bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Age‐Dependent Impairment in Endothelial Function and Arterial Stiffness in Former High Class Male Athletes Is No Different to That in Men With No History of Physical Training
Authors: Majerczak Joanna , Grandys Marcin , Frołow Marzena , Szkutnik Zbigniew , Zakrzewska Agnieszka , Niżankowski Rafał , Duda Krzysztof , Chlopicki Stefan , Zoladz Jerzy A. 
Published: September 2019

Background
Physical activity is generally considered to exert positive effects on the cardiovascular system in humans. However, surprisingly little is known about the delayed effect of professional physical training performed at a young age on endothelial function and arterial stiffness in aging athletes. The present study aimed to assess the impact of long‐lasting professional physical training (endurance and sprint) performed at a young age on the endothelial function and arterial stiffness reported in older age in relation to glycocalyx injury, prostacyclin and nitric oxide production, inflammation, basal blood lipid profile, and glucose homeostasis.

Methods and Results

This study involved 94 male subjects with varied training backgrounds, including young athletes (mean age ∼25 years), older former high class athletes (mean age ∼60 years), and aged‐matched untrained control groups. Aging increased arterial stiffness, as reflected by an enhancement in pulse wave velocity, augmentation index, and stiffness index (
P
<10
−4
), as well as decreased endothelial function, as judged by the attenuation of flow‐mediated vasodilation (
FMD
) in the brachial artery (
P
=0.03). Surprisingly, no effect of the training performed at a young age on endothelial function and arterial stiffness was observed in the former athletes. Moreover, no effect of training performed at a young age (
P
>0.05) on blood lipid profile, markers of inflammation, and glycocalyx shedding were observed in the former athletes.

Conclusions
Our study clearly shows that aging, but not physical training history, represents the main contributing factor responsible for decline in endothelial function and increase in arterial stiffness in former athletes.
Self-pressurised rapid freezing, a time-efficient and affordable cryo-fixation method for ultrastructural observations on unhatched cyst nematodes
Authors: Claeys Myriam , Handayani Nurul Dwi , Yushin Vladimir V. , Lestari Prabowo , Dikin Antarjo , Helder Johannes , Bert Wim 
Published: September 2019

Summary
Ultrastructural analysis of the early development of nematodes is hampered by the impermeability of the eggshell to most commonly used fixatives. High-pressure freezing (HPF), a physical cryo-fixation method, facilitates a fast rate of fixation, and by using this method the issue of the uneven delivery of fixative is circumvented. Although HPF results in a superior preservation of the fine structure, the equipment costs impede a wider application of this method. Self-pressurised rapid freezing (SPRF) is an alternative low-cost cryo-fixation method, and its usefulness was evaluated in an ultrastructural study of the eggshell and the cuticle of unhatched second-stage juveniles (J2) of Globodera rostochiensis and Heterodera schachtii. A comparison with conventional (chemical) fixation demonstrates that SPRF fixation results in a remarkably well-preserved ultrastructure of the entire egg including both the eggshell and the cellular details of the unhatched J2. Therefore, SPRF fixation is proposed as an affordable, relatively easy-to-use and time-efficient technique to study the ultrastructure of unhatched J2 and eggs of nematodes.
Nonsingular Zero-Order Bulk Models of Sheared Convective Boundary Layers
Authors: Haghshenas Armin , Mellado Juan Pedro , Hartmann Moritz 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
Two zero-order bulk models (ZOMs) are developed for the velocity, buoyancy, and moisture of a cloud-free barotropic convective boundary layer (CBL) that grows into a linearly stratified atmosphere. The models differ in the entrainment closure assumption: in the first one, termed the “energetics-based model,” the negative and positive areas of the buoyancy flux are assumed to match between the model and the actual CBL; in the second one, termed the “geometric-based model,” the modeled CBL depth is assumed to match different definitions of the actual CBL depth. Parameterizations for these properties derived from direct numerical simulation (DNS) are employed as entrainment closure equations. These parameterizations, and hence the resulting models, are free from the potential singularity at finite wind strength that has been a major limitation in previous bulk models. The proposed ZOMs are verified using the DNS data. Model results show that the CBL depths obtained from the energetics-based model and previous ZOMs correspond to the height that marks the transition from the lower to the upper entrainment-zone sublayer; this reference height is few hundred meters above the height of the minimum buoyancy flux. It is also argued that ZOMs, despite their simplicity compared to higher-order models, can accurately represent CBL bulk properties when the relevant features of the actual entrainment zone are considered in the entrainment closures. The vertical structure of the actual entrainment zone, if required, can be constructed a posteriori using the available relationships between the predicted zero-order CBL depth and various definitions of the actual CBL depth.
Evaluating Himawari-8 Cloud Products Using Shipborne and CALIPSO Observations: Cloud-Top Height and Cloud-Top Temperature
Authors: Huang Yi , Siems Steven , Manton Michael , Protat Alain , Majewski Leon , Nguyen Hanh 
Published: September 2019

AbstractCloud-top height (CTH) and cloud-top temperature (CTT) retrieved from the Himawari-8 observations are evaluated using the active shipborne radar–lidar observations derived from the 31-day Clouds, Aerosols, Precipitation Radiation and Atmospheric Composition over the Southern Ocean (CAPRICORN) experiment in 2016 and 1-yr observations from the spaceborne Cloud–Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) cloud product over a large sector of the Southern Ocean. The results show that the Himawari-8 CTH (CTT) retrievals agree reasonably well with both the shipborne estimates, with a correlation coefficient of 0.837 (0.820), a mean bias error of 0.226 km (−2.526°C), and an RMSE of 1.684 km (10.069°C). In the comparison with CALIOP, the corresponding quantities are found to be 0.786 (0.480), −0.570 km (1.343°C), and 2.297 km (25.176°C). The Himawari-8 CTH (CTT) generally falls between the physical CTHs observed by CALIOP and the shipborne radar–lidar estimates. However, major systematic biases are also identified. These errors include (i) a low (warm) bias in CTH (CTT) for warm liquid cloud type, (ii) a cold bias in CTT for supercooled liquid water cloud type, (iii) a lack of CTH at ~3 km that does not have a corresponding gap in CTT, (iv) a tendency of misclassifying some low-/mid-top clouds as cirrus and overlap cloud types, and (v) a saturation of CTH (CTT) around 10 km (−40°C), particularly for cirrus and overlap cloud types. Various challenges that underpin these biases are also explored, including the potential of parallax bias, low-level inversion, and cloud heterogeneity.
Left liver anatomical resection via the left vertical groove and intraoperative antegrade cholangioscopy in patients with left-sided hepatolithiasis and previous biliary tract surgery
Authors: Zhou Yong , Jiang Guo-qin , Fan Ren-Gen , Zha Wen-Zhang , Wu Xu-dong 
Published: September 2019

Objective This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of left liver anatomical resection via the left vertical groove following intraoperative antegrade cholangioscopy (biliary exploration through the left hepatic duct orifice) in patients with left-sided hepatolithiasis (LSH) and previous biliary tract surgery. Methods Between January 2012 and January 2016, eligible patients with LSH (n = 28) who underwent left liver anatomical resection via the left vertical groove followed by intraoperative antegrade cholangioscopy, were referred to our hospital. Clinical results, such as the overall operative time, length of hospital stay, intraoperative complications, residual stones and postoperative bile leaks, were recorded and analyzed. Results No residual stones and bile leakage occurred in the patients. No patients experienced intraoperative complications or T-tube placement. The mean operative time was 135.1 ± 18.9 minutes. The mean postoperative duration of hospitalization was 7.8 ± 1.8 days. Conclusions Left liver anatomical resection via the left vertical groove combined with intraoperative antegrade cholangioscopy is a safe and useful method for patients with LSH and previous biliary tract surgery. This technique simplifies the operative procedure by avoiding dissection of the porta hepatis and subsequent choledochotomy.
The Patterns and Social Determinants of Breastfeeding in 12 Selected Regions in China: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Fang Zhe , Liu Yuning , Wang Hanyu , Tang Kun 
Published: September 2019

Background With rapid industrialization and urbanization, there is a growing need for women to enter the workforce, and affluent people are drawn to the infant formula market. The breastfeeding rates in China are below the optimal level. Large scale quantitative research studying breastfeeding practices after 2015 in China are lacking. Research aim We aimed to (1) explore the latest patterns and (2) identify the determinants of breastfeeding in China. Methods The study was a population-based, cross-sectional survey. A multi-stage sampling technique was adopted for the selection of participants. We recruited 10,408 mothers with children under 12 months old, in 12 regions of China, and conducted a questionnaire survey about breastfeeding patterns. The associations between social and biophysical determinants and breastfeeding outcomes were analyzed using a logistic regression model. Results The exclusive breastfeeding rate was 29.32% ( n = 3,052) decreasing from 32.71% ( n = 3,404) to 15.83% ( n = 1,648) among children aged 0–5 months. Cesarean section had a negative association with early breastfeeding initiation ( OR = .33, 95% CI [.30, .36]), exclusive breastfeeding ( OR = .78, 95% CI [.69, .89]), and predominant breastfeeding ( OR = .73, 95% CI [.65, .83]). Compared to participants with an annual household income lower than 40,000 Yuan ($5,817 USD), those with over 100,000 Yuan ($14,542 USD) had an OR of .78 (95% CI [.67, .90]) in exclusive breastfeeding. Compared with illiterate and unemployed groups, middle/high school education and a current work status, respectively, were associated with a lower likelihood of exclusive breastfeeding ( OR = .73, 95% CI [.63, .84]; OR = .58, 95% CI [.37, .89]). Conclusions The prevalence of breastfeeding in 12 selected regions in China was low and interventions focusing on the targeted population should be strengthened.
Sources of Caregiving Burden in Middle-Aged and Older Latino Caregivers
Authors: Balbim Guilherme Moraes , Magallanes Melissa , Marques Isabela Gouveia , Ciruelas Karen , Aguiñaga Susan , Guzman Jacqueline , Marquez David Xavier 
Published: September 2019

Objective: We aimed to identify sources of caregiver burden in middle-aged and older Latino caregivers of people with Alzheimer disease and related dementia (ADRD). Methods: Participants were recruited through an agreement with the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center Clinic Data Repository. We conducted semistructured interviews with 16 middle-aged and older Latinos who were the primary caregiver for a family member diagnosed with ADRD. The interview guide consisted of questions and probes to capture participants’ perceptions of family caregiving. Direct content analysis was performed. Results: Participants were aged 50 to 75 years (n = 16) and a majority female (n = 12). The sources of burden identified were (1) caregiver responsibilities, (2) caregiving-related health decline, (3) lack of support, (4) financial status, (5) vigilance, and (6) concerns about the future. Conclusions: The influence of gender roles seemed to play a role in caregivers’ perceptions of sources of burden, especially on caregiver responsibilities and perceptions of lack of support. Latinos cultural values such as familismo and marianismo likely reinforced gender disparities in family caregiving.
Core-Shell Fiber-Based 2D Woven Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Effective Motion Energy Harvesting
Authors: Liu Jinmei , Gu Long , Cui Nuanyang , Bai Suo , Liu Shuhai , Xu Qi , Qin Yong , Yang Rusen , Zhou Feng 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
Personal electronic devices have a general development trend of miniaturization, functionality, and wearability. Their wireless, sustainable, and independent operation is critically important, which requests new power technologies that can harvest the ambient environmental energy. Here, we report a new kind of 2D woven wearable triboelectric nanogenerator (2DW-WTNG) composed of core-shell fibers via the twisting process and weaving process in the textile manufacture. The 2DW-WTNG can convert the body motion energy into electricity with an output current of 575 nA and an output voltage of 6.35 V. At an external load of 50 MΩ, it generated a maximum power density of 2.33 mW/m2. Electricity can be produced from the 2DW-WTNG driven in arbitrary in-plane directions. A tiny displacement of 0.4 mm can drive the 2DW-WTNG, which verified its capability to harvest energy from small human movement. The robust 2DW-WTNG can work continuously for 12 h without obvious performance degradation.
Improved Optical Property and Lasing of ZnO Nanowires by Ar Plasma Treatment
Authors: Li Haolin , Tang Jilong , Lin Fengyuan , Wang Dengkui , Fang Dan , Fang Xuan , Liu Weizhen , Chen Rui , Wei Zhipeng 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
ZnO nanowires play a very important role in optoelectronic devices due to the wide bandgap and high exciton binding energy. However, for one-dimensional nanowire, due to the large surface to volume ratio, surface traps and surface adsorbed species acts as an alternate pathway for the de-excitation of carriers. Ar plasma treatment is a useful method to enhance the optical property of ZnO nanowires. It is necessary to study the optical properties of ZnO nanowires treated by plasma with different energies. Here, we used laser spectroscopy to investigate the plasma treatments with various energies on ZnO nanowires. Significantly improved emission has been observed for low and moderate Ar plasma treatments, which can be ascribed to the surface cleaning effects and increased neutral donor-bound excitons. It is worth mentioning that about 60-folds enhancements of the emission at room temperature can be achieved under 200 W Ar plasma treatment. When the plasma energy exceeds the threshold, high-ion beam energy will cause irreparable damage to the ZnO nanowires. Thanks to the enhanced optical performance, random lasing is observed under optical pumping at room temperature. And the stability has been improved dramatically. By using this simple method, the optical property and stability of ZnO nanowires can be effectively enhanced. These results will play an important role in the development of low dimensional ZnO-based optoelectronic devices.
Comparison of the effect of rhodium citrate-associated iron oxide nanoparticles on metastatic and non-metastatic breast cancer cells
Authors: Chaves Natalia Lemos , Amorim Danilo Aquino , Lopes Cláudio Afonso Pinho , Estrela-Lopis Irina , Böttner Julia , de Souza Aparecido Ribeiro , Báo Sônia Nair 
Published: September 2019

Abstract

Background
Nanocarriers have the potential to improve the therapeutic index of currently available drugs by increasing drug efficacy, lowering drug toxicity and achieving steady-state therapeutic levels of drugs over an extended period. The association of maghemite nanoparticles (NPs) with rhodium citrate (forming the complex hereafter referred to as MRC) has the potential to increase the specificity of the cytotoxic action of the latter compound, since this nanocomposite can be guided or transported to a target by the use of an external magnetic field. However, the behavior of these nanoparticles for an extended time of exposure to breast cancer cells has not yet been explored, and nor has MRC cytotoxicity comparison in different cell lines been performed until now. In this work, the effects of MRC NPs on these cells were analyzed for up to 72 h of exposure, and we focused on comparing NPs’ therapeutic effectiveness in different cell lines to elect the most responsive model, while elucidating the underlying action mechanism.

Results
MRC complexes exhibited broad cytotoxicity on human tumor cells, mainly in the first 24 h. However, while MRC induced cytotoxicity in MDA-MB-231 in a time-dependent manner, progressively decreasing the required dose for significant reduction in cell viability at 48 and 72 h, MCF-7 appears to recover its viability after 48 h of exposure. The recovery of MCF-7 is possibly explained by a resistance mechanism mediated by PGP (P-glycoprotein) proteins, which increase in these cells after MRC treatment. Remaining viable tumor metastatic cells had the migration capacity reduced after treatment with MRC (24 h). Moreover, MRC treatment induced S phase arrest of the cell cycle.

Conclusion
MRC act at the nucleus, inhibiting DNA synthesis and proliferation and inducing cell death. These effects were verified in both tumor lines, but MDA-MB-231 cells seem to be more responsive to the effects of NPs. In addition, NPs may also disrupt the metastatic activity of remaining cells, by reducing their migratory capacity. Our results suggest that MRC nanoparticles are a promising nanomaterial that can provide a convenient route for tumor targeting and treatment, mainly in metastatic cells.
The use of the SLC16A1 gene as a potential marker to predict race performance in Arabian horses
Authors: Ropka-Molik Katarzyna , Stefaniuk-Szmukier Monika , Szmatoła Tomasz , Piórkowska Katarzyna , Bugno-Poniewierska Monika 
Published: September 2019

Abstract

Background
Arabian horses are commonly believed to be one of the oldest and the most popular horse breeds in the world, characterized by favourable stamina traits and exercise phenotypes. During intensive training, the rates of lactate production and utilization are critical to avoid muscle fatigue and a decrease in exercise performance. The key factor determining transmembrane lactate transport is the monocarboxylate transporter 1 protein coded for by the SLC16A1 gene. The aim of the present research was to identify polymorphisms in the coding sequence and UTRs in the equine SLC16A1 gene and to evaluate their potential association with race performance traits in Arabian horses. Based on RNA-seq data, SNPs were identified and genotyped using PCR-RFLP or PCR-HRM methods in 254 Arabian horses that competed in flat races. An association analysis between polymorphisms and racing results was performed.

Results
Novel polymorphisms in the equine SLC16A1 locus have been identified (missense and 5’UTR variants: g.55601543C > T and g.55589063 T > G). Analysis showed a significant association between the 5’UTR polymorphism and several racing results as follows: the possibility of winning first or second place, the number of races in which horses started and total financial benefits. The analysis also showed differences in genotype distribution depending on race distance. In the studied population, the shorter distance races were only won by TT horses. The GG and TG horses took first and second places in middle- and long-distance races, and the percentage of winning heterozygotes increased from 19.5 to 27% at the middle and long distances, respectively. The p.Val432Ile (g.55601543C > T) polymorphism was not significantly related to the analysed racing results.

Conclusion
Our results showed that g.55589063 T > G polymorphism affected the possibility of winning first or second place and of competing in more races. The different distribution of genotypes depending on race distance indicated the possibility of using a SNP in the SLC16A1 gene as a marker to predict the best race distance for a horse. The presented results provide a basis for further research to validate the use of the SLC16A1 gene as a potential marker associated with racing performance.
Chlamydia pan-genomic analysis reveals balance between host adaptation and selective pressure to genome reduction
Authors: Sigalova Olga M. , Chaplin Andrei V. , Bochkareva Olga O. , Shelyakin Pavel V. , Filaretov Vsevolod A. , Akkuratov Evgeny E. , Burskaia Valentina , Gelfand Mikhail S. 
Published: September 2019

Abstract

Background
Chlamydia are ancient intracellular pathogens with reduced, though strikingly conserved genome. Despite their parasitic lifestyle and isolated intracellular environment, these bacteria managed to avoid accumulation of deleterious mutations leading to subsequent genome degradation characteristic for many parasitic bacteria.

Results
We report pan-genomic analysis of sixteen species from genus Chlamydia including identification and functional annotation of orthologous genes, and characterization of gene gains, losses, and rearrangements. We demonstrate the overall genome stability of these bacteria as indicated by a large fraction of common genes with conserved genomic locations. On the other hand, extreme evolvability is confined to several paralogous gene families such as polymorphic membrane proteins and phospholipase D, and likely is caused by the pressure from the host immune system.

Conclusions
This combination of a large, conserved core genome and a small, evolvable periphery likely reflect the balance between the selective pressure towards genome reduction and the need to adapt to escape from the host immunity.
Deciphering epigenomic code for cell differentiation using deep learning
Authors: Ni Pengyu , Su Zhengchang 
Published: September 2019

AbstractBackgroundAlthough DNA sequence plays a crucial role in establishing the unique epigenome of a cell type, little is known about the sequence determinants that lead to the unique epigenomes of different cell types produced during cell differentiation. To fill this gap, we employed two types of deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) constructed for each of differentially related cell types and for each of histone marks measured in the cells, to learn the sequence determinants of various histone modification patterns in each cell type.ResultsWe applied our models to four differentially related human CD4+T cell types and six histone marks measured in each cell type. The cell models can accurately predict the histone marks in each cell type, while the mark models can also accurately predict the cell types based on a single mark. Sequence motifs learned by both the cell or mark models are highly similar to known binding motifs of transcription factors known to play important roles in CD4+T cell differentiation. Both the unique histone mark patterns in each cell type and the different patterns of the same histone mark in different cell types are determined by a set of motifs with unique combinations. Interestingly, the level of sharing motifs learned in the different cell models reflects the lineage relationships of the cells, while the level of sharing motifs learned in the different histone mark models reflects their functional relationships. These models can also enable the prediction of the importance of learned motifs and their interactions in determining specific histone mark patterns in the cell types.ConclusionSequence determinants of various histone modification patterns in different cell types can be revealed by comparative analysis of motifs learned in the CNN models for multiple cell types and histone marks. The learned motifs are interpretable and may provide insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms of establishing the unique epigenomes in different cell types. Thus, our results support the hypothesis that DNA sequences ultimately determine the unique epigenomes of different cell types through their interactions with transcriptional factors, epigenome remodeling system and extracellular cues during cell differentiation.