bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
QTL mapping of a natural genetic polymorphism for long-term parasite persistence inDaphniapopulations
Authors: KREBS MICHELLE , ROUTTU JARKKO , EBERT DIETER 
Published: August 2017

SUMMARYKnowing the determinants of the geographic ranges of parasites is important for understanding their evolutionary ecology, epidemiology and their potential to expand their range. Here we explore the determinants of geographic range in the peculiar case of a parasite species – the microsporidianHamiltosporidium tvaerminnensis– that has a limited geographic distribution in a wide-spread host –Daphnia magna. We conducted a quantitative trait loci (QTLs) analysis with monoclonal F2D. magnapopulations originating from a cross between a susceptible northern European genotype and a resistant central European genotype. Contrary to our expectations, long-term persistence turned out to be a quantitative trait across the F2offspring. Evidence for two QTLs, one epistatic interaction and for further minor QTL was found. This finding contrasts markedly with the previously described bimodal pattern for long-term parasite persistence in natural host genotypes across Europe and leaves open the question of how a quantitative genetic trait could determine the disjunct geographic distribution of the parasite across Europe.
Optimization of parameters of a copper plasma jet produced at the plasma focus device
Authors: Kasperczuk A. , Paduch M. , Tomaszewski K. , Miklaszewski R. , Jach K. , Swierczynski R. , Stepniewski W. , Zielinska E. , Szymaszek A. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe paper is aimed at optimization of parameters of a copper plasma jet produced at the DPF-1000U device, in which the inner electrode face was conically shaped. Preliminary information was obtained by numerical simulations of the plasma jet creation for different copper cones with the use of the two-dimensional magneto-hydrodynamic code KAROL. The simulations suggested that the cone height in the range of 4–7 cm should ensure a good plasma jet quality. The experimental data delivered by means of a 16-frame laser interferometer and a four-frame X-ray pinhole camera fully confirmed this conclusion. In the paper, we demonstrate the results for a 5 cm height cone. The eroded Cu plasma, swept up by the deuterium plasma sheath, was accelerated axially and compressed to very small diameter (3 mm) with an electron density of 7 × 1018 cm−3. The Cu plasma jet achieved a velocity of 5 × 107 cm/s and reached in the period of about 230 ns a distance (length) of 7 cm. The above results prove a successful adaptation of the plasma focus device to the metallic plasma jet generator.
Infinitely many solutions for equations of p(x)-Laplace type with the nonlinear Neumann boundary condition
Authors: Choi Eun Bee , Kim Jae-Myoung , Kim Yun-Ho 
Published: August 2017

We investigate the following nonlinear Neumann boundary-value problem with associated p(x)-Laplace-type operatorwhere the function φ(x, v) is of type |v|p(x)−2v with continuous function p: → (1,∞) and both f : Ω × ℝ → ℝ and g : ∂Ω × ℝ → ℝ satisfy a Carathéodory condition. We first show the existence of infinitely many weak solutions for the Neumann problems using the Fountain theorem with the Cerami condition but without the Ambrosetti and Rabinowitz condition. Next, we give a result on the existence of a sequence of weak solutions for problem (P) converging to 0 in L∞-norm by employing De Giorgi's iteration and the localization method under suitable conditions.
Impaired cerebral autoregulation and elevation in plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein level during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery for CHD
Authors: Easley Ronald B. , Marino Bradley S. , Jennings Jacky , Cassedy Amy E. , Kibler Kathleen K. , Brady Ken M. , Andropoulos Dean B. , Brunetti Marissa , Hogue Charles W. , Heitmiller Eugenie S. , Lee Jennifer K. , Spaeth James , Everett Allen D. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractBackgroundCerebrovascular reactivity monitoring has been used to identify the lower limit of pressure autoregulation in adult patients with brain injury. We hypothesise that impaired cerebrovascular reactivity and time spent below the lower limit of autoregulation during cardiopulmonary bypass will result in hypoperfusion injuries to the brain detectable by elevation in serum glial fibrillary acidic protein level.MethodsWe designed a multicentre observational pilot study combining concurrent cerebrovascular reactivity and biomarker monitoring during cardiopulmonary bypass. All children undergoing bypass for CHD were eligible. Autoregulation was monitored with the haemoglobin volume index, a moving correlation coefficient between the mean arterial blood pressure and the near-infrared spectroscopy-based trend of cerebral blood volume. Both haemoglobin volume index and glial fibrillary acidic protein data were analysed by phases of bypass. Each patient’s autoregulation curve was analysed to identify the lower limit of autoregulation and optimal arterial blood pressure.ResultsA total of 57 children had autoregulation and biomarker data for all phases of bypass. The mean baseline haemoglobin volume index was 0.084. Haemoglobin volume index increased with lowering of pressure with 82% demonstrating a lower limit of autoregulation (41±9 mmHg), whereas 100% demonstrated optimal blood pressure (48±11 mmHg). There was a significant association between an individual’s peak autoregulation and biomarker values (p=0.01).ConclusionsIndividual, dynamic non-invasive cerebrovascular reactivity monitoring demonstrated transient periods of impairment related to possible silent brain injury. The association between an impaired autoregulation burden and elevation in the serum brain biomarker may identify brain perfusion risk that could result in injury.
Chylothorax following paediatric cardiac surgery: a case–control study
Authors: Day Thomas G. , Zannino Diana , Golshevsky Daniel , d’Udekem Yves , Brizard Christian , Cheung Michael M. H. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractObjectivesThe aims of this study were to investigate risk factors for the development of postoperative chylothorax following paediatric congenital heart surgery and to investigate the impact of a management guideline on management strategies and patient outcome.MethodsAll patients with chylothorax following cardiac surgery at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, over a 48-month period beginning in January 2008 were identified. A control group, matched for age, date of surgery, and sex, was identified. To investigate potential risk factors, univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were constructed with paired analysis. To examine the effect of a standardised management protocol, data before and after the implementation of the guideline were compared.ResultsIn total, 121 cases of chylothorax were identified, with 121 controls, matched for age at surgery, date of surgery, and sex. The incidence of chylothorax was 5.23%. Increasing surgical complexity (univariable OR 0.17 for the least complex versus the most complex group, p=0.02), closed-heart surgeries (OR 0.07 for open versus closed, p<0.001), and redo chest incisions (OR 10.0 for redo versus virgin, p<0.001) were significantly associated with chylothorax. The standardised management protocol had no significant impact on either drainage duration or management strategy.ConclusionsWe have replicated the previously reported association between surgical complexity and chylothorax risk, and have shown, for the first time, that redo chest openings are also associated with a significantly increased risk. The implementation of a standardised management protocol in our institution did not result in a significant change in either chylothorax drainage duration or management strategy.
Evaluation of Skin Damage from Accidental Removal of a Hemostatic Wound Clamp (The iTClamp)
Authors: Mckee Jessica L. , Lakshminarasimhan Prasanna , Atkinson Ian , LaPorta Anthony J. , Kirkpatrick Andrew W. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractBackgroundControlling bleeding early in the prehospital and military setting is an extremely important and life-saving skill. Wound clamping is a newly introduced technique that may augment both the effectiveness and logistics of wound packing with any gauze product. As these devices may be inadvertently removed, the potential consequences of such were examined in a simulated, extreme, inadvertent disengagement.MethodsThe wound clamp used was an iTClamp (Innovative Trauma Care; Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) that was applied and forcefully removed (skin-pull) from the skin of both a human cadaver and swine. Sixty skin-pull tests were sequentially performed to measure the pull weight required to remove the device, any potential skin and device damage, how the device failed, and if the device could be re-applied.ResultsObservations of the skin revealed that other than the expected eight small needle holes from device application, no other damage to the skin was sustained in 98.3% of cases. Conversely, of the 60 devices pulled, 93.3% of the devices sustained no damage and all could be re-applied. Four (6.7%) of the devices remained in place despite a maximum pull weight >22lbF (pound-force). The mean pull weights for pin bar pull were (lbF): vertical 9.2 (SD=5.0); perpendicular 2.5 (SD=1.7); and parallel 5.3 (SD=3.1). For the encompassed pull position group, mean pull weights were (lbF): vertical 5.7 (SD=2.3); perpendicular 3.0 (SD=2.5); and parallel 14.5 (SD=3.5). The overall mean for all groups was 6.7 (SD=5.2). The two main reasons that the iTClamp was pulled off were because the friction lock let go or the needles slipped out of one side of the skin due to the angle of the pull.ConclusionInadvertent, forcible removal of the iTClamp created essentially no skin damage seen when the wound clamp was forcibly removed from either cadaver or swine models in a variety of positions and directions. Thus, the risks of deployment in operational environments do not seem to be increased.MckeeJL, LakshminarasimhanP, AtkinsonI, LaPortaAJ, KirkpatrickAW. Evaluation of skin damage from accidental removal of a hemostatic wound clamp (the iTClamp). Prehosp Disaster Med. 2017;32(6):651–656.
High-Resolution Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) Imaging of Cellulose Microfibril Organization in Plant Primary Cell Walls
Authors: Zheng Yunzhen , Cosgrove Daniel J. , Ning Gang 
Published: August 2017

AbstractWe have used field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) to study the high-resolution organization of cellulose microfibrils in onion epidermal cell walls. We frequently found that conventional “rule of thumb” conditions for imaging of biological samples did not yield high-resolution images of cellulose organization and often resulted in artifacts or distortions of cell wall structure. Here we detail our method of one-step fixation and dehydration with 100% ethanol, followed by critical point drying, ultrathin iridium (Ir) sputter coating (3 s), and FESEM imaging at a moderate accelerating voltage (10 kV) with an In-lens detector. We compare results obtained with our improved protocol with images obtained with samples processed by conventional aldehyde fixation, graded dehydration, sputter coating with Au, Au/Pd, or carbon, and low-voltage FESEM imaging. The results demonstrated that our protocol is simpler, causes little artifact, and is more suitable for high-resolution imaging of cell wall cellulose microfibrils whereas such imaging is very challenging by conventional methods.
Adropin deficiency worsens HFD-induced metabolic defects
Authors: Chen Shi , Zeng Kai , Liu Qi-cai , Guo Zheng , Zhang Sheng , Chen Xiao-rong , Lin Jian-hua , Wen Jun-ping , Zhao Cheng-fei , Lin Xin-hua , Gao Feng 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe limited efficacy of current treatment methods and increased type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) incidence constitute an incentive for investigating how metabolic homeostasis is maintained, to improve treatment efficacy and identify novel treatment methods. We analyzed a three-generation family of Chinese origin with the common feature of T2DM attacks and fatty pancreas (FP), alongside 19 unrelated patients with FP and 58 cases with T2DM for genetic variations in Enho, serum adropin, and relative Treg amounts. Functional studies with adropin knockout (AdrKO) in C57BL/6J mice were also performed. It showed serum adropin levels were significantly lower in FP and T2DM patients than in healthy subjects; relative Treg amounts were also significantly decreased in FP and T2DM patients, and positively associated with adropin (r=0.7220, P=0.0001). Sequencing revealed that the patients shared a Cys56Trp mutation in Enho. In vivo, adropin-deficiency was associated with increased severity of glucose homeostasis impairment and fat metabolism disorder. AdrKO mice exhibited reduced endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) phosphorylation (Ser1177), impaired glycosphingolipid biosynthesis, adipocytes infiltrating, and loss of Treg, and developed FP and T2DM. Adropin-deficiency contributed to loss of Treg and the development of FP disease and T2DM.
Three-dimensional tumor cell growth stimulates autophagic flux and recapitulates chemotherapy resistance
Authors: Bingel Corinna , Koeneke Emily , Ridinger Johannes , Bittmann Annika , Sill Martin , Peterziel Heike , Wrobel Jagoda K , Rettig Inga , Milde Till , Fernekorn Uta , Weise Frank , Schober Andreas , Witt Olaf , Oehme Ina 
Published: August 2017

AbstractCurrent preclinical models in tumor biology are limited in their ability to recapitulate relevant (patho-) physiological processes, including autophagy. Three-dimensional (3D) growth cultures have frequently been proposed to overcome the lack of correlation between two-dimensional (2D) monolayer cell cultures and human tumors in preclinical drug testing. Besides 3D growth, it is also advantageous to simulate shear stress, compound flux and removal of metabolites, e.g., via bioreactor systems, through which culture medium is constantly pumped at a flow rate reflecting physiological conditions. Here we show that both static 3D growth and 3D growth within a bioreactor system modulate key hallmarks of cancer cells, including proliferation and cell death as well as macroautophagy, a recycling pathway often activated by highly proliferative tumors to cope with metabolic stress. The autophagy-related gene expression profiles of 2D-grown cells are substantially different from those of 3D-grown cells and tumor tissue. Autophagy-controlling transcription factors, such as TFEB and FOXO3, are upregulated in tumors, and 3D-grown cells have increased expression compared with cells grown in 2D conditions. Three-dimensional cultures depleted of the autophagy mediators BECN1, ATG5 or ATG7 or the transcription factor FOXO3, are more sensitive to cytotoxic treatment. Accordingly, combining cytotoxic treatment with compounds affecting late autophagic flux, such as chloroquine, renders the 3D-grown cells more susceptible to therapy. Altogether, 3D cultures are a valuable tool to study drug response of tumor cells, as these models more closely mimic tumor (patho-)physiology, including the upregulation of tumor relevant pathways, such as autophagy.
AKT2 suppresses pro-survival autophagy triggered by DNA double-strand breaks in colorectal cancer cells
Authors: Seiwert Nina , Neitzel Carina , Stroh Svenja , Frisan Teresa , Audebert Marc , Toulany Mahmoud , Kaina Bernd , Fahrer Jörg 
Published: August 2017

AbstractDNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are critical DNA lesions, which threaten genome stability and cell survival. DSBs are directly induced by ionizing radiation (IR) and radiomimetic agents, including the cytolethal distending toxin (CDT). This bacterial genotoxin harbors a unique DNase-I-like endonuclease activity. Here we studied the role of DSBs induced by CDT and IR as a trigger of autophagy, which is a cellular degradation process involved in cell homeostasis, genome protection and cancer. The regulatory mechanisms of DSB-induced autophagy were analyzed, focusing on the ATM-p53-mediated DNA damage response and AKT signaling in colorectal cancer cells. We show that treatment of cells with CDT or IR increased the levels of the autophagy marker LC3B-II. Consistently, an enhanced formation of autophagosomes and a decrease of the autophagy substrate p62 were observed. Both CDT and IR concomitantly suppressed mTOR signaling and stimulated the autophagic flux. DSBs were demonstrated as the primary trigger of autophagy using a DNase I-defective CDT mutant, which neither induced DSBs nor autophagy. Genetic abrogation of p53 and inhibition of ATM signaling impaired the autophagic flux as revealed by LC3B-II accumulation and reduced formation of autophagic vesicles. Blocking of DSB-induced apoptotic cell death by the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD stimulated autophagy. In line with this, pharmacological inhibition of autophagy increased cell death, while ATG5 knockdown did not affect cell death after DSB induction. Interestingly, both IR and CDT caused AKT activation, which repressed DSB-triggered autophagy independent of the cellular DNA-PK status. Further knockdown and pharmacological inhibitor experiments provided evidence that the negative autophagy regulation was largely attributable to AKT2. Finally, we show that upregulation of CDT-induced autophagy upon AKT inhibition resulted in lower apoptosis and increased cell viability. Collectively, the findings demonstrate that DSBs trigger pro-survival autophagy in an ATM- and p53-dependent manner, which is curtailed by AKT2 signaling.
Developing a molecular picture of soil organic matter–mineral interactions by quantifying organo–mineral binding
Authors: Newcomb C. J. , Qafoku N. P. , Grate J. W. , Bailey V. L. , De Yoreo J. J. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractLong residence times of soil organic matter have been attributed to reactive mineral surface sites that sorb organic species and cause inaccessibility due to physical isolation and chemical stabilization at the organic–mineral interface. Instrumentation for probing this interface is limited. As a result, much of the micron- and molecular-scale knowledge about organic–mineral interactions remains largely qualitative. Here we report the use of force spectroscopy to directly measure the binding between organic ligands with known chemical functionalities and soil minerals in aqueous environments. By systematically studying the role of organic functional group chemistry with model minerals, we demonstrate that chemistry of both the organic ligand and mineral contribute to values of binding free energy and that changes in pH and ionic strength produce significant differences in binding energies. These direct measurements of molecular binding provide mechanistic insights into organo–mineral interactions, which could potentially inform land-carbon models that explicitly include mineral-bound C pools.
Therapeutic effects of baicalein on rotenone-induced Parkinson’s disease through protecting mitochondrial function and biogenesis
Authors: Zhang Xue , Du Lida , Zhang Wen , Yang Yulin , Zhou Qimeng , Du Guanhua 
Published: August 2017

AbstractMitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD) for several decades, and disturbed mitochondrial biogenesis (mitobiogenesis) was recently found to be a common phenomenon in PD. Baicalein, a major bioactive flavone of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, exerted neuroprotective effects in several experimental PD models. However, the effects of baicalein in rotenone-induced PD rats and the possible mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic effects of baicalein and explored its mechanism of action in rotenone-induced PD models. The results indicated that behavioural impairments and the depletion of dopaminergic neurons induced by rotenone were attenuated by baicalein. Furthermore, in rotenone-induced parkinsonian rats, baicalein treatment effectively restored mitochondrial function and improved mitobiogenesis, as determined by measuring the mitochondrial density and key regulators involved in mitobiogenesis. Additionally, we confirmed that baicalein enhanced mitobiogenesis through the cAMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB) and glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) pathways in rotenone-treated SH-SY5Y cells. Moreover, we demonstrated that the cytoprotective effects of baicalein could be attenuated by the mitobiogenesis inhibitor chloramphenicol as well as CREB siRNA transfection. Overall, our results suggested that baicalein partially enhanced mitobiogenesis to restore mitochondrial function, thus exerting therapeutic effects in rotenone-induced PD models.
Periodic outburst floods from an ice-dammed lake in East Greenland
Authors: Grinsted Aslak , Hvidberg Christine S. , Campos Néstor , Dahl-Jensen Dorthe 
Published: August 2017

AbstractWe report evidence of four cycles of outburst floods from Catalina Lake, an ice-dammed lake in East Greenland, identified in satellite imagery between 1966–2016. The lake measures 20–25 km2, and lake level drops 130–150 m in each event, corresponding to a water volume of 2.6–3.4 Gt, and a release of potential energy of 1016 J, among the largest outburst floods reported in historical times. The drainage cycle has shortened systematically, and the lake filling rate has increased over each cycle, suggesting that the drainage pattern is changing due to climate warming with possible implications for environmental conditions in Scoresbysund fjord.
Winter amplification of the European Little Ice Age cooling by the subpolar gyre
Authors: Moreno-Chamarro Eduardo , Zanchettin Davide , Lohmann Katja , Luterbacher Jürg , Jungclaus Johann H. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractClimate reconstructions reveal a strong winter amplification of the cooling over central and northern continental Europe during the Little Ice Age period (LIA, here defined as c. 16th–18th centuries) via persistent, blocked atmospheric conditions. Although various potential drivers have been suggested to explain the LIA cooling, no coherent mechanism has yet been proposed for this seasonal contrast. Here we demonstrate that such exceptional wintertime conditions arose from sea ice expansion and reduced ocean heat losses in the Nordic and Barents seas, driven by a multicentennial reduction in the northward heat transport by the subpolar gyre (SPG). However, these anomalous oceanic conditions were largely decoupled from the European atmospheric variability in summer. Our novel dynamical explanation is derived from analysis of an ensemble of last millennium climate simulations, and is supported by reconstructions of European temperatures and atmospheric circulation variability and North Atlantic/Arctic paleoceanographic conditions. We conclude that SPG-related internal climate feedbacks were responsible for the winter amplification of the European LIA cooling. Thus, characterization of SPG dynamics is essential for understanding multicentennial variations of the seasonal cycle in the European/North Atlantic sector.