bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Tissue mechanics, an important regulator of development and disease
Authors: Ayad Nadia M. E. , Kaushik Shelly , Weaver Valerie M. 
Published: July 2019

A growing body of work describes how physical forces in and around cells affect their growth, proliferation, migration, function and differentiation into specialized types. How cells receive and respond biochemically to mechanical signals is a process termed mechanotransduction. Disease may arise if a disruption occurs within this mechanism of sensing and interpreting mechanics. Cancer, cardiovascular diseases and developmental defects, such as during the process of neural tube formation, are linked to changes in cell and tissue mechanics. A breakdown in normal tissue and cellular forces activates mechanosignalling pathways that affect their function and can promote disease progression. The recent advent of high-resolution techniques enables quantitative measurements of mechanical properties of the cell and its extracellular matrix, providing insight into how mechanotransduction is regulated. In this review, we will address the standard methods and new technologies available to properly measure mechanical properties, highlighting the challenges and limitations of probing different length-scales. We will focus on the unique environment present throughout the development and maintenance of the central nervous system and discuss cases where disease, such as brain cancer, arises in response to changes in the mechanical properties of the microenvironment that disrupt homeostasis.
This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Forces in cancer: interdisciplinary approaches in tumour mechanobiology’.
Women's and healthcare providers’ perceptions of long‐term complications associated with hypertension and diabetes in pregnancy: a qualitative study
Authors: Nagraj S , Hinton L , Praveen D , Kennedy S , Norton R , Hirst J 
Published: July 2019

ObjectivesA diagnosis of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy (HDPs) or gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is highly predictive of women at increased risk of developing chronic hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. This study investigates perceptions of women and healthcare providers in rural India regarding these long‐term risks.DesignQualitative study using modified grounded theory.SettingTwo states in rural India: Haryana and Andhra Pradesh.PopulationPregnant and postpartum women, community health workers (CHWs), primary care physicians, obstetricians, laboratory technicians, and healthcare officials.MethodsIn‐depth interviews and focus group discussions explored: (1) priorities for high‐risk pregnant women; (2) detection and management of HDPs and GDM; (3) postpartum management, and (4) knowledge of long‐term sequelae of high‐risk conditions. A thematic analysis was undertaken.ResultsSeven focus group discussions and 11 in‐depth interviews (n = 71 participants) were performed. The key priority area for high‐risk pregnant women was anaemia. Blood pressure measurement was routinely embedded in antenatal care; however, postpartum follow up and knowledge of the long‐term complications were limited. GDM was not considered a common problem, although significant variations and challenges to GDM screening were identified. Knowledge of the long‐term sequelae of GDM with regard to an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease among doctors was minimal.ConclusionsThere is a need for improved education, standardisation of testing and postpartum follow up of HDPs and GDM in rural Indian settings.FundingSN is supported by an MRC Clinical Research Training Fellowship (MR/R017182/1). The George Institute for Global Health Global Women's Health programme provided financial support for the research assistant and fieldwork costs in India.Tweetable abstractImproved education and postpartum care of women with hypertension and diabetes in pregnancy in rural India are needed to prevent long‐term risks.
Prevalence and characteristics of energy intake under‐reporting among Australian adults in 1995 and 2011 to 2012
Authors: Tam King W. , Veerman Jacob L. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractAimMisreporting of energy intake is a common source of measurement error found in dietary surveys, resulting in biased estimates and a reduction in statistical power. The present study aims to refine the conventional cut‐off methods and to examine the extent to which Australian adults misreport their energy intake, and the characteristics of under‐reporters between two time points.MethodsA revised Goldberg cut‐off approach was used to identify those who reported implausible intake amounts in a secondary analysis of two large cross‐sectional surveys. Identified low energy reporters were then used as the outcome variable in Poisson regressions to examine association with sex, age, body mass index (BMI), weight perceptions, education, relative household income, geographic remoteness and relative socioeconomic disadvantage.ResultsThe prevalence of under‐reporting increased from 32% in 1995 to 41% in 2012, most of which can be attributed to an increase in men. Under‐reporting has a positive association with BMI and relative socioeconomic disadvantage, but an inverse association with age, education, relative household income and residence in inner regional areas.ConclusionsUnder‐reporting of energy intake is high in Australian adults, and appears have worsened over time in men, which could be partly explained by the upward trend in obesity. The use of conventional Goldberg method to identify under‐reporters can greatly underestimate the prevalence of under‐reporting, future studies should consider selecting a lower critical value to improve accuracy.
Untangling direct species associations from indirect mediator species effects with graphical models
Authors: Popovic Gordana C. , Warton David I. , Thomson Fiona J. , Hui Francis K. C. , Moles Angela T. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractEcologists often investigate co‐occurrence patterns in multi‐species data in order to gain insight into the ecological causes of observed co‐occurrences. Apart from direct associations between the two species of interest, they may co‐occur because of indirect effects, where both species respond to another variable, whether environmental or biotic (e.g. a mediator species).A wide variety of methods are now available for modelling how environmental filtering drives species distributions. In contrast, methods for studying other causes of co‐occurence are much more limited. “Graphical” methods, which can be used to study how mediator species impact co‐occurrence patterns, have recently been proposed for use in ecology. However, available methods are limited to presence/absence data or methods assuming multivariate normality, which is problematic when analysing abundances.We propose Gaussian copula graphical models (GCGMs) for studying the effect of mediator species on co‐occurence patterns. GCGMs are a flexible type of graphical model which naturally accommodates all data types,for example binary (presence/absence), counts, as well as ordinal data and biomass, in a unified framework. Simulations demonstrate that GCGMs can be applied to a much broader range of data types than the methods currently used in ecology, and perform as well as or better than existing methods in many settings.We apply GCGMs to counts of hunting spiders, in order to visualise associations between species. We also analyse abundance data of New Zealand native forest cover (on an ordinal scale) to show how GCGMs can be used analyse large and complex datasets. In these data, we were able to reproduce known species relationships as well as generate new ecological hypotheses about species associations.
StoX: An open source software for marine survey analyses
Authors: Johnsen Espen , Totland Atle , Skålevik Åsmund , Holmin Arne Johannes , Dingsør Gjert Endre , Fuglebakk Edvin , Handegard Nils Olav 
Published: July 2019

Abstract

Scientists across the globe conduct survey programs to monitor and characterize abundance, population structure, biodiversity and geographical distributions. To assess the state of marine fish and zooplankton, population surveys are often repeated annually using standardized sampling protocols and analysis techniques to establish trustworthy stock status. However, although transparency and repeatability are recognised as important principles of this process, it is often difficult to obtain comprehensive documentation of metadata and data processing steps. This is particularly challenging for workflows that include manual processing steps.

StoX was principally built to process research‐vessel survey data, and we have included several standard survey estimation models. The software was developed to be robust and versatile and aimed at the open source community, such that users could easily build their own models. StoX is fully integrated with R to utilize the large number of R‐packages and enable any StoX function and stock estimation model to be controlled using R.

There has been a large need for a freely available software for research–vessel survey estimation, and StoX is tested in surveys carried out in four continents and is the official tool for many important fish stock surveys. The basic workflow and transparency principles of StoX, together with a customizable GUI, makes StoX applicable for any geographically coded surveys.

Future versions of StoX will include statistical models to estimate the catch composition in commercial fisheries. In fields such as conservation management, there is also a need to document the estimation methods, and additional estimation and analyses models, including biodiversity indices are currently implemented. In parallel, we envision a closer web service integration with existing international and national data centres.
Epigenetic signatures of Werner syndrome occur early in life and are distinct from normal epigenetic aging processes
Authors: Maierhofer Anna , Flunkert Julia , Oshima Junko , Martin George M. , Poot Martin , Nanda Indrajit , Dittrich Marcus , Müller Tobias , Haaf Thomas 
Published: July 2019

AbstractWerner Syndrome (WS) is an adult‐onset segmental progeroid syndrome. Bisulfite pyrosequencing of repetitive DNA families revealed comparable blood DNA methylation levels between classical (18 WRN‐mutant) or atypical WS (3 LMNA‐mutant and 3 POLD1‐mutant) patients and age‐ and sex‐matched controls. WS was not associated with either age‐related accelerated global losses of ALU, LINE1, and α‐satellite DNA methylations or gains of rDNA methylation. Single CpG methylation was analyzed with Infinium MethylationEPIC arrays. In a correspondence analysis, atypical WS samples clustered together with the controls and were clearly separated from classical WS, consistent with distinct epigenetic pathologies. In classical WS, we identified 659 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) comprising 3,656 CpG sites and 613 RefSeq genes. The top DMR was located in the HOXA4 promoter. Additional DMR genes included LMNA, POLD1, and 132 genes which have been reported to be differentially expressed in WRN‐mutant/depleted cells. DMRs were enriched in genes with molecular functions linked to transcription factor activity and sequence‐specific DNA binding to promoters transcribed by RNA polymerase II. We propose that transcriptional misregulation of downstream genes by the absence of WRN protein contributes to the variable premature aging phenotypes of WS. There were no CpG sites showing significant differences in DNA methylation changes with age between WS patients and controls. Genes with both WS‐ and age‐related methylation changes exhibited a constant offset of methylation between WRN‐mutant patients and controls across the entire analyzed age range. WS‐specific epigenetic signatures occur early in life and do not simply reflect an acceleration of normal epigenetic aging processes.
Temporal patterns in natality and mortality of three threatened antelope species in North Africa: Oryx dammah, Addax nasomaculatus and Nanger dama
Authors: Hizem Mohamed Wassim , Riordan Philip , El‐Farhati Haithem , Hamdi Lazhar , Nouira Saïd 
Published: July 2019

AbstractLong‐term population studies on large mammals are rare. Here, we have examined the threatened scimitar‐horned oryx, addax and dama gazelle's populations over the last 20 years in Bou Hedma National Park. Using monthly count data of the three studied species collected since 1995, we examined their population trends. Using autocorrelation analyses, we discovered endogenous natural cyclical fluctuations in the numbers of each species, with a periodicity of approximately 3 years. For all three studied species which seem to be opportunistic breeders, births and deaths occurred throughout the year, although with notable seasonality. By means of cross‐correlation, we discovered that during the first 7 years for which data were available, addax numbers were positively correlated with those of dama and inversely correlated with numbers of oryx. This pattern reversed during the following 4‐year period. The number of oryx was negatively correlated with dama during the first 4 years and then became positively correlated during the subsequent 7‐year period. Thus, we draw attention to difference in response to environmental and anthropogenic factors. Incorporating fundamental long‐term population data into developing management approaches, especially for potentially competitive species, is vital for their future long‐term survival and the success of conservation actions.
Antiproliferative activity of ester derivatives of monensin A at the C‐1 and C‐26 positions
Authors: Klejborowska Greta , Jędrzejczyk Marta , Stępczyńska Natalia , Maj Ewa , Wietrzyk Joanna , Huczyński Adam 
Published: July 2019

AbstractMonensin A (MON) is a polyether ionophore antibiotic, which shows a wide spectrum of biological activity, including anticancer activity. A series of structurally diverse monensin esters including its C‐1 esters (1–9), C‐26‐O‐acetylated derivatives (10–15), and lactone (16) was synthesized and for the first time evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against four human cancer cell lines with different drug‐sensitivity level. All of the MON derivatives exhibited in vitro antiproliferative activity against cancer cells at micromolar concentrations. The majority of the compounds was able to overcome the drug resistance of LoVo/DX and MES‐SA/DX5 cell lines. The most active compounds proved to be MON C‐26‐O‐acetylated derivatives (10–15) which exhibited very good resistance index and high selectivity index.
The Psychology of Puberty: What Aren’t We Studying That We Should?
Authors: Mendle Jane , Koch Mary Kate 
Published: July 2019

AbstractIn the past half‐century, developmentalists have produced a rich, diverse, and substantial literature on the psychology of puberty, establishing the transition from childhood to adolescence as one of the most pivotal phases of life. In this article, we identify three domains of research on puberty that are prime for new scientific inquiry: (a) hormones, (b) cohort trends, and (c) alternative measures and methods. Although these areas differ from each other in concept, scientific implementation, and ramifications for research, they are alike in their potential to advance developmental science and to strengthen theories, concepts, and understanding of this period of psychological change.
Applying science to pressing conservation needs for penguins
Authors: Boersma P.D. , Borboroglu P. García , Gownaris N.J. , Bost C.A. , Chiaradia A. , Ellis S. , Schneider T. , Seddon P.J. , Simeone A. , Trathan P.N. , Waller L.J. , Wienecke B. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractMore than half of the world's 18 penguin species are declining. We, the Steering Committee of the International Union for Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission Penguin Specialist Group, determined that the penguin species in most critical need of conservation action are African penguin (Spheniscus demersus), Galápagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus), and Yellow‐eyed penguin (Megadyptes antipodes). Due to small or rapidly declining populations, these species require immediate scientific collaboration and policy intervention. We also used a pairwise‐ranking approach to prioritize research and conservation needs for all penguins. Among the 12 cross‐taxa research areas we identified, we ranked quantifying population trends, estimating demographic rates, forecasting environmental patterns of change, and improving the knowledge of fisheries interactions as the highest priorities. The highest ranked conservation needs were to enhance marine spatial planning, improve stakeholder engagement, and develop disaster‐management and species‐specific action plans. We concurred that, to improve the translation of science into effective conservation for penguins, the scientific community and funding bodies must recognize the importance of and support long‐term research; research on and conservation of penguins must expand its focus to include the nonbreeding season and juvenile stage; marine reserves must be designed at ecologically appropriate spatial and temporal scales; and communication between scientists and decision makers must be improved with the help of individual scientists and interdisciplinary working groups.
Optimal cut‐points of visceral adipose tissue areas for cardiometabolic risk factors in a Chinese population: a cross‐sectional study
Authors: Huo L. , Li K. , Deng W. , Wang L. , Xu L. , Shaw J. E. , Jia P. , Zhou D. , Cheng X. G. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractAimTo determine the optimal cut‐points of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) areas at different anatomic levels to discriminate participants with cardiometabolic risk factors in a Chinese middle‐aged population.MethodsA total of 1744 individuals who underwent regular health checks in NanjingBENQMedical Center from January 2013 to December 2016 were included in this cross‐sectional study.VATareas were measured by abdominal quantitative computed tomography at the L2/3 intervertebral disk and umbilicus levels. Cardiometabolic risk factors including serum triglycerides,HDLcholesterol levels, plasma glucose and blood pressure were defined usingIDF2005 criteria for metabolic syndrome.ResultsThe cut‐points forVATarea at the umbilicus level were 111 cm2for men and 96 cm2for women to identify people with one or more cardiometabolic risk factors. ForVATarea at the L2/3 level, the optimal cut‐points were 142 cm2for men and 115 cm2for women. AVATarea at the L2/3 level of ≥ 142 cm2for men or 115 cm2for women significantly increased the prevalence of hyperglycaemia [odds ratio (OR) 3.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.45–4.13], hypertension (OR2.81, 95%CI2.27–3.49) and dyslipidaemia (OR4.37, 95%CI3.50–5.45) after adjusting age.ConclusionsThe optimal cut‐points forVATarea at the umbilicus level and L2/3 level were 111 cm2and 142 cm2for men and 96 cm2and 115 cm2for women to identify participants with one or more cardiometabolic risk factors.
Comparison of sampling with a spade and gouge auger for topsoil monitoring at the continental scale
Authors: Fernández‐Ugalde Oihane , Jones Arwyn , Meuli Reto G. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThe sampling method is a key aspect when designing a soil monitoring network. The determination of any physical and chemical property can be subject to uncertainties because of the sampling method. In this study, we compared the efficiency of sampling with a spade and a gouge auger for the physicochemical characterization of topsoil samples from 150 mineral soils under various land cover (LC) classes in Switzerland taken within the LUCAS 2015 Survey. The sampling methods differed in their scheme, accuracy of litter removal and control of sampling depth, which were more rigorous with the gouge auger than the spade method. Values of root mean square error of properties ranged between 1/2 and 1/30 of their mean values. Lin's concordance correlation coefficient showed that the spade and gouge auger methods produced similar results for all properties (LCCC ≥0.73), with a better relation for arable land than other LC classes. A poor relation was observed for potassium (LCCC = 0.35) in coniferous forest because of its shallow distribution in depth. We concluded that the simpler and cheaper spade method is an accurate method for topsoil sampling at the continental scale. From this study, it is clear that some improvements in the control of sampling depth and the accuracy of litter removal are needed, especially when monitoring forest soils and properties that change rapidly with depth. Spade sampling can help to expand the implementation of soil monitoring surveys at the continental scale at relatively low sampling cost.Highlights

Spade and gouge auger sampling methods were compared to monitor topsoil properties in the LUCAS Survey.
The gouge auger is the method of choice for properties with patchy and shallow distribution.
The spade method is efficient if sampling depth and litter removal are carefully controlled.
Spade sampling can expand topsoil monitoring at continental scale at relatively low sampling cost.
Platinum and palladium nanoparticle‐containing mixture, PAPLAL, does not induce palladium allergy
Authors: Shibuya Shuichi , Watanabe Kenji , Tsuji Gaku , Ichihashi Masamitsu , Shimizu Takahiko 
Published: July 2019

AbstractPalladium (Pd) is a common metal found in jewellery and dental appliances, but it has been shown to be likely to cause metal allergy. We previously reported that platinum (nPt) and palladium (nPd) nanoparticle‐containing mixture (PAPLAL) has both superoxide dismutase and catalase activities and that the topical application of PAPLAL improved skin atrophy induced by chronic oxidative damage in an ageing mouse model. However, the safety of PAPLAL for preventing Pd allergy remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated whether or not PAPLAL induces Pd allergy. We found that PAPLAL treatment caused no skin inflammation, while nPd administration caused only slight skin inflammation compared to the palladium chloride‐induced severe reaction in an experimental metal allergy model. A gene expression analysis revealed that PAPLAL treatment significantly suppressed the expression of Inf‐γ, Il‐1β and Tnfα genes. Even in human clinical trials using patches containing metal nanoparticles, nPd and PAPLAL failed to induce significant skin inflammation. These results suggest that mixing with nPt in PAPLAL suppresses the inflammation response of nPd. PAPLAL can be expected to be applied to various skin treatments as a safe topical substance.
Fishery indicators during a predictable aggregation of Atlantic sharpnose sharks Rhizoprionodon terraenovae in the southern Gulf of Mexico: An alternative to assess a heterogeneous data‐poor fishery
Authors: Bada‐Sánchez Esteban , Pérez‐Jiménez Juan Carlos , Martínez‐Cruz Luis Enrique , Méndez‐Loeza Iván , Sosa‐Cordero Eloy 
Published: July 2019

AbstractSmall‐scale fisheries in the southern Gulf of Mexico that catch Rhizoprionodon terraenovae (Richardson) are heterogeneous and data‐poor. Fishery‐dependent monitoring was conducted from 2010 to 2017, including a target season during an aggregation of this species to estimate data‐poor fishery indicators. During the target season, the average sizes for females and males (95.3 and 89.8 cm total length, respectively) were recorded, a global male sex bias (1:1.7), the highest percentage of mature sharks for all years (>89%), the highest values of CPUE (20.1 sharks/day) and size‐selectivity higher than the size at maturity. The spawning potential ratio was over 0.6 (reference point of 0.71) in the combined (target and non‐target) and target seasons for all years, which suggests that the fishery stock is not healthy. Annual assessment of this fishery can be carried out through monitoring during the target season, where management is more feasible to implement.