bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous Determination of Uranium and Depleted Uranium Isotopic Ratio Using Inductively Coupled Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Velez‐Quinones Maria A. , Xu Hanna , Vo Nhu , Gaitens Joanna M. , McDiarmid Melissa A. , Lewin‐Smith Michael R. , Strathmann Frederick G. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractWe have developed and validated a method for the simultaneous quantitative measurement of total uranium (TU) and uranium 235U/238U isotopic ratio (UIR) in urine by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS) using a Thermo Scientific iCAP‐Q instrument. The performance characteristics of the assay were determined to be in compliance with clinical laboratory standards. The assay was linear in the concentration range of 1.0 to 500.0 ng/liter TU. The method was precise and accurate with limits of detection of 2.5 ng/liter for TU and 9.8 ng/liter for UIR. The accuracy was >93% and the coefficient of variation (% CV) was <5.0% for both TU and UIR. All results were within established guidelines and agreed‐upon criteria, and the results fell within the certified range for the reference controls. The method has thus been shown to be effective as a simple, precise, and sensitive analytical technique for testing urine samples. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Acceleration of Enzymatic Degradation of Poly(ethylene terephthalate) by Surface Coating with Anionic Surfactants
Authors: Furukawa Makoto , Kawakami Norifumi , Oda Kohei , Miyamoto Kenji 
Published: October 2018

AbstractEnzymatic degradation of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is promising because this process is safer than conventional industrial approaches. Recently, a cationic PET hydrolase (PETase) was identified from Ideonella sakaiensis. Pre‐incubation of a low‐crystallinity PET film with anionic surfactants prior to initiating the reaction was found to improve PETase activity 120‐fold. After 36 h at 30 °C, the film thickness decreased by 22 %. The binding of surfactants to the film makes the surface anionic, thereby attracting the cationic PETase. Mutagenesis of PETase showed that the surface cationic region formed by R53, R90, and K95, which are located on the same side as the substrate binding pocket, was crucial for efficient acceleration of activity by the anionic surfactant. Thus, surfactant bound on PET aligns the orientation of the active site to the surface, resulting in efficient hydrolysis. We believe that this approach using PETase could be further improved by designing surfactant molecules for the more efficient enzymatic PET degradation.
Neuropathy and inflammation in diabetic bone marrow
Authors: Zhou Jiyin , Zhang Zuo , Qian Guisheng 
Published: October 2018

SummaryDiabetes impairs the bone marrow (BM) architecture and function as well as the mobilization of immature cells into the bloodstream and number of potential regenerative cells. Circadian regulation of bone immature cell migration is regulated by β‐adrenergic receptors, which are expressed on haematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, and osteoblasts in the BM. Diabetes is associated with a substantially lower number of sympathetic nerve terminal endings in the BM; thus, diabetic neuropathy plays a critical role in BM dysfunction. Treatment with mesenchymal stem cells, BM mononuclear cells, haematopoietic stem cells, and stromal cells ameliorates the dysfunction of diabetic neuropathy, which occurs, in part, through secreted neurotrophic factors, growth factors, adipokines, and polarizing macrophage M2 cells and inhibiting inflammation. Inflammation may be a therapeutic target for BM stem cells to improve diabetic neuropathy. Given that angiogenic and neurotrophic effects are two major barriers to effective diabetic neuropathy therapy, targeting BM stem cells may provide a novel approach to develop these types of treatments.
Size does matter: Parallel evolution of adaptive thermal tolerance and body size facilitates adaptation to climate change in domestic cattle
Authors: Elayadeth‐Meethal Muhammed , Thazhathu Veettil Aravindakshan , Maloney Shane K. , Hawkins Nichola , Misselbrook Tom H. , Sejian Veerasamy , Rivero M. Jordana , Lee Michael R. F. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe adaptive potential of livestock under a warming climate is increasingly relevant in relation to the growing pressure of global food security. Studies on heat tolerance demonstrate the interplay of adaptation and acclimatization in functional traits, for example, a reduction in body size and enhanced tolerance in response to a warming climate. However, current lack of understanding of functional traits and phylogenetic history among phenotypically distinct populations constrains predictions of climate change impact. Here, we demonstrate evidence of parallel evolution in adaptive tolerance to heat stress in dwarf cattle breeds (DCB, Bos taurus indicus) and compare their thermoregulatory responses with those in standard size cattle breeds (SCB, crossbred, Bos taurus indicus × Bos taurus taurus). We measured vital physiological, hematological, biochemical, and gene expression changes in DCB and SCB and compared the molecular phylogeny using mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) analysis. Our results show that SCB can acclimatize in the short term to higher temperatures but reach their tolerance limit under prevailing tropical conditions, while DCB is adapted to the warmer climate. Increased hemoglobin concentration, reduced cellular size, and smaller body size enhance thermal tolerance. Mitogenome analysis revealed that different lineages of DCB have evolved reduced size independently, as a parallel adaptation to heat stress. The results illustrate mechanistic ways of dwarfing, body size‐dependent tolerance, and differential fitness in a large mammal species under harsh field conditions, providing a background for comparing similar populations during global climate change. These demonstrate the value of studies combining functional, physiological, and evolutionary approaches to delineate adaptive potential and plasticity in domestic species. We thus highlight the value of locally adapted breeds as a reservoir of genetic variation contributing to the global domestic genetic resource pool that will become increasingly important for livestock production systems under a warming climate.
Spatial decision‐support tools to guide restoration and seed‐sourcing in the Desert Southwest
Authors: Shryock Daniel F. , DeFalco Lesley A. , Esque Todd C. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractAltered disturbance regimes and shifting climates have increased the need for large‐scale restoration treatments across the western United States. Seed‐sourcing remains a considerable challenge for revegetation efforts, particularly on public lands where policy favors the use of native, locally sourced plant material to avoid maladaptation. An important area of emphasis for public agencies has been the development of spatial tools to guide selection of genetically appropriate seed. When genetic information is not available, current seed transfer guidelines stipulate use of climate‐based or provisional seed transfer zones, which serve as a proxy for local adaptation by representing climate gradients to which plants are commonly adapted. Despite this guidance, little emphasis has been placed on identifying best practices for deriving provisional seed zones or on incorporating predictions from future climate. We describe a flexible, multivariate procedure for deriving such zones that incorporates a broad range of climatic characteristics while accounting for covariation among climate variables. With this approach, we derive provisional seed zones for four regions in the Desert Southwest (the Mojave Desert, Sonoran Desert, Colorado Plateau, and Southern Great Basin). To facilitate future‐resilient restoration designs, we project each zone into its relative position in the future climate based on near‐term, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 emissions scenarios. Although provisional seed zones are useful in a variety of contexts, there are also situations in which site‐specific guidance is preferable. To meet this need, we implement Climate Distance Mapper, an interactive decision‐support tool designed to help practitioners match seed sources with restoration sites through an accessible online interface. The application allows users to rank the suitability of seed sources anywhere on the landscape based on multivariate climate distances. Users can perform calculations for either the current or future climates. Additionally, tools are available to guide sample effort in regional‐scale seed collections or to partition the landscape into climate clusters representing suitable planting sites for different seed sources. Our tools and analytic procedures represent a flexible and reproducible framework for advancing native plant development programs in the Desert Southwest and beyond.
Lagged mortality among tree species four years after an exceptional drought in east Texas
Authors: Klockow Paul A. , Vogel Jason G. , Edgar Christopher B. , Moore Georgianne W. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractIn 2011, east Texas experienced the worst drought on record causing extensive tree mortality. Initial mortality estimates for 2012 varied among tree genera. A rapid damage assessment (RDA) estimated that 65.5 (± 7.3) million trees died as a result of the drought in this region one year post‐drought. However, this estimate was untested against established monitoring networks. Moreover, pests and physiological damage can elevate tree mortality multiple years beyond a drought event. Since theRDAwas unable to quantify multi‐year trends, it remained unclear whether these drivers caused increased tree mortality in east Texas beyond one year post‐drought and how different species responded over time. To address these questions, we compared total 2012 standing dead tree (SDT) estimates (i.e., drought‐killed plus all otherSDTexcluding harvested or salvaged trees) derived from theRDAand U.S. Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) data for east Texas. TotalSDTestimates did not significantly differ between theRDA(120.5 ± 8.5 million) andFIA(108.4 ± 8.7 million). Furthermore, totalSDTestimates for the four most common genera (Pinus,Quercus,Liquidambar,Ulmus), which comprised over 80% of all species, did not significantly differ between theRDAandFIA. Additionally, we used logistic regression andFIAdata from east Texas for 2011 through four years post‐drought (2012–2015) to examine temporal trends in plot‐level drought‐ and pest‐driven tree mortality of seven key species (Pinus taeda,Pinus echinata,Quercus nigra,Quercus stellata,Quercus falcata,Liquidambar styraciflua,Ulmus alata) from the four most common genera. At the plot‐level, drought‐driven mortality was immediate for the threeQuercusspecies (notablyQ. falcata) andL. styracifluawhich significantly increased in 2012 whileP. taedamortality was delayed, not increasing significantly until 2013. Pest‐driven mortality increased from 2013 to 2015 for all species, with the highest mortality observed inQ. falcataand lowest inP. taedaandU. alata. This study affirms the validity and value of independent sampling efforts to quantify mortality immediately following major disturbance and also demonstrates the need for longer‐term species‐level assessments beyond the initial year post‐drought to account for differential impacts from drought and pests.
Landscape heterogeneity strengthens the relationship between β‐diversity and ecosystem function
Authors: Hammill Edd , Hawkins Charles P. , Greig Hamish S. , Kratina Pavel , Shurin Jonathan B. , Atwood Trisha B. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractConsensus has emerged in the literature that increased biodiversity enhances the capacity of ecosystems to perform multiple functions. However, most biodiversity/ecosystem function studies focus on a single ecosystem, or on landscapes of homogenous ecosystems. Here, we investigate how increased landscape‐level environmental dissimilarity may affect the relationship between different metrics of diversity (α, β, or γ) and ecosystem function. We produced a suite of simulated landscapes, each of which contained four experimental outdoor aquatic mesocosms. Differences in temperature and nutrient conditions of the mesocosms allowed us to simulate landscapes containing a range of within‐landscape environmental heterogeneities. We found that the variation in ecosystem functions was primarily controlled by environmental conditions, with diversity metrics accounting for a smaller (but significant) amount of variation in function. When landscapes were more homogeneous, α, β, and γ diversity was not associated with differences in primary production, and only γ was associated with changes in decomposition. In these homogeneous landscapes, differences in these two ecosystem functions were most strongly related to nutrient and temperature conditions in the ecosystems. However, as landscape‐level environmental dissimilarity increased, the relationship between α, β, or γ and ecosystem functions strengthened, with β being a greater predictor of variation in decomposition at the highest levels of environmental dissimilarity than α or γ. We propose that when all ecosystems in a landscape have similar environmental conditions, species sorting is likely to generate a single community composition that is well suited to those environmental conditions, β is low, and the efficiency of diversity‐ecosystem function couplings is similar across communities. Under this low β, the effect of abiotic conditions on ecosystem function will be most apparent. However, when environmental conditions vary among ecosystems, species sorting pressures are different among ecosystems, producing different communities among locations in a landscape. These conditions lead to stronger relationships between β and the magnitude of ecosystem functions. Our results illustrate that abiotic conditions and the homogeneity of communities influence ecosystem function expressed at the landscape scale.
Quantitative measure of fitness in tri‐trophic interactions and its influence on diet breadth of insect herbivores
Authors: Vidal Mayra C. , Murphy Shannon M. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractHerbivore‐plant interactions should be studied using a tri‐trophic approach, but we lack a quantitative measure of the combined effect of top‐down and bottom‐up forces on herbivore fitness. We propose the combination of the bi‐trophic fitness slopes as a tri‐trophic fitness measure. We use the relationship between fitness associated with top‐down and bottom‐up forces and the frequency of host plant use to calculate the top‐down and bottom‐up fitness slopes, which we then combine to obtain three possible directions of tri‐trophic slopes. A positive tri‐trophic slope indicates that herbivores have overall greater tri‐trophic fitness on the more frequently used hosts. A null tri‐trophic fitness slope indicates that herbivores have similar fitness on all host plants. A negative tri‐trophic slope indicates that herbivores have generally lower fitness on the more frequently used hosts. We tested the explanation power of our method using data from the literature that tested herbivore host shifts and experimentally using a generalist herbivore with variable diet breadth across populations. We found that in host shifts, herbivores have higher tri‐trophic fitness on the novel host, while in generalist populations, herbivores use most frequently the best host available. We present applications in other research areas and consider the limitations of our approach. Our approach is a first step towards a comprehensive model of multiple selective forces acting on the evolution of interactions.
Heterogeneous Organocatalysts Based on a Triazine‐Triazole Silane Ligand
Authors: Cruz Paula , Pérez Yolanda , del Hierro Isabel 
Published: October 2018

AbstractInvited for the cover of this issue is Isabel delàHierro from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain. The cover image shows the hexagonal and worm‐like mesoporous structure of the ordered organic‐inorganic hybrid materials reported.
Dielectrophoretic manipulation of nanomaterials: A review
Authors: Liu Linbo , Chen Ke , Xiang Nan , Ni Zhonghua 
Published: October 2018

AbstractNanomaterials manipulation using dielectrophoresis (DEP) is one of the major research areas that could potentially benefit the micro/nano science for diverse applications, such as microfluidics, nanomachine, and biosensor. The innovation and development of basic theories, methods or applications will have a huge impact on the entire related field. Specifically, for DEP manipulation of nanomaterials, improvements in comprehensive performance of accuracy, flexibility and scale could promote broader applications in micro/nano science. Therefore, to explore the directions for future research, this paper critically provides an overview on the fundamentals, recent progress, current challenges, and potential applications of DEP manipulation of nanomaterials. This review will also act as a guide and reference for researchers to explore promising applications in relevant research.
Vacuum‐driven fluid manipulation by a piezoelectric diaphragm micropump for microfluidic droplet generation with a rapid system response time
Authors: Oda Yuki , Oshima Hirofumi , Nakatani Masaya , Hashimoto Masahiko 
Published: October 2018

AbstractRecently, we developed a convenient microfluidic droplet generation device based on vacuum‐driven fluid manipulation with a piezoelectric diaphragm micropump. In the present study built on our previous work, we investigate the influence of settings applied to the piezoelectric pump, such as peak‐to‐peak drive voltage (Vp‐p) and wave frequency, on droplet generation characteristics. Stepwise adjustments to the drive voltage in ±10‐Vp‐p increments over the range of 200−250 Vp‐p during droplet creation revealed that the droplet generation rate could be reproducibly controlled at a specific drive voltage. The droplet generation rate switched within <0.5 s after the input of a new voltage. Although the droplet generation rate depended on the drive voltage, this setting had almost no influence on droplet size. The frequency over the selected range (50−60 Hz) did not markedly influence the droplet generation rate or droplet size. We show that the current fluid manipulation system can be conveniently used for both droplet generation and for rapid droplet reading, which is required in many microfluidic‐based applications.
Linear regression with left‐censored covariates and outcome using a pseudolikelihood approach
Authors: Jones Michael P. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractEnvironmental toxicology studies often involve sample values that fall below a laboratory procedure's limit of quantification. Such left‐censored data give rise to several problems for regression analyses. First, both covariates and outcome may be left censored. Second, the transformed toxicant levels may not be normal but mixtures of normals because of differences in personal characteristics, for example, exposure history and demographic factors. Third, the outcome and covariates may be linear functions of left‐censored variates, such as averages and differences. Fourth, some toxicant levels may be functions of other toxicant levels resulting in a recursive system. In this paper, marginal and pseudolikelihood‐based methods are proposed for estimation of the means and covariance matrix of variates found in these four settings. Next, linear regression methods are developed allowing outcomes and covariates to be linear combinations of left‐censored measures. This is extended to a recursive system of modeling equations. Bootstrap standard errors and confidence intervals are used. Simulation studies demonstrate that the proposed methods are accurate for a wide range of study designs and left‐censoring probabilities. The proposed methods are illustrated through the analysis of an ongoing community‐based study of polychlorinated biphenyls, which motivated the proposed methodology.
Discovery and validation of blood microRNAs as molecular biomarkers of epilepsy: Ways to close current knowledge gaps
Authors: Enright Noelle , Simonato Michele , Henshall David C. 
Published: October 2018

SummaryThere is a major unmet need for biomarkers of epilepsy. Biofluids such as blood offer a potential source of molecular biomarkers. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) fulfill several key requirements for a blood‐based molecular biomarker being enriched in the brain and dysregulated in epileptic brain tissue, and manipulation of miRNAs can have seizure‐suppressive and disease‐modifying effects in preclinical models. Biofluid miRNAs also possess qualities that are favorable for translation, including stability and easy and cheap assay techniques. Herein we review findings from both clinical and animal models. Studies have featured a mix of unbiased profiling and hypothesis‐driven efforts. Blood levels of several brain‐enriched miRNAs are altered in patients with epilepsy and in patients with drug‐resistant compared to drug‐responsive seizures, with encouraging receiver‐operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses, both in terms of sensitivity and specificity. Both focal and generalized epilepsies are associated with altered blood miRNA profiles, and associations with clinical parameters including seizure burden have been reported. Results remain preliminary, however. There is a need for continued discovery and validation efforts that include multicenter studies and attention to study design, sample collection methodology, and quality control. Studies focused on epileptogenesis as well as associations with covariables such as sex, etiology, and timing of sampling remain limited. We identify 10 knowledge gaps and propose experiments to close these. If adequately addressed, biofluid miRNAs may be an important future source of diagnostic biomarkers that could also support forthcoming trials of antiepileptogenesis or disease‐modifying therapies.
How do we use in vitro models to understand epileptiform and ictal activity? A report of the TASK1‐WG4 group of the ILAE/AES Joint Translational Task Force
Authors: Dulla Chris G. , Janigro Damir , Jiruska Premysl , Raimondo Joseph V. , Ikeda Akio , Lin Chou‐Ching K. , Goodkin Howard P. , Galanopoulou Aristea S. , Bernard Christophe , de Curtis Marco 
Published: October 2018

SummaryIn vitro brain tissue preparations allow the convenient and affordable study of brain networks and have allowed us to garner molecular, cellular, and electrophysiologic insights into brain function with a detail not achievable in vivo. Preparations from both rodent and human postsurgical tissue have been utilized to generate in vitro electrical activity similar to electrographic activity seen in patients with epilepsy. A great deal of knowledge about how brain networks generate various forms of epileptiform activity has been gained, but due to the multiple in vitro models and manipulations used, there is a need for a standardization across studies. Here, we describe epileptiform patterns generated using in vitro brain preparations, focusing on issues and best practices pertaining to recording, reporting, and interpretation of the electrophysiologic patterns observed. We also discuss criteria for defining in vitro seizure‐like patterns (i.e., ictal) and interictal discharges. Unifying terminologies and definitions are proposed. We suggest a set of best practices for reporting in vitro studies to favor both efficient across‐lab comparisons and translation to in vivo models and human studies.