bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Plant–fungus competition for nitrogen erases mycorrhizal growth benefits of Andropogon gerardii under limited nitrogen supply
Authors: Püschel David , Janoušková Martina , Hujslová Martina , Slavíková Renata , Gryndlerová Hana , Jansa Jan 
Published: May 2016

AbstractConsidered to play an important role in plant mineral nutrition, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is a common relationship between the roots of a great majority of plant species and glomeromycotan fungi. Its effects on the plant host are highly context dependent, with the greatest benefits often observed in phosphorus (P)‐limited environments. Mycorrhizal contribution to plant nitrogen (N) nutrition is probably less important under most conditions. Moreover, inasmuch as both plant and fungi require substantial quantities of N for their growth, competition for N could potentially reduce net mycorrhizal benefits to the plant under conditions of limited N supply. Further compounded by increased belowground carbon (C) drain, the mycorrhizal costs could outweigh the benefits under severe N limitation. Using a field AM fungal community or a laboratory culture of Rhizophagus irregularis as mycorrhizal inoculants, we tested the contribution of mycorrhizal symbiosis to the growth, C allocation, and mineral nutrition of Andropogon gerardii growing in a nutrient‐poor substrate under variable N and P supplies. The plants unambiguously competed with the fungi for N when its supply was low, resulting in no or negative mycorrhizal growth and N‐uptake responses under such conditions. The field AM fungal communities manifested their potential to improve plant P nutrition only upon N fertilization, whereas the R. irregularis slightly yet significantly increased P uptake of its plant host (but not the host's growth) even without N supply. Coincident with increasing levels of root colonization by the AM fungal structures, both inoculants invariably increased nutritional and growth benefits to the host with increasing N supply. This, in turn, resulted in relieving plant P deficiency, which was persistent in non‐mycorrhizal plants across the entire range of nutrient supplies.
Towards a paradigm for open and free sharing of scientific data on global change science in china
Authors: Peng Changhui , Song Xinzhang , Jiang Hong , Zhu Qiuan , Chen Huai , Chen Jing M. , Gong Peng , Jie Chang , Xiang Wenhua , Yu Guirui , Zhou Xiaolu 
Published: May 2016

Abstract
Despite great progress in data sharing that has been made in China in recent decades, cultural, policy, and technological challenges have prevented Chinese researchers from maximizing the availability of their data to the global change science community. To achieve full and open exchange and sharing of scientific data, Chinese research funding agencies need to recognize that preservation of, and access to, digital data are central to their mission, and must support these tasks accordingly. The Chinese government also needs to develop better mechanisms, incentives, and rewards, while scientists need to change their behavior and culture to recognize the need to maximize the usefulness of their data to society as well as to other researchers. The Chinese research community and individual researchers should think globally and act personally to promote a paradigm of open, free, and timely data sharing, and to increase the effectiveness of knowledge development.
Pluripotent stem cells: An in vitro model for nanotoxicity assessments
Authors: Handral Harish K. , Tong Huei Jinn , Islam Intekhab , Sriram Gopu , Rosa Vinicus , Cao Tong 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThe advent of technology has led to an established range of engineered nanoparticles that are used in diverse applications, such as cell–cell interactions, cell–material interactions, medical therapies and the target modulation of cellular processes. The exponential increase in the utilization of nanomaterials and the growing number of associated criticisms has highlighted the potential risks of nanomaterials to human health and the ecosystem. The existing in vivo and in vitro platforms show limitations, with fluctuations being observed in the results of toxicity assessments. Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are viable source of cells that are capable of developing into specialized cells of the human body. PSCs can be efficiently used to screen new biomaterials/drugs and are potential candidates for studying impairments of biophysical morphology at both the cellular and tissue levels during interactions with nanomaterials and for diagnosing toxicity. Three‐dimensional in vitro models obtained using PSC‐derived cells would provide a realistic, patient‐specific platform for toxicity assessments and in drug screening applications. The current review focuses on PSCs as an alternative in vitro platform for assessing the hazardous effects of nanomaterials on health systems and highlights the importance of PSC‐derived in vitro platforms. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Raman spectroscopic analysis of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG in response to dehydration reveals DNA conformation changes
Authors: Myintzu Hlaing Mya , Wood Bayden , McNaughton Don , Ying DanYan , Augustin Mary Ann 
Published: May 2016

Dehydration of bacterial cells elicits cellular stress responses in bacteria. Microencapsulation has been used to protect cells against the environmental stress. In this study, Confocal Raman Spectroscopy was used to examine DNA changes in the chemical composition of non‐encapsulated and microencapsulated Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and the reversibility of these changes upon freeze drying and rehydration. The viability of cells upon freeze drying was also enumerated using culture methods and membrane integrity was measured using BacLight Live/Dead staining. Raman analyses show changes in the spectral features associated with various biochemical compounds, which are interpreted as the result of detrimental freeze drying effects on the bacterial cells. Specifically, analyses based on Principal Components Analysis (PCA) of Raman spectra, confirm that microencapsulation protects cells from environmental stress. The results also reveal a B‐ to A‐like DNA conformation change in dormant cells that provided insights into the extent of reversibility of this transition upon rehydration. The extent of this reversibility is less in non‐encapsulated than in microencapsulated cells. These findings indicate the potential application of Raman spectroscopy in rapid sensing of microbial dehydration stress responses.
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Determination of Urine Albumin by New Simple High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography Method
Authors: Klapkova Eva , Fortova Magdalena , Prusa Richard , Moravcova Libuse , Kotaska Karel 
Published: May 2016

BackgroundA simple high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed for the determination of albumin in patients' urine samples without coeluting proteins and was compared with the immunoturbidimetric determination of albumin. Urine albumin is important biomarker in diabetic patients, but part of it is immuno‐nonreactive.MethodsAlbumin was determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), UV detection at 280 nm, Zorbax 300SB‐C3 column. Immunoturbidimetric analysis was performed using commercial kit on automatic biochemistry analyzer COBAS INTEGRA® 400, Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Manheim, Germany.ResultsThe HLPC method was fully validated. No significant interference with other proteins (transferrin, α‐1‐acid glycoprotein, α‐1‐antichymotrypsin, antitrypsin, hemopexin) was found. The results from 301 urine samples were compared with immunochemical determination. We found a statistically significant difference between these methods (P = 0.0001, Mann–Whitney test).ConclusionNew simple HPLC method was developed for the determination of urine albumin without coeluting proteins. Our data indicate that the HPLC method is highly specific and more sensitive than immunoturbidimetry.
Directional deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus: A pilot study using a novel neurostimulation device
Authors: Steigerwald Frank , Müller Lorenz , Johannes Silvia , Matthies Cordula , Volkmann Jens 
Published: May 2016

ABSTRACTIntroductionA novel neurostimulation system allows steering current in horizontal directions by combining segmented leads and multiple independent current control. The aim of this study was to evaluate directional DBS effects on parkinsonian motor features and adverse effects of subthalamic neurostimulation.MethodsSeven PD patients implanted with the novel directional DBS system for bilateral subthalamic DBS underwent an extended monopolar review session during the first postoperative week, in which current thresholds were determined for rigidity control and stimulation‐induced adverse effects using either directional or ring‐mode settings.ResultsEffect or adverse effect thresholds were modified by directional settings for each of the 14 STN leads. Magnitude of change varied markedly between leads, as did orientation of optimal horizontal current steering.ConclusionDirectional current steering through chronically implanted segmented electrodes is feasible, alters adverse effect and efficacy thresholds in a highly individual manner, and expands the therapeutic window in a monopolar review as compared to ring‐mode DBS. © 2016 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Appendectomy in mid and later life and risk of Parkinson's disease: A population‐based study
Authors: Marras Connie , Lang Anthony E. , Austin Peter C. , Lau Cindy , Urbach David R. 
Published: May 2016

ABSTRACTIntroductionPathogenic movement of alpha‐synuclein from the gut to the brain in PD has been proposed. The appendix has a relatively high density of alpha‐synuclein deposition in neurologically healthy individuals. We investigated the incidence of PD after appendectomy.MethodsUsing cause‐specific hazards regression models, we compared persons over 35 years of age who had undergone appendectomy with two groups of age‐ and sex‐matched individuals having had: (1) a cholecystectomy and (2) neither procedure. Subsequent diagnoses of PD were identified.ResultsAmong 42,999 individuals undergoing appendectomy, no difference in risk of PD was identified compared to cholecystectomy (hazard ratio = 1.004; 95% confidence interval: 0.740–1.364). Compared with no procedure, individuals with appendectomy had a higher incidence of PD within 5 years, but no significant difference in risk thereafter.ConclusionIn our study, appendectomy in mid or late life does not appear to be associated with a reduced risk of PD. © 2016 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
A pilot study to measure dynamic elasticity of the bladder during urodynamics
Authors: Colhoun Andrew F. , Klausner Adam P. , Nagle Anna S. , Carroll Ashley W. , Barbee Robert W. , Ratz Paul H. , Speich John E. 
Published: May 2016

AIMSPrevious studies using isolated strips of human detrusor muscle identified adjustable preload tension, a novel mechanism that acutely regulates detrusor wall tension. The purpose of this investigation was to develop a method to identify a correlate measure of adjustable preload tension during urodynamics.METHODSPatients reporting urgency most or all of the time based on ICIq‐OAB survey scores were prospectively enrolled in an extended repeat fill‐and‐empty urodynamics study designed to identify a correlate of adjustable preload tension which we now call “dynamic elasticity.” Cystometric capacity was determined during initial fill. Repeat fills to defined percentages of capacity with passive emptying (via syringe aspiration) were performed to strain soften the bladder. A complete fill with active voiding was included to determine whether human bladder exhibits reversible strain softening.RESULTSFive patients completed the extended urodynamics study. Intravesical pressure (pves) decreased with subsequent fills and was significantly lower during Fill 3 compared to Fill 1 (P = 0.008), demonstrating strain softening. Active voiding after Fill 3 caused strain softening reversal, with pves in Fill 4 returning to the baseline measured during Fill 1 (P = 0.29). Dynamic elasticity, the urodynamic correlate of adjustable preload tension, was calculated as the amount of strain softening (or its reversal) per %capacity (Δaverage pves between fills/Δ%capacity). Dynamic elasticity was lost via repeat passive filling and emptying (strain softening) and regained after active voiding regulated the process (strain softening reversal).CONCLUSIONSImproved understanding of dynamic elasticity in the human bladder could lead to both improved sub‐typing and novel treatments of overactive bladder. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:1086–1090, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Outcome of TVT operations in women with low maximum urethral closure pressure
Authors: Moe Kjartan , Schiøtz Hjalmar A. , Kulseng‐Hanssen Sigurd 
Published: May 2016

Aims(i) To establish whether low maximal urethral closure pressure (MUCP) is associated with a poorer prognosis after TVT‐surgery, and if so to establish an MUCP cut‐off value for poor outcome. (ii) To characterize the population with a low MUCP.MethodsRetrospective analysis of data from 6,646 women with stress/mixed urinary incontinence included in the Norwegian Female Incontinence Registry. Postoperative subjective (degree of satisfaction), objective (leakage on stress test) and composite cure according to preoperative MUCP were analyzed in unadjusted and adjusted analysis. Preoperative variables were compared between women having a low or normal MUCP. Non‐parametric tests were used on continuous variables and χ2 tests on categorical variables. Logistic regression was used for the adjusted analysis. Level of significance: P < 0.05.ResultsAn analysis of centiles of preoperative MUCP showed that a cut‐off at 20 cm H2O did best identify women at risk of not being cured. In unadjusted analysis MUCP ≤20 cm H2O (n = 422) was associated with objective (OR: 2.48), subjective (OR: 1.60), and composite failure (OR: 1.95) compared to MUCP >20 cm H2O. In adjusted analysis MUCP ≤20 cm H2O was associated with neither objective, subjective, nor composite failure. Women with MUCP <20 cm H2O were preoperatively significantly older, had larger leakage on stress and 24 h pad test, lower mean voided volume and maximum flow rate and higher stress and urge indices.ConclusionsWomen with MUCP ≤20 cm H2O have similar objective, subjective, and composite outcomes after TVT‐surgery compared to women with MUCP >20 cm H2O after adjusting for preoperative variables. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:1320–1324, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sling mobilization in the management of urinary retention after mid‐urethral sling surgery
Authors: Moksnes Liv Rimstad , Svenningsen Rune , Schiøtz Hjalmar A. , Moe Kjartan , Staff Anne C. , Kulseng‐Hanssen Sigurd 
Published: May 2016

ObjectiveTo compare intermittent catheterization, sling mobilization, and sling transection for treatment of urinary retention after mid‐urethral sling surgery.MethodsData registered in the Norwegian Female Incontinence Registry from 1998 to 2013 were analyzed in this cohort study to compare subjective and objective outcomes after intermittent catheterization, sling mobilization, and sling transection as management of postoperative urinary retention after mid urethral sling surgery. Subjective outcomes were degree of symptom bother and the percentage of women stating “very satisfied” at the postoperative follow‐up. The objective outcome was leakage at a cough‐jump pad stress test.ResultsIntervention due to urinary retention was performed in 585 of 18,772 women (3.1%). Women who had their sling mobilized or had intermittent catheterization, scored better on all postoperative outcomes than those who had their sling transected (P < 0.001). Sling transection was more often needed after intermittent catheterization than after mobilization (P = 0.023). No outcome differences were found between intermittent catheterization only and sling mobilization only. Intention to treat analysis showed that women who underwent sling mobilization as the primary procedure significantly more often had a negative stress test (P = 0.033) and were more often “very satisfied” with the treatment (P = 0.006) than those who were primarily catheterized.ConclusionsSling mobilization is a more successful treatment than intermittent catheterization or transection for urinary retention after mid‐urethral sling surgery.Clinical Trial RegistrationClinical trial registration was not applicable because this study is based on an analysis of anonymous data from The Norwegian Female Incontinence Registry. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:1091–1096, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Anisotropic swelling of hydrogel nanowires based on poly(vinylpyrrolidone) fabricated by single‐particle nanofabrication technique
Authors: Tsukuda Satoshi , Omichi Masaaki , Sugimoto Masaki , Idesaki Akira , Padalkar Vikas S. , Seki Shu 
Published: May 2016

ABSTRACTWe report a hydrogel nanowire based on poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) and N,N'‐methylenebis(acrylamide) (MBA), which have anisotropic swelling ratio for radius and length direction. The PVP/MBA nanowires were fabricated by single particle nanofabrication technique, which is a technique for the fabrication of polymeric nanowires using the single ion event, that cause the crosslinking reaction of polymer chains within the ion tracks along the ion paths; furthermore the size (length and radius) of the nanowires was controlled by changing the film thickness and amount of MBA crosslinker. The swelling behaviors in air and water were observed using atomic force microscopy. The PVP/MBA nanowires exhibited anisotropic swelling along the length and radius in aqueous environments, because the hydrogel nanowires consisted of crosslinked networks with inhomogeneous crosslinking points, which reflected the initial energy distribution from incident an ion within the ion track. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016, 54, 1950–1956
Structural propensities of kinase family proteins from a Potts model of residue co‐variation
Authors: Haldane Allan , Flynn William F. , He Peng , Vijayan R.S.K. , Levy Ronald M. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractUnderstanding the conformational propensities of proteins is key to solving many problems in structural biology and biophysics. The co‐variation of pairs of mutations contained in multiple sequence alignments of protein families can be used to build a Potts Hamiltonian model of the sequence patterns which accurately predicts structural contacts. This observation paves the way to develop deeper connections between evolutionary fitness landscapes of entire protein families and the corresponding free energy landscapes which determine the conformational propensities of individual proteins. Using statistical energies determined from the Potts model and an alignment of 2896 PDB structures, we predict the propensity for particular kinase family proteins to assume a “DFG‐out” conformation implicated in the susceptibility of some kinases to type‐II inhibitors, and validate the predictions by comparison with the observed structural propensities of the corresponding proteins and experimental binding affinity data. We decompose the statistical energies to investigate which interactions contribute the most to the conformational preference for particular sequences and the corresponding proteins. We find that interactions involving the activation loop and the C‐helix and HRD motif are primarily responsible for stabilizing the DFG‐in state. This work illustrates how structural free energy landscapes and fitness landscapes of proteins can be used in an integrated way, and in the context of kinase family proteins, can potentially impact therapeutic design strategies.
Strategic Alliances of Entrepreneurial Firms: Value Enhancing Then Value Destroying
Authors: Moghaddam Kaveh , Bosse Douglas A. , Provance Mike 
Published: May 2016

Research summaryBased on the RBV and dynamic capabilities, this study explains the relationship between alliance formation and the private (pre‐IPO) entrepreneurial firm's market performance. Findings show that while alliance formation positively and significantly affects the market performance of venture‐backed firms in the software industry, forming a comparatively large number of alliances hurts these firms' market valuations.Managerial summaryEntrepreneurial firms are better off entering a select number of strategic alliances and focusing on enhancing the outcomes of those select alliances as well as developing a dynamic alliance management capability. Such firms benefit most from establishing a moderate number of alliances rather than depending on a small number of alliances or becoming overwhelmed with a great number of alliances. Copyright © 2016 Strategic Management Society.
Changes in uterine artery Doppler velocimetry and circulating angiogenic factors in the first half of pregnancies delivering a small‐for‐gestational‐age neonate
Authors: Triunfo S. , Crovetto F. , Rodriguez‐Sureda V. , Scazzocchio E. , Crispi F. , Dominguez C. , Gratacos E. , Figueras F. 
Published: May 2016

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo assess the relationship between longitudinal changes in placental Doppler indices and maternal circulating angiogenic factors in the first half of pregnancy and delivery of a small‐for‐gestational‐age (SGA) neonate, and ascertain whether longitudinal evaluation of these variables improves the prediction achieved by second‐trimester cross‐sectional evaluation.MethodsFrom a prospective cohort of unselected singleton pregnancies undergoing first‐trimester screening for aneuploidy, 138 were included in this study. Of these, 46 were complicated by SGA (delivering after 34 weeks' gestation with a birth weight < 10th centile) and 92 were appropriate‐for‐gestational‐age (AGA) pregnancies, which were included as controls (ratio 1:2). First‐to‐second trimester longitudinal changes in uterine artery (UtA) Doppler indices and maternal circulating levels of placental growth factor (PlGF) and soluble fms‐like tyrosine kinase‐1 (sFlt‐1) were analyzed.ResultsCompared with the AGA group, SGA pregnancies had significantly higher UtA impedance in the first (Z‐score: 0.46 vs –0.57; P < 0.001) and second (Z‐score: 1.71 vs –0.75; P < 0.001) trimesters. Likewise, the sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio was significantly higher in SGA than in AGA pregnancies in the first (98.0 vs 67.9; P = 0.01) and early second (22.4 vs 8.8; P < 0.001) trimesters. The predictive performance of the longitudinal changes in UtA Doppler indices for SGA was significantly lower than that of second‐trimester cross‐sectional values (area under receiver–operating characteristics curve (AUC), 60.8% vs 84.3%; P = 0.0035). The detection rate of SGA, at a 10% false‐positive rate (FPR), was 17.7% by longitudinal changes in UtA Doppler and 56.2% by second‐trimester cross‐sectional UtA Doppler values. Similarly, the predictive performance of the longitudinal changes in PlGF was significantly lower than that of early second‐trimester cross‐sectional values (AUC, 71.4% vs 76.5%; P = 0.008). The detection rate of SGA at a 10% FPR was 40.6% when screening by longitudinal changes in PlGF and 52.1% when screening by early second‐trimester cross‐sectional values.ConclusionsFirst‐ and second‐trimester UtA Doppler velocimetry and maternal circulating angiogenic markers have clinical utility as a cross‐sectional assessment for the identification of pregnancies at high risk of delivering a SGA neonate, however, they do not improve prediction when their longitudinal changes are used. Copyright © 2016 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.