bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Association Between Single Gene Polymorphisms and Bone Biomarkers and Response to Calcium and Vitamin D Supplementation in Young Adults Undergoing Military Training
Authors: Gaffney-Stomberg Erin , Lutz Laura J , Shcherbina Anna , Ricke Darrell O , Petrovick Martha , Cropper Thomas L , Cable Sonya J , McClung James P 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACT

Initial military training (IMT) is associated with increased stress fracture risk. In prior studies, supplemental calcium (Ca) and vitamin D provided daily throughout IMT reduced stress fracture incidence, suppressed parathyroid hormone (PTH), and improved measures of bone health compared with placebo. Data were analyzed from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine whether single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Ca and vitamin D–related genes were associated with circulating biomarkers of bone metabolism in young adults entering IMT, and whether responses to Ca and vitamin D supplementation were modulated by genotype. Associations between SNPs, including vitamin D receptor (VDR), vitamin D binding protein (DBP), and 1-alpha-hydroxylase (CYP27B1), and circulating biomarkers were measured in fasting blood samples from volunteers (n = 748) starting IMT. Volunteers were block randomized by race and sex to receive Ca (2000 mg) and vitamin D (1000 IU) or placebo daily throughout Army or Air Force IMT (7 to 9 weeks). Total Ca and vitamin D intakes were calculated as the sum of supplemental intake based on intervention compliance and dietary intake. Relationships between SNPs, Ca, and vitamin D intake tertile and change in biomarkers were evaluated in trial completers (n = 391). At baseline, the minor allele of a DBP SNP (rs7041) was positively associated with both 25OHD (B = 4.46, p = 1.97E-10) and 1,25(OH)2D3 (B = 9.63, p &lt; 0.001). Combined genetic risk score (GRS) for this SNP and a second SNP in the VDR gene (rs1544410) was inversely associated with baseline 25OHD (r = –0.28, p &lt; 0.001) and response to Ca and vitamin D intake differed by GRS (p &lt; 0.05). In addition, presence of the minor allele of a second VDR SNP (rs2228570) was associated with lower P1NP (B = –4.83, p = 0.04) and osteocalcin (B = –0.59, p = 0.03). These data suggest that VDR and DBP SNPs are associated with 25OHD status and bone turnover and those with the highest GRS require the greatest vitamin D intake to improve 25OHD during IMT. © 2016 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Modelling the simultaneous production and separation of acetic acid from CO2 using an anion exchange membrane microbial electrosynthesis system
Authors: Matemadombo Fungisai , Puig Sebastià , Ganigué Ramon , Ramírez‐García Robert , Batlle‐Vilanova Pau , Dolors Balaguer Marilós , Colprim Jesús 
Published: September 2016

AbstractBACKGROUNDMicrobial electrosynthesis is a carbon capture technology capable of transforming CO2 into valuable organic compounds. The aim of this article is to model the simultaneous production and separation of acetate in an anion‐exchange membrane microbial electrosynthesis cell which employs CO2 as feedstock.RESULTSThe maximum amount of acetate product produced was 0.72 mmol after 19 operational days. Simultaneous production and separation of acetate began after 4 days when 0.95 mol m−3 and 0.04 mol m−3 of acetate were detected in the cathode and anode MES cell chambers, respectively. A model that fits the simultaneous production and separation of acetate in the microbial electrosynthesis cell was successfully developed and validated.CONCLUSIONThe microbial electrosynthesis model developed in this work can be used to predict the product concentrations of a carbon capture technology which simultaneously produces and separates acetate product. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Effect of reaction parameters on the decarboxylation of oleic acid over Pt/ZIF‐67membrane/zeolite 5A bead catalysts
Authors: Yang Liqiu , Carreon Moises A 
Published: September 2016

AbstractBACKGROUNDCarboxylic acids obtained from biomass raw materials are attractive starting chemicals in the conversion to linear, paraffinic hydrocarbons. The resultant hydrocarbon products can be used as platform chemicals for the production of fuels, lubricants and other valuable chemicals.RESULTSThe effects of reaction parameters on the decarboxylation of oleic acid to paraffins, and hydrocarbons over Pt supported on zeolite 5A beads coated with ZIF‐67 membrane (Pt/ZIF‐67 membrane/zeolite 5A) were investigated. Almost complete conversion of oleic acid was observed for all reaction conditions studied here. The catalysts displayed high selectivity to heptadecane even with as low as 0.5 wt% Pt loading. Moderate reaction temperature and pressure were favorable to obtain high yield of heptadecane. The catalysts displayed a slight decrease in catalytic activity after recycling. Interestingly, of all explored reaction conditions, the catalysts exhibited the highest selectivity to heptadecane (∼91%) in the presence of CO2.CONCLUSIONThe results from this work demonstrate that the studied reaction parameters greatly affected the overall catalytic performance (mainly product distribution) for the decarboxylation of oleic acid into heptadecane over Pt/ZIF‐67 membrane/zeolite 5A catalysts. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Biodegradation of pretreated olive mill effluent in mixture with a domestic sewage or compatible wastewater stream
Authors: Salimi Khaligh Sooddeh , Yagci Nevin , Ubay‐Cokgor Emine , Karaca Cansu , Alli Busra , Orhon Derin , Sözen Seval 
Published: September 2016

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe study focused on the biodegradation of pretreated olive mill wastewater (OMW) properly diluted in and mixed with a biodegradable substrate and/or domestic sewage stream. It utilized the permeate of a chemically conditioned two‐stage ultrafiltration/nanofiltration system with COD of 5700 mg L−1 and a total phenol content of 100 mg L−1. Peptone mixture with similar characteristics to domestic sewage was adopted as the biodegradable synthetic substrate. The study relied on two sets of microbial culture; one acclimated to peptone and the other to a mixture of peptone and domestic sewage. Respirometric analyses were conducted on pretreated OMW diluted in the selected substrate using corresponding biomass seeding.RESULTSModel evaluation of the oxygen uptake rate profiles indicated that the pretreated OMW was fully consumed in the respirometric tests. There were no inhibitory/toxic impacts of OMW dosing on the biomass. The entire biomass participated in the utilization of OMW/substrate with no metabolic adjustment problems.CONCLUSIONExperimental results provided conclusive evidence that co‐treatment with a domestic sewage stream is a viable option for OMW management, after a chemically conditioned two‐stage filtration used as the pretreatment step. Pretreatment removes the recalcitrant nature of the wastewater, which becomes fully biodegradable under appropriate dilution and mixing conditions. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
A Threshold Dosage of Testosterone for Female‐to‐Male Sex Reversal in Rana rugosa Frogs
Authors: Oike Akira , Kodama Maho , Nakamura Yoriko , Nakamura Masahisa 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACTAndrogens play a critical role in testicular differentiation in many species of vertebrates. While female‐to‐male sex reversal can be induced by testosterone (T) in some species of amphibians, the mechanism still remains largely unknown even at the histological level. In this study, we determined a threshold dosage of T to induce female‐to‐male sex reversal in the Japanese frog Rana (R.) rugosa. Tadpoles were allowed to metamorphose into frogs with T present in the rearing water. At 0.2 ng/mL T, female frogs formed tissue comprising a mixture of ovary and testis, the so‐called ovotestis, the size of which was significantly smaller than the wild‐type ovary. Histological changes occurring in the oocytes of T‐treated ovaries induced oocyte degeneration in the masculinizing ovaries leading to their final disappearance. In parallel, many germ cells emerged in the cortex of the ovotestis and, later, in the medulla as well. RT‐PCR analysis revealed upregulated expression of CYP17 and Dmrt1 but not 17βHSD in the ovotestis, and downregulation of Pat1a expression. Furthermore, immunohistology revealed CYP17‐positive signals in the cortex of the masculinizing ovary, spreading throughout the whole area as the testis developed. These results indicate that oocytes are sensitive to T in the ovary of R. rugosa and that male‐type germ cells expand in the masculinizing gonad (testis) contemporaneous with oocyte disappearance.
Mechanics in human fibroblasts and progeria: Lamin A mutation E145K results in stiffening of nuclei
Authors: Apte Ketaki , Stick Reimer , Radmacher Manfred 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe lamina is a filamentous meshwork beneath the inner nuclear membrane that confers mechanical stability to nuclei. The E145K mutation in lamin A causes Hutchinson‐Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS). It affects lamin filament assembly and induces profound changes in the nuclear architecture. Expression of wild‐type and E145K lamin A in Xenopus oocytes followed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) probing of isolated oocyte nuclei has shown significant changes in the mechanical properties of the lamina. Nuclei of oocytes expressing E145K lamin A are stiffer than those expressing wild‐type lamin A. Here we present mechanical measurements by AFM on dermal fibroblasts obtained from a 4‐year‐old progeria patient bearing the E145K lamin A mutation and compared it to fibroblasts obtained from 2 healthy donors of 10 and 61 years of age, respectively. The abnormal shape of nuclei expressing E145K lamin A was analyzed by fluorescence microscopy. Lamina thickness was measured using electron micrographs. Fluorescence microscopy showed alterations in the actin network of progeria cells. AFM probing of whole dermal fibroblasts did not demonstrate significant differences in the elastic moduli of nuclear and cytoplasmic cell regions. In contrast, AFM measurements of isolated nuclei showed that nuclei of progeria and old person's cells are significantly stiffer than those of the young person, indicating that the process of aging, be it natural or abnormal, increases nuclear stiffness. Our results corroborate AFM data obtained using Xenopus oocyte nuclei and prove that the presence of E145K lamin A abnormally increases nuclear stiffness.
Promoting Cardiomyogenesis of hBMSC with a Forming Self‐Assembly hBMSC Microtissues/HA‐GRGD/SF‐PCL Cardiac Patch Is Mediated by the Synergistic Functions of HA‐GRGD
Authors: Chung Tze‐Wen , Lo Hsin‐Yu , Chou Tzung‐Han , Chen Jan‐Hou , Wang Shoei‐Shen 
Published: September 2016

Bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cell microtissues (BMSCMT) enhanced cardiomyogenesis in vitro and cardiac repairs of myocardial infarcted hearts in vivo are documented. Producing human BMSCMT onto patches in vitro for cardiac tissue engineering has not been reported. For possibly producing human bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cell microtissues (hBMSCMT) on an elastic silk fibroin (SF)‐poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) based patches is hereby designed. After an elastic SF‐PCL (SP) patch is fabricated, hyaluronic acid (HA)/SF‐PCL(HSP) and HA‐GRGD/SF‐PCL(HGSP) patches are fabricated by photochemically grafting HA and HA‐GRGD onto SP surfaces. The results show that the proliferations of hBMSC on HGSP patches significantly exceed those on the other patches, as determined by 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐5‐(3‐carboxymethoxyphenyl)‐2‐(4‐sulfophenyl)‐2H‐tetrazolium assay. Notably, the formation of 5‐aza inducing cardiomyogenic differentiations of hBMSCMT/HGSP patches is observed with typical sizes of ≈317 μm wide and 26 μm high. The cardiomyogenesis of hBMSCMT/HGSP patches including the expressions of cardiac‐specific genes (e.g., Gata4) and proteins (e.g., connexin43 (CX43)) significantly exceeds those of hBMSC monolayer on the HSP and SP patches. Promoting in vitro cardiomyogenesis of hBMSC with forming cardiomyogenic differentiation of hBMSCMT/HGSP hybrid patch is possibly mediated by the synergistic functions of HA‐GRGD on enhancing the activity of F‐actin. The hBMSCMT/HGSP cardiac patch may be further employed to cardiac tissue engineering.image
Synthesis of Polylactide‐Based Core–Shell Interface Cross‐Linked Micelles for Anticancer Drug Delivery
Authors: Chen Chih‐Kuang , Lin Wei‐Jen , Hsia Yu , Lo Leu‐Wei 
Published: September 2016

Well‐defined poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐allyl functional polylactide‐b‐polylactides (PEG‐APLA‐PLAs) are synthesized through sequential ring‐opening polymerization. PEG‐APLA‐PLAs that have amphiphilic properties and reactive allyl side chains on their intermediate blocks are successfully transferred to core–shell interface cross‐linked micelles (ICMs) by micellization and UV‐initiated irradiation. ICMs have demonstrated enhanced colloidal stability in physiological‐mimicking media. Hydrophobic molecules such as Nile Red or doxorubicin (Dox) are readily loaded into ICMs; the resulting drug‐ICM formulations possess slow and sustained drug release profiles under physiological‐mimicking conditions. ICMs exhibit negligible cytotoxicity in human uterine sarcoma cancer cells by using biodegradable aliphatic polyester as the hydrophobic segments. Relative to free Dox, Dox‐loaded ICMs show a reduced cytotoxicity due to the late intracellular release of Dox from ICMs. Overall, ICMs represent a new type of biodegradable cross‐linked micelle and can be employed as a promising platform for delivering a broad variety of hydrophobic drugs.image
Iron Binding and Iron Removal Efficiency of Desferrioxamine Based Polymeric Iron Chelators: Influence of Molecular Size and Chelator Density
Authors: Hamilton Jasmine L. , ul‐haq Muhammad Imran , Creagh A. Louise , Haynes Charles A. , Kizhakkedathu Jayachandran N. 
Published: September 2016

Desferrioxamine (DFO) is a clinically approved, high affinity iron chelator used for the treatment of iron overload. Due to its short half‐life and toxicity, DFO is administered for 8–12 h per day, 5–7 d per week. In this manuscript, the influence of molecular properties of hyperbranched polyglycerol (HPG)‐DFO conjugates on their iron binding by isothermal titration calorimetry, iron removal efficiency from ferritin in presence and absence of a low molecular weight (MW) iron chelator, and protection against iron mediated oxidation of proteins is reported. The iron binding properties of HPG‐DFO are slightly altered with size and DFO density of conjugates. The lower MW conjugate shows greater iron removal efficiency at room temperature, however, the efficacy of high MW conjugates increases at physiological temperature. The iron removal from ferritin by HPG‐DFO conjugates increases significantly in presence of a low MW chelator, suggesting the potential of combination therapy. The molecular properties of the polymer scaffold also have influence on the prevention of iron mediated oxidation of proteins by the conjugates. The results therefore help to define the iron binding thermodynamics of HPG‐DFO and their dependence on MW, and can be extended to improve the general understanding of polymeric chelator‐iron interactions in situ.
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A New Approach to Supertough Poly(lactic acid): A High Temperature Reactive Blending
Authors: Yuryev Yury , Mohanty Amar K. , Misra Manjusri 
Published: September 2016

A novel approach to PLA toughening is proposed in this study. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is toughened using poly(ethylene‐n‐butylene‐acrylate‐co‐glycydyl methacrylate) (EBA‐GMA) as a reactive compatibilizer with the aid of an epoxy‐based chain extender. It is found that the toughening effect of EBA‐GMA in the binary blend investigated is strongly influenced by blending temperature. Blending at high temperatures which are non‐typical for PLA processing (over 250 °C) allows toughness to be increased by an order of magnitude when compared to the toughness of blends prepared at low temperatures (below 200 °C). This effect is attributed to a combination of factors, namely an increasing rate of reactive bonding between PLA and EBA‐GMA at elevated temperatures and enhanced interfacial adhesion between PLA and EBA‐GMA phases. DSC studies show that PLA/EBA‐GMA bonding on the interface acts as an efficient nucleator for PLA. The nucleation ability of the PLA/EBA‐GMA interface strongly depends on blend processing temperature and gradually increases with increasing blending temperature. The PLA/EBA‐GMA interface shows its highest nucleation ability at 250 °C.image
Effect of Organoclay Ordering and Agglomeration on Morphology and Mechanical Properties of Uncured and Dynamically Cured Ethylene‐Octene Copolymer Nanocomposites
Authors: Razavi‐Nouri Mohammad , Sabet Alireza , Tayefi Masoud , Imeni Milad 
Published: September 2016

In this work, the effects of organoclay (OMMT) and cross‐linking agent on thermal and mechanical properties as well as the morphology of dynamically cured nanocomposites based on ethylene‐octene copolymer are studied. The nanocomposites containing 1, 3, 5, and 7 wt% OMMT are first prepared and then cured with 0.5 and 1 wt% dicumyl peroxide. Low angle X‐ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy reveal that the size of clay tactoids is increased with the increase of OMMT content within the nanocomposites especially for the uncross‐linked matrix. In addition, the distance between adjacent clay layers is increased for the cured nanocomposites containing 1 and 3 wt% OMMT, however, it remains relatively unchanged for higher amounts of the nanofiller. In uncross‐linked systems, the nanocomposites containing up to 5 wt% OMMT exhibit a remarkable enhancement in stress and strain at break compared to that of the matrix alone. With the addition of further OMMT content, although the stress and strain at break are both decreased, still remained much higher than that of the pristine copolymer. A mechanism is also proposed to compare the microstructure of the uncured and cured nanocomposites before and after stretching.image
Weekday sunlight exposure, but not vitamin D intake, influences the association between vitamin D receptor genotype and circulating concentration 25‐hydroxyvitamin D in a pan‐European population: the Food4Me study
Authors: Livingstone Katherine M. , Celis‐Morales Carlos , Hoeller Ulrich , Lambrinou Christina P. , Moschonis George , Macready Anna L. , Fallaize Rosalind , Baur Manuela , Roos Franz F , Bendik Igor , Grimaldi Keith , Navas‐Carretero Santiago , San‐Cristobal Rodrigo , Weber Peter , Drevon Christian A. , Manios Yannis , Traczyk Iwona , Gibney Eileen R. , Lovegrove Julie A. , Saris Wim H. , Daniel Hannelore , Gibney Mike , Martinez J. Alfredo , Brennan Lorraine , Hill Tom R. , Mathers John C. ,   on behalf of the Food4Me Study
Published: September 2016

ScopeLittle is known about diet– and environment–gene interactions on 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D concentration. This cross‐sectional study aimed to investigate (i) predictors of 25(OH)D concentration and relationships with vitamin D genotypes and (ii) whether dietary vitamin D intake and sunlight exposure modified these relationships.Methods and resultsParticipants from the Food4Me study (n = 1312; age 18–79) were genotyped for vitamin D receptor (VDR) and vitamin D binding protein at baseline and a genetic risk score was calculated. Dried blood spot samples were assayed for 25(OH)D concentration and dietary and lifestyle information collected. Circulating 25(OH)D concentration was lower with increasing genetic risk score, lower in females than males, higher in supplement users than non‐users and higher in summer than winter. Carriage of the minor VDR allele was associated with lower 25(OH)D concentration in participants with the least sunlight exposure. Vitamin D genotype did not influence the relationship between vitamin D intake and 25(OH)D concentration.ConclusionAge, sex, dietary vitamin D intake, country, sunlight exposure, season, and vitamin D genetic risk score were associated with circulating 25(OH)D concentration in a pan‐European population. The relationship between VDR genotype and 25(OH)D concentration may be influenced by weekday sunlight exposure but not dietary vitamin D intake.
Using laser capture microdissection to study fiber specific signaling in locomotor muscle in COPD: A pilot study
Authors: Mohan Divya , Lewis Amy , Patel Mehul S. , Curtis Katrina J. , Lee Jen Y. , Hopkinson Nicholas S. , Wilkinson Ian B. , Kemp Paul R. , Polkey Michael I. 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACTIntroductionQuadriceps dysfunction is important in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with an associated increased proportion of type II fibers. Investigation of protein synthesis and degradation has yielded conflicting results, possibly due to study of whole biopsy samples, whereas signaling may be fiber‐specific. Our objective was to develop a method for fiber‐specific gene expression analysis.Methods12 COPD and 6 healthy subjects underwent quadriceps biopsy. Cryosections were immunostained for type II fibers, which were separated using laser capture microdissection (LCM). Whole muscle and different fiber populations were subject to quantitative polymerase chain reaction.ResultsLevels of muscle‐RING‐finger‐protein‐1 and Atrogin‐1 were lower in type II fibers of COPD versus healthy subjects (P = 0.02 and P = 0.03, respectively), but differences were not apparent in whole muscle or type I fibers.ConclusionsWe describe a novel method for studying fiber‐specific gene expression in optimum cutting temperature compound‐embedded muscle specimens. LCM offers a more sensitive way to identify molecular changes in COPD muscle. Muscle Nerve 55: 902–912, 2017
An Eulerian–Lagrangian Weighted Essentially Nonoscillatory scheme for nonlinear conservation laws
Authors: Huang Chieh‐sen , Arbogast Todd 
Published: September 2016

We develop a formally high order Eulerian–Lagrangian Weighted Essentially Nonoscillatory (EL‐WENO) finite volume scheme for nonlinear scalar conservation laws that combines ideas of Lagrangian traceline methods with WENO reconstructions. The particles within a grid element are transported in the manner of a standard Eulerian–Lagrangian (or semi‐Lagrangian) scheme using a fixed velocity v. A flux correction computation accounts for particles that cross the v‐traceline during the time step. If v = 0, the scheme reduces to an almost standard WENO5 scheme. The CFL condition is relaxed when v is chosen to approximate either the characteristic or particle velocity. Excellent numerical results are obtained using relatively long time steps.The v‐traceback points can fall arbitrarily within the computational grid, and linear WENO weights may not exist for the point. A general WENO technique is described to reconstruct to any order the integral of a smooth function using averages defined over a general, nonuniform computational grid. Moreover, to high accuracy, local averages can also be reconstructed. By re‐averaging the function to a uniform reconstruction grid that includes a point of interest, one can apply a standard WENO reconstruction to obtain a high order point value of the function. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 33: 651–680, 2017