bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of Different Planting Dates and Spacing on Growth Parameters of Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.)
Authors: Anushruti  , Kumar Sanjay , Sonkar Vikash Kumar , Yadav Shatrunjay , Kumar Lalit , Mitra Diksha Sangh , Meena Dinesh Kumar , Pal Ratan Kumar , Rawat Sunil Kumar 
Published: October 2024

Aim: To investigate the effect of various planting dates and spacing on cabbage growth.
Study Design: The experimental design Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD) was used.
Place and Duration of Study: An experiment was conducted in the rabi seasons of 2021–22 and 2022–23 at the Horticulture Research Farm, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow (U.P.)
Methodology: There were twelve treatments with three replications. The variety selected for experiment was Pusa Mukta.
Results: The combined data of two years showed that treatment P1 (30 November) had significantly higher plant survivability (95.28%), plant height (14.67 cm, 21.31 cm and 28.39 cm) at 30, 45 and 60 DAT, respectively, stem diameter (2.11 cm), no. of non-wrapper leaves (16.28), no. of wrapper leaves (27.19), plant spread E-W (49.40 cm) and plant spread N-S (52.63 cm). Among spacings. The findings showed that the S4 (60 cm x 60 cm) plant spacing achieved maximum plant survivability at 91.59%. It also led to the greatest plant height at 30, 45 and 60 days after transplanting (DAT) with measurements of 15.73 cm, 22.45 cm and 31.12 cm, respectively. Additionally, this spacing resulted in the largest stem diameter (2.31 cm), the highest no. of non-wrapper leaves (17.40), no. of wrapper leaves (28.30), greatest plant spread in both East-West (52.79 cm) and North-South (56.08 cm) directions.
Conclusion: The results obtained from pooled data of two years showed that treatment P1 (30 November) and Spacing 60 cm x 60 cm had significantly higher growth parameters.
Isolation, Characterization and Molecular Identification of Bacteria Associated with Green and Brown Seaweeds
Authors: Saha Somnath , Kumar Sanath H. , Nayak Binaya Bhusan , Lekshmi Manjusha 
Published: October 2024

Aims: The co-existence of bacterial communities along with macroalgae in marine environment develops a mutualistic relationship resulting in functional advantages for both the groups. The present research studied the composition of epiphytic bacteria associated with green (Ulva spp.) and brown seaweeds (Sargassum spp. and Padina spp.) sampled off Maharashtra coast, India, and their physiological and bioactive properties.
Study Design: Green and brown seaweeds were collected from three locations along Maharashtra coast and analyzed for the associated bacteria.
Place and Duration of Study: Seaweed samples analyzed in this study were from Kelwa, Manori and Ratnagiri along the Maharashtra coast. The analysis was performed during June to September 2021.
Methodology: Bacteria from freshly collected seaweed samples were homogenized in saline, 10-fold serially diluted and plated on Zobell marine agar. Distinct colonies were selected and identified by a series of biochemical tests, followed by partial 16SrRNA gene sequencing. The physiological characteristics of the isolated bacteria were studied by screening for temperature and salinity tolerance, production of protease, lipase, agarose, amylase and biosurfactants.
Results: The total seaweed bacterial count ranged from 4.5 ×103 to 2.9 × 104 CFU/g. Seventy-seven bacteria were isolated, 44 (57.14%) and 33 (42.85%) isolates from green and brown seaweeds respectively. The 16SrRNA sequencing of 20 representative isolates revealed the dominance of Bacillus spp., followed by Vibrio spp. Growth at 0°C was exhibited by all bacteria except Bacillus tequilensis, Bacillus altitudinis, Oceanobacillus iheyensis and one isolate of Vibrio spp. A majority of the isolates grew at 45°C. Vibrio spp. exhibited protease, amylase, gelatinase, and agarase activities, whereas the biosurfactant activity was commonly associated with Bacillus spp.
Conclusion: The results of this study illustrate the occurrence of seaweed-associated beneficial bacteria exhibiting bioactive properties with potential biomedical applications.
Proximal Linear Extension of Skin Hypopigmentation After Ultrasound‐Guided Corticosteroid Injection for de Quervain Tenosynovitis: A Case Presentation
Authors: Milani Carlo , Lin Cindy 
Published: March 2018

Abstractde Quervain tenosynovitis is a stenosing tenosynovitis of the first dorsal compartment of the wrist that can lead to painful functional impairment of the upper limb. This case presentation describes a rare adverse effect of corticosteroid injection (CSI) involving local skin atrophy and hypopigmentation with proximal linear extension. In this case, hypopigmentation developed from the wrist to beyond the elbow after CSI with ultrasound guidance and targeted placement of the injectate in the extensor tendon sheath of the first dorsal compartment. Dermal complications of CSI are rare but notable and potentially disfiguring events that should be discussed with every patient during the informed consent process before soft tissue CSIs.Level of EvidenceV
Decolonizing the New Town: Roy Gazzard and the Making of Killingworth Township
Authors: Meredith Jesse 
Published: March 2018

AbstractWhat better laboratory for an experiment in racial integration could there be than the nascent community of a new town? The architect Roy Gazzard posed this question in 1969, as he embarked on designing the new town of Killingworth in northern England. A self-proclaimed “social engineer,” Gazzard applied his experience as a town planner in colonial Uganda to shaping a new community in the postimperial metropole. Historians have long recognized the way that built forms were translated from metropole to colony, but the reverberations of colonial planning in the postwar European welfare states have received little attention. In this article I use intellectual biography to chart the trajectory of notions of community, spirituality, space, and place as they migrated from colonial Uganda to postimperial Britain. I focus on the career of Roy Gazzard, an outspoken social engineer and devout Christian, who hoped to use his colonial urban planning experience to counter what he saw as the increasingly secular and centrifugal forces in modern British society. An examination of letters, private paper, lectures, planning documents, and diagrams held in the newly opened archive of Gazzard's work illuminates the course of colonial expertise as it was refracted back into the postcolonial metropole.
Lipid binding promotes the open conformation and tumor-suppressive activity of neurofibromin 2
Authors: Chinthalapudi Krishna , Mandati Vinay , Zheng Jie , Sharff Andrew J. , Bricogne Gerard , Griffin Patrick R. , Kissil Joseph , Izard Tina 
Published: March 2018

AbstractNeurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is a tumor-forming disease of the nervous system caused by deletion or by loss-of-function mutations in NF2, encoding the tumor suppressing protein neurofibromin 2 (also known as schwannomin or merlin). Neurofibromin 2 is a member of the ezrin, radixin, moesin (ERM) family of proteins regulating the cytoskeleton and cell signaling. The correlation of the tumor-suppressive function and conformation (open or closed) of neurofibromin 2 has been subject to much speculation, often based on extrapolation from other ERM proteins, and controversy. Here we show that lipid binding results in the open conformation of neurofibromin 2 and that lipid binding is necessary for inhibiting cell proliferation. Collectively, our results provide a mechanism in which the open conformation is unambiguously correlated with lipid binding and localization to the membrane, which are critical for the tumor-suppressive function of neurofibromin 2, thus finally reconciling the long-standing conformation and function debate.
Transposon-modified antigen-specific T lymphocytes for sustained therapeutic protein delivery in vivo
Authors: O’Neil Richard T. , Saha Sunandan , Veach Ruth Ann , Welch Richard C. , Woodard Lauren E. , Rooney Cliona M. , Wilson Matthew H. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractA cell therapy platform permitting long-term delivery of peptide hormones in vivo would be a significant advance for patients with hormonal deficiencies. Here we report the utility of antigen-specific T lymphocytes as a regulatable peptide delivery platform for in vivo therapy. piggyBac transposon modification of murine cells with luciferase allows us to visualize T cells after adoptive transfer. Vaccination stimulates long-term T-cell engraftment, persistence, and transgene expression enabling detection of modified cells up to 300 days after adoptive transfer. We demonstrate adoptive transfer of antigen-specific T cells expressing erythropoietin (EPO) elevating the hematocrit in mice for more than 20 weeks. We extend our observations to human T cells demonstrating inducible EPO production from Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) antigen-specific T lymphocytes. Our results reveal antigen-specific T lymphocytes to be an effective delivery platform for therapeutic molecules such as EPO in vivo, with important implications for other diseases that require peptide therapy.
Atomistic scale investigation of cation ordering and phase stability in Cs-substituted Ba1.33Zn1.33Ti6.67O16, Ba1.33Ga2.66Ti5.67O16 and Ba1.33Al2.66Ti5.33O16 hollandite
Authors: Wen Yi , Xu Yun , Brinkman Kyle S. , Shuller-Nickles Lindsay 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe titanate-based hollandite structure is proposed as an effective ceramic waste form for Cs-immobilization. In this study, quantum-mechanical calculations were used to quantify the impact of A-site and B-site ordering on the structural stability of hollandite with compositions BaxCsy(MzTi8-z)O16, where M = Zn2+, Ga3+, and Al3+. The calculated enthalpy of formation agrees with experimental measurements of related hollandite phases from melt solution calorimetry. Ground state geometry optimizations show that, for intermediate compositions (e.g., CsBaGa6Ti18O48), the presence of both Cs and Ba in the A-site tunnels is not energetically favored. However, the decay heat generated during storage of the Cs-containing waste form may overcome the energetics of Ba and Cs mixing in the tunnel structure of hollandite. The ability of the hollandite structure to accommodate the radioparagenesis of Cs to Ba is critical for long term performance of the waste. For the first time, B-site ordering was observed along the tunnel direction ([001] zone axis) for the Ga-hollandite compositions, as well as the intermediate Al-hollandite composition. These compositionally dependent structural features, and associated formation enthalpies, are of importance to the stability and radiation damage tolerance of ceramic waste forms.
First insights of peptidoglycan amidation in Gram-positive bacteria - the high-resolution crystal structure of Staphylococcus aureus glutamine amidotransferase GatD
Authors: Leisico Francisco , V. Vieira Diana , Figueiredo Teresa A. , Silva Micael , Cabrita Eurico J. , Sobral Rita G. , Ludovice Ana Madalena , Trincão José , Romão Maria João , de Lencastre Hermínia , Santos-Silva Teresa 
Published: March 2018

AbstractGram-positive bacteria homeostasis and antibiotic resistance mechanisms are dependent on the intricate architecture of the cell wall, where amidated peptidoglycan plays an important role. The amidation reaction is carried out by the bi-enzymatic complex MurT-GatD, for which biochemical and structural information is very scarce. In this work, we report the first crystal structure of the glutamine amidotransferase member of this complex, GatD from Staphylococcus aureus, at 1.85 Å resolution. A glutamine molecule is found close to the active site funnel, hydrogen-bonded to the conserved R128. In vitro functional studies using 1H-NMR spectroscopy showed that S. aureus MurT-GatD complex has glutaminase activity even in the absence of lipid II, the MurT substrate. In addition, we produced R128A, C94A and H189A mutants, which were totally inactive for glutamine deamidation, revealing their essential role in substrate sequestration and catalytic reaction. GatD from S. aureus and other pathogenic bacteria share high identity to enzymes involved in cobalamin biosynthesis, which can be grouped in a new sub-family of glutamine amidotransferases. Given the ubiquitous presence of GatD, these results provide significant insights into the molecular basis of the so far undisclosed amidation mechanism, contributing to the development of alternative therapeutics to fight infections.
Characterization of Sex-Based Dna Methylation Signatures in the Airways During Early Life
Authors: Nino Cesar L. , Perez Geovanny F. , Isaza Natalia , Gutierrez Maria J. , Gomez Jose L. , Nino Gustavo 
Published: March 2018

AbstractHuman respiratory conditions are largely influenced by the individual’s sex resulting in overall higher risk for males. Sex-based respiratory differences are present at birth suggesting a strong genetic component. Our objective was to characterize early life sex-based genomic signatures determined by variable X-chromosome methylation in the airways. We compared male versus female genome-wide DNA methylation in nasal airway samples from newborns and infants aged 1–6 months (N = 12). We analyzed methylation signals across CpG sites mapped to each X-linked gene using an unsupervised classifier (principal components) followed by an internal evaluation and an exhaustive cross-validation. Results were validated in an independent population of children (N = 72) following the same algorithm. X-linked genes with significant sex-based differential methylation in the nasal airway of infants represented only about 50% of the unique protein coding transcripts. X-linked genes without significant sex-based differential methylation included genes with evidence of escaping X-inactivation and female-biased airway expression. These genes showed similar methylation patterns in males and females suggesting unbalanced X-chromosome dosage. In conclusion, we identified that the human airways have already sex-based DNA methylation signatures at birth. These early airway epigenomic marks may determine sex-based respiratory phenotypes and overall predisposition to develop respiratory disorders later in life.
Correlation of Xpert MTB/RIF with measures to assess Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacillary burden in high HIV burden areas of Southern Africa
Authors: Beynon Fenella , Theron Grant , Respeito Durval , Mambuque Edson , Saavedra Belen , Bulo Helder , Sanz Sergi , Dheda Keertan , Garcia-Basteiro Alberto L. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractTraditionally, smear microscopy has been used as a point-of-care measure of bacillary burden in tuberculosis patients to inform infection control and contact tracing. Xpert MTB/RIF has the potential to replace smear. However, data to support the use of its quantitative output [cycle threshold (CT)] as an alternate point-of-care measure of bacillary burden are limited. This study assessed the correlation (Spearman’s) between CT, smear, culture time-to-positivity (TTP), and clinical factors in patients with Xpert-positive sputum from Mozambique (n = 238) and South Africa (n = 462). Mean CT and smear grade correlated well (ρ0.72); compared to TTP and smear (ρ0.61); and mean CT and TTP (ρ0.50). In multivariate analyses, lower CT (higher bacillary load) was associated with negative HIV serostatus and low BMI. A smear positivity rule-out (95% sensitivity) CT cut-off of 28.0 was identified, with 54.1% specificity, 2.07 positive likelihood ratio, 0.09 negative likelihood ratio and 79.0% correctly classified. Cut-offs were higher for HIV positive compared to HIV negative individuals for any set sensitivity level. This study suggests Xpert CT values correlate well with smear, both in HIV positive and negative individuals, and that CT cut-offs might be broadly applicable to multiple settings. Studies to directly assess the association of CT with infectiousness are needed.
Adipose mesenchymal stem cells from osteoporotic donors preserve functionality and modulate systemic inflammatory microenvironment in osteoporotic cytotherapy
Authors: Zheng Chen-Xi , Sui Bing-Dong , Liu Nu , Hu Cheng-Hu , He Tao , Zhang Xin-Yi , Zhao Pan , Chen Ji , Xuan Kun , Jin Yan 
Published: March 2018

AbstractMaintenance of bone homeostasis against diseased microenvironments remains as a major challenge. Recently, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been unravelled as potent microenvironmental modulators, the systemic infusion of which in cytotherapy can prevent or rescue extensive bone loss via anti-inflammation. However, MSCs also accept microenvironmental regulations; particularly, MSCs from bone marrow (BMMSCs) are prone to pathological microenvironmental factors of bone. In this study, we discovered that BMMSCs from osteoporotic donors of ovariectomized (OVX) mice lost their anti-inflammatory capability and failed to prevent bone loss when infused back into OVX recipients. Nevertheless, MSCs from adipose tissues (ADMSCs) preserved their anti-inflammatory capacity, despite diseased microenvironments of OVX donors, and continued to show protective effects on bone in OVX recipients. In the cellular level, the anti-inflammatory superiority of osteoporotic donor-derived ADMSCs over BMMSCs existed in their distinctive capability to induce T-cell apoptosis, which was molecularly attributed to retained expression levels of critical immunomodulatory genes. Furthermore, these functional discrepancies of BMMSCs and ADMSCs were due to differential stemness, energy metabolism and anti-oxidative defence system, underlying general disparity in their cellular states. Collectively, our findings optimize osteoporotic cytotherapy by using ADMSCs in resistance to and in modulation of diseased microenvironments.
Untargeted metabolomics reveals a new mode of action of pretomanid (PA-824)
Authors: Baptista Rafael , Fazakerley David M. , Beckmann Manfred , Baillie Les , Mur Luis A. J. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractPretomanid is a promising anti-tubercular drug currently at clinical phase III, but its mechanisms of action are currently unclear. This study aimed to: (i) reveal the metabolome of Mycobacterium smegmatis under pretomanid treatment; (ii) compare major sources of metabolite variation in bacteria treated with pretomanid treatment and other antibiotics; and (iii) to target metabolites responsible for the killing activity of pretomanid in mycobacteria. Untargeted high-resolution metabolite profiling was carried out using flow infusion electrospray ion high resolution mass spectrometry (FIE-HRMS) to identify and quantify metabolites. The identification of key metabolites was independently confirmed by gas-chromatography time-of flight mass spectrometry (GC-tofMS) in comparison to standards. Pretomanid treatments generated a unique distinctive metabolite profile when compared to ampicillin, ethambutol, ethionamide, isoniazid, kanamycin, linezolid, rifampicin and streptomycin. Metabolites which differed significantly only with pretomanid treatment were identified and mapped on to bacterial metabolic pathways. This targeted the pentose phosphate pathway with significant accumulation seen with fructose-6-phosphate, ribose-5-phosphate and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate. These effects were linked to the accumulation of a toxic metabolite methylglyoxal. This compound showed significant antimicrobial activity (MIC 0.65 mM) against M. smegmatis.
Results of the radiation dose of head, body and tail of hippocampus in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients treated with intensity modulated radiotherapy
Authors: Zong-wen Sun , lei Shi , Qinglin Li , yue Kong , feng-lei Du , Tie-ming Xie , Yong-hong Hua , Qiao-ying Hu , Xiao-zhong Chen , Yuan-yuan Chen , Ming Chen 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThis study is to analyze the radiation dose of head, body and tail of hippocampus (HC) of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients treated with intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). Evaluate cognitive function of patients with Wechsler adult intelligence scale-Chinese revised (WAIS-CR). HC were segmented into HC head (HH), HC body (HB) and HC tail (HT) and the indexes were then analyzed. WAIS-CR was tested before and 3months after radiotherapy. The mean radiation dose of left and right HC was (1147 ± 976)cGy, (1011 ± 602)cGy respectively. The radiation dose and the volume exposed in different dose of HH, HB and HT decreased in turn. For 5 patients, before and after radiotherapy, the regular-order score was 8.60 ± 1.34, 8.0 ± 1.00 (P = 0.43), while the reverse-order score was 5.80 ± 0.84, 5.20 ± 0.84 (P = 0.07). The radiation dose of HH, HB and HT was different, and the radiation dose of HH was the highest, which should be emphasized especially.
No perceptual prioritization of non-nociceptive vibrotactile and visual stimuli presented on a sensitized body part
Authors: Torta D. M. , Filbrich L. , Van Den Broeke E. N. , Legrain V. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractHigh frequency electrical conditioning stimulation (HFS) is an experimental method to induce increased mechanical pinprick sensitivity in the unconditioned surrounding skin (secondary hyperalgesia). Secondary hyperalgesia is thought to be the result of central sensitization, i.e. increased responsiveness of nociceptive neurons in the central nervous system. Vibrotactile and visual stimuli presented in the area of secondary hyperalgesia also elicit enhanced brain responses, a finding that cannot be explained by central sensitization as it is currently defined. HFS may recruit attentional processes, which in turn affect the processing of all stimuli. In this study we have investigated whether HFS induces perceptual biases towards stimuli presented onto the sensitized arm by using Temporal Order Judgment (TOJ) tasks. In TOJ tasks, stimuli are presented in rapid succession on either arm, and participants have to indicate their perceived order. In case of a perceptual bias, the stimuli presented on the attended side are systematically reported as occurring first. Participants performed a tactile and a visual TOJ task before and after HFS. Analyses of participants’ performance did not reveal any prioritization of the visual and tactile stimuli presented onto the sensitized arm. Our results provide therefore no evidence for a perceptual bias towards tactile and visual stimuli presented onto the sensitized arm.