bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Changes in aniseikonia and influencing-factors following successful macula-off retinal detachment surgery
Authors: Murakami Tomoya , Okamoto Fumiki , Sugiura Yoshimi , Okamoto Yoshifumi , Hiraoka Takahiro , Oshika Tetsuro 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThis study investigated the changes in the severity of aniseikonia after surgery for macula-off retinal detachment (RD), and the relationship between aniseikonia and retinal microstructures. The study included 26 eyes of 26 patients undergoing RD surgery. Visual acuity was measured preoperatively, and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Degree of aniseikonia and OCT images were obtained at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. The aniseikonia values (mean ± standard deviation) at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively were −5.3 ± 4.2%, −4.4 ± 4.4%, and −3.1 ± 3.2%, respectively. Significant improvement was observed from 3 to 12 months postoperatively (P = 0.001). Twelve months postoperatively, 14 eyes had micropsia, 1 eye had macropsia, and 11 eyes were free of aniseikonia. Stepwise multiple regression analyses revealed that the severity of aniseikonia at 12 months postoperatively was significantly associated with postoperative development of cystoid macular edema (CME) and epiretinal membrane (ERM), as well as area of preoperative RD. In conclusion, although aniseikonia was gradually relieved after RD surgery during a 1-year follow-up period, approximately half of patients had aniseikonia and almost all of them had micropsia. Aniseikonia was associated with presence of postoperative CME, ERM, and area of preoperative RD.
A common phytoene synthase mutation underlies white petal varieties of the California poppy
Authors: Pollack Andrew J. , Gong Xue , Pollack Jonathan R. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) is renowned for its brilliant golden-orange flowers, though white petal variants have been described. By whole-transcriptome sequencing, we have discovered in multiple white petal varieties a single deletion leading to altered splicing and C-terminal truncation of phytoene synthase (PSY), a key enzyme in carotenoid biosynthesis. Our findings underscore the diverse roles of phytoene synthase in shaping horticultural traits, and resolve a longstanding mystery of the regaled golden poppy.
Community phylogenetic structure reveals the imprint of dispersal-related dynamics and environmental filtering by nutrient availability in freshwater diatoms
Authors: Keck François , Kahlert Maria 
Published: August 2019

AbstractDespite important progress, uncertainty persists regarding the ecological forces driving microbial community assembly. Here, we present the first study to use phylogenetic information to interpret the structure and diversity of diatom communities. We examined local phylogenetic divergence and beta- phylogenetic diversity in a large dataset of 595 freshwater benthic diatom communities and we investigated how this diversity is influenced by gradients in nutrients, pH, organic matter and catchment size. Overall, we found that diatom communities were phylogenetically clustered, i.e. species within communities were more closely related than expected by chance. Phylogenetic clustering was stronger in nutrient-poor environments and in sites with a small catchment area. The variation of the phylogenetic beta-diversity index was much better explained by space and environment than the variation of the taxonomic index was. Both approaches detected a significant effect of environment and space on diatom community turnover. Our results support the view that diatom communities are primarily shaped by environmental filtering, in particular by nutrient availability. Moreover, they highlight the importance of considering dispersal-related processes and the depth of phylogenetic signal in functional traits when interpreting patterns of diversity.
Three dimensional structures of putative, primitive proteins to investigate the origin of homochirality
Authors: Oda Akifumi , Nakayoshi Tomoki , Kato Koichi , Fukuyoshi Shuichi , Kurimoto Eiji 
Published: August 2019

AbstractPrimitive proteins are likely to have been constructed from non-enzymatically generated amino acids, due to the weak enzymatic activities of primitive biomolecules such as ribozymes. On the other hand, almost all present proteins are constructed only from l-amino acids. Therefore, there must have been a mechanism early in the origins of life that selected for one of the optical isomers of amino acids. In this study, we used molecular dynamics simulations to predict the three-dimensional structures of the putative primitive proteins constructed only from glycine, alanine, aspartic acid, and valine ([GADV]-peptides). The [GADV]-peptides were generated computationally at random from l-amino acids (l-[GADV]-peptides) and from both l- and d-amino acids (dl-[GADV]-peptides). The results indicate that the tendency of secondary structure formation for l-[GADV]-peptides was larger than that for dl-[GADV]-peptides, and l-[GADV]-peptides were more rigid than dl-[GADV]-peptides. These results suggest that the proteins with rigid structure motifs were more prone to have been generated in a primordial soup that included only l-amino acids than a the soup including racemic amino acids. The tendency of the rigid structure motif formation may have played a role in selecting for the homochirality that dominates life on Earth today.
Clinical significance of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with stage III colon cancer who underwent surgery followed by FOLFOX chemotherapy
Authors: Cha Yoon Jin , Park Eun Jung , Baik Seung Hyuk , Lee Kang Young , Kang Jeonghyun 
Published: August 2019

AbstractLocal tumor immune response and host immunity have been suggested as important prognosticators respectively in colorectal cancer. However, the utility of combination of these parameters remains inconclusive. The aim of this study was to investigate the combinational impact of local and host tumor immune response, as determined by tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), in patients with stage III colon cancer. Patients with stage III colon cancer homogeneously treated with surgery followed by FOLFOX chemotherapy between Jan 2007 and Aug 2013 were included retrospectively. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained tumor sections of local inflammatory infiltrate (TILs) were classified as 0–3 by the Klintrup-Mäkinen grading method. NLR was measured within 1 month of surgery. The association of NLR and TILs with survival, alone or combined, were measured using multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis. Among 137 patients, 75 (54.7%) were identified as the high TIL group (TILs 2 and 3) and 97 (70.8%) as the low NLR group (NLR < 3). Of the patients with high TILs, 51 (68%) had a low NLR. In univariate analysis, operation time, complications, lymph node ratio (LNR), stage, TILs, and high TILs with low NLR were significantly associated with overall survival(OS). Multivariate Cox regression identified operation time, stage, and TILs as independent risk factors for OS. When high TILs with low NLR vs. others was entered into multivariate analysis, this also proved to be a significant predictor of OS (HR 4.1, 95% CI 1.1–14.2, P = 0.025), with an increased C-index and lower AIC value compared to TILs. Measuring TILs using H&E stained sections could stratify the prognosis of stage III colon cancer. Considering host immunity, using the combination of TILs and NLR, allowed the prognosis to be stratified in more detail.
Neurotoxic potential of reactive astrocytes in canine distemper demyelinating leukoencephalitis
Authors: Klemens J. , Ciurkiewicz M. , Chludzinski E. , Iseringhausen M. , Klotz D. , Pfankuche V. M. , Ulrich R. , Herder V. , Puff C. , Baumgärtner W. , Beineke A. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractCanine distemper virus (CDV) causes a fatal demyelinating leukoencephalitis in young dogs resembling human multiple sclerosis. Astrocytes are the main cellular target of CDV and undergo reactive changes already in pre-demyelinating brain lesions. Based on their broad range of beneficial and detrimental effects in the injured brain reactive astrogliosis is in need of intensive investigation. The aim of the study was to characterize astrocyte plasticity during the course of CDV-induced demyelinating leukoencephalitis by the aid of immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and gene expression analysis. Immunohistochemistry revealed the presence of reactive glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)+ astrocytes with increased survivin and reduced aquaporin 4, and glutamine synthetase protein levels, indicating disturbed blood brain barrier function, glutamate homeostasis and astrocyte maladaptation, respectively. Gene expression analysis revealed 81 differentially expressed astrocyte-related genes with a dominance of genes associated with neurotoxic A1-polarized astrocytes. Accordingly, acyl-coA synthetase long-chain family member 5+/GFAP+, and serglycin+/GFAP+ cells, characteristic of A1-astrocytes, were found in demyelinating lesions by immunofluorescence. In addition, gene expression revealed a dysregulation of astrocytic function including disturbed glutamate homeostasis and altered immune function. Observed findings indicate an astrocyte polarization towards a neurotoxic phenotype likely contributing to lesion initiation and progression in canine distemper leukoencephalitis.
Enlarged Egg Size Increases Offspring Fitness of a Frog Species on the Zhoushan Archipelago of China
Authors: Xu Feng , Yang Weikang , Li Yiming 
Published: August 2019

AbstractEgg size represents maternal investment and is an important life-history trait. It also is assumed to have an effect on offspring fitness. Life-history theory predicts that oviparous animals on islands will produce enlarged eggs because of increased maternal investment to improve offspring performance to facilitate intra-specific competition. The life-history theory, developed during the 1950s, provides a possible explanation for the “island rule”, but this rule has seldom been tested. Although several studies have detected a positive relationship between egg size and offspring fitness, it is difficult to exclude the covarying effects on offspring performance, such as genetic variation and developmental plasticity; predictions made using the life-history theory on the islands have not been tested. In this study, we have evaluated the relationship between egg size and offspring fitness on 20 islands in the Zhoushan Archipelago and two nearby mainland sites. To exclude covarying effects, we compared larval performance among different egg sizes in three levels: among siblings within clutches, among clutches within populations, and among different islands. The results showed that frogs on most of the islands did produce enlarged eggs and that their larvae had improved larval fitness. Additionally, at all three levels, the offspring that evolved from enlarged eggs had increased offspring fitness. The results of this study indicate that, for the first time, the life-history theory predictions concerning egg size and offspring fitness are supported.
Estimating nutrient uptake requirements for radish in China based on QUEFTS model
Authors: Zhang Jiajia , He Ping , Ding Wencheng , Xu Xinpeng , Ullah Sami , Abbas Tanveer , Ai Chao , Li Mingyue , Cui Rongzong , Jin Chongwei , Zhou Wei 
Published: August 2019

AbstractImbalanced fertilization has caused lower yield and nutrient use efficiency for radish (Raphanus sativus L.) production in China. Estimating nutrient requirements for radish is crucial in optimizing fertilization to resolve the problem. On-farm experiments in the radish-growing regions of China from 2000 to 2017 were collected to investigate the relationship between fleshy root yield and nutrient accumulation in radish plant using the Quantitative Evaluation of the Fertility of Tropical Soils (QUEFTS) model. The QUEFTS model predicted a linear increase in fleshy root yield if nutrients were taken up in balanced amounts until yield reached about 60%–70% of the potential yield. The balanced N, P, and K requirements in radish plant simulated by the QUEFTS model were 2.15, 0.45, and 2.58 kg to produce 1000 kg of fleshy root, and the corresponding internal efficiencies (IEs, kg fleshy root per kg nutrient in total plant dry matter) for N, P, and K were 465.1, 2222.2, and 387.1 kg kg−1. The simulated balanced N, P, and K removal by fleshy root to produce 1000 kg fleshy root were 1.34, 0.30, and 1.93 kg, respectively. Approximately 62%, 67%, and 75% of N, P, and K in radish plant were presented in the fleshy root and removed from the soil. Field validation experiments confirmed the consistency between the observed and simulated nutrient uptake values. The QUEFTS model was proven to be effective for estimating nutrient requirements of radish and will contribute to develop fertilizer recommendations for radish cultivated in China.
Dietary differences in archosaur and lepidosaur reptiles revealed by dental microwear textural analysis
Authors: Bestwick Jordan , Unwin David M. , Purnell Mark A. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractReptiles are key components of modern ecosystems, yet for many species detailed characterisations of their diets are lacking. Data currently used in dietary reconstructions are limited either to the last few meals or to proxy records of average diet over temporal scales of months to years, providing only coarse indications of trophic level(s). Proxies that record information over weeks to months would allow more accurate reconstructions of reptile diets and better predictions of how ecosystems might respond to global change drivers. Here, we apply dental microwear textural analysis (DMTA) to dietary guilds encompassing both archosaurian and lepidosaurian reptiles, demonstrating its value as a tool for characterising diets over temporal scales of weeks to months. DMTA, involving analysis of the three-dimensional, sub-micrometre scale textures created on tooth surfaces by interactions with food, reveals that the teeth of reptiles with diets dominated by invertebrates, particularly invertebrates with hard exoskeletons (e.g. beetles and snails), exhibit rougher microwear textures than reptiles with vertebrate-dominated diets. Teeth of fish-feeding reptiles exhibit the smoothest textures of all guilds. These results demonstrate the efficacy of DMTA as a dietary proxy in taxa from across the phylogenetic range of extant reptiles. This method is applicable to extant taxa (living or museum specimens) and extinct reptiles, providing new insights into past, present and future ecosystems.
Nature-Guided Synthesis of Advanced Bio-Lubricants
Authors: Romsdahl Trevor , Shirani Asghar , Minto Robert E. , Zhang Chunyu , Cahoon Edgar B. , Chapman Kent D. , Berman Diana 
Published: August 2019

AbstractDesign of environmentally friendly lubricants derived from renewable resources is highly desirable for many practical applications. Here, Orychophragmus violaceus (Ov) seed oil is found to have superior lubrication properties, and this is based on the unusual structural features of the major lipid species—triacylglycerol (TAG) estolides. Ov TAG estolides contain two non-hydroxylated, glycerol-bound fatty acids (FAs) and one dihydroxylated FA with an estolide branch. Estolide branch chains vary in composition and length, leading to their thermal stability and functional properties. Using this concept, nature-guided estolides of castor oil were synthesized. As predicted, they showed improved lubrication properties similar to Ov seed oil. Our results demonstrate a structure-based design of novel lubricants inspired by natural materials.
Danazol mediates collateral sensitivity via STAT3/Myc related pathway in multidrug-resistant cancer cells
Authors: Chang Ying-Tzu , Teng Yu-Ning , Lin Kun-I , Wang Charles C. N. , Morris-Natschke Susan L. , Lee Kuo-Hsiung , Hung Chin-Chuan 
Published: August 2019

AbstractMultidrug resistance presents an obstacle in cancer treatment. Among numerous combative strategies, collateral sensitivity (CS) drugs have opened a new avenue to defeat cancer by exploiting selective toxicity against multidrug-resistant (MDR) cancer. In the present study, a clinically used synthetic steroid hormone, danazol, was investigated for its CS properties and cytotoxic mechanisms. Compared with natural hormones, danazol possessed a stronger selective cytotoxicity against MDR cancer cells. Danazol induced the arrest of MDR cancer cells at the G2/M phase and caspase-8–related early apoptosis. Furthermore, in MDR cancer cells, danazol reduced STAT3 phosphorylation as well as the expression of STAT3-regulated genes involved in cell survival, such as c-Myc, CDC25, and CDK1. Danazol also upregulated the cell cycle inhibitor p21 in MDR cancer cells. Supporting the experimental results, docking studies have revealed that danazol can likely bind favourably with STAT3. Taken together, our results suggest that danazol exerts a CS effect by inhibiting the STAT3 pathway in MDR cancer cells and thus provides a possible solution for MDR cancers.
Detecting the limits of the biological effects of far-infrared radiation on epithelial cells
Authors: Hsu Yung-Ho , Chen Yu-Wei , Cheng Chung-Yi , Lee San-Liang , Chiu Tzu-Hsuan , Chen Cheng-Hsien 
Published: August 2019

AbstractFar-infrared radiation (FIR) exerts numerous beneficial effects on health and cell physiology. Recent studies revealed that the biological effects of FIR are independent of thermal effects. There is no proper method for measuring the parameters of the non-thermal biological effects of FIR, which limits its biomedical application. In this study, we established a cell detection platform using epithelial cell migration to measure the limits of the biological effects of FIR. FIR promoted the migration of rat renal tubular epithelial cells as revealed by our standardized detection method. We defined the ratio of the FIR-promoted migration area to the migration area of the control group as the FIR biological index (FBI). An increase of the FBI was highly associated with FIR-promoted mitochondrial function. Through FBI detection, we revealed the limits of the biological effects of FIR, including effective irradiation time, wavelengths, and temperature. FBI detection can be used to clarify important parameters of the biological effects of FIR in biomedical studies and health industry applications.
A universal approach to investigate circRNA protein coding function
Authors: Mo Dingding , Li Xinping , Raabe Carsten A. , Cui Di , Vollmar Jeanne-Franca , Rozhdestvensky Timofey S. , Skryabin Boris V. , Brosius Juergen 
Published: August 2019

AbstractCircular RNAs (circRNAs) are an emerging class of RNA molecules that have been linked to human diseases and important regulatory pathways. Their functional roles are still under investigation, often hampered by inefficient circRNA formation in and ex vivo. We generated an intron-mediated enhancement (IME) system that—in comparison to previously published methods—increases circRNA formation up to 5-fold. This strategy also revealed previously undetected translation of circRNA, e.g., circRtn4. Substantiated by Western blots and mass spectrometry we showed that in mammalian cells, translation of circRtn4 containing a potential “infinite” circular reading frame resulted in “monomers” and extended proteins, presumably “multimer” tandem repeats. In order to achieve high levels of circRNA formation and translation of other natural or recombinant circRNAs, we constructed a versatile circRNA expression vector—pCircRNA-DMo. We demonstrated the general applicability of this method by efficiently generating two additional circRNAs exhibiting high expression levels. The circRNA expression vector will be an important tool to investigate different aspects of circRNA biogenesis and to gain insights into mechanisms of circular RNA translation.
Construction of a high density linkage map and genome dissection of bruchid resistance in zombi pea (Vigna vexillata (L.) A. Rich)
Authors: Amkul Kitiya , Wang Lixia , Somta Prakit , Wang Suhua , Cheng Xuzhen 
Published: August 2019

AbstractZombi pea (Vigna vexillata) is a legume crop that is resistant to several biotic and abiotic stresses. Callosobruchus maculatus and Callosobruchus chinensis are serious stored-insect pests of legume crops. We constructed a high-density linkage map and performed quantitative trait loci (QTLs) mapping for resistance to these insect species in zombi pea. An F2 population of 198 individuals from a cross between ‘TVNu 240’ (resistant) and ‘TVNu 1623’ (susceptible) varieties was used to construct a linkage map of 6,529 single nucleotide polymorphism markers generated from sequencing amplified fragments of specific loci. The map comprised 11 linkage groups, spanning 1,740.9 cM, with an average of 593.5 markers per linkage group and an average distance of 0.27 cM between markers. High levels of micro-synteny between V. vexillata and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), mungbean (Vigna radiata), azuki bean (Vigna angularis) and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) were found. One major and three minor QTLs for C. chinensis resistance and one major and one minor QTLs for C. maculatus resistance were identified. The major QTLs for resistance to C. chinensis and C. maculatus appeared to be the same locus. The linkage map developed in this study will facilitate the identification of useful genes/QTLs in zombi pea.
Susceptibility survey of Ommatissus lybicus (de Bergevin) populations against deltamethrin and fenitrothion in Oman
Authors: Khan Rashad Rasool , Al-Khatri Salim Ali Humaid , Al-Ghafri Thuwaini Hashil Abdullah , Al-Mazidi Ibtisam Salim Suliman , Al-Rawahi Fatima Gharib , Al-Jabri Saif Suliman , Hussain Muhammad Hammad 
Published: August 2019

AbstractDespite of extensive application of insecticides, severe infestation of date palms is reported with Ommatissus lybicus every year. The development of insecticide resistance in the field strains receiving heavy pesticide regimes can be a reason for unsuccessful control. Seventeen field strains of O. lybicus from Oman were appraised for resistance against deltamethrin and fenitrothion in years 2017 and 2018. Eleven field strains depicted susceptibility (RR < 3-fold) while six strains expressed minor (RR = 3–5-fold) to low level (RR = 5–10-fold) of resistance against deltamethrin when compared with lab-susceptible strain. In case of fenitrothion, fourteen field strains exhibited minor to low level of resistance and only two showed susceptibility. Intermediate resistance (RR = 10–40-fold) was also reported in one field strain against fenitrothion. A significant but low resistance (RR = 7.86-fold) was observed in a lab strain selected with deltamethrin for resistance development mechanism studies. The deltamethrin-selected strain exhibited minor resistance development (RR = 3.13-fold) against fenitrothion. Significant reduction in resistance was observed with higher toxicity values when the two pesticides were tested along with piperonyl butoxide (PBO) against all the field collected dubas bug strains. Higher susceptibility of field strains to deltamethrin suggest it a suitable alternate candidate to deter resistance development in O. lybicus.