bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Generating Germ‐Free Drosophila to Study Gut‐Microbe Interactions: Protocol to Rear Drosophila Under Axenic Conditions
Authors: Kietz Christa , Pollari Vilma , Meinander Annika 
Published: June 2018

AbstractAs several diseases have been linked to dysbiosis of the human intestinal microflora, manipulation of the microbiota has emerged as an exciting new strategy for potentially treating and preventing diseases. However, the human microbiota consists of a plethora of different species, and distinguishing the impact of a specific bacterial species on human health is challenging. In tackling this challenge, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, with its far simpler microbial composition, has emerged as a powerful model for unraveling host‐microbe interactions. To study the interplay between the resident commensal microbiome and the host, flies can be made germ‐free, or axenic. To elucidate the impact of specific bacteria, axenic flies can then be re‐introduced to specific microbial species. In this unit, we provide a step‐by‐step protocol on how to rear Drosophila melanogaster under axenic conditions and confirm the axenity of flies. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Fullerene as a doxorubicin nanotransporter for targeted breast cancer therapy: Capillary electrophoresis analysis
Authors: Kepinska Marta , Kizek Rene , Milnerowicz Halina 
Published: June 2018

AbstractThe clinical use of doxorubicin (DOX) is limited by dose‐related cardiomyopathy, which becomes more prevalent with increasing cumulative doses of the drug. Complexes of fullerene with DOX were designed and studied using biophysical methods. The ability of DOX to release from fullerene at different pHs was analyzed. It has been shown that the size of the fullerene‐DOX complexes was ∼280 nm. The zeta potential for fullerene was ‒30 mV, for DOX ‒8 mV, and for fullerene‐DOX conjugates ‒24 mV. Drug release was studied by CE with LIF detection. When fullerene‐DOX conjugates were separated in a pH 7.5 buffer, 43% of all DOX signals were derived from free DOX, with the signal increasing as pH decreased. At pH 5.25, all DOX had been released and 100% of the signal was derived from free DOX. The release of DOX from complexes with fullerene at lower pH can be used in targeted antineoplastic therapy, resulting in lower toxicity for less acidic non‐target tissue.
Molecular Recognition of Spermine using Aggregation‐Induced Emission
Authors: Hayduk Matthias , Riebe Steffen , Rudolph Kevin , Schwarze Sandrina , van der Vight Felix , Daniliuc Constantin G. , Jansen Georg , Voskuhl Jens 
Published: June 2018

AbstractIn this communication we report the synthesis and characterisation of a novel dianionic compound with aggregation‐induced emission properties. This compound was able to recognize spermine via a multivalent electrostatic interaction leading to a restriction of intramolecular rotation enhancing the fluorescence emission. This recognition was investigated in detail using UV‐Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. Furthermore the binding stoichiometry was determined via isothermal titration calorimetry. Besides that the structure of the compound was confirmed by X‐ray crystallography. To proof the bivalent binding a singly negatively charged control compound was synthesized showing no specific interaction with the amines screened. Theoretical calculations were performed to get a deeper insight in the molecular structure and the electronic transitions.
Decreased Hip, Lower Leg, and Humeral Fractures but Increased Forearm Fractures in Highly Active Individuals
Authors: Stattin Karl , Hållmarker Ulf , Ärnlöv Johan , James Stefan , Michaëlsson Karl , Byberg Liisa 
Published: June 2018

ABSTRACT

It is not known how physical exercise affects the risk of different types of fractures, especially in highly active individuals. To investigate this association, we studied a cohort of 118,204 men and 71,757 women who from 1991 to 2009 participated in Vasaloppet, a long-distance cross-country skiing race in Sweden, and 505,194 nonparticipants frequency-matched on sex, age, and county of residence from the Swedish population. Participants ranged from recreational exercisers to world-class skiers. Race participation, distance of race run, number of races participated in, and finishing time were used as proxies for physical exercise. Incident fractures from 1991 to 2010 were obtained from national Swedish registers. Over a median follow-up of 8.9 years, 53,175 fractures of any type, 2929 hip, 3107 proximal humerus, 11,875 lower leg, 11,733 forearm, and 2391 vertebral fractures occurred. In a Cox proportional hazard regression analysis using time-updated exposure and covariate information, participation in the race was associated with an increased risk of any type of fracture (hazard ratio [HR], 1.02; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.05); forearm fractures had an HR, 1.11 with a 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.15. There was a lower risk of hip (HR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.83), proximal humerus (HR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.82 to 0.98), and lower leg fractures (HR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.89 to 0.97), whereas the HR of vertebral fracture was 0.97 with a 95% CI, 0.88 to 1.07. Among participants, the risk of fracture was similar irrespective of race distance and number of races run. Participants close to the median finishing time had a lower risk of fracture compared with faster and slower participants. In summary, high levels of physical exercise were associated with a slightly higher risk of fractures of any type, including forearm fractures, but a lower risk of hip, proximal humerus, and lower leg fractures. © 2018 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Involvement of GSK3/β‐catenin in the action of extracellular ATP on differentiation of primary cultures from rat calvaria into osteoblasts
Authors: Laiuppa Juan A. , Santillán Graciela E. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractModulation of purinergic receptors play an important role in the regulation of osteoblasts differentiation and bone formation. In this study, we investigated the involvement of the GSK3/βcatenin signaling in the action of ATPγ‐S on osteogenic differentiation of primary cell cultures from rat calvaria. Our results indicate that the cell treatment with 10 or 100 µM ATPγ‐S for 96 h increase the cytoplasmic levels of β‐catenin and its translocation to nucleus respect to control. A similar effect was observed after cell treatment with the GSK3 inhibitor LiCl (10 mM). Cell treatments with 4‐10 mM LiCl significantly stimulated ALP activity respect to control at 4 and 7 days, suggesting that inhibition of GSK‐3 mediates osteoblastic differentiation of rat calvarial cells. Effects comparison between ATP and LiCl shown that ALP activity was significantly increased by 10 µM ATPγ‐S and decreased by 10 mM LiCl at 10 day of treatment, respect to control, suggesting that the effect of ATPγ‐S was less potent but more persistent than of LiCl in stimulating this osteogenic marker in calvarial cells. Cell culture mineralization was significantly increased by treatment with 10 µM ATPγ‐S and decreased by 10 mM LiCl, respect to control. In together, these results suggest that GSK3 inhibition is involved in ATPγ‐S action on rat calvarial cell differentiation into osteoblasts at early steadies. In addition such inhibition by LiCl appear promote osteoblasts differentiation at beginning but has a deleterious effect on its function at later steadies as the extracellular matrix mineralization.
Effect of bone morphogenetic protein 9 on osteoblast differentiation of cells grown on titanium with nanotopography
Authors: Souza Alann T.P. , Bezerra Barbara L.S. , Oliveira Fabiola S. , Freitas Gileade P. , Bighetti Trevisan Rayana L. , Oliveira Paulo T. , Rosa Adalberto L. , Beloti Marcio M. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractAmong bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), BMP‐9 has been described as one with higher osteogenic potential. Here, we aimed at evaluating the effect of BMP‐9 on the osteoblast differentiation of cells grown on titanium (Ti) with nanotopography, a well‐known osseoinductive surface. MC3T3‐E1 cells were grown either in absence or presence of BMP‐9 (20 nM) on Ti with nanotopography (Ti‐Nano) or machined Ti (Ti‐Machined) for up to 21 days to evaluate the gene expression of RUNX2, osterix, osteocalcin, bone sialoprotein, SMAD6 and SMAD4, protein expression of SMAD4, ALP activity and extracellular matrix mineralization. As expected BMP‐9 increased osteoblast differentiation irrespective of Ti surface topography; however, the cells grown on Ti‐Nano were more responsible to BMP‐9 compared with cells grown on Ti‐machined. This could be, at least in part, due to the fact that Ti‐Nano may act on both ways, by increasing the activation (SMAD4) and decreasing the inhibition (SMAD6) of the signaling pathway triggered by BMP‐9, while Ti‐Machined only decrease the inhibition (SMAD6) of this pathway. In conclusion, the combination of the osteogenic potential of BMP‐9 with the osseoinductive capacity of Ti‐Nano could be a promising strategy to favor the osseointegration of Ti implants.
From child maltreatment to ICD‐11 complex post‐traumatic stress symptoms: The role of emotion regulation and re‐victimisation
Authors: Knefel Matthias , Lueger‐Schuster Brigitte , Karatzias Thanos , Shevlin Mark , Hyland Phil 
Published: June 2018

AbstractObjectiveComplex post‐traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) will be introduced in ICD‐11 and comprises symptoms of PTSD and disturbances in self‐organisation (DSO). The association of trauma with PTSD and DSO is not yet fully understood. We investigated the path from child maltreatment to PTSD and DSO and examined the mediating role of emotion regulation (ER) and adult interpersonal re‐victimisation.MethodAdult patients (N = 193) from a Scottish National Health Service clinic participated in the project. Participants completed measures of life events, ICD‐11 PTSD and CPTSD, and ER. Path analysis was used to assess possible direct and indirect effects from childhood trauma on current post‐traumatic psychopathology.ResultsOverall results indicate that the path from child maltreatment to PTSD is a direct one, while the path to DSO is indirectly mediated by ER.ConclusionsFuture research should address the potentially beneficial effect of treatment protocols for CPTSD explicitly aiming at reducing ER difficulties.
Subtyping attenuated psychotic symptoms: A cluster analytic approach
Authors: Laloyaux Julien , Larøi Frank , Nuyens Filip , Billieux Joël 
Published: June 2018

AbstractObjectiveThe aim of the present study is to examine the heterogeneity of attenuated psychotic symptoms (PS) and related personality factors using a cluster analytic approach.MethodA large sample of participants from the general population was evaluated in terms of attenuated symptomatology (psychotic and affective) and two personality factors: encoding style and impulsivity traits.ResultsCluster analysis emphasized the existence of five independent clusters: High Psychosis, High Positive, High Negative, High Impulsive‐Low Psychosis, and Low Psychosis. Cluster comparisons demonstrated that the personality factors and PS are differentially involved in the clusters.ConclusionsThe present study demonstrated that reliable and relatively distinct clusters of individuals from the general population can be identified based on established PS and related personality factors. The fact that a variety of profiles was observed contributes to a better understanding of the nature of the heterogeneity characterizing PS and has clear theoretical and clinical implications.
Integrate healthcare to provide multidisciplinary consumer‐centred medication management: report from a working group formed from the National Stakeholders’ Meeting for the Quality Use of Medicines to Optimise Ageing in Older Australians
Authors: Page Amy T. , Cross Amanda J. , Elliott Rohan A. , Pond Dimity , Dooley Michael , Beanland Christine , Etherton‐Beer Christopher D. ,   Working Group 2
Published: June 2018

AbstractA National Stakeholders’ Meeting on Quality use of Medicines to Optimise Ageing in Older Australians was held in Sydney 2015 with the aim of setting an agenda to improve the quality use of medicines for older Australians. Multidisciplinary working groups were formed to address each of the eight key challenges identified. The aim of Working Group 2 was to develop recommendations to integrate the health care of older Australians across settings and practitioners to provide multidisciplinary consumer‐centred care. A systems map was proposed to better understand the complex pathways older Australians take through health care. Working Group 2 members (consumer representatives and health professionals) met via teleconference and email, and contributed relevant literature identified during their work. They identified challenges to optimal medication management that were used to develop a systems map to illustrate the complex medication management pathways for older Australians. The working group generated 10 recommended strategies to facilitate multidisciplinary consumer‐centred care that could improve the quality use of medicines. Medication management in Australia is complex, as highlighted by the systems map. Working Group 2 identified concrete strategies to improve the quality use of medicines by older adults through systemic policy and practice‐based strategies.
Novel calcium‐chelating peptides from octopus scraps and their corresponding calcium bioavailability
Authors: Wu Jinhong , Cai Xixi , Tang Mengru , Wang Shaoyun 
Published: June 2018

AbstractBACKGROUNDTo reducing the massive marine pollution and resource waste caused by octopus scraps, we developed a novel octopus scraps protein hydrolysate (OSPH), which displays calcium‐chelating activity, and we investigated the chelating interaction and calcium bioavailability of OSPH‐Ca.RESULTSThe structural properties of amido and carboxy groups indicated that they could be the reaction sites for chelation. The particle radius of OSPH increased by 32.25 nm after the calcium chelated with OSPH, indicating intramolecular and intermolecular folding and aggregating. The enthalpy of OSPH increased by 0.8323 after chelation, showing that bands of OSPH‐Ca needed more thermal energy to be destroyed than OSPH. Meanwhile, the chelate showed remarkable stability and absorbability under either acidic or basic conditions, which favored calcium absorption in the gastrointestinal tracts of humans. The calcium intake of OSPH‐Ca increased by 41% when compared with that of CaCl2. In particular, OSPH‐Ca could protect calcium ions from precipitation caused by dietary inhibitors tannic acid and phytate, while calcium uptake efficiency remained at 3.35 and 1.68 times higher than that of CaCl2.CONCLUSIONThese findings revealed the feasibility of transforming octopus scraps into a novel functional calcium chelate based on peptides, promoting environmental sustainability. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Effectiveness of vegetative buffer strips at reducing runoff, soil erosion, and nitrate transport during degraded hillslope restoration in northern Iran
Authors: Kavian Ataollah , Saleh Iman , Habibnejad Mahmoud , Brevik Eric C. , Jafarian Zeinab , Rodrigo‐Comino Jesús 
Published: June 2018

AbstractSoil and water conservation in natural and cultivated areas is a major concern for humankind. However, there are severe problems with degraded hillslopes due to bare soils in northern Iran, which are one of the most important factors driving land degradation processes. Subsequently, soil erosion, pollutant transport, and/or nutrient impoverishment are affecting large territories; therefore, rapid and inexpensive soil conservation measures need to be implemented. The use of vegetative buffer strips could be an effective strategy to reduce pollutant transport as well as soil erosion. Thus, this research aimed to investigate the possible efficiency of two different vegetative buffer strips composed of vetiver‐grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides) and native turf‐grass (Festuca arundinacea) at reducing runoff and soil losses as well as nitrate transport on a representative degraded hillslope with bare soils in Mazandaran, Iran. Twelve 10 m2 experimental plots were tested over 1 year using a runoff simulator that produced overland flow that corresponded to the 25‐ and 100‐year return period rainfall events. The plots with bare soils had the highest runoff volumes (30.5 and 55.4 L m−2), sediment concentrations (101.2 and 430.6 g L−1), and nitrate concentrations (10.4 and 37.6 mg L−1). Vetiver was the most useful tool to reduce runoff, soil loss, and nitrate concentration, with values of 13.4 and 28.6 L m−2, 13.4 and 90.9 g L−1, and 2.9 and 16.4 mg L−1, respectively. Of the treatments investigated, vetiver provided the most rapid cover and was the most efficient at preventing soil erosion and nitrate transport directly after plantation.
Spatial prediction of soil erosion susceptibility using a fuzzy analytical network process: Application of the fuzzy decision making trial and evaluation laboratory approach
Authors: Sajedi‐Hosseini Farzaneh , Choubin Bahram , Solaimani Karim , Cerdà Artemi , Kavian Ataollah 
Published: June 2018

AbstractSoil erosion is a worldwide threat that results in soil degradation, agriculture abandonment, and crop yield reduction. There is a need to find methods to survey soil erosion rates in order to improve and develop sustainable land planning. The present study utilizes new approaches based on the fuzzy set both in designing the problem (through the fuzzy decision making trial and evaluation laboratory) and in prioritizing the effective factors to mitigate soil erosion (using a fuzzy analytical network process, FANP). This study is first to apply these methods to soil erosion. A set of geo‐environmental factors influencing soil erosion was characterized to evaluate the potential risk of soil erosion in the Nor‐Rood watershed in Iran. The layers of information were developed using expert knowledge, and a network structure was designed by the fuzzy decision making trial and evaluation laboratory method. Then, the weights of layers were calculated by the FANP method by considering the internal and external interaction between factors. The erosion susceptibility map was produced by combining layers based on their weights in a geographic information system platform and was validated using erosion occurrences recorded in field surveys. Results revealed that FANP model accuracy is high (83.4% accuracy) for the study area. We found that vegetation, drainage density, land use, and soil erodibility are the key parameters to explain the soil erosion rates. The soil erosion risk map developed by the FANP method provides useful information for sustainable planning and risk mitigation and can be used in a data‐poor environment.
Optimizing stand structure for trade‐offs between overstory timber production and understory plant diversity: A case‐study of a larch plantation in northwest China
Authors: Ahmad Bilal , Wang Yanhui , Hao Jia , Liu Yanhui , Bohnett Eve , Zhang Kebin 
Published: June 2018

AbstractTrade‐offs are often required for an optimal and sustainable supply of competing services from forests. A study was conducted in northwest China to explore a practical trade‐off approach, for promoting the rehabilitation of service‐degraded plantation, focusing on the two main competing services of timber production and understory plant diversity conservation (expressed by understory vegetation species number [UVSN]). To describe the stand structure parameter variation with age and tree density, the logistic growth model and power function were coupled and fit with field data from 82 plots of larch (Larix principis‐rupprechetii Mayr) plantation within the estimated age range of 12–33 years. The UVSN variation with canopy density and tree density were also quantified. These models and relations developed can serve as a tool for estimating trade‐offs. The results showed that with rising tree density, the single tree timber volume decreased but the stand timber volume increased. The UVSN increased until its maximum, at the canopy density range of 0.6–0.7, and then decreased quickly. A proper tree density corresponding to the optimal canopy density of around 0.7 should be kept for maintaining higher UVSN and adequate timber production. In case of the larch plantation studied, optimal tree densities were found around 2,600, 2,000, 1,600, 1,250, and 1,000 trees/ha for the ages of 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 years, respectively. Although only two main services were considered, the trade‐off approach developed here can be a reference for future studies to guide the rehabilitation and multifunctional management of service‐degraded plantation.
Evaluation of estuary shoreline shift in response to climate change: A study from the central west coast of India
Authors: B. R. Rajasree , Deo M. C. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractThe prediction of coastal sediment transport and rate of change of shorelines into the future are traditionally done by analysis of historical satellite imageries and field observations or by empirical/numerical modeling. The modeling is traditionally done on the basis of historical data. Instead, here, we suggest the use of future conditions impacted by the climate change for this purpose and a procedure based on regional climate models. Further, considering the difficulty at some places to acquire a large amount of data of various parameters to run a numerical model, we propose the use of simple neural network as an alternative. The location studied belongs to the shoreline adjoining the estuary of River Gangavali, along the central west coast of India. Waves were simulated using a numerical wave model for past and future time periods of 36 years each, and a numerical coastal evolution model was run with this input. It was found that in future, the wave activity at this site would intensify along with certain shift in the direction of wave attack. This will push the net and gross sediment transports up by 131.7% and 114.3%, respectively, and also enhance the shoreline change rate. It was noticed that the future shifts in the wave direction could be as influential as those in the wave height and can cause more accretion of the shoreline. The study emphasizes the importance of considering the projected climate over the past one in planning a regional coastal ecosystem.
Distinct Mechanical Properties of Polymer/Polymer‐Grafting‐Graphene Nanocomposites
Authors: Zhang Xu , Wu Lixin , Wang Jianlei 
Published: June 2018

AbstractA nonequilibrium deformation technique based on the dissipative particle dynamics is employed to investigate the mechanical properties of polymer nanocomposites reinforced by graphene‐based nanosheets. Hierarchically packed network structure, (small‐length‐scale 2D network structure of graphene nanosheets)‐in‐(large‐length‐scale 3D network structure of homogeneously dispersed graphene nanosheets), is observed, which plays an important role in governing the mechanical properties of polymer nanocomposites. The improvements in tensional modulus over near polymer bulk (n‐P) are about 23% and 61% for polymer/pristine‐graphene blends (P/n‐Gr) and polymer/polymer‐grafting‐graphene nanocomposites (P/g‐Gr), respectively. In addition to higher tensile strength, the P/g‐Gr also exhibit higher tensile strength and yield strength. The strain hardening behaviors at larger deformation are discovered in the polymer/polymer‐grafting‐graphene nanocomposites when the polymer length is relatively larger, which does not appear in n‐P and P/n‐Gr. It is further found that the strain hardening behaviors mainly benefit from the stretching behaviors of the polymers grafting to graphene nanosheets. The results reveal the principles of diverse mechanical properties for polymer nanocomposites reinforced by graphene‐based nanosheets and may provide useful information for preparing polymer nanocomposites with excellent performance.