bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A systematic review of the caries prevalence among children living in Chernobyl fallout countries
Authors: Wolgin Michael , Filina Nicole , Shakavets Natalia , Dvornyk Valentyn , Lynch Edward , Kielbassa Andrej M. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThe present study analyzed the data concerning the caries prevalence in children born and permanently residing in Chernobyl fallout areas. Setting forth to evaluate if differences regarding the caries prevalence can be observed compared to non-contaminated sites of affected East European countries. Methods used to assess the caries prevalence were limited to DMFT/dmft (decayed, missing and filled teeth) for the primary and the permanent dentitions. The databases PubMed, EMBASE/Ovid, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and eLIBRARY were consulted for the electronic literature search. Screening of titles and abstracts followed the MOOSE guidelines, while data extraction and the assessment of the full texts were performed in accordance to the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. The statistical analysis revealed considerable heterogeneity of DMFT/dmft values (from I2 = 94% up to I2 = 99.9%; p < 0.05) in children of different ages (5–7; 12–15; and average of 12 years). Scattering of the weighted mean differences (95% CI) ranged from −1.03 (−1.36; −0.7) to 6.51 (6.11; 6.91). Although individual studies demonstrated a greater prevalence of dental caries in children residing in radiation-contaminated areas, no conclusive statement is possible regarding the effect of small dose radiation on the dentition. Hence, further high-quality epidemiologic investigations are needed.
Food Transport of Red Imported Fire Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on Vertical Surfaces
Authors: Qin Wenquan , Lin Shucong , Chen Xuan , Chen Jian , Wang Lei , Xiong Hongpeng , Xie Qinxi , Sun Zhaohui , Wen Xiujun , Wang Cai 
Published: March 2019

AbstractMany ants can cooperatively transport large food items (either coordinated or uncoordinated during transportation), which can be rarely observed in other animals besides humans. Although these behaviors have been extensively investigated on horizontal surfaces, few studies dealt with food transport on vertical surfaces. The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, is an invasive ant species that commonly forages on trees. Our studies showed that S. invicta used multiple strategies to transport food items on vertical surfaces (tree trunks). Small food items (1 × 1 × 1 mm sausage) were carried and transported by individual ants, and larger food items were either collectively and directly transported or cut collaboratively first and small particles were then transported individually or collectively. Competition and deadlocks were frequently observed during individual and collective transport respectively. During cutting, groups of ants tightly fixed the food on the tree trunks by holding the edges of the food item, while other ants cut the food into smaller particles. All food items and particles were moved downward. We investigated the effects of food placement (placed on a platform or fixed on tree trunk), food shape (cuboid or flattened), particle sizes (0.45–1, 1–2, 2–3, or 3–4 mm), and placement height (20, 80, or 150 cm) on the food transport on tree trunks. Our studies are the first to show how fire ants transport food on a vertical surface, and may provide insights into the development of novel fire ant baiting systems that can be placed on tree trunks.
Mobilization of Stem and Progenitor Cells in Septic Shock Patients
Authors: Skirecki Tomasz , Mikaszewska-Sokolewicz Małgorzata , Godlewska Marlena , Dołęgowska Barbara , Czubak Jarosław , Hoser Grażyna , Kawiak Jerzy , Zielińska-Borkowska Urszula 
Published: March 2019

AbstractSeptic shock is associated with multiple injuries to organs and tissues. These events may induce the regenerative response of adult stem cells. However, little is known about how endogenous stem cells are modulated by sepsis. This study analyzed the circulation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) in the peripheral blood of patients with septic shock. Thirty-three patients with septic shock and twenty-two healthy control subjects were enrolled in this prospective observational study. Blood samples were collected on the first, third and seventh days of septic shock. Populations of stem cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. Chemotactic mediators were analyzed by HPLC and ELISA. Populations of early HSCs (Lin-CD133+CD45+ and CD34+CD38−) were mobilized to the peripheral blood after an initial decrease. Mobilized HSCs showed significantly increased expression of Ki-67, a marker of cell proliferation. Circulating EPCs and VSELs were mobilized to the blood circulation upon the first day of sepsis. Patients with a greater number of Lin-CD133+CD45+ HSCs and Lin-CD34+CD45− VSELs had a significantly lower probability of 60-day survival. The concentration of CXCL12 was elevated in the blood of septic patients, while the concentration of sphingosine-1-phosphate was significantly decreased. As an emergency early response to sepsis, VSELs and EPCs were mobilized to the peripheral blood, while the HSCs showed delayed mobilization. Differential mobilization of stem cell subsets reflected changes in the concentration of chemoattractants in the blood. The relationship between the probability of death and a large number of HSCs and VSELs in septic shock patients can be used as a novel prognostic marker and may provide new therapeutic approaches.
Fenofibrate induces human hepatoma Hep3B cells apoptosis and necroptosis through inhibition of thioesterase domain of fatty acid synthase
Authors: You Bang-Jau , Hour Mann-Jen , Chen Li-Yun , Luo Shu-Ching , Hsu Po-Hsiang , Lee Hong-Zin 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThis study demonstrated that fenofibrate, a lipid-lowering drug, induced a significant time-dependent cytotoxicity of hepatoma Hep3B cells. Hep3B cells are significantly more sensitive to cell killing by fenofibrate than hepatoma HepG2, lung cancer CH27 and oral cancer HSC-3 cells. From the result of docking simulation, fenofibrate can bind excellently to the thioesterase domain of fatty acid synthase (FASN) binding site as orlistat, a FASN inhibitor, acts. The fenofibrate-induced cell cytotoxicity was protected by addition of palmitate, indicating that the cytotoxic effect of fenofibrate is due to starvation of Hep3B cells by inhibiting the formation of end product in the FASN reaction. Inhibition of lipid metabolism-related proteins expression, such as proteins containing thioesterase domain and fatty acid transport proteins, was involved in the fenofibrate-induced Hep3B cell death. Fenofibrate caused S and G2/M cell cycle arrest by inducing cyclin A/Cdk2 and reducing cyclin D1 and E protein levels in Hep3B cells. The anti-tumor roles of fenofibrate on Hep3B cells by inducing apoptosis and necroptosis were dependent on the expression of Bcl-2/caspase family members and RIP1/RIP3 proteins, respectively. These results suggest that fenofibrate has an anti-cancer effect in Hep3B cells and inhibition of lipid metabolism may be involved in fenofibrate-induced Hep3B cells apoptosis and necroptosis.
Identification of Streptococcus pneumoniae by a real-time PCR assay targeting SP2020
Authors: Tavares Débora A. , Handem Sara , Carvalho Ricardo J. , Paulo A. Cristina , de Lencastre Hermínia , Hinds Jason , Sá-Leão Raquel 
Published: March 2019

AbstractReal-time PCR targeting lytA (the major autolysin gene) and piaB (permease gene of the pia ABC transporter) are currently used as the gold-standard culture-independent assays for Streptococcus pneumoniae identification. We evaluated the performance of a new real-time PCR assay – targeting SP2020 (putative transcriptional regulator gene) – and compared its performance with the assays previously described. A collection of 150 pneumococci, 433 non-pneumococci and 240 polymicrobial samples (obtained from nasopharynx, oropharynx, and saliva; 80 from each site) was tested. SP2020 and lytA-CDC assays had the best performance (sensitivity of 100% for each compared to 95.3% for piaB). The specificity for lytA and piaB was 99.5% and for SP2020 was 99.8%. Misidentifications occurred for the three genes: lytA, piaB and SP2020 were found in non-pneumococcal strains; piaB was absent in some pneumococci including a serotype 6B strain. Combining lytA and SP2020 assays resulted in no misidentifications. Most polymicrobial samples (88.8%) yielded concordant results for the three molecular targets. The remaining samples seemed to contain non-typeable pneumococci (0.8%), and non-pneumococci positive for lytA (1.7%) or SP2020 (8.7%). We propose that combined detection of both lytA-CDC and SP2020 is a powerful strategy for the identification of pneumococcus either in pure cultures or in polymicrobial samples.
Selecting variants of unknown significance through network-based gene-association significantly improves risk prediction for disease-control cohorts
Authors: Oulas Anastasis , Minadakis George , Zachariou Margarita , Spyrou George M. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractVariants of unknown/uncertain significance (VUS) pose a huge dilemma in current genetic variation screening methods and genetic counselling. Driven by methods of next generation sequencing (NGS) such as whole exome sequencing (WES), a plethora of VUS are being detected in research laboratories as well as in the health sector. Motivated by this overabundance of VUS, we propose a novel computational methodology, termed VariantClassifier (VarClass), which utilizes gene-association networks and polygenic risk prediction models to shed light into this grey area of genetic variation in association with disease. VarClass has been evaluated using numerous validation steps and proves to be very successful in assigning significance to VUS in association with specific diseases of interest. Notably, using VUS that are deemed significant by VarClass, we improved risk prediction accuracy in four large case-studies involving disease-control cohorts from GWAS as well as WES, when compared to traditional odds ratio analysis. Biological interpretation of selected high scoring VUS revealed interesting biological themes relevant to the diseases under investigation. VarClass is available as a standalone tool for large-scale data analyses, as well as a web-server with additional functionalities through a user-friendly graphical interface.
Low-energy shock waves evoke intracellular Ca2+ increases independently of sonoporation
Authors: Takahashi Toru , Nakagawa Keiichi , Tada Shigeru , Tsukamoto Akira 
Published: March 2019

AbstractLow-energy shock waves (LESWs) accelerate the healing of a broad range of tissue injuries, including angiogenesis and bone fractures. In cells, LESW irradiations enhance gene expression and protein synthesis. One probable mechanism underlying the enhancements is mechanosensing. Shock waves also can induce sonoporation. Thus, sonoporation is another probable mechanism underlying the enhancements. It remains elusive whether LESWs require sonoporation to evoke cellular responses. An intracellular Ca2+increase was evoked with LESW irradiations in endothelial cells. The minimum acoustic energy required for sufficient evocation was 1.7 μJ/mm2. With the same acoustic energy, sonoporation, by which calcein and propidium iodide would become permeated, was not observed. It was found that intracellular Ca2+increases evoked by LESW irradiations do not require sonoporation. In the intracellular Ca2+increase, actin cytoskeletons and stretch-activated Ca2+channels were involved; however, microtubules were not. In addition, with Ca2+influx through the Ca2+channels, the Ca2+release through the PLC-IP3-IP3R cascade contributed to the intracellular Ca2+increase. These results demonstrate that LESW irradiations can evoke cellular responses independently of sonoporation. Rather, LESW irradiations evoke cellular responses through mechanosensing.
High density linkage map construction and QTL mapping for runner production in allo-octoploid strawberry Fragaria × ananassa based on ddRAD-seq derived SNPs
Authors: Hossain Mohammad Rashed , Natarajan Sathishkumar , Kim Hoy-Taek , Jesse Denison Michael Immanuel , Lee Cheol-Gyu , Park Jong-In , Nou Ill-Sup 
Published: March 2019

AbstractRecent advances in high-throughput genome sequencing technologies are now making the genetic dissection of the complex genome of cultivated strawberry easier. We sequenced Maehyang (short-day cultivar) × Albion (day-neutral cultivar) crossing populations using double digest restriction-associated DNA (ddRAD) sequencing technique that yielded 978,968 reads, 80.2% of which were aligned to strawberry genome allowing the identification of 13,181 high quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Total 3051 SNPs showed Mendelian segregation in F1, of which 1268 were successfully mapped to 46 linkage groups (LG) spanning a total of 2581.57 cM with an average interval genetic distance of 2.22 cM. The LGs were assigned to the 28 chromosomes ofFragaria × ananassaas determined by positioning the sequence tags onF. vescagenome. In addition, seven QTLs namely,qRU-5D, qRU-3D1, qRU-1D2, qRU-4D, qRU-4C, qRU-5CandqRU-2D2were identified for runner production with LOD value ranging from 3.5–7.24 that explained 22–38% of phenotypic variation. The key candidate genes having putative roles in meristem differentiation for runnering and flowering within these QTL regions were identified. These will enhance our understanding of the vegetative vs sexual reproductive behavior in strawberry and will aid in setting breeding targets for developing perpetual flowering and profuse runnering cultivar.
All-optical implementation of collision-based evolutions of open quantum systems
Authors: Cuevas Álvaro , Geraldi Andrea , Liorni Carlo , Bonavena Luís Diego , De Pasquale Antonella , Sciarrino Fabio , Giovannetti Vittorio , Mataloni Paolo 
Published: March 2019

AbstractWe present a new optical scheme enabling the implementation of highly stable and configurable non-Markovian dynamics. Here one photon qubit can circulate in a multipass bulk geometry consisting of two concatenated Sagnac interferometers to simulate the so called collisional model, where the system interacts at discrete times with a vacuum environment. We show the optical features of our apparatus and three different implementations of it, replicating a pure Markovian scenario and two non-Markovian ones, where we quantify the information backflow by tracking the evolution of the initial entanglement between the system photon and an ancillary one.
Detection of stable QTLs for grain protein content in rice (Oryza sativa L.) employing high throughput phenotyping and genotyping platforms
Authors: Chattopadhyay Krishnendu , Behera Lambodar , Bagchi Torit Baran , Sardar Sushree Sibanee , Moharana Nutan , Patra Niraja Rani , Chakraborti Mridul , Das Avijit , Marndi Bishnu Charan , Sarkar Ananta , Ngangkham Umakanta , Chakraborty Koushik , Bose Lotan Kumar , Sarkar Sutapa , Ray Soham , Sharma Srigopal 
Published: March 2019

AbstractLack of appropriate donors, non-utilization of high throughput phenotyping and genotyping platforms with high genotype × environment interaction restrained identification of robust QTLs for grain protein content (GPC) in rice. In the present investigation a BC3F4 mapping population was developed using grain protein donor, ARC10075 and high-yielding cultivar Naveen and 190 lines were genotyped using 40 K Affimetrix custom SNP array with the objective to identify stable QTLs for protein content. Three of the identified QTLs, one for GPC (qGPC1.1) and the other two for single grain protein content (qSGPC2.1, qSGPC7.1) were stable over the environments explaining 13%, 14% and 7.8% of the phenotypic variances, respectively. Stability and repeatability of these additive QTLs were supported by the synergistic additive effects of multi-environmental-QTLs. One epistatic-QTL, independent of the main effect QTL was detected over the environment for SGPC. A few functional genes governing seed storage protein were hypothesised inside these identified QTLs. The qGPC1.1 was validated by NIR Spectroscopy-based high throughput phenotyping in BC3F5 population. Higher glutelin content was estimated in high-protein lines with the introgression of qGPC1.1 in telomeric region of short arm of chromosome 1. This was supported by the postulation of probable candidate gene inside this QTL region encoding glutelin family proteins.
The Essentiality Status of Mouse Duplicate Gene Pairs Correlates with Developmental Co-Expression Patterns
Authors: Kabir Mitra , Wenlock Stephanie , Doig Andrew J. , Hentges Kathryn E. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractDuring the evolution of multicellular eukaryotes, gene duplication occurs frequently to generate new genes and/or functions. A duplicated gene may have a similar function to its ancestral gene. Therefore, it may be expected that duplicated genes are less likely to be critical for the survival of an organism, since there are multiple copies of the gene rendering each individual copy redundant. In this study, we explored the developmental expression patterns of duplicate gene pairs and the relationship between development co-expression and phenotypes resulting from the knockout of duplicate genes in the mouse. We define genes that generate lethal phenotypes in single gene knockout experiments as essential genes. We found that duplicate gene pairs comprised of two essential genes tend to be expressed at different stages of development, compared to duplicate gene pairs with at least one non-essential member, showing that the timing of developmental expression affects the ability of one paralogue to compensate for the loss of the other. Gene essentiality, developmental expression and gene duplication are thus closely linked.
Device Thrombogenicity Emulation: An In Silico Predictor of In Vitro and In Vivo Ventricular Assist Device Thrombogenicity
Authors: Chiu Wei Che , Tran Phat L. , Khalpey Zain , Lee Eric , Woo Yi-Ren , Slepian Marvin J. , Bluestein Danny 
Published: February 2019

AbstractVentricular assist devices (VAD), a mainstay of therapy for advanced and end-stage heart failure, remain plagued by device thrombogenicity. Combining advanced in silico and in vitro methods, Device Thrombogenicity Emulation (DTE) is a device design approach for enhancing VAD thromboresistance. Here we tested DTE efficacy in experimental VAD designs. DTE incorporates iterative design modifications with advanced CFD to compute the propensity of large populations of platelets to activate by flow-induced stresses (statistically representing the VAD ‘Thrombogenic Footprint’). The DTE approach was applied to a VAD (MINDTE) design with a favorable thromboresistance profile and compared against a design (MAXDTE) that generated an intentionally poor thromboresistance profile. DTE predictions were confirmed by testing physical prototypes in vitro by measuring VAD thrombogenicity using the modified prothrombinase assay. Chronic in vivo studies in VAD implanted calves, revealed MINDTE calf surviving well with low platelet activation, whereas the MAXDTE animal sustained thromboembolic strokes. DTE predictions were confirmed, correlating with in vitro and in vivo thrombogenicity, supporting utility in guiding device development, potentially reducing the need for animal studies.
Glycemic control and survival in peritoneal dialysis patients with diabetes: A 2-year nationwide cohort study
Authors: Abe Masanori , Hamano Takayuki , Hoshino Junichi , Wada Atsushi , Nakai Shigeru , Masakane Ikuto 
Published: March 2019

AbstractFor glycemic control in patients with diabetes on peritoneal dialysis (PD), the level of glycated albumin (GA) associated with mortality is unclear. Accordingly, we examined the difference in the association of GA and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) with 2-year mortality in a Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy cohort. We examined 1601 patients with prevalent diabetes who were on PD. Of these, 1282 had HbA1c (HbA1c cohort) and 725 had GA (GA cohort) measured. We followed them for 2 years from 2013 to 2015 and used Cox regression to calculate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for 2-year mortality after adjusting for potential confounders in each cohort. No significant association was found between HbA1c levels and all-cause death HRs before and after adjustment for confounders in the HbA1c cohort. In contrast, the adjusted all-cause death HRs and 95% CIs for GAs < 12.0%, 12.0–13.9%, 16.0–17.9%, 18.0–19.9%, 20.0–21.9%, and ≥22.0%, compared with 14.0–15.9% (reference), were 1.56 (0.32–7.45), 1.24 (0.32–4.83), 1.32 (0.36–4.77), 2.02 (0.54–7.53), 4.36 (1.10–17.0), and 4.10 (1.20–14.0), respectively. In the GA cohort, GA ≥ 20.0% was significantly associated with a higher death HR compared with the reference GA. Thus, GA ≥ 20.0% appears to be associated with a decrease in survival in diabetic patients on PD. There were no associations between HbA1c levels and 2-year mortality in PD patients.
Most of the Northern Hemisphere Permafrost Remains under Climate Change
Authors: Wang Chenghai , Wang Zhilan , Kong Ying , Zhang Feimin , Yang Kai , Zhang Tingjun 
Published: March 2019

AbstractDegradation of cryospheric components such as arctic sea ice and permafrost may pose a threat to the Earth’s climate system. A rise of 2 °C above pre-industrial global surface temperature is considered to be a risk-level threshold. This study investigates the impacts of global temperature rises of 1.5 °C and 2 °C on the extent of the permafrost in the Northern Hemisphere (NH), based on the 17 models of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5). Results show that, when global surface temperature rises by 1.5 °C, the average permafrost extent projected under Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) scenarios would decrease by 23.58% for RCP2.6 (2027–2036), 24.1% for RCP4.5 (2026–2035) and 25.55% for RCP8.5 (2023–2032). However, uncertainty in the results persists because of distinct discrepancies among the models. When the global surface temperature rises by 2 °C, about one-third of the permafrost would disappear; in other words, most of the NH permafrost would still remain even in the RCP8.5 (2037–2046) scenario. The results of the study highlight that the NH permafrost might be able to stably exist owing to its relatively slow degradation. This outlook gives reason for hope for future maintenance and balance of the cryosphere and climate systems.
Origins of All-Optical Generation of Plasmons in Graphene
Authors: Tollerton C. J. , Bohn J. , Constant T. J. , Horsley S. A. R. , Chang D. E. , Hendry E. , Li D. Z. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractGraphene, despite its centrosymmetric structure, is predicted to have a substantial second order nonlinearity, arising from non-local effects. However, there is disagreement between several published theories and experimental data. Here we derive an expression for the second order conductivity of graphene in the non-local regime using perturbation theory, concentrating on the difference frequency mixing process, and compare our results with those already published. We find a second-order conductivity (σ(2) ≈ 10−17AmV−2) that is approximately three orders of magnitude less than that estimated from recent experimental results. This indicates that nonlinear optical coupling to plasmons in graphene cannot be described perturbatively through the electronic nonlinearity, as previously thought. We also show that this discrepancy cannot be attributed to the bulk optical nonlinearity of the substrate. As a possible alternative, we present a simple theoretical model of how a non-linearity can arise from photothermal effects, which generates a field at least two orders of magnitude larger than that found from perturbation theory.