bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An explanation for the low proportion of tuberculosis that results from transmission between household and known social contacts
Authors: McCreesh Nicky , White Richard G. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractWe currently have little idea where Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) transmission occurs in high incidence settings. Molecular studies suggest that only around 8–19% of transmission to adults occurs within-household, or between known social-contacts. This contrasts with findings from social-contact studies, which show that substantial proportions of contact time occur in households, workplaces and schools. A mathematical model of social-contact behaviour and Mtb transmission was developed, incorporating variation in susceptibility and infectiousness. Three types of contact were simulated: household, repeated (individuals outside household contacted repeatedly with daily-monthly frequency) and non-repeated. The model was parameterised using data from Cape Town, South Africa, on mean and variance in contact numbers and contact durations, by contact type, and fitted to an estimate of overdispersion in numbers of secondary cases (‘superspreading’) in Cape Town. Household, repeated, and non-repeated contacts contributed 36%, 13%, and 51% of contact time, and 13%, 8%, and 79% of disease, respectively. Results suggest contact saturation, exacerbated by long disease durations and superspreading, cause the high proportion of transmission between non-repeated contacts. Household and social-contact tracing is therefore unlikely to reach most tuberculosis cases. A better understanding of transmission locations, and methods to identify superspreaders, are urgently required to improve tuberculosis prevention strategies.
Addressing the impact of urban exposure on the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus: The PERU MIGRANT Study
Authors: Ruiz-Alejos Andrea , Carrillo-Larco Rodrigo M. , Miranda J. Jaime , Anderson Cheryl A. M. , Gilman Robert H. , Smeeth Liam , Bernabé-Ortiz Antonio 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of T2DM in three population groups: rural, rural-to-urban migrants and urban dwellers. Data from the PERU MIGRANT Study was analysed. The baseline assessment was conducted in 2007–2008 using a single-stage random sample and further follow-up was undertaken in 2015–16. T2DM was defined based on fasting glucose and self-reported diagnosis. Poisson regression models and robust variance to account for cluster effects were used for reporting risk ratios (RR) and 95%CI. At baseline, T2DM prevalence was 8% in urban, 3.6% in rural-to-urban migrants and 1.5% in rural dwellers. After 7.7 (SD: 1.1) years, 6,076 person-years of follow-up, 61 new cases were identified. The incidence rates in the urban, migrant and rural groups were 1.6, 0.9 and 0.5 per 100 person-years, respectively. Relative to rural dwellers, a 4.3-fold higher risk (95%CI: 1.6–11.9) for developing T2DM was found in urban dwellers and 2.7-fold higher (95%CI: 1.1–6.8) in migrants with ≥30 years of urban exposure. Migration and urban exposure were found as significant risk factors for developing T2DM. Within-country migration is a sociodemographic phenomenon occurring worldwide; thus, it is necessary to disentangle the effect of urban exposure on non-healthy habits and T2DM development.
Identification of Migratory Insects from their Physical Features using a Decision-Tree Support Vector Machine and its Application to Radar Entomology
Authors: Hu Cheng , Kong Shaoyang , Wang Rui , Long Teng , Fu Xiaowei 
Published: March 2018

AbstractMigration is a key process in the population dynamics of numerous insect species, including many that are pests or vectors of disease. Identification of insect migrants is critically important to studies of insect migration. Radar is an effective means of monitoring nocturnal insect migrants. However, species identification of migrating insects is often unachievable with current radar technology. Special-purpose entomological radar can measure radar cross-sections (RCSs) from which the insect mass, wingbeat frequency and body length-to-width ratio (a measure of morphological form) can be estimated. These features may be valuable for species identification. This paper explores the identification of insect migrants based on the mass, wingbeat frequency and length-to-width ratio, and body length is also introduced to assess the benefit of adding another variable. A total of 23 species of migratory insects captured by a searchlight trap are used to develop a classification model based on decision-tree support vector machine method. The results reveal that the identification accuracy exceeds 80% for all species if the mass, wingbeat frequency and length-to-width ratio are utilized, and the addition of body length is shown to further increase accuracy. It is also shown that improving the precision of the measurements leads to increased identification accuracy.
Genome-wide association study and meta-analysis identify loci associated with ventricular and supraventricular ectopy
Authors: Napier Melanie D. , Franceschini Nora , Gondalia Rahul , Stewart James D. , Méndez-Giráldez Raúl , Sitlani Colleen M. , Seyerle Amanda A. , Highland Heather M. , Li Yun , Wilhelmsen Kirk C. , Yan Song , Duan Qing , Roach Jeffrey , Yao Jie , Guo Xiuqing , Taylor Kent D. , Heckbert Susan R. , Rotter Jerome I. , North Kari E. , Reiner Alexander P. , Zhang Zhu-Ming , Tinker Lesley F. , Liao Duanping , Laurie Cathy C. , Gogarten Stephanie M. , Lin Henry J. , Brody Jennifer A. , Bartz Traci M. , Psaty Bruce M. , Sotoodehnia Nona , Soliman Elsayed Z. , Avery Christy L. , Whitsel Eric A. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe genetic basis of supraventricular and ventricular ectopy (SVE, VE) remains largely uncharacterized, despite established genetic mechanisms of arrhythmogenesis. To identify novel genetic variants associated with SVE/VE in ancestrally diverse human populations, we conducted a genome-wide association study of electrocardiographically identified SVE and VE in five cohorts including approximately 43,000 participants of African, European and Hispanic/Latino ancestry. In thirteen ancestry-stratified subgroups, we tested multivariable-adjusted associations of SVE and VE with single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) dosage. We combined subgroup-specific association estimates in inverse variance-weighted, fixed-effects and Bayesian meta-analyses. We also combined fixed-effects meta-analytic t-test statistics for SVE and VE in multi-trait SNP association analyses. No loci reached genome-wide significance in trans-ethnic meta-analyses. However, we found genome-wide significant SNPs intronic to an apoptosis-enhancing gene previously associated with QRS interval duration (FAF1; lead SNP rs7545860; effect allele frequency = 0.02; P = 2.0 × 10−8) in multi-trait analysis among European ancestry participants and near a locus encoding calcium-dependent glycoproteins (DSC3; lead SNP rs8086068; effect allele frequency = 0.17) in meta-analysis of SVE (P = 4.0 × 10−8) and multi-trait analysis (P = 2.9 × 10−9) among African ancestry participants. The novel findings suggest several mechanisms by which genetic variation may predispose to ectopy in humans and highlight the potential value of leveraging pleiotropy in future studies of ectopy-related phenotypes.
Carotenoid dynamics and lipid droplet containing astaxanthin in response to light in the green alga Haematococcus pluvialis
Authors: Ota Shuhei , Morita Aya , Ohnuki Shinsuke , Hirata Aiko , Sekida Satoko , Okuda Kazuo , Ohya Yoshikazu , Kawano Shigeyuki 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe unicellular green alga Haematococcus pluvialis accumulates large amounts of the red ketocarotenoid astaxanthin to protect against environmental stresses. Haematococcus cells that accumulate astaxanthin in the central part (green-red cyst cells) respond rapidly to intense light by distributing astaxanthin diffusively to the peripheral part of the cell within 10 min after irradiation. This response is reversible: when astaxanthin-diffused cells were placed in the dark, astaxanthin was redistributed to the center of the cell. Although Haematococcus possesses several pigments other that astaxanthin, the subcellular distribution and content of each pigment remain unknown. Here, we analyzed the subcellular dynamics and localization of major pigments such as astaxanthin, β-carotene, lutein, and chlorophylls under light irradiation using time-lapse and label-free hyperspectral imaging analysis. Fluorescence microscopy and freeze-fracture transmission electron microscopy showed that, preceding/following exposure to light, astaxanthin colocalized with lipid droplets, which moved from the center to the periphery through pathways in a chloroplast. This study revealed that photoresponse dynamics differed between astaxanthin and other pigments (chlorophylls, lutein, and β-carotene), and that only astaxanthin freely migrates from the center to the periphery of the cell through a large, spherical, cytoplasm-encapsulating chloroplast as a lipid droplet. We consider this to be the Haematococcus light-protection mechanism.
Distinct Metabolic features differentiating FLT3-ITD AML from FLT3-WT childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Stockard Bradley , Garrett Timothy , Guingab-Cagmat Joy , Meshinchi Soheil , Lamba Jatinder 
Published: March 2018

AbstractAcute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous disease with dismal response warranting the need for enhancing our understanding of AML biology. One prognostic feature associated with inferior response is the presence of activating mutations in FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) especially occurrence of internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD). Although poorly understood, differential metabolic and signaling pathways associated with FLT3-ITD might contribute towards the observed poor prognosis. We performed a non-targeted global metabolic profiling of matched cell and plasma samples obtained at diagnosis to establish metabolic differences within FLT3-ITD and FLT3-WT pediatric AML. Metabolomic profiling by Ultra-High Performance-Liquid-Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry identified differential abundance of 21 known metabolites in plasma and 33 known metabolites in leukemic cells by FLT3 status. These metabolic features mapped to pathways of significant biological importance. Of interest were metabolites with roles in cancer, cell progression and involvement in purine metabolism and biosynthesis, cysteine/methionine metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, carnitine mediated fatty acid oxidation, and lysophospholipid metabolism. Although validation in a larger cohort is required, our results for the first time investigated global metabolic profile in FLT3-ITD AML.
Genome-wide screen for universal individual identification SNPs based on the HapMap and 1000 Genomes databases
Authors: Huang Erwen , Liu Changhui , Zheng Jingjing , Han Xiaolong , Du Weian , Huang Yuanjian , Li Chengshi , Wang Xiaoguang , Tong Dayue , Ou Xueling , Sun Hongyu , Zeng Zhaoshu , Liu Chao 
Published: March 2018

AbstractDifferences among SNP panels for individual identification in SNP-selecting and populations led to few common SNPs, compromising their universal applicability. To screen all universal SNPs, we performed a genome-wide SNP mining in multiple populations based on HapMap and 1000Genomes databases. SNPs with high minor allele frequencies (MAF) in 37 populations were selected. With MAF from ≥0.35 to ≥0.43, the number of selected SNPs decreased from 2769 to 0. A total of 117 SNPs with MAF ≥0.39 have no linkage disequilibrium with each other in every population. For 116 of the 117 SNPs, cumulative match probability (CMP) ranged from 2.01 × 10–48 to 1.93 × 10–50 and cumulative exclusion probability (CEP) ranged from 0.9999999996653 to 0.9999999999945. In 134 tested Han samples, 110 of the 117 SNPs remained within high MAF and conformed to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, with CMP = 4.70 × 10–47 and CEP = 0.999999999862. By analyzing the same number of autosomal SNPs as in the HID-Ion AmpliSeq Identity Panel, i.e. 90 randomized out of the 110 SNPs, our panel yielded preferable CMP and CEP. Taken together, the 110-SNPs panel is advantageous for forensic test, and this study provided plenty of highly informative SNPs for compiling final universal panels.
Use of Soluble Extracellular Regions of MmpL (SERoM) as Vaccines for Tuberculosis
Authors: Strong Emily J. , West Nicholas P. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe current vaccine for tuberculosis (TB) is a live attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis (BCG) and while effective at reducing the potential for disseminated TB in young children its disease protection rates in adults is highly variable while it confers little protection against latent TB. With these limitations a new vaccine is desperately needed. We investigated the efficacy of three members of the mycobacterial membrane protein Large (MmpL) family as potential subunit vaccines for TB. MmpLs are large, multifunctional integral membrane proteins, and as such are recalcitrant to purification. Here, we describe a strategy of producing synthetic antigens comprised of the soluble, extracellular regions of MmpL (SERoM)-1, MmpL8 and MmpL10 (SERoM-8 and 10 respectively) as potential vaccine candidates. SERoM-1 and SERoM-8 were determined to be highly immunogenic by IFN-γ ELISpot assays, with 0.1% of all splenocytes from SERoM-1 vaccinated mice producing IFN-γ when re-stimulated with MmpL1. A combined SERoM-1, −8 and −10 vaccine demonstrated significant protection against M. tuberculosis challenge in a murine model of TB, resulting in approximately 10-fold reduction in bacterial numbers following challenge in both the lungs and spleens compared to adjuvant only vaccinated mice. These protective effects were comparable to that achieved with BCG.
Risk Factors for Avian Influenza H9 Infection of Chickens in Live Bird Retail Stalls of Lahore District, Pakistan 2009–2010
Authors: Chaudhry Mamoona , Rashid Hamad B. , Angot Angélique , Thrusfield Michael , Bronsvoort Barend M. deC , Capua Ilaria , Cattoli Giovanni , Welburn Susan C. , Eisler Mark C. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThis study was conducted to identify risk factors associated with AIV infections in live bird retail stalls (LBRS) in Lahore District, Pakistan. A cross-sectional survey of LBRS was conducted from December 2009-February 2010 using two-stage cluster sampling based on probability proportional to size. A total of 280 oropharyngeal swab sample pools were collected from 1400 birds in 8 clusters and tested by qRT-PCR for the matrix (M) gene of type A influenza virus and HA gene subtypes H9, H5 and H7. Thirty-four (34) samples were positive for the M gene, of which 28 were also positive for H9. No sample was found positive for H5 or H7. Data for 36 potential risk factors, collected by questionnaire, were analyzed by survey-weighted logistic regression and prevalence odds ratios (OR) for associated risk factors were calculated. A final multivariable model identified three risk factors for H9 infection in LRBS, namely obtaining birds from mixed sources (OR 2.28, CI95%: 1.4–3.7), keeping birds outside cages (OR 3.10, CI95%: 1.4–7.0) and keeping chicken breeds other than broilers (OR 6.27, CI95%: 1.7–23.2). Sourcing birds from dealers/wholesalers, keeping birds inside cages and avoiding mixing different breeds in cages could reduce the risk of H9 infections in LRBS.
Endothelial indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1 regulates the placental vascular tone and is deficient in intrauterine growth restriction and pre-eclampsia
Authors: Zardoya-Laguardia Pablo , Blaschitz Astrid , Hirschmugl Birgit , Lang Ingrid , Herzog Sereina A. , Nikitina Liudmila , Gauster Martin , Häusler Martin , Cervar-Zivkovic Mila , Karpf Eva , Maghzal Ghassan J. , Stanley Chris P. , Stocker Roland , Wadsack Christian , Frank Saša , Sedlmayr Peter 
Published: March 2018

AbstractIndoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1 (IDO1) mediates the degradation of L-tryptophan (L-Trp) and is constitutively expressed in the chorionic vascular endothelium of the human placenta with highest levels in the microvasculature. Given that endothelial expression of IDO1 has been shown to regulate vascular tone and blood pressure in mice under the condition of systemic inflammation, we asked whether IDO1 is also involved in the regulation of placental blood flow and if yes, whether this function is potentially impaired in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and pre-eclampsia (PE). In the large arteries of the chorionic plate L-Trp induced relaxation only after upregulation of IDO1 using interferon gamma and tumor necrosis factor alpha. However, ex vivo placental perfusion of pre-constricted cotyledonic vasculature with L-Trp decreases the vessel back pressure without prior IDO1 induction. Further to this finding, IDO1 protein expression and activity is reduced in IUGR and PE when compared to gestational age–matched control tissue. These data suggest that L-Trp catabolism plays a role in the regulation of placental vascular tone, a finding which is potentially linked to placental and fetal growth. In this context our data suggest that IDO1 deficiency is related to the pathogenesis of IUGR and PE.
Simultaneous Monitoring of Cell-surface Receptor and Tumor-targeted Photodynamic Therapy via TdT-initiated Poly-G-Quadruplexes
Authors: Shi Tianhui , Wang Menglin , Li Hao , Wang Miao , Luo Xingyu , Huang Yan , Wang Hong-Hui , Nie Zhou , Yao Shouzhuo 
Published: March 2018

AbstractCancer cells contain a unique set of cell surface receptors that provide potential targets for tumor theranostics. Here, we propose an efficient approach to construct G-quadruplex-based aptamers that specifically recognize cell-surface receptors and monitor them in an amplified manner. This designed aptamer combined particular sequence for the c-Met on the cell surface and poly-G-quadruplexes structures that allow a rapid and amplified fluorescent readout upon the binding of thioflavin T (ThT). The poly-G-quadruplexes also function as a carrier for photosensitizers such as TMPyP4 in that, the aptamer further trigger the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to commit cells to death. This unique c-Met targeting aptamer enabled simultaneous monitoring of c-Met on the cell surface with ThT and photodynamic killing of these lung cancer cells with TMPyP4. This strategy is expected to enhance the development of tumor-targeted diagnosis and drug delivery.
Respiration and the watershed of spinal CSF flow in humans
Authors: Dreha-Kulaczewski Steffi , Konopka Mareen , Joseph Arun A , Kollmeier Jost , Merboldt Klaus-Dietmar , Ludwig Hans-Christoph , Gärtner Jutta , Frahm Jens 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe dynamics of human CSF in brain and upper spinal canal are regulated by inspiration and connected to the venous system through associated pressure changes. Upward CSF flow into the head during inspiration counterbalances venous flow out of the brain. Here, we investigated CSF motion along the spinal canal by real-time phase-contrast flow MRI at high spatial and temporal resolution. Results reveal a watershed of spinal CSF dynamics which divides flow behavior at about the level of the heart. While forced inspiration prompts upward surge of CSF flow volumes in the entire spinal canal, ensuing expiration leads to pronounced downward CSF flow, but only in the lower canal. The resulting pattern of net flow volumes during forced respiration yields upward CSF motion in the upper and downward flow in the lower spinal canal. These observations most likely reflect closely coupled CSF and venous systems as both large caval veins and their anastomosing vertebral plexus react to respiration-induced pressure changes.
Shared neural correlates for building phrases in signed and spoken language
Authors: Blanco-Elorrieta Esti , Kastner Itamar , Emmorey Karen , Pylkkänen Liina 
Published: March 2018

AbstractResearch on the mental representation of human language has convincingly shown that sign languages are structured similarly to spoken languages. However, whether the same neurobiology underlies the online construction of complex linguistic structures in sign and speech remains unknown. To investigate this question with maximally controlled stimuli, we studied the production of minimal two-word phrases in sign and speech. Signers and speakers viewed the same pictures during magnetoencephalography recording and named them with semantically identical expressions. For both signers and speakers, phrase building engaged left anterior temporal and ventromedial cortices with similar timing, despite different linguistic articulators. Thus the neurobiological similarity of sign and speech goes beyond gross measures such as lateralization: the same fronto-temporal network achieves the planning of structured linguistic expressions.
SMAD6 overexpression leads to accelerated myogenic differentiation of LMNA mutated cells
Authors: Janin Alexandre , Bauer Delphine , Ratti Francesca , Valla Camille , Bertrand Anne , Christin Emilie , Chopin Emilie , Streichenberger Nathalie , Bonne Gisèle , Gache Vincent , Cohen Tatiana , Méjat Alexandre 
Published: March 2018

AbstractLMNA gene encodes lamins A and C, two major components of the nuclear lamina, a network of intermediate filaments underlying the inner nuclear membrane. Most of LMNA mutations are associated with cardiac and/or skeletal muscles defects. Muscle laminopathies include Emery-Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy, Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy 1B, LMNA-related Congenital Muscular Dystrophy and Dilated Cardiomyopathy with conduction defects. To identify potential alterations in signaling pathways regulating muscle differentiation in LMNA-mutated myoblasts, we used a previously described model of conditionally immortalized murine myoblasts: H-2K cell lines. Comparing gene expression profiles in wild-type and Lmna∆8–11 H-2K myoblasts, we identified two major alterations in the BMP (Bone Morphogenetic Protein) pathway: Bmp4 downregulation and Smad6 overexpression. We demonstrated that these impairments lead to Lmna∆8–11 myoblasts premature differentiation and can be rescued by downregulating Smad6 expression. Finally, we showed that BMP4 pathway defects are also present in myoblasts from human patients carrying different heterozygous LMNA mutations.
Multi-functional nano-adhesive releasing therapeutic ions for MMP-deactivation and remineralization
Authors: Jun Soo-Kyung , Yang Sun-A. , Kim You-Jin , El-Fiqi Ahmed , Mandakhbayar Nandin , Kim Duck-Su , Roh Jiyeon , Sauro Salvatore , Kim Hae-Won , Lee Jung-Hwan , Lee Hae-Hyoung 
Published: March 2018

AbstractRestoration of hard tissue in conjunction with adhesive is a globally challenging issue in medicine and dentistry. Common clinical therapies involving application of adhesive and substitute material for functional or anatomical recovery are still suboptimal. Biomaterials with bioactivity and inhibitory effects of enzyme-mediated adhesive degradation can render a solution to this. Here, we designed a novel copper-doped bioactive glass nanoparticles (CuBGn) to offer multifunction: metalloproteinases (MMP) deactivation and remineralization and incorporated the CuBGn in resin-dentin adhesive systems, which showed most common failure of MMP mediated adhesive degradation among hard tissue adhesives, to evaluate proposed therapeutic effects. A sol-gel derived bioactive glass nanoparticles doping 10 wt% of Cu (Cu-BGn) for releasing Cu ions, which were well-known MMP deactivator, were successfully created and included in light-curing dental adhesive (DA), a filler-free co-monomer resin blend, at different concentrations (up to 2 wt%). These therapeutic adhesives (CuBGn-DA) showed enhanced (a)cellular bioactivity, cytocompatibility, microtensile bond strength and MMP deactivation-ability. In conclusion, the incorporation of Cu ions releasing nano-bioactive glass demonstrated multifunctional properties at the resin-dentin interface; MMP deactivation and remineralization, representing a suitable strategy to extend the longevity of adhesive-hard tissue (i.e. resin-dentin) interfaces.