bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High Enrichment [13C]‐Labeling of Plants Grown Hydroponically from Seed to Seed in a Controlled 13C‐Carbon Dioxide Atmosphere Enclosure
Authors: Peters Calvin P. , Evans Erin M. , Cohen Jerry D. , Hegeman Adrian D. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractIn vivo isotopic labeling empowers proteomic and metabolomic analyses to resolve relationships between the molecular composition, environment, and phenotype of an organism. Carbon‐13 is particularly useful for plant labeling as it can be introduced via 13CO2 gas and readily assimilated into plant metabolic systems through natural carbon fixation. While short‐term labeling experiments can be performed within a simple sealed enclosure, long‐term growth in an isolated environment raises many challenges beyond nutrient availability and buildup of metabolic waste. Viable growth conditions must be maintained by means that do not compromise the integrity of the carbon‐13 enrichment. To address these issues, an automated growth chamber equipped with countermeasures to neutralize stresses and ensure high isotopic enrichment throughout the life cycle of the plant has been developed. The following describes this growth chamber and its use in an example 130‐day growth of ten soybean plants to full maturity, achieving 100% carbon‐13 enrichment of new seed tissue. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Divergence of morphological characters in two white‐eye species (Passeriformes: Zosteropidae) in sympatry
Authors: Wijesundara Chaminda S. , Freed Leonard A. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractWhen two ecologically similar, sympatric species compete in their zone of overlap, their traits are expected to diverge in the area of sympatry, while remaining more similar in the areas of allopatry. This reduces competition. In this study, we document divergence of some morphological characters in allopatry and sympatry in two species of white‐eye occurring in Sri Lanka, viz. the Sri Lanka white‐eye (Zosterops ceylonensis) and Oriental white‐eye (Zosterops palpebrosus). The extent of the overlap zone may be as large as 20–30 km in some areas. The study was carried out from February 2013 to July 2015. Birds were captured using mist nets in sympatric and allopatric zones of the two species, and 580 individuals belonging to both species were caught. We found that the bill length, bill width, and mass of the Sri Lanka white‐eye in the zone of overlap were significantly different from those in the allopatric zone. In general, the bill length, bill width, and mass showed an increase in the zone of overlap for the Sri Lanka white‐eye. The sympatric population of the Sri Lanka white‐eye has evolved sufficient differences to be ecologically isolated from the smaller Oriental white‐eye, thereby facilitating coexistence. The larger bill of the Sri Lanka white‐eye in sympatry enables it to be more successful in obtaining food than the other species. The trends of these changes showed that there is gradual replacement of the Oriental white‐eye in the upper elevations.
Diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound and fine‐needle aspiration in the study of thyroid nodule and multinodular goitre
Authors: Rabal Fueyo Antonio , Vilanova Serra Magdalena , Lerma Puertas Enrique , Montserrat Esplugas Enrique , Pérez García José Ignacio , Mato Matute Eugenia , De Leiva Hidalgo Alberto , Moral Duarte Antonio 
Published: June 2018

SummaryObjectiveUltrasonography and cytology obtained by fine‐needle aspiration are part of the basic study of the thyroid nodule. Although they are not diagnostic in every case, they are cost‐effective methods that inform surgical treatment and its extent. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of ultrasonography associated with fine‐needle aspiration to predict malignancy in nodular thyroid pathology.Design and patientsWe collected prospective data from patients undergoing thyroidectomy by single nodule or multinodular goitre between 2006 and 2016. A total of 417 patients were included. Ultrasounds were classified as suspected of malignancy if they had 2 or more of the following characteristics: hypoechogenicity, microcalcifications, intranodular central hypervascularization, irregular margins and poorly defined edges.MeasurementsUltrasound and fine‐needle aspiration accuracy.ResultsIn the postoperative study, 40% presented malignant pathology. 33% of patients with nonsuspicious ultrasound and 73% of those with suspicious ultrasound had malignant disease. Among patients with single nodule and suspicious ultrasound, the malignancy rate reached 80%. As for cytology, 100% of BethesdaVIpatients, 88% of V, 63% ofIV, 31% ofIIIand 12% ofIIwere found to have carcinoma. The combination of the 2 tests showed a high predictive value, particularly in cases of BethesdaIVcytology.ConclusionsThyroid cytology provides high predictive value of the presence of carcinoma. The predictive value of ultrasound is also high, mainly in the study of isolated nodules. The combination of the 2 tests results in increased diagnostic accuracy.
Recovery of Functional Ingredients from Antarctic Krill (Euphausia superba) Using an Improved Aqueous Enzymatic Extraction Method with Soybean Oil as Co‐Solvent
Authors: Wang Lingzhao , Shen Yan , Du Yunjian , Qiu Chunjiang , Zhang Junjie , Wang Shujun 
Published: June 2018

Antarctic krill are rich sources of functional ingredients, including astaxanthin, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). In this work, the functional ingredients are extracted by an improved aqueous enzymatic extraction method, where exogenous enzymes are not consumed and soybean oil is chosen as co‐solvent. The optimal conditions for oil recovery are determined to be a water addition of 30%, an initial pH of 7.5, a temperature of 43.2 °C, an autolysis time of 6 h, and a soybean oil addition ratio (g/g) of 3. Meanwhile, the oil recovery rate is 76.7%. The recovered oil contains 44.24 mg kg−1 astaxanthin and its total fatty acids contain 1.1% EPA and 0.6% DHA. The moisture and volatile matter content, acid value, and peroxide value of recovered oil are sufficient to meet the first grade requirements of soybean oil. The oxidative stability of recovered oil is close to that of soybean oil at room temperature. The recovered oil can be taken as a good source of EPA, DHA, and astaxanthin for consideration of use as an edible oil item for human consumption.Practical Applications: Antarctic krill (Euphasia superba) are generally known as huge biomass resources, strong endogenous enzymes, and rich sources of functional ingredients including EPA, DHA, and astaxanthin. In this work, the strong endogenous enzymes are employed to extract the functional ingredients from E. superba using soybean oil as co‐solvent. Furthermore, chemical compositions, physicochemical properties, and oxidative stabilities of the recovered oil are investigated. The results are useful for the extensive utilization of E. superba in food industry.The functional ingredients including EPA, DHA, and astaxanthin in krill are extracted by an improved aqueous enzymatic extraction method, where exogenous enzymes are not consumed and soybean oil is chosen as co‐solvent. The recovered oil can be taken as a good source of EPA, DHA, and astaxanthin for consideration of use as an edible oil item for human consumption.
A machine‐learned analysis of human gene polymorphisms modulating persisting pain points to major roles of neuroimmune processes
Authors: Kringel D. , Lippmann C. , Parnham M.J. , Kalso E. , Ultsch A. , Lötsch J. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractBackgroundHuman genetic research has implicated functional variants of more than one hundred genes in the modulation of persisting pain. Artificial intelligence and machine‐learning techniques may combine this knowledge with results of genetic research gathered in any context, which permits the identification of the key biological processes involved in chronic sensitization to pain.MethodsBased on published evidence, a set of 110 genes carrying variants reported to be associated with modulation of the clinical phenotype of persisting pain in eight different clinical settings was submitted to unsupervised machine‐learning aimed at functional clustering. Subsequently, a mathematically supported subset of genes, comprising those most consistently involved in persisting pain, was analysed by means of computational functional genomics in the Gene Ontology knowledgebase.ResultsClustering of genes with evidence for a modulation of persisting pain elucidated a functionally heterogeneous set. The situation cleared when the focus was narrowed to a genetic modulation consistently observed throughout several clinical settings. On this basis, two groups of biological processes, the immune system and nitric oxide signalling, emerged as major players in sensitization to persisting pain, which is biologically highly plausible and in agreement with other lines of pain research.ConclusionsThe present computational functional genomics‐based approach provided a computational systems‐biology perspective on chronic sensitization to pain. Human genetic control of persisting pain points to the immune system as a source of potential future targets for drugs directed against persisting pain. Contemporary machine‐learned methods provide innovative approaches to knowledge discovery from previous evidence.SignificanceWe show that knowledge discovery in genetic databases and contemporary machine‐learned techniques can identify relevant biological processes involved in Persitent pain.
Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite Modified Electrodes for Sensitive Detection of Ciprofloxacin
Authors: Pham Tien Song Hiep , Mahon Peter J. , Lai Guosong , Yu Aimin 
Published: June 2018

AbstractThe synthesis of novel nanocomposites with great sensing enhancement has played an important role in analytical chemistry, especially in the electrochemical detection of drug molecules. In this work, we report a wet chemical method for the preparation of a gold nanoparticle coated β‐cyclodextrin functionalized reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite. A number of different analytical techniques including ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy were employed to characterize the as‐synthesized nanocomposite. With excellent electrocatalytic properties and high supramolecular recognition ability, the as‐synthesized nanocomposite was used to modify a glassy carbon electrode surface for the sensitive determination of ciprofloxacin using voltammetric technique. The current response of ciprofloxacin on the nanocomposite modified electrode was greatly enhanced compared to that on the bare and other modified electrodes. Using differential pulse voltammetry, the oxidation peak currents increased linearly with the ciprofloxacin concentrations in the range between 0.01 to 120 μM with a detection limit of 2.7 nM. The electrochemical testing results showed good stability and reproducibility. Therefore, the nanocomposite could be a potential candidate for the development of electrochemical sensors for sensitive and selective determination of ciprofloxacin or similar drugs in the future.
Iron and zinc levels in Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp under varying phosphorus and fixed nitrogen treatment conditions
Authors: Ayeni Deborah F. , Ikwebe Joseph , Onyezili Francis N. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractUsing phosphate fertilizer (particularly at high levels) to improve the phosphorus (P) level of soils during the cultivation of legumes and other cereals unfortunately has negative effect on the levels of micronutrients like zinc (Zn) in grains. This study evaluated the influence of P and nitrogen (N) fertilization on iron (Fe) and Zn levels of cowpea grains. Cowpea genotypes B301, TVu 16514, IT90K‐205‐8, UAM09‐1046‐6‐1 and TVu 1272 were grown in greenhouse pots containing barren soils (to simulate micronutrient‐deficient soils) in two stages of varied P (0, 20, 40, and 60 kg P ha−1) with and without N (i.e. P only and P v N). The effect of these interactions on Fe and Zn levels were measured. Application of P alone showed no significant (p > 0.05) negative influence on Zn and Fe content of the grains. However, a combination of N and P fertilization reduced Zn content significantly at 60P (p < 0.05). Further evaluation showed TVu 1272 as highest in terms of Fe and Zn at all P levels. Significant reduction of grain Zn was found at 60P on N and P interaction. No such negative correlation was observed for Fe. TVu 1272 (a high‐yielding genotype) is recommended as a source of high micronutrient.
The optimistic brain: Trait optimism mediates the influence of resting‐state brain activity and connectivity on anxiety in late adolescence
Authors: Wang Song , Zhao Yajun , Cheng Bochao , Wang Xiuli , Yang Xun , Chen Taolin , Suo Xueling , Gong Qiyong 
Published: June 2018

AbstractAs a hot research topic in the field of psychology and psychiatry, trait optimism reflects the tendency to expect positive outcomes in the future. Consistent evidence has demonstrated the role of trait optimism in reducing anxiety among different populations. However, less is known about the neural bases of trait optimism and the underlying mechanisms for how trait optimism protects against anxiety in the healthy brain. In this investigation, we examined these issues in 231 healthy adolescent students by assessing resting‐state brain activity (i.e., fractional amplitude of low‐frequency fluctuations, fALFF) and connectivity (i.e., resting‐state functional connectivity, RSFC). Whole‐brain correlation analyses revealed that higher levels of trait optimism were linked with decreased fALFF in the right orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and increased RSFC between the right OFC and left supplementary motor cortex (SMC). Mediation analyses further showed that trait optimism mediated the influence of the right OFC activity and the OFC‐SMC connectivity on anxiety. Our results remained significant even after excluding the impact of head motion, positive and negative affect and depression. Taken together, this study reveals that fALFF and RSFC are functional neural markers of trait optimism and provides a brain‐personality‐symptom pathway for protection against anxiety in which fALFF and RSFC affect anxiety through trait optimism.
A pilot longitudinal study of anti‐Müllerian hormone levels throughout gestation in low risk pregnancy
Authors: Freeman Joshua R. , Whitcomb Brian W. , Roy Amrita , Bertone‐Johnson Elizabeth R. , Reich Nicholas G. , Healy Andrew J. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractBackgroundAnti‐Mϋllerian hormone (AMH) plays an important role regulating ovarian sensitivity to follicle‐stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone in folliculogenesis. Anti‐Mϋllerian hormone is well established as a biomarker of ovarian reserve but may also have utility in predicting pregnancy outcomes. Few studies have described AMH levels in pregnancy and, among those that have, most have used cross‐sectional study designs and are limited to participants seeking fertility treatment. Our aim was to analyze AMH longitudinally in low‐risk pregnancies.MethodsWe conducted a prospective cohort study at Baystate Medical Center, a large tertiary care hospital in Springfield, MA, USA. We recruited women (n = 30) with low risk, singleton pregnancies, aged 18 to 35 years, with BMI between 18 and 40 kg/m2, and without preexisting disease. Anti‐Mϋllerian hormone (pmol/L) was measured in plasma samples collected at 5 prenatal care visits throughout gestation.ResultsAnti‐Mϋllerian hormone levels varied significantly over gestation (Friedman's analysis of variance, P value < .0001). At gestational weeks 7 to 10, average AMH was 36.7 pmol/L (standard error = 8.1) and at weeks 34 to 37 was 9.5 pmol/L (standard error = 1.9). Initial AMH varied between women, and an overall significant log‐linear decline was observed.ConclusionsAnti‐Mϋllerian hormone varies between women and declines exponentially during pregnancy. The biological mechanism of the heterogeneity of AMH decline over gestation is unclear. Future studies evaluating AMH throughout pregnancy that also assess gravid health and pregnancy outcomes are warranted.
Depletion of A‐type lamins and Lap2α reduces 53BP1 accumulation at UV‐induced DNA lesions and Lap2α protein is responsible for compactness of irradiated chromatin
Authors: Bártová Eva , Legartová Soňa , Krejčí Jana , Řezníčková Petra , Kovaříková Alena Svobodová , Suchánková Jana , Fedr Radek , Smirnov Evgeny , Hornáček Matúš , Raška Ivan 
Published: June 2018

AbstractWe studied how deficiency in lamins A/C and lamina‐associated polypeptide 2α (Lap2α) affects DNA repair after irradiation. A‐type lamins and Lap2α were not recruited to local DNA lesions and did not accumulate to γ‐irradiation‐induced foci (IRIF), as it is generally observed for well‐known marker of DNA lesions, 53BP1 protein. At micro‐irradiated chromatin of lmna double knockout (dn) and Lap2α dn cells, 53BP1 protein levels were reduced, compared to locally irradiated wild‐type counterpart. Decreased levels of 53BP1 we also observed in whole populations of lmna dn and Lap2α dn cells, irradiated by UV light. We also studied distribution pattern of 53BP1 protein in a genome outside micro‐irradiated region. In Lap2α deficient cells, identical fluorescence of mCherry‐tagged 53BP1 protein was found at both microirradiated region and surrounding chromatin. However, a well‐known marker of double strand breaks, γH2AX, was highly abundant in the lesion‐surrounding genome of Lap2α deficient cells. Described changes, induced by irradiation in Lap2α dn cells, were not accompanied by cell cycle changes. In Lap2α dn cells, we additionally performed analysis by FLIM (Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy) that showed different dynamic behavior of mCherry‐tagged 53BP1 protein pools when it was compared with wild‐type (wt) fibroblasts. This analysis revealed three different fractions of mCherry‐53BP1 protein. Two of them showed identical exponential decay times (τ1 and τ3), but the decay rate of τ2 and amplitudes of fluorescence decays (A1‐A3) were statistically different in wt and Lap2α dn fibroblasts. Moreover, γ‐irradiation weakened an interaction between A‐type lamins and Lap2α. Together, our results demonstrate how depletion of Lap2α affects DNA damage response (DDR) and how chromatin compactness is changed in Lap2α deficient cells exposed to radiation.
Effects of curcumin on NF‐κB, AP‐1, and Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway in hepatitis B virus infection
Authors: Hesari AmirReza , Ghasemi Faezeh , Salarinia Reza , Biglari Hamed , Tabar Molla Hassan Agheel , Abdoli Vali , Mirzaei Hamed 
Published: June 2018

AbstractCurcumin is a yellow‐orange powder derived from the Curcuma longa plant. Curcumin has been used extensively in traditional medicine for centuries. This component is non‐toxic and shown different therapeutic properties such as anti‐inflammatory, anti‐cancer, antiviral, anti‐bacterial, anti‐fungal, anti‐parasites, and anti‐oxidant. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a small DNA member of the genus Orthohepadnavirus (Hepadnaviridae family) which is a highly contagious blood‐borne viral pathogen. HBV infection is a major public health problem with 2 billion people infected throughout the world and 350 million suffering from chronic HBV infection. Increasing evidence indicated that curcumin as a natural product could be employed in the treatment of HBV patients. It has been showed that curcumin exerts its therapeutic effects on HBV patients via targeting a variety of cellular and molecular pathways such as Wnt/β‐catenin, Ap1, STAT3, MAPK, and NF‐κB signaling. Here, we summarized the therapeutic effects of curcumin on patients who infected with HBV. Moreover, we highlighted main signaling pathways (eg, NF‐κB, AP1, and Wnt/β‐catenin signaling) which affected by curcumin in HBV infections.
Expression of the ectodomain‐releasing protease ADAM17 is directly regulated by the osteosarcoma and bone‐related transcription factor RUNX2
Authors: Araya Héctor F. , Sepulveda Hugo , Lizama Carlos O. , Vega Oscar A. , Jerez Sofia , Briceño Pedro F. , Thaler Roman , Riester Scott M. , Antonelli Marcelo , Salazar‐Onfray Flavio , Rodríguez Juan Pablo , Moreno Ricardo D. , Montecino Martin , Charbonneau Martine , Dubois Claire M. , Stein Gary S. , van Wijnen Andre J. , Galindo Mario A. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractOsteoblast differentiation is controlled by transcription factor RUNX2 which temporally activates or represses several bone‐related genes, including those encoding extracellular matrix proteins or factors that control cell‐cell, and cell‐matrix interactions. Cell‐cell communication in the many skeletal pericellular micro‐niches is critical for bone development and involves paracrine secretion of growth factors and morphogens. This paracrine signaling is in part regulated by “A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase” (ADAM) proteins. These cell membrane‐associated metalloproteinases support proteolytic release (“shedding”) of protein ectodomains residing at the cell surface. We analyzed microarray and RNA‐sequencing data for Adam genes and show that Adam17, Adam10, and Adam9 are stimulated during BMP2 mediated induction of osteogenic differentiation and are robustly expressed in human osteoblastic cells. ADAM17, which was initially identified as a tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) converting enzyme also called (TACE), regulates TNFα‐signaling pathway, which inhibits osteoblast differentiation. We demonstrate that Adam17 expression is suppressed by RUNX2 during osteoblast differentiation through the proximal Adam17 promoter region (−0.4 kb) containing two functional RUNX2 binding motifs. Adam17 downregulation during osteoblast differentiation is paralleled by increased RUNX2 expression, cytoplasmic‐nuclear translocation and enhanced binding to the Adam17 proximal promoter. Forced expression of Adam17 reduces Runx2 and Alpl expression, indicating that Adam17 may negatively modulate osteoblast differentiation. These findings suggest a novel regulatory mechanism involving a reciprocal Runx2‐Adam17 negative feedback loop to regulate progression through osteoblast differentiation. Our results suggest that RUNX2 may control paracrine signaling through regulation of ectodomain shedding at the cell surface of osteoblasts by directly suppressing Adam17 expression.
Inhibin α‐subunit inhibits BMP9‐induced osteogenic differentiation through blocking BMP/Smad signal and activating NF‐κB signal in mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Huang Min , Cheng Ya‐Lin , Zeng Ji‐Tao , Su Xiao‐Ya , Liu Hong 
Published: June 2018

AbstractInhibin‐α, a member of the transforming growth factor (TGF‐β) superfamily, has been involved in bone turnover during the menopausal transition via endocrine effects, and it was previously reported that inhibins may antagonize the function of BMPs. Certainly, one of the most important functions of BMPs is to induce osteogenic differentiation. BMP9 as one of the most potent BMPs to induce osteogenic differentiation has gotten more and more attentions. Nonetheless, the effects of inhibin‐α on osteogenesis remain unknown. Besides, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with the ability to differentiate into multiple mesenchymal lineages, including osteoblasts, adipocyte, chondrocytes, and myoblasts in vitro, have become the promising seed cells for bone tissue engineering. Here, we investigated the role of inhibin‐α on BMP9‐induced osteogenic differentiation in MSCs and tried to discover the mechanism underlying this process. We found inhibin‐α apparently reduced the classical osteogenic markers and the ectopic bone formation induced by BMP9. In addition, the ratio of OPG to RANKL is declined also in the presence of inhibin‐α. For mechanism, we found that exogenous expression of inhibin‐α inhibits BMP9‐induced osteogenic differentiation through blocking BMP/Smad signal transduction and activating NF‐κB signal which is repressed by BMP9. Thus, our findings indicated that inhibin‐α has a negative effect on BMP9‐induced osteogenic differentiation in MSCs, which may provide a novel insight into the regulation of skeletal development and new strategy for bone tissue engineering.