bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Are plants with anti-cancer activity resistant to crown gall? : A test of hypothesis
Authors: Srirama R , Ramesha BT. , Ravikanth G. , Uma Shaanker R. , Ganeshaiah KN 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThe Crown gall tumour assay (CGTA) is one of several bench top bioassays recommended for the rapid screening of plants with anti-cancer activity. The rationale for the use of the bioassay is that the tumorogenic mechanism initiated in plant tissues by Agrobacterium tumefaciens is in many ways similar to that of animals. Several plant species with anti-cancer activity have already been discovered using this bioassay. However till date no explicit test of an association between anti-cancer activity of plants and their resistance to crown gall formation has been demonstrated. Demonstration of an association could have exploratory potential when searching for plants with anti-cancer activity. In this paper, we determined whether or not a statistically significant association between crown gall resistance and anti-cancer activity exists in plants found in existing published data sets. Our results indicate that plants with anti-cancer activity have a higher proportion of their species resistant to crown gall formation compared to a random selection of plants. We discuss the implications of our results especially when prospecting for newer sources of anti-cancer activity in plants.
Interleukin-10 containing normal human serum inhibits granzyme B release but not perforin release from alloreactive and EBV-specific T cell clones
Authors: Nishimura Motoko , Sato Hideya , Okazaki Hitoshi , Satake Masahiro , Tadokoro Kenji 
Published: July 2019

AbstractInterleukin-10 (IL-10), also known as cytokine synthesis inhibitory factor, has pleiotropic effects in immunoregulation and inflammation. It is capable of inhibiting synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines like interferon γ (IFNγ), IL-2, IL-3, tumor necrosis factor α(TNFα) and granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) made by cells such as macrophages and T helper Type 1 cells. We observed that normal human serum, derived from a healthy individual but containing large amounts of IL-10 (arbitrarily designated as "IL-10 serum"), inhibited cytotoxic activity and interfered with granzyme B release from alloreactive cytotoxic T cell (CTL) clones in vitro, but did not affect perforin release. The addition of normal human serum containing high levels of anti-IL-10 IgG (arbitrarily designated as "anti-IL-10 IgG serum") neutralized the inhibitory effects of IL-10 serum. Moreover, we have identified that cytotoxic activity and granzyme B release from an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific CTL clone was similarly inhibited in the presence of IL-10 serum, while perforin release was unaffected. Anti-IL-10 IgG serum also appeared to neutralize the inhibitory effect of IL-10 serum on an EBV-specific CTL clone.
Sex-Related Moral Behavior
Authors: Priori Alberto , Fumagalli Manuela , Marceglia Sara , Ferrucci Roberta , Mameli Francesca , Zago Stefano , Barbieri Sergio , Sartori Giuseppe , Cappa Stefano 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThe moral sense is one of the most complex aspects of the human mind. While neurobiological, cognitive and behavioural gender-related differences are increasingly studied and verified, the common belief that morality differs between men and women has not been experimentally investigated. We assessed the impact of gender on moral choices by testing thirty men and thirty women with the Moral Sense Task (MST) (Greene et al. 2001, 2004; Koenigs et al. 2007). Whereas the two genders did not differ in utilitarian responses to non-moral dilemmas (NM) and to impersonal moral dilemmas (MI), men gave significantly more utilitarian answers to personal moral dilemmas (MP; i.e. that action whose endorsement involves highly emotional decision). These results suggest that the cognitive-emotional processes implied in the evaluation of personal moral dilemmas differ between men and women, possibly reflecting differences in the underlying neural mechanisms. The existence of sex-related determinants of moral judgement may be one of the factors responsible for gender differences in real-life behaviours involving power management, economic decision-making, leadership and aggressive and criminal behaviours.
Evolution of malaria virulence in cross-generation transmission through selective immune pressure
Authors: Gurarie David 
Published: July 2019

AbstractTheoretical arguments and some mathematical models of host-parasite coevolution (e.g. [1- 6]) suggest host immunity as the driving source for the evolution of parasite virulence. Imperfect vaccines in particular, can play the role and recent work [7] sets to test these ideas experimentally, using the mouse malaria model, Plasmodium chabaudi. To this end the authors evolve parasite lines in immunized and nonimmunized (“naïve”) mice using serial passage of infected blood samples. They find parasite lines evolved in immunized mice become more virulent than those evolved in naive mice. Furthermore, this feature persisted even when the evolved strains were transmitted through mosquitoes. Here we develop a mathematical model of parasite dynamics that qualitatively reproduces the experimental results of [7]. Our model accounts for the basic in-host processes: (i) production and depletion of red blood cells (RBC); (ii) immune-modulated parasite growth/ replication, (iii) immune stimulation and clearing of parasite. Besides we introduce multiple parasite strains with variable levels of virulence, and allow random mutations during replication process. The virulence is represented by a single parameter – immune stimulation threshold. So more virulent strains have higher “tolerance levels”, hence increased RBC depletion (anemia). Numeric simulations with our model exhibit, as in [7] the overall evolution of virulence in serial passage of parasite strains, and its enhancement through partial (imperfect) immunization.
Changes in temperature-moisture covariance could increase soil carbon loss
Authors: Noormets Asko , Gavazzi Michael , Strickland Sara , Sun Ge , Chen Jiquan , King John , McNulty Steve 
Published: July 2019

AbstractSoils store about 1.5x10^16 g of carbon (C), about as much as terrestrial vegetation and atmosphere combined 1. The complex interplay between factors that regulate C release from soil through respiration is not completely understood, but could potentially exert strong influence on global radiation balance and climate change2. Respiration exerts strong effect on the spatial heterogeneity of terrestrial C cycle 3 and its temporal variation remains more poorly understood compared to gross ecosystem production (GEP) 4. This variation can analytically be attributed to changes in environmental factors, but forecasting individual deviations remains a challenge 4. Here we propose that deviations of the typical covariance pattern of primary environmental drivers (temperature, T, and moisture, presented in this study as volumetric water content, VWC) may affect the deviations of respiratory C loss. Typically, T and VWC are inversely related, with warm periods being generally drier and vice versa, and therefore the stimulating effect of one factor is counterbalanced by unfavorable levels of the other 5. However, should the driving variables be positively related, respiratory carbon release can increase significantly (Supplementary Fig. 1a). This hypothesis is supported by two consecutive years of ecosystem-level and soil carbon exchange data that differed in rain fall periodicity and T-VWC-covariance. With changing climate patterns, including the intensity and frequency of rainfall events, there is the possibility that the covariance patterns of T and VWC may change, and more frequent periods of positive T-VWC covariance may lead to greater loss of soil carbon, and contribute to greater radiative forcing on Earth’s energy budget.
Estimation of the Multiple Testing Burden for Genomewide Association Studies of Common Variants
Authors: Pe'er Itsik , Yelensky Roman , Altshuler David , Daly Mark 
Published: July 2019

AbstractGenomewide association studies are an exciting strategy in genetics, recently becoming feasible. While pioneering studies are being underway, it is already clear that the analytic issue of determining the significance of results presents a challenge to the wide community of researchers. Rather than each study engaging in independent evaluation, there is need in the community to have standards set for whole-genome significance. We have therefore undertaken the task of developing such standards, based on data collected with collaborators in the International Haplotype Map Consortium. We report an estimated burden of a million independent tests genomewide in Europeans, and twice that number in Africans. We further identify the sensitivity of the testing burden to the required significance level, with implications to staged design of association studies.
Epigrass: a tool to study disease spread in complex networks.
Authors: Coelho Flávio Codeço , Codeco Claudia , Cruz Oswaldo 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThe construction of complex statial simulation models such as those used in network epidemiology, is a daunting task due to the large amount of data involved in their parameterization. Such data, which frequently resides on large geo-referenced databases, has to be processed and assigned to the various components of the model. All this just to construct the model, then it still has to be simulated and analyzed under different epidemiological scenarios. This workflow can only be achieved efficiently by computational tools that can automate most if not all these time-consuming tasks. In this paper, we present a simulation software, Epigrass, aimed to help designing and simulating network-epidemic models with any kind of node behavior. A Network epidemiological model representing the spread of a directly transmitted disease through a bus-transportation network connecting mid-size cities in Brazil. Results show that the topological context of the starting point of the epidemic is of great importance from both control and preventive perspectives.Epigrass is shown to facilitate greatly the construction, simulation and analysis of complex network models. The output of model results in standard GIS file formats facilitate the post-processing and analysis of results by means of sophisticated GIS software.
Quantification of Cell Movement Reveals Distinct Edge Motility Types During Cell Spreading
Authors: Dubin-Thaler Benjamin , Hofman Jake , Xenias Harry , Spielman Ingrid , Shneidman Anna , David Lawrence , Dobereiner Hans-Guenther , Wiggins Chris , Sheetz Michael 
Published: July 2019

AbstractActin-based motility is central to cellular processes such as migration, bacterial engulfment, and cancer metastasis, and requires precise spatial and temporal regulation of the cytoskeleton. We studied one such process, fibroblast spreading, which involves three temporal phases: early, middle, and late spreading, distinguished by differences in cell area growth. In these studies, aided by improved algorithms for analyzing edge movement, we observed that each phase was dominated by a single, kinematically and biochemically distinct cytoskeletal organization, or motility type. Specifically, early spreading was dominated by periodic blebbing; continuous protrusion occurred predominantly during middle spreading; and periodic contractions were prevalent in late spreading. Further characterization revealed that each motility type exhibited a distinct distribution of the actin-related protein VASP, while inhibition of actin polymerization by cytochalasin D treatment revealed different dependences on barbed-end polymerization. Through this detailed characterization and graded perturbation of the system, we observed that although each temporal phase of spreading was dominated by a single motility type, in general cells exhibited a variety of motility types in neighboring spatial domains of the plasma membrane edge. These observations support a model in which global signals bias local cytoskeletal biochemistry in favor of a particular motility type.
Application of a periodic table for the genetic code to influenza A/H3N2 virus
Authors: Morimoto Susumu 
Published: July 2019

AbstractIf biologists can utilize a table to have access to biological phenomena in the manner analogous to the periodic table for chemical elements, they may get hold of a directing post in life science. Currently the mutational rule of influenza viruses have remained perplexed and to reveal it should be now desired when avian influenza virus has just then threatened human beings. Here I examine the applicability of a novel periodic table for the genetic code to influenza A/H3N2 virus, while presenting two rules regarding single point mutations of its virus hemagglutinin gene. One rule is that non-synonymous single point mutations are intimately associated with the first or second base replacements between four groups (5, 6, 9, and 10) in the periodic table. Another rule is that there is a new index (inversion number) conserving in mutation. This paper will take the first step to such contribution of mutational reactions.
Reducing the Probability of False Positive Research Findings by Pre-Publication Validation - Experience with a Large Multiple Sclerosis Database
Authors: Daumer Martin , Held Ulrike , Ickstadt Katja , Heinz Moritz , Schach Siegfried , Ebers George 
Published: July 2019

Abstract
*Objective*
We have assessed the utility of a pre-publication validation policy in reducing the probability of publishing false positive research findings. *Study design and setting*The large database of the Sylvia Lawry Centre for Multiple Sclerosis Research was split in two parts: one for hypothesis generation and a validation part for confirmation of selected results. We present case studies from 5 finalized projects that have used the validation policy and results from a simulation study.

*Results*
In one project, the "relapse and disability" project as described in section II (example 3), findings could not be confirmed in the validation part of the database. The simulation study showed that the percentage of false positive findings can exceed 20% depending on variable selection. *Conclusion*We conclude that the validation policy has prevented the publication of at least one research finding that could not be validated in an independent data set (and probably would have been a "true" false-positive finding) over the past three years, and has led to improved data analysis, statistical programming, and selection of hypotheses. The advantages outweigh the lost statistical power inherent in the process.
Visualization of and Access to CloudSat Vertical Data through Google Earth
Authors: Chen Aijun , Leptoukh Gregory , Di Liping , Nadeau Denis , Farley John , Lynnes Christopher , Kempler Steven 
Published: July 2019

AbstractOnline tools, pioneered by the Google Earth (GE), are facilitating the way in which scientists and general public interact with geospatial data in real three dimensions. However, even in Google Earth, there is no method for depicting vertical geospatial data derived from remote sensing satellites as an orbit curtain seen from above. Here, an effective solution is proposed to automatically render the vertical atmospheric data on Google Earth. The data are first processed through the Giovanni system, then, processed to be 15-second vertical data images. A generalized COLLADA model is devised based on the 15-second vertical data profile. Using the designed COLLADA models and satellite orbit coordinates, a satellite orbit model is designed and implemented in KML format to render the vertical atmospheric data in spatial and temporal ranges vividly. The whole orbit model consists of repeated model slices. The model slices, each representing 15 seconds of vertical data, are placed on the CloudSat orbit based on the size, scale, and angle with the longitude line that are precisely and separately calculated on the fly for each slice according to the CloudSat orbit coordinates. The resulting vertical scientific data can be viewed transparently or opaquely on Google Earth. Not only is the research bridged the science and data with scientists and the general public in the most popular way, but simultaneous visualization and efficient exploration of the relationships among quantitative geospatial data, e.g. comparing the vertical data profiles with MODIS and AIRS precipitation data, becomes possible.
Ecological control on micro-ornamentation of conodont elements
Authors: Zhuravlev Andrey 
Published: July 2019

AbstractConodonts are considered now as specific group of early Chordata or even Vertebrata. Fifteen tooth-like conodont elements of seven morphological types compose the oral apparatus of conodonts. The elements demonstrate complex morphology. All the elements bear polygonal micro-ornamentation. The ornamentation is considered as representing imprints of the epithelium cells. Ecological dependencies of the cell sizes are known for some recent organisms.The maximum cell sizes are characteristic of optimal environmental conditions. Thus, one can supposes that decreasing in cell imprint size in the conodonts marks disturbance in water temperature or/and oxygen content.
Heterogeneity in Ty1-copia group of retroelements in chickpea (Cicer arietinum) genome
Authors: Rajput Manoj , Upadhyaya Kailash 
Published: July 2019

AbstractRetrotransposons constitute a major fraction of plant genomes and these elements may have played a significant role in evolution and sequence organization of genomes. In order to access the diversity of Ty1-copia group of retroelements, reverse transcriptase (RT) sequences were amplified from chickpea genome, using the primers derived from two conserved domains of RT region. Thirty-six RT regions from independent amplicons were cloned and sequenced. On the basis of homology of deduced amino acids, the RT sequences could be grouped into three major families. The intra-family divergence at amino acid level ranges from 2 to 19%. Though intra-family RT sequences were conserved but no two sequences were identical. The results indicate a high degree of heterogeneity among the Ty1-copia group of retroelements from chickpea. It was possible to isolate RT specific sequences from RNA isolated from stressed seedlings, indicating that some of the retroelements may be functional under certain stress conditions.
Homologous self-organising scale-invariant properties characterise long range species spread and cancer invasion
Authors: Marco Diana , Cannas Sergio , Montemurro Marcelo , Hu Bo , Cheng Shiyuan 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThe invariance of some system properties over a range of temporal and/or spatial scales is an attribute of many processes in nature1, often characterised by power law functions and fractal geometry2. In particular, there is growing consensus in that fat-tailed functions like the power law adequately describe long-distance dispersal (LDD) spread of organisms 3,4. Here we show that the spatial spread of individuals governed by a power law dispersal function is represented by a clear and unique signature, characterised by two properties: A fractal geometry of the boundaries of patches generated by dispersal with a fractal dimension D displaying universal features, and a disrupted patch size distribution characterised by two different power laws. Analysing patterns obtained by simulations and real patterns from species dispersal and cell spread in cancer invasion we show that both pattern properties are a direct result of LDD and localised dispersal and recruitment, reflecting population self-organisation.
PAL: A Perl Script for Rapidly Identifying the Active Site of Large Protein Families
Authors: Larrea Andres , Larrea Pablo 
Published: July 2019

AbstractIn the post-genomic era, with an ever-increasing amount of sequence information, it is critical to develop tools that assist in sifting through all the data to identify information amidst the noise. The two main steps in determining the functional sites in proteins are aligning a large set of homologous sequences and analyzing this large file to identify highly conserved residues. Although a number of tools exist for generating high quality alignments rapidly there are much fewer tools available for rapidly identifying conserved cores within that multiple sequence alignment. PAL, is a Perl script that rapidly identifies conserved residues present in a large alignment file. The strengths of PAL are: speed, flexibility and ease of use.
Remote estimation of carbon dioxide uptake of terrestrial ecosystems
Authors: Garbulsky Martin F. , Peñuelas Josep , Papale Dario , Filella Iolanda 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThe estimation of the carbon balance in ecosystems, regions, and the biosphere is currently one of the main concerns in the study of the ecology of global change. Current remote sensing methodologies for estimating gross primary productivity are not satisfactory because they rely too heavily on (i) the availability of climatic data, (ii) the definition of land-use cover, and (iii) the assumptions of the effects of these two factors on the radiation-use efficiency of vegetation (RUE). A new methodology is urgently needed that will actually assess RUE and overcome the problems associated with the capture of fluctuations in carbon absorption in space and over time. Remote sensing techniques such as the widely used reflectance vegetation indices (e.g., NDVI, EVI) allow green plant biomass and therefore plant photosynthetic capacity to be assessed. Nevertheless, detecting how much of this capacity is actually realized is a much more challenging goal. The Photochemical Reflectance Index (PRI) derived from freely available satellite information (MODIS sensor) presented an exponential relationship with the RUE. Thus, we show that it is possible to estimate RUE in real time and therefore actual carbon uptake at ecosystem, regional, and biosphere levels using the PRI. This conceptual and technological advancement avoids the need to rely on either the sometimes unreliable maximum RUE for each ecosystem, hard-to-obtain climate data, or on imprecise land-use/land-cover data.
Ajuvant effect of a Synthetic Aluminium - Magnesium Silicate on chloroquine phosphate, against Plasmodium berghei.
Authors: ezeibe madike , obianuju Okoroafor obianuju , elendu-eleke nnenna , Ngene Augustine 
Published: July 2019

AbstractAbstract effect of a synthetic Aluminium - Magnesium Silicate (AMS) on antiplasmodial activity of chloroquine was tested. Plasmodium berghei-infected mice were treated with 7 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg and 3 mg/kg chloroquine, respectively. The two subgroups in each experiment were treated with chloroquine alone and with chloroquine in AMS respectively. Parasitaemia (%) of the group treated with 7 mg/kg was higher than that of the control. At 5 mg/kg, chloroquine treatment significantly reduced parasitaemia from 3.60 to 2.46 (P =0.01). Incorporating chloroquine in AMS significantly improved its ability to reduce P. berghei parasitaemia at 5 mgkg and at 3 mg/kg, from 2.46 0.21 to 1.57 0.25 (P = 0.01) and from 3.82 0.06 to 2.12 0.08 (P =0.01 ). It also increased mortality of mice treated at 7 mg/kg from 20 to 80 %.
Empirical predictions of an intrinsically disordered protein theory approach to glycan/lectin reaction kinetics
Authors: Wallace Rodrick 
Published: July 2019

AbstractNewly-developed methods from the theory of intrinsically disordered proteins can be applied to the flexible glycan structures that coat cellular surfaces and provide rich channels for biological information transmission. Extension of a mechanistic 'arm-in-sleeve' model via a nonrigid molecule symmetry analysis leads to expectation of empirical observation of punctuated 'spectral' classifications in glycan/lectin interaction, parameterized by an appropriate index of glycan frond length or other index of topological complexity, possibly requiring groupoid classifications analogous to quasicrystals.