bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Electroencephalographic alterations in a mare with presumed intermittent neuroglycopenia caused by severe hypoglycaemia‐associated with nonislet cell tumour
Authors: Costa L. R. R. , Donelly C. G. , Crowe C. M. , Vaughan B. , Alex C. E. , Aleman M. 
Published: May 2018

SummaryThe focus of this report was to document the electroencephalogram (EEG) findings associated with nonislet cell tumour‐induced hypoglycaemia (NICTH) in a racing Thoroughbred mare subsequently diagnosed with renal carcinoma and carcinomatosis. We evaluated cortical cerebral activity and confirmed paroxysmal activity consistent with subclinical seizures by performing anEEGprior to onset of clinical signs of seizures. We showed that the electrical activity pattern progressed in a similar fashion as in humans with severe, progressive hypoglycaemia and presumed neuroglycopenia. The glycaemic threshold for abnormalities detected inEEGshowed that abnormal electrical cortical activity appeared when blood glucose dropped to 44 mg/dL(2.4 mmol/L) and paroxysmal activity spread, becoming generalised when blood glucose dropped to 23 mg/dL(1.3 mmol/L).NICTHis an uncommon paraneoplastic phenomenon in several species. In horses,NICTHhas been reported most frequently in primary renal tumours, followed by primary hepatic tumours. This report highlights the importance of investigating the possibility of hypoglycaemia in cases of horses that present altered state of consciousness with or without intermittent seizures. This case report also highlights that the diagnostic work‐up for horses presenting with episodic hypoglycaemia should comprise investigation of possible neoplasia, as paraneoplastic hypoglycaemia should be included in the list of differentials of horses with hypoglycaemia.
Biotic responses buffer warming‐induced soil organic carbon loss in Arctic tundra
Authors: Liang Junyi , Xia Jiangyang , Shi Zheng , Jiang Lifen , Ma Shuang , Lu Xingjie , Mauritz Marguerite , Natali Susan M. , Pegoraro Elaine , Penton Christopher Ryan , Plaza César , Salmon Verity G. , Celis Gerardo , Cole James R. , Konstantinidis Konstantinos T. , Tiedje James M. , Zhou Jizhong , Schuur Edward A. G. , Luo Yiqi 
Published: May 2018

AbstractClimate warming can result in both abiotic (e.g., permafrost thaw) and biotic (e.g., microbial functional genes) changes in Arctic tundra. Recent research has incorporated dynamic permafrost thaw in Earth system models (ESMs) and indicates that Arctic tundra could be a significant future carbon (C) source due to the enhanced decomposition of thawed deep soil C. However, warming‐induced biotic changes may influence biologically related parameters and the consequent projections inESMs. How model parameters associated with biotic responses will change under warming and to what extent these changes affect projected C budgets have not been carefully examined. In this study, we synthesized six data sets over 5 years from a soil warming experiment at the Eight Mile Lake, Alaska, into the TerrestrialECOsystem (TECO) model with a probabilistic inversion approach. TheTECOmodel used multiple soil layers to track dynamics of thawed soil under different treatments. Our results show that warming increased light use efficiency of vegetation photosynthesis but decreased baseline (i.e., environment‐corrected) turnover rates ofSOCin both the fast and slow pools in comparison with those under control. Moreover, the parameter changes generally amplified over time, suggesting processes of gradual physiological acclimation and functional gene shifts of both plants and microbes. TheTECOmodel predicted that field warming from 2009 to 2013 resulted in cumulative C losses of 224 or 87 g/m2, respectively, without or with changes in those parameters. Thus, warming‐induced parameter changes reduced predicted soil C loss by 61%. Our study suggests that it is critical to incorporate biotic changes inESMs to improve the model performance in predicting C dynamics in permafrost regions.
Effects of gastrointestinal digestion models in vitro on phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of juçara (Euterpe edulis)
Authors: Seraglio Siluana Katia Tischer , Gonzaga Luciano Valdemiro , Schulz Mayara , Vitali Luciano , Micke Gustavo Amadeu , Costa Ana Carolina Oliveira , Fett Roseane , Borges Graciele Da Silva Campelo 
Published: May 2018

SummaryThis study evaluated the effects of different gastrointestinal digestion models in vitro on the bioaccessibility of phenolics and antioxidant activity in juçara frozen pulp. In the sequence, method 3 was applied to juçara fruit in three different stages of maturation (vitrin – reddish fruits, mature – purple fruits, tuíra – deep purple fruits). In the method applied, the final pH adopted was 5.0, in order to avoid interference in the assay used to determine the antioxidant activity, and BHT was used to prevent excessive oxidation in the system. In this method, higher values for antioxidant activity were obtained (3574.95–3719.10 μmol L−1 Trolox 100 g−1 pulp) compared with the other two methods tested (1969.14–3034.74 μmol L−1 Trolox 100 g−1 pulp). In relation to juçara fruit, the mature stage was found to be ideal for processing, showing generally higher values of the bioaccessibility for phenolics and antioxidant activity compared to other maturation stages.
Effects of ceramic types on evolution of micrometer‐sized features during sintering
Authors: Ning Kaijie , Ju Hong‐fei , Lu Kathy 
Published: May 2018

AbstractIn this work, ZnO and ZrO2 ridges with 2 μm size are created based on a centrifuge‐aided micromolding approach and then sintered with different time. Characterization of feature morphology, fidelity, grain size, relative density, and linear shrinkage has been conducted. The densification mechanisms for both ZnO and ZrO2 are controlled by grain‐boundary diffusion, but their grain growth mechanisms are dominated by gas diffusion and surface diffusion respectively. The sintering behavior for the bulk can be described with a Ng/Nb factor at 36, while for the features, a smaller Ng/Nb factor (15 for ZnO and 8 for ZrO2) is needed. Attributed to their sintering mechanism difference, the grains in the ZnO features have a faster growth rate than those in the bulk, while the grains in the ZrO2 features have a similar growth rate to those in the bulk. ZnO has a much faster grain growth behavior, leading to ridge fidelity loss and severe ridge destruction, while ZrO2 has a much slower grain growth rate, resulting in high ridge fidelity and strong resistance to ridge destruction.
Soluble CD163 correlates with lipid metabolic adaptations in type 1 diabetes patients during ketoacidosis
Authors: Svart Mads , Rittig Nikolaj , Møller Niels , Møller Holger J , Gronbaek Henning 
Published: May 2018

AbstractIntroductionDiabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is associated with inflammation and increased lipolysis. The macrophage activation marker, soluble CD163 (sCD163), is associated with obesity, non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes. We aimed to investigate whether sCD163 correlates with key elements of lipolysis in type 1 diabetes patients during mild DKA.Materials and MethodsWe investigated nine patients with type 1 diabetes twice during: (i) euglycemic control conditions and a bolus of saline; and (ii) hyperglycemic ketotic conditions induced by lipopolysaccharide administration combined with insulin deprivation. Blood samples, indirect calorimetry, palmitate tracer and adipose tissue biopsies were used to investigate lipid metabolism.ResultsWe observed a significant increase in plasma sCD163 levels after lipopolysaccharide exposure (P < 0.001). Concentrations of sCD163 were positively correlated with plasma concentrations of free fatty acids, palmitate rate of appearance and lipid oxidation rates, and negatively correlated to the expression of G0/G1 switch 2 gene messenger ribonucleic acid content in adipose tissue (P < 0.01 for all). Furthermore, sCD163 levels correlated positively with plasma peak concentrations of cortisol, glucagon, tumor necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐6 and interleukin‐10 (P < 0.01 for all). Data on lipolysis and inflammation have previously been published.ConclusionsMacrophage activation assessed by sCD163 might play an important role in DKA, as it correlates strongly with important components of lipid metabolism including free fatty acids, palmitate, lipid oxidation, G0/G1 switch 2 gene and pro‐inflammatory cytokines during initial steps of DKA. These results are novel and add important knowledge to the field of DKA.
Mitochondrial complementation: a possible neglected factor behind early eukaryotic sex
Authors: Tilquin Anaïs , Christie Joshua R. , Kokko Hanna 
Published: May 2018

AbstractSex is ancestral in eukaryotes. Meiotic sex differs from bacterial ways of exchanging genetic material by involving the fusion of two cells. We examine the hypothesis that fusion evolved in early eukaryotes because it was directly beneficial, rather than a passive side effect of meiotic sex. We assume that the uptake of (proto)mitochondria into eukaryotes preceded the evolution of cell fusion and that Muller's ratchet operating within symbiont lineages led to the accumulation of lineage‐specific sets of mutations in asexual host cells. We examine whether cell fusion, and the consequent biparental inheritance of symbionts, helps to mitigate the effects of this mutational meltdown of mitochondria. In our model, host cell fitness improves when two independently evolved mitochondrial strains co‐inhabit a single cytoplasm, mirroring mitochondrial complementation found in modern eukaryotes. If fusion incurs no cost, we find that an allele coding for fusion can invade a population of nonfusers. If fusion is costly, there are two thresholds. The first describes a maximal fusing rate (probability of fusion per round of cell division) that is able to fix. An allele that codes for a rate above this threshold can reach a polymorphic equilibrium with nonfusers, as long as the rate is below the second threshold, above which the fusion allele is counter‐selected. Whenever it evolves, fusion increases the population‐wide level of heteroplasmy, which allows mitochondrial complementation and increases population fitness. We conclude that beneficial interactions between mitochondria are a potential factor that selected for cell fusion in early eukaryotes.
Finding the one: optimal choosiness under sequential mate choice
Authors: Henshaw Jonathan M. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractWhen mates are encountered sequentially, each encounter involves a decision whether to reject the current suitor and risk not finding a better mate, or to accept them despite their flaws. I provide a flexible framework for modelling optimal choosiness when mate encounters occur unpredictably in time. The model allows for temporal variation in the fitness benefits of mating, including seasonal breeding conditions, accrual of mate search costs, survival of the choosing individual or senescence of gametes. The basic optimality framework can be applied iteratively to obtain mate choice equilibria in dynamically evolving populations. My model predicts that individuals should be choosier when the average rate of mate encounters is high, but that choosiness should decline over time as the likelihood of future mate encounters decreases. When mate encounters are uncertain, there is a trade‐off between reproductive timing and mate choice (the ‘when’ and the ‘who’). Mate choice may be selected against when reproductive timing is highly important (e.g. when breeding conditions show a narrow peak in time). This can even lead to step‐shaped mate choice functions, where individuals abruptly switch from rejecting to accepting all suitors as peak breeding conditions approach. The model contributes to our understanding of why individuals may not express mate preferences, even when there is substantial variation in mate quality.
Trends in incidence and survival of esophageal cancer in Korea: Analysis of the Korea Central Cancer Registry Database
Authors: Shin Aesun , Won Young‐Joo , Jung Hye‐Kyung , Kong Hyun‐Joo , Jung Kyu‐Won , Oh Chang‐Mo , Choe Sunho , Lee Jihyun 
Published: May 2018

AbstractBackground and AimThe diagnostic and therapeutic modalities of esophageal cancer have recently improved in Asia, and its prognosis is expected to change. This study provides a population‐based report on the epidemiology of esophageal cancer in Korea.MethodsCancer incidence data from 1999 to 2013 were obtained from the Korea Central Cancer Registry, covering the entire population. Age‐standardized incidence rates and annual percent changes were calculated according to subsites and histological types. Five‐year relative survival rates were estimated for cases diagnosed between 1993 and 2013. Relative excess rates were compared between patients diagnosed from 2009 to 2013 and 2006 to 2008.ResultsThe age‐standardized incidence rates decreased from 8.8 per 100 000 populations in 1999 to 5.9 in 2013 with an annual percent change of −2.6% in men and −2.2% in women. The most common histological type was squamous cell carcinoma, accounting for 90.2% of all esophageal cancers in 2013, followed by adenocarcinomas (3.1%), and their incidences decreased. The proportion of localized and regional cancer tended to increase compared with that of distant cancer. Five‐year relative survival of squamous cell carcinoma improved from 12.1% (1993–1995) to 34.6% (2009–2013). Relative excess rate was 0.72 (95% confidence interval 0.65–0.80) in localized stage and 0.88 (95% confidence interval, 0.82–0.95) in regional stage comparing patients diagnosed from 2009 to 2013 and 2006 to 2008.ConclusionsThe incidence of esophageal cancer has decreased in Korea for the past 15 years, and 5‐year survival rates have improved significantly. These increases may be attributable to more effective detection of early‐stage disease.
Parenting Needs Among Mothers of Young Children During Military Deployment
Authors: Trautmann Jennifer , Ho Grace W.K. , Gross Deborah 
Published: May 2018

AbstractPurposeTo examine perceptions of what mothers of young children (birth to 5 years old) need to be a “good parent” while their military spouse is deployed.DesignQ methodology was used to uncover different views on military spouses’ parenting needs.MethodsIn Phase 1, 18 statements related to military spouses’ parenting needs were elicited based on review of existing literature and seven supplementary qualitative interviews. In Phase 2, 143 military‐connected mothers completed an anonymous online Q‐sort to rank the importance of the 17 statements from least to most important for being a good parent during deployment. Written comments explaining rankings were also collected.FindingsAcross respondents, the most important needs during deployment were making sure their children were happy and healthy, keeping themselves and their children connected with the deployed parent, and being financially stable. Three unique views were uncovered, which differed by mothers’ reliance on their family versus the military community for support, and the importance of self‐care.ConclusionsResults highlighted the extent to which mothers of young children enter “survival mode” during their spouse's deployment, and differences were found in what was most important for being a good parent during this stressful period.Clinical RelevanceFindings underscore the complexity of creating programs to support military parents whose different backgrounds, experiences, and expectations are likely to affect service uptake and benefit.
Treatment with non‐selective beta‐blockers affects the systemic inflammatory response to bacterial DNA in patients with cirrhosis
Authors: Gimenez Paula , Garcia‐Martinez Irma , Francés Rubén , Gonzalez‐Navajas Jose M. , Mauri Montserrat , Alfayate Rocío , Almenara Susana , Miralles Cayetano , Palazon Jose M. , Carnicer Fernando , Pascual Sonia , Such José , Horga José F. , Zapater Pedro 
Published: May 2018

AbstractBackground & AimsThe use of non‐selective beta‐blockers has been associated with lower rates of infection and reduced infection‐associated morbidity in patients with cirrhosis. However, it is unknown if these drugs modify the systemic inflammatory response to circulating bacterial DNA.MethodsSixty‐three patients with cirrhosis were included during an episode of decompensation by ascites. Thirty of those patients were on beta‐blockers. Blood samples were obtained after each patient had been in the supine position for at least 30 minutes in a quiet atmosphere. Bacterial DNA, serum cytokines, nitric oxide, and LPS were determined. Phagocytic and oxidative burst activities were determined in polymorphonuclear cells from the patients.ResultsThe detection rate of bacterial DNA in the blood was the same (33%) for patients not treated and treated with non‐selective beta‐blockers. Patients naive to non‐selective beta‐blockers showed significantly higher serum levels of IL6, IFN‐gamma and IL10 in response to the presence of bacterial DNA. Patients treated with non‐selective beta‐blockers showed higher basal inflammatory activity that did not change with the presence of bacterial DNA. Monocytes and granulocytes from patients treated with non‐selective beta‐blockers showed a significantly increased phagocytic capacity in the presence of bacterial DNA.ConclusionsIn patients with cirrhosis, chronic treatment with beta‐blockers is associated with a higher unstimulated production of serum cytokines and an increased phagocytic activity in the presence of bacterial DNA.
Resilience to fire of phylogenetic diversity across biological domains
Authors: Pérez‐Valera Eduardo , Verdú Miguel , Navarro‐Cano Jose Antonio , Goberna Marta 
Published: May 2018

AbstractFire alters the structure and composition of above‐ and belowground communities with concurrent shifts in phylogenetic diversity. The inspection of postfire trends in the diversity of ecological communities incorporating phylogenetic information allows to better understand the mechanisms driving fire resilience. While fire reduces plant phylogenetic diversity based on the recruitment of evolutionarily related species with postfire seed persistence, it increases that of soil microbes by limiting soil resources and changing the dominance of competing microbes. Thus, during postfire community reassembly, plant and soil microbes might experience opposing temporal trends in their phylogenetic diversity that are linked through changes in the soil conditions. We tested this hypothesis by investigating the postfire evolution of plant and soil microbial (fungi, bacteria and archaea) communities across three 20‐year chronosequences. Plant phylogenetic diversity increased with time since fire as pioneer seeders facilitate the establishment of distantly related late‐successional shrubs. The postfire increase in plant phylogenetic diversity fostered plant productivity, eventually recovering soil organic matter. These shifts over time in the soil conditions explained the postfire restoration of fungal and bacterial phylogenetic diversity, which decreased to prefire levels, suggesting that evolutionarily related taxa with high relative fitness recover their competitive superiority during community reassembly. The resilience to fire of phylogenetic diversity across biological domains helps preserve the evolutionary history stored in our ecosystems.
End‐to‐End Deep Learning Methodology for Real‐Time Traffic Network Management
Authors: Hashemi Hossein , Abdelghany Khaled 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThis article presents a novel real‐time traffic network management system using an end‐to‐end deep learning (E2EDL) methodology. A computational learning model is trained, which allows the system to identify the time‐varying traffic congestion pattern in the network, and recommend integrated traffic management schemes to reduce this congestion. The proposed model structure captures the temporal and spatial congestion pattern correlations exhibited in the network, and associates these patterns with efficient traffic management schemes. The E2EDL traffic management system is trained using a laboratory‐generated data set consisting of pairings of prevailing traffic network conditions and efficient traffic management schemes designed to cope with these conditions. The system is applied for the US‐75 corridor in Dallas, Texas. Several experiments are conducted to examine the system performance under different traffic operational conditions. The results show that the E2EDL system achieves travel time savings comparable to those recorded for an optimization‐based traffic management system.
Formation of functional, non‐amyloidogenic fibres by recombinant Bacillus subtilis TasA
Authors: Erskine Elliot , Morris Ryan J. , Schor Marieke , Earl Chris , Gillespie Rachel M. C. , Bromley Keith M. , Sukhodub Tetyana , Clark Lauren , Fyfe Paul K. , Serpell Louise C. , Stanley‐Wall Nicola R. , MacPhee Cait E. 
Published: May 2018

SummaryBacterial biofilms are communities of microbial cells encased within a self‐produced polymeric matrix. In the Bacillus subtilis biofilm matrix, the extracellular fibres of TasA are essential. Here, a recombinant expression system allows interrogation of TasA, revealing that monomeric and fibre forms of TasA have identical secondary structure, suggesting that fibrous TasA is a linear assembly of globular units. Recombinant TasA fibres form spontaneously, and share the biological activity of TasA fibres extracted from B. subtilis, whereas a TasA variant restricted to a monomeric form is inactive and subjected to extracellular proteolysis. The biophysical properties of both native and recombinant TasA fibres indicate that they are not functional amyloid‐like fibres. A gel formed by TasA fibres can recover after physical shear force, suggesting that the biofilm matrix is not static and that these properties may enable B. subtilis to remodel its local environment in response to external cues. Using recombinant fibres formed by TasA orthologues we uncover species variability in the ability of heterologous fibres to cross‐complement the B. subtilis tasA deletion. These findings are indicative of specificity in the biophysical requirements of the TasA fibres across different species and/or reflect the precise molecular interactions needed for biofilm matrix assembly.
Competence inhibition by the XrpA peptide encoded within the comX gene of Streptococcus mutans
Authors: Kaspar Justin , Shields Robert C. , Burne Robert A. 
Published: May 2018

SummaryStreptococcus mutans displays complex regulation of natural genetic competence. Competence development in S. mutans is controlled by a peptide derived from ComS (XIP); which along with the cytosolic regulator ComR controls the expression of the alternative sigma factor comX, the master regulator of competence development. Recently, a gene embedded within the coding region of comX was discovered and designated xrpA (comX regulatory peptide A). XrpA was found to be an antagonist of ComX, but the mechanism was not established. In this study, we reveal through both genomic and proteomic techniques that XrpA is the first described negative regulator of ComRS systems in streptococci. Transcriptomic and promoter activity assays in the ΔxrpA strain revealed an up‐regulation of genes controlled by both the ComR‐ and ComX‐regulons. An in vivo protein crosslinking and in vitro fluorescent polarization assays confirmed that the N‐terminal region of XrpA were found to be sufficient in inhibiting ComR‐XIP complex binding to ECom‐box located within the comX promoter. This inhibitory activity was sufficient for decreases in PcomX activity, transformability and ComX accumulation. XrpA serving as a modulator of ComRS activity ultimately results in changes to subpopulation behaviors and cell fate during competence activation.