bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Protective effect of Co‐enzyme Q10 On doxorubicin‐induced cardiomyopathy of rat hearts
Authors: Chen Pei‐Yu , Hou Chien‐Wen , Shibu Marthandam Asokan , Day Cecilia Hsuan , Pai Peiying , Liu Zhao‐Rong , Lin Tze‐Yi , Viswanadha Vijaya Padma , Kuo Chia‐Hua , Huang Chih‐Yang 
Published: April 2016

ABSTRACTQ10 is a powerful antioxidant often used in medical nutritional supplements for cancer treatment. This study determined whether Q10 could effectively prevent cardio‐toxicity caused by doxorubicin treatment. Four week old SD rats were segregated into groups namely control, doxorubicin group (challenged with doxorubicin), Dox + Q10 group (with doxorubicin challenge and oral Q10 treatment), and Q10 group (with oral Q10 treatment). Doxorubicin groups received IP doxorubicin (2.5 mg/kg) every 3 days and Q10 groups received Q10 (10 mg/kg) every day. Three weeks of doxorubicin challenge caused significant reduction in heart weight, disarray in cardiomyocyte arrangement, elevation of collagen accumulation, enhancement of fibrosis and cell death associated proteins, and inhibition of survival proteins. However, Q10 effectively protected cardiomyocytes and ameliorated fibrosis and cell death induced by doxorubicin. Q10 is, therefore, evidently a potential drug to prevent heart damage caused by doxorubicin. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 679–689, 2017.
An Objective Assessment of the Surgical Trainee in an Urban Trauma Unit in South Africa: A Pilot Study
Authors: Spence Richard Trafford , Zargaran Eiman , Hameed Morad , Nicol Andrew , Navsaria Pradeep 
Published: April 2016

AbstractBackgroundSurgical outcomes are provider specific. This prospective audit describes the surgical activity of five general surgery residents on their trauma surgery rotation. It was hypothesized that the operating surgical trainee is an independent risk factor for adverse outcomes following major trauma.Materials and methodsThis is a prospective cohort study. All patients admitted, over a 6‐month period (August 2014–January 2015), following trauma requiring a major operation performed by a surgical trainee at Groote Schuur Hospital’s trauma unit in South Africa were included. Multiple logistic regression models were built to compare risk‐adjusted surgical outcomes between trainees. The primary outcome measure was major in‐hospital complications.ResultsA total of 320 major operations involving 341 procedures were included. The mean age was 28.49 years (range 13–64), 97.2 % were male with a median ISS of 9 (IQR 1–41). Mechanism of injury was penetrating in 93.42 % of cases of which 51.86 % were gunshot injuries. Surgeon A consistently had the lowest risk‐adjusted outcomes and was used as the reference for all outcomes in the regression models. Surgeon B, D, and E had statistically significant higher rates of major in‐hospital complications than Surgeon A and C, after adjusting for multiple confounders. The final model used to calculate the risk estimates for the primary outcome had a ROC of 0.8649.ConclusionRisk‐adjusted surgical outcomes vary by operating surgical trainee. The analysis thereof can add value to the objective assessment of a surgical trainee.
CHAIN LADDER AND ERROR PROPAGATION
Authors: Röhr Ancus 
Published: April 2016

AbstractWe show how estimators for the chain ladder prediction error in Mack's (1993) distribution-free stochastic model can be derived using the error propagation formula. Our method allows for the treatment of the general case of the prediction error of the loss development result between two arbitrary future horizons. In the well-known special cases considered previously by Mack (1993) and Merz and Wüthrich (2008), our estimators coincide with theirs. However, the algebraic form in which we cast them is new, considerably more compact and more intuitive to understand. For example, in the classical case treated by Mack (1993), we show that the mean squared prediction error divided by the squared estimated ultimate loss can be written as ∑jû2j, where ûj measures the (relative) uncertainty around the jth development factor and the proportion of the estimated ultimate loss that it affects. The error propagation method also provides a natural split into process error and parameter error. Our proofs identify and exploit symmetries of “chain ladder processes” in a novel way. For the sake of wider practical applicability of the formulae derived, we allow for incomplete historical data and the exclusion of outliers in the triangles.
A Radiocarbon Sequence from Tell Abu en-Ni‘aj, Jordan and its Implications for Early Bronze IV Chronology in the Southern Levant
Authors: Falconer Steven E , Fall Patricia L 
Published: April 2016

AbstractTell Abu en-Ni‘aj, an agrarian Early Bronze IV village in the northern Jordan Valley, Jordan, provides a series of 24 accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) seed dates spanning seven stratified phases of occupation. Bayesian analysis of these ages reveals that habitation at Tell Abu en-Ni‘aj began between 2600 and 2500 cal BC and ended just before 2000 cal BC. This sequence provides the longest radiocarbon record of occupation for an Early Bronze IV settlement in the southern Levant and pushes the beginning of the Levantine Early Bronze IV earlier than proposed previously. When integrated with14C dates from an array of sites in the southern Levant, Egypt, and Lebanon, this evidence aligns with recent14C-based chronologies calling for earlier ages for Early Bronze I–III, details Early Bronze IV chronology through the course of this period, and corroborates the date of the Early Bronze IV/Middle Bronze Age transition ~2000 cal BC.
A predictor-based attitude and position estimation for rigid bodies moving in planar space by using delayed landmark measurements
Authors: Senejohnny Danial , Namvar Mehrzad 
Published: April 2016

SUMMARYThis paper proposes a globally and exponentially convergent predictive observer for attitude and position estimation based on landmark measurements and velocity (angular and linear) readings. It is assumed that landmark measurements are available with time-delay. The maximum value of the sensor delay under which the estimation error converges to zero is calculated. Synthesis of the observer is based on a representation of rigid-body kinematics and sensor delay, formulated via ordinary and partial differential equations (ODE-PDE). Observability condition specifies necessary and sufficient landmark configuration for convergence of attitude and position estimation error to zero. Finally, for implementation purposes, a PDE-free realization of the predictive observer is proposed. Simulation results are presented to demonstrate performance and convergence properties of the predictive observer in case of a wheeled mobile robot.
Tum/RacGAP functions as a switch activating the Pav/kinesin-6 motor
Authors: Tao Li , Fasulo Barbara , Warecki Brandt , Sullivan William 
Published: April 2016

AbstractCentralspindlin is essential for central spindle and cleavage furrow formation. Drosophila centralspindlin consists of a kinesin-6 motor (Pav/kinesin-6) and a GTPase-activating protein (Tum/RacGAP). Centralspindlin localization to the central spindle is mediated by Pav/kinesin-6. While Tum/RacGAP has well-documented scaffolding functions, whether it influences Pav/kinesin-6 function is less well-explored. Here we demonstrate that both Pav/kinesin-6 and the centralspindlin complex (co-expressed Pav/Tum) have strong microtubule bundling activity. Centralspindlin also has robust plus-end-directed motility. In contrast, Pav/kinesin-6 alone cannot move microtubules. However, the addition of Tum/RacGAP or a 65 amino acid Tum/RacGAP fragment to Pav/kinesin-6 restores microtubule motility. Further, ATPase assays reveal that microtubule-stimulated ATPase activity of centralspindlin is seven times higher than that of Pav/kinesin-6. These findings are supported by in vivo studies demonstrating that in Tum/RacGAP-depleted S2 Drosophila cells, Pav/kinesin-6 exhibits severely reduced localization to the central spindle and an abnormal concentration at the centrosomes.
A two decade dementia incidence comparison from the Cognitive Function and Ageing Studies I and II
Authors: Matthews F. E. , Stephan B. C. M. , Robinson L. , Jagger C. , Barnes L. E. , Arthur A. , Brayne C. ,   Cognitive Function and Ageing Studies (CFAS) Collaboration, Comas-Herrera A. , Wittenberg R. , Dening T. , McCracken C.F.M. , Moody C. , Parry B. , Green E. , Barnes R. , Warwick J. , Gao L. , Mattison A. , Baldwin C. , Harrison S. , Woods B. , McKeith I.G. , Ince P.G. , Wharton S.B. , Forster G. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractDramatic global increases in future numbers of people with dementia have been predicted. No multicentre population-based study powered to detect changes over time has reported dementia incidence. MRC Cognitive Function and Ageing Study (CFAS) undertook baseline interviews in populations aged 65+ years in England and Wales (1989–1994). Three areas (CFAS I) were selected for new sampling two decades later (2008–2011) with same geographical boundaries, sampling and approach methods (CFAS II). At 2 years CFAS I interviewed 5,156 (76% response) with 5,288 interviewed in CFAS II (74% response). Here we report a 20% drop in incidence (95% CI: 0–40%), driven by a reduction in men across all ages above 65. In the UK we estimate 209,600 new dementia cases per year. This study was uniquely designed to test for differences across geography and time. A reduction of age-specific incidence means that the numbers of people estimated to develop dementia in any year has remained relatively stable.
Gene set of chemosensory receptors in the polyembryonic endoparasitoid Macrocentrus cingulum
Authors: Ahmed Tofael , Zhang Tiantao , Wang Zhenying , He Kanglai , Bai Shuxiong 
Published: April 2016

AbstractInsects are extremely successful animals whose odor perception is very prominent due to their sophisticated olfactory system. The main chemosensory organ, antennae play a critical role in detecting odor in ambient environment before initiating appropriate behavioral responses. The antennal chemosensory receptor genes families have been suggested to be involved in olfactory signal transduction pathway as a sensory neuron response. The Macrocentrus cingulum is deployed successfully as a biological control agent for corn pest insects from the Lepidopteran genus Ostrinia. In this research, we assembled antennal transcriptomes of M. cingulum by using next generation sequencing to identify the major chemosensory receptors gene families. In total, 112 olfactory receptors candidates (79 odorant receptors, 20 gustatory receptors, and 13 ionotropic receptors) have been identified from the male and female antennal transcriptome. The sequences of all of these transcripts were confirmed by RT-PCR, and direct DNA sequencing. Expression profiles of gustatory receptors in olfactory and non-olfactory tissues were measured by RT-qPCR. The sex-specific and sex-biased chemoreceptors expression patterns suggested that they may have important functions in sense detection which behaviorally relevant to odor molecules. This reported result provides a comprehensive resource of the foundation in semiochemicals driven behaviors at molecular level in polyembryonic endoparasitoid.
Galectin-1 dimers can scaffold Raf-effectors to increase H-ras nanoclustering
Authors: Blaževitš Olga , Mideksa Yonatan G. , Šolman Maja , Ligabue Alessio , Ariotti Nicholas , Nakhaeizadeh Hossein , Fansa Eyad K. , Papageorgiou Anastassios C. , Wittinghofer Alfred , Ahmadian Mohammad R. , Abankwa Daniel 
Published: April 2016

AbstractGalectin-1 (Gal-1) dimers crosslink carbohydrates on cell surface receptors. Carbohydrate-derived inhibitors have been developed for cancer treatment. Intracellularly, Gal-1 was suggested to interact with the farnesylated C-terminus of Ras thus specifically stabilizing GTP-H-ras nanoscale signalling hubs in the membrane, termed nanoclusters. The latter activity may present an alternative mechanism for how overexpressed Gal-1 stimulates tumourigenesis. Here we revise the current model for the interaction of Gal-1 with H-ras. We show that it indirectly forms a complex with GTP-H-ras via a high-affinity interaction with the Ras binding domain (RBD) of Ras effectors. A computationally generated model of the Gal-1/C-Raf-RBD complex is validated by mutational analysis. Both cellular FRET as well as proximity ligation assay experiments confirm interaction of Gal-1 with Raf proteins in mammalian cells. Consistently, interference with H-rasG12V-effector interactions basically abolishes H-ras nanoclustering. In addition, an intact dimer interface of Gal-1 is required for it to positively regulate H-rasG12V nanoclustering, but negatively K-rasG12V nanoclustering. Our findings suggest stacked dimers of H-ras, Raf and Gal-1 as building blocks of GTP-H-ras-nanocluster at high Gal-1 levels. Based on our results the Gal-1/effector interface represents a potential drug target site in diseases with aberrant Ras signalling.
Circulating Fatty Acid Synthase in pregnant women: Relationship to blood pressure, maternal metabolism and newborn parameters
Authors: Carreras-Badosa Gemma , Prats-Puig Anna , Puig Teresa , Vázquez-Ruíz Montserrat , Bruel Monserrat , Mendoza Ericka , de Zegher Francis , Ibáñez Lourdes , López-Bermejo Abel , Bassols Judit 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThe enzyme FASN (fatty acid synthase) is potentially related with hypertension and metabolic dysfunction. FASN is highly expressed in the human placenta. We aimed to investigate the relationship circulating FASN has with blood pressure, maternal metabolism and newborn parameters in healthy pregnant women. Circulating FASN was assessed in 115 asymptomatic pregnant women in the second trimester of gestation along with C-peptide, fasting glucose and insulin, post-load glucose lipids, HMW-adiponectin and blood pressure (the latter was assessed in each trimester of gestation). At birth, newborns and placentas were weighed. FASN expression was also able to be assessed in 80 placentas. Higher circulating FASN was associated with lower systolic blood pressure (SBP), with a more favourable metabolic phenotype (lower fasting glucose and insulin, post load glucose, HbAc1, HOMA-IR and C-peptide), and with lower placental and birth weight (all p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). Placental FASN expression related positively to circulating FASN (p < 0.005) and negatively to placental weight (p < 0.05). Our observations suggest a physiological role of placental FASN in human pregnancy. Future studies will clarify whether circulating FASN of placental origin does actually regulate placental and fetal growth, and (thereby) has a favourable influence on the pregnant mother’s insulin sensitivity and blood pressure.
The reproductive tracts of two malaria vectors are populated by a core microbiome and by gender- and swarm-enriched microbial biomarkers
Authors: Segata Nicola , Baldini Francesco , Pompon Julien , Garrett Wendy S. , Truong Duy Tin , Dabiré Roch K. , Diabaté Abdoulaye , Levashina Elena A. , Catteruccia Flaminia 
Published: April 2016

AbstractMicrobes play key roles in shaping the physiology of insects and can influence behavior, reproduction and susceptibility to pathogens. In Sub-Saharan Africa, two major malaria vectors, Anopheles gambiae and An. coluzzii, breed in distinct larval habitats characterized by different microorganisms that might affect their adult physiology and possibly Plasmodium transmission. We analyzed the reproductive microbiomes of male and female An. gambiae and An. coluzzii couples collected from natural mating swarms in Burkina Faso. 16S rRNA sequencing on dissected tissues revealed that the reproductive tracts harbor a complex microbiome characterized by a large core group of bacteria shared by both species and all reproductive tissues. Interestingly, we detected a significant enrichment of several gender-associated microbial biomarkers in specific tissues, and surprisingly, similar classes of bacteria in males captured from one mating swarm, suggesting that these males originated from the same larval breeding site. Finally, we identified several endosymbiotic bacteria, including Spiroplasma, which have the ability to manipulate insect reproductive success. Our study provides a comprehensive analysis of the reproductive microbiome of important human disease vectors, and identifies a panel of core and endosymbiotic bacteria that can be potentially exploited to interfere with the transmission of malaria parasites by the Anopheles mosquito.
Gamma radiation induces hydrogen absorption by copper in water
Authors: Lousada Cláudio M. , Soroka Inna L. , Yagodzinskyy Yuriy , Tarakina Nadezda V. , Todoshchenko Olga , Hänninen Hannu , Korzhavyi Pavel A. , Jonsson Mats 
Published: April 2016

AbstractOne of the most intricate issues of nuclear power is the long-term safety of repositories for radioactive waste. These repositories can have an impact on future generations for a period of time orders of magnitude longer than any known civilization. Several countries have considered copper as an outer corrosion barrier for canisters containing spent nuclear fuel. Among the many processes that must be considered in the safety assessments, radiation induced processes constitute a key-component. Here we show that copper metal immersed in water uptakes considerable amounts of hydrogen when exposed to γ-radiation. Additionally we show that the amount of hydrogen absorbed by copper depends on the total dose of radiation. At a dose of 69 kGy the uptake of hydrogen by metallic copper is 7 orders of magnitude higher than when the absorption is driven by H2(g) at a pressure of 1 atm in a non-irradiated dry system. Moreover, irradiation of copper in water causes corrosion of the metal and the formation of a variety of surface cavities, nanoparticle deposits, and islands of needle-shaped crystals. Hence, radiation enhanced uptake of hydrogen by spent nuclear fuel encapsulating materials should be taken into account in the safety assessments of nuclear waste repositories.
In situ, high-resolution evidence for iron-coupled mobilization of phosphorus in sediments
Authors: Ding Shiming , Wang Yan , Wang Dan , Li Yang Yang , Gong Mengdan , Zhang Chaosheng 
Published: April 2016

AbstractReductive dissolution of phosphorus-bearing iron (Fe) (oxyhydr)oxides has been regarded as a primary mechanism responsible for the mobilization of phosphorus (P) in sediments for over 70 years. However, to date there is littlein situevidence to support this hypothesis. In this study, a total of 16 sites in the large eutrophic Lake Taihu were selected for investigation. Newly-developed diffusive gradients in thin films (ZrO-Chelex DGT) probes were deployed to simultaneously measure labile Fe and P mainly released from sediment solids at millimeter spatial resolution. Significantly positive correlations were observed between DGT-labile Fe and P at 14 sites, implying a release of P following reductive dissolution of Fe (oxyhydr)oxides. A coincident resupply of Fe(II) and P was observed from sediment solids to buffer their releases from DGT perturbance, further verifying the mechanism of Fe-coupled mobilization of P. The ratio of DGT-labile Fe/P was found to be positively correlated with the ratio of easily reducible (oxyhydr)oxide Fe to its associated P, indicating that this solid phase should retain P prior to its release. The results provide direct evidence for the coupling between Fe and P in sediments and further identify the easily reducible Fe (oxyhydr)oxide species involved in the coupling process.
A new nano-engineered hierarchical membrane for concurrent removal of surfactant and oil from oil-in-water nanoemulsion
Authors: Qin Detao , Liu Zhaoyang , Bai Hongwei , Sun Darren Delai , Song Xiaoxiao 
Published: April 2016

AbstractSurfactant stabilized oil-in-water nanoemulsions pose a severe threat to both the environment and human health. Recent development of membrane filtration technology has enabled efficient oil removal from oil/water nanoemulsion, however, the concurrent removal of surfactant and oil remains unsolved because the existing filtration membranes still suffer from low surfactant removal rate and serious surfactant-induced fouling issue. In this study, to realize the concurrent removal of surfactant and oil from nanoemulsion, a novel hierarchically-structured membrane is designed with a nanostructured selective layer on top of a microstructured support layer. The physical and chemical properties of the overall membrane, including wettability, surface roughness, electric charge, thickness and structures, are delicately tailored through a nano-engineered fabrication process, that is, graphene oxide (GO) nanosheet assisted phase inversion coupled with surface functionalization. Compared with the membrane fabricated by conventional phase inversion, this novel membrane has four times higher water flux, significantly higher rejections of both oil (~99.9%) and surfactant (as high as 93.5%), and two thirds lower fouling ratio when treating surfactant stabilized oil-in-water nanoemulsion. Due to its excellent performances and facile fabrication process, this nano-engineered membrane is expected to have wide practical applications in the oil/water separation fields of environmental protection and water purification.
microRNA let-7c is essential for the anisomycin-elicited apoptosis in Jurkat T cells by linking JNK1/2 to AP-1/STAT1/STAT3 signaling
Authors: Zhou Zhiwei , Lu Xijian , Wang Jin , Xiao Jia , Liu Jing , Xing Feiyue 
Published: April 2016

AbstractAnisomycin, an antibiotic produced byStreptomyces griseolus, strongly induces apoptosis in various tumor cellsin vitro, superior dramatically to adriamycin. The present study aims to elucidate its detailed mechanistic process. The results showed that anisomycin sufficiently promoted the apoptosis in human leukemic Jurkat T cells at a quite low dose. microRNA let-7c (let-7c) contributed to the anisomycin-induced apoptosis, which could be abrogated by the inactivation of JNK signaling. The let-7c over-expression and the addition of its mimics facilitated the activation of AP-1, STAT1 and Bim by linking JNK1/2 to AP-1/STAT1, but rather inhibited the activation of STAT3 and Bcl-xL by connecting JNK1/2 to STAT3, followed by the augmented apoptosis in the cells. The let-7c deficiency reduced the AP-1, STAT1 and Bim activities and enhanced the STAT3 and Bcl-xL, alleviating the anisomycin-induced apoptosis. The knockdown of thebimgene repressed the anisomycin-boosted apoptosis through the attenuation of the active Bak and Bax. The findings indicate for the first time that miR let-7c is essential for the anisomycin-triggered apoptosis by linking JNK1/2 to AP-1/STAT1/STAT3/Bim/Bcl-xL/Bax/Bak signaling. This provides a novel insight into the mechanism by which anisomycin leads to the tumor cell apoptosis, potentially laying the foundations for its development and clinical application.