bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Metabolic engineering of bread wheat improves grain iron concentration and bioavailability
Authors: Beasley Jesse T. , Bonneau Julien P. , Sánchez‐Palacios Jose T. , Moreno‐Moyano Laura T. , Callahan Damien L. , Tako Elad , Glahn Raymond P. , Lombi Enzo , Johnson Alexander A. T. 
Published: January 2019

SummaryBread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is cultivated on more land than any other crop and produces a fifth of the calories consumed by humans. Wheat endosperm is rich in starch yet contains low concentrations of dietary iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn). Biofortification is a micronutrient intervention aimed at increasing the density and bioavailability of essential vitamins and minerals in staple crops; Fe biofortification of wheat has proved challenging. In this study we employed constitutive expression (CE) of the rice (Oryza sativa L.) nicotianamine synthase 2 (OsNAS2) gene in bread wheat to up‐regulate biosynthesis of two low molecular weight metal chelators – nicotianamine (NA) and 2′‐deoxymugineic acid (DMA) – that play key roles in metal transport and nutrition. The CE‐OsNAS2 plants accumulated higher concentrations of grain Fe, Zn, NA and DMA and synchrotron X‐ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM) revealed enhanced localization of Fe and Zn in endosperm and crease tissues, respectively. Iron bioavailability was increased in white flour milled from field‐grown CE‐OsNAS2 grain and positively correlated with NA and DMA concentrations.
Associations between digit ratio (2D4D), mood, and autonomic stress response in healthy men
Authors: Walther A. , Breidenstein J. , Bösch M. , Sefidan S. , Ehlert U. , Annen H. , Wyss T. , La Marca R. 
Published: January 2019

AbstractThe ratio between the length of the second (index) and the fourth (ring) finger (2D4D) is a putative biomarker of prenatal testosterone (T) exposure, with higher exposure leading to a smaller ratio. 2D4D has further been linked to mental and somatic disorders. Healthy male Swiss recruits (N = 245; Mage = 20.30 years) underwent a psychosocial stress test. Mood and salivary alpha‐amylase (sAA) were assessed before and after the stress test, while heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) were measured continuously. Additionally, 2D4D (right: R2D4D; left: L2D4D) was determined and divided into quartile groups. Correlation analysis showed no associations between R/L2D4D and outcome measures. Comparing calculated quartiles for R2D4D, subjects in the lowest R2D4D quartile expressed trendwise (p < 0.10) lower positive and higher negative affect, significantly elevated sAA activity (p < 0.05), but no HR and HRV differences at baseline as compared to subjects in the upper three quartiles. With regard to acute stress, subjects in the lowest as compared to subjects in the upper three R2D4D quartiles showed a higher increase of negative affect and a stronger cardiac response (p < 0.05), but no alterations in positive affect and sAA activity. Young healthy men in the lowest R2D4D quartile revealed a more negative affect and increased physiological activity at baseline and in response to acute stress. An exposure to high levels of prenatal T might constitute a risk factor potentially increasing vulnerability to stress‐related disorders in men.
Financial impact of alternative approaches to reduce bacterial contamination of platelet transfusions
Authors: Kacker Seema , Bloch Evan M. , Ness Paul M. , Gehrie Eric A. , Marshall Christi E. , Lokhandwala Parvez M. , Tobian Aaron A.R. 
Published: January 2019

BACKGROUNDBacterial contamination of platelets remains the leading infectious risk from blood transfusion. Pathogen reduction (PR), point‐of‐release testing (PORt), and secondary bacterial culture (SBC) have been proposed as alternative risk control strategies, but a comprehensive financial comparison has not been conducted.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSA Markov‐based decision tree was constructed to model the financial and clinical impact of PR, PORt, and SBC, as well as a baseline strategy involving routine testing only. Hospitals were assumed to acquire leukoreduced apheresis platelets on Day 3 after collection, and, in the base case analysis, expiration would occur at the end of Day 5 (PR and SBC) or 7 (PORt). Monte Carlo simulations assessed the direct medical costs for platelet acquisition, testing, transfusion, and possible complications. Input parameters, including test sensitivity and specificity, were drawn from existing literature, and costs (2018 US dollars) were based on a hospital perspective.RESULTSThe total costs per unit acquired by the hospital under the baseline strategy, PR, PORt, and SBC were $651.45, $827.82, $686.33, and $668.50, respectively. All risk‐reduction strategies decreased septic transfusion reactions and associated expenses, with the greatest reductions from PR. PR would add $191.09 in per‐unit acquisition costs, whereas PORt and SBC would increase per‐unit testing costs by $31.79 and $17.26, respectively. Financial outcomes were sensitive to platelet dating; allowing 7‐day storage with SBC would lead to a cost savings of $12.41 per transfused unit. Results remained robust in probabilistic sensitivity analyses.CONCLUSIONSAll three strategies are viable approaches to reducing bacterially contaminated platelet transfusions, although SBC is likely to be the cheapest overall.
Electrochemical peroxidation using iron nanoparticles and anodic iron dissolution to remove selenium from oil refinery wastewater
Authors: Hansen Henrik K. , Franco Peña Sebastián , Gutiérrez Claudia , Núñez Patricio 
Published: January 2019

AbstractExperimental results for selenium removal from oil refinery wastewater applying the electrochemical peroxidation process (ECP) using either graphite electrodes with iron nanoparticles (nZVI) or carbon steel electrodes with anodic iron dissolution (AD) on laboratory scale are presented. Operating parameters were: current density, iron‐selenium molar ratio and treatment time. It was found that when applying ECP and nZVI, selenium removal reached 93%. On the contrary, when the ECP and AD process was applied, selenium removal only reached 64%. Therefore, the ECP process and use of iron nanoparticles could be a feasible technology to remove selenium from oil refinery wastewater.
Despite high‐risk exposures, no evidence of zoonotic transmission during a canine outbreak of leptospirosis
Authors: Guagliardo Sarah Anne J. , Iverson Sally Ann , Reynolds Laura , Yaglom Hayley , Venkat Heather , Galloway Renee , Levy Craig , Reindel Alison , Sylvester Tammy , Kretschmer Melissa , LaFerla Jenni Margaret , Woodward Peter , Beatty Norman , Artus Aileen , Klein Ronald , Sunenshine Rebecca , Schafer Ilana J. 
Published: January 2019

AbstractLeptospirosis is a bacterial zoonosis that affects many mammals, including humans and dogs; dogs can transmit the bacteria to humans, but the frequency of transmission and highest risk exposures are poorly understood. During 2016–2017, the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, Arizona Department of Health Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention investigated the zoonotic potential of a canine leptospirosis outbreak in the Phoenix metro area. We identified symptomatic persons exposed to canine leptospirosis cases by conducting active and passive surveillance. We tested dog owners (n = 9) and animal care providers (n = 109) for serological evidence of Leptospira spp. infection (via the microscopic agglutination test [MAT]) and interviewed these persons about their specific exposures to canine cases and general exposures to canine blood and urine. Through surveillance, seven symptomatic persons were identified; six were tested and all were negative by MAT, and of these six, four persons were negative by PCR (two did not have PCR testing). All serosurvey participants (n = 118) were also seronegative. Among animal care providers, bare skin contact with urine/blood from a canine case was reported by 23.2%; two persons reported dog urine splashing in their face. Veterinary technicians were more likely to have bare skin contact with blood from a canine case compared to veterinarians and boarding facility staff (p < 0.001). Infection control practices were inconsistent; when working with specimens from a canine leptospirosis case, 44.6% of participants reported always wearing gloves when working with urine (i.e., collecting specimens), and 54.5% always wore gloves when working with blood. Veterinary technicians were also most likely to engage in all activities involving potential urine/blood contact, such as conducting laboratory tests (p < 0.01). We therefore recommend that veterinary technicians specifically receive targeted education about infection control practices. Our results suggest that dog‐to‐human transmission of leptospirosis is uncommon.
Effectiveness of a school-based physical activity intervention on adiposity, fitness and blood pressure: MOVI-KIDS study
Authors: Martínez-Vizcaíno Vicente , Pozuelo-Carrascosa Diana P , García-Prieto Jorge C , Cavero-Redondo Iván , Solera-Martínez Montserrat , Garrido-Miguel Miriam , Díez-Fernández Ana , Ruiz-Hermosa Abel , Sánchez-López Mairena 
Published: January 2019

Objective
To test a physical activity intervention (MOVI-KIDS) on obesity indicators, physical fitness and blood pressure (BP) in children.

Methods
A crossover randomised cluster trial was conducted, which comprised 1434 children (4–7 years old) from 21 schools in the provinces of Cuenca and Ciudad Real in the Castilla-La Mancha region of Spain. The intervention consisted of three 60 min sessions/week on weekdays between October 2013 and May 2014. Changes in anthropometric variables, physical fitness and BP parameters were measured. The analyses used were mixed regression models to adjust for baseline covariates under cluster randomisation.

Results
There was no significant improvement in overweight/obesity with the intervention compared with the control group in both sexes. Further, the intervention did not alter other adiposity indicators or BP parameters. Improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness were seen in girls (1.19; 95% CI 0.31 to 2.08; p=0.008), but not in boys. Finally, there was an improvement in velocity/agility in both girls (−2.51 s; 95% CI −3.98 to −1.05; p=0.001) and boys (−2.35 s; 95% CI −3.71 to −0.98; p=0.001), and in muscular strength in both girls (0.66; 95% CI 0.03 to 1.28; p=0.038) and boys (1.26; 95% CI 0.03 to 1.28; p<0.001).

Conclusion
MOVI-KIDS was not successful in reducing the adiposity and maintained BP levels at previous healthy values in children. The intervention, however, showed significant improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness in girls, and muscular strength and velocity/agility in boys and girls.

Trial registration number

NCT01971840
; Post-results.
Solnhofener Plattenkalk
: a heritage stone of international significance from Germany
Authors: Kölbl-Ebert M. , Cooper B. J. 
Published: January 2019

Abstract

In Bavaria (Germany), between Solnhofen and Kelheim, numerous quarries allow utilization of a thinly plated Upper Jurassic limestone known in German as the
Solnhofener Plattenkalk
and in English as Solnhofen Limestone. Here limestone slabs have been quarried for centuries and it is not necessary to cut the limestone with a saw as it can be split conveniently into thin and even slabs or sheets which are used for floor tiles and wall cladding. Thick slabs of especially fine quality have been used for lithography. This later utilization began in the late eighteenth century with lithographic Solnhofen Limestone soon being marketed worldwide. The industry continues on a smaller scale today. Slabs are quarried by hand so as not to break them, accounting for their high price. Because of this ‘gentle’ quarrying method, fossils have also been found. Although rare, over time many Solnhofen fossil specimens have found their way into natural history museums throughout the world. Most noteworthy is the early bird
Archaeopteryx
. Given its utilitarian usage worldwide as a lithographic stone, and its sale for centuries as floor tiles, coupled with its being a source of unique fossils,
Solnhofener Plattenkalk
is recommended here as a Global Heritage Stone Resource.
Surge of corticocardiac coupling in SHRSP rats exposed to forebrain cerebral ischemia
Authors: Tian Fangyun , Liu Tiecheng , Xu Gang , Ghazi Talha , Sajjad Azeem , Farrehi Peter , Wang Michael M. , Borjigin Jimo 
Published: January 2019

Sudden death is an important but underrecognized consequence of stroke. Acute stroke can disturb central control of autonomic function and result in cardiac dysfunction and sudden death. Previous study showed that bilateral common carotid artery ligation (BCCAL) in the spontaneously hypertensive stroke-prone rat strain (SHRSP) is a well-established model for forebrain ischemic sudden death. This study aims to investigate the temporal dynamic changes in electrical activities of the brain and heart and functional interactions between the two vital organs following forebrain ischemia. EEG and ECG signals were simultaneously collected from nine SHRSP and eight Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. RR interval was analyzed to investigate the cardiac response to brain ischemia. EEG power and coherence (CCoh) analysis were conducted to study the cortical response. Corticocardiac coherence (CCCoh) and directional connectivity (CCCon) were analyzed to determine brain-heart connection. Heart rate variability (HRV) was analyzed to evaluate autonomic functionality. BCCAL resulted in 100% mortality in SHRSP within 14 h, whereas no mortality was observed in WKY rats. The functionality of both the brain and the heart were significantly altered in SHRSP compared with WKY rats after BCCAL. SHRSP, but not WKY rats, exhibited intermittent surge of CCCoh, which paralleled the elevated CCCon and reduced HRV, following the onset of ischemia until sudden death. Elevated brain-heart coupling invariably associated with the disruption of the autonomic nervous system and the risk of sudden death. This study may improve our understanding of the mechanism of forebrain ischemia-induced sudden death. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study demonstrates a marked surge of corticocardiac coupling in rats dying from focal cerebral ischemia, consistent with our earlier data in rats exposed to fatal asphyxia. Since the bidirectional electrical signal coupling (corticocardiac coherence) and communication (corticocardiac connectivity) between the brain and the heart are only identified in dying animals, they could be used as potential biomarkers to predict the risk of sudden death.
Constant Degradation of the Androgen Receptor by MDM2 Conserves Prostate Cancer Stem Cell Integrity
Authors: Vummidi Giridhar Premkumar , Williams Karin , VonHandorf Andrew P. , Deford Paul L. , Kasper Susan 
Published: January 2019

Abstract

Prostate cancer stem cells (CSC) are implicated in tumor initiation, cancer progression, metastasis, and the development of therapeutic-resistant disease. It is well known that the bulk of prostate cancer cells express androgen receptor (AR) and that androgens are required for prostate cancer growth, progression, and emergence of castration-resistant disease. In contrast, the small subpopulation of self-renewing CSCs exhibits an AR-negative (AR−) signature. The mechanisms underlying the absence of AR are unknown. Using CSC-like cell models isolated from clinical biopsy tissues, we identify the E3 ligase MDM2 as a key regulator of prostate CSC integrity. First, unlike what has been reported for the bulk of AR+ tumor cells where MDM2 regulates the temporal expression of AR during transcriptional activity, MDM2 in CSCs promoted the constant ubiquitination and degradation of AR, resulting in sustained loss of total AR protein. Second, MDM2 promoted CSC self-renewal, the expression of stem cell factors, and CSC proliferation. Loss of MDM2 reversed these processes and induced expression of full-length AR (and not AR variants), terminal differentiation into luminal cells, and cell death. Selectively blocking MDM2-mediated activity in combination with androgen/AR-targeted therapy may offer a novel strategy for eliminating AR− CSCs in addition to the bulk of AR+ prostate cancer cells, decreasing metastatic tumor burden and inhibiting the emergence of therapeutic resistance.

Significance: These findings provide a novel mechanistic aspect of prostate cancer cell stemness that advances our understanding of the diverse transcriptional activity that bypasses AR in contributing to therapeutic resistance, tumor progression, and metastasis.
Mean Corpuscular Volume and Mortality in Incident Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Dratch Alissa , Kleine Carola-Ellen , Streja Elani , Soohoo Melissa , Park Christina , Hsiung Jui-Ting , Rhee Connie M. , Obi Yoshitsugu , Molnar Miklos Z. , Kovesdy Csaba P. , Kalantar-Zadeh Kamyar 
Published: January 2019

<b><i>Background/Aims:</i></b> Anemia is common in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). A proportion of patients present with macrocytic anemia, manifested by elevated mean corpuscular volume (MCV), which has been associated with worse outcomes in CKD patients. However, it is unknown whether elevated MCV is associated with higher mortality risk in incident hemodialysis (HD) patients. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> This retrospective observational cohort study examined all-cause, cardiovascular, and infectious mortality associations with both baseline and time-varying MCV in 109,501 incident HD patients using Cox proportional hazards models with 3 levels of hierarchical multivariable adjustment. Odds ratios of high versus low baseline MCV were evaluated using logistic regression. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The mean age of patients was 65 ± 15 (standard deviation) years and the cohort was 44% female, 58% diabetic, and 31% African American. Higher MCV was associated with older age, female sex, non-Hispanic White race-ethnicity, alcohol consumption, and having a decreased albumin or protein intake. Patients with higher MCV levels (&#x3e; 98 fL) had a higher all-cause, cardiovascular, and infectious mortality risk in both baseline and time varying models, and across all levels of adjustment. In the fully adjusted models, compared to a reference of MCV 92–&#x3c; 94 fL, patients with a baseline MCV &#x3e; 100+ fL had a 28% higher risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.28, 95% CI 1.22–1.34), 27% higher risk of cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.27, 95% CI 1.18–1.36), and 18% higher risk of infectious mortality (HR 1.18, 95% CI 1.02–1.38). Associations of higher MCV with these adverse outcomes persisted across all examined subgroups of clinical characteristics. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Higher MCV was associated with higher all-cause, cardiovascular, and infectious mortality in HD patients. Further investigation is necessary to understand the underlying nature of the observed association.
Platelet Protein Disulfide Isomerase Promotes Glycoprotein Ibα–Mediated Platelet-Neutrophil Interactions Under Thromboinflammatory Conditions
Authors: Li Jing , Kim Kyungho , Jeong Si-Yeon , Chiu Joyce , Xiong Bei , Petukhov Pavel A. , Dai Xiangrong , Li Xiaoyi , Andrews Robert K. , Du Xiaoping , Hogg Philip J. , Cho Jaehyung 
Published: January 2019

Background:
Platelet-neutrophil interactions contribute to vascular occlusion and tissue damage in thromboinflammatory disease. Platelet glycoprotein Ibα (GPIbα), a key receptor for the cell-cell interaction, is believed to be constitutively active for ligand binding. Here, we established the role of platelet-derived protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) in reducing the allosteric disulfide bonds in GPIbα and enhancing the ligand-binding activity under thromboinflammatory conditions.

Methods:
Bioinformatic analysis identified 2 potential allosteric disulfide bonds in GPIbα. Agglutination assays, flow cytometry, surface plasmon resonance analysis, a protein-protein docking model, proximity ligation assays, and mass spectrometry were used to demonstrate a direct interaction between PDI and GPIbα and to determine a role for PDI in regulating GPIbα function and platelet-neutrophil interactions. Also, real-time microscopy and animal disease models were used to study the pathophysiological role of PDI-GPIbα signaling under thromboinflammatory conditions.

Results:
Deletion or inhibition of platelet PDI significantly reduced GPIbα-mediated platelet agglutination. Studies using PDI-null platelets and recombinant PDI or Anfibatide, a clinical-stage GPIbα inhibitor, revealed that the oxidoreductase activity of platelet surface–bound PDI was required for the ligand-binding function of GPIbα. PDI directly bound to the extracellular domain of GPIbα on the platelet surface and reduced the Cys4-Cys17 and Cys209-Cys248 disulfide bonds. Real-time microscopy with platelet-specific PDI conditional knockout and sickle cell disease mice demonstrated that PDI-regulated GPIbα function was essential for platelet-neutrophil interactions and vascular occlusion under thromboinflammatory conditions. Studies using a mouse model of ischemia/reperfusion–induced stroke indicated that PDI-GPIbα signaling played a crucial role in tissue damage.

Conclusions:
Our results demonstrate that PDI-facilitated cleavage of the allosteric disulfide bonds tightly regulates GPIbα function, promoting platelet-neutrophil interactions, vascular occlusion, and tissue damage under thromboinflammatory conditions.
Workplace mental health: Current practice and support needs of Ontario occupational therapists
Authors: Moll Sandra E. , Heino Caitlin M. , LeBlanc Alison H. , Beck Lydia B. , Kalef Laura M. 
Published: January 2019

Background. Workplace mental health (WMH) is an important and expanding practice area for occupational therapists. Purpose. This cross-sectional study explores the current practices and support needs of Ontario-based occupational therapists in WMH. Method. Registrants from the provincial association who provide mental health and/or work-related services were invited to participate. Ninety-three therapists completed an online survey; 10 participated in follow-up focus groups. Analysis involved descriptive statistics of the survey data and content analysis of the focus group data. Findings. Return to work, reactivation, and functional cognitive assessment were the most commonly reported services. Key challenges were limited funding and training and lack of awareness of the occupational therapy role. Therapists emphasized the importance of raising the competence, credibility, and profile of occupational therapy in WMH. Implications. Defining the role of occupational therapy, developing training and resources, and advocacy are needed to advance occupational therapy practice within this rapidly changing field.