bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Profiles of prostaglandin F2α metabolite in dairy cattle during luteal regression and pregnancy: implications for corpus luteum maintenance†
Authors: Mezera Megan A , Hamm Caleb S , Gamarra Caio A , Gennari Rodrigo S , Prata Alexandre B , Sartori Roberto , Wiltbank Milo C 
Published: May 2019

Abstract
Mechanisms of bovine corpus luteum (CL) maintenance during the second month of pregnancy have not been adequately investigated, despite significant reproductive losses. In the first month, interferon-tau is believed to suppress oxytocin-stimulated prostaglandin F2α (PGF) production, yet there are conflicting reports of circulating PGF metabolite (PGFM). In this study, characterization of PGFM and P4 occurred through continuous bihourly blood sampling in cows undergoing CL regression (day 18–21, n = 5), and during the first (day 18–21, n = 5) and second month (day 47–61; n = 16) of pregnancy. Cattle in the second month were assigned to control (n = 8) or oxytocin treatment (n = 8; three pulses to mimic luteolysis) to evaluate if oxytocin receptors were active. All cows but one (which had elevated PGFM prior to oxytocin treatment) maintained the pregnancy. Basal PGFM concentrations were low (11.6 ± 0.7 pg/mL) in the first month but increased 2.54-fold in the second month. Few (0.26 ± 0.12 pulses/day) PGFM pulses with low peak concentrations (28.8 ± 3.1 pg/mL) were observed during the first month of pregnancy, similar to cows not undergoing regression. However, in the second month, frequency (1.10 ± 0.26 pulses/day) and peak concentration (67.2 ± 5.0 pg/mL) of PGFM pulses increased, displaying similar frequency but lower peak PGFM than seen in regression (1.44 ± 0.14 pulses/day; 134.5 ± 18.9 pg/mL). Oxytocin treatment increased likelihood of PGFM pulses post-treatment and increased peak concentration (89.7 ± 10.1 pg/mL) in cows during the second month. Thus, cows have more PGFM pulses during second than first month of pregnancy, possibly induced by endogenous oxytocin, indicating suppression of PGF production is an important mechanism for CL maintenance during first but not second month of pregnancy.
Long-Term Test–Retest Reliability of the UPSIT in Cognitively Intact Older Adults
Authors: Devanand Davangere P , Liu Xinhua , Cohen Hannah , Budrow John , Schupf Nicole , Manly Jennifer , Lee Seonjoo 
Published: May 2019

Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the long-term test–retest reliability of the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT), and its individual items, in cognitively intact older adults. A community sample of older adults received a neuropsychological test battery, including the 12-item, 6-trial Selective Reminding Test (SRT). The UPSIT was administered at baseline and follow-up that occurred between 1 and 4 years after baseline. UPSIT scores of participants who were cognitively intact and did not decline cognitively were examined for test–retest reliability. In 92 older adults with mean age 77.6 years followed for 2.79 (standard deviation [SD] 0.69) years, mean UPSIT score declined from 30.29 (SD 5.83) to 27.80 (SD 5.50). In linear mixed models that adjusted for time, age, sex, and education, intraclass correlation coefficients for UPSIT were 0.65, SRT delayed recall 0.59, and SRT total immediate recall 0.49. Among 4 possible response combinations, the largest proportion of participants had correct responses at both visits for 35 out of 40 items. Consistency of item responses ranged from 50% to 90% across the 2 time points. The long-term test–retest reliability of the UPSIT was moderately strong without practice effects over long periods of time in older adults. These results provide indirect support to prior findings on odor identification impairment predicting cognitive decline and dementia, and suggest potential use of olfactory testing as a biomarker in prevention and treatment trials of cognitive enhancers.
Mr.Vc: a database of microarray and RNA-seq of Vibrio cholerae
Authors: Zhang Zhiyuan , Chen Guozhong , Hu Jun , Hussain Wajid , Fan Fenxia , Yang Yalin , Zhou Zhigang , Fang Xiaodong , Zhu Jun , Chen Wei-Hua , Liu Zhi 
Published: May 2019

AbstractGram-negative bacterium Vibrio cholerae is the causative agent of cholera, a life-threatening diarrheal disease. During its infectious cycle, V. cholerae routinely switches niches between aquatic environment and host gastrointestinal tract, in which V. cholerae modulates its transcriptome pattern accordingly for better survival and proliferation. A comprehensive resource for V. cholerae transcriptome will be helpful for cholera research, including prevention, diagnosis and intervention strategies. In this study, we constructed a microarray and RNA-seq database of V. cholerae (Mr.Vc), containing gene transcriptional expression data of 145 experimental conditions of V. cholerae from various sources, covering 25 937 entries of differentially expressed genes. In addition, we collected relevant information including gene annotation, operons they may belong to and possible interaction partners of their protein products. With Mr.Vc, users can easily find transcriptome data they are interested in, such as the experimental conditions in which a gene of interest was differentially expressed in, or all genes that were differentially expressed in an experimental condition. We believe that Mr.Vc database is a comprehensive data repository dedicated to V. cholerae and could be a useful resource for all researchers in related fields. Mr.Vc is available for free at http://bioinfo.life.hust.edu.cn/mrvc.
Assessment of Alternative Candidate Subcortical Insect Vectors From Walnut Crowns in Habitats Quarantined for Thousand Cankers Disease
Authors: Chahal Karandeep , Gazis Romina , Klingeman William , Hadziabdic Denita , Lambdin Paris , Grant Jerome , Windham Mark 
Published: May 2019

Abstract
Thousand cankers disease (TCD) results from the combined activity of the fungal pathogen, Geosmithia morbida Kolařík, Freeland, Utley, and Tisserat and its principle vector, Pityophthorus juglandis (Blackman) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in Juglans L. spp. and Pterocarya Kunth spp. host plants. TCD has been reported from the eastern and western United States. To evaluate potential for other beetle species to vector the fungus in east Tennessee, specimens were collected using ethanol-baited traps that were suspended beneath crowns of TCD-symptomatic trees. Associations of G. morbida with insect species collected in traps were assessed in an unsuccessful, preliminary culture-based fungal assay, and then with a molecular-based detection method. For culture-based assays, rinsate from washed, individual insects was plated on nutrient media and growing colonies were subcultured to obtain axenic G. morbida cultures for identification. For the molecular-based method, G. morbida presence was detected by amplifying the previously developed, species-specific microsatellite locus GS004. Capillary electrophoresis was used to detect the amplified amplicons and representative reactions were validated using Sanger sequencing. Eleven beetle species were found to carry G. morbida, including Cnestus mutilatus (Blandford), Dryoxylon onoharaensum (Murayama), Hylocurus rudis (LeConte), Monarthrum fasciatum (Say), Monarthrum mali (Fitch), Xyleborinus saxesenii (Ratzeburg), Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motschulsky), Xylosandrus germanus (Blandford) (all Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), Stenomimus pallidus (Boheman) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Cossoninae), Oxoplatypus quadridentatus (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Platypodinae), and Xylops basilaris (Say) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae). These findings raise concerns that alternative subcortical insect species that already occur within quarantined habitats can sustain incidence of introduced G. morbida and contribute to spread within the native range of black walnut, Juglans nigra L., in the eastern United States.
English as an international language beyond the ELT classroom
Authors: Lee Ju Seong , Drajati Nur Arifah 
Published: May 2019

Abstract
While previous interventional studies on English as an international language (EIL) have focused on the role of teachers, recent studies have begun viewing how students engage autonomously in informal digital learning of English (IDLE) activities that are associated with their perception of English varieties and cross-cultural communication strategies. This mixed-method study examined the empirical relationship between IDLE and these two aspects of EIL involving 324 Indonesian EFL students. Results showed that receptive IDLE activity (e.g. watching English content) significantly predicted positive perception of English varieties, whereas quantity (frequency) of IDLE and productive IDLE activity (e.g. communicating with English users) significantly predicted the development of cross-cultural communication strategies. This study sheds light on the emerging phenomenon of how contemporary EFL students are exposed to and interact with diverse forms, accents, and users of English in a range of IDLE environments, along with the pedagogical implications for ELT.
Literary Concordances in the Twenty-First Century
Authors: Gramigna Valeria 
Published: May 2019

Abstract
In the context of the most recent experiments involving dance–literature relations, I would like to focus on Concordan(s)e, a fascinating literary and artistic adventure that has been ongoing since 2007. A collaborative encounter between a writer and a choreographer leads to the co-creation of a new, shared work, which is a sort of prolongation or extension of their individual artistic worlds. This ‘shared artistic act’ invites reflection on a possible transformation that affects not only the novel but also creativity itself. The novel is changed by the ‘mutation’ of the act of writing. This ‘mutation’ both nourishes the reader-spectator and serves as the foundation for thinking about the writer’s creative process; it also gives the literary text another form. Might not this change in the act of writing be the main issue to be considered if we are to understand one of the ways the contemporary novel is developing, and to broaden the scope of studies on the relationship between dance and literature?
A Manganese-Superoxide Dismutase From Thermus thermophilus HB27 Suppresses Inflammatory Responses and Alleviates Experimentally Induced Colitis
Authors: Sheng Yang , Li Hailong , Liu Minjun , Xie Bingxian , Wei Wen , Wu Jiawei , Meng Fanguo , Wang Hong Yu , Chen Shuai 
Published: May 2019

Abstract

Background
Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is an attractive therapeutic agent to ameliorate oxidative stress that is critical for the initiation and progression of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, the short life of SOD limits its clinical application. In this study, we aim to examine the therapeutic effects of a hyperthermostable SOD from the Thermus thermophilus HB27 (TtSOD) for treatment of experimentally induced IBD.

Methods
A recombinant TtSOD was expressed and purified from Escherichia coli, and its therapeutic effects were examined in 2 experimental IBD animal models.

Results
In IBD induced by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid in zebrafish, TtSOD treatment decreased intestinal enlargement and attenuated neutrophil infiltration, resulting in alleviation of enterocolitis. In mice, SOD activity was substantially increased in the intestine after oral gavage of TtSOD, which ameliorated gut inflammation, preserved gut barrier function, and attenuated the severity of dextran sulfate sodium–induced colitis. Furthermore, TtSOD inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced production of reactive oxygen species and inflammatory responses in mouse bone marrow–derived macrophages.

Conclusions
Our results demonstrate that TtSOD possesses therapeutic activities toward experimentally induced IBD, offering new clinical treatment options for patients with IBD.
Race differences in cardiovascular disease and breast cancer mortality among US women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer
Authors: Troeschel Alyssa N , Liu Yuan , Collin Lindsay J , Bradshaw Patrick T , Ward Kevin C , Gogineni Keerthi , McCullough Lauren E 
Published: May 2019

Abstract

Background
Breast cancer (BC) survivors are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) due to shared risk factors with BC and cardiotoxic treatment effects. We aim to investigate racial differences in mortality due to CVD and BC among women diagnosed with invasive BC.

Methods
Data from 407 587 non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and White (NHW) women diagnosed with malignant BC (1990–2014) were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Cumulative incidence of mortality due to CVD and BC was calculated by race and age (years). Cox models were used to obtain hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) for the association of race/ethnicity with cause-specific mortality.

Results
The 20-year cumulative incidence of CVD-related mortality was higher among younger NHBs than NHWs (e.g. age 55–69: 13.3% vs 8.9%, respectively). NHBs had higher incidence of BC-specific mortality than NHWs, regardless of age. There was a monotonic reduction in CVD-related mortality disparities with increasing age (age &lt;55: HR = 3.71, 95%CI: 3.29, 4.19; age 55–68: HR = 2.31, 95%CI: 2.15, 2.49; age 69+: HR = 1.24, 95%CI: 1.19, 1.30). The hazard of BC-specific mortality among NHBs was approximately twice that of NHWs (e.g. age &lt;55: HR = 1.98, 95%CI: 1.92, 2.04).

Conclusions
There are substantial differences in mortality due to CVD and BC between NHB and NHW women diagnosed with invasive BC. Racial differences were greatest among younger women for CVD-related mortality and similar across age groups for BC-specific mortality. Future studies should identify pathways through which race/ethnicity affects cause-specific mortality, to inform efforts towards reducing disparities.
TIPE2 Suppresses Pseudomonas aeruginosa Keratitis by Inhibiting NF-κB Signaling and the Infiltration of Inflammatory Cells
Authors: Wang Qun , Ma Li , Liu Ting , Ge Cheng , Zhou Qingjun , Wei Chao , Shi Weiyun 
Published: May 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe role of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) induced protein 8-like-2 (TIPE2) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) keratitis was explored.MethodsEight-week-old TIPE2 knockout (TIPE2−/−) C57BL/6 mice and their wild-type (WT) littermates were used. Corneal disease was graded at 1, 2, and 3 days postinfection, and slit lamp, clinical score, histopathology, and immunostaining were performed in the infected corneas. The corneas were harvested, and messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels of TNF-α, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were tested. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) determined the protein levels, and nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cell (NF-κB) signaling molecules were tested by Western blot. In vitro human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) were used to determine the relationship between TIPE2 and TAK1. The HCECs were treated with TIPE2 short hairpin ribonucleic acid (shRNA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to test the NF-κB signaling molecules by Western blot.ResultsPseudomonas aeruginosa infection induced a decreased expression of TIPE2 in mouse corneas 2 days postinfection. Compared with the control group, TIPE2-deficient mice were susceptible to infection with PA and showed increased corneal inflammation. Reduced NF-κB signaling and inflammatory cell infiltration were required in the TIPE2-mediated immune modulation.ConclusionsTIPE2 promoted host resistance to PA infection by suppressing corneal inflammation via regulating TAK1 signaling negatively and inhibiting the infiltration of inflammatory cells.
The mechanism of action of pepR, a viral-derived peptide, against Staphylococcus aureus biofilms
Authors: Pinto Sandra N , Dias Susana A , Cruz Ana F , Mil-Homens Dalila , Fernandes Fabio , Valle Javier , Andreu David , Prieto Manuel , Castanho Miguel A R B , Coutinho Ana , Veiga Ana Salomé 
Published: May 2019

Abstract

Objectives
To investigate the mechanism of action at the molecular level of pepR, a multifunctional peptide derived from the Dengue virus capsid protein, against Staphylococcus aureus biofilms.

Methods
Biofilm mass, metabolic activity and viability were quantified using conventional microbiology techniques, while fluorescence imaging methods, including a real-time calcein release assay, were employed to investigate the kinetics of pepR activity at different biofilm depths.

Results
Using flow cytometry-based assays, we showed that pepR is able to prevent staphylococcal biofilm formation due to a fast killing of planktonic bacteria, which in turn resulted from a peptide-induced increase in the permeability of the bacterial membranes. The activity of pepR against pre-formed biofilms was evaluated through the application of a quantitative live/dead confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) assay. The results show that the bactericidal activity of pepR on pre-formed biofilms is dose and depth dependent. A CLSM-based assay of calcein release from biofilm-embedded bacteria was further developed to indirectly assess the diffusion and membrane permeabilization properties of pepR throughout the biofilm. A slower diffusion and delayed activity of the peptide at deeper layers of the biofilm were quantified.

Conclusions
Overall, our results show that the activity of pepR on pre-formed biofilms is controlled by its diffusion along the biofilm layers, an effect that can be counteracted by an additional administration of peptide. Our study sheds new light on the antibiofilm mechanism of action of antimicrobial peptides, particularly the importance of their diffusion properties through the biofilm matrix on their activity.
Is direct oral amoxicillin challenge a viable approach for ‘low-risk’ patients labelled with penicillin allergy?
Authors: Krishna Mamidipudi T , Misbah Siraj A 
Published: May 2019

Abstract
Spurious penicillin allergy (PenA) is a major public health problem. Up to 10% of the population and 20% of inpatients are labelled with PenA, but only <5%–10% have a proven allergy following comprehensive investigations. PenA tests are labour intensive and require specialist input, which may not be readily available due to limited allergy services. Therefore, patients with PenA receive alternative antibiotics that are associated with higher rates of iatrogenic infections, antimicrobial resistance and a longer hospital stay with consequent increased costs. Recent evidence suggests that a supervised ‘direct’ oral amoxicillin challenge (without performing allergy tests) is a safe option in low-risk patients (those least likely to be allergic based on history). Patient selection for this procedure is based on a careful guideline-based risk stratification process. Further research is needed to validate this intervention in routine clinical practice and explore potential facilitators and barriers to implementation in different healthcare settings.
ML-Net: multi-label classification of biomedical texts with deep neural networks
Authors: Du Jingcheng , Chen Qingyu , Peng Yifan , Xiang Yang , Tao Cui , Lu Zhiyong 
Published: May 2019

Abstract

Objective
In multi-label text classification, each textual document is assigned 1 or more labels. As an important task that has broad applications in biomedicine, a number of different computational methods have been proposed. Many of these methods, however, have only modest accuracy or efficiency and limited success in practical use. We propose ML-Net, a novel end-to-end deep learning framework, for multi-label classification of biomedical texts.

Materials and Methods
ML-Net combines a label prediction network with an automated label count prediction mechanism to provide an optimal set of labels. This is accomplished by leveraging both the predicted confidence score of each label and the deep contextual information (modeled by ELMo) in the target document. We evaluate ML-Net on 3 independent corpora in 2 text genres: biomedical literature and clinical notes. For evaluation, we use example-based measures, such as precision, recall, and the F measure. We also compare ML-Net with several competitive machine learning and deep learning baseline models.

Results
Our benchmarking results show that ML-Net compares favorably to state-of-the-art methods in multi-label classification of biomedical text. ML-Net is also shown to be robust when evaluated on different text genres in biomedicine.

Conclusion
ML-Net is able to accuractely represent biomedical document context and dynamically estimate the label count in a more systematic and accurate manner. Unlike traditional machine learning methods, ML-Net does not require human effort for feature engineering and is a highly efficient and scalable approach to tasks with a large set of labels, so there is no need to build individual classifiers for each separate label.
Biological Features of Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae) Feeding on Schizotetranychus oryzae (Acari: Tetranychidae) Kept on Rice Leaves
Authors: Gonçalves Dinarte , Cunha da Uemerson Silva , Rode Priscila de Andrade , Toldi Maicon , Ferla Noeli Juarez 
Published: May 2019

Abstract
Schizotetranychus oryzae Rossi de Simons attains pest level in rice crops. This study aimed to evaluate the biological features of Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) feeding on S. oryzae on leaves of flooded rice. We also evaluated N. californicus behavior in response to S. oryzae and conspecific cues. Thirty-two eggs were individually placed in arenas on rice leaves and fed on S. oryzae for the biological test. Three cultivars were used to test the behavior of N. californicus in response to S. oryzae and conspecific cues. The intrinsic rate of increase (rm) of the predator feeding on S. oryzae was 0.21 female/female/day. Schizotetranychus oryzae was considered a suitable prey for N. californicus under laboratory conditions. The results obtained in behavioral tests showed that N. californicus preferred laying eggs on leaves uninfested by S. oryzae and it did not show oviposition preference in arenas with conspecific predator cues. This predator was found in all rice cultivation areas in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Neoseiulus californicus proved to be a control agent for S. oryzae.
Long-term exposure to a 40-GHz electromagnetic field does not affect genotoxicity or heat shock protein expression in HCE-T or SRA01/04 cells
Authors: Koyama Shin , Narita Eijiro , Suzuki Yukihisa , Shiina Takeo , Taki Masao , Shinohara Naoki , Miyakoshi Junji 
Published: May 2019

AbstractMillimeter waves are used in various fields, and the risks of this wavelength range for human health must be carefully evaluated. In this study, we investigated the effects of millimeter waves on genotoxicity and heat shock protein expression in human corneal epithelial (HCE-T) and human lens epithelial (SRA01/04) cells. We exposed the cells to 40-GHz millimeter waves at 1 mW/cm2 for 24 h. We observed no statistically significant increase in the micronucleus (MN) frequency or the level of DNA strand breaks in cells exposed to 40-GHz millimeter waves relative to sham-exposed and incubator controls. Heat shock protein (Hsp) expression also exhibited no statistically significant response to the 40-GHz exposure. These results indicate that exposure to 40 GHz millimeter waves under these conditions has little or no effect on MN formation, DNA strand breaks, or Hsp expression in HCE-T or SRA01/04 cells.