bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mild weather changes over China during 1971–2014: Climatology, trends, and interannual variability
Authors: Lin Lijie , Ge Erjia , Chen Chongcheng , Luo Ming 
Published: February 2019

AbstractWhile previous studies largely focus on extreme events, little is known about the behaviors of mild weather, a positive and pleasant condition occurring frequently, directly associated with outdoor activities, and highly relatable to the public. Here we examine the climatological characteristics and long-term trends of mild weather over China during 1971–2014, as well as the possible linkage with the El Niño−Southern Oscillation. It is found that, on average, China experiences 94.5 days (25.4% of all days) of mild weather in a year, and the annual number of mild days increased by 1.02% per decade (3.73 days per decade) during 1971–2014, especially in summer (1.54% per decade), spring (1.49% per decade), and autumn (1.03% per decade). We also find that most parts of China have been experiencing increasing mild weather in 1971–1998 but decreasing in 1998–2014. Clustering analysis reveals six subregions that exhibit distinct mild weather behaviors. In particular, harsh seasons (i.e., summer of southern China and winter of northern China) are becoming even less pleasant. Besides these secular trends, it is also noticed that El Niño event in the preceding winter is followed by less pleasant spring and summer and more pleasant autumn and winter in most areas of China. The results reported here have significant implications for urban planners and governmental policymakers.
Quantification of an alpha flux based radiological dose from seasonal exposure to 222Rn, 220Rn and their different EEC species
Authors: Bangotra Pargin , Mehra Rohit , Jakhu Rajan , Pandit Pragya , Prasad Mukesh 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThis study summarizes the seasonal experimental data on the activity concentrations of indoor 222Rn (Radon), 220Rn (Thoron) and their progeny in Mansa and Muktsar districts of Punjab (India) using LR-115 solid state nuclear track detector based time integrated pin-hole cup dosimeters and deposition based progeny sensors for the assessment of radiological dose. The indoor 222Rn concentration was observed higher in the rainy and winter seasons while 220Rn concentration was observed higher in the winter season. However, Equilibrium Equivalent Concentrations (EECs) of 222Rn and 220Rn exhibited distinct seasonal behaviour unlike their parent nuclides. The average equilibrium factors for 222Rn (FRn) and 220Rn (FTn) were found 0.47 ± 0.1 and 0.05 ± 0.01, respectively. The annual arithmetic means of unattached fractions of 222Rn ($${f}_{p}^{Rn}$$

f

p

R
n

) and 220Rn ($${f}_{p}^{Tn}$$

f

p

T
n

) were found to be 0.09 ± 0.02 and 0.10 ± 0.02, respectively. The attachment rate (XRn) and attachment rate coefficients (β) of 222Rn progeny were also calculated to understand the proper behaviour of progeny species in the region. A new alpha flux based technique has been proposed and used for the assessment of absorbed dose rate and annual effective dose rate for radiation protection purpose.
DirtyGenes: testing for significant changes in gene or bacterial population compositions from a small number of samples
Authors: Shaw Laurence M. , Blanchard Adam , Chen Qinglin , An Xinli , Davies Peers , Tötemeyer Sabine , Zhu Yong-Guan , Stekel Dov J. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractHigh throughput genomics technologies are applied widely to microbiomes in humans, animals, soil and water, to detect changes in bacterial communities or the genes they carry, between different environments or treatments. We describe a method to test the statistical significance of differences in bacterial population or gene composition, applicable to metagenomic or quantitative polymerase chain reaction data. Our method goes beyond previous published work in being universally most powerful, thus better able to detect statistically significant differences, and through being more reliable for smaller sample sizes. It can also be used for experimental design, to estimate how many samples to use in future experiments, again with the advantage of being universally most powerful. We present three example analyses in the area of antimicrobial resistance. The first is to published data on bacterial communities and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment; we show that there are significant changes in both ARG and community composition. The second is to new data on seasonality in bacterial communities and ARGs in hooves from four sheep. While the observed differences are not significant, we show that a minimum group size of eight sheep would provide sufficient power to observe significance of similar changes in further experiments. The third is to published data on bacterial communities surrounding rice crops. This is a much larger data set and is used to verify the new method. Our method has broad uses for statistical testing and experimental design in research on changing microbiomes, including studies on antimicrobial resistance.
Deferiprone has anti-inflammatory properties and reduces fibroblast migration in vitro
Authors: Ramezanpour Mahnaz , Smith Jason L. P. , Ooi Mian Li , Gouzos Michael , Psaltis Alkis J. , Wormald P. J. , Vreugde Sarah 
Published: February 2019

AbstractNormal wound healing is a highly regulated and coordinated process. However, tissue injury often results in inflammation with excessive scar tissue formation after 40–70% of operations. Here, we evaluated the effect of the iron chelator deferiprone on inflammation and the migration of primary nasal fibroblasts and primary human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs) in vitro. The cytotoxicity of deferiprone was examined by the lactate dehydrogenase assay on primary nasal fibroblasts and air-liquid interface (ALI) cultures of HNECs. Wound closure was observed in scratch assays by using time-lapse confocal scanning laser microscopy. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and type I and III collagen protein levels were determined by ELISA. Intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) activity was measured by utilizing the fluorescent probe H2DCFDA. Deferiprone at 10 mM concentration was non-toxic to primary fibroblasts and HNECs for up to 48 hours application. Deferiprone had significant dose-dependent inhibitory effects on the migration, secreted collagen production and ROS release by primary nasal fibroblasts. Deferiprone blocked Poly (I:C)-induced IL-6 production by HNECs but did not alter their migration in scratch assays. Deferiprone has the potential to limit scar tissue formation and should be considered in future clinical applications.
Analysis of Mutants Suggests Kamin Blocking in C. elegans is Due to Interference with Memory Recall Rather than Storage
Authors: Merritt Daniel M. , Melkis Justina G. , Kwok Belinda , Tran Celina , van der Kooy Derek 
Published: February 2019

AbstractHigher-order conditioning phenomena, including context conditioning and blocking, occur when conditioning to one set of stimuli interacts with conditioning to a second set of stimuli to modulate the strength of the resultant memories. Here we analyze higher-order conditioning in the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans, demonstrating for the first time the presence of blocking in this animal, and dissociating it from context conditioning. We present an initial genetic dissection of these phenomena in a model benzaldehyde/NH4Cl aversive learning system, and suggest that blocking may involve an alteration of memory retrieval rather than storage. These findings offer a fundamentally different explanation for blocking than traditional explanations, and position C. elegans as a powerful model organism for the study of higher order conditioning.
Network Effects of Demographic Transition
Authors: David-Barrett Tamas 
Published: February 2019

AbstractTraditional human societies use two of biology’s solutions to reduce free-riding: by collaborating with relatives, they rely on the mechanism of kin-selection, and by forming highly clustered social kin-networks, they can efficiently use reputation dynamics. Both of these solutions assume the presence of relatives. This paper shows how social networks change during demographic transition. With falling fertility, there are fewer children that could be relatives to one another. As the missing kin are replaced by non-kin friends, local clustering in the social network drops. This effect is compounded by increasing population size, characteristic of demographic transition. The paper also shows that the speed at which reputation spreads in the network slows down due to both falling fertility and increasing group size. Thus, demographic transition weakens both mechanisms for eliminating free-riders: there are fewer relatives around, and reputation spreads slower. This new link between falling fertility and the altered structure of the social network offers novel interpretations of the origins of legal institutions, the Small World phenomenon, the social impact of urbanisation, and the birds-of-a-feather friendship choice heuristic.
Transcriptional regulation of Hepatic Stellate Cell activation in NASH
Authors: Marcher Ann-Britt , Bendixen Sofie M. , Terkelsen Mike K. , Hohmann Sonja S. , Hansen Maria H. , Larsen Bjørk D. , Mandrup Susanne , Dimke Henrik , Detlefsen Sönke , Ravnskjaer Kim 
Published: February 2019

AbstractNon-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) signified by hepatic steatosis, inflammation, hepatocellular injury, and fibrosis is a growing cause of chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatic fibrosis resulting from accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins secreted by hepatic myofibroblasts plays an important role in disease progression. Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) have been identified as the primary source of myofibroblasts in animal models of hepatotoxic liver injury; however, so far HSC activation and plasticity have not been thoroughly investigated in the context of NASH-related fibrogenesis. Here we have determined the time-resolved changes in the HSC transcriptome during development of Western diet- and fructose-induced NASH in mice, a NASH model recapitulating human disease. Intriguingly, HSC transcriptional dynamics are highly similar across disease models pointing to HSC activation as a point of convergence in the development of fibrotic liver disease. Bioinformatic interrogation of the promoter sequences of activated genes combined with loss-of-function experiments indicates that the transcriptional regulators ETS1 and RUNX1 act as drivers of NASH-associated HSC plasticity. Taken together, our results implicate HSC activation and transcriptional plasticity as key aspects of NASH pathophysiology.
Megastigmus seed wasp damage on native Schinus terebinthifolia drupes in ecological restoration area in Brazil
Authors: Ghiotto Thaís Carneiro , do Nascimento Prado Marcelle Cristine , Giuliani Graziella Kurpjuweit Fischer , de Souza Tavares Wagner , Masson Marcus Vinicius , Guerreiro Julio César , Prado Evandro Pereira , Carvalho Amélia Guimarães , Wilcken Carlos Frederico , Zanuncio José Cola , Ferreira-Filho Pedro José 
Published: February 2019

AbstractMegastigmus transvaalensis Hussey (Hymenoptera: Torymidae) parasitizes drupes of Rhus genus plants in Africa and Schinus (Anacardiaceae) in South America. This exotic wasp damages Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi drupes in native forests and ecological restoration areas in Brazil. The objective of the present study was to investigate the precipitation, temperature and relative humidity effects on M. transvaalensis flight activity, and to determine the parasitism rate and sex ratio of this wasp on S. terebinthifolia plants. The study was conducted with yellow sticky traps and S. terebinthifolia drupes collected in an ecological restoration area, from August 2014 to September 2015, in the Sorocaba municipality, São Paulo state, Brazil. Megastigmus transvaalensis populations were negatively correlated with maximum and minimum temperatures and precipitation, with population peaks at the end of May 2015, with 927 insects per evaluation (48.8 adults per trap). The M. transvaalensis sex ratio was higher in the laboratory (0.42) than in the field (0.08). The parasitism rate of S. terebinthifolia drupes by M. transvaalensis ranged from zero to 36.3% under natural environmental conditions. Megastigmus transvaalensis can be monitored with yellow sticky traps. Damage by M. transvaalensis in S. terebinthifolia drupes may decrease the germination of the seeds and the establishment of this plant in native and restoration ecological areas.
Polymorphisms of cytokine genes and tuberculosis in two independent studies
Authors: Wu Shouquan , Wang Ming-Gui , Wang Yu , He Jian-Qing 
Published: February 2019

AbstractCytokine gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) can influence cytokine levels, which may be associated with tuberculosis (TB) susceptibility. There is evidence that interleukin 1B (IL1B), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and IL6 may be involved in the progression of TB. Using a self-validating case-control design, we selected eleven functional SNPs in IL1B, TNF and IL6 to detect their association with TB in Chinese Han and Tibetan populations. The associations between SNPs and TB were estimated by computing the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) using logistic regression analyses. We found that the IL1B rs16944 polymorphism was associated with decreased risk of TB in the two studies. The G allele at rs2069837 of IL6 was significantly more common in controls than in TB patients in the Han population. Moreover, TNF rs1799964 and rs1800630 were risk factors for susceptibility to TB, which were validated in the Chinese Tibetan population. In addition, TNF rs1799724 and rs1800629 were associated with TB, but only in the Tibetan population. In conclusion, SNPs of the IL1B and TNF gene were associated with TB susceptibility in Chinese Han and Tibetan populations. IL6 polymorphism may be considered as a protective factor for TB in the Chinese Han population, but not the Tibetan population.
High concentrations of flavor chemicals are present in electronic cigarette refill fluids
Authors: Omaiye Esther E. , McWhirter Kevin J. , Luo Wentai , Tierney Peyton A. , Pankow James F. , Talbot Prue 
Published: February 2019

AbstractWe characterized the flavor chemicals in a broad sample of commercially available electronic cigarette (EC) refill fluids that were purchased in four different countries. Flavor chemicals in 277 refill fluids were identified and quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and two commonly used flavor chemicals were tested for cytotoxicity with the MTT assay using human lung fibroblasts and epithelial cells. About 85% of the refill fluids had total flavor concentrations >1 mg/ml, and 37% were >10 mg/ml (1% by weight). Of the 155 flavor chemicals identified in the 277 refill fluids, 50 were present at ≥1 mg/ml in at least one sample and 11 were ≥10 mg/ml in 54 of the refill fluids. Sixty-one% (170 out of 277) of the samples contained nicotine, and of these, 56% had a total flavor chemical/nicotine ratio >2. Four chemicals were present in 50% (menthol, triacetin, and cinnamaldehyde) to 80% (ethyl maltol) of the samples. Some products had concentrations of menthol (“Menthol Arctic”) and ethyl maltol (“No. 64”) that were 30 times (menthol) and 100 times (ethyl maltol) their cytotoxic concentration. One refill fluid contained cinnamaldehyde at ~34% (343 mg/ml), more than 100,000 times its cytotoxic level. High concentrations of some flavor chemicals in EC refill fluids are potentially harmful to users, and continued absence of any regulations regarding flavor chemicals in EC fluids will likely be detrimental to human health.
The atomic structures of shrimp nodaviruses reveal new dimeric spike structures and particle polymorphism
Authors: Chen Nai-Chi , Yoshimura Masato , Miyazaki Naoyuki , Guan Hong-Hsiang , Chuankhayan Phimonphan , Lin Chien-Chih , Chen Shao-Kang , Lin Pei-Ju , Huang Yen-Chieh , Iwasaki Kenji , Nakagawa Atsushi , Chan Sunney I. , Chen Chun-Jung 
Published: February 2019

AbstractShrimp nodaviruses, including Penaeus vannamei (PvNV) and Macrobrachium rosenbergii nodaviruses (MrNV), cause white-tail disease in shrimps, with high mortality. The viral capsid structure determines viral assembly and host specificity during infections. Here, we show cryo-EM structures of T = 3 and T = 1 PvNV-like particles (PvNV-LPs), crystal structures of the protrusion-domains (P-domains) of PvNV and MrNV, and the crystal structure of the ∆N-ARM-PvNV shell-domain (S-domain) in T = 1 subviral particles. The capsid protein of PvNV reveals five domains: the P-domain with a new jelly-roll structure forming cuboid-like spikes; the jelly-roll S-domain with two calcium ions; the linker between the S- and P-domains exhibiting new cross and parallel conformations; the N-arm interacting with nucleotides organized along icosahedral two-fold axes; and a disordered region comprising the basic N-terminal arginine-rich motif (N-ARM) interacting with RNA. The N-ARM controls T = 3 and T = 1 assemblies. Increasing the N/C-termini flexibility leads to particle polymorphism. Linker flexibility may influence the dimeric-spike arrangement.
Nucleosome positioning and spacing: from genome-wide maps to single arrays
Authors: Baldi Sandro 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
The positioning of nucleosomes relative to DNA and their neighboring nucleosomes represents a fundamental layer of chromatin organization. Changes in nucleosome positioning and spacing affect the accessibility of DNA to regulatory factors and the formation of higher order chromatin structures. Sequencing of mononucleosomal fragments allowed mapping nucleosome positions on a genome-wide level in many organisms. This revealed that successions of evenly spaced and well-positioned nucleosomes—so called phased nucleosome arrays—occur at the 5′ end of many active genes and in the vicinity of transcription factor and other protein binding sites. Phased arrays arise from the interplay of barrier elements on the DNA, which position adjacent nucleosomes, and the nucleosome spacing activity of ATP-dependent chromatin remodelers. A shortcoming of classic mononucleosomal mapping experiments is that they only reveal nucleosome spacing and array regularity at select sites in the genome with well-positioned nucleosomes. However, new technological approaches elucidate nucleosome array structure throughout the genome and with single-cell resolution. In the future, it will be interesting to see whether changes in nucleosome array regularity and spacing contribute to the formation of higher order chromatin structures and the spatial organization of the genome in vivo.
Segmental switching strategy with zero output pulsation for dynamic EV wireless charging system
Authors: Zhu Qingwei , Guo Yanjie , Li Shufan , Wang Lifang , Liao Chenglin 
Published: February 2019

In practical dynamic electric vehicle (EV) wireless charging applications, the charging roadway is segmented and the segments are switched on and off along with the passing‐by EVs, which often causes output power pulsations. Here, the decoupling characteristics of two general inductively coupled coils are investigated. Based on which, an easy‐implement switching strategy to minimise the output power pulsation in the repeatedly occurring segmental switches is proposed. Each segment is to be switched on when a coming EV passes the entry‐end decoupling point of that segment, and to be cut‐off when the vehicle passes the other decoupling point as it leaves from the other end. Practical issues regarding to the coil dimensions have also been studied to investigate the compatibility of the proposed method. Dynamic charging and segmental switching experiments on a predesigned 2.5 kW dynamic wireless charging prototype were conducted to testify the proposed method. Smooth transition with zero output power pulsation and noticeable improvement on the systematic efficiency over the transition zone were achieved.
Die Ösophagusatresie – von der Herausforderung in der Pränatalmedizin bis zur chirurgischen Versorgung
Authors: Jurk Stanisław , Lacher Martin , Springer Carsten 
Published: February 2019

ZusammenfassungBei der Ösophagusatresie kommt es zu einer Hemmungsfehlbildung der Speiseröhre mit oder ohne Verbindung zur angrenzenden Trachea. Eine pränatale Diagnostik mittels Ultraschalluntersuchungen ist durch die indirekten Hinweiszeichen relativ unspezifisch und nur als eine Verdachtsdiagnose möglich. Neben dem gleichzeitigen Vorliegen eines Polyhydramnions sowie der wiederholt nicht möglichen Darstellung einer Magenblase, bzw. zu kleiner Magenblase, bestärkt das Vorliegen eines sog. „Pouch-sign“ die Verdachtsdiagnose. Eine MRT erhöht die pränatale Detektionsrate. Aufgrund der fehlenden sicheren sonografischen Marker, neben der möglichen direkten Darstellung des Ösophagus, sollten Ultraschallkontrollen in der Schwangerschaft durchgeführt werden. Insbesondere sollten kategorisch weitere mögliche Ursachen eine Polyhydramnions ausgeschlossen werden. Postnatal fallen die Kinder mit der klassischen Symptomatik auf. Die operative Versorgung ermöglicht den Betroffenen eine sehr gute Lebensqualität und Prognose. Eine lebenslange Observation und Begleitung ist notwendig.
Hypotensive Effect of Heated Water-based Exercise in Older Individuals with Hypertension
Authors: Ngomane Awassi , Fernandes Bianca , Guimarães Guilherme , Ciolac Emmanuel 
Published: February 2019

AbstractBlood pressure (BP) and hemodynamic response to heated water-based (HEx) vs. land-based exercise (LEx) were assessed in 15 (6 men) older hypertensives (age 66.4±4.9 yr) under pharmacological treatment. Participants were randomly assigned to perform 30 min of moderate-intensity HEx (walking inside the pool), LEx (walking on a treadmill) and non-exercise control (CON) intervention. Resting BP, arterial stiffness, endothelial reactivity and heart rate variability (HRV) were measured before, immediately after, and 45 min after interventions. 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring was performed after interventions. Resting systolic (but not diastolic) BP reduced 9.9±3.1 mmHg (P<0.01) 45 min after HEx only. 24-h systolic and diastolic, daytime diastolic and nightime systolic BP were lower (P<0.05) after HEx than both LEx and CON. Daytime systolic BP was also lower (P<0.05) after HEx than CON. Nighttime diastolic was not different between interventions. HEx-induced ambulatory BP reduction ranged 4.5±1.3 mmHg (24-h diastolic BP) to 9.5±3.0 mmHg (nighttime systolic BP), and persisted for 18/11 h in systolic/diastolic BP, when compared with CON. No significant changes in arterial stiffness, endothelial reactivity and HRV were found during any intervention. These results suggest that HEx may have important implications for managing BP in older hypertensive under pharmacological treatment.