bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Independent markers of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in a gentrifying population‐based Chinese cohort
Authors: Zhou Xianghai , Li Yufeng , Zhang Xiuying , Guan Ying Ying , Puentes Yindra , Zhang Fang , Speliotes Elizabeth K. , Ji Linong 
Published: March 2019

AbstractBackgroundPrevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing in developing countries, but its causes are not known. We aimed to ascertain the prevalence and determinants of NAFLD in a new largely unmedicated population‐based cohort from the rapidly gentrifying region of Pinggu, China.MethodsWe randomized cluster sampled 4002 Pinggu residents aged 26 to 76 years. Data from 1238 men and 1928 women without significant alcohol drinking or hepatitis virus B or C infection were analysed. NAFLD was defined using a liver‐spleen ratio (L/S ratio) ≤1.1 on unenhanced abdominal computed tomography (CT) scanning.ResultsOf men and women, 26.5% and 20.1%, respectively, had NAFLD. NAFLD prevalence was highest in younger men and older women. In multivariate logistic regression models, higher body mass index, waist circumference, serum triglyceride, alanine transaminase, and haemoglobin A1c independently increased the odds of NAFLD in both men and women separately. Higher annual household income and systolic blood pressure for men and higher serum uric acid and red meat intake and lower physical activity levels for women also independently associated with higher odds of NAFLD. Individuals with L/S ratio ≤1.1 had linearly increasing rates of obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome that paralleled fatty liver increase.ConclusionsNAFLD is common in a gentrifying Chinese population particularly in younger men of high socioeconomic status and older women with sedentary behaviour who eat red meat. Demographic factors add independent risk of NAFLD above traditional metabolic risk factors. A CT L/S ratio of ≤1.1 identifies individuals at high risk of metabolic disease.
The novel gene apnoia regulates Drosophila tracheal tube size
Authors: Scholl Aaron , O'Brien Michael J. , Chandran Rachana R. , Jiang Lan 
Published: March 2019

AbstractBackgroundDistinct tube size is critical for the function of human tubular organs such as the lung, vascular system, and kidney. Aberrant tube sizes can lead to devastating human illnesses, including polycystic kidney disease. The Drosophila trachea provides a premier genetic system to investigate the fundamental mechanisms that regulate tube size.ResultsHere we describe the function of a novel gene, apnoia, in tube‐size regulation. apn encodes an apical membrane protein, Apnoia (Apn), with three helical transmembrane domains. Loss‐of‐function apn mutants show shorter‐tube and air‐filling defects in larval trachea, whereas there are no obvious defects in embryonic trachea. Conversely, overexpression of apn in trachea leads to significant tube over‐elongation. We analyzed apical luminal matrix and cell polarity in these longer tubes. It is interesting to note that we observed normal establishment of cell polarity, whereas all luminal matrix components are significantly reduced. In addition, we observed that some matrix components are localized in cytoplasmic vesicles, suggesting secretion defects in apn overexpressing trachea.ConclusionTaken together, these results strongly suggest the possibility that apn is directly or indirectly involved in vesicular trafficking to regulate tube size.
Regulation of position effect variegation at pericentric heterochromatin by Drosophila Keap1‐Nrf2 xenobiotic response factors
Authors: Carlson Jennifer , Swisse Thane , Smith Charles , Deng Huai 
Published: March 2019

SummaryThe Keap1‐Nrf2 signaling pathway plays a central role in the regulation of transcriptional responses to oxidative species and xenobiotic stimuli. The complete range of molecular mechanisms and biological functions of Keap1 and Nrf2 remain to be fully elucidated. To determine the potential roles of Keap1 and Nrf2 in chromatin architecture, we examined the effects of their Drosophila homologs (dKeap1 and CncC) on position effect variegation (PEV), which is a transcriptional reporter for heterochromatin formation and spreading. Loss of function mutations in cncC, dKeap1, and cncC/dKeap1 double mutants all suppressed the variegation of wm4 and SbV PEV alleles, indicating that reduction of CncC or dKeap1 causes a decrease of heterochromatic silencing at pericentric region. Depletion of CncC or dKeap1 in embryos reduced the level of the H3K9me2 heterochromatin marker, but had no effect on the transcription of the genes encoding Su(var)3‐9 and HP1. These results support a potential role of dKeap1 and CncC in the establishment and/or maintenance of pericentric heterochromatin. Our study provides preliminary evidence for a novel epigenetic function of Keap1‐Nrf2 oxidative/xenobiotic response factors in chromatin remodeling.
Multi‐scalar drivers of biodiversity: local management mediates wild bee community response to regional urbanization
Authors: Ballare Kimberly M. , Neff John L. , Ruppel Rebecca , Jha Shalene 
Published: March 2019

AbstractIt is critical to understand the specific drivers of biodiversity across multiple spatial scales, especially within rapidly urbanizing areas, given the distinct management recommendations that may result at each scale. However, drivers of biodiversity patterns and interactions between drivers are often only measured and modeled at a single scale. In this study, we assessed bee community composition at three time periods in 20 grassland and 20 agriculture sites located across two major metroplexes. We examined how local environmental variables and surrounding landscape composition impact bee abundance, richness, and evenness, including comparisons between groups with different nesting strategies and body sizes. We collected nearly 13,000 specimens and identified 172 species. We found that levels of regional land use differentially impacted bee abundance and diversity depending on local habitat management. Specifically, within agriculture sites, bee richness was greater with increasing landscape‐level seminatural habitat, while in grassland sites, bee richness was similar across landscapes regardless of seminatural habitat cover. Bee evenness at both site types declined with increasing landscape‐level habitat heterogeneity, due to an increase of rare species at the grassland sites, but not in the agricultural sites, further indicating that diversity is driven by the interaction of local habitat quality and landscape‐level habitat composition. We additionally found that agriculture sites supported higher abundances, but not richness, of small‐bodied and below‐ground nesting bees, while grassland sites supported higher abundances of aboveground nesting bees, and higher richness of large‐bodied species. Increased levels of local bare ground were significantly related to multiple metrics of bee diversity, including greater belowground nesting bee abundance and richness. Local floral richness was also significantly related to increases of overall bee abundance, as well as the abundance and richness of small bees. Overall, we suggest that local land managers can support bee abundance and diversity by conserving areas of bare soil and promoting native floral diversity, the latter especially critical in highly urban agricultural spaces. Our results provide the first documentation of significant interactions between local habitat management and landscape composition impacting insect communities in urban systems, indicating that bee conservation practices depend critically on land use interactions across multiple spatial scales.
Do precipitation extremes drive growth and migration timing of a Pacific salmonid fish in Mediterranean‐climate streams?
Authors: Kelson Suzanne J. , Carlson Stephanie M. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractClimate change is expected to increase weather extremes and variability, including more frequent weather whiplashes or extreme swings between severe drought and extraordinarily wet years. Shifts in precipitation patterns will alter stream flow regimes, affecting critical life history stages of sensitive aquatic organisms. Understanding how threatened fish species, such as steelhead/rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), are affected by stream flows in years with contrasting environmental conditions is important for their conservation. Here, we report how extreme wet and dry years, from 2015 to 2018, affected stream flow patterns in two tributaries to the South Fork Eel River, California, USA, and aspects of O. mykiss ecology, including over‐summer fish growth and body condition as well as spring out‐migration timing. We found that stream flow patterns differed across years in the timing and magnitude of large winter–spring flow events and in summer low‐flow levels. We were surprised to find that differences in stream flows did not impact growth, body condition, or timing of out‐migration of O. mykiss. Fish growth was limited in the late summer in these streams (average of 0.02 ± 0.05 mm/d), but was similar across dry and wet years, and so was end‐of‐summer body condition and pool‐specific biomass loss from the beginning to the end of the summer. Similarly, O. mykiss migrated out of tributaries during the last week of March/first week of April regardless of the timing of spring flow events. We suggest that the muted response to inter‐annual hydrologic variability is due to the high quality of habitat provided by these unimpaired, groundwater‐fed tributaries. Similar streams that are likely to maintain cool temperatures and sufficient base flows, even in the driest years, should be a high priority for conservation and restoration efforts.
Rationale and design of the DIGIT‐HF trial (DIGitoxin to Improve ouTcomes in patients with advanced chronic Heart Failure): a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study
Authors: Bavendiek Udo , Berliner Dominik , Dávila Lukas Aguirre , Schwab Johannes , Maier Lars , Philipp Sebastian A. , Rieth Andreas , Westenfeld Ralf , Piorkowski Christopher , Weber Kristina , Hänselmann Anja , Oldhafer Maximiliane , Schallhorn Sven , von der Leyen Heiko , Schröder Christoph , Veltmann Christian , Störk Stefan , Böhm Michael , Koch Armin , Bauersachs Johann ,   on behalf of the DIGIT‐HF Investigators and Committees (see Appendix)
Published: March 2019

AimsDespite recent advances in the treatment of chronic heart failure (HF), mortality and hospitalizations still remain high. Additional therapies to improve mortality and morbidity are urgently needed. The efficacy of cardiac glycosides – although regularly used for HF treatment – remains unclear. DIGIT‐HF was designed to demonstrate that digitoxin on top of standard of care treatment improves mortality and morbidity in patients with HF and a reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).MethodsPatients with chronic HF, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class III–IV and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 40%, or patients in NYHA functional class II and LVEF ≤ 30% are randomized 1:1 in a double‐blind fashion to treatment with digitoxin (target serum concentration 8–18 ng/mL) or matching placebo. Randomization is stratified by centre, sex, NYHA functional class (II, III, or IV), atrial fibrillation, and treatment with cardiac glycosides at baseline. A total of 2190 eligible patients will be included in this clinical trial (1095 per group). All patients receive standard of care treatment recommended by expert guidelines upon discretion of the treating physician. The primary outcome is a composite of all‐cause mortality or hospital admission for worsening HF (whatever occurs first). Key secondary endpoints are all‐cause mortality, hospital admission for worsening HF, and recurrent hospital admission for worsening HF.ConclusionThe DIGIT‐HF trial will provide important evidence, whether the cardiac glycoside digitoxin reduces the risk for all‐cause mortality and/or hospital admission for worsening HF in patients with advanced chronic HFrEF on top of standard of care treatment.
Expression of c‐Kit discriminates between two functionally distinct subsets of human type 2 innate lymphoid cells
Authors: Hochdörfer Thomas , Winkler Carla , Pardali Katerina , Mjösberg Jenny 
Published: March 2019

AbstractHuman type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) are the only ILC subset that shows heterogeneous expression of the SCF receptor c‐Kit (CD117). Despite its use as surface marker to distinguish ILC populations, its influence on ILC2 biology has not been investigated. Here, we show that c‐Kit expression of peripheral blood ILC distinguishes two functionally distinct ILC2 subsets (c‐Kithi and c‐Kitlo). When examined for their potential for functional plasticity we found that c‐Kitlo ILC2 displayed greater potential to produce type 2 cytokines, possibly representing fully mature and lineage committed ILC2. On the other hand, c‐Kithi ILC2 coexpressed the ILC3‐marker and chemokine receptor CCR6 and were able to mount a significant IL‐17A response under ILC3‐promoting conditions. In addition, c‐Kithi ILC2 produced higher levels of IFN‐γ than c‐Kitlo ILC2 under ILC1‐conditions. Although costimulation with SCF did not further influence ILC2 plasticity, it augmented type 2 cytokine production. We conclude that c‐Kit marks distinct subpopulations of ILC2, which has therapeutic implications for conditions in which ILC2 are involved, such as allergy and asthma.
Stereotype content of refugee subgroups in Germany
Authors: Kotzur Patrick F. , Friehs Maria‐Therese , Asbrock Frank , van Zalk Maarten H. W. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractStereotypes of refugee subgroups are still understudied. We contribute to this body of research by investigating differences in stereotype content, meaning warmth and competence ratings, of refugee subgroups in Germany (N = 264). Most extant Stereotype Content Model research is based on observed warmth and competence mean values. We applied latent variable modelling using the alignment optimisation to ensure meaningful and reliable mean value comparisons. Generic refugees were rated as lacking warmth and competence. Warmth assessments of refugee subgroups varied depending on flight motives, geographical origin, and religious affiliation, implying that perceptions of threat and competition differed between these subgroups. Fewer differences emerged in competence assessments, indicating that refugee groups are generally regarded as lacking status. Our results enhance knowledge of the stereotype content of refugee subgroups and make a methodological contribution to stereotype content research.
Simultaneous isolation and label‐free identification of bacteria using contactless dielectrophoresis and Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Hanson Cynthia , Barney Jacob T. , Bishop Morgan M. , Vargis Elizabeth 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThe traditional bacterial identification method of growing colonies on agar plates can take several days to weeks to complete depending on the growth rate of the bacteria. Successfully decreasing this analysis time requires cell isolation followed by identification. One way to decrease analysis time is by combining dielectrophoresis (DEP), a common technique used for cell sorting and isolation, and Raman spectroscopy for cell identification. DEP‐Raman devices have been used for bacterial analysis, however, these devices have a number of drawbacks including sample heating, cell‐to‐electrode proximity that limits throughput and separation efficiency, electrode fouling, or inability to address sample debris. Presented here is a contactless DEP‐Raman device to simultaneously isolate and identify particles from a mixed sample while avoiding common drawbacks associated with other DEP designs. Using the device, a mixed sample of bacteria and 3 μm polystyrene spheres were isolated from each other and a Raman spectrum of the trapped bacteria was acquired, indicating the potential for cDEP‐Raman devices to decrease the analysis time of bacteria.
Distinct and independent dielectrophoretic behavior of the head and tail of sperm and its potential for the safe sorting and isolation of rare spermatozoa
Authors: Shuchat Sholom , Park Sinwook , Kol Shahar , Yossifon Gilad 
Published: March 2019

AbstractOften, in semen samples with minute amounts of sperm, even the single spermatozoon required to fertilize an oocyte cannot be found in the ejaculate. This is primarily because currently, sperm is generally searched for manually under a microscope. In this study, dielectrophoresis (DEP) was investigated as an alternative automated technique for sorting sperm cells. Using a quadrupolar electrode array it was shown that the head and tail of the sperm had independent and unique crossover frequencies corresponding to the transition of the DEP force from repulsive (negative) to attractive (positive). These surprising results were further analyzed, showing that the head and tail have their own distinct electrical properties. This significant result allows for the sperm's head, which contains the DNA, to be distanced from potentially damaging high electric fields using negative DEP while simultaneously manipulating and sorting the sperm using the positive DEP response of the tail. A proof of concept sorting chip was designed and tested. The low crossover frequency of the tail also allows for the use of a higher conductivity, and thus more physiological, medium than the conventional DEP solutions. Although more research is required to design and optimize an efficient, user‐friendly, and high‐throughput device, this research is a proof of concept that DEP has the potential to automate and improve the processing of semen samples, especially those containing only rare spermatozoa.
Synthesis of the chiral selector heptakis(6‐O‐methyl)‐β‐cyclodextrin by phase‐transfer catalysis and hydrazine‐mediated transfer‐hydrogenation
Authors: Bálint Mihály , Darcsi András , Benkovics Gábor , Varga Erzsébet , Malanga Milo , Béni Szabolcs 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThe exhaustive primary‐side alkylation of cyclodextrins has never been achieved directly. The undesired and simultaneous derivatization of the secondary hydroxyl moieties generates intricate isomeric mixtures that are challenging to purify, analyse and characterize. The aim of this study was to develop a chromatography‐free and up‐scalable strategy towards the preparation of per‐6‐O‐methylated cyclodextrin and to test the compound as potential chiral selector. The target molecule was prepared according to a five‐step synthesis by using methyltriphenylphosphonium bromide as catalyst under heterogeneous conditions. The removal of benzyl moieties, used as temporary secondary‐side protecting groups, was attained by applying hydrazine‐carbonate in the presence of Pd/C. All the intermediates were obtained in high yields, thoroughly characterized and their purity was assessed by ad‐hoc developed HPLC methods. The per‐6‐O‐methylated β‐cyclodextrin showed promising chiral recognition ability as background electrolyte additive in cyclodextrin‐modified capillary electrophoresis using the recreational drug methylene‐dioxypyrovalerone as model compound. Additionally, a model for the inclusion geometry between the single isomer host and the selected drug was developed based on the extensive 2D NMR analysis. The versatility of the proposed synthetic strategy opens the way to the industrial production of homogeneously primary‐alkylated cyclodextrins and to their wide application in chiral separation of various drugs.
Mechanisms and moderators in mindfulness‐ and acceptance‐based treatments for binge eating spectrum disorders: A systematic review
Authors: Barney Jennifer L. , Murray Helen B. , Manasse Stephanie M. , Dochat Cara , Juarascio Adrienne S. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractObjectiveIncreasing evidence suggests that mindfulness‐ and acceptance‐based psychotherapies (MABTs) for bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorder (BED) may be efficacious; however, little is known about their active treatment components or for whom they may be most effective.MethodsWe systematically identified clinical trials testing MABTs for BN or BED through PsychINFO and Google Scholar. Publications were categorized according to analyses of mechanisms of action and moderators of treatment outcome.ResultsThirty‐nine publications met inclusion criteria. Twenty‐seven included analyses of therapeutic mechanisms, and five examined moderators of treatment outcome. Changes were largely consistent with hypothesized mechanisms of MABTs, but substandard mediation analyses, inconsistent measurement tools, and infrequent use of mid‐treatment assessment points limited our ability to make strong inferences.DiscussionAnalyses of mechanisms of action and moderators of outcome in MABTs for BN and BED appear promising, but the use of more sophisticated statistical analyses and adequate replication is necessary.
Reduction of elevated lipids and low‐density lipoprotein oxidation in serum of individuals with subclinical hypoxia and oxidative stress supplemented with lycosome formulation of docosahexaenoic acid
Authors: Petyaev Ivan M. , Dovgalevsky Pavel Y. , Chalyk Natalia E. , Klochkov Victor A. , Kyle Nigel H. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThirty two individuals aged 40–65 years old with a moderate hyperlipidemia (serum triglycerides > 150 mg/dl and LDL from 130 to 160 mg/dl) were supplemented once daily for 30 days with a 250 mg conventional formulation of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) without lycopene (CF‐DHA) or 250 mg of lycosome‐formulated DHA containing 7 mg of lycopene (LF‐DHA). It was shown that ingestion of CF‐DHA led to a transient increase in serum DHA level after 2 weeks of the trial, whereas LF‐DHA did not cause significant changes in serum DHA. However, there was a noticeable increase in serum eicosapentaenoic acid levels exceeding the pretreatment value by 42.8% and 39.1% after the 2nd and 4th weeks of LF‐DHA ingestion. Patients supplemented with LF‐DHA showed a significant (19.5 mg/dl, p < 0.05) decline in LDL, which was accompanied by a corresponding decrease in total serum cholesterol and a much stronger reduction in serum triglyceride levels (reduction of medians by 27.5 mg/dl). No changes in HDL were observed. LF‐DHA caused a significant decline in the serum level of malonic dialdehyde (MDA), whereas the components of LF‐DHA, lycopene and DHA, ingested as two separate formulations had a less significant effect on serum MDA. Moreover, LF‐DHA increased both the plasma oxygen transport and tissue oxygen saturation by the end of the observational period, while lycopene or DHA taken alone, or both of them co‐ingested separately had none or a much less effect on the oxygen turnover parameters.
Stress‐induced structural and functional modifications of astrocytes—Further implicating glia in the central response to stress
Authors: Murphy‐Royal Ciaran , Gordon Grant R. , Bains Jaideep S. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractAn organism's response to stress requires activation of multiple brain regions. This can have long‐lasting effects on synaptic transmission and plasticity that likely provide adaptive benefits. Recent evidence implicates not only neurones, but also glial cells in the regulation of the central response to stress. Intense, repeated or uncontrolled stress has been implicated in the emergence of multiple neuropsychiatric conditions. Human studies have consistently observed glial dysfunction in mood and stress disorders such as major depression. Interestingly animal models of stress have recapitulated glial abnormalities that are comparable to the human condition, validating the use of rodent models for the study of stress disorders. In this review we will focus upon one family of glia, the astrocytes, and describe the evidence to date that links astrocytes to possible stress‐related disorders.