bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Handling stress may confound murine gut microbiota studies
Authors: Allen-Blevins Cary R. , You Xiaomeng , Hinde Katie , Sela David A. 
Published: January 2017

BackgroundAccumulating evidence indicates interactions between human milk composition, particularly sugars (human milk oligosaccharides or HMO), the gut microbiota of human infants, and behavioral effects. Some HMO secreted in human milk are unable to be endogenously digested by the human infant but are able to be metabolized by certain species of gut microbiota, includingBifidobacterium longumsubsp.infantis (B. infantis), a species sensitive to host stress (Bailey & Coe, 2004). Exposure to gut bacteria likeB. infantisduring critical neurodevelopment windows in early life appears to have behavioral consequences; however, environmental, physical, and social stress during this period can also have behavioral and microbial consequences. While rodent models are a useful method for determining causal relationships between HMO, gut microbiota, and behavior, murine studies of gut microbiota usually employ oral gavage, a technique stressful to the mouse. Our aim was to develop a less-invasive technique for HMO administration to remove the potential confound of gavage stress. Under the hypothesis that stress affects gut microbiota, particularlyB. infantis, we predicted the pups receiving a prebiotic solution in a less-invasive manner would have the highest amount ofBifidobacteriain their gut.MethodsThis study was designed to test two methods, active and passive, of solution administration to mice and the effects on their gut microbiome. Neonatal C57BL/6J mice housed in a specific-pathogen free facility received increasing doses of fructooligosaccharide (FOS) solution or deionized, distilled water. Gastrointestinal (GI) tracts were collected from five dams, six sires, and 41 pups over four time points. Seven fecal pellets from unhandled pups and two pellets from unhandled dams were also collected. Qualitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to quantify and compare the amount ofBifidobacterium,Bacteroides, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes.ResultsOur results demonstrate a significant difference between the amount of Firmicutes in pups receiving water passively and those receiving FOS actively (p-value = 0.009). Additionally, we found significant differences between the fecal microbiota from handled and non-handled mouse pups.DiscussionFrom our results, we conclude even handling pups for experimental purposes, without gavage, may induce enough stress to alter the murine gut microbiota profile. We suggest further studies to examine potential stress effects on gut microbiota caused by experimental techniques. Stress from experimental techniques may need to be accounted for in future gut microbiota studies.
On corner frequencies, attenuation, and low‐frequency earthquakes
Authors: Bostock M. G. , Thomas A. M. , Rubin A. M. , Christensen N. I. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractWe have recently suggested that the nearly constant duration of low‐frequency earthquakes (LFEs) (and, equivalently, the band limitation of tectonic tremor) manifests a moment‐duration scaling that is fundamentally different from regular earthquakes and is most easily explained as rupture on asperities of roughly constant dimension. In that work, we employed qualitative arguments against potential bias by attenuation. Here we examine the role of attenuation more quantitatively through an analysis that avoids specification of particular source (e.g., Brune) models and relies on the particle velocity spectral maximum as the definition of apparent corner frequency. The analysis leads to the formal definition of a saturation frequency as the limiting value of apparent corner frequency as the true corner frequency tends infinity. The saturation frequency, a formal equivalent to fmax, can be used to set bounds on path‐averaged quality factor Q. We apply these relations to deep crustal and intraslab earthquakes beneath Vancouver Island to estimate bulk crustal attenuation parameters that are subsequently used to correct apparent corner frequency measurements of LFEs reported in our earlier work. The attenuation bias due to bulk crustal structure is shown to be small, with negligible effect on the principal conclusions of that study. However, a review of laboratory and seismic refraction measurements of attenuation in oceanic basalts and evidence for high P‐to‐S LFE corner frequency ratios raises the possibility that strong, highly localized, near‐source attenuation accompanying high pore‐fluid pressures could cause the bandlimited nature of LFEs through the depletion of high frequencies.
Annual variations in GPS‐measured vertical displacements near Upernavik Isstrøm (Greenland) and contributions from surface mass loading
Authors: Liu Lin , Khan Shfaqat Abbas , van Dam Tonie , Ma Joseph Ho Yin , Bevis Michael 
Published: January 2017

AbstractIn response to present‐day ice mass loss on and near the Greenland Ice Sheet, steady crustal uplifts have been observed from the network of Global Positioning System (GPS) stations mounted on bedrock. In addition to the secular uplift trends, the GPS time series also show prominent annual variability. Here we examine the annual changes of the vertical displacements measured at two GPS stations (SRMP and UPVK) near Upernavik Isstrøm in western Greenland. We model elastic loading displacements due to various surface mass loading including three nonice components: atmospheric pressure, ocean bottom pressure, continental water storage, and one ice component, i.e., surface mass balance (SMB). We find that the contribution from atmospheric pressure changes can explain 46% and 78% of the annual amplitude observed in the GPS verticals at SRMP and UPVK, respectively. We also show that removing the predicted loading displacements due to SMB adversely increases the annual variance of the GPS residuals. However, using the GPS data alone, we cannot identify the exact cause(s) of this discrepancy because the annual loading displacements are sensitive to the SMB changes from over 85% of the ice sheet area. Alternatively, by differencing vertical displacements between the two stations, we find a good agreement between the modeled differential SMB loading displacements and the GPS residuals after removing nonice components. Our study highlights the necessity of correcting for nonice loading contributions in the GPS measurements of crustal deformation to infer ice mass changes in Greenland at annual periods.
Temporal upscaling of instantaneous evapotranspiration on clear‐sky days using the constant reference evaporative fraction method with fixed or variable surface resistances at two cropland sites
Authors: Tang Ronglin , Li Zhao‐Liang , Sun Xiaomin , Bi Yuyun 
Published: January 2017

AbstractSurface evapotranspiration (ET) is an important component of water and energy in land and atmospheric systems. This paper investigated whether using variable surface resistances in the reference ET estimates from the full‐form Penman‐Monteith (PM) equation could improve the upscaled daily ET estimates in the constant reference evaporative fraction (EFr, the ratio of actual to reference grass/alfalfa ET) method on clear‐sky days using ground‐based measurements. Half‐hourly near‐surface meteorological variables and eddy covariance (EC) system‐measured latent heat flux data on clear‐sky days were collected at two sites with different climatic conditions, namely, the subhumid Yucheng station in northern China and the arid Yingke site in northwestern China and were used as the model input and ground‐truth, respectively. The results showed that using the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)‐PM equation, the American Society of Civil Engineers‐PM equation, and the full‐form PM equation to estimate the reference ET in the constant EFr method produced progressively smaller upscaled daily ET at a given time from midmorning to midafternoon. Using all three PM equations produced the best results at noon at both sites regardless of whether the energy imbalance of the EC measurements was closed. When the EC measurements were not corrected for energy imbalance, using variable surface resistance in the full‐form PM equation could improve the ET upscaling in the midafternoon, but worse results may occur in the midmorning to noon. Site‐to‐site and time‐to‐time variations were found in the performances of a given PM equation (with fixed or variable surface resistances) before and after the energy imbalance was closed.
Combining bulk sediment OSL and meteoric10Be fingerprinting techniques to identify gully initiation sites and erosion depths
Authors: Portenga E. W. , Bishop P. , Rood D. H. , Bierman P. R. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractDeep erosional gullies dissect landscapes around the world. Existing erosion models focus on predicting where gullies might begin to erode, but identifying where existing gullies were initiated and under what conditions is difficult, especially when historical records are unavailable. Here we outline a new approach for fingerprinting alluvium and tracing it back to its source by combining bulk sediment optically stimulated luminescence (bulk OSL) and meteoric10Be (10Bem) measurements made on gully‐derived alluvium samples. In doing so, we identify where gully erosion was initiated and infer the conditions under which such erosion occurred. As both10Bemand bulk OSL data have distinctive depth profiles in different uneroded and depositional settings, we are able to identify the likely incision depths in potential alluvium source areas. We demonstrate our technique at Birchams Creek in the southeastern Australian Tablelands—a well‐studied and recent example of gully incision that exemplifies a regional landscape transition from unchanneled swampy meadow wetlands to gully incision and subsequent wetland burial by post‐European settlement alluvium. We find that such historic alluvium was derived from a shallow erosion of valley fill upstream of former swampy meadows and was deposited down the center of the valley. Incision likely followed catchment deforestation and the introduction of livestock, which overgrazed and congregated in valley bottoms in the early 20th century during a period of drought. As a result, severe gully erosion was likely initiated in localized, compacted, and oversteepened reaches of the valley bottom.
MicroRNA Expression Shows Inflammatory Dysregulation and Tumor‐Like Proliferative Responses in Joints of Patients With Postinfectious Lyme Arthritis
Authors: Lochhead Robert B. , Strle Klemen , Kim Nancy D. , Kohler Minna J. , Arvikar Sheila L. , Aversa John M. , Steere Allen C. 
Published: January 2017

ObjectiveLyme arthritis (LA) is caused by infection with Borrelia burgdorferi and usually resolves following spirochetal killing with antibiotics. However, in some patients, arthritis persists after antibiotic therapy. To provide insights into underlying pathogenic processes associated with antibiotic‐refractory LA (postinfectious LA), we analyzed differences in microRNA (miRNA) expression between LA patients with active infection and those with postinfectious LA.MethodsMicroRNA expression was assayed in synovial fluid (SF) from LA patients before and after oral and intravenous antibiotic therapy, and in synovial tissue obtained months after antibiotic therapy from patients with postinfectious LA. SF and tissue from patients with other forms of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis, were used for comparison.ResultsSF from LA patients during active infection had marked elevations of white blood cells, particularly polymorphonuclear leukocytes, accompanied by elevated levels of microRNA‐223 (miR‐223). In contrast, SF from postantibiotic LA patients contained greater percentages of lymphocytes and mononuclear cells. SF from postantibiotic LA patients also exhibited marked inflammatory (miR‐146a, miR‐155), wound repair (miR‐142), and proliferative (miR‐17–92) miRNA signatures, and higher levels of these miRNAs correlated with longer arthritis duration. Levels of miR‐146a, miR‐155, miR‐142, miR‐223, and miR‐17–92 were also elevated in synovial tissue in late postinfectious LA, and levels of let‐7a were reduced, similar to RA.ConclusionDuring active infection, miRNA expression in SF reflected an immune response associated with bacterial killing, while in postinfectious LA, miRNA expression in SF and synovial tissue reflected chronic inflammation, synovial proliferation, and breakdown of wound repair processes, showing that the nature of the arthritis was altered after spirochetal killing.
Seedless Synthesis of Monodispersed Gold Nanorods with Remarkably High Yield: Synergistic Effect of Template Modification and Growth Kinetics Regulation
Authors: Liu Kang , Bu Yanru , Zheng Yuanhui , Jiang Xuchuan , Yu Aibing , Wang Huanting 
Published: January 2017

AbstractGold nanorods (AuNRs) are versatile materials due to their broadly tunable optical properties associated with their anisotropic feature. Conventional seed‐mediated synthesis is, however, not only limited by the operational complexity and over‐sensitivity towards subtle changes of experimental conditions but also suffers from low yield (≈15 %). A facile seedless method is reported to overcome these challenges. Monodispersed AuNRs with high yield (≈100 %) and highly adjustable longitudinal surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) are reproducibly synthesized. The parameters that influence the AuNRs growth were thoroughly investigated in terms of growth kinetics and soft‐template regulation, offering a better understanding of the template‐based mechanism. The facile synthesis, broad tunability of LSRP, high reproducibility, high yield, and ease of scale‐up make this method promising for the future mass production of monodispersed AuNRs for applications in catalysis, sensing, and biomedicine.
Value tradeoffs propel and inhibit behavior: Validating the 19 refined values in four countries
Authors: Schwartz Shalom H. , Cieciuch Jan , Vecchione Michele , Torres Claudio , Dirilen‐Gumus Ozlem , Butenko Tania 
Published: January 2017

AbstractWe assess the predictive and discriminant validity of the basic values in the refined Schwartz value theory by examining how value tradeoffs predict behavior in Italy, Poland, Russia, and the USA. One thousand eight hundred and fifty‐seven respondents reported their values and rated their own and a partner's behavior. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis supported the distinctiveness of the 19 values and the 19 self‐rated and other‐rated behaviors. Multidimensional scaling analyses supported the circular motivational order of the 19 values. Findings affirmed the theorizing that behavior depends upon tradeoffs between values that propel and values that inhibit it. Across four countries, value importance, behavior frequency, and gender failed to moderate the strength of value–behavior relations. This raises the question of the conditions under which the widely cited assumption that normative pressure weakens value–behavior relations holds.
A Comparative Study of Hysterosalpingography and Laparoscopy in the Investigation of Infertility
Authors: Idris W. , Jewelewicz R. 
Published: January 2017

Idris, W. and Jewelewicz, R. (Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the International Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University in the City of New York, New York, USA). A comparative study of hysterosalpingography and laparoscopy in the investigation of infertility.Int J Gynaecol Obstet 14: 428–430, 1976.A comparison of hysterosalpingography and laparoscopy was carried out on 79 infertile women. Out of these, 60 had abnormal and 19 had normal hysterosalpingograms. Of the 19 patients with normal X‐rays, nine (47%) had abnormal findings during laparoscopy. In 62% of patients with abnormal hysterosalpingograms, laparoscopic findings confirmed the radiological diagnosis, however in 38% the findings differed. Though hysterosalpingography is an important part of infertility evaluation, a final and definite diagnosis requires endoscopic evaluation of the pelvis.
Diazepam Therapy in Eclampsia
Authors: Dawn C. S. , Sinha B. 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACTThe single drug therapy of diazepam can be introduced to effectively control convulsions in eclampsia. This treatment will have particular application in rural obstetrics where eclampsia is seen in severe form. The dose schedule of diazepam, as described in this study, shows the therapy to have a stabilizing effect on hypertension and pulse rate. It causes neither respiratory depression nor oliguria. Diazepam is an effective muscle relaxant. Its depressive effect on the newborn is in no way inferior to that of lytic cocktail therapy. The drug is readily available at low cost, even in the remote rural areas, and can be easily administered by any doctor or midwife.
The Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Some Maternal Characteristics
Authors: Pierog Sophie , Chandavasu Oradee , Wexler Irving 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACTThe characteristics of eight mothers of ten infants born with typical features of the fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) are presented. These chronic alcoholic mothers have poor obstetric histories, tend to have poor or no prenatal care and may repeat pregnancies which result in infants with FAS. Family planning counseling appears unhelpful.
Decellularized extracellular matrix of human umbilical vein endothelial cells promotes endothelial differentiation of stem cells from exfoliated deciduous teeth
Authors: Gong Ting , Heng Boon Chin , Xu Jianguang , Zhu Shaoyue , Yuan Changyong , Lo Edward Chin Man , Zhang Chengfei 
Published: January 2017

AbstractDental stem cells can serve as a potential source of functional endothelial cells for tissue engineering applications, but the endothelial‐lineage differentiation efficiency is rather low even with growth factors and mechanical stimuli, which greatly limits their clinical applications. This is partly due to the deficiency of standard two‐dimensional (2‐D) culture systems, which is unable to recapitulate the three‐dimensional (3‐D) in vivo milieu that is rich in extracellular matrix. Hence, we extracted decellularized extracellular matrix from human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs‐DECM) to provide a bioactive substratum conducive to the endothelial differentiation of dental stem cells. Compared to cells plated on tissue culture polystyrene (TCP), stem cells from exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) cultured on the HUVECs‐DECM demonstrated more regular arrangement and elongated morphology. HUVECs‐DECM significantly enhanced the rapid adhesion and proliferation rates of SHED, as demonstrated by WST‐8 assay and immunocytochemistry indicating higher expression levels of vinculin by newly adherent SHED on HUVECs‐DECM versus TCP. In addition, there was twofold to fivefold higher mRNA expression levels of endothelial‐specific markers CD31 and VEGFR‐2 in SHED after seven days of culture on DECM versus TCP. Functional testing with in vitro matrigel angiogenesis assay identified more capillary‐like structure formation with significantly higher tubule length in SHED induced by DECM versus TCP. Hence, the results of this study provide a better understanding of the unique characteristics of cell‐specific ECM and demonstrated the potential use of HUVECs‐DECM as a culture substratum conducive for stimulating the endothelial differentiation of SHED for therapeutic angiogenic applications. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 1083–1093, 2017.
Formyl Peptide Receptors in Cellular Differentiation and Inflammatory Diseases
Authors: Lee Ha Young , Lee Mingyu , Bae Yoe‐Sik 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACTFormyl peptide receptors (FPRs) are a family of classical chemoattractant receptors. Although FPRs are mainly expressed in phagocytic innate immune cells including monocytes/macrophages and neutrophils, recent reports demonstrated that additional different cell types such as T‐lymphocytes and several non‐immune cells also express functional FPRs. FPRs were first reported as a specific receptor to detect bacteria‐derived N‐formyl peptides. However, accumulating evidence has shown that FPRs can recognize various ligands derived from pathogens, mitochondria, and host. This review summarizes studies on some interesting endogenous agonists for FPRs. Here, we discuss functional roles of FPRs and their ligands concerning the regulation of cellular differentiation focusing on myeloid lineage cells. Accumulating evidence also suggests that FPRs may contribute to the control of inflammatory diseases. Here, we briefly review the current understanding of the functional role of FPRs and their ligands in inflammatory disorders in some animal disease models. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 1300–1307, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Criterion for unlimited growth of critical multidimensional stochastic models
Authors: Adam Etienne 
Published: January 2017

AbstractWe give a criterion for unlimited growth with positive probability for a large class of multidimensional stochastic models. As a by-product, we recover the necessary and sufficient conditions for recurrence and transience for critical multitype Galton–Watson with immigration processes and also significantly improve some results on multitype size-dependent Galton–Watson processes.
Isolation and biological and molecular characterization ofNeospora caninum(NC-SP1) from a naturally infected adult asymptomatic cattle (Bos taurus) in the state of São Paulo, Brazil
Authors: OLIVEIRA SOLANGE , SOARES RODRIGO MARTINS , AIZAWA JULIANA , SOARES HERBERT SOUSA , CHIEBAO DANIELA PONTES , ORTEGA-MORA LUIS MIGUEL , REGIDOR-CERRILLO JAVIER , SILVA NATÁLIA QUADROS BRESSA , GENNARI SOLANGE MARIA , PENA HILDA FÁTIMA JESUS 
Published: January 2017

SUMMARYThe biological and genetic diversity ofNeospora caninumis very limited because of availability of only a few viable isolates worldwide. This study describes the isolation and biological and molecular characterization of a new viable isolate ofN. caninum(NC-SP1), from a cattle in Brazil. Approximately 400 g of brain from a naturally infected adult male cattle from an abattoir was fed to a 2-month-old dog.Neospora-like oocysts were observed on day 7 post-inoculation (PI) and the duration of oocyst shedding was 14 days. The DNA obtained from oocysts was characterized molecularly and the final sequence was 99% identical to homologous sequences ofN. caninumavailable in GenBank®. For bioassay, gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) were orally inoculated with 10 100 and 1000 oocysts; all gerbils remained clinically normal but developedN. caninumantibodies 14 days PI. Cell culture isolation was successful using the brain homogenate from one of the gerbils and tachyzoites were observed 24 days PI. Microsatellite genotyping revealed a unique genetic profile for this new reference isolate.