bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Architecture of relict charcoal hearths in northwestern Connecticut, USA
Authors: Raab Thomas , Hirsch Florian , Ouimet William , Johnson Katharine M. , Dethier David , Raab Alexandra 
Published: March 2017

AbstractRelict charcoal hearths are round or elliptical earthen platforms up to 11 m in diameter and a widespread feature of historical industry that supplied charcoal used in the production of iron in furnaces or smelters. The iron industry dominated Litchfield County, Connecticut, and surrounding areas in the northeast United States throughout the 19th century, peaking in ∼1850. The large number of charcoal hearths in this region is a relic of >150 years of widespread iron production. In this study, we describe the architecture and soil stratigraphy of 26 charcoal hearths in Litchfield County. This contribution aims to (1) compare soils that comprise the charcoal hearths with “natural” adjacent soils, (2) measure the thickness of topsoil developed upon the hearths, and (3) characterize the stratigraphy associated with these features. Results indicate that the black topsoils overlying the charcoal hearths contain residual charcoal and are on average 2.6 times thicker than adjacent Cambisols. Charcoal hearths display two or more black, charcoal‐rich strata separated by layers of reddish‐brown soil low in charcoal content indicating multiple episodes of use. We also find that many charcoal hearths have been stabilized with boulders on the downslope side during construction and repeated use. Overall, the results presented here provide significant information regarding the construction, use, and associated impacts of earthen platforms for charcoal production in the northeast United States, with further relevance to other areas where historical charcoal production occurred.
This Is Who I Want to Be! Exploring Possible Selves by Interviewing Women in Science
Authors: Early Jessica Singer 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThis article shares a study of an interview/writing project for adolescent girls, which was a component of the Girls Writing Science Project at a diverse urban high school in the Southwestern United States. The group of high school girls planned, initiated, conducted, and wrote interview profiles of women scientists from their local community. This study of adolescent writers represents a model for teachers across disciplines to use the teaching of writing as a pathway for students to access, explore, and articulate possibilities for their future selves in connection to science. More specifically, this project offers a means of narrowing the gender divide in the sciences by supporting students in studying high‐achieving women working in science‐related careers and by practicing writing as a real‐world, transferable skill with meaningful purpose.
Safety, osseointegration, and bone ingrowth analysis of PMMA‐based porous cement on animal metaphyseal bone defect model
Authors: Cimatti Bruno , Santos Mariana Avelino dos , Brassesco Maria Sol , Okano Laura Tiemi , Barboza Wendell Monteiro , Nogueira‐Barbosa Marcello Henrique , Engel Edgard Eduard 
Published: March 2017

AbstractBone defects created after curettage of benign bone tumors are customarily filled with solid poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) or other bone substitutes. In this study, we depicted a porous PMMA‐based cement (produced by mixing sodium bicarbonate and citric acid) and evaluated the prospect of its clinic application. Cement samples were characterized by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to mass spectrometry and its cytotoxicity evaluated in fibroblast cultures. Implantation in rabbits allowed the histologic analysis of bone, kidneys, and liver for toxicity and coagulation tests, and MRI images for hemostasis evaluation. Osseointegration was analyzed through radiography, microtomography (micro‐CT), SEM, and histology of sheep specimens. Rabbit specimens were analyzed 1, 4, and 7 days after implantation of porous or solid bone cement in 6.0 mm femoral defects. Sheep specimens were analyzed 3 and 6 months after implantation or not of porous or solid cement in 15.0 mm subchondral tibial defects. The production process did not release any detectable toxic substance but slightly reduced fibroblast proliferation in vitro. Until 7 days after surgery, no local or systemic alterations could be detected in histology, or hematoma formation in histology or MRI. Sheep implants showed 6 mm linear ingrowth from the bone–cement interface and 20% bone ingrowth considering the whole defect area. Radiography, micro‐CT, SEM, and histology confirmed these findings. We conclude that our porous PMMA‐based cement is an attractive alternative treatment for bone defect filling that combines osseointegration and early weight bearing. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 649–658, 2018.
Proximal Femur Volumetric Bone Mineral Density and Mortality: 13 Years of Follow‐Up of the AGES‐Reykjavik Study
Authors: Marques Elisa A , Elbejjani Martine , Gudnason Vilmundur , Sigurdsson Gunnar , Lang Thomas , Sigurdsson Sigurdur , Aspelund Thor , Meirelles Osorio , Siggeirsdottir Kristin , Launer Lenore , Eiriksdottir Gudny , Harris Tamara B 
Published: March 2017

ABSTRACTBone mineral density (BMD) has been linked to mortality, but little is known about the independent contribution of each endosteal bone compartment and also the rate of bone loss to risk of mortality. We examined the relationships between (1) baseline trabecular and cortical volumetric BMD (vBMD) at the proximal femur, and (2) the rate of trabecular and cortical bone loss and all‐cause mortality in older adults from the AGES‐Reykjavik study. The analysis of trabecular and cortical vBMD and mortality was based on the baseline cohort of 4654 participants (aged ≥66 years) with a median follow‐up of 9.4 years; the association between rate of bone loss and mortality was based on 2653 participants with bone loss data (median follow‐up of 5.6 years). Analyses employed multivariable Cox‐proportional models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with time‐varying fracture status; trabecular and cortical variables were included together in all models. Adjusted for important confounders, Cox models showed that participants in the lowest quartile of trabecular vBMD had an increased risk of mortality compared to participants in other quartiles (HR = 1.12; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01 to 1.25); baseline cortical vBMD was not related to mortality (HR = 1.08; 95% CI, 0.97 to 1.20). After adjustment for time‐dependent fracture status, results were attenuated and not statistically significant. A faster loss (quartile 1 versus quartiles 2–4) in both trabecular and cortical bone was associated with higher mortality risk (HR = 1.37 and 1.33, respectively); these associations were independent of major potential confounders including time‐dependent incident fractures (HR = 1.32 and 1.34, respectively). Overall, data suggest that faster bone losses over time in both the trabecular and cortical bone compartments are associated with mortality risk and that measurements of change in bone health may be more informative than single‐point measurements in explaining mortality differences in older adults. © 2017 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Bone Microarchitecture Assessed by HR‐pQCT as Predictor of Fracture Risk in Postmenopausal Women: The OFELY Study
Authors: Sornay‐Rendu Elisabeth , Boutroy Stephanie , Duboeuf François , Chapurlat Roland D 
Published: March 2017

ABSTRACTSeveral cross‐sectional studies have shown that impairment of bone microarchitecture contributes to skeletal fragility. The aim of this study was to prospectively investigate the prediction of fracture (Fx) by bone microarchitecture assessed by high‐resolution peripheral computed tomography (HR‐ pQCT) in postmenopausal women. We measured microarchitecture at the distal radius and tibia with HR‐pQCT in the OFELY study, in addition to areal BMD with dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) in 589 women, mean ± SD age 68 ± 9 years. During a median [IQ] 9.4 [1.0] years of follow‐up, 135 women sustained an incident fragility Fx, including 81 women with a major osteoporotic Fx (MOP Fx). After adjustment for age, women who sustained Fx had significantly lower total and trabecular volumetric densities (vBMD) at both sites, cortical parameters (area and thickness at the radius, vBMD at the tibia), trabecular number (Tb.N), connectivity density (Conn.D), stiffness, and estimated failure load at both sites, compared with control women. After adjustment for age, current smoking, falls, prior Fx, use of osteoporosis‐related drugs, and total hip BMD, each quartile decrease of several baseline values of bone microarchitecture at the radius was associated with significant change of the risk of Fx (HR of 1.39 for Tb.BMD [p = 0.001], 1.32 for Tb.N [p = 0.01], 0.76 for Tb.Sp.SD [p = 0.01], 1.49 [p = 0.01] for Conn.D, and 1.27 for stiffness [p = 0.02]). At the tibia, the association remained significant for stiffness and failure load in the multivariate model for all fragility Fx and for Tt.BMD, stiffness, and failure load for MOP Fx. We conclude that impairment of bone microarchitecture—essentially in the trabecular compartment of the radius—predict the occurrence of incident fracture in postmenopausal women. This assessment may play an important role in identifying women at high risk of fracture who could not be adequately detected by BMD measurement alone, to benefit from a therapeutic intervention. © 2017 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Transcriptome and Functional Genomics Reveal the Participation of Adenine Phosphoribosyltransferase in Trypanosoma cruzi Resistance to Benznidazole
Authors: García‐Huertas Paola , Mejía‐Jaramillo Ana María , González Laura , Triana‐Chávez Omar 
Published: March 2017

ABSTRACTCurrently, the only available treatments for Trypanosoma cruzi are benznidazole (Bz) and nifurtimox (Nfx). The mechanisms of action and resistance to these drugs in this parasite are not complete known. In order to identify differentially expressed transcripts between sensitive and resistant parasites, a massive pyrosequencing of the T. cruzi transcriptome was carried out. Additionally, the 2D gel electrophoresis profile of sensitive and resistant parasites was analyzed and the data were supported with functional genomics. The results showed 133 differentially expressed genes in resistant parasites. The transcriptome analysis revealed the regulation of different genes with several functions and metabolic pathways, which could suggest that resistance in T. cruzi is a multigenic process. Additionally, using transcriptomics, one gene, adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (APRT), was found to be down‐regulated in the resistant parasites and its expression profile was confirmed by 2D electrophoresis analysis. The role of this gene in the resistance to Bz was confirmed overexpressing it in sensitive and resistant parasites. Interestingly, both parasites became more sensitive to Bz and H2O2. This is the first RNA‐seq study to identify regulated genes in T. cruzi associated with Bz resistance and to show the role of APRT in T. cruzi resistance. Although T. cruzi regulation is mainly post‐transcriptional, the transcriptome analysis, supported by 2D gel analysis and functional genomic, provides an overall idea of the expression profiles of genes under resistance conditions. These results contribute essential information to further the understanding of the mechanisms of action and resistance to Bz in T. cruzi. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 1936–1945, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Association between sickle cell anemia and alpha thalassemia reveals a high prevalence of the α3.7 triplication in congolese patients than in worldwide series
Authors: Mikobi Tite Minga , Lukusa Prosper Tshilobo , Aloni Michel Ntetani , Lumaka Aimé , Akilimali Pierre Zalagile , Devriendt Koenraad , Matthijs Gert , Mbuyi Muamba Jean‐Marie , Race Valerie 
Published: March 2017

BackgroundInformation about the association with alpha thalassemia in sickle cell patients is unknown in the Democratic Republic of Congo. There is very little data on the alpha thalassemia in patients suffering from sickle cell anemia in Central Africa, and their consequences on the clinical expression of the disease.MethodsA cross‐sectional study was conducted in 106 sickle cell patients living in the country's capital Kinshasa. The diagnosis of sickle cell anemia was confirmed with a molecular test using PCR‐RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) technique. The diagnosis of thalassemia was performed by the technique of multiplex ligation dependent probe amplification.ResultsThe mean age of our patients was 22.4±13.6 years. The α3.7 heterozygous deletion, the α3.7 homozygous deletion and the α3.7 triplication were respectively encountered in 23.6%, 25.5% , and 11.3% of patients. Patients with normal αα/αα genotype represented 39.6% of the study population. The average of severe vaso‐occlusive crises, the rates of blood transfusions per year, the rate of osteonecrosis, cholelithiasis and leg ulcers were significantly lower in the group of patients with α3.7 homozygous deletion and α3.7 triplication.ConclusionThe prevalence of α3.7 triplication was higher in sickle cell patients in the Democratic Republic of Congo than in worldwide series. The α3.7 triplication and α3.7 homozygous deletion were associated with less severe forms of the Sickle cell anemia in Congolese patients. These results showed the need to investigate systematically the alpha‐globin gene mutations in sickle cell population in Central Africa.
A genetic variant in CDKN2A/B gene is associated with the increased risk of breast cancer
Authors: ShahidSales Soodabeh , Mehramiz Mehraneh , Ghasemi Faezeh , Aledavood Amir , Shamsi Mehri , Hassanian Seyed Mahdi , Ghayour‐Mobarhan Majid , Avan Amir 
Published: March 2017

BackgroundBreast cancer is among the leading cause of cancer‐related‐deaths in women, supporting the need for the identification of novel prognostic and predictive biomarkers. Recent studies have identified common genetic variants in a region on chromosome 9p21 associated with an increased risk of developing different cancers. Here, we explored the association of a genetic variant in CDKN2A/B, rs10811661, for the first time in 564 subjects with/without breast cancer.MethodGenotyping was performed using TaqMan real time PCR method. The associations of this genetic variant with breast cancer risk and pathological information of patients were assessed.ResultsWe observed that patients with breast cancer had a higher frequency of TT genotype (P<.001) than control group, which was associated with advanced TNM classification (P=.04) and larger tumor size (P=.014), as detected by the recessive genetic inheritance model. Moreover, the logistic regression under recessive genetic model revealed that breast cancer patients with TT had higher risk of breast cancer, compared to CC/CT genotypes (eg, OR=4.9, 95% CI:1.9‐12, P=.001), after adjusted for potential confounders, age, BMI, and family history.ConclusionWe demonstrated that patients carrying the TT genotype for CDKN2A/B rs10811661 polymorphism had the increased risk of breast cancer susceptibility. However, further investigations are warranted in a larger and prospective setting to explore the value of this marker as a risk stratification marker in breast cancer.
One‐step immunochromatographic visual assay for anti‐transglutaminase detection in organ culture system: An easy and prompt method to simplify the in vitro diagnosis of celiac disease
Authors: Di Tola Marco , Marino Mariacatia , Casale Rossella , Borghini Raffaele , Tiberti Antonio , Donato Giuseppe , Occhiuzzi Umberto , Picarelli Antonio 
Published: March 2017

BackgroundAnti‐tissue transglutaminase (anti‐tTG) and endomysium antibodies (EMA) are detectable in duodenal culture media of celiac disease (CD) patients. To improve the management of this organ culture system, we evaluated the anti‐tTG occurrence by immunochromatographic assay (ICA).MethodsA total of 103 CD patients and 41 disease controls underwent duodenal biopsy for the organ culture. In culture supernatants, IgA anti‐tTG were tested by both enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and ICA, IgA EMA were searched by indirect immunofluorescence analysis (iIFA).ResultsEndomysium antibodies and anti‐tTG measured by ELISA were positive in culture media of all CD patients, while anti‐tTG detected by ICA were positive in culture media of 87/103 CD patients. Anti‐tTG ICA scores significantly correlated with anti‐tTG ELISA values (r=.71, P<.0001). Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of anti‐tTG detected by ICA were 84.5%, 100% and 88.9%, respectively.ConclusionsUsing ICA, anti‐tTG are detectable in duodenal culture media of most CD patients and the intensity of indicative lines depends on the anti‐tTG concentration. Sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy achieved with ICA are lower than those obtained with ELISA but, given that the first is a more easy and prompt method, data suggest the possibility of utilizing it in the in vitro diagnosis of CD.
Spatial ecology and habitat selection of eastern hognose snakes
Authors: Buchanan Scott W. , Timm Brad C. , Cook Robert P. , Couse Richard , Hazard Lisa C. 
Published: March 2017

ABSTRACTThe eastern hognose snake (Heterodon platirhinos) is a species of conservation concern, especially in the northeastern portion of its range. They remain relatively common at Cape Cod National Seashore, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, USA, where we studied their spatial ecology and habitat selection. We radio‐tracked 17 adult snakes (10 F, 7 M) from May 2009 to November 2011, yielding 765 relocations. We conducted a use‐availability analysis to investigate patterns of microhabitat selection using a subset of snake locations. We conducted a compositional analysis of habitat selection at multiple spatial scales within home ranges using a high‐resolution (1‐m pixel size) vegetation cover map of the study area. Snakes moved frequently and had large home ranges ( = 35.4 ha) relative to other snake species of similar body size but exhibited variation in home range size among individuals (1–209 ha). Movements peaked at different times of year for each sex, and were most different between sexes in fall. In gravid females, movement was significantly greater in the 2‐week post‐oviposition period versus the 2‐week pre‐oviposition period. Estimates of home range and average daily movements ( = 30.1 m/day) were lower than estimates from other studies of eastern hognose snakes, possibly because of a greater density of resources at our study area. Probability of snake habitat use increased with grass and leaf litter and decreased with open soil. Compositional analysis revealed a strong avoidance of open dune areas. A comparison of edge density between use and random locations within home ranges revealed an apparent preference for edge habitat. We recommend that resource managers should limit recreational disturbance to and maintain the patchy mosaic of early successional vegetation with abundant edge to ensure the persistence of appropriate habitat for the species. We identified the timing of peak seasonal movements and recommend that this information be used to help prevent road mortality for this important population. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.
Multispectral and Microwave Remote Sensing Models to Survey Soil Moisture and Salinity
Authors: Periasamy Shoba , Shanmugam Ramakrishnan S. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractSoil moisture stress and salinity are considered as a major form of land degradation in rain‐fed agricultural regions. The study has been carried out for four distinct periods such as 2001, 2005, 2010, and 2015 that was selected according to the climatic variations that occurred more than a decade. The multispectral remote sensing‐based empirical models were employed on Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus and Operational Land Imager imageries to estimate the rate of soil moisture stress and salinity from 2001–2015. The rate of soil moisture stress has been magnified to 143%, and salinity was increased by 70% particularly from 2005–2010 when the drought period occurred. The reliability of identifying the saline‐affected soils from the multispectral remote sensing models was significantly affected (R2 = 0.39) because of the extensive distribution of Nerium oleander plants and water logging state in the study region. The modified microwave water cloud model revealed the three‐layer information such as N. oleander, soil, and vegetation such that an imaginary part of the dielectric constant derived from simplified Hallikainen empirical model has got good correlation (R2 = 0.73) with ground electrical conductivity measurements. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Delving deeper: Metabolic processes in the metalimnion of stratified lakes
Authors: Giling Darren P. , Staehr Peter A. , Grossart Hans Peter , Andersen Mikkel René , Boehrer Bertram , Escot Carmelo , Evrendilek Fatih , Gómez‐Gener Lluís , Honti Mark , Jones Ian D. , Karakaya Nusret , Laas Alo , Moreno‐Ostos Enrique , Rinke Karsten , Scharfenberger Ulrike , Schmidt Silke R. , Weber Michael , Woolway R. Iestyn , Zwart Jacob A. , Obrador Biel 
Published: March 2017

AbstractMany lakes exhibit seasonal stratification, during which they develop strong thermal and chemical gradients. An expansion of depth‐integrated monitoring programs has provided insight into the importance of organic carbon processing that occurs below the upper mixed layer. However, the chemical and physical drivers of metabolism and metabolic coupling remain unresolved, especially in the metalimnion. In this depth zone, sharp gradients in key resources such as light and temperature co‐occur with dynamic physical conditions that influence metabolic processes directly and simultaneously hamper the accurate tracing of biological activity. We evaluated the drivers of metalimnetic metabolism and its associated uncertainty across 10 stratified lakes in Europe and North America. We hypothesized that the metalimnion would contribute highly to whole‐lake functioning in clear oligotrophic lakes, and that metabolic rates would be highly variable in unstable polymictic lakes. Depth‐integrated rates of gross primary production (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (ER) were modelled from diel dissolved oxygen curves using a Bayesian approach. Metabolic estimates were more uncertain below the epilimnion, but uncertainty was not consistently related to lake morphology or mixing regime. Metalimnetic rates exhibited high day‐to‐day variability in all trophic states, with the metalimnetic contribution to daily whole‐lake GPP and ER ranging from 0% to 87% and < 1% to 92%, respectively. Nonetheless, the metalimnion of low‐nutrient lakes contributed strongly to whole‐lake metabolism on average, driven by a collinear combination of highlight, low surface‐water phosphorous concentration and high metalimnetic volume. Consequently, a single‐sensor approach does not necessarily reflect whole‐ecosystem carbon dynamics in stratified lakes.