bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Morphology of complexes formed between β‐lactoglobulin nanofibrils and pectins is influenced by the pH and structural characteristics of the pectins
Authors: Hettiarachchi Charith A. , Melton Laurence D. , Williams Martin A. K. , McGillivray Duncan J. , Gerrard Juliet A. , Loveday Simon M. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractFor the optimal use of β‐lactoglobulin nanofibrils as a raw material in biological composites an in‐depth knowledge of their interactions with other constituents is necessary. To understand the effect of electrostatic interactions on the morphology of resulting complexes, β‐lactoglobulin nanofibrils were allowed to interact with pectins in which the amount of available negative charge was controlled by selecting their degree of methylesterification. In this study, citrus pectins having different degrees of methylesterification (∼48, 67, 86, and 97%) were selected and interacted with nanofibrils at pH 2 and pH 3, where they possess a net positive charge. Electrostatic complexes formed between β‐lactoglobulin nanofibrils and all pectin types, except for the sample having a degree of methylesterification of 97%. The morphology of these complexes, however, differed significantly with the degree of methylesterification of the pectin, its concentration, and the pH of the medium, revealing that distinct desired biological architectures can be attained relatively easily through manipulating the electrostatic interactions. Interestingly, the pectin with a degree of methylesterification of 86% was found to crosslink the β‐lactoglobulin nanofibrils into ordered ‘nanotapes’.
Effects of multiple dimensions of bacterial diversity on functioning, stability and multifunctionality
Authors: Roger Fabian , Bertilsson Stefan , Langenheder Silke , Osman Omneya Ahmed , Gamfeldt Lars 
Published: July 2016

AbstractBacteria are essential for many ecosystem services but our understanding of factors controlling their functioning is incomplete. While biodiversity has been identified as an important driver of ecosystem processes in macrobiotic communities, we know much less about bacterial communities. Due to the high diversity of bacterial communities, high functional redundancy is commonly proposed as explanation for a lack of clear effects of diversity. The generality of this claim has, however, been questioned. We present the results of an outdoor dilution‐to‐extinction experiment with four lake bacterial communities. The consequences of changes in bacterial diversity in terms of effective number of species, phylogenetic diversity, and functional diversity were studied for (1) bacterial abundance, (2) temporal stability of abundance, (3) nitrogen concentration, and (4) multifunctionality. We observed a richness gradient ranging from 15 to 280 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Individual relationships between diversity and functioning ranged from negative to positive depending on lake, diversity dimension, and aspect of functioning. Only between phylogenetic diversity and abundance did we find a statistically consistent positive relationship across lakes. A literature review of 24 peer‐reviewed studies that used dilution‐to‐extinction to manipulate bacterial diversity corroborated our findings: about 25% found positive relationships. Combined, these results suggest that bacteria‐driven community functioning is relatively resistant to reductions in diversity.
Characteristics of patients with haematological and breast cancer (1996–2009) who died of heart failure‐related causes after cancer therapy
Authors: Versace Vincent L. , Berry Narelle M. , Chowdhury Munir H. , Ullah Shahid , McCarthy Alexandra L. , Atherton John J. , Koczwara Bogda , Roder David , Clark Robyn A. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractAimsTo describe the characteristics and time to death of patients with breast or haematological cancer who died of heart failure (HF) after cancer therapy. Patients with an index admission for HF who died of HF‐related causes (IAHF) and those with no index admission for HF who died of HF‐related causes (NIAHF) were compared.Methods and resultsWe performed a linked data analysis of cancer registry, death registry, and hospital administration records (n = 15 987). Index HF admission must have occurred after cancer diagnosis. Of the 4894 patients who were deceased (30.6% of cohort), 734 died of HF‐related causes (50.1% female) of which 279 (38.0%) had at least one IAHF (41.9% female) post‐cancer diagnosis. Median age was 71 years [interquartile range (IQR) 62–78] for IAHF and 66 years (IQR 56–74) for NIAHF. There were fewer chemotherapy separations for IAHF patients (median = 4, IQR 2–9) compared with NIAHF patients (median = 6, IQR 2–12). Of the IAHF patients, 71% had died within 1 year of the index HF admission. There was no significant difference in HF‐related mortality in IAHF patients compared with NIAHF (HR, 1.10, 95% CI, 0.94–1.29, P = 0.225).ConclusionsThe profile of IAHF patients who died of HF‐related causes after cancer treatment matched the current profile of HF in the general population (over half were aged ≥70 years). However, NIAHF were younger (62% were aged ≤69 years), female patients with breast cancer that died of HF‐related causes before hospital admission for HF‐related causes—a group that may have been undiagnosed or undertreated until death.
Sepsis-Induced Thymic Atrophy Is Associated with Defects in Early Lymphopoiesis
Authors: Kong Yaxian , Li Yajie , Zhang Weimei , Yuan Shaoxin , Winkler René , Kröhnert Ulrike , Han Junyan , Lin Tao , Zhou Yu , Miao Peng , Wang Beibei , Zhang Jianping , Yu Zhengya , Zhang Yu , Kosan Christian , Zeng Hui 
Published: July 2016

AbstractImpaired T lymphopoiesis is associated with immunosuppression of the adaptive immune response and plays a role in the morbidity and mortality of patients and animal models of sepsis. Although previous studies examined several intrathymic mechanisms that negatively affect T lymphopoiesis, the extrathymic mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we report a dramatic decrease in the percentage of early T lineage progenitors (ETPs) in three models of sepsis in mice (cecal ligation and puncture, lipopolysaccharide continuous injection, and poly I:C continuous injection). However, septic mice did not show a decrease in the number of bone marrow (BM) precursor cells. Instead, the BM progenitors for ETPs expressed reduced mRNA levels of CC chemokine receptor (CCR) 7, CCR9 and P-selectin glycoprotein ligand 1, and exhibited impaired homing capacity in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, RNA-Seq analysis and real-time PCR showed a marked downregulation of several lymphoid-related genes in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells differentiated into myeloid cells but failed to generate T lymphocytes in vitro and in vivo. Our results indicate that the depletion of ETPs in septic mice might be a consequence of an impaired migration of BM progenitors to the thymus, as well as a defect in lymphoid lineage commitment.
Characterization of an evolved carotenoids hyper-producer of Saccharomyces cerevisiae through bioreactor parameter optimization and Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Olson Michelle L , Johnson James , Carswell William F , Reyes Luis H , Senger Ryan S , Kao Katy C 
Published: July 2016

Abstract
An evolutionary engineering approach for enhancing heterologous carotenoids production in an engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain was used previously to isolate several carotenoids hyper-producers from the evolved populations. β-Carotene production was characterized in the parental and one of the evolved carotenoids hyper-producers (SM14) using bench-top bioreactors to assess the impact of pH, aeration, and media composition on β-carotene production levels. The results show that with maintaining a low pH and increasing the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C:N) from 8.8 to 50 in standard YNB medium, a higher β-carotene production level at 25.52 ± 2.15 mg β-carotene g−1 (dry cell weight) in the carotenoids hyper-producer was obtained. The increase in C:N ratio also significantly increased carotenoids production in the parental strain by 298 % [from 5.68 ± 1.24 to 22.58 ± 0.11 mg β-carotene g−1 (dcw)]. In this study, it was shown that Raman spectroscopy is capable of monitoring β-carotene production in these cultures. Raman spectroscopy is adaptable to large-scale fermentations and can give results in near real-time. Furthermore, we found that Raman spectroscopy was also able to measure the relative lipid compositions and protein content of the parental and SM14 strains at two different C:N ratios in the bioreactor. The Raman analysis showed a higher total fatty acid content in the SM14 compared with the parental strain and that an increased C:N ratio resulted in significant increase in total fatty acid content of both strains. The data suggest a positive correlation between the yield of β-carotene per biomass and total fatty acid content of the cell.
Retention of laparoscopic psychomotor skills after a structured training program depends on the quality of the training and on the complexity of the task
Authors: Molinas Carlos Roger , Campo Rudi 
Published: July 2016

AbstractThis follow-up RCT was conducted to evaluate laparoscopic psychomotor skills retention after finishing a structured training program. In a first study, 80 gynecologists were randomly allocated to four groups to follow different training programs for hand-eye coordination (task 1) with the dominant hand (task 1-a) and the non-dominant hand (task 1-b) and laparoscopic intra-corporeal knot tying (task 2) in the Laparoscopic Skills Testing and Training (LASTT) model. First, baseline skills were tested (T1). Then, participants trained task 1 (G1: 1-a and 1-b, G2: 1-a only, G3 and G4: none) and then task 2 (all groups but G4). After training all groups were tested again to evaluate skills acquisition (T2). For this study, 2 years after a resting period, 73 participants were recruited and tested again to evaluate skills retention (T3). All groups had comparable skills at T1 for all tasks. At T2, G1, G2, and G3 improved their skills, but the level of improvement was different (G1 = G2 > G3 > G4 for task 1; G1 = G2 = G3 > G4 for task 2). At T3, all groups retained their task 1 skills at the same level than at T2. For task 2, however, a skill decay was already noticed for G2 and G3, being G1 the only group that retained their skills at the post-training level. Training improves laparoscopic skills, which can be retained over time depending on the comprehensiveness of the training program and on the complexity of the task. For high complexity tasks, full training is advisable for both skills acquisition and retention.
Set-point Control of Mobile Robot with Obstacle Detection and Avoidance Using Navigation Function - Experimental Verification
Authors: Kowalczyk Wojciech , Przybyla Mateusz , Kozlowski Krzysztof 
Published: July 2016

AbstractThis paper presents the results of an experimental verification of mobile robot control algorithm including obstacle detection and avoidance. The controller is based on the navigation potential function that was proposed in work (Urakubo, Nonlinear Dyn. 81(3), 1475–1487 2015). Conducted experiments considered the task of reaching and stabilization of robot in point. The navigation potential agregates information of robot position and orientation but also the repelling potentials of obstacles. The obstacle detection is performed solely with the use of laser scanner. The experiments show that the method can easily handle environments with one or two obstacles even if they instantly hide or show-up due to the scanner range limits. The experiments also indicate that the utilized control method has a good potential for being used in parallel parking task.
Psychosocial and Clinical Factors Associated with Family Communication of Cancer Genetic Test Results among Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer at a Young Age
Authors: Elrick Ashley , Ashida Sato , Ivanovich Jennifer , Lyons Sarah , Biesecker Barbara B. , Goodman Melody S. , Kaphingst Kimberly A. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractGenetic test results have medical implications beyond the patient that extend to biological family members. We examined psychosocial and clinical factors associated with communication of genetic test results within families. Women (N = 1080) diagnosed with breast cancer at age 40 or younger completed an online survey; 920 women that reported prior cancer genetic testing were included in analysis. We examined the proportion of immediate family members to whom they communicated genetic test results, and built multivariable regression models to examine clinical and psychosocial variables associated with the proportion score. Participants were most likely to communicate test results to their mother (83 %) and least likely to their son (45 %). Participants who carried a BRCA mutation (OR = 1.34; 95 % CI = 1.06, 1.70), had higher interest in genomic information (OR = 1.55; 95 % CI = 1.26, 1.91) and lower genetic worry (OR = 0.91; 95 % CI = 0.86, 0.96) communicated genetic test results to a greater proportion of their immediate family members. Participants with a BRCA1/2 mutation shared their genetic test results with more male family members (OR = 1.72; 95 % CI = 1.02, 2.89). Our findings suggest that patients with high worry about genetic risks, low interest in genomic information, or receive a negative genetic test result will likely need additional support to encourage family communication.
Traumatic Acid Reduces Oxidative Stress and Enhances Collagen Biosynthesis in Cultured Human Skin Fibroblasts
Authors: Jabłońska‐Trypuć Agata , Pankiewicz Walentyn , Czerpak Romuald 
Published: July 2016

AbstractTraumatic acid (TA) is a plant hormone (cytokinin) that in terms of chemical structure belongs to the group of fatty acids derivatives. It was isolated from Phaseolus vulgaris. TA activity and its influence on human cells and organism has not previously been the subject of research. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of TA on collagen content and basic oxidative stress parameters, such as antioxidative enzyme activity, reduced glutathione, thiol group content, and lipid peroxidation in physiological conditions. The results show a stimulatory effect of TA on tested parameters. TA caused a decrease in membrane phospholipid peroxidation and exhibited protective properties against ROS production. It also increases protein and collagen biosynthesis and its secretion into the culture medium. The present findings reveal that TA exhibits multiple and complex activity in fibroblast cells in vitro. TA, with its activity similar to unsaturated fatty acids, shows antioxidant and stimulatory effects on collagen biosynthesis. It is a potentially powerful agent with applications in the treatment of many skin diseases connected with oxidative stress and collagen biosynthesis disorders.
Identification of Ingredients for Stabilizing Frying Oil Through a New Screening Method
Authors: Ban Lan , Patel Neil M. , Schroeder William D. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractFrying oils are prone to quality deterioration; because of the high surface area, lipid molecules can interact with air, moisture, and oxidative reagents that promote various reactions. However, the search for effective ingredients for stabilizing frying oil has been slow, given the complexity of the frying processes and lack of effective tools to accurately predict the performance of emerging ingredients. On the other hand, demand for label‐friendly food ingredients has increased. This study aimed to develop a rapid method mimicking real frying conditions to allow the screening of a large number of treatments with improved throughput, while evaluating their effectiveness in stabilizing frying oils. The design utilizes multi‐well heating blocks of conventional OSI. Repeated frying was conducted using miniature baskets, and validations were conducted to examine the accuracy of the relative efficacy of individual treatments. Utilizing this method as a tool, natural plant extracts, standard antioxidants, and their combinations were evaluated and compared in frying palm oil, which demonstrated that the combination of tocopherols, rosemary extract, and oil‐soluble green tea extract was effective for the stabilization of frying oil.
Comparative Gene Expression Analysis of Mouse and Human Cardiac Maturation
Authors: Uosaki Hideki , Taguchi Y-h 
Published: July 2016

Abstract
Understanding how human cardiomyocytes mature is crucial to realizing stem cell-based heart regeneration, modeling adult heart diseases, and facilitating drug discovery. However, it is not feasible to analyze human samples for maturation due to inaccessibility to samples while cardiomyocytes mature during fetal development and childhood, as well as difficulty in avoiding variations among individuals. Using model animals such as mice can be a useful strategy; nonetheless, it is not well-understood whether and to what degree gene expression profiles during maturation are shared between humans and mice. Therefore, we performed a comparative gene expression analysis of mice and human samples. First, we examined two distinct mice microarray platforms for shared gene expression profiles, aiming to increase reliability of the analysis. We identified a set of genes displaying progressive changes during maturation based on principal component analysis. Second, we demonstrated that the genes identified had a differential expression pattern between adult and earlier stages (e.g., fetus) common in mice and humans. Our findings provide a foundation for further genetic studies of cardiomyocyte maturation.
Placental insufficiency among high‐risk pregnancies with a normal umbilical artery resistance index after 32 weeks
Authors: Geerts Lut , Van der Merwe Elrike , Theron Anneke , Rademan Kerry 
Published: July 2016

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the incidence of abnormal multi‐vessel Doppler values among advanced pregnancies at risk of suboptimal placentation but with a normal umbilical artery resistance index (RI), and to assess whether clinical and ultrasonography findings can identify them.MethodsIn a prospective cross‐sectional study at Tygerberg Hospital, South Africa, women with high‐risk pregnancies but normal umbilical artery RI after 32 weeks underwent ultrasonography (fetal biometry, liquor, and placenta maturation) and Doppler assessment (uterine, umbilical, and middle cerebral arteries) between February 11 and October 21, 2013. Study data were compared among four groups: fetuses with normal uterofetoplacental Doppler values and those with any abnormal pulsatility index, each subdivided into small for gestational age (SGA) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) by estimated fetal weight.ResultsOf 210 participants, 72 (36.2%) had abnormal Doppler results, and 60 (28.6%) fetuses were SGA (38 [63.3%] with abnormal Doppler results). Clinical characteristics did not differ between groups with normal or abnormal Doppler values; however, among normal Doppler results, SGA pregnancies demonstrated poorer fundal growth (P=0.006). Significant associations existed between abnormal Doppler results and asymmetric growth, inappropriately advanced placental maturation, and reduced liquor volume (all P≤0.04), but with very low sensitivities (3.9%, 4.8%, and 14.5%, respectively).ConclusionMaternal characteristics and imaging variables did not reliably identify more than one‐third of pregnancies with evidence of suboptimal placentation.
Evaluating the clinical relevance of a cognitive composite outcome measure: An analysis of 1414 participants from the 5‐year GuidAge Alzheimer's prevention trial
Authors: Coley Nicola , Gallini Adeline , Ousset Pierre‐Jean , Vellas Bruno , Andrieu Sandrine ,   GuidAge study group
Published: July 2016

AbstractIntroductionComposite cognitive scores have been developed as primary outcome measures for preclinical/prevention trials for Alzheimer's disease (AD), mainly using observational data and with little consideration of clinical relevance.MethodsSecondary analysis of placebo group data from a 5‐year AD prevention trial. The composite score was the average of the following z scores: MMSE orientation items, Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test, Category Fluency, Trail Making Test—part B.ResultsComposite score change from baseline differed significantly by age, APOE genotype, and CDR progression and AD dementia status. A 1 point decrease in baseline score was highly predictive of 5‐year AD dementia risk (HR = 3.51, 95% CI, 2.62–4.71, P < .001). The 1 year minimum clinically important difference was estimated at −0.3 points and predicted AD dementia.DiscussionWe explored the clinical relevance of a composite score in a prevention trial setting. This type of analysis facilitates the interpretation of composite scores and informs power calculations.
Decreased hippocampal metabolism in high‐amyloid mild cognitive impairment
Authors: Hanseeuw Bernard J. , Schultz Aaron P. , Betensky Rebecca A. , Sperling Reisa A. , Johnson Keith A. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractIntroductionHippocampal volume (HV), cortical metabolism, and thickness are decreased in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Hippocampal metabolism (HM) studies comparing MCI and clinically normal (CN) elderly gave inconsistent results. As hippocampus is a key region in Alzheimer's disease, we hypothesized that HM is specifically decreased in high‐amyloid MCI.MethodsOverall, 250 CN and 45 MCI underwent three‐dimensional magnetic resonance imaging, fludeoxyglucose‐positron emission tomography, and fluorodeoxyglucose‐positron emission tomography (PET), and Pittsburgh Compound B (PiB) PET. We investigated the interaction between clinical and amyloid status on HM, HV, cortical metabolism, and thickness using linear models, covarying age, gender, and education. Analyses were conducted with and without correction for multiple comparisons and for partial volume effects.ResultsVolume‐adjusted HM was decreased in high‐amyloid MCI but close to normal in low‐amyloid MCI and in high‐amyloid CN. Both MCI groups had hippocampal atrophy, although less severe in low‐amyloid MCI. High‐amyloid CN and high‐amyloid MCI had cortical hypometabolism.DiscussionHM is decreased when both cognitive impairment and amyloid are present.
Tract‐specific white matter hyperintensities disrupt neural network function in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Taylor Alexander N.W. , Kambeitz-Ilankovic Lana , Gesierich Benno , Simon-Vermot Lee , Franzmeier Nicolai , Araque Caballero Miguel Á. , Müller Sophia , Hesheng Liu , Ertl-Wagner Birgit , Bürger Katharina , Weiner Michael W. , Dichgans Martin , Duering Marco , Ewers Michael ,   Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI)
Published: July 2016

AbstractIntroductionWhite matter hyperintensities (WMHs) increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Whether WMHs are associated with the decline of functional neural networks in AD is debated.MethodResting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging and WMH were assessed in 78 subjects with increased amyloid levels on AV‐45 positron emission tomography (PET) in different clinical stages of AD. We tested the association between WMH volume in major atlas‐based fiber tract regions of interest (ROIs) and changes in functional connectivity (FC) between the tracts' projection areas within the default mode network (DMN).ResultsWMH volume within the inferior fronto‐occipital fasciculus (IFOF) was the highest among all tract ROIs and associated with reduced FC in IFOF‐connected DMN areas, independently of global AV‐45 PET. Higher AV‐45 PET contributed to reduced FC in IFOF‐connected, temporal, and parietal DMN areas.ConclusionsHigh fiber tract WMH burden is associated with reduced FC in connected areas, thus adding to the effects of amyloid pathology on neuronal network function.