bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Migration distance does not predict blood parasitism in a migratory songbird
Authors: Sorensen Marjorie C. , Dixit Tanmay , Kardynal Kevin J. , Newton Jason , Hobson Keith A. , Bensch Staffan , Jenni‐Eiermann Susanne , Spottiswoode Claire N. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractMigration can influence host–parasite dynamics in animals by increasing exposure to parasites, by reducing the energy available for immune defense, or by culling of infected individuals. These mechanisms have been demonstrated in several comparative analyses; however, few studies have investigated whether conspecific variation in migration distance may also be related to infection risk. Here, we ask whether autumn migration distance, inferred from stable hydrogen isotope analysis of summer‐grown feathers (δ2Hf) in Europe, correlates with blood parasite prevalence and intensity of infection for willow warblers (Phylloscopus trochilus) wintering in Zambia. We also investigated whether infection was correlated with individual condition (assessed via corticosterone, scaled mass index, and feather quality). We found that 43% of birds were infected with Haemoproteus palloris (lineage WW1). Using generalized linear models, we found no relationship between migration distance and either Haemoproteus infection prevalence or intensity. There was spatial variation in breeding ground origins of infected versus noninfected birds, with infected birds originating from more northern sites than noninfected birds, but this difference translated into only slightly longer estimated migration distances (~214 km) for infected birds. We found no relationship between body condition indices and Haemoproteus infection prevalence or intensity. Our results do not support any of the proposed mechanisms for migration effects on host–parasite dynamics and cautiously suggest that other factors may be more important for determining individual susceptibility to disease in migratory bird species.
learnPopGen: An R package for population genetic simulation and numerical analysis
Authors: Revell Liam J. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractHere, I briefly present a new R package called learnPopGen that has been designed primarily for the purposes of teaching evolutionary biology, population genetics, and evolutionary theory. Functions of the package can be used to conduct simulations and numerical analyses of a wide range of evolutionary phenomena that would typically be covered in advanced undergraduate through graduate‐level curricula in population genetics or evolution. For instance, learnPopGen functions can be used to visualize gene frequency changes through time under multiple deterministic and stochastic processes, to compute and animate the changes in phenotypic trait values or distributions under natural selection, to numerically analyze and graph the outcome of simple game theory models, and to plot coalescence within a population experiencing genetic drift, along with a number of other things. Functions have been designed to be maximally didactic and frequently employ compelling animated visualizations. Furthermore, it is straightforward to export plots and animations from R in the form of flat or animated graphics, or as videos. For maximum flexibility, students working with the package can run functions directly in R; however, instructors may choose to guide students less adept in the R environment to one of various web interfaces that I have built for a number of the functions of the package and that are already available online.
Electrodeposition of Silver Amalgam on Thin Gold Film Electrodes for Voltammetric Detection of 4‐Nitrophenol and DNA Labeled with Osmium Tetroxide‐Bipyridine Complex
Authors: Havranova Pavlina , Ligmajer Filip , Danhel Ales 
Published: July 2019

AbstractAlternative electrode materials suitable to prepare novel working electrode applicable in detecting biopolymers such as nucleic acids, proteins or glycoproteins, represent a significant contribution to bio‐electroanalysis. Herein, electrodes made of vapor‐deposited thin gold films (vAuE) were used as an alternative substrate for the electrodeposition of silver amalgam particles (AgAPs), next to indium tin oxide and pyrolytic graphite, which are already used. The conditions and parameters of double pulse chronoamperometry were optimized for the most‐sensitive voltammetric detection of 4‐nitrophenol (4‐NP). The resulting electrodes were characterized by scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. While 4‐NP could not be detected by bare nonactivated vAuEs at all, their electrochemical activation offered a limit of detection (LoD) of 25 and 5 μmol.l−1 by means of CV and DPV, respectively. AgAP electrodeposited on vAuE, offered 2.5‐times lower LoDs 10 μmol.l−1 by CV and comparable LoD 5 μmol.l−1 by DPV. Advantageously, AgAPs could be repeatedly deposited on and anodically dissolved from the vAuE with a relative standard deviation 13 % of the ten‐times repeated DPV signal of 4‐NP (100 μmol.l−1). In comparison to vAuE, the vAuE‐AgAP offered about 400 mV broader potential window, which allowed detection of single strand DNA fragment labeled by osmium tetroxide−bipyridine complex down to 2 ng.μl−1 by means of DPV.
Suitability of bench scale bioreactor system for shoot biomass production and bacoside biosynthesis from Bacopa monnieri (L.)
Authors: Sharma Munish , Koul Anuja , Ahuja Ashok , Mallubhotla Sharada 
Published: July 2019

AbstractAccording to folklore, Bacopa monnieri commonly called as Brahmi is known for its cognitive enhancing properties. The plant is found abundantly in wetlands but the drug content (bacosides) is very low (0.2%), therefore, alternative biotechnological protocols are highly needed to supplement the constant source of this valuable plant material which produces stable amounts of bacosides. The present study was conducted to explore the application of different culture systems for cultivation of shoot biomass and maximization of biologically active bacoside biosynthesis in this medicinally important plant. Shoot cultures of Bacopa were cultivated in two different modified benchtop bioreactors: glass bottle bioreactor and balloon type bubble bioreactor and compared with those grown in traditional Erlenmeyer agitated flask. The shoots cultivated in the balloon type bubble bioreactor system showed excellent growth (growth index 796.47 ± 17.27 fresh weight and 395.55 ± 7.55 dry weight) as compared to glass bottle bioreactor system (growth index 488.17 ± 14.4 fresh weight and 327.79 ± 6.64 dry weight) and agitated flask (growth index 363.43 ± 11 fresh weight and 304.22 ± 6.76 dry weight). Furthermore, bacosides produced by shoot cultures cultivated in the balloon type bubble bioreactor (321.95 ± 17.14 mg/L) and glass bottle bioreactor (180.18 ± 6.25 mg/L) configurations were ∼2.78 fold and ∼1.55 fold higher than that recorded in agitated flask cultures (115.7 ± 3.84 mg/L). The balloon type bubble bioreactor system was found to be advantageous for enhancing B. monnieri shoot biomass and bacoside biosynthesis along with ensuring a successful protocol for continuous supply.
Multifunctional properties of Lactobacillus plantarum strains WiKim83 and WiKim87 as a starter culture for fermented food
Authors: Jung Ji‐Hye , Kim Su‐Ji , Lee Jae Yong , Yoon So‐Ra , You Su‐Yeon , Kim Sung Hyun 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThis study aimed to evaluate the safety (hemolysis and enzyme activity), probiotic properties (gastrointestinal tract tolerance, adhesion, hydrophobicity, and auto‐aggregation), and functional characteristics (antimicrobial, antioxidant, and β‐galactosidase activities) of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), isolated from kimchi, in order to select a multifunctional LAB strain for starter culture in fermented food. The five isolated strains included Lactobacillus plantarum WiKim83, L. plantarum WiKim84, Pediococcus pentosaceus WiKim85, P. pentosaceus WiKim86, and L. plantarum WiKim87, as identified by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis; they were confirmed to be nonhemolytic and not able to produce β‐glucuronidase, a carcinogenic enzyme. Probiotic properties of the five LAB strains were evaluated relative to those of commercial Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, and results revealed probiotic potential of three strains (L. plantarum WiKim83, L. plantarum WiKim84, and L. plantarum WiKim87) to be superior. L. plantarum WiKim84 showed high antimicrobial activity against pathogens, and L. plantarum WiKim83 exhibited the highest antioxidant and β‐galactosidase activities. Based on the probiotic and functional properties, the main characteristics of each strain were highlighted and two of them, L. plantarum WiKim83 and L. plantarum WiKim87, were selected as the most potent by principal component analysis. These strains showed antimicrobial, β‐galactosidase, and antioxidant activities, which recommend their suitability as starter culture in various fermented foods.
Interindividual differences in gray and white matter properties are associated with early complex motor skill acquisition
Authors: Lehmann Nico , Tolentino‐Castro J. Walter , Kaminski Elisabeth , Ragert Patrick , Villringer Arno , Taubert Marco 
Published: July 2019

AbstractBrain circuits mediate but also constrain experience‐induced plasticity and corresponding behavioral changes. Here we tested whether interindividual behavioral differences in learning a challenging new motor skill correlate with variations in brain anatomy. Young, healthy participants were scanned using structural magnetic resonance imaging (T1‐weighted MPRAGE, n = 75 and/or diffusion‐weighted MRI, n = 59) and practiced a complex whole‐body balancing task on a seesaw‐like platform. Using conjunction tests based on the nonparametric combination (NPC) methodology, we found that gray matter volume (GMV) in the right orbitrofrontal cortex was positively related to the subjects' initial level of proficiency and their ability to improve performance during practice. Similarly, we obtained a strong trend toward a positive correlation between baseline fractional anisotropy (FA) in commissural prefrontal fiber pathways and later motor learning. FA results were influenced more strongly by radial than axial diffusivity. However, we did not find unique anatomical correlates of initial performance and learning to rate. Our findings reveal structural predispositions for successful motor skill performance and acquisition in frontal brain structures and underlying frontal white matter tracts. Together with previous results, these findings support the view that structural constraints imposed by the brain determine subsequent behavioral success and underline the importance of structural brain network constitution before learning starts.
Reassessing the labor market effects of California's minimum nurse staffing regulations
Authors: Harless David W. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractCalifornia implemented hospital‐unit level licensed nurse minimum staffing regulations in 2004, with more stringent regulations applying for certain units in 2005 and 2008. All analyses agree that there were significant increases in Registered Nurse (RN) staffing levels, especially in hospitals with lower preregulation staffing. Analyses of the labor market effects of the regulations, however, come to mixed conclusions. I revisit the labor market effects of the regulations using different data and a different analytical model for RN wages. For the analysis of growth of RN employment, I use information from the National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses, the largest and most complete source of information on nurse employment, and find that RN employment grew significantly faster in California than in other states after the regulations were implemented. For the analysis of changes in RN wages, I apply a panel difference‐in‐difference‐in‐difference model to wage averages in Metropolitan Statistical Areas, controlling for MSA‐, occupation‐, and time‐fixed effects, and all their two‐way interactions. Analysis of changes in the differential between RN wages and wages in four other selected occupations indicates significant growth in RN wages after the regulations were implemented.
Brain and frontal‐bone metastasis from nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Case report and literature review
Authors: Su Zhen , Cao Xiaolong , Zou Guorong 
Published: July 2019

AbstractBackgroundMetastases to the bones, lungs, and liver are common in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) but not to the brain and frontal bone (B + FB).MethodsWe describe a patient with NPC with B + FB metastasis. He received two cycles of palliative chemotherapy (gemcitabine and cisplatin) and then radiotherapy (60 Gy) for B + FB metastasis. A literature review of previous cases was also undertaken.ResultsFollow‐up 6 months after completion of chemotherapy and radiotherapy showed that our patient experienced a complete response without signs of NPC progression.ConclusionsB + FB metastases from NPC are uncommon. Our case highlights the diagnostic and treatment difficulties clinicians face when dealing with patients with uncommon sites of metastasis. Optimal adjuvant therapy followed by local radiotherapy might elicit long survival in patients with NPC with uncommon sites of metastasis.
Oximes as pretreatment before acute exposure to paraoxon
Authors: Lorke Dietrich E. , Nurulain Syed M. , Hasan Mohamed Y. , Kuča Kamil , Petroianu Georg A. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractOrganophosphates, useful agents as pesticides, also represent a serious danger due to their high acute toxicity. There is indication that oximes, when administered before organophosphate exposure, can protect from these toxic effects. We have tested at equitoxic dosage (25% of LD01) the prophylactic efficacy of five experimental (K‐48, K‐53, K‐74, K‐75, K‐203) and two established oximes (pralidoxime and obidoxime) to protect from mortality induced by the organophosphate paraoxon. Mortalities were quantified by Cox analysis and compared with those observed after pretreatment with a strong acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (10‐methylacridine) and after the FDA‐approved pretreatment compound pyridostigmine. All nine tested substances statistically significantly reduced paraoxon‐induced mortality. Best protection was conferred by the experimental oxime K‐48, reducing the relative risk of death (RR) to 0.10, which was statistically significantly superior to pyridostigmine (RR = 0.31). The other oximes reduced the RR to 0.13 (obidoxime), 0.20 (K‐203), 0.21 (K‐74), 0.24 (K‐75) and 0.26 (pralidoxime), which were significantly more efficacious than 10‐methylacridine (RR = 0.65). These data support the hypothesis that protective efficacy is not primarily due to cholinesterase inhibition and indicate that the tested experimental oximes may be considered promising alternatives to the established pretreatment compound pyridostigmine.
Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic signature of blood plasma in the progression of breast cancer with simultaneous metastasis to lungs
Authors: Blat Aneta , Wiercigroch Ewelina , Smeda Marta , Wislocka Adrianna , Chlopicki Stefan , Malek Kamilla 
Published: July 2019

AbstractDespite advanced diagnostic techniques used for detecting cancer, this disease still remains a leading cause of death in the developed world. What is more, the greatest danger for patients is not related with growing of tumor but rather with metastasis of cancer cells to the distant organs. In this study, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to track chemical changes in blood plasma to find spectral markers of metastatic breast cancer during the disease progression. Plasma samples were taken 1‐5 weeks after orthotropic inoculation of 4T1 metastatic breast cancer cells to mice. The earliest changes detected by FTIR spectroscopy in plasma were correlated with unsaturation of phospholipids and secondary structures of proteins that appeared 2 and 3 weeks, respectively, after 4T1 cells inoculation (micrometastatic phase). Significant alternations in the content and structure of lipids and carbohydrates were identified in plasma at the later stages (macrometastatic phase). When large primary tumors in breast and macrometastases in lung were developed, all bands in FTIR spectra significantly differed from those at earlier phases of the cancer progression. In conclusion, we showed that each phase of the breast cancer progression and its pulmonary metastasis can be characterized by a specific panel of spectral markers.
Aberrant expression of imprinted lncRNA MEG8 causes trophoblast dysfunction and abortion
Authors: Sheng Fei , Sun Ningxia , Ji Yixuan , Ma Yan , Ding Haixia , Zhang Qing , Yang Fu , Li Wen 
Published: July 2019

AbstractLong noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a group of noncoding RNAs whose nucleotides are longer than 200 bp. Previous studies have shown that they play an important regulatory role in many developmental processes and biological pathways. However, the contributions of lncRNAs to placental development are largely unknown. Here, our study aimed to investigate the lncRNA expression signatures in placental development by performing a microarray lncRNA screen. Placental samples were obtained from pregnant C57BL/6 female mice at three key developmental time points (embryonic day E7.5, E13.5, and E19.5). Microarrays were used to analyze the differential expression of lncRNAs during placental development. In addition to the genomic imprinting region and the dynamic DNA methylation status during placental development, we screened imprinted lncRNAs whose expression was controlled by DNA methylation during placental development. We found that the imprinted lncRNA Rian may play an important role during placental development. Its homologous sequence lncRNA MEG8 (RIAN) was abnormally highly expressed in human spontaneous abortion villi. Upregulation of MEG8 expression in trophoblast cell lines decreased cell proliferation and invasion, whereas downregulation of MEG8 expression had the opposite effect. Furthermore, DNA methylation results showed that the methylation of the MEG8 promoter region was increased in spontaneous abortion villi. There was dynamic spatiotemporal expression of imprinted lncRNAs during placental development. The imprinted lncRNA MEG8 is involved in the regulation of early trophoblast cell function. Promoter methylation abnormalities can cause trophoblastic cell defects, which may be one of the factors that occurs in early unexplained spontaneous abortion.
Role of lactadherin in intestinal barrier integrity in experimental neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis
Authors: Shen Haiqing , Lei Yihui , He Xuemei , Liu Danyang , He Zhenjuan 
Published: July 2019

AbstractNecrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is one of the most widespread and devastating gastrointestinal diseases in neonates. Destruction of the intestinal barrier is the main underlying cause of NEC. The aim of this study was to determine the role of lactadherin in preventing NEC in a neonatal rat model and investigate the molecular mechanism of lactadherin‐mediated protection of the intestinal barrier. Neonatal rats were divided into three groups: dam feeding (DF), NEC (NEC), and NEC supplemented with 10 μg/(g·day) recombinant human lactadherin (NEC+L). Intestinal permeability, tissue damage, and cell junction protein expression and localization were evaluated. We found that lactadherin reduced weight loss caused by NEC, reduced the incidence of NEC from 100% to 46.7%, and reduced the mean histological score for tissue damage to 1.40 compared with 2.53 in the NEC group. Intestinal permeability of lactadherin‐treated rats was significantly reduced when compared with that of the NEC group. In addition, the expression levels of JAM‐A, claudin 3, and E‐calcium in the ileum of NEC group animals increased compared with those in the ileum of DF group animals, and these levels decreased in the NEC+L group. Lactadherin changed the localization of claudin 3, occludin, and E‐cadherin in epithelial cells. The mechanism underlying lactadherin‐mediated protection of the intestinal barrier might be restoring the correct expression levels and localization of tight junction and adherent junction proteins. These findings suggest a new candidate agent for the prevention of NEC in newborns.
Insights into the riddles of codon usage patterns and codon context signatures in fungal genus Puccinia, a persistent threat to global agriculture
Authors: Roy Ayan , van Staden Johannes 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThe fungal genus Puccinia, comprising of several menacing pathogens, has been a persistent peril to global agriculture. Genome sequencing of various members of Puccinia offers a scope to excavate their genomic riddles. The present study has been addressed at exploring the complex niceties of codon and amino acid usage patterns and subsequent elucidation of the determinants that drive such behavior. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed a complex interplay of natural selection for translation and compositional bias to be operational on the codon usage patterns. Gene expression level was observed to be the most competent factor governing codon usage behavior of the genus. In spite of subtle AT richness of the genus, potential highly expressed gene sets were found to preferentially employ GC rich optimal codons. Estimation of relative dinucleotide abundance revealed preference toward the employment of GpA, CpA, TpC, and TpG dinucleotides and restraint from using TpA dinucleotide among the members of the genus. Extensive codon context analysis revealed that codon pairs with GpA, CpA, TpC, and TpG dinucleotides were over‐represented and codon pairs with TpA dinucleotide were extensively avoided at the codon–codon (cP3–cA1) junctions. Amino acid usage signatures of the genus were found to be influenced considerably by several imperative factors like aromatic and hydrophobic character of the encoded gene products, genomic compositional constraint, and gene expressivity. Detailed know‐how of the potential highly expressed gene sets and associated optimal codons in the genus promise to be informative for the scientific community engaged in combating Puccinia pathogenesis.
Сlass II histone deacetylases in the post‐stroke recovery period—expression, cellular, and subcellular localization—promising targets for neuroprotection
Authors: Demyanenko Svetlana , Berezhnaya Elena , Neginskaya Maria , Rodkin Stanislav , Dzreyan Valentina , Pitinova Maria 
Published: July 2019

AbstractHistone deacetylases (HDAC) inhibitors can protect nerve cells after a stroke, but it is unclear which HDAC isoform is involved in this effect. We studied cellular and intracellular rearrangement of class II HDACs at late periods after photothrombotic infarct (PTI) in the mouse sensorimotor cortex in the tissue surrounding the ischemia core and in the corresponding region of the contralateral hemisphere. We observed a decrease in HDAC4 in cortical neurons and an increase in its nuclear translocation. HDAC6 expression in neurons was also increased. Moreover, HDAC6‐positive cells had elevated apoptosis. Tubostatin A (Tub A)‐induced decrease in the activity of HDAC6 restored acetylation of α‐tubulin during the early poststroke recovery period and reduced apoptosis of nerve cells thus protecting the brain tissue. Selective inhibition of HDAC6 elevated expression of growth‐associated protein‐43 (GAP43), which remained high up to 14 days after stroke and promoted axogenesis and recovery from the PTI‐induced neurological deficit. Selective HDAC6 inhibitor Tub A markedly reduced neuronal death and increased acetylation of α‐tubulin and the level of GAP43. Thus, HDAC6 inhibition could be a promising strategy for modulation of brain recovery as it can increase the intensity and reduce the duration of reparation processes in the brain after stroke.