity compared with systems based on lower genera, especially elliptic curves. Our contribution shows that for low cost security applications HECs cryptosystems can outperform elliptic curve cryptosystems. The aim of this paper is to propose a discrete logarithm problem‐based lightweight secure communication system using HEC. We propose this for different genus curves over varied prime fields performing a full scale study of their adaptability to various types of constrained networks. Also, we propose to evaluate the performance of the protocol for computational times with respect to different genus for main operations like Jacobian, Divisor identifications, key generation, signature generation/verification, message encryption, and decryption by changing the size of the field. A formal security model was established based on the hardness of HEC‐Decision Diffie‐Hellman (HEC‐DDH). Finally, a comparative analysis with ECC‐based cryptosystems was made, and satisfactory results were obtained.
Repeated range expansion and niche shift in a volcanic hotspot archipelago: Radiation of C4 Hawaiian Euphorbia subgenus Chamaesyce (Euphorbiaceae)
Authors: Yang Ya , Morden Clifford W. , Sporck‐Koehler Margaret J. , Sack Lawren , Wagner Warren L. , Berry Paul E. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractWoody perennial plants on islands have repeatedly evolved from herbaceous mainland ancestors. Although the majority of species in Euphorbia subgenus Chamaesyce section Anisophyllum (Euphorbiaceae) are small and herbaceous, a clade of 16 woody species diversified on the Hawaiian Islands. They are found in a broad range of habitats, including the only known C4 plants adapted to wet forest understories. We investigate the history of island colonization and habitat shift in this group. We sampled 153 individuals in 15 of the 16 native species of Hawaiian Euphorbia on six major Hawaiian Islands, plus 11 New World close relatives, to elucidate the biogeographic movement of this lineage within the Hawaiian island chain. We used a concatenated chloroplast DNA data set of more than eight kilobases in aligned length and applied maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference for phylogenetic reconstruction. Age and phylogeographic patterns were co‐estimated using BEAST. In addition, we used nuclear ribosomal ITS and the low‐copy genes LEAFY and G3pdhC to investigate the reticulate relationships within this radiation. Hawaiian Euphorbia first arrived on Kaua`i or Ni`ihau ca. 5 million years ago and subsequently diverged into 16 named species with extensive reticulation. During this process Hawaiian Euphorbia dispersed from older to younger islands through open vegetation that is disturbance‐prone. Species that occur under closed vegetation evolved in situ from open vegetation of the same island and are only found on the two oldest islands of Kaua`i and O`ahu. The biogeographic history of Hawaiian Euphorbia supports a progression rule with within‐island shifts from open to closed vegetation.
Increased female resistance to mating promotes the effect of mechanical constraints on latency to pair
Authors: Han Chang S. , Jablonski Piotr G. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractSize‐assortative mating, defined as a positive linear association of body size between members of mating pairs, can arise from mechanical constraints on pairing efficiency, particularly when mating success is affected by males’ mate‐grasping force. In this context, female resistance is predicted to have an important role in changing the threshold force necessary for males to hold females, thereby contributing to the effect of mechanical constraints. Thus, increased female resistance is expected to increase the paring success of an optimally sized male relative to the female body size (sexual size ratio = male body size/female body size = 0.86), which leads to positive size‐assortative mating. However, very little is known about the extent to which female resistance affects mechanical constraints on mate grasping. Here, using the water strider Gerris gracilicornis (Hemiptera: Gerridae), we tested whether the level of female resistance affected the relationship between the sexual size ratio and latency to pair. We found that optimally sized males mated sooner than other males when females resisted a male's mating attempts. When females did not resist, an effect of sexual size ratio on latency to pair was not found. Our results thus imply that increased female resistance to male mating attempts may strengthen the pattern of size‐assortative mating. We provide clear empirical evidence that female resistance to mating influences the effect of mechanical constraints on size‐assortative mating under sexual conflict. This result further suggests that patterns of size‐assortative mating can be altered by a variety of ecological circumstances that change female resistance to mating in many other animal species under sexual conflict.
Reproductive skipping as an optimal life history strategy in the southern elephant seal,Mirounga leonina
Authors: Griffen Blaine D. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractIntermittent breeding by which organisms skip some current reproductive opportunities in order to enhance future reproductive success is a common life history trade‐off among long‐lived, iteroparous species. The southern elephant sealMirounga leoninaengages in intermediate breeding when body condition is low. While it is anticipated that this strategy may increase the lifetime reproductive output of this species, the conditions under which reproductive skipping are predicted to occur are not clear. Here I develop a dynamic state variable model based on published data that examines when southern elephant seals are predicted to optimally skip reproduction in order to maximize lifetime reproductive output as a function of current body mass, maternal age, and survivorship. I demonstrate that the optimal reproductive strategy for this species can include reproductive skipping, and that the conditions where this is optimal depend on patterns of mass‐dependent adult female survival. I further show that intermittent breeding can increase lifetime reproductive output, and that the magnitude of this benefit increases with the ability of individual animals to replenish depleted body mass through foraging. Finally, I show that when the environment is variable and foraging is reduced in bad years, the benefit of adopting an optimal strategy that includes reproductive skipping increases asymptotically with the frequency of bad years. These results highlight the importance of characterizing the pattern of adult survival in this species, as well as the need to identify other factors that may influence the prevalence and benefits of reproductive skipping.
CXCR3high CD8+ T cells with naïve phenotype and high capacity for IFN‐γ production are generated during homeostatic T‐cell proliferation
Authors: Kato Aiko , Takaori‐Kondo Akifumi , Minato Nagahiro , Hamazaki Yoko 
Published: July 2018

AbstractNaïve phenotype (NP) T cells spontaneously initiate homeostatic proliferation (HP) as T‐cell output is reduced because of physiologic thymic involution with age. However, the effects of sustained HP on overall immune function are poorly understood. We demonstrated that the NP CD8+ T cell population in adult thymectomized mice showing accelerated HP has an increased capacity for TCR‐mediated interferon‐γ and tumor necrosis factor α production, which is attributed to an increase in CXCR3+ cells in the NP CD8+ T cell population. The CXCR3+ NP CD8+ T cells developed during persistent HP with a slow cell division rate, but rarely during robust antigen‐driven proliferation with a fast cell division rate. In ontogeny, the proportions of CXCR3+ cells in the NP CD8+ T cell population showed a biphasic profile, which was high at the newborn and aged stages. Upon transfer, CXCR3+ NP CD8+ T cells, but not CXCR3− NP CD8+ T cells, potently enhanced Th17‐mediated inflammatory tissue reactions in vivo. Furthermore, CXCR3high NP CD8+ T cells with similar features were also detected at variable levels in healthy human blood. These results suggest that CXCR3+ NP CD8+ T cells generated during physiological HP significantly impact overall immunity at the immunologically vulnerable neonatal and aged stages.
Sequencing of mitochondrial genomes using the Precision ID mtDNA Whole Genome Panel
Authors: Pereira Vania , Longobardi Antonio , Børsting Claus 
Published: July 2018

AbstractMassively parallel sequencing offers a fast and cost‐effective method for sequencing of the whole mtDNA genome. The Precision ID mtDNA Whole Genome Panel amplifies the entire mtDNA genome in two multiplex PCRs with 81 primer sets using the Ion AmpliSeq™ technology. In this study, the performance of the panel was evaluated by testing different amplification methods (two‐in‐one or conservative), the number of PCR cycles (21, 23, and 25), and different reaction volumes (recommended volume or half‐volume). Furthermore, a dilution series, controlled mtDNA mixtures, and casework samples were also sequenced. The normalised read depths of the individual fragments were highly consistent irrespectively of the amplification methods or reaction volumes used. The sequencing output matched the mixture ratios of the controlled mtDNA mixtures indicating that the sequencing results were a loyal representation of the input DNA. Complete mtDNA profiles were generated from <10 pg genomic DNA. Seven fragments with relatively low read depths and large variations in read depth were identified. One of these fragments covered part of the control region and the hypervariable region II.
Nutrition education in the Australian New South Wales primary school curriculum: An exploration of time allocation, translation and attitudes in a sample of teachers
Authors: de Vlieger Nienke , Riley Nicholas , Miller Andrew , Collins Clare E. , Bucher Tamara 
Published: July 2018

AbstractIssue addressedThe dietary intakes of Australian children are not optimal, with few meeting recommended vegetable and fruit intake targets. Nutrition education in childhood is important for developing healthy eating patterns, with schools an ideal setting for a wide reach. The aims of this study were to examine nutrition education within the NSW primary school syllabus, explore how much time teachers spend teaching nutrition, what is taught, what materials are used, and to identify attitudes towards nutrition education.MethodAn online survey consisting of 29 closed questions (with options for comments) was specifically developed for the purpose of this study. Teachers currently teaching at a NSW primary school were eligible to participate.ResultsA total of 33 NSW primary school teachers completed the survey. Results indicate that limited time is spent on teaching nutrition with some important nutrition education components currently missed, resources perceived to be inadequate and lack of time reported as the largest barrier to teaching nutrition.ConclusionIn order to improve the quality of nutrition education in NSW primary schools, several important topics need to be integrated into the curriculum, and time constraints of teachers should be taken into account.So what?Findings from the current survey will inform the development of future nutrition education programs and resources with the aim of integrating nutrition education within the primary school curriculum.
Understanding coastal wetland hydrology with a new regional‐scale, process‐based hydrological model
Authors: Zhang Yu , Li Wenhong , Sun Ge , Miao Guofang , Noormets Asko , Emanuel Ryan , King John S. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractCoastal wetlands represent an ecotone between ocean and terrestrial ecosystems, providing important services, including flood mitigation, fresh water supply, erosion control, carbon sequestration, and wildlife habitat. The environmental setting of a wetland and the hydrological connectivity between a wetland and adjacent terrestrial and aquatic systems together determine wetland hydrology. Yet little is known about regional‐scale hydrological interactions among uplands, coastal wetlands, and coastal processes, such as tides, sea level rise, and saltwater intrusion, which together control the dynamics of wetland hydrology. This study presents a new regional‐scale, physically based, distributed wetland hydrological model, PIHM‐Wetland, which integrates the surface and subsurface hydrology with coastal processes and accounts for the influence of wetland inundation on energy budgets and evapotranspiration (ET). The model was validated using in situ hydro‐meteorological measurements and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) ET data for a forested and herbaceous wetland in North Carolina, USA, which confirmed that the model accurately represents the major wetland hydrological behaviours. Modelling results indicate that topographic gradient is a primary control of groundwater flow direction in adjacent uplands. However, seasonal climate patterns become the dominant control of groundwater flow at lower coastal plain and land–ocean interface. We found that coastal processes largely influence groundwater table (GWT) dynamics in the coastal zone, 300 to 800 m from the coastline in our study area. Among all the coastal processes, tides are the dominant control on GWT variation. Because of inundation, forested and herbaceous wetlands absorb an additional 6% and 10%, respectively, of shortwave radiation annually, resulting in a significant increase in ET. Inundation alters ET partitioning through canopy evaporation, transpiration, and soil evaporation, the effect of which is stronger in cool seasons than in warm seasons. The PIHM‐Wetland model provides a new tool that improves the understanding of wetland hydrological processes on a regional scale. Insights from this modelling study provide benchmarks for future research on the effects of sea level rise and climate change on coastal wetland functions and services.
Identification of potential anti‐hepatitis C virus agents targeting non structural protein 5B using computational techniques
Authors: Polamreddy Prasanthi , Vishwakarma Vinita , Saxena Puneet 
Published: July 2018

AbstractHepatitis C virus (HCV) nonstructural protein 5B (NS5B) is an RNA‐dependent RNA polymerase that plays a key role in HCV replication, and, hence, NS5B is an attractive target for hepatitis C drug discovery. Hepatitis C is a chronic liver disease affecting the global population significantly. Many NS5B inhibitors targeting active site were launched in recent years, however, still there exists a pressing need for cost‐effective therapies with pan genotypic activity and therapies targeting niche HCV population with comorbities and resistant to earlier therapies. The objective of the current study is to identify potential anti‐HCV agents from FDA approved drugs that are already in the market for a different disease—Drug repurposing approach. A combination of computational chemistry and computational biology techniques was used to discover potential therapies for hepatitis C targeting the NS5B Thumb I allosteric site. Computational chemistry analysis emphasized the fact that fluvastatin, a lipid lowering agent, and olopatadine, an antihistamine, exhibited good binding affinity to NS5B. In addition, gene set enrichment analysis brought to light the significant overlap between disease characteristic features and the mechanism of action of fluvastatin and olopatadine. The current study concludes the potentially beneficial use of fluvastatin in niche hepatitis C patient population suffering from nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases.
17β‐Estradiol inhibits testosterone‐induced cell proliferation in HepG2 by modulating the relative ratios of 3 estrogen receptor isoforms to the androgen receptor
Authors: Xu Zhixiang , Liu Jun , Jianxin Cao , Yongliang Zhuang , Pan Xuejun 
Published: July 2018

AbstractSex hormones, especially 17β‐estradiol (E2) and testosterone (TEST), play crucial roles in the oncogenesis and progression of liver cancer via hormone‐related receptors. As women have a lower rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) than men, estrogens might attenuate the occurrence and development of HCC. This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effects and mechanisms of E2 on TEST‐induced HCC development; the HepG2 cell line was used as an in vitro model. Five endpoints, including cell viability, cell apoptosis, cell cycle, receptor protein expression, and messenger RNA transcription, were investigated. Different roles and the ratios of androgen receptor (AR) and 3 estrogen receptor (ER) subtypes were also estimated. Cell viability assay showed that co‐treatment of E2 and TEST resulted in a significant inhibition of E2‐induced or TEST‐induced cell proliferation. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that combined treatment of E2 and TEST blocked the cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase as well as induced cell early apoptosis, characterized by decreased cyclin‐dependent kinase transcription and the ratio of Bcl‐2/Bax. Real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis results further demonstrated that estrogen receptor estrogen receptor α66 (ERα66) and estrogen receptor β (ERβ) were upregulated, whereas AR and estrogen receptor α36 (ERα36) were downregulated, irrespective of whether E2 and TEST were considered separately or together, whereas the combined treatment of E2 and TEST resulted in a decrease in the ERα66/ERβ ratio, the ERα66/ERα36 ratio, and the ERβ/ERα36 ratio, but with an increase in the ERα66/AR ratio, the ERα36/AR ratio, and the ERβ/AR ratio. To sum up, E2 could inhibit TEST‐induced cell proliferation by modulating the ratio of different hormone‐related receptors.
Benzimidazoles as novel deoxyribonuclease I inhibitors
Authors: Kolarević Ana , Ilić Budimir S. , Anastassova Neda , Mavrova Anelia Ts. , Yancheva Denitsa , Kocić Gordana , Šmelcerović Andrija 
Published: July 2018

AbstractInhibitory potential of 19 benzimidazoles against bovine pancreatic deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) was investigated in vitro. Three compounds inhibited DNase I with IC50 below 100 μM and proved to be more potent DNase I inhibitors than crystal violet (IC50 = 351.82 ± 29.41 μM), used as a positive control. Compound 9 showed the most potent DNase I inhibition with an IC 50 value of 79.46 ± 11.75 μM. To further explore the relationship between inhibitory activity and 2D pharmacophore features, Pharma/E‐State R‐group quantitative structure‐activity relationship (RQSAR) models were generated and validated using Schrödinger Suite. RQSAR models showed a significant enhancement of benzimidazoles activity using hydrogen‐bond acceptor substituents at the R2, R3, and R4 positions, or aryl substituents at the R4 position. The Site Finder module and molecular docking defined the benzimidazoles interactions with the most important catalytic residues of DNase I, including H‐acceptor interaction with residue His 134 and His 252 and/or H‐donor interaction with residue Glu 39. We also found a positive correlation between IC50 inhibition values and relative binding free energies of the most active benzimidazoles. In addition, a molecular dynamics simulation was performed for DNase I‐compound
9 docking complex in Desmond. Trajectory analysis showed that docking complex and intermolecular interactions were stable throughout the entire production part of simulations. Furthermore, the results of protein structure alignment module suggested the potential translational impact of benzimidazoles against human DNase I. Due to the significant involvement of DNase I in the pathophysiology of many disease conditions, benzimidazoles as DNase I inhibitors could have potential therapeutic applications.