bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Skeletal muscle mass in human athletes: What is the upper limit?
Authors: Abe Takashi , Buckner Samuel L. , Dankel Scott J. , Jessee Matthew B. , Mattocks Kevin T. , Mouser J. Grant , Loenneke Jeremy P. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractObjectivesTo examine the amount of absolute and relative skeletal muscle mass (SM) in large sized athletes to investigate the potential upper limit of whole body muscle mass accumulation in the human body.MethodsNinety‐five large‐sized male athletes and 48 recreationally active males (control) had muscle thickness measured by ultrasound at nine sites on the anterior and posterior aspects of the body. SM was estimated from an ultrasound‐derived prediction equation. Body density was estimated by hydrostatic weighing technique, and then body fat percentage and fat‐free mass (FFM) were calculated. We used the SM index and FFM index to adjust for the influence of standing height (ie, divided by height squared).ResultsTen of the athletes had more than 100 kg of FFM, including the largest who had 120.2 kg, while seven of the athletes had more than 50 kg of SM, including the largest who had 59.3 kg. FFM index and SM index were higher in athletes compared to controls and the percentage differences between the two groups were 44% and 56%, respectively. The FFM index increased linearly up to 90 kg of body mass, and then the values leveled off in those of increasing body mass. Similarly, the SM index increased in a parabolic fashion reaching a plateau (approximately 17 kg/m2) beyond 120 kg body mass.ConclusionsSM index may be a valuable indicator for determining skeletal muscle mass in athletes. A SM index of approximately 17 kg/m2 may serve as the potential upper limit in humans.
Maternal breast and body symmetry in pregnancy and offspring condition
Authors: Żelaźniewicz Agnieszka , Pawłowski Bogusław 
Published: January 2018

AbstractObjectivesFluctuating asymmetry (FA) is hypothesized to reflect the level of an individual's developmental instability, and therefore genetic quality. As a potential signal of biological condition, female body (including breast) symmetry was shown to be perceived as more attractive in mate choice context. If symmetry reflects a woman's genetic quality, it is possible that FA, similarly to other maternal anthropometric cues of biological condition (e.g., body height or waist‐to‐hip ratio), may be also related to her offspring condition.Materials and MethodsTo test this, breast and body asymmetry was measured in 93 pregnant women in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd pregnancy trimester. Child's birth weight, length, chest and head circumference, information on the Apgar score, congenital malformations, and birth complications was taken from hospital records. The relationships between offspring birth characteristics and maternal breast FA and body FA were analyzed separately, controlled for a child's sex and maternal weight in pregnancy.ResultsBreast asymmetry was not a predictor of a child's neonatal condition assessed from morphological parameters at birth. Asymmetry of maternal non‐ornamental body characteristcs, commonly used to assess body FA, correlated negatively with a child's weight, head and chest circumference at birth.DiscussionA composite asymmetry index of eight body traits, non‐sexually selected characteristics, seems to be a better predictor of a woman's ability to invest in fetus during pregnancy than breast asymmetry, sexual ornamentation that is perceived as a signal of a woman's attractiveness and biological condition.
Let's talk about stress, baby! Infant‐feeding practices and stress in the ancient Atacama desert, Northern Chile
Authors: King Charlotte L. , Halcrow Siân E. , Millard Andrew R. , Gröcke Darren R. , Standen Vivien G. , Portilla Marco , Arriaza Bernardo T. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractAims and objectivesThe transition to an agricultural economy is often presumed to involve an increase in female fertility related to changes in weaning practice. In particular, the availability of staple crops as complementary foods is hypothesized to allow earlier weaning in agricultural populations. In this study, our primary aim is to explore whether this model fits the agricultural transition in the Atacama Desert using incremental isotopic analysis. A secondary aim of this study is to identify isotopic patterns relating to weaning, and assess how these may be differentiated from those relating to early life stress.Materials and methodsWe use incremental isotopic analysis of dentine to examine changes in δ15N and δ13C values from infancy and childhood in sites of the Arica region (n = 30). We compare individuals from pre‐agricultural and agricultural phases to establish isotopic patterns and relate these patterns to maternal diet, weaning trajectory and physiological stress.ResultsWe find that there is no evidence for systematic temporal or geographic variation in incremental isotopic results. Instead, results from all time periods are highly variable, with weaning completed between 1.5 and 3.5 years. Characteristics of the incremental profiles indicate that bothin uteroand postnatal stress were a common part of the infant experience in the Atacama.DiscussionIn the Atacama Desert it appears that the arrival of agricultural crops did not result in uniform shifts in weaning behavior. Instead, infant and child diet seems to have been dictated by the broad‐spectrum diets of the mothers, perhaps as a way of mitigating the stresses of the harsh desert environment.
Monitoring Dissociation Kinetics during Electrophoretic Focusing to Enable High‐Specificity Nucleic Acid Detection
Authors: Zeidman Kalman Tal , Khalandovsky Rebecca , Tenenbaum Gonikman Elena , Bercovici Moran 
Published: January 2018

AbstractA wide range of medical conditions can be diagnosed through sequence‐specific analysis of nucleic acids. However, a major challenge remains in detecting a specific target in samples containing a high concentration of mismatching sequences. A single‐step kinetic homogenous (free solution) assay is presented in which free sequence‐specific probes are continuously separated from probe–target hybrids during electrophoretic sample focusing, allowing monitoring of dissociation kinetics. Under these conditions, the different kinetics of targets versus mismatches result in distinct patterns of the signal (for example, linear increase for target versus exponential decay for mismatch), allowing the detection of desired sequences even in the presence of high background nucleic acid content. Additionally, an analytical model provides insight into the underlying dynamics, and allows design of assays based on this mechanism.
Densely Packed, Ultra Small SnO Nanoparticles for Enhanced Activity and Selectivity in Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
Authors: Gu Jun , Héroguel Florent , Luterbacher Jeremy , Hu Xile 
Published: January 2018

AbstractControlling the selectivity in electrochemical CO2 reduction is an unsolved challenge. While tin (Sn) has emerged as a promising non‐precious catalyst for CO2 electroreduction, most Sn‐based catalysts produce formate as the major product, which is less desirable than CO in terms of separation and further use. Tin monoxide (SnO) nanoparticles supported on carbon black were synthesized and assembled and their application in CO2 reduction was studied. Remarkably high selectivity and partial current densities for CO formation were obtained using these SnO nanoparticles compared to other Sn catalysts. The high activity is attributed to the ultra‐small size of the nanoparticles (2.6 nm), while the high selectivity is attributed to a local pH effect arising from the dense packing of nanoparticles in the conductive carbon black matrix.
Amipurimycin: Total Synthesis of the Proposed Structures and Diastereoisomers
Authors: Wang Shengyang , Sun Jiansong , Zhang Qingju , Cao Xin , Zhao Yachen , Tang Gongli , Yu Biao 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe proposed diastereoisomers (1 a–d) together with their C8′‐epimers (1 e–h) of amipurimycin, a unique antifungal peptidyl nucleoside antibiotic, have been synthesized for the first time. The synthetic approach is efficient and stereodivergent, and features a stereoselective aldol condensation to build the branched C9 sugar amino acid skeleton and a regio‐ and stereocontrolled gold(I)‐catalyzed N‐glycosylation to furnish the purine nucleoside. Analysis of the NMR data suggests that the previously assigned configuration of the tertiary C3′ in amipurimycin should be of opposite configuration.
Catalytic Gas‐Phase Production of Lactide from Renewable Alkyl Lactates
Authors: De Clercq Rik , Dusselier Michiel , Makshina Ekaterina , Sels Bert F. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractA new route to lactide, which is a key building block of the bioplastic polylactic acid, is proposed involving a continuous catalytic gas‐phase transesterification of renewable alkyl lactates in a scalable fixed‐bed setup. Supported TiO2/SiO2 catalysts are highly selective to lactide, with only minimal lactide racemization. The solvent‐free process allows for easy product separation and recycling of unconverted alkyl lactates and recyclable lactyl intermediates. The catalytic activity of TiO2/SiO2 catalysts was strongly correlated to their optical properties by DR UV/Vis spectroscopy. Catalysts with high band‐gap energy of the supported TiO2 phase, indicative of a high surface spreading of isolated Ti centers, show the highest turnover frequency per Ti site.
A Three‐Component Organometallic Tyrosine Bioconjugation
Authors: Ohata Jun , Miller Mary K. , Mountain Courtney M. , Vohidov Farrukh , Ball Zachary T. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractMetal‐based bioconjugation linkages represent a little‐studied approach to protein functionalization that provides novel reactivity, stability, and function. Described is an organometallic bioconjugation, employing rhodium(III) salts, to link boronic acids with tyrosine residues by an arene complex. Both peptides and proteins are amenable to the mild bioconjugation in aqueous media, allowing incorporation of useful functionalities, such as affinity handles or fluorophores. Because of the metastability of the inorganic linkage, the conjugates are susceptible to cleavage by nucleophilic redox mediators but are stable toward typical biological conditions.
Palladium‐Catalyzed Oxygenative Cross‐Coupling of Ynamides and Benzyl Bromides by Carbene Migratory Insertion
Authors: Gao Yunpeng , Wu Guojiao , Zhou Qi , Wang Jianbo 
Published: January 2018

AbstractA palladium‐catalyzed oxygenative cross‐coupling of ynamides and benzyl bromides has been developed. After subsequent hydrogenation, α,α‐disubstituted amide derivatives were obtained in good yields. Migratory insertion of α‐oxo palladium carbene species, generated by intermolecular oxidation, is proposed as the key step in this reaction. The study demonstrates the potential of ynamides to serve as carbene precursors in palladium‐catalyzed C−C bond‐forming cross‐coupling reactions.
Confined Self‐Assembly in Two‐Dimensional Interlayer Space: Monolayered Mesoporous Carbon Nanosheets with In‐Plane Orderly Arranged Mesopores and a Highly Graphitized Framework
Authors: Wang Jie , Xu Yunling , Ding Bing , Chang Zhi , Zhang Xiaogang , Yamauchi Yusuke , Wu Kevin C.‐W. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractAlthough two‐dimensional (2D) carbon materials are widely investigated, a well‐defined 2D carbon nanosheet with an ordered mesostructure has rarely been realized. Monolayer‐ordered mesoporous carbon nanosheets (OMCNS) were prepared through confinement assembly of resol and F127 in the interlayer of montmorillonite (MONT). The nanoscale distance of the interlayer space of MONT only allow the assembly of resol and F127 in the same plane, leading to ordered mesopores perpendicular to carbon nanosheets, and favor the formation of sp2 carbon, resulting in a high degree of graphitization. The mesopores on the carbon nanosheets provide efficient ion diffusion, and the high degree of graphitization provides a fast electron‐transport route, enabling OMCNS as excellent electrode materials for electric double layer capacitors.
Preparation of submicrometer mesoporous iron–tin oxide hydroxide and its flame‐retardant and smoke‐suppressant properties on flexible poly(vinyl chloride)
Authors: Wu Jing , Sun Jianhong , Jiao Yunhong , Hu Weidong , Xu Jianzhong 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACTA submicrometer mesoporous structured iron–tin oxide hydroxide [FeSnO(OH)5] was synthesized via a hydrothermal method and characterized by X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method. Blank poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and a flexible PVC treated with FeSnO(OH)5were investigated by limiting oxygen index (LOI) testing, cone calorimetry testing (CONE), tensile properties testing, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)–differential scanning calorimetry. The PVC sample treated with 5 phr FeSnO(OH)5(PVC5) showed the best integration properties among the studied samples. Compared with those of the untreated PVC sample, the LOI value of PVC5 increased 5.6%, and its tensile strength also improved; the average heat‐release rate, average specific extinction area, and total smoke production of PVC5 decreased about 13.4, 28.0, and 48.8%, respectively. The char residue of PVC5 after CONE contained oxides and chlorides and was dense; this reduced the release of hydrogen chloride. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.2018,135, 46218.
A prospective study of fetal head growth, autistic traits and autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Blanken Laura M. E. , Dass Alena , Alvares Gail , van der Ende Jan , Schoemaker Nikita K. , El Marroun Hanan , Hickey Martha , Pennell Craig , White Scott , Maybery Murray T. , Dissanayake Cheryl , Jaddoe Vincent W. V. , Verhulst Frank C. , Tiemeier Henning , McIntosh Will , White Tonya , Whitehouse Andrew 
Published: January 2018

Altered trajectories of brain growth are often reported in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), particularly during the first year of life. However, less is known about prenatal head growth trajectories, and no study has examined the relation with postnatal autistic symptom severity. The current study prospectively examined the association between fetal head growth and the spectrum of autistic symptom severity in two large population‐based cohorts, including a sample of individuals with clinically diagnosed ASD. This study included 3,820 children from two longitudinal prenatal cohorts in The Netherlands and Australia, comprising 60 individuals with a confirmed diagnosis of ASD. Latent growth curve models were used to examine the relationship between fetal head circumference measured at three different time points and autistic traits measured in postnatal life using either the Social Responsiveness Scale or the Autism‐Spectrum Quotient. While lower initial prenatal HC was weakly associated with increasing autistic traits in the Dutch cohort, this relationship was not observed in the Australian cohort, nor when the two cohorts were analysed together. No differences in prenatal head growth were found between individuals with ASD and controls. This large population‐based study identified no consistent association across two cohorts between prenatal head growth and postnatal autistic traits. Our mixed findings suggest that further research in this area is needed. Autism Res 2018, 11: 602–612. © 2018 The Authors Autism Research published by International Society for Autism Research and Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Lay SummaryIt is not known whether different patterns of postnatal brain growth in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) also occurs prenatally. We examined fetal head growth and autistic symptoms in two large groups from The Netherlands and Australia. Lower initial prenatal head circumference was associated with autistic traits in the Dutch, but not the Australian, group. No differences in head growth were found in individuals with ASD and controls when the data was combined. Our mixed findings suggest that more research in this area is needed.
Bidirectional influences of caregiver utterances and supported joint engagement in children with and without autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Bottema‐Beutel Kristen , Lloyd Blair , Watson Linda , Yoder Paul 
Published: January 2018

This study examined sequential associations between pairs of caregiver talk and caregiver‐child joint engagement categories. Sequential associations quantify the extent to which one event (such as a particular type of caregiver talk) follows another event (such as a particular type of joint engagement) in a pre‐specified time window, while controlling for the chance occurrence of the sequence. Although unable to support strong conclusions about causality, the requirement of sequential analysis that key events occur within a close temporal sequence rules out alternative explanation for associations that summary‐level correlations cannot. We applied sequential analysis to observational data on 98 caregiver‐child dyads, fifty of which included a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Groups were matched on mental age, and all were just beginning to develop spoken vocabulary. Sequential associations between supported joint engagement and caregiver follow‐in utterances were stronger in ASD dyads as compared to dyads with typically developing children. Further, sequential associations between utterances related to the child's focus of attention followed by higher order supported joint engagement (HSJE) were stronger than between utterances that related to the caregiver's focus of attention and HSJE, across both groups. Finally, sequential associations between follow‐in directives followed by HSJE were stronger than between follow‐in comments followed by HSJE, again across both groups of children. Autism Res 2018, 11: 755–765. © 2018 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Lay SummaryOur findings suggest that caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be particularly adept at timing their talk to follow moments of high‐level joint engagement, and that follow‐in directives are particularly facilitative of high‐level joint engagement. Future intervention work can capitalize on these findings to support high level caregiver‐child engagement around toys, which may promote development in children with ASD.
Curcumin protects neural cells against ischemic injury in N2a cells and mouse brain with ischemic stroke
Authors: Xie Cai‐Jun , Gu Ai‐Ping , Cai Jun , Wu Yi , Chen Rui‐Cong 
Published: January 2018

AbstractBackground and PurposeCurcumin, a natural antioxidant isolated from Curcuma longa, has been reported to exert neuroprotective effect in animal models of ischemic stroke. However, the underlying mechanism is still not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of curcumin treatment on neuronal apoptosis in the periinfarct cortex after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and in mouse N2a cells after oxygen‐glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) injury and its underlying mechanism.MethodsThe cerebral I/R injury was established by 1‐hr middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and reperfusion in mice. Infarct volume was determined by TTC staining, and neurological score was evaluated by mNSS. Cell morphology in the ischemic boundary zone were detected by HE staining. The number and apoptotic rate of neurons in ischemic boundary zone were assayed by immunohistochemistry and TUNEL, respectively. Mouse neuroblastoma N2a cells were subjected to OGD/R. Cell viability was assessed with CCK‐8. The mitochondrial membrane potential was measured using JC‐1 staining. The expression of Bax, Bcl‐2, and caspase‐3 was detected using Western blotting. Besides, cellular distribution of Bax was determined by immunofluorescence assays.ResultsCurcumin treatment reduced infarct volume, improved neurological function, alleviated the morphological damage of neurons, and increased neuronal survival rate after I/R injury in vivo. Moreover, curcumin treatment improved cell viability, reduced cell apoptosis, increased Bcl‐2 protein levels while decreased Bax and caspase‐3 expressions in mouse N2a cells after OGD/R injury. Besides, curcumin treatment inhibited Bax activation and maintained mitochondrial membrane integrity.ConclusionCurcumin promotes neuron survival in vivo and in vitro to exert neuroprotective effects against ischemia injury. Moreover, our results for the first time demonstrated curcumin inhibited ischemia‐induced mitochondrial apoptosis via restricting Bax activation, which may be one of the possible mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effects of curcumin.
5‐Chloro‐2,4‐dihydroxypyridine, CDHP, prevents lung metastasis of basal‐like breast cancer cells by reducing nascent adhesion formation
Authors: Itou Junji , Tsukihara Hiroshi , Nukatsuka Mamoru , Toi Masakazu , Takechi Teiji 
Published: January 2018

AbstractA drug for metastasis prevention is necessary. The orally administered anticancer drug S‐1 contributes to cancer therapy. In a mouse xenograft model of metastatic breast cancer from our previous study, the administration of S‐1 inhibited lung metastasis. However, the mechanism of inhibition remains elusive. S‐1 contains 5‐chloro‐2,4‐dihydroxypyridine (CDHP), which does not have the antigrowth activity, but prevents the degradation of 5‐fluorouracil, an anticancer reagent. In this study, we found that CDHP treatment shrinks cell morphology in metastatic basal‐like breast cancer cell lines. Wound healing assays showed reduced cell migration in CDHP‐treated cells. At the molecular level, CDHP treatment reduced the number of nascent adhesions, whereas the number of mature focal adhesions was not changed. These findings indicate that CDHP impairs focal adhesion formation, which results in a reduction in cell migration. For the in vivo metastasis assay, we used a highly lung‐metastatic cell line. We xenografted them into immunodeficient mice, and administered CDHP. To determine whether CDHP prevents metastasis, we measured the weights of harvested lungs. The results showed that the lung weights of the CDHP‐treated animals were not significantly different compared to the no‐tumor controls, whereas the vehicle group showed a number of metastatic foci and an increase in lung weight. These observations indicate that CDHP administration prevents metastasis. This study reveals a novel effect of CDHP for lung metastasis prevention. Our findings may facilitate the establishment of future metastasis prevention therapies.
Is there different risk of cancer among end‐stage renal disease patients undergoing hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis?
Authors: Lee Yi‐Che , Hung Shih‐Yuan , Wang Hao‐Kuang , Lin Chi‐Wei , Wang Hsi‐Hao , Chang Min‐Yu , Sung Junne‐Ming , Chiou Yuan‐Yow , Lin Sheng‐Hsiang 
Published: January 2018

AbstractCancer is a global issue in recent decade. Despite this alarming increase in the incidence of cancer, to date, whether the risk of developing cancer differs among peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD) patients is still uncertain. In this retrospective cohort study, data were obtained from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan, which provides coverage to almost 99% of the nation's population. After matching, a total of 4491 (or 3369) incident PD patients and 8982 (or 6738) incident HD patients between 2000 and 2009 were enrolled from the database. In addition, 22,455 (or 16,845) nondialysis patients were selected as a control group. The patients were monitored for the occurrence of cancer until 2010, and their data were analyzed using several different models. In general, the results showed that the risks of hepatocellular, kidney, bladder, extra kidney/bladder urinary tract, and thyroid cancers were higher in dialysis patients. We also compared the risk of cancer between two dialysis groups by using the HD patients as the reference group. The result showed that there is no significant different for each cancer risk between two dialysis groups. In conclusion, dialysis patients had a higher risk of certain types of cancer than those in the nonuremia group. However, there was no significant difference in the cancer risk between the two dialysis groups when compared directly.