bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency is associated with insulin resistance in Brazilian children, regardless of body fat distribution
Authors: Milagres Luana Cupertino , Rocha Naruna Pereira , Filgueiras Mariana de Santis , Albuquerque Fernanda Martins de , Castro Ana Paula Pereira , Pessoa Milene Cristine , Gouveia Peluzio Maria do Carmo , Novaes Juliana Farias de 
Published: August 2017

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency and its association with cardiometabolic risk factors, controlled by adiposity, in a representative sample of prepubescent children.DesignCross-sectional population-based study. Body composition was evaluated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Anthropometric measures and blood pressure were performed. Laboratory analyses were performed to determine the levels of vitamin D (25-hydroxyitamin D; 25(OH)D), glucose, insulin, serum lipids and intact parathyroid hormone. Dietary intake was assessed by three 24 h recalls.SettingViçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 2015.SubjectsRepresentative sample of 378 children aged 8 and 9 years from urban schools.ResultsInadequate serum concentrations of 25(OH)D were diagnosed in more than half of the children and none of them met the recommended vitamin D intake. After adjusting for confounding factors in the multiple regression analysis, lower prevalence of insulin resistance and hypertriacylglycerolaemia was found in children with serum 25(OH)D levels ≥75 nmol/l (prevalence ratio=0·25; 95 % CI 0·08, 0·85) and ≥50 nmol/l (prevalence ratio=0·61; 95 % CI 0·37, 0·99), respectively. However, after adjusting for different indicators of adiposity, insulin resistance remained independently associated and the association with hypertriacylglycerolaemia was lost after adjusting for central adiposity. The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency was associated with the number of cardiometabolic alterations in children.ConclusionsThe study results showed that prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency was high among the children and insulin resistance was the main cardiometabolic alteration associated with this condition, even in a tropical climate country such as Brazil.
“We never speak about death.” Healthcare professionals' views on palliative care for inpatients in Tanzania: A qualitative study
Authors: Lewis E. Grace , Oates Lloyd L. , Rogathi Jane , Duinmaijer Ashanti , Shayo Aisa , Megiroo Simon , Bakari Barthlomew , Dewhurst Felicity , Walker Richard W. , Dewhurst Matt , Urasa Sarah 
Published: August 2017

ABSTRACTObjective:Little is known about the current views and practices of healthcare professionals (HCPs) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) regarding delivery of hospital palliative care. The present qualitative study explored the views of nursing staff and medical professionals on providing palliative and end-of-life care (EoLC) to hospital inpatients in Tanzania.Method:Focus group discussions were conducted with a purposive sample of HCPs working on the medical and pediatric wards of the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, a tertiary referral hospital in northern Tanzania. Transcriptions were coded using a thematic approach.Results:In total, 32 healthcare workers were interviewed via 7 focus group discussions and 1 semistructured interview. Four major themes were identified. First, HCPs held strong views on what factors were important to enable individuals with a life-limiting diagnosis to live and die well. Arriving at a state of “acceptance” was the ultimate goal; however, they acknowledged that they often fell short of achieving this for inpatients. Thus, the second theme involved identifying the “barriers” to delivering palliative care in hospital. Another important factor identified was difficulty with complex communications, particularly “breaking bad news,” the third theme. Fourth, participants were divided about their personal preferences for “place of EoLC,” but all emphasized the benefits of the hospital setting so as to enable better symptom control.Significance of results:Despite the fact that all the HCPs interviewed were regularly involved in providing palliative and EoLC, they had received limited formal training in its provision, although they identified such training as a universal requirement. This training gap is likely to be present across much of SSA. Palliative care training, particularly in terms of communication skills, should be comprehensively integrated within undergraduate and postgraduate education. Research is needed to develop culturally appropriate curricula to equip HCPs to manage the complex communication challenges that occur in caring for a diverse inpatient group with palliative care needs.
Unveiling bifidobacterial biogeography across the mammalian branch of the tree of life
Authors: Milani Christian , Mangifesta Marta , Mancabelli Leonardo , Lugli Gabriele A , James Kieran , Duranti Sabrina , Turroni Francesca , Ferrario Chiara , Ossiprandi Maria C , van Sinderen Douwe , Ventura Marco 
Published: August 2017

Abstract
Internally transcribed spacer (ITS) rRNA profiling is a novel tool for detailed analysis of microbial populations at low taxonomic ranks. Here we exploited this approach to explore species-level biogeography of the Bifidobacterium genus across 291 adult mammals. These include humans and 13 other primates, domesticated animals, such as dogs, cats, cows, sheep, goats, horses and pigs, and 46 additional species. The collected profiles revealed the presence of 89 putative novel bifidobacterial taxa in addition to 45 previously described species. Remarkably, in contrast to what is currently known for many gut commensals, we did not observe host-specialization among bifidobacterial species but rather their widespread distribution across mammals. Moreover, ITS rRNA profiling of wild relatives of domesticated dogs, rabbits and pigs clearly indicates that domestication and close contact with humans have impacted on the composition of the fecal bifidobacterial population. These data were complemented by analysis of bifidobacterial communities in milk of eight mammalian families, showing that bifidobacteria represent prototypical early gut microbiota members which are inherited by newborns from their lactating mother. Thus this study highlights the role of bifidobacteria as pioneering gut colonizers of a wide range of mammals.
Redox reactions and weak buffering capacity lead to acidification in the Chesapeake Bay
Authors: Cai Wei-Jun , Huang Wei-Jen , Luther George W. , Pierrot Denis , Li Ming , Testa Jeremy , Xue Ming , Joesoef Andrew , Mann Roger , Brodeur Jean , Xu Yuan-Yuan , Chen Baoshan , Hussain Najid , Waldbusser George G. , Cornwell Jeffrey , Kemp W. Michael 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe combined effects of anthropogenic and biological CO2 inputs may lead to more rapid acidification in coastal waters compared to the open ocean. It is less clear, however, how redox reactions would contribute to acidification. Here we report estuarine acidification dynamics based on oxygen, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), pH, dissolved inorganic carbon and total alkalinity data from the Chesapeake Bay, where anthropogenic nutrient inputs have led to eutrophication, hypoxia and anoxia, and low pH. We show that a pH minimum occurs in mid-depths where acids are generated as a result of H2S oxidation in waters mixed upward from the anoxic depths. Our analyses also suggest a large synergistic effect from river–ocean mixing, global and local atmospheric CO2 uptake, and CO2 and acid production from respiration and other redox reactions. Together they lead to a poor acid buffering capacity, severe acidification and increased carbonate mineral dissolution in the USA’s largest estuary.
Optimization of lattice surgery is NP-hard
Authors: Herr Daniel , Nori Franco , Devitt Simon J. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe traditional method for computation in either the surface code or in the Raussendorf model is the creation of holes or “defects” within the encoded lattice of qubits that are manipulated via topological braiding to enact logic gates. However, this is not the only way to achieve universal, fault-tolerant computation. In this work, we focus on the lattice surgery representation, which realizes transversal logic operations without destroying the intrinsic 2D nearest-neighbor properties of the braid-based surface code and achieves universality without defects and braid-based logic. For both techniques there are open questions regarding the compilation and resource optimization of quantum circuits. Optimization in braid-based logic is proving to be difficult and the classical complexity associated with this problem has yet to be determined. In the context of lattice-surgery-based logic, we can introduce an optimality condition, which corresponds to a circuit with the lowest resource requirements in terms of physical qubits and computational time, and prove that the complexity of optimizing a quantum circuit in the lattice surgery model is NP-hard.
Observation of two superconducting domes under pressure in tetragonal FeS
Authors: Zhang Jun , Liu Feng-Liang , Ying Tian-Ping , Li Na-Na , Xu Yang , He Lan-Po , Hong Xiao-Chen , Yu Yun-Jie , Wang Ming-Xiang , Shen Jian , Yang Wen-Ge , Li Shi-Yan 
Published: August 2017

AbstractWe investigate the evolution of superconductivity and structure with pressure for the new superconductor FeS (Tc ≈ 4.5 K), a sulfide counterpart of FeSe. A rapid suppression of T
c
and vanishing of superconductivity at 4.0 GPa are observed, followed by a second superconducting dome from 5.0 to 22.3 GPa with a 30% enhancement in maximum Tc. An onsite tetragonal to hexagonal phase transition occurs around 7.0 GPa, followed by a broad pressure range of phase coexistence. The residual deformed tetragonal phase is considered as the source of second superconducting dome. The observation of two superconducting domes in iron-based superconductors poses great challenges for understanding their pairing mechanism.
Inference on Paleoclimate Change Using Microbial Habitat Preference in Arctic Holocene Sediments
Authors: Han Dukki , Nam Seung-Il , Kim Ji-Hoon , Stein Ruediger , Niessen Frank , Joe Young Jin , Park Yu-Hyeon , Hur Hor-Gil 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe present study combines data of microbial assemblages with high-resolution paleoceanographic records from Core GC1 recovered in the Chukchi Sea. For the first time, we have demonstrated that microbial habitat preferences are closely linked to Holocene paleoclimate records, and found geological, geochemical, and microbiological evidence for the inference of the sulphate-methane transition zone (SMTZ) in the Chukchi Sea. In Core GC1, the layer of maximum crenarchaeol concentration was localized surrounding the SMTZ. The vertically distributed predominant populations of Gammaproteobacteria and Marine Group II Euryarchaeota (MG-II) were consistent with patterns of the known global SMTZs. MG-II was the most prominent archaeal group, even within the layer of elevated concentrations of crenarchaeol, an archaeal lipid biomarker most commonly used for Marine Group I Thaumarchaeota (MG-I). The distribution of MG-I and MG-II in Core GC1, as opposed to the potential contribution of MG-I to the marine tetraether lipid pool, suggests that the application of glycerol dibiphytanyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGT)-based proxies needs to be carefully considered in the subsurface sediments owing to the many unknowns of crenarchaeol. In conclusion, microbiological profiles integrated with geological records seem to be useful for tracking microbial habitat preference, which reflect climate-triggered changes from the paleodepositional environment.
The Prognostic 97 Chemoresponse Gene Signature in Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Matondo Abel , Jo Yong Hwa , Shahid Muhammad , Choi Tae Gyu , Nguyen Minh Nam , Nguyen Ngoc Ngo Yen , Akter Salima , Kang Insug , Ha Joohun , Maeng Chi Hoon , Kim Si-Young , Lee Ju-seog , Kim Jayoung , Kim Sung Soo 
Published: August 2017

AbstractPatient diagnosis and care would be significantly improved by understanding the mechanisms underlying platinum and taxane resistance in ovarian cancer. Here, we aim to establish a gene signature that can identify molecular pathways/transcription factors involved in ovarian cancer progression, poor clinical outcome, and chemotherapy resistance. To validate the robustness of the gene signature, a meta-analysis approach was applied to 1,020 patients from 7 datasets. A 97-gene signature was identified as an independent predictor of patient survival in association with other clinicopathological factors in univariate [hazard ratio (HR): 3.0, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.66–5.44, p = 2.7E-4] and multivariate [HR: 2.88, 95% CI 1.57–5.2, p = 0.001] analyses. Subset analyses demonstrated that the signature could predict patients who would attain complete or partial remission or no-response to first-line chemotherapy. Pathway analyses revealed that the signature was regulated by HIF1α and TP53 and included nine HIF1α-regulated genes, which were highly expressed in non-responders and partial remission patients than in complete remission patients. We present the 97-gene signature as an accurate prognostic predictor of overall survival and chemoresponse. Our signature also provides information on potential candidate target genes for future treatment efforts in ovarian cancer.
Hand Posture Modulates Perceived Tactile Distance
Authors: Longo Matthew R. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractA growing literature shows that body posture modulates the perception of touch, as well as somatosensory processing more widely. In this study, I investigated the effects of changes in the internal postural configuration of the hand on the perceived distance between touches. In two experiments participants positioned their hand in two postures, with the fingers splayed (Apart posture) or pressed together (Together posture). In Experiment 1, participants made forced-choice judgments of which of two tactile distances felt bigger, one oriented with the proximal-distal hand axis (Along orientation) and one oriented with the medio-lateral hand axis (Across orientation). In Experiment 2, participants made verbal estimates of the absolute distance between a single pair of touches, in one of the two orientations. Consistent with previous results, there was a clear bias to perceive distances in the across orientation as larger than those in the along orientation. Perceived tactile distance was also modulated by posture, with increased judgments in both orientations when the fingers were splayed. These results show that changes in the internal posture of the hand modulate the perceived distance between touches on the hand, and add to a growing literature showing postural modulation of touch.
Investigating the Association between Alcohol and Risk of Head and Neck Cancer in Taiwan
Authors: Huang Cheng-Chih , Hsiao Jenn-Ren , Lee Wei-Ting , Lee Yao-Chou , Ou Chun-Yen , Chang Chan-Chi , Lu Yu-Cheng , Huang Jehn-Shyun , Wong Tung-Yiu , Chen Ken-Chung , Tsai Sen-Tien , Fang Sheen-Yie , Wu Jiunn-Liang , Wu Yuan-Hua , Hsueh Wei-Ting , Yen Chia-Jui , Wu Shang-Yin , Chang Jang-Yang , Lin Chen-Lin , Wang Yi-Hui , Weng Ya-Ling , Yang Han-Chien , Chen Yu-Shan , Chang Jeffrey S. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractAlthough alcohol is an established risk factor of head and neck cancer (HNC), insufficiencies exist in the literature in several aspects. We analyzed detailed alcohol consumption data (amount and type of alcoholic beverage) of 811 HNC patients and 940 controls to evaluate the association between alcohol and HNC by HNC sites and by genotypes of ADH1B and ALDH2. Alcohol was associated with an increased HNC risk in a dose-response relationship, with the highest risk observed for hypopharyngeal cancer, followed by oropharyngeal and laryngeal cancers. Liquor showed a stronger positive association with HNC than beer and wine. The highest HNC risk occurred in individuals with the slow ADH1B and slow/non-functional ALDH2 genotype combination. In our study population, 21.8% of HNCs, 55.7% of oropharyngeal cancers, and 89.1% of hypopharyngeal cancers could be attributed to alcohol. Alcohol accounted for 47.3% of HNCs among individuals with the slow ADH1B and slow/non-functional ALDH2 genotype combination. The HNC risk associated with alcohol became comparable to that of never/occasional drinkers after ten or more years of cessation from regular alcohol drinking. In conclusion, alcohol use is associated with an increased HNC risk, particularly for individuals with slow ethanol metabolism. HNC incidence may be reduced by alcohol cessation.
Atp6ap2 ablation in adult mice impairs viability through multiple organ deficiencies
Authors: Wendling Olivia , Champy Marie-France , Jaubert Solène , Pavlovic Guillaume , Dubos Aline , Lindner Loic , Jacobs Hugues , Mark Manuel , Combe Roy , Da Cruz Isabelle Goncalves , Luche Hervé , Mudgett John S. , Rosahl Thomas , Sorg Tania , Malissen Marie , Reilly Patrick T. , Hérault Yann 
Published: August 2017

AbstractATP6AP2 codes for the (pro)renin receptor and is an essential component of vacuolar H+ ATPase. Activating (pro)renin for conversion of Angiotensinogen to Angiotensin makes ATP6AP2 attractive for drug intervention. Tissue-specific ATP6AP2 inactivation in mouse suggested a strong impact on various organs. Consistent with this, we found that embryonic ablation of Atp6ap2 resulted in both male hemizygous lethality and female haploinsufficiency. Next, we examined the phenotype of an induced inactivation in the adult animal, most akin to detect potential effect of functional interference of ATP6AP2 through drug therapy. Induced ablation of Atp6ap2, even without equal efficiency in all tissues (aorta, brain and kidney), resulted in rapid lethality marked by weight loss, changes in nutritional as well as blood parameters, leukocyte depletion, and bone marrow hypoplasia. Upon Atp6ap2 ablation, the colon demonstrated a rapid disruption of crypt morphology, aberrant proliferation, cell-death activation, as well as generation of microadenomas. Consequently, disruption of ATP6AP2 is extremely poorly tolerated in the adult, and severely affects various organ systems demonstrating that ATP6AP2 is an essential gene implicated in basic cellular mechanisms and necessary for multiple organ function. Accordingly, any potential drug targeting of this gene product must be strictly assessed for safety.
Delayed APC/C activation extends the first mitosis of mouse embryos
Authors: Ajduk Anna , Strauss Bernhard , Pines Jonathon , Zernicka-Goetz Magdalena 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe correct temporal regulation of mitosis underpins genomic stability because it ensures the alignment of chromosomes on the mitotic spindle that is required for their proper segregation to the two daughter cells. Crucially, sister chromatid separation must be delayed until all the chromosomes have attached to the spindle; this is achieved by the Spindle Assembly Checkpoint (SAC) that inhibits the Anaphase Promoting Complex/Cyclosome (APC/C) ubiquitin ligase. In many species the first embryonic M-phase is significantly prolonged compared to the subsequent divisions, but the reason behind this has remained unclear. Here, we show that the first M-phase in the mouse embryo is significantly extended due to a delay in APC/C activation. Unlike in somatic cells, where the APC/C first targets cyclin A2 for degradation at nuclear envelope breakdown (NEBD), we find that in zygotes cyclin A2 remains stable for a significant period of time after NEBD. Our findings that the SAC prevents cyclin A2 degradation, whereas over-expressed Plk1 stimulates it, support our conclusion that the delay in cyclin A2 degradation is caused by low APC/C activity. As a consequence of delayed APC/C activation cyclin B1 stability in the first mitosis is also prolonged, leading to the unusual length of the first M-phase.
Interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa ligand are elevated in hypertrophic gastric mucosa of pachydermoperiostosis
Authors: Huang Hui , Wang Yongjun , Cao Yong , Wu Boda , Li Yonggui , Fan Liangliang , Tan Zhiping , Jiang Yi , Tang Jianguang , Hu Jianzhong , Shi Xiaoliu 
Published: August 2017

AbstractPachydermoperiostosis (PDP) is a rare inherited multisystem disease characterized with digital clubbing, pachydermia and periostosis. Variants in either HPGD or SLCO2A1 that interrupt the prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) pathway have been shown to be involved in PDP. Here, in addition to six confirmed variants in HPGD or SLCO2A1, we identified four novel SLCO2A1 variants in eight PDP patients from seven Chinese Han families. In addition, gastric mucosa hyperplasia was observed in all affected individuals and interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa ligand (RANKL) expression were elevated in hypertrophic gastric mucosa. Two of eight patients who had severe arthralgia were treated with celecoxib. After three months, their arthralgia was partly relieved and IL-6, TNFα and RANKL expression were decreased in accordance with their relieved hypertrophic gastric mucosa. Our study broadens the variation spectrum of SLCO2A1 and suggests that the gastric mucosa hyperplasia might be a common characteristic of PDP. Moreover, celecoxib would be a considerable choice for PDP patients. We also revealed that IL-6, TNFα and RANKL may play important roles in the molecular mechanisms of gastric mucosa hyperplasia in PDP for the first time.
Desorption of hydrocarbon chains by association with ionic and nonionic surfactants under flow as a mechanism for enhanced oil recovery
Authors: Terrón-Mejía Ketzasmin A. , López-Rendón Roberto , Goicochea Armando Gama 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe need to extract oil from wells where it is embedded on the surfaces of rocks has led to the development of new and improved enhanced oil recovery techniques. One of those is the injection of surfactants with water vapor, which promotes desorption of oil that can then be extracted using pumps, as the surfactants encapsulate the oil in foams. However, the mechanisms that lead to the optimal desorption of oil and the best type of surfactants to carry out desorption are not well known yet, which warrants the need to carry out basic research on this topic. In this work, we report non equilibrium dissipative particle dynamics simulations of model surfactants and oil molecules adsorbed on surfaces, with the purpose of studying the efficiency of the surfactants to desorb hydrocarbon chains, that are found adsorbed over flat surfaces. The model surfactants studied correspond to nonionic and cationic surfactants, and the hydrocarbon desorption is studied as a function of surfactant concentration under increasing Poiseuille flow. We obtain various hydrocarbon desorption isotherms for every model of surfactant proposed, under flow. Nonionic surfactants are found to be the most effective to desorb oil and the mechanisms that lead to this phenomenon are presented and discussed.