bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Surviving host - and food relevant stresses: phenotype of L. monocytogenes strains isolated from food and clinical sources
Authors: Horlbog Jule Anna , Kent David , Stephan Roger , Guldimann Claudia 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThe aim of this study was to compare the phenotype of 40 strains of L. monocytogenes under food and host relevant stress conditions. The strains were chosen to represent food and clinical isolates and to be equally distributed between the most relevant clonal complexes for clinical and food isolates (CC1 and CC6 vs CC121 and CC9), plus one group of eight strains of rare clonal complexes. Human-associated CC1 had a faster maximal growth rate than the other major complexes, and the lag time of CC1 and CC6 was significantly less affected by the addition of 4% NaCl to the medium. Food-associated CC9 strains were hypohemolytic compared to other clonal complexes, and all strains found to be resistant to increased concentrations of benzalkonium chloride belonged to CC121 and were positive for Tn6188 carrying the qacH gene. Lactic acid affected the survival of L. monocytogenes more than HCl, and there was a distinct, strain specific pattern of acid tolerant and sensitive strains. Strains from CC6 and human clinical isolates are less resilient under acid stress than those from other complexes and from food. One strain isolated from a human patient exhibited significant growth defects across all conditions.
Scalable Memdiodes Exhibiting Rectification and Hysteresis for Neuromorphic Computing
Authors: Shank Joshua C. , Tellekamp M. Brooks , Wahila Matthew J. , Howard Sebastian , Weidenbach Alex S. , Zivasatienraj Bill , Piper Louis F. J. , Doolittle W. Alan 
Published: August 2018

AbstractMetal-Nb2O5−x-metal memdiodes exhibiting rectification, hysteresis, and capacitance are demonstrated for applications in neuromorphic circuitry. These devices do not require any post-fabrication treatments such as filament creation by electroforming that would impede circuit scalability. Instead these devices operate due to Poole-Frenkel defect controlled transport where the high defect density is inherent to the Nb2O5−x deposition rather than post-fabrication treatments. Temperature dependent measurements reveal that the dominant trap energy is 0.22 eV suggesting it results from the oxygen deficiencies in the amorphous Nb2O5−x. Rectification occurs due to a transition from thermionic emission to tunneling current and is present even in thick devices (>100 nm) due to charge trapping which controls the tunneling distance. The turn-on voltage is linearly proportional to the Schottky barrier height and, in contrast to traditional metal-insulator-metal diodes, is logarithmically proportional to the device thickness. Hysteresis in the I–V curve occurs due to the current limited filling of traps.
Serum from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease induces senescence-related phenotype in bronchial epithelial cells
Authors: Kuźnar-Kamińska Barbara , Mikuła-Pietrasik Justyna , Witucka Anna , Romaniuk Aleksandra , Konieczna Natalia , Rubiś Błażej , Książek Krzysztof , Tykarski Andrzej , Batura-Gabryel Halina 
Published: August 2018

AbstractChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a risk factor for the development of lung cancer (LC). The mechanism of interplay between both diseases remains poorly recognized. This report examines whether COPD may cause a senescence response in human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs), leading to the progression of LC in a senescence-dependent manner. The results show that HBECs exposed to serum from COPD patients manifest increased expression of markers of cellular senescence, including senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal), histone γ-H2A.X, and p21, as compared to the serum of healthy donors. This effect coincides with an increased generation of reactive oxygen species by these cells. The clinical analysis demonstrated that COPD may cause the senescence, independently on smoking status and disease severity. The concentrations of CXCL5, CXCL8/IL-8 and VEGF were higher in conditioned medium (CM) harvested from HBECs after exposure to COPD serum as compared to controls. In addition, CM treated with serum from COPD patients stimulated adhesion of A549 cancer cells to HBECs, as well as accelerating cancer cell proliferation and migrationin vitro. Collectively, these findings indicate that COPD may induce senescence-like changes in HBECs and thus enhance some processes associated with the progression of lung cancer.
A facultative mutualistic feedback enhances the stability of tropical intertidal seagrass beds
Authors: de Fouw Jimmy , van der Heide Tjisse , van Belzen Jim , Govers Laura L. , Cheikh Mohammed Ahmed Sidi , Olff Han , van de Koppel Johan , van Gils Jan A. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractMarine foundation species such as corals, seagrasses, salt marsh plants, and mangrove trees are increasingly found to engage in mutualistic interactions. Because mutualisms by their very nature generate a positive feedback between the species, subtle environmental impacts on one of the species involved may trigger mutualism breakdown, potentially leading to ecosystem regime shifts. Using an empirically parameterized model, we investigate a facultative mutualism between seagrass and lucinid bivalves with endosymbiotic sulfide-oxidizing gill bacteria in a tropical intertidal ecosystem. Model predictions for our system show that, by alleviating the build-up of toxic sulfide, this mutualism maintains an otherwise intrinsically unstable seagrass ecosystem. However, an increase in seagrass mortality above natural levels, due to e.g. desiccation stress, triggers mutualism breakdown. This pushes the system in collapse-and-recovery dynamics (‘slow-fast cycles’) characterized by long-term persistent states of bare and seagrass-dominated, with rapid transitions in between. Model results were consistent with remote sensing analyses that suggest feedback-mediated state shifts induced by desiccation. Overall, our combined theoretical and empirical results illustrate the potential of mutualistic feedbacks to stabilize ecosystems, but also reveal an important drawback as small environmental changes may trigger shifts. We therefore suggest that mutualisms should be considered for marine conservation and restoration of seagrass beds.
Different signatures of miR-16, miR-30b and miR-93 in exosomes from breast cancer and DCIS patients
Authors: Ni Qingtao , Stevic Ines , Pan Chi , Müller Volkmar , Oliveira-Ferrer Leticia , Pantel Klaus , Schwarzenbach Heidi 
Published: August 2018

AbstractLoading of microRNAs (miRNAs) into exosomes that are involved in cellular communication is a selective process. The current study investigates whether the enrichment of miRNAs in exosomes reflects the pathogenesis of breast cancer (BC) and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). The levels of miRNAs were quantified in exosomes from plasma of 32 BC patients, 8 DCIS patients and 8 healthy women by TaqMan real-time PCR-based miRNA array cards containing 47 different miRNAs. Then, exosomal miR-16, miR-30b and miR-93 that displayed deregulation in the arrays were selected and analyzed in 111 BC patients, 42 DCIS patients and 39 healthy women by TaqMan real-time PCR. Identification of exosomes was performed by Western blot. The levels of exosomal miR-16 were higher in plasma of BC (p = 0.034) and DCIS (p = 0.047) patients than healthy women, and were associated with estrogen (p = 0.004) and progesterone (p = 0.008) receptor status. Particularly, in estrogen-positive patients miR-16 was significantly enriched in exosomes (p = 0.0001). Lower levels of exosomal miR-30b were associated with recurrence (p = 0.034). Exosomal miR-93 was upregulated in DCIS patients (p = 0.001). Our findings suggest that different signatures of miR-16, miR-30b and miR-93 in exosomes from BC and DCIS patients are associated with a particular biology of breast tumors.
Biophysical and structural characterization of the thermostable WD40 domain of a prokaryotic protein, Thermomonospora curvata PkwA
Authors: Shen Chen , Du Ye , Qiao Fangfang , Kong Tian , Yuan Lirong , Zhang Delin , Wu Xianhui , Li Dongyang , Wu Yun-Dong 
Published: August 2018

AbstractWD40 proteins belong to a big protein family with members identified in every eukaryotic proteome. However, WD40 proteins were only reported in a few prokaryotic proteomes. Using WDSP (http://wu.scbb.pkusz.edu.cn/wdsp/), a prediction tool, we identified thousands of prokaryotic WD40 proteins, among which few proteins have been biochemically characterized. As shown in our previous bioinformatics study, a large proportion of prokaryotic WD40 proteins have higher intramolecular sequence identity among repeats and more hydrogen networks, which may indicate better stability than eukaryotic WD40s. Here we report our biophysical and structural study on the WD40 domain of PkwA from Thermomonospora curvata (referred as tPkwA-C). We demonstrated that the stability of thermophilic tPkwA-C correlated to ionic strength and tPkwA-C exhibited fully reversible unfolding under different denaturing conditions. Therefore, the folding kinetics was also studied through stopped-flow circular dichroism spectra. The crystal structure of tPkwA-C was further resolved and shed light on the key factors that stabilize its beta-propeller structure. Like other WD40 proteins, DHSW tetrad has a significant impact on the stability of tPkwA-C. Considering its unique features, we proposed that tPkwA-C should be a great structural template for protein engineering to study key residues involved in protein-protein interaction of a WD40 protein.
Estimating sleep parameters using an accelerometer without sleep diary
Authors: van Hees Vincent Theodoor , Sabia S. , Jones S. E. , Wood A. R. , Anderson K. N. , Kivimäki M. , Frayling T. M. , Pack A. I. , Bucan M. , Trenell M. I. , Mazzotti Diego R. , Gehrman P. R. , Singh-Manoux B. A. , Weedon M. N. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractWrist worn raw-data accelerometers are used increasingly in large-scale population research. We examined whether sleep parameters can be estimated from these data in the absence of sleep diaries. Our heuristic algorithm uses the variance in estimated z-axis angle and makes basic assumptions about sleep interruptions. Detected sleep period time window (SPT-window) was compared against sleep diary in 3752 participants (range = 60–82 years) and polysomnography in sleep clinic patients (N = 28) and in healthy good sleepers (N = 22). The SPT-window derived from the algorithm was 10.9 and 2.9 minutes longer compared with sleep diary in men and women, respectively. Mean C-statistic to detect the SPT-window compared to polysomnography was 0.86 and 0.83 in clinic-based and healthy sleepers, respectively. We demonstrated the accuracy of our algorithm to detect the SPT-window. The value of this algorithm lies in studies such as UK Biobank where a sleep diary was not used.
A combination of subcuticular suture and enhanced recovery after surgery reduces wound complications in patients undergoing hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Chen Zu-Shun , Zhu Shao-Liang , Qi Lu-Nan , Li Le-Qun 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThe aim of this study was to examine whether using subcuticular sutures during initial hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma is associated with shorter postoperative length of hospital stay (PLOS) than using staples for patients treated in the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) approach. A total of 376 patients were randomized to receive either subcuticular sutures or staples (188 per group), and the two groups were compared in terms of the incidence of wound complications and PLOS. Independent risk factors for PLOS were identified by multivariate analysis. Sutures were associated with significantly lower incidence of wound infection (4.3% vs. 13.3%, P = 0.020) and significantly shorter PLOS (7.97 vs. 8.45 days, P = 0.048). Independent risk factors for wound infection after hepatectomy were advanced age, increased preoperative body mass index, decreased preoperative serum albumin, and skin closure using staples. These results suggest that subcuticular sutures may be more effective than staples for conducting hepatectomy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who receive ERAS care.
Shear bands and the evolving microstructure in a drying colloidal film studied with scanning µ-SAXS
Authors: Yang Bin , Smith Nathan D. , Johannes Andreas , Burghammer Manfred , Smith Mike I. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractShear localisation in thin bands is an important process involved in the plastic deformation of materials subject to stress. This process is often sensitive to the sample microstructure (amorphous/crystalline). Here we show using the scanning µ-SAXS technique, how these different microstructures influence the plastic deformations in a drying colloidal film. In crystalline samples, the presence of an ordering transition at the compaction front was directly identified through the development of a six-fold symmetry in the scattering pattern in 20 wt% samples. It is shown that plastic deformations in individual groups of particles during the compaction process can be tracked and measured in real time. Higher concentration suspensions were found to result in amorphous structures. The transition between crystalline and amorphous microstructures with initial particle concentration was also found to correlate with the appearance of shear bands. Through 2D spatial mapping of the local film structure, the presence of shear bands in the films was directly related to the microscale spatial variations in strain magnitude and compression direction. Our measurements also showed that shear bands lead to a reduction in the local particle volume fraction ~1–2%, indicating significant dilatancy.
Dual‐band dual sense microstrip antenna with improved characteristics
Authors: Chakrabarti S. , Chakraborty A. 
Published: August 2018

The development of a dual polarised microstrip antenna for S‐ and C‐band with improved characteristics is presented. It is dual linearly polarised at S‐band and dual circularly polarised at C‐band. Two orthogonal feeds have been conceived for proximity coupling at S‐band. The other two composite feeds are aperture coupled at C‐band. These generate left‐hand and right‐hand circular polarisations exclusively. The antenna reveals 3.5% or more impedance bandwidth at the S‐band ports with an isolation better than 22 dB (the best isolation is ≈31.5 dB at the band‐centre). It yields >21.2% impedance bandwidth and about 10.2% axial‐ratio bandwidth at each of the C‐band ports, both being improved compared to the earlier reports. Achieved isolation between the C‐band ports is better than 18.5 dB (≈23.5 dB at the centre of the working band).
Experimental training systems in Champagne: an overview of agronomical and qualitative parameters
Authors: Perry Julie , Debuisson Sébastien , Descôtes Arnaud 
Published: August 2018

Vine implantation in Champagne is strictly regulated. Row spacing is limited to 1,50 meter and the canopy height can not exceed 1,40 m. The traditional training system is therefore characterized by narrow spaced vines.
From the late eighties, different vine training systems, such as lyres, have been tested in the Champagne area. The aim is to assess their interests in the terroir of Champagne, which is characterised by its cool climate, soil profile and its customs.
Whereas the lyre training showed its limits in the Champagne context, some other training systems have been implemented such as half-widely-spaced vines. These devices are characterised by a row spacing of two meters, a consistent cover crop and a canopy up to two meters. The plots are located in various places in the area and are strictly followed each year since 2006 (and 2000 for the first sites). Phenological, agronomical and ripening parameters are controlled and compared to the traditional training system plots. Experimental vinifications are done each year so that sensory analysis can be undertaken to assess the ability of these vines to produce wines with a Champagne typicality.
The results of this experimental device show interesting conclusions on the agronomical behaviour of experimental widely-spaced vines in a cool climate region. Spring frost resistance, cover crop management and ripening are some elements which show differences between the reference traditional system (REF) and the widely-spaced vines (VSL).
Visual gene network analysis of aging-specific gene co-expression in human indicates overlaps with immuno-pathological regulations
Authors: Parida Bibhu Prasad , Misra Biswapriya Biswavas , Misra Amarendra Narayan 
Published: August 2018

Introduction: Aging is a complex biological process that brings about a gradual decline of physiological and metabolic machineries as a result of maturity. Also, aging is irreversible and leads ultimately to death in biological organisms.Methods: We intend to characterize aging at the gene expression level using publicly available human gene expression arrays obtained from gene expression omnibus (GEO) and ArrayExpress. Candidate genes were identified by rigorous screening using filtered data sets, i.e., GSE11882, GSE47881, and GSE32719. Using Aroma and Limma packages, we selected the top 200 genes showing up and down regulation (p < 0.05 and fold change >2.5) out of which 185 were chosen for further comparative analysis.Results: This investigation enabled identification of candidate genes involved in aging that are associated with several signaling cascades demonstrating strong correlation with ATP binding and protease functions.Conclusion: A majority of these gene encoded proteins function extracellularly, and also provide insights into the immunopathological basis of aging.
Zur Notwendigkeit der Philosophie im Medizinstudium
Authors: Bohrer Thomas , Schmidt Michael , Königshausen Johann-Heinrich 
Published: August 2018

AbstractToday, the study and practice of medicine are treated with a natural scientific approach. However, medical action has its foundations not only in the natural sciences and technology, but also in ethics, humanity and philosophy. The Wuerzburg Philosophicum teaches, apart from medical ethics, a systematic analysis of a theory of medicine in the context of other sciences, the theory of knowledge, anthropology and hermeneutics.
Die transaxilläre roboterassistierte Thyreoidektomie – Ergebnisse und Akzeptanz einer neuen Operationsmethode
Authors: Maurer Elisabeth , Wächter Sabine , Albers Max , Holzer Katharina , Bartsch Detlef 
Published: August 2018

Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund In der Schilddrüsenchirurgie sind in den letzten Jahren vermehrt alternative Zugänge evaluiert und teilweise etabliert worden, um dem vermeintlich zunehmenden kosmetischen Anspruch der Patienten mit Vermeidung einer sichtbaren Narbe am Hals zu entsprechen. Wir berichten hier über unsere Erfahrungen mit der transaxillären roboterassistierten Thyreoidektomie (TRAT).
Methoden Im Rahmen einer prospektiven Beobachtungsstudie wurde die TRAT zunächst Patienten mit Indikation zur einseitigen Schilddrüsenoperation bei benigner Struma mit einem Lappenvolumen bis 40 ml nach ausführlicher Aufklärung angeboten. Die Akzeptanz der Methode und deren operativer Ergebnisse, insbesondere die Operationszeit, sowie intra- und postoperative Komplikationen wurden ausgewertet. Zudem wurde die Zufriedenheit der Patienten mit dem kosmetischen Ergebnis 8 – 12 Wochen nach der Operation erfragt.
Ergebnisse Von Januar 2013 bis Januar 2018 wurde 151 Patienten eine TRAT angeboten, wovon sich 65 (43,0%) für diese Operationsmethode entschieden. Bei diesen 65 Patienten erfolgten 51 Hemithyreoidektomien, 6 Isthmusresektionen und 8 Dunhill-Operationen. Die durchschnittliche Operationszeit betrug 121,5 Minuten (Spannweite 83 – 221) für die Isthmusresektionen, 165,0 Minuten (Spannweite 100 – 300) für die Hemithyreoidektomien und 259 Minuten (Spannweite 197 – 320) für die Dunhill-Operationen. Die Rate an Recurrensparesen betrug 8,2% (6 von 73 „nerves at risk“), wovon diese bei 2 Patienten (2,7%) nach 6 Monaten persistierten. Ein postoperativer Hypoparathyreoidismus oder Nachblutungen kamen nicht vor, ebenso keine Tracheal-, Ösophagus- oder Gefäßverletzungen. Bei 9 Patienten (13,8%) kam es zu passageren Hautparästhesien über dem Zugangsweg, 2 der ersten 5 (3,1%) Patienten erlitten passagere Armplexusparesen. 93% der Patienten bewerteten das kosmetische Ergebnis als „gut“ oder „sehr gut“, die Weiterempfehlungsrate lag ebenfalls bei 93%.
Schlussfolgerung Die TRAT ist vor allem bei einseitigen Befunden sicher und in akzeptabler Zeit durchführbar. Die TRAT kommt in Deutschland aufgrund der geringen Akzeptanz durch die Patienten, der hohen Kosten der Methodik ohne Refinanzierung und die Limitationen bei großer Struma nur für ein sehr selektioniertes Patientengut infrage.
Muss der intraoperative Quick-Parathormonwert beim lokalisierten, sporadischen Hyperparathyreoidismus abgewartet werden?
Authors: Maurer Elisabeth , Wächter Sabine , Holzer Katharina , Bartsch Detlef 
Published: August 2018

Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund Die fokussierte Parathyreoidektomie hat sich in den letzten Jahren zum Eingriff der Wahl beim lokalisierten sporadischen primären Hyperparathyreoidismus (pHPT) entwickelt. Als Voraussetzung für eine erfolgreiche Operation wird die intraoperative Quick-Parathormonbestimmung (qPTH) angesehen. Allerdings verursacht die qPTH-Bestimmung eine Verlängerung der Operations- und Narkosezeit. Ziel der Studie war zu prüfen, welche Nachteile für den Patienten entstehen, wenn der intraoperative qPTH-Wert nicht generell abgewartet wird.
Methoden Zwischen März 2009 und September 2017 wurde bei 202 Patienten mit pHPT und konkordanter Lokalisationsdiagnostik (99mTc-Sestamibi-Szintigrafie, Halssonografie) eine fokussierte Parathyreoidektomie angeboten. Bei allen Patienten wurde eine Schnellschnittuntersuchung und ein qPTH-Test (Basalwert und 15-Minuten-post-Exzisions-Wert) durchgeführt. Im Falle eines für den Operateur makroskopisch überzeugenden Adenoms wurde der 15-Minuten-qPTH-Wert nicht abgewartet, sondern der Eingriff nach Vorliegen des bestätigenden Schnellschnittergebnisses beendet. Die Patienten waren informiert, dass für den Fall eines inadäquaten PTH-Abfalls ggf. am Folgetag eine Reexploration erfolgen würde.
Ergebnisse Insgesamt wurden 176 (87,1%) der 202 fokussierten Eingriffe beendet, ohne den qPTH-Wert abzuwarten. Die durchschnittliche Operationszeit bei diesen Eingriffen betrug 60,4 ± 32,9 min. Bei all diesen Patienten wurde der 15-Minuten-qPTH erst nach Extubation durchgegeben und war adäquat um über 50% in den Normbereich abgefallen. Bei 26 (12,9%) Patienten wurde der qPTH-Wert abgewartet. Die durchschnittliche Operationszeit war mit 112,0 ± 43,1 min signifikant länger (p = 0,0095) als bei den 176 Eingriffen ohne Abwarten des qPTH-Werts. Bei 8 der 26 Patienten wurde der Eingriff aufgrund eines inadäquaten PTH-Abfalls ausgeweitet. Bei 2 dieser Patienten, somit 2 von 202 (0,99%) Patienten, persistierte postoperativ der pHPT.
Zusammenfassung Bei Patienten mit sporadischem pHPT und einem präoperativ konkordant lokalisierten, singulären Adenom muss der intraoperative qPTH-Wert nicht generell abgewartet werden, wenn ein makroskopisch überzeugendes Adenom entfernt und im Schnellschnitt bestätigt wurde. Dieses Vorgehen ist für die Patienten sicher und reduziert Operationszeit und Kosten.