bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Probing the potential of mucus permeability to signify preterm birth risk
Authors: Smith-Dupont K. B. , Wagner C. E. , Witten J. , Conroy K. , Rudoltz H. , Pagidas K. , Snegovskikh V. , House M. , Ribbeck K. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractPreterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal mortality, and is frequently associated with intra-amniotic infection hypothesized to arise from bacterial ascension across a dysfunctional cervical mucus plug. To study this dysfunction, we assessed the permeability of cervical mucus from non-pregnant ovulating (n = 20) and high- (n = 9) and low-risk (n = 16) pregnant women to probes of varying sizes and surface chemistries. We found that the motion of negatively charged, carboxylated microspheres in mucus from pregnant patients was significantly restricted compared to ovulating patients, but not significantly different between high- and low-risk pregnant women. In contrast, charged peptide probes small enough to avoid steric interactions, but sensitive to the biochemical modifications of mucus components exhibited significantly different transport profiles through mucus from high- and low-risk patients. Thus, although both microstructural rearrangements of the components of mucus as well as biochemical modifications to their adhesiveness may alter the overall permeability of the cervical mucus plug, our findings suggest that the latter mechanism plays a dominant role in the impairment of the function of this barrier during preterm birth. We expect that these probes may be readily adapted to study the mechanisms underlying disease progression on all mucosal epithelia, including those in the mouth, lungs, and gut.
Genome-Wide Association Study of Blood Pressure Traits by Hispanic/Latino Background: the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos
Authors: Sofer Tamar , Wong Quenna , Hartwig Fernando P. , Taylor Kent , Warren Helen R. , Evangelou Evangelos , Cabrera Claudia P. , Levy Daniel , Kramer Holly , Lange Leslie A. , Horta Bernardo L. ,   COGENT-BP consortium, Liang Jingjing , Le Thu H. , Edwards Digna R. Velez , Tayo Bamidele O. , Gaulton Kyle J. , Smith Jennifer A. , Lu Yingchang , Jensen Richard A. , Chen Guanjie , Yanek Lisa R. , Schwander Karen , Tajuddin Salman M. , Kim Wonji , Kayima James , McKenzie Colin A. , Fox Ervin , Nalls Michael A. , Young Hunter J. , Sun Yan , Lane Jacqueline M. , Cechova Sylvia , Zhou Jie , Tang Hua , Fornage Myriam , Musani Solomon K. , Wang Heming , Lee Juyoung , Adeyemo Adebowale , Dreisbach Albert W. , Forrester Terrence , Chu Pei-Lun , Cappola Anne , Evans Michele K. , Morrison Alanna C. , Martin Lisa W. , Wiggins Kerri L. , Hui Qin , Zhao Wei , Jackson Rebecca D. , Ware Erin B. , Faul Jessica D. , Bray Michael , Danny Joshua C. , Mosley Thomas H. , Palmas Walter , Guo Xiuqing , Papanicolaou George J. , Penman Alan D. , Polak Joseph F. , Rice Kenneth , Boerwinkle Eric , Bottinger Erwin P. , Liu Kiang , Risch Neil , Hunt Steven C. , Kooperberg Charles , Zonderman Alan B. , Laurie Cathy C. , Becker Diane M. , Cai Jianwen , Loos Ruth J. F. , Psaty Bruce M. , Weir David R. , Kardia Sharon L. R. , Arnett Donna K , Won Sungho , Edwards Todd L. , Redline Susan , Cooper Richard S. , Rao D. C. , Rotimi Charles , Chadravarti Aravinda , Zhu Xiaofeng , Kerr Kathleen F. , Reiner Alex P. , Franceschini Nora 
Published: August 2017

AbstractHypertension prevalence varies between ethnic groups, possibly due to differences in genetic, environmental, and cultural determinants. Hispanic/Latino Americans are a diverse and understudied population. We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of blood pressure (BP) traits in 12,278 participants from the Hispanics Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL). In the discovery phase we identified eight previously unreported BP loci. In the replication stage, we tested these loci in the 1982 Pelotas Birth Cohort Study of admixed Southern Brazilians, the COGENT-BP study of African descent, women of European descent from the Women Health Initiative (WHI), and a sample of European descent from the UK Biobank. No loci met the Bonferroni-adjusted level of statistical significance (0.0024). Two loci had marginal evidence of replication: rs78701042 (NGF) with diastolic BP (P = 0.008 in the 1982 Pelotas Birth Cohort Study), and rs7315692 (SLC5A8) with systolic BP (P = 0.007 in European ancestry replication). We investigated whether previously reported loci associated with BP in studies of European, African, and Asian ancestry generalize to Hispanics/Latinos. Overall, 26% of the known associations in studies of individuals of European and Chinese ancestries generalized, while only a single association previously discovered in a people of African descent generalized.
Himalayan glaciers experienced significant mass loss during later phases of little ice age
Authors: Shekhar Mayank , Bhardwaj Anshuman , Singh Shaktiman , Ranhotra Parminder S. , Bhattacharyya Amalava , Pal Ashish K. , Roy Ipsita , Martín-Torres F. Javier , Zorzano María-Paz 
Published: August 2017

AbstractTo date, there is a gap in the data about the state and mass balance of glaciers in the climate-sensitive subtropical regions during the Little Ice Age (LIA). Here, based on an unprecedented tree-ring sampling coverage, we present the longest reconstructed mass balance record for the Western Himalayan glaciers, dating to 1615. Our results confirm that the later phase of LIA was substantially briefer and weaker in the Himalaya than in the Arctic and subarctic regions. Furthermore, analysis of the time-series of the mass-balance against other time-series shows clear evidence of the existence of (i) a significant glacial decay and a significantly weaker magnitude of glaciation during the latter half of the LIA; (ii) a weak regional mass balance dependence on either the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) or the Total Solar Irradiance (TSI) taken in isolation, but a considerable combined influence of both of them during the LIA; and (iii) in addition to anthropogenic climate change, the strong effect from the increased yearly concurrence of extremely high TSI with El Niño over the past five decades, resulting in severe glacial mass loss. The generated mass balance time-series can serve as a source of reliable reconstructed data to the scientific community.
Highly oxidising fluids generated during serpentinite breakdown in subduction zones
Authors: Debret B. , Sverjensky D. A. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractSubduction zones facilitate chemical exchanges between Earth’s deep interior and volcanism that affects habitability of the surface environment. Lavas erupted at subduction zones are oxidized and release volatile species. These features may reflect a modification of the oxidation state of the sub-arc mantle by hydrous, oxidizing sulfate and/or carbonate-bearing fluids derived from subducting slabs. But the reason that the fluids are oxidizing has been unclear. Here we use theoretical chemical mass transfer calculations to predict the redox state of fluids generated during serpentinite dehydration. Specifically, the breakdown of antigorite to olivine, enstatite, and chlorite generates fluids with high oxygen fugacities, close to the hematite-magnetite buffer, that can contain significant amounts of sulfate. The migration of these fluids from the slab to the mantle wedge could therefore provide the oxidized source for the genesis of primary arc magmas that release gases to the atmosphere during volcanism. Our results also show that the evolution of oxygen fugacity in serpentinite during subduction is sensitive to the amount of sulfides and potentially metal alloys in bulk rock, possibly producing redox heterogeneities in subducting slabs.
Gold nanoparticles approach to detect chondroitin sulphate and hyaluronic acid urothelial coating
Authors: Guelfi Gabriella , Stefanetti Valentina , Zampini Danilo , Oommen Oommen P. , Brecchia Gabriele , Dall’Aglio Cecilia , Arcelli Rolando , Cochetti Giovanni , Boni Andrea , Mearini Ettore 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThis study investigated the location of hyaluronic acid (HA)- and chondroitin sulphate (CS)-coated gold nanoparticles in rabbit bladder and evaluated gene expression of CD44, RHAMM and ICAM-1 receptors involved in HA and CS transport into the cell. Gold nanoparticles were synthesised by reduction of gold salts with HA or CS to form HA-AuNPs and CS-AuNPs. Bladder samples were incubated with CS-AuNPs and HA-AuNPs or without glycosaminoglycans. Transmission electron microscopy, optic microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to determine the location of the synthesised AuNPs. Real-time PCR was used to analyse expression of urothelial cell receptors CD44, RHAMM, ICAM-1, after ex vivo administration of CS-AuNPs and HA-AuNPs. We showed that HA-AuNPs and CS-AuNPs were located in the cytoplasm and tight junctions of urothelial umbrella cells; this appearance was absent in untreated bladders. There were no significant differences in gene expression levels for CD44, RHAMM and ICAM-1 receptors in treated versus control bladder tissues. In conclusion, we clearly showed the presence of exogenous GAGs in the bladder surface and the tight junctions between umbrella cells, which is important in the regeneration pathway of the urothelium. The GAGs-AuNPs offer a promising approach to understanding the biophysical properties and imaging of urothelial tissue.
Phenotyping and susceptibility of established porcine cells lines to African Swine Fever Virus infection and viral production
Authors: Sánchez Elena G. , Riera Elena , Nogal Marisa , Gallardo Carmina , Fernández Paloma , Bello-Morales Raquel , López-Guerrero José Antonio , Chitko-McKown Carol G. , Richt Jürgen A. , Revilla Yolanda 
Published: August 2017

AbstractAfrican swine fever virus (ASFV) is a highly pathogenic, double-stranded DNA virus with a marked tropism for cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage, affecting swine species and provoking severe economic losses and health threats. In the present study, four established porcine cell lines, IPAM-WT, IPAM-CD163, C∆2+ and WSL, were compared to porcine alveolar macrophage (PAM) in terms of surface marker phenotype, susceptibility to ASFV infection and virus production. The virulent ASFV Armenia/07, E70 or the naturally attenuated NHV/P68 strains were used as viral models. Cells expressed only low levels of specific receptors linked to the monocyte/macrophage lineage, with low levels of infection overall, with the exception of WSL, which showed more efficient production of strain NHV/P68 but not of strains E70 and Armenia/07.
Anisotropic resonance modes emerging in an antiferromagnetic superconducting state
Authors: Waßer F. , Lee C. H. , Kihou K. , Steffens P. , Schmalzl K. , Qureshi N. , Braden M. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractTwo strong arguments in favor of magnetically driven unconventional superconductivity arise from the coexistence and closeness of superconducting and magnetically ordered phases on the one hand, and from the emergence of magnetic spin-resonance modes at the superconducting transition on the other hand. Combining these two arguments one may ask about the nature of superconducting spin-resonance modes occurring in an antiferromagnetic state. This problem can be studied in underdoped BaFe2 As2, for which the local coexistence of large moment antiferromagnetism and superconductivity is well established by local probes. However, polarized neutron scattering experiments are required to identify the nature of the resonance modes. In the normal state of Co underdoped BaFe2 As2 the antiferromagnetic order results in broad magnetic gaps opening in all three spin directions that are reminiscent of the magnetic response in the parent compound. In the superconducting state two distinct anisotropic resonance excitations emerge, but in contrast to numerous studies on optimum and over-doped BaFe2 As2 there is no isotropic resonance excitation. The two anisotropic resonance modes appearing within the antiferromagnetic phase are attributed to a band selective superconducting state, in which longitudinal magnetic excitations are gapped by antiferromagnetic order with sizable moment.
Lipidomic dysregulation within the lung parenchyma following whole-thorax lung irradiation: Markers of injury, inflammation and fibrosis detected by MALDI-MSI
Authors: Carter Claire L. , Jones Jace W. , Farese Ann M. , MacVittie Thomas J. , Kane Maureen A. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractRadiation-induced lung injury (RILI) is a delayed effect of acute radiation exposure that can limit curative cancer treatment therapies and cause lethality following high-dose whole-thorax lung irradiation (WTLI). To date, the exact mechanisms of injury development following insult remain ill-defined and there are no FDA approved pharmaceutical agents or medical countermeasures. Traditionally, RILI development is considered as three phases, the clinically latent period, the intermediate acute pneumonitis phase and the later fibrotic stage. Utilizing matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry imaging, we identified a number of lipids that were reflective of disease state or injury. Lipids play central roles in metabolism and cell signaling, and thus reflect the phenotype of the tissue environment, making these molecules pivotal biomarkers in many disease processes. We detected decreases in specific surfactant lipids irrespective of the different pathologies that presented within each sample at 180 days post whole-thorax lung irradiation. We also detected regional increases in ether-linked phospholipids that are the precursors of PAF, and global decreases in lipids that were reflective of severe fibrosis. Taken together our results provide panels of lipids that can differentiate between naïve and irradiated samples, as well as providing potential markers of inflammation and fibrosis.
Comparative secretome analysis of Rhizoctonia solani isolates with different host ranges reveals unique secretomes and cell death inducing effectors
Authors: Anderson Jonathan P. , Sperschneider Jana , Win Joe , Kidd Brendan , Yoshida Kentaro , Hane James , Saunders Diane G. O. , Singh Karam B. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractRhizoctonia solani is a fungal pathogen causing substantial damage to many of the worlds’ largest food crops including wheat, rice, maize and soybean. Despite impacting global food security, little is known about the pathogenicity mechanisms employed by R. solani. To enable prediction of effectors possessing either broad efficacy or host specificity, a combined secretome was constructed from a monocot specific isolate, a dicot specific isolate and broad host range isolate infecting both monocot and dicot hosts. Secretome analysis suggested R. solani employs largely different virulence mechanisms to well-studied pathogens, despite in many instances infecting the same host plants. Furthermore, the secretome of the broad host range AG8 isolate may be shaped by maintaining functions for saprophytic life stages while minimising opportunities for host plant recognition. Analysis of possible co-evolution with host plants and in-planta up-regulation in particular, aided identification of effectors including xylanase and inhibitor I9 domain containing proteins able to induce cell death in-planta. The inhibitor I9 domain was more abundant in the secretomes of a wide range of necrotising fungi relative to biotrophs. These findings provide novel targets for further dissection of the virulence mechanisms and potential avenues to control this under-characterised but important pathogen.
Near-source high-rate GPS, strong motion and InSAR observations to image the 2015 Lefkada (Greece) Earthquake rupture history
Authors: Avallone Antonio , Cirella Antonella , Cheloni Daniele , Tolomei Cristiano , Theodoulidis Nikos , Piatanesi Alessio , Briole Pierre , Ganas Athanassios 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe 2015/11/17 Lefkada (Greece) earthquake ruptured a segment of the Cephalonia Transform Fault (CTF) where probably the penultimate major event was in 1948. Using near-source strong motion and high sampling rate GPS data and Sentinel-1A SAR images on two tracks, we performed the inversion for the geometry, slip distribution and rupture history of the causative fault with a three-step self-consistent procedure, in which every step provided input parameters for the next one. Our preferred model results in a ~70° ESE-dipping and ~13° N-striking fault plane, with a strike-slip mechanism (rake ~169°) in agreement with the CTF tectonic regime. This model shows a bilateral propagation spanning ~9 s with the activation of three main slip patches, characterized by rise time and peak slip velocity in the ranges 2.5–3.5 s and 1.4–2.4 m/s, respectively, corresponding to 1.2–1.8 m of slip which is mainly concentrated in the shallower (<10 km) southern half of the causative fault. The inferred slip distribution and the resulting seismic moment (M0 = 1.05 × 1019N m) suggest a magnitude ofMw6.6. Our best solution suggests that the occurrence of large (Mw > 6) earthquakes to the northern and to the southern boundaries of the 2015 causative fault cannot be excluded.
Developing cost-effective seismic mineral exploration methods using a landstreamer and a drophammer
Authors: Malehmir Alireza , Maries Georgiana , Bäckström Emma , Schön Monika , Marsden Paul 
Published: August 2017

AbstractTo be fully embraced into mineral exploration, seismic data require to be acquired fast, cheaper and with minimum environmental impacts addressing also the often brown-field highly noisy environment where these surveys are employed. Since 2013 and through a number of case studies, we have been testing a newly developed for urban environment, digital-based 240 m long, seismic landstreamer for mine planning and mineral exploration purposes. Here, we present a pilot study examining the potential of the streamer for deep targeting a known, down to approximately 850 m depth, iron-oxide mineralization in the Bergslagen mineral district of central Sweden. Combined streamer (100-3C-MEMS (micro-electromechanical system), 2–4 m spacing) and 75 wireless recorders (mixed 10 Hz and MEMS, 10 m spacing) were used. A Bobcat-mounted drophammer, 500 kg, was used to generate the seismic signal. Within 4 days, approximately 3.5 km of seismic data using 2–10 m source and receiver spacing were acquired. Reflection data processing results clearly image the mineralization as a set of strong high-amplitude reflections and likely slightly extending beyond the known 850 m depth. This is encouraging and suggests such a cost-effective exploration method can be used in the area and elsewhere to delineate similar depth range iron-oxide deposits.
High-fat diet increases pain behaviors in rats with or without obesity
Authors: Song Zongbin , Xie Wenrui , Chen Sisi , Strong Judith A. , Print Mason S. , Wang Joy I. , Shareef Aleeya F. , Ulrich-Lai Yvonne M. , Zhang Jun-Ming 
Published: August 2017

AbstractObesity is associated with increased risk for chronic pain. Basic mechanisms for this association are poorly understood. Using a milder version of a radicular pain model, local inflammation of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG), we observed marked increases in mechanical and cold allodynia in rats of both sexes that were maintained on a high-fat diet (HFD) for 6 weeks prior to DRG inflammation. Notably, this increase in pain-related behaviors occurred in both Long-Evans and Sprague-Dawley rats despite the fact that the 6-week HFD exposure induced obesity (e.g., increased insulin, leptin, weight, and percent body fat) in the Long-Evans, but not Sprague-Dawley, strains. This suggested that HFD, rather than obesity per se, increased pain behaviors. Increased pain behaviors were observed even after a much shorter (1 week) exposure to the HFD but the effect was smaller. HFD also increased behavioral responses and paw swelling to paw injection of complete Freund’s adjuvant, a model of peripheral inflammatory pain. No change was detected in plasma cytokine levels in HFD rats. However, increased macrophage infiltration of the DRG was observed in response to the HFD, absent any pain model. The results suggest that HFD can increase pain even when it does not cause obesity.
Voice cues are used in a similar way by blind and sighted adults when assessing women’s body size
Authors: Pisanski Katarzyna , Feinberg David , Oleszkiewicz Anna , Sorokowska Agnieszka 
Published: August 2017

AbstractHumans’ ability to gauge another person’s body size from their voice alone may serve multiple functions ranging from threat assessment to speaker normalization. However, how this ability is acquired remains unknown. In two experiments we tested whether sighted, congenitally blind and late blind adults could accurately judge the relative heights of women from paired voice stimuli, and importantly, whether errors in size estimation varied with task difficulty across gr﻿oups. Both blind (n = 56) and sighted (n = 61) listeners correctly judged women’s relative heights on approximately 70% of low difficulty trials, corroborating previous findings for judging men’s he﻿ights. However, accuracy dropped to chance levels for intermediate difficulty trials and to 25% for high difficulty trials, regardless of the listener’s sightedness, duration of vision loss, sex, or age. Thus, blind adults estimated women’s height with the same degree of accuracy, but also the same pattern of errors, as did sighted controls. Our findings provide further evidence that visual experience is not necessary for accurate body size estimation. Rather, both blind and sighted listeners appear to follow a general rule, mapping low auditory frequencies to largeness across a range of contexts. This sound-size mapping emerges without visual experience, and is likely very important for humans.
Protective immunity differs between routes of administration of attenuated malaria parasites independent of parasite liver load
Authors: Haeberlein Simone , Chevalley-Maurel Séverine , Ozir-Fazalalikhan Arifa , Koppejan Hester , Winkel Beatrice M. F. , Ramesar Jai , Khan Shahid M. , Sauerwein Robert W. , Roestenberg Meta , Janse Chris J. , Smits Hermelijn H. , Franke-Fayard Blandine 
Published: August 2017

AbstractIn humans and murine models of malaria, intradermal immunization (ID-I) with genetically attenuated sporozoites that arrest in liver induces lower protective immunity than intravenous immunization (IV-I). It is unclear whether this difference is caused by fewer sporozoites migrating into the liver or by suboptimal hepatic and injection site-dependent immune responses. We therefore developed a Plasmodium yoelii immunization/boost/challenge model to examine parasite liver loads as well as hepatic and lymph node immune responses in protected and unprotected ID-I and IV-I animals. Despite introducing the same numbers of genetically attenuated parasites in the liver, ID-I resulted in lower sterile protection (53–68%) than IV-I (93–95%). Unprotected mice developed less sporozoite-specific CD8+ and CD4+ effector T-cell responses than protected mice. After immunization, ID-I mice showed more interleukin-10-producing B and T cells in livers and skin-draining lymph nodes, but fewer hepatic CD8 memory T cells and CD8+ dendritic cells compared to IV-I mice. Our results indicate that the lower protection efficacy obtained by intradermal sporozoite administration is not linked to low hepatic parasite numbers as presumed before, but correlates with a shift towards regulatory immune responses. Overcoming these immune suppressive responses is important not only for live-attenuated malaria vaccines but also for other live vaccines administered in the skin.