bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
24-h severe energy restriction impairs postprandial glycaemic control in young, lean males
Authors: Clayton David J. , Biddle Jack , Maher Tyler , Funnell Mark P. , Sargeant Jack A. , King James A. , Hulston Carl J. , Stensel David J. , James Lewis J. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractIntermittent energy restriction (IER) involves short periods of severe energy restriction interspersed with periods of adequate energy intake, and can induce weight loss. Insulin sensitivity is impaired by short-term, complete energy restriction, but the effects of IER are not well known. In randomised order, fourteen lean men (age: 25 (sd 4) years; BMI: 24 (sd 2) kg/m2; body fat: 17 (4) %) consumed 24-h diets providing 100 % (10 441 (sd 812) kJ; energy balance (EB)) or 25 % (2622 (sd 204) kJ; energy restriction (ER)) of estimated energy requirements, followed by an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT; 75 g of glucose drink) after fasting overnight. Plasma/serum glucose, insulin, NEFA, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) were assessed before and after (0 h) each 24-h dietary intervention, and throughout the 2-h OGTT. Homoeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR) assessed the fasted response and incremental AUC (iAUC) or total AUC (tAUC) were calculated during the OGTT. At 0 h, HOMA2-IR was 23 % lower after ER compared with EB (P<0·05). During the OGTT, serum glucose iAUC (P<0·001), serum insulin iAUC (P<0·05) and plasma NEFA tAUC (P<0·01) were greater during ER, but GLP-1 (P=0·161), GIP (P=0·473) and FGF21 (P=0·497) tAUC were similar between trials. These results demonstrate that severe energy restriction acutely impairs postprandial glycaemic control in lean men, despite reducing HOMA2-IR. Chronic intervention studies are required to elucidate the long-term effects of IER on indices of insulin sensitivity, particularly in the absence of weight loss.
Consumption of non-digestible oligosaccharides elevates colonic alkaline phosphatase activity by up-regulating the expression ofIAP-I, with increased mucins and microbial fermentation in rats fed a high-fat diet
Authors: Okazaki Yukako , Katayama Tetsuyuki 
Published: November 2018

AbstractWe have recently reported that soluble dietary fibre, glucomannan, increased colonic alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and the gene expression without affecting the small-intestinal activity and that colonic ALP was correlated with gut mucins (index of intestinal barrier function). We speculated that dietary fermentable carbohydrates including oligosaccharides commonly elevate colonic ALP and gene expression as well as increase mucin secretion and microbial fermentation. To test this hypothesis, male Sprague–Dawley rats were fed a diet containing 30 % lard with or without 4 % fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), raffinose (RAF) and lactulose (LAC), which are non-digestible oligosaccharides or isomalto-oligosaccharides (IMOS; some digestible oligosaccharides) for 2 weeks. Colon ALP activity, the gene expression and gut luminal variables including mucins, organic acids and microbiota were measured. Colonic ALP was significantly elevated in the FOS, RAF and LAC groups, and a similar trend was observed in the GOS group. Colonic expression of intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP-I), an ALP gene, was significantly elevated in the FOS, GOS and RAF groups and tended to be increased in the LAC group. Dietary FOS, GOS, RAF and LAC significantly elevated faecal mucins, caecaln-butyrate and faecal ratio ofBifidobacteriumspp. Dietary IMOS had no effect on colonic ALP, mucins, organic acids and microbiota. Colon ALP was correlated with mucins, caecaln-butyrate and faecalBifidobacteriumspp. This study demonstrated that non-digestible and fermentable oligosaccharides commonly elevate colonic ALP activity and the expression ofIAP-I, with increasing mucins and microbial fermentation, which might be important for protection of gut epithelial homoeostasis.
The impact of the Endangered Mauritian flying foxPteropus nigeron commercial fruit farms and the efficacy of mitigation
Authors: Oleksy Ryszard Z. , Ayady Charles L. , Tatayah Vikash , Jones Carl , Froidevaux Jérémy S.P. , Racey Paul A. , Jones Gareth 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThe endemic Mauritian flying foxPteropus nigeris perceived to be a major fruit pest. Lobbying of the Government of Mauritius by fruit growers to control the flying fox population resulted in national culls in 2015 and 2016, with a further cull scheduled for 2018. A loss of c. 38,318 individuals has been reported and the species is now categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. However, until now there were no robust data available on damage to orchards caused by bats. During October 2015–February 2016 we monitored four major lycheeLitchi chinensisand one mango (Mangiferaspp.) orchard, and also assessed 10 individual longanDimocarpus longantrees. Bats and introduced birds caused major damage to fruit, with 7–76% fruit loss (including natural fall and losses from fungal damage) per tree. Bats caused more damage to taller lychee trees (> 6 m high) than to smaller ones, whereas bird damage was independent of tree height. Bats damaged more fruit than birds in tall lychee trees, although this trend was reversed in small trees. Use of nets on fruiting trees can result in as much as a 23-fold reduction in the damage caused by bats if nets are applied correctly. There is still a need to monitor orchards over several seasons and to test non-lethal bat deterrence methods more widely.
Loss of Generalist Plant Species and Functional Diversity Decreases the Robustness of a Seed Dispersal Network
Authors: Bastazini Vinicius AG , Debastiani Vanderlei J , Azambuja Bethânia O , Guimarães Paulo R , Pillar Valério D 
Published: November 2018

SummaryUnderstanding cascading effects of species loss is a major challenge for ecologists. Traditionally, the robustness of ecological networks has been evaluated based on simulation studies where primary extinctions occur at random or as a function of species specialization, ignoring other important biological factors. Here, we estimate the robustness of a seed dispersal network from a grassland–forest mosaic in southern Brazil, simulating distinct scenarios of woody plant species extinction, including scenarios where species are eliminated based on their evolutionary and functional distinctiveness. Our results suggest that the network is more robust when species are eliminated based on their evolutionary uniqueness, followed by random extinctions, the extinction of the most specialist species, functional distinctiveness and, at last, when the most generalist species are sequentially eliminated. Our results provide important information for grassland–forest mosaic management, as they indicate that loss of generalist species and functional diversity makes the system more likely to collapse.
Survey of Nebraska Farmers’ Adoption of Dicamba-Resistant Soybean Technology and Dicamba Off-Target Movement
Authors: Werle Rodrigo , Oliveira Maxwel C. , Jhala Amit J. , Proctor Christopher A. , Rees Jennifer , Klein Robert 
Published: November 2018

AbstractIn 2017, dicamba-resistant (DR) soybean was commercially available to farmers in the United States. In August and September of 2017, a survey of 312 farmers from 60 Nebraska soybean-producing counties was conducted during extension field days or online. The objective of this survey was to understand farmers’ adoption and perceptions regarding DR soybean technology in Nebraska. The survey contained 16 questions and was divided in three parts: (1) demographics, (2) dicamba application in DR soybean, and (3) dicamba off-target injury to sensitive soybean cultivars. According to the results, 20% of soybean hectares represented by the survey were planted to DR soybean in 2017, and this number would probably double in 2018. Sixty-five percent of survey respondents own a sprayer and apply their own herbicide programs. More than 90% of respondents who adopted DR soybean technology reported significant improvement in weed control. Nearly 60% of respondents used dicamba alone or glyphosate plus dicamba for POST weed control in DR soybean; the remaining 40% added an additional herbicide with an alternative site of action (SOA) to the POST application. All survey respondents used one of the approved dicamba formulations for application in DR soybean. Survey results indicated that late POST dicamba applications (after late June) were more likely to result in injury to non-DR soybean compared to early POST applications (e.g., May and early June) in 2017. According to respondents, off-target dicamba movement resulted both from applications in DR soybean and dicamba-based herbicides applied in corn. Although 51% of respondents noted dicamba injury on non-DR soybean, 7% of those who noted injury filed an official complaint with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. Although DR soybean technology allowed farmers to achieve better weed control during 2017 than previous growing seasons, it is apparent that off-target movement and resistance management must be addressed to maintain the viability and effectiveness of the technology in the future.
Microchannel Plate Efficiency to Detect Low Velocity Dust Impacts
Authors: Fontanese John , Clark George , Horányi Mihály , James David , Sternovsky Zoltan 
Published: November 2018

AbstractRecent space experiments suggest that electron and ion energy analyzers using microchannel plates (MCPs) as detectors are also registering direct hits by nanodust particles. To allow the analysis and interpretation of these putative dust events, the detection efficiency of MCPs has to be characterized. We report on a series of experiments to investigate the detection efficiency of MCP detectors to direct impacts for both positively and negatively charged micron and submicron sized iron particles. A double‐stack MCP detector in a chevron configuration was mounted as a target in a dust accelerator. A range of particle velocities and masses were used for a comprehensive examination. The MCP detected and produced definite signals associated with confirmed particle impacts of the MCP for both positively and negatively charged dust particles. The detection efficiency was found to be (6 ± 1)% for positively charged dust and (9 ± 3)% for negatively charged dust particles with a characteristic mass of 6.0 × 1011μ (10−15 kg) and speed of 100 m/s. The examined particle velocity range accurately replicates Rosseta's interaction with dust grains emanating from comet 67P/ Churyumov‐Gerasimenko's nucleus. Additionally, the MCP detection efficiency for low velocity particles shows a possible underestimate of higher speed nanograin signals from Cassini's electron plasma spectrometer during its flyby through Enceladus' active south pole.
Future Wave Conditions of Europe, in Response to High‐End Climate Change Scenarios
Authors: Bricheno Lucy M. , Wolf Judith 
Published: November 2018

AbstractChanges in future North Atlantic storminess will impact upon wave conditions along the European coasts, with implications for coastal erosion, overtopping, and flood risk. In this study we make a detailed analysis of historic and future wave conditions around the European Atlantic coast, making projections out to the year 2100 under Representative Concentration Pathways 4.5 and 8.5 future emissions scenarios. A decrease in mean significant wave height of the order 0.2 m is projected across most of the European coast. Increases in the annual maximum and 99th percentile wave height as large as 0.5–1 m are observed in some areas but with a more complex spatial pattern. An increase in waves to the north of Scotland is also observed, mainly caused by a reduction in sea ice. We generate a set of coastal wave projections at around 10‐km resolution around continental Europe, Ireland, and the British Isles. Widening of the probability density function (PDF) is observed, suggesting an increased intensity of rare high wave events in the future. The emergent signal of a reduced mean wave height is statistically robust, while the future changes in extreme waves have a wider confidence interval. An assessment of different extreme waves metrics reveals different climate change response at very high percentiles; thus, care should be taken when assessing future changes in rare wave events.
Impact of Spectral Nudging on Real‐Time Tropical Cyclone Forecast
Authors: Moon Jihong , Cha Dong‐Hyun , Lee Minkyu , Kim Joowan 
Published: November 2018

AbstractRegional models often face a chronic problem caused by inconsistencies between simulated model fields and large‐scale forcing data, which could limit predictability of regional models. Spectral nudging is a technique which can ameliorate this issue by providing large‐scale forcing in the regional model interior. In this study, spectral nudging was applied to tropical cyclone (TC) track and intensity forecasts, and its effects were investigated using a high‐resolution regional model. Case studies on Typhoon Neoguri and Vongfong showed that spectral nudging was effective at enhancing track forecast by improving large‐scale winds and the western North Pacific subtropical high. However, simulated TC intensity was underestimated without the optimization of spectral nudging. Sensitivity tests on spectral nudging options were performed to improve TC intensity while maintaining forecast track improvements. By reducing the nudging coefficient, intensity errors were reduced with a more reasonably developed TC structure. A total of 51 experiments for 18 TCs were conducted with revised spectral nudging options to investigate the general effects of spectral nudging on TC forecasting. The track forecast was generally improved by spectral nudging, especially after 96 hr, and forecast intensity was also improved as compared to experiments without nudging. Furthermore, spectral nudging was especially effective for TCs which occurred to the east of the western North Pacific and turned near Northeast Asia. Therefore, the impact of spectral nudging can be increased by selectively applying spectral nudging based on TC characteristics.
Friction‐Stability‐Permeability Evolution of a Fracture in Granite
Authors: Ishibashi Takuya , Elsworth Derek , Fang Yi , Riviere Jacques , Madara Benjamin , Asanuma Hiroshi , Watanabe Noriaki , Marone Chris 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThe evolution of frictional strength, stability, and fracture permeability is intimately linked both to the seismic cycle and to the impact of hydraulic stimulation for fractured reservoirs. However, despite this importance, the poromechanical relationships between fault permeability and strength remain unclear. The present study explores this relationship via laboratory experiments for concurrent shear‐flow on smooth fractures of Westerly granite. The novelty of these experiments is that the shear velocity is precisely controlled during the measurement of fracture permeability. Results indicate permeability enhancement during velocity‐weakening (potentially unstable) frictional slip. To decipher key processes contributing to this response, we evaluate the state of contacting asperities and of fracture surface asperities via digital rock fracture modeling of statistically equivalent surfaces. We propose two plausible mechanisms constraining the relationship between friction and permeability evolution—one based on changes in asperity contact distribution and one on shear‐induced dilation triggered by changes in fault slip velocity. These mechanisms should be taken into account in interpreting field observation such as the abrupt permeability increase of natural faults at the onset of seismic slip.
Maternal depression during pregnancy and cord blood DNA methylation: findings from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children
Authors: Viuff A. C. , Sharp G. C. , Rai D. , Henriksen T. B. , Pedersen L. H. , Kyng K. J. , Staunstrup N. H. , Cortes A. , Neumann A. , Felix J. F. , Tiemeier H. , Jaddoe V. W. V. , Relton C. L. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractUp to 13% of women may experience symptoms of depression during pregnancy or in the postpartum period. Depression during pregnancy has been associated with an increased risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in the child and epigenetic mechanisms could be one of the biological pathways to explain this association. In 844 mother–child pairs from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, we carried out an epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) to investigate associations between prospectively collected data on maternal depression ascertained by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in pregnancy and DNA methylation in the cord blood of newborn offspring. In individual site analysis, we identified two CpG sites associated with maternal depression in the middle part of pregnancy. In our regional analysis, we identified 39 differentially methylated regions (DMRs). Seven DMRs were associated with depression at any time point during pregnancy, 7 associated with depression in mid-pregnancy, 23 were associated with depression in late pregnancy, and 2 DMRs were associated with depression throughout pregnancy. Several of these map to genes associated with psychiatric disease and brain development. We attempted replication in The Generation R Study and could not replicate our results. Although our findings in ALSPAC suggest that maternal depression could be associated with cord blood DNA methylation the results should be viewed as preliminary and hypothesis generating until further replicated in a larger sample.
A web server for comparative analysis of single-cell RNA-seq data
Authors: Alavi Amir , Ruffalo Matthew , Parvangada Aiyappa , Huang Zhilin , Bar-Joseph Ziv 
Published: November 2018

AbstractSingle cell RNA-Seq (scRNA-seq) studies profile thousands of cells in heterogeneous environments. Current methods for characterizing cells perform unsupervised analysis followed by assignment using a small set of known marker genes. Such approaches are limited to a few, well characterized cell types. We developed an automated pipeline to download, process, and annotate publicly available scRNA-seq datasets to enable large scale supervised characterization. We extend supervised neural networks to obtain efficient and accurate representations for scRNA-seq data. We apply our pipeline to analyze data from over 500 different studies with over 300 unique cell types and show that supervised methods outperform unsupervised methods for cell type identification. A case study highlights the usefulness of these methods for comparing cell type distributions in healthy and diseased mice. Finally, we present scQuery, a web server which uses our neural networks and fast matching methods to determine cell types, key genes, and more.
Non-equilibrium Model for Nanofluid Free Convection Inside a Porous Cavity Considering Lorentz Forces
Authors: Sheikholeslami M. , Khan Ilyas , Tlili I. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractIn current article, transportation of CuO nanoparticles through a porous enclosure is demonstrated. The enclosure has complex shaped hot wall. Porous media has been simulated via two temperature equations. Magnetic force impact on nanofluid treatment was considered. Control volume based finite element method has been described to solve current article in vorticity stream function form. Single phase model was chosen for nanofluid. Nanofluid characteristics are predicted via KKL model. Roles of solid-nanofluid interface heat transfer parameter (Nhs), porosity, Hartmann and Rayleigh numbers have been illustrated. Outputs illustrated that conduction mode reduces with augment of Ra. Increasing magnetic forces make nanofluid motion to decrease. Temperature gradient of nanofluid decreases with augment of Nhs. Reducing porosity leads to enhance in Nusselt number.
MicroRNA-182 Alleviates Neuropathic Pain by Regulating Nav1.7 Following Spared Nerve Injury in Rats
Authors: Cai Weihua , Zhao Qingzan , Shao Jinping , Zhang Jingjing , Li Lei , Ren Xiuhua , Su Songxue , Bai Qian , Li Ming , Chen Xuemei , Wang Jian , Cao Jing , Zang Weidong 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThe sodium channel 1.7 (Nav1.7), which is encoded by SCN9A gene, is involved in neuropathic pain. As crucial regulators of gene expression, many miRNAs have already gained importance in neuropathic pain, including miR-182, which is predicted to regulate the SCN9A gene. Nav1.7 expression in L4-L6 dorsal root ganglions (DRGs) can be up regulated by spared nerve injury (SNI), while miR-182 expression was down regulated following SNI model. Exploring the connection between Nav1.7 and miR-182 may facilitate the development of a better-targeted therapy. In the current study, direct pairing of miR-182 with the SCN9A gene was verified using a luciferase assay in vitro. Over-expression of miR-182 via microinjection of miR-182 agomir reversed the abnormal increase of Nav1.7 at both mRNA and protein level in L4-6 DRGs of SNI rats, and significantly attenuated the hypersensitivity to mechanical stimulus in the rats. In contrast, administration of miR-182 antagomir enhanced the Nav1.7 expression at both mRNA and protein level in L4-6 DRGs, companied with the generation of mechanical hypersensitivity in naïve rats. Collectively, we concluded that miR-182 can alleviate SNI- induced neuropathic pain through regulating Nav1.7 in rats.
Detection of Activation Sequences in Spiking-Bursting Neurons by means of the Recognition of Intraburst Neural Signatures
Authors: Carrillo-Medina José Luis , Latorre Roberto 
Published: November 2018

AbstractBursting activity is present in many cells of different nervous systems playing important roles in neural information processing. Multiple assemblies of bursting neurons act cooperatively to produce coordinated spatio-temporal patterns of sequential activity. A major goal in neuroscience is unveiling the mechanisms underlying neural information processing based on this sequential dynamics. Experimental findings have revealed the presence of precise cell-type-specific intraburst firing patterns in the activity of some bursting neurons. This characteristic neural signature coexists with the information encoded in other aspects of the spiking-bursting signals, and its functional meaning is still unknown. We investigate the ability of a neuron conductance-based model to detect specific presynaptic activation sequences taking advantage of intraburst fingerprints identifying the source of the signals building up a sequential pattern of activity. Our simulations point out that a reader neuron could use this information to contextualize incoming signals and accordingly compute a characteristic response by relying on precise phase relationships among the activity of different emitters. This would provide individual neurons enhanced capabilities to control and negotiate sequential dynamics. In this regard, we discuss the possible implications of the proposed contextualization mechanism for neural information processing.