bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Twinning-induced strain hardening in dual-phase FeCoCrNiAl0.5 at room and cryogenic temperature
Authors: Bönisch M. , Wu Y. , Sehitoglu H. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractA face-centered-cubic (fcc) oriented FeCoCrNiAl0.5 dual-phase high entropy alloy (HEA) was plastically strained in uniaxial compression at 77K and 293K and the underlying deformation mechanisms were studied. The undeformed microstructure consists of a body-centered-cubic (bcc)/B2 interdendritic network and precipitates embedded in 〈001〉-oriented fcc dendrites. In contrast to other dual-phase HEAs, at both deformation temperatures a steep rise in the stress-strain curves occurs above 23% total axial strain. As a result, the hardening rate associated saturates at the unusual high value of ~6 GPa. Analysis of the strain partitioning between fcc and bcc/B2 by digital image correlation shows that the fcc component carries the larger part of the plastic strain. Further, electron backscatter diffraction and transmission electron microscopy evidence ample fcc deformation twinning both at 77K and 293K, while slip activity only is found in the bcc/B2. These results may guide future advancements in the design of novel alloys with superior toughening characteristics.
VHL inactivation without hypoxia is sufficient to achieve genome hypermethylation
Authors: Artemov Artem V. , Zhigalova Nadezhda , Zhenilo Svetlana , Mazur Alexander M. , Prokhortchouk Egor B. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractVHL inactivation is a key oncogenic event for renal carcinomas. In normoxia, VHL suppresses HIF1a-mediated transcriptional response, which is characteristic to hypoxia. It has previously been shown that hypoxic conditions inhibit TET-dependent hydroxymethylation of cytosines and cause DNA hypermethylation at gene promoters. In this work, we performed VHL inactivation by CRISPR/Cas9 and studied its effects on gene expression and DNA methylation. We showed that even without hypoxia, VHL inactivation leads to hypermethylation of the genome. Hypermethylated cytosines were evenly distributed throughout the genome with a slight preference for AP-1 (JUN and FOS) binding sites. Hypermethylated cytosines tended to be enriched within the binding sites of transcription factors that showed increased gene expression after VHL inactivation. We also observed promoter hypermethylation associated with decreased gene expression for several regulators of transcription and DNA methylation including SALL3.
Keystone Arctic paleoceanographic proxy association with putative methanotrophic bacteria
Authors: Bernhard Joan M. , Panieri Giuliana 
Published: July 2018

AbstractForaminifera in sediments exposed to gas-hydrate dissociation are not expected to have cellular adaptations that facilitate inhabitation of chemosynthesis-based ecosystems because, to date, there are no known endemic seep foraminifera. To establish if foraminifera inhabit sediments impacted by gas-hydrate dissociation, we examined the cellular ultrastructure of Melonis barleeanus (Williamson, 1858) from the Vestnesa gas hydrate province (Arctic Ocean, west of Svalbard at ~79 °N; ~1200-m depth; n = 4). From sediments with gas hydrate indicators, living M. barleeanus had unusual pore plugs composed of a thick, fibrous meshwork; mitochondria were concentrated at the cell periphery, under pore plugs. While there was no evidence of endosymbioses with prokaryotes, most M. barleeanus specimens were associated with what appear to be Type I methanotrophic bacteria. One foraminifer had a particularly large bolus of these microbes concentrated near its aperture. This is the first documented instance of bona fide living M. barleeanus in gas-hydrate sediments and first documentation of a foraminifer living in close association with putative methanotrophs. Our observations have implications to paleoclimate records utilizing this foundational foraminiferal species.
Sustainable Syntheses of (−)-Jerantinines A & E and Structural Characterisation of the Jerantinine-Tubulin Complex at the Colchicine Binding Site
Authors: Smedley Christopher J. , Stanley Paul A. , Qazzaz Mohannad E. , Prota Andrea E. , Olieric Natacha , Collins Hilary , Eastman Harry , Barrow Andrew S. , Lim Kuan-Hon , Kam Toh-Seok , Smith Brian J. , Duivenvoorden Hendrika M. , Parker Belinda S. , Bradshaw Tracey D. , Steinmetz Michel O. , Moses John E. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe jerantinine family of Aspidosperma indole alkaloids from Tabernaemontana corymbosa are potent microtubule-targeting agents with broad spectrum anticancer activity. The natural supply of these precious metabolites has been significantly disrupted due to the inclusion of T. corymbosa on the endangered list of threatened species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. This report describes the asymmetric syntheses of (−)-jerantinines A and E from sustainably sourced (−)-tabersonine, using a straight-forward and robust biomimetic approach. Biological investigations of synthetic (−)-jerantinine A, along with molecular modelling and X-ray crystallography studies of the tubulin—(−)-jerantinine B acetate complex, advocate an anticancer mode of action of the jerantinines operating via microtubule disruption resulting from binding at the colchicine site. This work lays the foundation for accessing useful quantities of enantiomerically pure jerantinine alkaloids for future development.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Fibulin-3 knockdown inhibits cervical cancer cell growth and metastasis in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Li Juan , Qi Chen , Liu Xia , Li Changzhong , Chen Jie , Shi Min 
Published: July 2018

AbstractTo explore the function of fibulin-3 in cervical carcinoma malignant cell growth and metastasis, fibulin-3 expression in normal cervical tissue, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), and cervical carcinoma were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Quantitative real-time-polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, and immunocytochemistry were performed to assess the expression of fibulin-3 at mRNA and protein levels in different invasive clone sublines. Fibulin-3 shRNA and fibulin-3 cDNA were used to transfect the strongly and weakly invasive clone sublines. Using in vitro and in vivo functional assays, we investigated the effects of down-regulating and up-regulating fibulin-3 expression on the proliferation and invasion of different clone sublines. Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) and its signaling pathways PI3K/AKT and ERK were studied carefully in lentiviral transfection systems. Fibulin-3 was upregulated in cervical carcinoma, and its overexpression was significantly related with malignant phenotype and poor prognosis of cervical carcinoma. Fibulin-3 promoted cervical cancer cell invasive capabilities by eliciting EMT and activating the PI3K-Akt-mTOR signal transduction pathway. Fibulin-3 could facilitate the process of cervical cancer development. The results presented here will help develop novel prognostic factors and possible therapeutic options for patients with cervical cancer.
Comparative genomics and genotype-phenotype associations in Bifidobacterium breve
Authors: Bottacini Francesca , Morrissey Ruth , Esteban-Torres Maria , James Kieran , van Breen Justin , Dikareva Evgenia , Egan Muireann , Lambert Jolanda , van Limpt Kees , Knol Jan , O’Connell Motherway Mary , van Sinderen Douwe 
Published: July 2018

AbstractBifidobacteria are common members of the gastro-intestinal microbiota of a broad range of animal hosts. Their successful adaptation to this particular niche is linked to their saccharolytic metabolism, which is supported by a wide range of glycosyl hydrolases. In the current study a large-scale gene-trait matching (GTM) effort was performed to explore glycan degradation capabilities in B. breve. By correlating the presence/absence of genes and associated genomic clusters with growth/no-growth patterns across a dataset of 20 Bifidobacterium breve strains and nearly 80 different potential growth substrates, we not only validated the approach for a number of previously characterized carbohydrate utilization clusters, but we were also able to discover novel genetic clusters linked to the metabolism of salicin and sucrose. Using GTM, genetic associations were also established for antibiotic resistance and exopolysaccharide production, thereby identifying (novel) bifidobacterial antibiotic resistance markers and showing that the GTM approach is applicable to a variety of phenotypes. Overall, the GTM findings clearly expand our knowledge on members of the B. breve species, in particular how their variable genetic features can be linked to specific phenotypes.
Investigation of Wolbachia spp. and Spiroplasma spp. in Phlebotomus species by molecular methods
Authors: Karatepe Bilge , Aksoy Serap , Karatepe Mustafa 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe aim of this study was to determine the presence ofWolbachiaspp. andSpiroplasmaspp. in natural populations of sand flies in Turkey by molecular methods. A total of 40Phlebotomusspecimens (19 female and 21 male) were used in this study. Genomic DNA from whole sand flies was isolated andWolbachiaspp. infection prevalence was investigated by usingWolbachiagene specific primer sets (wspandGroEL). In addition, the DNA were analyzed for the presence ofSpiroplasmainfections utilizing bacterium specific 16 S rDNA PCR-amplification primers. Results of this analysis showed aWolbachiainfection prevalence of 70% (28/40). There was no sex-bias in infection prevalence, being 76% (16/21) and 63% (12/19) in males and females, respectively. Analysis ofSpiroplasmainfections indicated that 26% (5/19) of female sand flies were positive for infection, while none of the screened males (0/21) were positive. Of the 40 sand fly samples, only 2 were found to be positive for bothWolbachia spp. andSpiroplasma spp. The present study demonstrates the presence ofWolbachiaandSpiroplasmainfections in the natural sand fly populations in Turkey. This is the first report onSpiroplasmainfection in the sand flies from Turkey.
Accelerometry-Derived Relative Exercise Intensities in Elite Women’s Basketball
Authors: Staunton Craig , Wundersitz Daniel , Gordon Brett , Kingsley Michael 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThis study assessed accelerometry-derived relative exercise intensity during elite women’s basketball match play. The influence of player position/role and match period on relative exercise intensities was evaluated. Ten basketballers wore accelerometers during a Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test (Yo-Yo-IR1) and 18 competitive matches. Relative exercise intensity was quantified using predicted oxygen consumption reserve determined using correlations from Yo-Yo-IR1. Total time, bout frequency and bout duration were calculated in seven intensity zones and compared between quarters, positions (back-court vs. front-court) and roles (starters vs. bench). Back-court players spent 6.0±1.9% more match time performing supramaximal activity when compared to front-court players (p<0.045). Back-court players experienced more supramaximal bouts (125±37 vs. 52±36; p=0.031) of greater average duration (2.1±0.4 vs. 1.4±0.2 s; p=0.021) and maximum duration (7±2 vs. 3±1 s; p=0.020). More sedentary to very light activity was observed in the 2nd and 4th quarters compared to the 1st and 3rd quarters (p<0.05). Despite reduced playing time, bench players performed similar amounts of maximal and supramaximal exercise when compared to starters (p≥0.279). Player position, role and match periods influence the demands of women’s basketball; these factors should be considered when designing match-specific conditioning programs.
Der ThemenCheck Medizin: Bürgerorientierung bei der Themensammlung und der Themenauswahl für HTA-Berichte
Authors: Siering Ulrich , Thys Sarah , Altenhofen Lutz 
Published: July 2018

Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund Die Beteiligung der Öffentlichkeit an der Themensammlung und Themenauswahl für Health Technology Assessments (HTA) ist eine wichtige Voraussetzung dafür, dass HTA-Berichte zu Fragestellungen erstellt werden, die für Patientinnen und Patienten tatsächlich relevant sind. Mit dem § 139b Absatz 5 Sozialgesetzbuch V hat der Gesetzgeber die Voraussetzung dafür geschaffen, dass die Öffentlichkeit beim Institut für Qualität und Wirtschaftlichkeit im Gesundheitswesen (IQWiG) Themen für HTA-Berichte vorschlagen können.
Ziel der Arbeit Wie wird der gesetzliche Auftrag für den Einbezug von Patientinnen und Patienten sowie Bürgerinnen und Bürger in die Themensammlung und Themenauswahl für HTA-Berichte im ThemenCheck Medizin des IQWiG umgesetzt?
Themensammlung und Auswahl der Themen Themenvorschläge für HTA-Berichte können von allen interessierten Einzelpersonen über ein einfach gestaltetes Eingabeformular auf der Website des ThemenCheck Medizin eingereicht werden. Bei Unklarheiten zur HTA-Fragestellung erfolgt eine Rücksprache des IQWiG mit der oder dem Vorschlagenden. Basierend auf einer inhaltlichen Aufbereitung des Themas nominiert ein mit Bürgerinnen und Bürgern sowie Patientenvertreterinnen und -vertretern besetzter Auswahlbeirat 15 patientenrelevante Themen, die für die Erstellung eines HTA-Berichts geeignet sind. Aus diesen Themen wählt das IQWiG 4–6 Themen aus, zu denen HTA-Berichte erstellt werden.
Erfahrungen mit der Umsetzung der Themensammlung und Themenauswahl In den ersten beiden Auswahlzyklen (Juli 2016–Juli 2017) wurden für die HTA-Berichte 57 Themenvorschläge aus einem großen Themenspektrum eingereicht. Vom Auswahlbeirat wurden Ende 2016 und Ende 2017 jeweils 15 patientenrelevante und für HTA-Berichte geeignete Themen nominiert. Anfang 2017 wurden vom IQWiG 5, Anfang 2018 weitere 4 Themen für die Erstellung von HTA-Berichten ausgewählt. Die Aufbereitung der Themen und der Auswahlprozess wurden vom Auswahlbeirat überwiegend positiv beurteilt.
Schlußfolgerung Durch das einfach gestaltete Eingabeformular und die Nominierung der Themen durch den Auswahlbeirat konnte beim ThemenCheck Medizin ein hohes Maß an Partizipation an der Themensammlung und Themenauswahl erreicht werden. Wichtig für die erfolgreiche Umsetzung war darüber hinaus die politische Unterstützung durch den Gesetzgeber, die Auswahl geeigneter Teilnehmerinnen und Teilnehmer für den Auswahlbeirat und deren Unterstützung bei der Themenauswahl. Künftig wird zu prüfen sein, wie die Forderung nach einer größeren Beteiligung der Öffentlichkeit sowie von Patienteninnen und Patienten auch bei der Erstellung von HTA-Berichten umgesetzt werden kann.
Pilotprojekt „Telefonisch-psychologische Beratung Unfallverletzter“ der Berufsgenossenschaft für Gesundheitsdienst und Wohlfahrtspflege – Wie wird das Angebot bewertet?
Authors: Ahnert Jutta , Vogel Heiner , Richard Matthias , Wilhelm Jürgen , Drechsel-Schlund Claudia , Neuderth Silke 
Published: July 2018

ZusammenfassungIm Rahmen eines Pilotprojektes wurde ein telefonisch-psychologisches Beratungsangebot in 4 Bezirksverwaltungen der Berufsgenossenschaft für Gesundheitsdienst und Wohlfahrtspflege (BGW) implementiert und formativ evaluiert. Sachbearbeiter, Psychotherapeuten und die Versicherten wurden bezüglich ihrer Erfahrungen und Zufriedenheit mit dem Angebot befragt. Das telefonische Beratungsangebot wurde von ca. 15,5% der angeschriebenen Versicherten angenommen. Versicherte, die das Angebot angenommen haben, schätzen sich tendenziell stärker psychisch belastet ein, sind 3 Monate nach der Angebotsunterbreitung häufiger noch krankgeschrieben und nehmen im Anschluss häufiger eine Psychotherapie in Anspruch. Die Telefonate mit dem Psychotherapeuten werden von den meisten als hilfreich eingeschätzt. Auch von den beteiligten Psychotherapeuten und den Sachbearbeitern wird das Angebot positiv bewertet. Insgesamt kann die Implementierung als gelungen bewertet werden. Ein Wirksamkeitsnachweis im Rahmen einer randomisierten kontrollierten Studie wäre der nächste Schritt.
Factor VII and Fibrinogen Levels as Risk Factors for Venous Thrombosis
Authors: Koster T , Rosendaal F R , Reitsma P H , Velden P A van der , Briët E , Vandenbroucke J P 
Published: July 2018

SummaryThe plasma levels of coagulation factor VII and fibrinogen are well known risk factors for arterial thrombosis. We tested the hypothesis that this association also exists for venous thrombosis. Additionally, MspI and Haelll polymorphisms in the factor VII and fibrinogen genes have recently been reported to be associated with the concentration of both proteins in the plasma. However, no conclusion could be drawn with respect to an increase or decrease in thrombosis risk. We undertook a population-based case-control study, in which 199 patients with a first, objectively confirmed episode of deep vein thrombosis, aged less than 70, and without a known malignant disorder were compared to 199 age-and sex-matched healthy controls, to evaluate the clinical importance of these reported findings.For fibrinogen we found a positive level-related association between the plasma fibrinogen level and thrombotic risk. Subjects with a plasma fibrinogen greater than 5 g/1 had an almost 4-fold increase of thrombosis risk. The frequencies of the different Haelll genotypes were out of balance only for the thrombosis patients, with a deficit of the H1H2 genotype. Possession of an H1H2 genotype was associated with a 40% reduction in thrombosis risk.For factor VII, neither the plasma level nor the MspI genotypes were related to deep vein thrombosis, although possession of a M2 allele was clearly associated with significantly lower factor VII levels. The frequencies of the Mspl-genotypes were the same for patients and control subjects and, exhibited Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.Our results support that plasma fibrinogen, a determinant of arterial thrombosis is also a risk factor for venous thrombosis, while factor VII plasma concentration is unrelated to deep vein thrombosis, which is supported by the data from the DNA analysis of polymorphisms.
Low-Affinity Material Does not Contribute to the Antithrombotic Activity of Orgaran (Org 10172) in Human Plasma
Authors: Zammit Adrian , Dawes Joan 
Published: July 2018

SummaryOrgaran is a LMW heparinoid composed of heparan sulphate (83% wlw) of which 4-5% has high affinity for antithrombin, dermatan sulphate (12% w/w) and chondroitin sulphate (59 wlw). To examine the contribution of the low-affinity fraction to Orgaran’s antithrombotic activity we have quantitated the binding of plasma proteins to Orgaran and its component fractions in whole, hirudin-anticoagulated human plasma. Antithrombin, largely bound to the high-affinity fraction, and histidine-rich glycoprotein, interacting with low-affinity components, were the dominant proteins bound to Orgaran. Vitronectin, fibrinogen, fibronectin, heparin cofactor 11, and apolipoprotein B were also detected in small amounts. The ratio of bound antithrombin, histidine- rich glycoprotein and vitronectin to GAG was negatively correlated with the Orgaran concentration in plasma, implying that the efficacy of Orgaran may not be linearly related to dose. Binding of antithrombin to the high-affinity fraction was not decreased by other plasma proteins or affected by addition of low-affinity material. Moreover, the antithrombin and anti-factor Xa activities of the high-affinity material were unaltered by low-affinity GAGs. On the basis of our results we conclude that the low-affinity material does not contribute to the antithrombotic activity of Orgaran by binding non-anticoagulant plasma proteins and releasing the high-affinity chains to interact with antithrombin and its target proteinases.
Physical Studies on Isolated Human Prothrombin Fragment-2. Comparisons with Human Prothrombin Fragment-1
Authors: Schaefer Daniel J , Scott Mary E , Gabriel Don A , Gerth Jean L , Aronson David L , Hiskey Richard G , Koehler Karl A 
Published: July 2018

SummaryVariation of pH strongly affects the fluorescence intensity of human prothrombin fragment-1 in a manner suggesting contributions from a number of protropic equilibria including groups with apparent pKa values near 3.0. These results suggest a structural role for pKa
1 of γ-carboxyglutamic acid moieties. Added calcium ions (9 mM calcium chloride) quench the fluorescence titration curve.uniformly above pH 4. Below pH 4, however, the titration curve in the presence of calcium ions suggests that calcium-ion-dependent processes leading to fluorescence quenching are pH-dependent. Upon back titration of human fragment-1, from pH 9, hysteresis is observed.Human prothrombin fragment-2 fluorescence titration curves are relatively broad at low pH suggesting the titration of normal carboxyl groups. The titration curves of fragment-2 are not affected by the presence of calcium ions, and hysteresis occurs upon back titration from low pH values. Circular dichroism (CD) Cotton effects appear at 232 nm and 280 nm and a trough appears at 203 nm in the CD spectrum of human prothrombin fragment-2. The Cotton effects in the region from 230 nm to 300 nm are sensitive to pH, ellipticity values at 232 nm increasing from approximately 300 at pH 2.5 to 1300 (degree-cm/decimole) at neutral pH and finally become negative at high pH values. In contrast to fragment-1, at neutral pH the fragment-2 Cotton effect at 232 nm is insensitive to the presence of 8 mM calcium chloride.
Effect of Sodium Chloride on Limulus Amebocyte Lysate
Authors: Schleef Raymond R , Kenney Dianne M , Shepro David 
Published: July 2018

SummaryConcentrations of sodium chloride up to 3 M increase the time necessary for the clot formation from Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) induced with endotoxin. Sodium chloride at a concentration of 4 M prevents clot formation by either precipitation or denaturation of procoagulase. The time necessary for the activation of procoagulase by endotoxin is increased by a change in the sodium chloride concentration from 0.15 M to 0.588 M. No effect on the proteolytic phase or the polymerization phase of the clotting reaction is detected by the increase in sodium chloride concentration from 0.15 M to 0.588 M. The authors conclude that increased sodium chloride concentrations may aid the isolation of procoagulase.
The Binding of Diiodosalicylate and Flufenamate to the Plasma Antiactivator: Analysis of Chemical Fibrinolysis
Authors: Nanninga L B 
Published: July 2018

SummaryThe fibrinolytic effect of diiodosalicylate was expressed as apparent units urokinase. The dissociation constant of the urokinase-inhibitor complex is increased 19 times in the presence of 10-2 M diiodosalicylate. The binding of diiodosalicylate to the antiactivator was estimated and the increase in free urokinase in the presence of diiodosalicylate was calculated. With 10-2 M diiodosalicylate present only 4% of the inhibitor remains free to bind urokinase. Therefore, the fibrinolytic action of diiodosalicylate can be explained on the basis of its binding to the inhibitor and the release of free urokinase.
Direct Measurement of the Amount of Bound Collagen which Stimulates Platelet Aggregation
Authors: Kronick Paul L , Jimenez Sergio A 
Published: July 2018

SummaryThe amount of collagen which binds to platelets has been correlated with aggregating activity in a platelet aggregometer. Aggregating activity requires only 0.22 μg/ml (0.35 μg/ 109 cells) of collagen bound, the reaction saturating with 4.9 μg/ml (7.9 μg/109 cells). On the basis of the fraction of collagen bound and its hydroxyproline/proline ratio, it is concluded that the activity resides in the type I collagen component.