bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Global status of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in dromedary camels: a systematic review
Authors: Sikkema R. S. , Farag E. A. B. A. , Islam Mazharul , Atta Muzzamil , Reusken C. B. E. M. , Al-Hajri Mohd M. , Koopmans M. P. G. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractDromedary camels have been shown to be the main reservoir for human Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) infections. This systematic review aims to compile and analyse all published data on MERS-coronavirus (CoV) in the global camel population to provide an overview of current knowledge on the distribution, spread and risk factors of infections in dromedary camels. We included original research articles containing laboratory evidence of MERS-CoV infections in dromedary camels in the field from 2013 to April 2018. In general, camels only show minor clinical signs of disease after being infected with MERS-CoV. Serological evidence of MERS-CoV in camels has been found in 20 countries, with molecular evidence for virus circulation in 13 countries. The seroprevalence of MERS-CoV antibodies increases with age in camels, while the prevalence of viral shedding as determined by MERS-CoV RNA detection in nasal swabs decreases. In several studies, camels that were sampled at animal markets or quarantine facilities were seropositive more often than camels at farms as well as imported camelsvs.locally bred camels. Some studies show a relatively higher seroprevalence and viral detection during the cooler winter months. Knowledge of the animal reservoir of MERS-CoV is essential to develop intervention and control measures to prevent human infections.
Ultra-processed food intake and mortality in the USA: results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III, 1988–1994)
Authors: Kim Hyunju , Hu Emily A , Rebholz Casey M 
Published: February 2019

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the association between ultra-processed food intake and all-cause mortality and CVD mortality in a nationally representative sample of US adults.DesignProspective analyses of reported frequency of ultra-processed food intake in 1988–1994 and all-cause mortality and CVD mortality through 2011.SettingThe Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III, 1988–1994).ParticipantsAdults aged ≥20 years (n11898).ResultsOver a median follow-up of 19 years, individuals in the highest quartile of frequency of ultra-processed food intake (e.g. sugar-sweetened or artificially sweetened beverages, sweetened milk, sausage or other reconstructed meats, sweetened cereals, confectionery, desserts) had a 31% higher risk of all-cause mortality, after adjusting for demographic and socio-economic confounders and health behaviours (adjusted hazard ratio=1·31; 95% CI 1·09, 1·58;P-trend = 0·001). No association with CVD mortality was observed (P-trend=0·86).ConclusionsHigher frequency of ultra-processed food intake was associated with higher risk of all-cause mortality in a representative sample of US adults. More longitudinal studies with dietary data reflecting the modern food supply are needed to confirm our results.
Characterization and cross-species transferability of a novel set of microsatellites derived from root transcriptomes of Camellia oleifera
Authors: Wu Shuangcheng , Ye Hang , Chen Yuansong , Deng Jiemei , Su Jiexia , Xie Yayu , Xie Qinru , Zhang Zhaoyuan , Qin Zihai , Xiao Yufei , Wang Xiaoyun , Wang Pengliang 
Published: February 2019

AbstractCamellia oleifera is an important woody plant producing healthy edible oils. People need a large number of molecular markers, especially microsatellite, in breeding of C. oleifera. In this study, we sequenced the root transcriptomes of C. oleifera, and then designed a novel set of microsatellite markers based on the root-expressed genes. We assembled a total of 57,121 unigenes with a length of 42.63 Mb, which harboured 15,902 microsatellites. Among these microsatellites, di-nucleotide repeat motifs were the most abundant group (56.45%), then followed by tri- (25.20%), mono- (12.12%), hexa- (3.21%), penta- (2.18%) and quad-nucleotide ones (0.84%). In total, 6738 primer pairs were designed successfully to amplify the microsatellite loci. To test these microsatellite markers, 48 primer pairs were randomly selected and synthesized and validated in C. oleifera and its eight relatives. Up to 75% of the primer pairs amplified in C. oleifera and its relatives, and 62.5% displayed polymorphism. The transferability and diverse alleles across its eight relatives were detected for each polymorphic primer pair. The novel set of microsatellites derived from the root transcriptomes here provided a useful resource for future molecular genetics improvement of C. oleifera and its relatives.
Bovine lactoferrin ameliorates antioxidant esterase activity and	8-isoprostane levels in high-cholesterol-diet fed rats
Authors: Faridvand Yousef , Nozari Samira , Asoudeh-Fard Abbas , Karimi Mohammad-Ali , Pezeshkian Masoud , Safaie Nasser , Nouri Mohammad 
Published: February 2019

Abstract. The main aim of the present study was to show the effect of bovineLactoferrin (bLF), an 80 kD iron-binding glycoprotein, its application on antioxidant esterase activities and 8-isoprostane changes in high-cholesterol-diet fed (HCD-Fed) rats. The 44 adult Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly assigned into four experimental groups. They were randomly assigned into four equivalent groups (n = 11). The groups included the control group which was fed with normal diet, bLF group, the third group which were made hypercholesterolemia by being fed with high cholesterol diet, and the last group which consisted of hypercholesterolemia rats treated with bLF (HCD + bLF) for 4 weeks (200 mg.kg−1 per day wt. dissolved in 0.9% normal saline).After 4 weeks, the serum Paraoxonase1 (PON1), Arylesterase (ARE) activity and 8-isoprostane with lipid profile were measured. Upon treatment with the bLF, the decrease in LDL-Cholesterol (LDL-C), Glucoses, Triglyceride (TG) and Total-Cholesterol (TC) levels and an increase in HDL-Cholesterol (HDL-C) level were observed. The co-administration of bLf for 4 weeks had decreased the 8-isoprostane levels significantly (P < 0.001) (86.36 ± 7.1 vs 117.18 ± 8.62) when compared to hypercholesterolemia-induced rats. Also, the Atherogenic Index (AI) in HCD + bLF group showed a significant decrease as compared to the HCD group (P < 0.001) (0.37 ± 0.07 vs 0.57 ± 0.09). The results indicated that bLF was effective against oxidative stress by its ability to increase PON1 activity and reduce the lipid peroxidation in high-cholesterol-fed rats.
Oral administration of alpha-lipoic acid did not affect lipid peroxidation and antioxidant biomarkers in rheumatoid arthritis patients
Authors: Kolahi Sousan , Mirtaheri Elham , Pourghasem Gargari Bahram , Khabbazi Alireza , Hajalilou Mehrzad , Asghari-Jafarabadi Mohammad , Mesgari Abbasi Mehran 
Published: February 2019

Abstract. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease in which oxidative stress could play a substantial pathological role. Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) has been known as a “universal” and “ideal” antioxidant. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of oral administration of Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant biomarkers in Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The study was a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. 70 RA patients were randomized 1:1 to two groups using blocked randomization method and received 1200 mg/day ALA or placebo for 8 weeks. Fasting blood samples were obtained before and after the intervention to analyze total antioxidant capacity (TAC), antioxidant enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and arylesterase (ARE) activities] and malondialdehyde (MDA). We observed significant increase in serum TAC (0.11 mmol/L; p=0.033) and ARE (13.76 U/mL; p=0.046) and significant decline in MDA (−0.36 nmol/L; p=0.002), in ALA group. However, these changes in ALA-treated group were not statistically significant when compared with placebo-treated group (p > 0.05). Also, within- and between-group differences of whole blood SOD and GSH-Px were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). In conclusion, unexpectedly, ALA therapy did not affect the oxidative status of RA patients in the present clinical trial. It seems that more comprehensive clinical trials in RA patients are still warranted to clarify the effectiveness of ALA which has been known as a potent antioxidant.
Diagenetic Fate of Biogenic Soft and Hard Magnetite in Chemically Stratified Sedimentary Environments of Mamanguá Ría, Brazil
Authors: Rodelli D. , Jovane L. , Giorgioni M. , Rego E. S. , Cornaggia F. , Benites M. , Cedraz P. , Berbel G. B. B. , Braga E. S. , Ustra A. , Abreu F. , Roberts A. P. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractMagnetotactic bacteria (MTB) synthesize magnetite and greigite crystals under low oxygen conditions in the water column or uppermost sediment (greigite‐producing bacteria are found below the oxic‐anoxic transition). Dissolved iron and oxygen contents in local environments are known to be limiting factors for the production and preservation of biogenic magnetite. Understanding the processes that link MTB to their living environments is fundamental to reconstructing past chemical variations in the water column and sediment, and for using the magnetic properties of biogenic magnetite as environmental proxy indicators. Previous studies have suggested that the frequently identified biogenic soft (BS) and biogenic hard (BH) magnetite types are associated with equant and more elongated morphologies, respectively, and that their abundance varies in accordance with sedimentary oxygen content, where MTB that produce the BH component live in less oxygenated environments. We test this hypothesis in a high‐resolution integrated environmental magnetic and geochemical study of surface sediments from Mamanguá Ría, SE Brazil. Based on magnetic and pore water profiles, we demonstrate that both the BS and BH components occur within microaerobic environments and that as sediment oxygen content decreases with depth, the BS component disappears before the BH component. With continued burial into the sulfidic diagenetic zone, both components undergo progressive dissolution, but the BH component is more resistant to dissolution than the BS component. Our observations confirm previous inferences about the relative stability of these phases and provide a firmer basis for use of these two types of biogenic magnetite as paleoenvironmental proxies.
Fracture Mechanical Properties of Damaged and Hydrothermally Altered Rocks, Dixie Valley‐Stillwater Fault Zone, Nevada, USA
Authors: Callahan Owen A. , Eichhubl Peter , Olson Jon E. , Davatzes Nicholas C. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractDamaged and hydrothermally altered rocks are ubiquitous in fault zones, with the degree of damage and type and intensity of alteration varying in space and time. The impact of damage and alteration on hydromechanical properties of fault zones is difficult to assess without characterizing the associated changes to rock and fracture mechanical parameters. To evaluate the mechanical properties of fault rocks from different alteration regimes, we conducted (1) double‐torsion load‐relaxation tests to measure mode‐I fracture toughness (KIC) and subcritical fracture growth index (SCI), (2) uniaxial testing to measure unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and static elastic parameters, and (3) mineralogic and textural characterization of rock from four sites in the footwall of the Dixie Valley‐Stillwater fault zone. Alteration at these sites includes acid sulfate alteration and silicification associated with active fumaroles, intense silicification after calcite and chlorite alteration in an epithermal setting, quartz‐kaolinite‐carbonate alteration from an intermediate‐depth system, and a calcite‐chlorite‐hematite assemblage containing abundant unhealed damage. Silicification is associated with high KIC, SCI, UCS, and increased brittleness, and in precipitation‐dominated settings produces fault cores that are as strong or stronger than adjacent damage zone material. Calcite‐chlorite‐hematite assemblages containing abundant unsealed microfractures are approximately 4–5 times weaker than the granodiorite protolith. Mechanical properties are not predicted by mineralogical composition alone; a key control is the accumulation of damage and degree of healing. Measures of strength increase when mineral precipitation reduces microfracture porosity to <10–15% of total microfracture area. These results show that fault‐proximal weakening or strengthening is influenced by hydrothermal setting.
Estimating the Transmittance of Visible Solar Radiation in the Upper Ocean Using Secchi Disk Observations
Authors: Lee Zhongping , Shang Shaoling , Du Keping , Lin Gong , Liu Tongtong , Zoffoli Laura 
Published: February 2019

AbstractPenetration of visible solar radiation (VSR) drives heating and phytoplankton photosynthesis in the upper water column; thus, it is always important to accurately describe the vertical distribution of VSR in the oceans. Before the invention and application of modern optical‐electronic instruments to measure the vertical profiles of VSR, the transmittance of VSR from surface to deeper ocean (TVSR) was commonly estimated based on water types and subsequently incorporated in dynamic ocean circulation models. However, the measurement of Secchi disk depth (ZSD) has been carried out since the 1860s and there are about a million of ZSD data available for the global oceans. Because ZSD represents a measure of water's transparency, here we present a scheme based on radiative transfer to accurately estimate TVSR with ZSD as the sole input. It is found that the median ratios between modeled and measured TVSR are ~0.8–1.0 for TVSR in a range of 1–100% for measurements made in coastal waters and oceanic gyres. However, this median ratio spans ~0.04–1.0 for the same measurements when the classical water‐type‐based model was applied. These results suggest a great advantage, and potentially significant impact, in incorporating the volumetric ZSD data to model the dynamic ocean–atmosphere systems in the past 100+ years.
Concentration Levels, Biological Enrichment Capacities and Potential Health Risk Assessment of Trace Elements in Eichhornia crassipes from Honghu Lake, China
Authors: Zhang Jingdong , Li Yanan , Liu Chaoyang , Li Fei , Zhu Liyun , Qiu Zhenzhen , Xiao Minsi , Yang Zhaofei , Cai Ying 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThis study investigated the concentrations of Zn, Cu, Cr, Pb, As and Cd in different tissues of E. crassipes from Honghu Lake. The total concentrations of trace elements in E. crassipes were observed in descending order: Zn (111.6162) > Cu (15.7494) > Cr (7.0466) > Pb (5.6251) > As (3.6831) > Cd (0.1941) mg/kg. The order of the bioconcentration factor (BCF) measured in E. crassipes was Zn > As > Cr > Cu > Pb > Cd > 1, indicating that E. crassipes possessed a strong biological enrichment ability to accumulate a variety of trace elements. The translocation factor (TF) values decreased in the order of Cu > Zn > Cr > As > Pb > Cd, all of which were lower than 1, which showed that the absorption of the trace elements by E. crassipes was mainly accomplished in the roots. Moreover, the health risk assessments showed that the carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risks of the edible parts of E. crassipes were 26.1 and 4.6 times higher than the maximum acceptable value recommended by the USEPA for adults and children of approximately 39.2- and 6.9-fold, respectively. Children were more sensitive than adults. The main trace elements that led to noncarcinogenic risks were As, Cr and Cu, while Cr and As led to carcinogenic risks. The results of the Pearson correlation showed positive correlations with the concentrations of Zn, Cr and As between E. crassipes and the water as well as negative correlations of the contents of all six trace elements between E. crassipes and the sediment.
Point contact Andreev reflection studies of a non-centro symmetric superconductor Re6Zr
Authors: Parab Pradnya , Singh Deepak , Haram Santosh , Singh R. P. , Bose Sangita 
Published: February 2019

AbstractRe6Zr, a non-centrosymmetric superconductor is an interesting system as recent experimental evidence suggests that the superconducting state breaks time reversal symmetry. This implies a mixing of spin singlet-triplet states leading to a complex order parameter in this system. Here, we report point contact Andreev Reflection (PCAR) measurements on a single crystal of Re6Zr (superconducting transition temperature (Tc) = 6.78 K). We observe multiple gap features in the PCAR spectra which depends on the type of tip and contact. Spectral features appear at voltages 1.0 ± 0.1 mV, 0.75 ± 0.05 mV and 0.45 ± 0.1 mV suggesting that there are at least more than one band contributing to superconductivity. However, strong surface inter-band scattering is possibly responsible for the uncertainty in observing them together distinctly in a single contact in the PCAR measurements. Interestingly, the bulk gap (Δ  = 1.95kBTc = 1.1 meV) is occasionally observed in PCAR spectra, mostly with ferromagnetic tips. The gap features associated with the other two smaller gaps disappear at the bulk Tc. In addition, no anisotropy in the upper critical field was observed. Our results suggest an unconventional superconducting order in this compound: Multiband singlet states dominated by inter-band pairing which break the time reversal symmetry or singlet mixed with triplet states.
Designing a multi-epitope based vaccine to combat Kaposi Sarcoma utilizing immunoinformatics approach
Authors: Chauhan Varun , Rungta Tripti , Goyal Kapil , Singh Mini P. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractKaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) responsible for causing Kaposi sarcoma (KS), an opportunistic angioproliferative neoplasm is emerging rapidly. Despite this there is no permanent cure for this disease. The present study was aimed to design a multi-epitope based vaccine targeting the major glycoproteins of KSHV which plays an important role in the virus entry. After the application of rigorous immunoinformatics analysis and several immune filters, the multi-epitope vaccine was constructed, consisting of CD4, CD8 and IFN-γ inducing epitopes. Several physiochemical characteristics, allergenicity and antigenicity of the multi-epitope vaccine were analyzed in order to ensure its safety and immunogenicity. Further, the binding affinity and stability of the vaccine with Toll like receptor -9 (TLR-9) was analyzed by molecular docking and dynamics simulation studies. In addition, an in silico cloning was performed to ensure the expression and translation efficiency of the vaccine, utilizing pET-28a (+) vector. Such T-cell-based immunotherapies which leverage this mechanism could prove their potential against cancer. Further, the authors propose to test the present findings in the lab settings to ensure the safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of the presented vaccine which may help in controlling KSHV infection.
Endlessly mono-radial annular core photonic crystal fiber for the broadband transmission and supercontinuum generation of vortex beams
Authors: Sharma Manish , Pradhan Prabin , Ung Bora 
Published: February 2019

AbstractWe demonstrate a new guiding regime termed endlessly mono-radial, in the proposed annular core photonic crystal fiber (AC-PCF), whereby only modes of the fundamental radial order are supported by the fiber at all input wavelengths. This attribute is of high interest for applications that require the stable and broadband guiding of mono-radial (i.e. doughnut shaped) cylindrical vector beams and vortex beams carrying orbital angular momentum. We further show that one can significantly tailor the chromatic dispersion and optical nonlinearities of the waveguide through proper optimization of the photonic crystal microstructured cladding. The analytical investigation of the remarkable modal properties of the AC-PCF is validated by full-vector simulations. As an example, we performed simulations of the nonlinear fiber propagation of short femtosecond pulses at 835 nm center wavelength and kilowatt-level peak power, which indicate that the AC-PCF represents a promising avenue to investigate the supercontinuum generation of optical vortex light. The proposed fiber design has potential applications in space-division multiplexing, optical sensing and super-resolution microscopy.
Differential expression of circulating miRNAs as a novel tool to assess BAG3-associated familial dilated cardiomyopathy
Authors: Zaragoza Carlos , Saura Marta , Hernández Ignacio , Ramirez-Carracedo Rafael , García-García Francisco , Zamorano Jose L. , Mangas Alipio , Toro Rocio 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
A new familial dilated cardiomyopathy (FDCM) was found related to mutations in BAG3 gene. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) represent new targets of FDCM, although no studies have assessed clinical association between Bcl2-associated athanogene 3 (BAG3)-related DCM and miRNAs. Here, we studied whether a clinical association between BAG3-related FDCM and circulating miRNAs may have diagnostic and prognostic value in a small cohort of familial related individuals carrying a BAG3 mutation (BAG3+) and/or diagnosed of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) (DCM+). The analysis of 1759 circulating miRNAs showed significant differences between BAG3+ and BAG3- individuals for miRNAs mir-3191-3p, 6769b-3p, 1249-ep, 154-5p, 6855-5p, and 182-5p, while comparisons between BAG3+/DCM+ versus BAG3+/DCM- were restricted to miRNAs mir-154-5p, 6885-5p, and 182-5p, showing significant correlation with systolic and diastolic blood pressure, A wave, left atrium length, and left atrium area. Additionally, when stratified by gender and age, miRNAs were statistically correlated with critical parameters, including left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) and ventricular diameter, in women and young men. Likewise, 56% of BAG3+/DCM+, significantly co-expressed mir-154-5p and mir-182-5p, and a slight 4% did not express such combination, suggesting that co-expression of mir-154-5p and mir-182-5p may potentially show diagnostic value. Further studies will require long-term follow-up, and validation in larger populations.
High TRIM44 expression as a valuable biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis in cervical cancer
Authors: Liu Shuang , Meng Fanling , Ding Jing , Ji Hongying , Lin Mu , Zhu Jiaqi , Ma Rong 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
Tripartite motif containing 44 (TRIM44) has been reported to be up-regulated in multiple aggressive malignant tumors. However, its expression status and clinical significance in cervical cancer remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of TRIM44 expression and the prognosis in patients with cervical cancer (CC). Fresh frozen tissues from 5 samples of CC and 4 normal cervical tissues were analyzed for TRIM44 expression using RT- PCR and Western blot analysis. 122 paraffin-embedded surgical specimens from patients with CC were collected for an immunohistochemistry. TRIM44 expression was found to be significantly up-regulated in cervical cancer specimens compared with adjacent normal tissues (P&lt;0.001). Statistical analysis showed that TRIM44 expression was significantly correlated with the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, histological grade and lymph node metastasis, but not with age, histological type, and tumor size. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis suggested that high TRIM44 expression was associated with poor prognosis. Patients highly expressing TRIM44 have significantly shorter overall survival (OS) (P=0.006) and disease-free survival (DFS) (P=0.002). Furthermore, multivariate Cox analysis showed TRIM44 was an independent risk factor for poor prognosis. Our study demonstrated that TRIM44 expression contributes to the progression of cervical cancer, and could be used as a marker of clinical diagnosis and prognosis of patients with cervical cancer.