bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Observation resolution critically influences movement-based foraging indices
Authors: Kalyuzhny Michael , Haran Tom , Hawlena Dror 
Published: September 2019

AbstractMovement‐based indices such as moves per minute (MPM) and proportion time moving (PTM) are common methodologies to quantify foraging behavior. Hundreds of studies have reported these indices, many without specifying the temporal resolution of their original data, and others using varying resolutions. This was done despite the likelihood that observation resolution can affect MPM and PTM estimates. Our goal was to empirically determine the sensitivity of these foraging indices to changes in the temporal resolution of the observation. We used a high-speed camera to record movement sequences of 20 Acanthodactylus boskianus lizards. Then, we gradually decreased the resolution of the data and calculated the foraging indices at different temporal resolutions. When considering the range of temporal resolutions that are relevant for field observations with unassisted vision, we found 68% and 48% difference in MPM and PTM estimates, respectively. When using the highest resolution, our estimate of MPM was an order of magnitude higher than all prior reported values for lizards. Our results raise major concerns regarding the use of already published movement-based indices, and enable us to recommend how new foraging data should be collected.
A processive endoglucanase with multi-substrate specificity is characterized from porcine gut microbiota
Authors: Wang Weijun , Archbold Tania , Lam Joseph S. , Kimber Matthew S. , Fan Ming Z. 
Published: September 2019

AbstractCellulases play important roles in the dietary fibre digestion in pigs, and have multiple industrial applications. The porcine intestinal microbiota display a unique feature in rapid cellulose digestion. Herein, we have expressed a cellulase gene, p4818Cel5_2A, which singly encoded a catalytic domain belonging to glycoside hydrolase family 5 subfamily 2, and was previously identified from a metagenomic expression library constructed from porcine gut microbiome after feeding grower pigs with a cellulose-supplemented diet. The activity of purified p4818Cel5_2A was maximal at pH 6.0 and 50 °C and displayed resistance to trypsin digestion. This enzyme exhibited activities towards a wide variety of plant polysaccharides, including cellulosic substrates of avicel and solka-Floc®, and the hemicelluloses of β-(1 → 4)/(1 → 3)-glucans, xyloglucan, glucomannan and galactomannan. Viscosity, reducing sugar distribution and hydrolysis product analyses further revealed that this enzyme was a processive endo-β-(1 → 4)-glucanase capable of hydrolyzing cellulose into cellobiose and cellotriose as the primary end products. These catalytic features of p4818Cel5_2A were further explored in the context of a three-dimensional homology model. Altogether, results of this study report a microbial processive endoglucanase identified from the porcine gut microbiome, and it may be tailored as an efficient biocatalyst candidate for potential industrial applications.
Genetic lines respond uniquely within the chicken thymic transcriptome to acute heat stress and low dose lipopolysaccharide
Authors: Monson Melissa S. , Van Goor Angelica G. , Persia Michael E. , Rothschild Max F. , Schmidt Carl J. , Lamont Susan J. 
Published: September 2019

AbstractExposure to high temperatures is known to impair immune functions and disease resistance of poultry. Characterizing changes in the transcriptome can help identify mechanisms by which immune tissues, such as the thymus, respond to heat stress. In this study, 22-day-old chickens from two genetic lines (a relatively resistant Fayoumi line and a more susceptible broiler line) were exposed to acute heat stress (35 °C) and/or immune simulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 100 µg/kg). Transcriptome responses in the thymus were identified by RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq). Expression of most genes was unaffected by heat and/or LPS in the Fayoumi line, whereas these treatments had more impact in the broiler line. Comparisons between the broiler and Fayoumi transcriptomes identified a large number of significant genes both at homeostasis and in response to treatment. Functional analyses predicted that gene expression changes impact immune responses, apoptosis, cell activation, migration, and adhesion. In broilers, acute heat stress changed thymic expression responses to LPS and could impact thymocyte survival and trafficking, and thereby contribute to the negative effects of high temperatures on immune responses. Identification of these genes and pathways provides a foundation for testing targets to improve disease resistance in heat-stressed chickens.
RNA-based qPCR as a tool to quantify and to characterize dual-species biofilms
Authors: Magalhães Andreia Patrícia , França Ângela , Pereira Maria Olívia , Cerca Nuno 
Published: September 2019

AbstractWhile considerable research has focused on studying individual-species, we now face the challenge of determining how interspecies interactions alter bacterial behaviours and pathogenesis. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus are often found to co-infect cystic-fibrosis patients. Curiously, their interaction is reported as competitive under laboratory conditions. Selecting appropriate methodologies is therefore critical to analyse multi-species communities. Herein, we demonstrated the major biases associated with qPCR quantification of bacterial populations and optimized a RNA-based qPCR able not only to quantify but also to characterize microbial interactions within dual-species biofilms composed by P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, as assessed by gene expression quantification. qPCR quantification was compared with flow-cytometry and culture-based quantification. Discrepancies between culture independent and culture dependent methods could be the result of the presence of viable but not-cultivable bacteria within the biofilm. Fluorescence microscopy confirmed this. A higher sensitivity to detect viable cells further highlights the potentialities of qPCR approach to quantify biofilm communities. By using bacterial RNA and an exogenous mRNA control, it was also possible to characterize bacterial transcriptomic profile, being this a major advantage of this method.
The Effect of Flavored E-cigarettes on Murine Allergic Airways Disease
Authors: Chapman David G. , Casey Dylan T. , Ather Jennifer L. , Aliyeva Minara , Daphtary Nirav , Lahue Karolyn G. , van der Velden Jos L. , Janssen-Heininger Yvonne M. W. , Irvin Charles G. 
Published: September 2019

AbstractFlavored e-cigarettes are preferred by the majority of users yet their potential toxicity is unknown. Therefore our aim was to determine the effect of selected flavored e-cigarettes, with or without nicotine, on allergic airways disease in mice. Balb/c mice were challenged with PBS or house dust mite (HDM) (Days 0, 7, 14–18) and exposed to room air or e-cigarette aerosol for 30 min twice daily, 6 days/week from Days 0–18 (n = 8–12/group). Mice were exposed to Room Air, vehicle control (50%VG/%50PG), Black Licorice, Kola, Banana Pudding or Cinnacide without or with 12 mg/mL nicotine. Mice were assessed at 72 hours after the final HDM challenge. Compared to mice challenged with HDM and exposed to Room Air, nicotine-free Cinnacide reduced airway inflammation (p = 0.045) and increased peripheral airway hyperresponsiveness (p = 0.02), nicotine-free Banana Pudding increased soluble lung collagen (p = 0.049), with a trend towards increased airway inflammation with nicotine-free Black Licorice exposure (p = 0.089). In contrast, all e-cigarettes containing nicotine suppressed airway inflammation (p < 0.001 for all) but did not alter airway hyperresponsiveness or airway remodeling. Flavored e-cigarettes without nicotine had significant but heterogeneous effects on features of allergic airways disease. This suggests that some flavored e-cigarettes may alter asthma pathophysiology even when used without nicotine.
Neutrophils homing into the retina trigger pathology in early age-related macular degeneration
Authors: Ghosh Sayan , Padmanabhan Archana , Vaidya Tanuja , Watson Alan M. , Bhutto Imran A. , Hose Stacey , Shang Peng , Stepicheva Nadezda , Yazdankhah Meysam , Weiss Joseph , Das Manjula , Gopikrishna Santosh , Aishwarya  , Yadav Naresh , Berger Thorsten , Mak Tak W. , Xia Shuli , Qian Jiang , Lutty Gerard A. , Jayagopal Ashwath , Zigler J. Samuel , Sethu Swaminathan , Handa James T. , Watkins Simon C. , Ghosh Arkasubhra , Sinha Debasish 
Published: September 2019

AbstractAge-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an expanding problem as longevity increases worldwide. While inflammation clearly contributes to vision loss in AMD, the mechanism remains controversial. Here we show that neutrophils are important in this inflammatory process. In the retinas of both early AMD patients and in a mouse model with an early AMD-like phenotype, we show neutrophil infiltration. Such infiltration was confirmed experimentally using ribbon-scanning confocal microscopy (RSCM) and IFNλ− activated dye labeled normal neutrophils. With neutrophils lacking lipocalin-2 (LCN-2), infiltration was greatly reduced. Further, increased levels of IFNλ in early AMD trigger neutrophil activation and LCN-2 upregulation. LCN-2 promotes inflammation by modulating integrin β1 levels to stimulate adhesion and transmigration of activated neutrophils into the retina. We show that in the mouse model, inhibiting AKT2 neutralizes IFNλ inflammatory signals, reduces LCN-2-mediated neutrophil infiltration, and reverses early AMD-like phenotype changes. Thus, AKT2 inhibitors may have therapeutic potential in early, dry AMD.
Long-term optical spectroscopic variations in blazar 3C 454.3
Authors: Nalewajko Krzysztof , Gupta Alok C. , Liao Mai , Hryniewicz Krzysztof , Gupta Maitrayee , Gu Minfeng 
Published: September 2019

Aims. Characterisation of the long-term variations in the broad line region in a luminous blazar, where Comptonisation of broad-line emission within a relativistic jet is the standard scenario for production of γ-ray emission that dominates the spectral energy distribution.
Methods. We analysed ten years of optical spectroscopic data from the Steward Observatory for the blazar 3C 454.3, as well as γ-ray data from the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT). The optical spectra are dominated by a highly variable non-thermal synchrotron continuum with a prominent Mg II broad emission line. The line flux was obtained by spectral decomposition including significant contribution from the Fe II pseudo-continuum. Three methods were used to characterise variations in the line flux: (1) stacking of the continuum-subtracted spectra, (2) subtracting the running mean light curves calculated for different timescales, and (3) evaluating potential time delays via the discrete correlation function (DCF).
Results. Despite very large variations in the γ-ray and optical continua, the line flux changes only moderately (<0.1 dex). The data suggest that the line flux responds to a dramatic change in the blazar activity from a very high state in 2010 to a deep low state in 2012. Two interpretations are possible: either the line flux is anti-correlated with the continuum or the increase in the line luminosity is delayed by ∼600 days. If this time delay results from the reverberation of poorly constrained accretion disc emission in both the broad-line region (BLR) and the synchrotron emitting blazar zone within a relativistic jet, we would obtain natural estimates for the BLR radius RBLR, MgII ≳ 0.28 pc and for the supermassive black hole mass MSMBH ∼ 8.5 × 108 M⊙. We did not identify additional examples of short-term “flares” of the line flux, in addition to the previously reported case observed in 2010.
Inversion of asteroid photometry from Gaia DR2 and the Lowell Observatory photometric database
Authors: Ďurech J. , Hanuš J. , Vančo R. 
Published: September 2019

Context. Rotation properties (spin-axis direction and rotation period) and coarse shape models of asteroids can be reconstructed from their disk-integrated brightness when measured from various viewing geometries. These physical properties are essential for creating a global picture of structure and dynamical evolution of the main belt.
Aims. The number of shape and spin models can be increased not only when new data are available, but also by combining independent data sets and inverting them together. Our aim was to derive new asteroid models by processing readily available photometry.
Methods. We used asteroid photometry compiled in the Lowell Observatory photometry database with photometry from the Gaia Data Release 2. Both data sources are available for about 5400 asteroids. In the framework of the Asteroids@home distributed computing project, we applied the light curve inversion method to each asteroid to find its convex shape model and spin state that fits the observed photometry.
Results. Due to the limited number of Gaia DR2 data points and poor photometric accuracy of Lowell data, we were able to derive unique models for only ∼1100 asteroids. Nevertheless, 762 of these are new models that significantly enlarge the current database of about 1600 asteroid models.
Conclusions. Our results demonstrate the importance of a combined approach to inversion of asteroid photometry. While our models in general agree with those obtained by separate inversion of Lowell and Gaia data, the combined inversion is more robust, model parameters are more constrained, and unique models can be reconstructed in many cases when individual data sets alone are not sufficient.
Historically, did Cemented Thompson perform better than uncemented Austin Moore hemiarthroplasty for femoral neck fractures? A meta-analysis of available evidence
Authors: Shehata Mohamed S.A. , Abdelal Ahmed , Salahia Sami , Ahmed Hussien , Shawqi Muhammad , Elsehili Ahmed , Morsi Mahmoud , Afifi Ahmed M. , Kader Nardeen , Grubhofer Florian , Sallam Asser , Imam Mohamed 
Published: September 2019

Introduction: Thompson and Austin Moore prostheses have been commonly used in hemiarthroplasties for displaced femoral neck fractures. There has been considerable debate about which of these prostheses is preferred. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to compare historical data for clinical outcomes of cemented Thompson and uncemented Austin Moore hemiarthroplasty in displaced femoral neck fractures.
Methods: We searched Medline via PubMed, Cochrane Central, Scopus, Ovid and Web of Science for relevant articles up to February 2019. The included outcomes measured were hip function, hip pain, implant-related complications, surgical complications, reoperation rate and hospital stay. The data were pooled as risk ratio (RR) or mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) between the two compared groups in a meta-analysis model.
Results: Ten studies (four RCTs and six observational studies) with a total of 4378 patients were included in the final analysis. The pooled RR showed that the Thompson group was associated with a lower incidence of postoperative hip pain (RR = 0.66, 95% CI [0.54, 0.80]), lesser reoperation rate (RR = 0.46, 95% CI [0.24, 0.88]), lesser intraoperative fractures (RR = 0.15, 95% CI [0.09, 0.25]), but a longer operative time (MD = 12.04 min, 95% CI [2.08, 22.00]) in comparison to the Austin Moore group. The effect estimate did not favour either group in terms of hip function, periprosthetic fractures, prosthetic dislocations, wound infection, mortality and hospital stay.
Conclusion: Evidence shows that Thompson hemiarthroplasty is better than Austin Moore hemiarthroplasty in terms of hip pain, reoperation rate and intraoperative fractures. Whereas the postoperative hip function is equivalent, these results could be considered when assessing the outcomes in modern hips.
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibition by Kavalactones from Kava (Piper Methysticum)
Authors: Prinsloo Denise , van Dyk Sandra , Petzer Anél , Petzer Jacobus P. 
Published: September 2019

AbstractMonoamine oxidases (MAOs) are key metabolic enzymes for neurotransmitter and dietary amines and are targets for the treatment of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. This study examined the MAO inhibition potential of kavain and other kavalactones from the roots of kava (Piper methysticum), a plant that has been used for its anxiolytic properties. (±)-Kavain was found to be a good potency in vitro inhibitor of human MAO-B with an IC50 of 5.34 µM. (±)-Kavain is a weaker MAO-A inhibitor with an IC50 of 19.0 µM. Under the same experimental conditions, the reference MAO inhibitor, curcumin, displays IC50 values of 5.01 µM and 2.55 µM for the inhibition of MAO-A and MAO-B, respectively. It was further established that (±)-kavain interacts reversibly and competitively with MAO-A and MAO-B with enzyme-inhibitor dissociation constants (Ki) of 7.72 and 5.10 µM, respectively. Curcumin in turn, displays a Ki value of 3.08 µM for the inhibition of MAO-A. Based on these findings, other kavalactones (dihydrokavain, methysticin, dihydromethysticin, yangonin, and desmethoxyyangonin) were also evaluated as MAO inhibitors in this study. Yangonin proved to be the most potent MAO inhibitor with IC50 values of 1.29 and 0.085 µM for MAO-A and MAO-B, respectively. It may be concluded that some of the central effects (e.g., anxiolytic) of kava may be mediated by MAO inhibition.
Velopharyngeal Closure and Resonance in Children Following Early Cleft Palate Repair: Outcome Measurement
Authors: Aparna V. S. , Pushpavathi M. , Bonanthaya Krishnamurty 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
Introduction Timing of cleft palate repair and the method of speech outcome measurement in children with cleft lip and palate are much debated topics. The associated problems and quality of life in these children depend on the timing of the surgery.
Aim The aim of this study was to investigate the velopharyngeal (VP) function and resonance parameters in children following early cleft palate repair.
Method A total of 25 Kannada-speaking children with early repaired cleft palate were subjected to speech assessment and videofluoroscopic assessment. Perceptual speech parameters measured were severity of hypernasality and presence of nasal air emission. Videofluoroscopy was interpreted in terms of closure ratios to predict the severity of VP dysfunction.
Results The analysis of videofluoroscopic images indicated that 48% of children had complete VP closure and 52% had perceptually normal resonance. A good correlation was found between the closure ratio and hypernasality.
Conclusion Understanding the perceptual speech parameters and their structural correlates for outcome measurement will give better evidence for refining the existing treatment protocols. Data on a larger population are warranted for establishing predictors of optimum speech outcome.
Medical Therapy for Eisenmenger Syndrome: A Case Report and Review of Literature
Authors: Pradhan Akshyaya , Vohra Shweta , Vishwakarma Pravesh , Sethi Rishi 
Published: September 2019

AbstractEisenmenger syndrome (ES) is defined as the process in which a long-standing left-to-right cardiac shunt caused by a congenital heart defect is eventually reversed into a cyanotic right-to-left shunt. It is crucial to recognize this grave pathology at the earliest because once it develops, treatment by medical or surgical means becomes even more challenging. In past decades, various therapeutic options have been developed that address the specific pathophysiological aspects of the disease and have shown to improve functional capacity and quality of life. There are three major therapeutic pathways in pulmonary hypertension treatment - endothelin receptor antagonists, phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors, and prostacyclin derivatives. These therapies not only improve hemodynamic parameters and exercise capacity but they also improve prognosis with various form of Pulmonary hypertension including ES. We report a case of a 35-year-old female of ostium secundum atrial septal defect with ES, started on upfront combination therapy of ambrisentan and tadalafil who demonstrated marked improvement after 3 months of medical therapy.
On the arithmetic of modified idèle class groups
Authors: Lee Wan , Seo Soogil 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
Let

be a number field and

,

sets of places of

. For each prime

, we define an invariant

related to the Galois group of the maximal abelian extension of

which is unramified outside

and splits completely in

. In the main theorem we interpret

in terms of another arithmetic object

that involves various unit groups and uses genus theory applied to certain modules, which are technically modified from idèle groups. We show that this interpretation is functorial with respect to

and

and thereby provides interesting connections between

and

as

and

vary. The settings and methods are new, and different from the classical genus theoretic methods for idèle groups. The advantage of the new methods at the finite level not only generalizes but also strengthens certain known results involving the maximal

-abelian profinite Galois group of

that is

-ramified and

-split in terms of the arithmetic of certain units of

. At the infinite level, the method relates the deep arithmetic of special units with those of profinite Galois groups. For example, for special cases of

and

, the invariants

are related to the conjectures of Gross (or Kuz’min–Gross) and Leopoldt and accordingly, in these special cases, the functorial interpretation of

as

and

vary involves interesting connections between the conjectures of Gross and Leopoldt in a simpler and more concrete way. As a result, we conjecture that

is finite for all finite disjoint sets

,

over the cyclotomic

-tower of

, which includes the conjectures of Gross and Leopoldt as special cases.
On

-units for valuations of the second degree in hyperelliptic fields
Authors: Fedorov G. V. 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
In this paper we propose a new effective approach to the problem of finding and constructing non-trivial

-units of a hyperelliptic field

for a set

consisting of two conjugate valuations of the second degree. The results obtained are based on a deep connection between the problem of torsion in the Jacobians of hyperelliptic curves and the quasiperiodicity of continued

-fractions, that is, generalized functional continued fractions of special form constructed with respect to a valuation of the second degree. We find algorithms for searching for fundamental

-units which are comparable in effectiveness with known fast algorithms for two linear valuations.
On the rate of approximation in the unit disc of

-functions by logarithmic derivatives of polynomials with zeros on the boundary
Authors: Komarov M. A. 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
We study uniform approximation in the open unit disc

by logarithmic derivatives of

-polynomials, that is, polynomials whose zeros lie on the unit circle

. We find bounds for the rate of approximation for functions in Hardy class

and certain subclasses. We prove bounds for the rate of uniform approximation (either in

or its closure) by

-sums

with parameters

.