bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
To what extent does maternal body mass index predict intentions, attitudes, or practices of early infant feeding?
Authors: Davie Philippa , Bick Debra , Chilcot Joseph 
Published: May 2019

AbstractPublic health guidelines recommend women establish and maintain exclusive breastfeeding to 6 months postpartum. Women with a body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) in the overweight or obese range are less likely to initiate and continue breastfeeding than healthy weight women. Evidence for psychological mechanisms of this association using validated methods of measurement is limited, but factors such as attitudes and intentions for infant feeding are implicated. This study aimed to investigate the associations between maternal BMI, antenatal attitudes and intentions for infant feeding, and subsequent breastfeeding practices. A total of N = 128 women completed an online questionnaire antenatally, and n = 48 were followed‐up in the first month postpartum. Validated measures of intentions (Infant Feeding Intentions Scale) and attitudes (Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale) for infant feeding were used. One‐way analysis of variance and multivariate regression analyses assessed study objectives. Infant feeding attitudes (p = .327) and intentions (p = .254) were similar among healthy weight, overweight, and obese women and did not differ significantly. In adjusted regression models, only intentions significantly predicted early breastfeeding behaviour (p = .036; AR2 = .301). Missing data analysis revealed no significant differences in the profile of completing versus noncompleting women. Evidence suggests postnatal factors contribute significantly to lower breastfeeding rates in cohorts of women with overweight or obese BMIs. Further investigations should consider using theory and methods from behavioural science to longitudinally investigate modifiable mechanisms of action responsible for lower breastfeeding rates among overweight and obese women to inform practices that support prolonged breastfeeding.
Dispersal limitations and historical factors determine the biogeography of specialized terrestrial protists
Authors: Singer David , Mitchell Edward A. D. , Payne Richard J. , Blandenier Quentin , Duckert Clément , Fernández Leonardo D. , Fournier Bertrand , Hernández Cristián E. , Granath Gustaf , Rydin Håkan , Bragazza Luca , Koronatova Natalia G. , Goia Irina , Harris Lorna I. , Kajukało Katarzyna , Kosakyan Anush , Lamentowicz Mariusz , Kosykh Natalia P. , Vellak Kai , Lara Enrique 
Published: May 2019

AbstractRecent studies show that soil eukaryotic diversity is immense and dominated by micro‐organisms. However, it is unclear to what extent the processes that shape the distribution of diversity in plants and animals also apply to micro‐organisms. Major diversification events in multicellular organisms have often been attributed to long‐term climatic and geological processes, but the impact of such processes on protist diversity has received much less attention as their distribution has often been believed to be largely cosmopolitan. Here, we quantified phylogeographical patterns in Hyalosphenia papilio, a large testate amoeba restricted to Holarctic Sphagnum‐dominated peatlands, to test if the current distribution of its genetic diversity can be explained by historical factors or by the current distribution of suitable habitats. Phylogenetic diversity was higher in Western North America, corresponding to the inferred geographical origin of the H. papilio complex, and was lower in Eurasia despite extensive suitable habitats. These results suggest that patterns of phylogenetic diversity and distribution can be explained by the history of Holarctic Sphagnum peatland range expansions and contractions in response to Quaternary glaciations that promoted cladogenetic range evolution, rather than the contemporary distribution of suitable habitats. Species distributions were positively correlated with climatic niche breadth, suggesting that climatic tolerance is key to dispersal ability in H. papilio. This implies that, at least for large and specialized terrestrial micro‐organisms, propagule dispersal is slow enough that historical processes may contribute to their diversification and phylogeographical patterns and may partly explain their very high overall diversity.
Collecting comprehensive traffic information using pavement vibration monitoring data
Authors: Ye Zhoujing , Xiong Haocheng , Wang Linbing 
Published: May 2019

AbstractTraffic data is essential for intelligent traffic management and road maintenance. However, the enormous effort used for data collection and analysis, combined with conventional approaches for traffic monitoring, is inefficient due to its high energy consumption, high cost, and the nonlinear relationships among various factors. This article proposes a new approach to obtain traffic information by processing raw data on pavement vibration. A large amount of raw data was collected in real time by deploying a vibration‐based in‐field pavement monitoring system. The data was processed with an efficient algorithm to achieve the monitoring of the vehicle speed, axle spacing, driving direction, location of the vehicle, and traffic volume. The vehicle speed and axle spacing were back‐calculated from the collected data and verified with actual measurements. The verification indicated that a reasonable precision could be achieved using the developed methods. Vehicle types and vehicles with an abnormal weight were identified by a three‐layer artificial neural network and the k‐means++ cluster analysis, respectively, which may help law enforcement in determining on an overweight penalty. A cost and energy consumption estimation of an acceleration sensing node is discussed. An upgraded system with low cost, low energy consumption, and self‐powered monitoring is also discussed for enabling future distributed computing and wireless application. The upgraded system might enhance integrated pavement performance and traffic monitoring.
Polar landmark protein HubP recruits flagella assembly protein FapA under glucose limitation in Vibrio vulnificus
Authors: Park Soyoung , Yoon Jihee , Lee Chang‐Ro , Lee Ju Yeon , Kim Yeon‐Ran , Jang Kyoung‐Soon , Lee Kyu‐Ho , Seok Yeong‐Jae 
Published: May 2019

SummaryHow motile bacteria recognize their environment and decide whether to stay or navigate toward more favorable location is a fundamental issue in survival. The flagellum is an elaborate molecular device responsible for bacterial locomotion, and the flagellum‐driven motility allows bacteria to move themselves to the appropriate location at the right time. Here, we identify the polar landmark protein HubP as a modulator of polar flagellation that recruits the flagellar assembly protein FapA to the old cell pole, thereby controlling its activity for the early events of flagellar assembly in Vibrio vulnificus. We show that dephosphorylated EIIAGlc of the PEP‐dependent sugar transporting phosphotransferase system sequesters FapA from HubP in response to glucose and hence inhibits FapA‐mediated flagellation. Thus, flagellar assembly and motility is governed by spatiotemporal control of FapA, which is orchestrated by the competition between dephosphorylated EIIAGlc and HubP, in the human pathogen V. vulnificus.
Assessing the potential functions of nocturnal stomatal conductance in C3 and C4 plants
Authors: Resco de Dios Víctor , Chowdhury Faqrul I. , Granda Elena  , Yao Yinan , Tissue David T. 
Published: May 2019

SummaryNocturnal stomatal conductance contributes to water loss at night without carbon gain in C3 or C4 plants because photosynthesis does not occur in the dark. The functional relevance of nocturnal conductance thus remains an unresolved conundrum. Here, we review and re‐analyse previously published datasets on nocturnal conductance (gn) globally (176 species) to synthesize our current understanding on its potential biological function and to identify remaining research gaps. We found that gn was positively correlated with relative growth rate, which is compatible with the postulate that circadian‐driven nocturnal conductance enhances predawn stomatal conductance, thereby priming stomata for photosynthesis in early daylight. The variation in gn across plant species and functional types was not consistent with the hypotheses that the main function of gn is to: remove excess CO2, which might limit growth; enhance oxygen delivery to the functional sapwood; enhance nutrient supply; or that gn is due to stomatal leakiness. We suggest further study regarding the potential of gn to be an important functional and ecological trait influencing competitive outcomes and we outline a research programme to achieve that objective.
Different strategies of nitrogen acquisition in two tropical seagrasses under nitrogen enrichment
Authors: Viana Inés G. , Saavedra‐Hortúa Daniel Arturo , Mtolera Matern , Teichberg Mirta 
Published: May 2019

Summary

Tropical marine seagrasses live in environments with low nutrient concentrations. However, as land development intensifies along tropical coastlines, the marine environment in which these organisms grow is becoming more nutrient‐rich.

Nitrogen (N) uptake, assimilation, translocation and storage under a diversity of N sources in enriched conditions were investigated in two tropical seagrass species, Cymodocea serrulata and Thalassia hemprichii, from an oligotrophic marine environment.

Both seagrasses were able to take up different inorganic and organic N sources through their above‐ and belowground tissues when enriched with high N concentrations. The uptake rates of T. hemprichii were generally higher than C. serrulata in leaves and rhizome, whereas root uptake was systematically higher in C. serrulata.

Acropetal and basipetal translocation was observed in both species. Reduction and assimilation of N, measured in terms of their nitrate reductase and glutamine synthetase activity, were correlated with nitrate and ammonium uptake rates, respectively. Cymodocea serrulata showed a tendency to immediately use the available N, whereas T. hemprichii allocated more N in assimilation and storage investment. The responses of these seagrasses to N‐enrichment demonstrate their ability to adapt to over‐enrichment by varying N sources in the first step of the eutrophication process.
Rescue of a plant cytorhabdovirus as versatile expression platforms for planthopper and cereal genomic studies
Authors: Gao Qiang , Xu Wen‐Ya , Yan Teng , Fang Xiao‐Dong , Cao Qing , Zhang Zhen‐Jia , Ding Zhi‐Hang , Wang Ying , Wang Xian‐Bing 
Published: May 2019

Summary

Plant viruses have been used as rapid and cost‐effective expression vectors for heterologous protein expression in genomic studies. However, delivering large or multiple foreign proteins in monocots and insect pests is challenging.

Here, we recovered a recombinant plant cytorhabdovirus, Barley yellow striate mosaic virus (BYSMV), for use as a versatile expression platform in cereals and the small brown planthopper (SBPH, Laodelphax striatellus) insect vector.

We engineered BYSMV vectors to provide versatile expression platforms for simultaneous expression of three foreign proteins in barley plants and SBPHs. Moreover, BYSMV vectors could express the c. 600‐amino‐acid β‐glucuronidase (GUS) protein and a red fluorescent protein stably in systemically infected leaves and roots of cereals, including wheat, barley, foxtail millet, and maize plants. Moreover, we have demonstrated that BYSMV vectors can be used in barley to analyze biological functions of gibberellic acid (GA) biosynthesis genes. In a major technical advance, BYSMV vectors were developed for simultaneous delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 nuclease and single guide RNAs for genomic editing in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves.

Taken together, our results provide considerable potential for rapid screening of functional proteins in cereals and planthoppers, and an efficient approach for developing other insect‐transmitted negative‐strand RNA viruses.
The Medicago truncatula LysM receptor‐like kinase LYK9 plays a dual role in immunity and the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis
Authors: Gibelin‐Viala Chrystel , Amblard Emilie , Puech‐Pages Virginie , Bonhomme Maxime , Garcia Magali , Bascaules‐Bedin Adeline , Fliegmann Judith , Wen Jiangqi , Mysore Kirankumar S. , le Signor Christine , Jacquet Christophe , Gough Clare 
Published: May 2019

Summary

Plant ‐specific lysin‐motif receptor‐like kinases (LysM‐RLKs) are implicated in the perception of N‐acetyl glucosamine‐containing compounds, some of which are important signal molecules in plant−microbe interactions. Among these, both lipo‐chitooligosaccharides (LCOs) and chitooligosaccharides (COs) are proposed as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal symbiotic signals. COs can also activate plant defence, although there are scarce data about CO production by pathogens, especially nonfungal pathogens.

We tested Medicago truncatula mutants in the LysM‐RLK MtLYK9 for their abilities to interact with the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis and the oomycete pathogen Aphanomyces euteiches. This prompted us to analyse whether A. euteiches can produce COs.

Compared with wild‐type plants, Mtlyk9 mutants had fewer infection events and were less colonised by the AM fungus. By contrast, Mtlyk9 mutants were more heavily infected by A. euteiches and showed more disease symptoms. Aphanomyces euteiches was also shown to produce short COs, mainly CO II, but also CO III and CO IV, and traces of CO V, both ex planta and in planta.

MtLYK9 thus has a dual role in plant immunity and the AM symbiosis, which raises questions about the functioning and the ancestral origins of such a receptor protein.
Palatal morphology in unilateral cleft lip and palate patients: Association with infant cleft dimensions and timing of hard palate repair
Authors: Botticelli Susanna , Küseler Annelise , Mølsted Kirsten , Ovsenik Maja , Nørholt Sven Erik , Dalstra Michel , Cattaneo Paolo M. , Pedersen Thomas Klit 
Published: May 2019

AbstractObjectivesTo assess the impact of cleft severity and timing of hard palate repair on palatal dimensions in unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) children.Setting and sample populationSingle‐centre analysis within a multicenter RCT of primary surgery; 122 UCLP randomized to early hard palate closure (EHPC) at 12 months or delayed hard palate closure (DHPC) at 36 months; 28 frequency‐matched controls.MethodsLinear measurements of palatal height, width and length were performed on 116 digital models of UCLP subjects (8.21 years, SD = 0.53) and 28 models of non‐cleft individuals (8.44 years SD = 0.72). Cleft dimensions at infancy (mean 1.8 months) were considered. In a pilot study, shell‐to‐shell distances between the 3D cleft palate objects and a reference mesh were calculated and differences between the groups assessed. Morphological differences were visualized using colour mapping.ResultsCompared to controls, UCLP subjects presented a higher palate at the level of the anterior scar (P = 0.002), but generally a lower palate in the middle region (P < 0.001). Comparing UCLP subgroups, the DHPC subjects showed a flatter palate posteriorly (P = 0.048) and the EHPC group exhibited more transversal constriction (P = 0.003 at M1 level). 3D analysis revealed a shallower palate in the DHPC group both in the middle (P = 0.002) and the posterior part (P = 0.008). Anterior cleft severity correlated negatively with palatal height (P = 0.01).ConclusionsUnilateral cleft lip and palate palates differ from controls in width and height. DHPC may represent an advantage for the transversal dimension, but a disadvantage for palatal height. Infant cleft dimensions partially explain differences in palatal height.
Association between interleukin‐10 gene polymorphisms and severe chronic periodontitis
Authors: Emampanahi Mohaddeseh , Masoudi Rad Saba , Saghaeian Jazi Marie , Mansour Samaei Nader , Behnampour Nasser , Mohammadi Saeed , Fakhari Elham 
Published: May 2019

AbstractObjectivePeriodontitis is an inflammatory disease that is a result of the interaction between pathogenic bacteria and host immune response. Genetic alterations in interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) gene may be associated with the increased risk of periodontitis. We investigated the association between genotype and haplotype frequencies of IL‐10 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to periodontitis in an Iranian population.MethodsIn this case–control study, a total of 64 patients with periodontitis and 128 healthy subjects were recruited. The PCR‐RFLP technique was used to detect IL‐10 promoter genotypes at the positions of ‐1082 (G/A), ‐819 (C/T), and ‐592 (C/A) in association with the susceptibility to severe chronic periodontitis.ResultsRegarding IL‐10 ‐592 (C/A) and IL‐10 ‐819 (C/T) alleles and genotypes, no significant association was observed between the risk of periodontitis and genotype frequencies. However, the frequency of GG genotype in IL‐10 ‐1082 (G/A) polymorphic region was higher in normal subjects and was associated with the decreased risk of periodontitis under recessive model [OR = 2.89, 95% CI (0.99–8.43), p = 0.039]. Haplotype analysis revealed a significantly higher presence of H7 (AGC; ‐592/‐1082/‐819) [OR = 97.74, 95% CI (95.52–99.96), p < 0.0001].ConclusionIL‐10 ‐1082(G/A) polymorphism and AGC (‐592/‐1082/‐819) haplotype could be associated with the susceptibility to chronic periodontitis.
Experiencing community and domestic violence is associated with epigenetic changes in DNA methylation of BDNF and CLPX in adolescents
Authors: Serpeloni Fernanda , Nätt Daniel , Assis Simone Gonçalves de , Wieling Elizabeth , Elbert Thomas 
Published: May 2019

AbstractExperiencing violence changes behavior, shapes personalities, and poses a risk factor for mental disorders. This association might be mediated through epigenetic modifications that affect gene expression, such as DNA methylation. The present study investigated the impact of community and domestic violence on DNA methylation measured in saliva collected from 375 individuals including three generations: grandmothers (n = 126), mothers (n = 125), and adolescents (n = 124, 53% female). Using the Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip array, in adolescents, we detected two CpG sites that showed an association of DNA methylation and lifetime exposure to community and domestic violence even after FDR correction: BDNF_cg06260077 (logFC −0.454, p = 3.71E‐07), and CLPX_cg01908660 (logFC = −0.372, p = 1.38E‐07). Differential DNA methylation of the CpG BDNF_cg06260077 associated with exposure to violence was also observed in the maternal but not the grandmaternal generation. BDNF (brain‐derived neurotrophic factor) and CLPX (caseinolytic mitochondrial matrix peptidase chaperone subunit) genes are involved in neural development. Our results thus reveal altered molecular mechanisms of developmental and intergenerational trajectories in survivors of repeated violent experiences.
Macroscopic evaluation of the placenta of the alpaca (Vicugna pacos)
Authors: Meesters Maya , Opsomer Geert , Govaere Jan 
Published: May 2019

AbstractMacroscopic evaluation of the placenta is an essential post‐partum examination in the alpaca and can be of special interest in case of abortion, premature birth or stillbirth. Since there are not many reference values regarding macroscopic properties of normal alpaca placentas, a small descriptive study was conducted. Only placentae from normally foaling alpaca mares, giving birth to healthy crias, after a full‐term and uneventful gestation (±350 days; range 335–360 days) were taken into account (N = 11). Crias weighed (±SD) 7.7 ± 2.25 kg (range 5.5–10 kg), while the mean weight of the full‐term placentas was 0.8 ± 0.19 kg, that is 10% of the bodyweight of the crias. The weight of the allantoamnion and chorion was 0.2 ± 0.07 kg and 0.5 ± 0.13 kg, respectively. The umbilical cord length was 8.8 ± 2.84 cm, and the length of the pregnant and non‐pregnant uterine horns was 69.4 ± 12.77 cm and 54.5 ± 6.81 cm, respectively. The length of the corpus was 14.6 ± 4.68 cm, and the distance from the umbilicus to the corpus was 18.5 ± 6.13 cm. The tissue volume of the allantoamnion was 0.14 ± 0.079 L, and the chorionic volume was 0.37 ± 0.078 L. The surface area of the allantoamnion and the chorion was 87.6 ± 15.56 dm2 and 72.3 ± 9.28 dm2, respectively. All placentas had small calcifications either around the umbilical cord alone or around the umbilicus and blood vessels of the pregnant uterine horn. These measurements could be used to macroscopically evaluate alpaca placentas, although more research is needed to extend our knowledge of macroscopic evaluation of normal and abnormal placentas.
Risk‐Informed Requirements for Design and Assessment of Structures Under Temporary Use
Authors: Hingorani Ramon , Tanner Peter 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe relatively high failure rates, with important consequences in many cases, suggest that the implicitly acceptable risk levels corresponding to temporary civil engineering structures and activities might exceed the bounds of normally acceptable levels associated with different societal activities. Among other reasons, this may be attributed to the lack of a rational approach for the assessment of risks associated with the different technologies supporting these activities in general, and for structures in particular. There is a need for establishing appropriate target reliability levels for structures under temporary use taking into account specific circumstances such as reduced risk exposure times. This issue is being addressed in this article. Acceptance criteria for building‐structure‐related risks to persons obtained in prior studies are adapted to the special circumstances of nonpermanent risk exposure. Thereby, the general principle followed is to maintain the same risk levels per time unit as for permanently occupied buildings. The adaptation is based on the statistical annual fatality rate, a life safety risk metric that allows for a consistent comparison of risks across different societal activities and technologies. It is shown that the target reliability indices taking account of the temporary use of buildings might be significantly higher than the values suggested for permanently used structures.
Reduced Bias for Respondent-Driven Sampling: Accounting for Non-Uniform Edge Sampling Probabilities in People Who Inject Drugs in Mauritius
Authors: Ott Miles Q. , Gile Krista J. , Harrison Matthew T. , Johnston Lisa G. , Hogan Joseph W. 
Published: May 2019

SummaryPeople who inject drugs are an important population to study to reduce transmission of blood-borne illnesses including human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis. We estimate the human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C prevalence among people who inject drugs in Mauritius. Respondent-driven sampling (RDS), which is a widely adopted link tracing sampling design used to collect samples from hard-to-reach human populations, was used to collect this sample. The random-walk approximation underlying many common RDS estimators assumes that each social relationship (edge) in the underlying social network has an equal probability of being traced in the collection of the sample. This assumption does not hold in practice. We show that certain RDS estimators are sensitive to the violation of this assumption. To address this limitation in current methodology, and the effect that it may have on prevalence estimates, we present a new method for improving RDS prevalence estimators using estimated edge inclusion probabilities, and we apply this to data from Mauritius.