bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characterization of biosurfactants as insecticidal metabolites produced by Bacillus subtilis Y9
Authors: Yang Si Young , Lim Da Jung , Noh Mi Young , Kim Jin Cheol , Kim Young Cheol , Kim In Seon 
Published: November 2016

AbstractBiosurfactants have been used for crop protection in integrated pest management programs, as they are generally biodegradable and environmentally friendly. While screening for insecticidal bacteria against green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, we found that a Bacillus isolate, Y9, exhibited strong surface tension activity and produced insecticidal metabolites. The insecticidal metabolites with surface tension activity were extracted from the cell‐free supernatant of Y9 and subjected to repetitive column chromatography and preparative high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Based on data from instrumental analyses, the metabolites were identified as surfactin isomers consisting of C14[Leu7], C14[Val7] and C15[Leu7]. The isomers with leucine showed higher insecticidal activity than the isomers with valine. Y9 was capable of producing biosurfactants as insecticidal metabolites against M. persicae, and showed potential for use as a biocontrol agent in an integrated pest management program.
Life table parameters of an indigenous strain of Neoseiulus californicus McGregor (Acari: Phytoseiidae) when fed Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae)
Authors: Uddin Md. Nizam , Alam Md. Zinnatul , Miah Md. Ramiz Uddin , Mian Md. Ismail Hossain , Mustarin Kishowar‐E‐ 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThe life table of the indigenous Neoseiulus californicus was studied at different temperatures and 65 ± 5% relative humidity under conditions of 16 h light : 8 h dark (LD 16:8). The total developmental period from egg to adult varied from 3.0 to 14.0 days at 15 to 35°C. Survival to adulthood ranges from 86.21 to 93.94%, with the highest rate at 25°C. The lower threshold temperature from egg to adult stages of females and males was 10.84 and 10.72°C, respectively, and the thermal constant was 57.14 degree‐days (DD) for females and 56.18 DD for males. Total number of eggs laid by each female was the highest (70.38 eggs) at 25°C, whereas average daily fecundity was the highest (3.69 eggs/female/day) at 30°C. The net reproductive rate was the highest (48.49) at 25°C and lowest (26.18) at 30°C. Mean generation time decreased from 19.04 to 11.47 days with increasing temperature from 20 to 30°C. Both intrinsic rate of natural increase (0.284) and finite rate of increase (1.32) were maximum at 30°C. Adult longevity was the highest (42.75 days for females and 32.60 days for males) at 20°C and lowest (22.70 days for females and 15.30 days for males) at 30°C. Sex ratio was female biased and was the highest (78.08) at 25°C and lowest (70.24) at 30°C. Developmental data of five constant temperatures, temperature thresholds and thermal requirements may be used to predict the occurrence, number of generations and population dynamics of N. californicus as an important biocontrol agent of Tetranychus urticae.
Effect of olive leaf extract on glucose levels in diabetes‐induced rats: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Abunab Hamzeh , Dator Wireen L. , Hawamdeh Sana 
Published: November 2016

AbstractBackgroundThe present systematic review statistically analyzed randomized controlled trials on olive leaf extract (OLE) for effectiveness in managing glucose levels in diabetic rats.MethodsA literature search was performed using PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and EBSCO host databases. Selected articles, with no date restriction in the search process, were assessed independently by the authors using SYRCLE's risk of bias tool for animal studies. Data from eight trials on 162 rats were reviewed. Data were analyzed using Comprehensive Meta Analysis version 3.0.
ResultsCombined random effects analysis revealed that treatment of diabetic rats with OLE significantly increased insulin levels (standardized mean difference [SMD] 4.83 μIU/mL; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.13, 7.54) and reduced blood glucose levels (SMD −4.21 mg/dL; 95% CI −5.75, −2.67). Secondary outcomes included significant reductions in total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, with a forest plot showing hypolipidemic effects among OLE‐treated rats compared with placebo (SMD −6.32 mg/dL [95% CI −9.75, −2.88] and −4.22 mg/dL [95% CI −6.96, −1.48], respectively). There was no significant difference in body weight between OLE‐treated rats and the placebo groups (SMD 0.46 g; 95% CI −0.05, 0.96;
P
= 0.98).ConclusionOlive leaf extract is beneficial for both the lipid profile and glycemic control in diabetes‐induced rats and may be as effective among humans.
Variations in Isochore Thickness of the Ecca Sediments in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, as Deduced from Gravity Models
Authors: BAIYEGUNHI Christopher , GWAVAVA Oswald 
Published: November 2016

AbstractGravity modelling was carried out along five profiles that traverse the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa in order to determine the depositional surface and isochore thickness of the Ecca sediments. Gravity models of the subsurface rock density reveal that the Ecca Group has a maximum vertical thickness of about 3215 ± 160 m. The maximum depositional surface (elevation) above sea level for the Ecca sediments is about 500 m, whilst the depth below sea level reaches about 10000 m. Correlation of the isochore thickness maps with the depositional surfaces shows that the sediments in the basement highs were subsided, deformed, eroded and deposited in the basement lows. The basement highs served as the source area(s) for the sediments in the basement lows, thus basement highs are characterized with thin sediment cover whilst the lows have thick sediment cover.
Depositional System of the Carboniferous Huanglong Formation, Eastern Sichuan Basin: Constraints from Sedimentology and Geochemistry
Authors: WANG Kun , HU Suyun , LI Wei , LIU Wei , HUANG Qingyu , MA Kui , SHI Shuyuan 
Published: November 2016

AbstractUsing analyses of the lithology, sequences, paleoenvironment, and tectonic setting, the depositional system of the Carboniferous Huanglong Formation in the eastern Sichuan Basin was identified. The lithological characteristics of the Lower Member, Middle Member, and Upper Member were analyzed and classified. Before the use of carbon, oxygen, and strontium isotopes in the analysis, all of the geochemical data were tested for validity. On the basis of the Z values obtained from carbon and oxygen isotopes, the paleoenvironments of the three members were elucidated. Lower Member was dominantly an enclosed marine environment with intense evaporation and little freshwater input into the sea. Middle Member developed in a semi‐enclosed to normal marine environment with many rivers. Upper Member was formed in a normal marine environment. The east Sichuan Basin was enclosed by paleouplifts before the deposition of the Huanglong Formation, forming a relatively enclosed depositional setting. Paleogullies developed in the Silurian strata that underlie the Carboniferous rocks; these paleogullies can be identified. On the basis of a comprehensive analysis, we propose that the Huanglong Formation developed in a platform system. Four microfacies were identified: supratidal flat, dolostone flat, grain shoal, and shelf microfacies. The high‐permeability and high‐porosity characteristics of the grain shoal microfacies are favorable for hydrocarbon accumulation, while the supratidal flat and shelf microfacies developed very few high‐quality reservoirs. The paleogullies, in which increased amounts of grain shoal microfacies developed, controlled the distribution of high‐quality reservoirs.
Ocean Chemistry Revealed by Mineralogical and Geochemical Evidence at the Permian‐Triassic Mass Extinction, Offshore the Persian Gulf, Iran
Authors: TAVAKOLI Vahid 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThe Upper Permian Dalan Formation and the Lower Triassic Kangan Formation in the Persian Gulf area are mainly composed of shallow marine facies limestone and dolomite. Two subsurface‐cored intervals were investigated in order to understand the original mineralogy and paleoceanic conditions. The decreasing trend of Sr concentration in these deposits shows that aragonite was precipitated during the Late Permian and then gradually changed to calcite toward the Permian‐Triassic boundary (PTB). The dissolution rate of aragonite decreased from 60 m below the PTB toward the boundary, with the only exception at 10 m below the Permian‐Triassic Boundary (PTB) due to the Permian‐Triassic unconformity in this region. The increasing trend of Mg/Ca ratio in a global scale at the end‐Permian time shows that the interpreted variation of mineralogy does not result from the change of this ratio. The increasing pCO2 and decreasing pH are considered to be the main controlling factors. The increase of Ca2+ at the end‐Permian time due to the input of meteoric waters is too little to fully compensate this effect A local maximum of the Si content just at the PTB confirms the input of runoff waters.
A Review on Shale Reservoirs as an Unconventional Play – The History, Technology Revolution, Importance to Oil and Gas Industry, and the Development Future
Authors: LIN Wen 
Published: November 2016

AbstractAs a milestone of the entire energy industry, unconventional resources have inevitably swept the world in the last decade, and will certainly dominate the global oil and gas industry in the near future. Eventually, the “unconventional” will become “conventional”. Along with the rapid development, however, some issues have emerged, which are closely related to the viability of unconventional resources development. Under the current circumstances of low crude oil and gas price, coupled with the prominent environmental concerns, the arguments about the development and production of unconventional resources have been recently heated up. This work introduced the full‐blown aspects of unconventional resources especially shale reservoirs, by discussing their concepts and definitions, reviewing the shale gas and shale oil development history and necessity, analyzing the shale plays' geology and petroleum systems with respects to key hydrocarbon accumulation elements and mechanisms, and summarizing the technology resolution. This study also discussed the relevant key issues, including significant estimation uncertainty of technically recoverable resources, the equivocal understanding of complex geology preventing the production and technologies implementation optimization, the difficulties of experiences and technologies global expanding, and the corresponding risks and uncertainties. In addition, based on the latest production and exploration data, the future perspective of the unconventional resources was depicted from global unconventional resources assessments, technology development, and limitations constraining the development.
Response of riparian plant communities to distance from surface water in the Okavango Delta, Botswana
Authors: Tsheboeng Gaolathe , Murray‐Hudson Mike , Kashe Keotshephile 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThe objective of this study was to determine the influence of distance from surface water on riparian woodland communities in the Okavango Delta. Vegetation sampling was conducted in seven sites within the Okavango Delta in 20 m × 10 m belted plots placed perpendicular to the river bank. The plots were placed at 0–10 m, 10–20 m, 20–30 m, 30–40 m and 40–50 m distance classes increasing away from the river bank. Tree height, basal area, species richness, canopy cover and diversity were determined for each distance class. Indicator species analysis was used to determine the characteristic species at each distance class. Single‐factor ANOVA and Tukey post hoc analysis were used to compare species diversity, mean tree height, cover and basal area between distance classes. Correlation between distance from surface water and vegetation parameters was sought using Spearman regression analysis. All parameters except for species richness varied significantly (P < 0.05) along distance from surface water. Distance from surface water was positively correlated all vegetation parameters except for mean species richness/plot. These results show that distance from surface water influences riparian plant community composition and distribution in the Okavango Delta. This implies that riparian plant species can be indicators of long‐term hydrologic conditions in the Delta.
Centrally mediated ejaculatory response via sympathetic outflow in rats: role of N‐methyl‐D‐aspartic acid receptors in paraventricular nucleus
Authors: Xia J.‐D. , Chen J. , Sun H.‐J. , Zhou L.‐H. , Zhu G.‐Q. , Chen Y. , Dai Y.‐T. 
Published: November 2016

SummaryEjaculation is mediated by a spinal generator, which integrates inputs related to the sexual activity and coordinates sympathetic, parasympathetic, and motor outflow. Previous clinical studies indicate that primary premature ejaculation is related to the hyperactivity of the sympathetic nervous system. In this study, we explored the roles of N‐methyl‐D‐aspartic acid (NMDA) receptors in paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) on ejaculatory responses and its potential mechanism in the rats. We found that microinjection of 0.20 nmol NMDA into the PVN reduced the latency of intromission and facilitated ejaculation during copulation. Moreover, delayed ejaculation and intromission were observed after the rats were microinjected with NMDA receptor antagonist D (−)‐2‐Amino‐5‐phosphonopentanoic acid (AP‐5). However, we discovered that microinjection of NMDA into PVN significantly increased baseline lumbar splanchnic nerve activity (LSNA), and the NMDA dose was positively correlated with the increased LSNA (r = 0.875, p = 0.04). Meanwhile, the plasma norepinephrine level in rats injected with NMDA was much higher than that in rats injected with saline (1453.4 ± 136.4 pg/mL vs. 492.3 ± 36.8 pg/mL, p < 0.01). Additionally, AP‐5 reduced the baseline LSNA and abrogated the enhancing activity of NMDA in LSNA. Thus, we propose that NMDA receptors in PVN may facilitate ejaculation through enhancing the activity of sympathetic system.
Identification of protein changes in human spermatozoa throughout the cryopreservation process
Authors: Bogle O. A. , Kumar K. , Attardo‐Parrinello C. , Lewis S. E. M. , Estanyol J. M. , Ballescà J. L. , Oliva R. 
Published: November 2016

SummaryCryoinjury is a consequence of cryopreservation and may have a negative impact on sperm quality regarding motility, morphology, and viability. This study was designed to identify potential proteomic changes in human sperm cells throughout the cryopreservation process. Comparisons made within this study included the detection of the sperm proteomic changes induced by incubation of the sperm cells with a protein‐free cryoprotectant (with and without CryoSperm), and the proteomic changes induced by freezing, thawing, and subsequent after‐thawing incubation at two different temperatures (0 °C vs. 23 °C). Tandem Mass Tag (TMT) peptide labeling coupled withLC‐MS/MSwas used for protein quantification.LC‐MS/MSresulted in the identification of 769 quantifiable proteins. The abundance of 105 proteins was altered upon CryoSperm incubation. Freezing and thawing also induced substantial protein changes. However, fewer changes were observed when semen was thawed and then maintained after‐thawing at approximately 0 °C than when it was maintained after‐thawing at 23 °C, with 60 and 99 differential proteins detected, respectively, as compared to unfrozen semen incubated in CryoSperm. Collectively, these differences indicate that substantial changes occur in the sperm proteome at every stage of the cryopreservation process which may ultimately impair the sperm fertilizing capability. This is the first study to compare protein levels in fresh and cryopreserved semen using theTMTtechnology coupled toLC‐MS/MS.
Very low birthweight bronchopulmonary dysplasia survivors had similar cardiac outcomes to controls at six years to 14 years of age
Authors: Suursalmi Piia , Eerola Anneli , Poutanen Tuija , Korhonen Päivi , Kopeli Tarja , Tammela Outi 
Published: November 2016

AbstractAimThis study evaluated cardiac function and its associations with lung function and neonatal pulmonary morbidity in very low birthweight (VLBW) children, with and without severe radiographic bronchopulmonary dysplasia (radBPD), at school age.MethodsWe examined 18 VLBW children with radBPD, 17 VLBW children without radBPD and 18 healthy term‐born children using conventional echocardiography, tissue Doppler imaging, speckle tracking echocardiography and real‐time three‐dimensional echocardiography at six years to 14 years of age. Lung function was studied by impulse oscillometry. Plasma N‐terminal‐proBNP concentrations were measured.ResultsCardiac function and N‐terminal‐proBNP concentrations did not differ between the groups. No associations were found between cardiac function and neonatal dexamethasone, oxygen or ventilator therapies. In VLBW children, poorer reactance correlated with larger left ventricle (LV) end‐systolic (Spearman′s ρ = −0.45) and end‐diastolic (ρ = −0.50) volumes and higher resistance correlated with higher LV dyssynchrony indexes, with ρ ranging from 0.37 to 0.48. Greater bronchodilation responses correlated with lower early diastolic myocardial relaxation velocities, with ρ ranging from 0.39 to 0.42.ConclusionBPD survivors had normal cardiac function at the age of six years to 14 years. No associations were found between neonatal pulmonary morbidity and cardiac parameters. Poorer lung function correlated modestly with LV echocardiographic parameters in VLBW children.
Systematic review with meta‐analysis: the comparative effectiveness of aspirin vs. screening for colorectal cancer prevention
Authors: Emilsson L. , Holme Ø. , Bretthauer M. , Cook N. R. , Buring J. E. , Løberg M. , Adami H.‐O. , Sesso H. D. , Gaziano M. J. , Kalager M. 
Published: November 2016

SummaryBackgroundBoth aspirin use and screening with flexible sigmoidoscopy or guaiac faecal occult blood testing (FOBT) may reduce mortality from colorectal cancer, but comparative effectiveness of these interventions is unknown.AimTo compare aspirin to guaiac FOBT screening with regard to incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer in a network meta‐analysis.MethodsWe searched Medline, EMBASE and the COCHRANE central register (CENTRAL) for relevant randomised trials identified until 31 October 2015. Randomised trials in average‐risk populations that reported colorectal cancer mortality, colorectal cancer incidence, or both, with a minimum follow‐up of 2 years, and more than 100 randomised individuals were included.Three investigators independently extracted data. We calculated relative risks [RR with 95% predictive intervals (PrIs)] for the comparison of the interventions by frequentist network meta‐analyses.ResultsThe effect of aspirin on colorectal cancer mortality was similar to FOBT (RR 1.03; 95% PrI 0.76–1.39) and flexible sigmoidoscopy (RR 1.16; 95% PrI 0.84–1.60). Aspirin was more effective than FOBT (RR 0.36; 95% PrI 0.22–0.59) and flexible sigmoidoscopy (RR 0.37; 95% PrI 0.22–0.62) in preventing death from or cancer in the proximal colon. Aspirin was equally effective as screening in reducing colorectal cancer incidence, while flexible sigmoidoscopy was superior to FOBT (RR 0.84; 95% PrI 0.72–0.97).ConclusionsLow‐dose aspirin seems to be equally effective as flexible sigmoidoscopy or guaiac FOBT screening to reduce colorectal cancer incidence and mortality, and more effective for cancers in the proximal colon. A randomised comparative effectiveness trial of aspirin vs. screening is warranted.
Bayesian Variable Selection for Post-Analytic Interrogation of Susceptibility Loci
Authors: Chen Siying , Nunez Sara , Reilly Muredach P. , Foulkes Andrea S. 
Published: November 2016

Summary
Understanding the complex interplay among protein coding genes and regulatory elements requires rigorous interrogation with analytic tools designed for discerning the relative contributions of overlapping genomic regions. To this aim, we offer a novel application of Bayesian variable selection (BVS) for classifying genomic class level associations using existing large meta-analysis summary level resources. This approach is applied using the expectation maximization variable selection (EMVS) algorithm to typed and imputed SNPs across 502 protein coding genes (PCGs) and 220 long intergenic non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) that overlap 45 known loci for coronary artery disease (CAD) using publicly available Global Lipids Gentics Consortium (GLGC) (Teslovich et al., 2010; Willer et al., 2013) meta-analysis summary statistics for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). The analysis reveals 33 PCGs and three lncRNAs across 11 loci with 50% posterior probabilities for inclusion in an additive model of association. The findings are consistent with previous reports, while providing some new insight into the architecture of LDL-cholesterol to be investigated further. As genomic taxonomies continue to evolve, additional classes such as enhancer elements and splicing regions, can easily be layered into the proposed analysis framework. Moreover, application of this approach to alternative publicly available meta-analysis resources, or more generally as a post-analytic strategy to further interrogate regions that are identified through single point analysis, is straightforward. All coding examples are implemented in R version 3.2.1 and provided as supplemental material.
Model-Robust Inference for Continuous Threshold Regression Models
Authors: Fong Youyi , Di Chongzhi , Huang Ying , Gilbert Peter B. 
Published: November 2016

Summary
We study threshold regression models that allow the relationship between the outcome and a covariate of interest to change across a threshold value in the covariate. In particular, we focus on continuous threshold models, which experience no jump at the threshold. Continuous threshold regression functions can provide a useful summary of the association between outcome and the covariate of interest, because they offer a balance between flexibility and simplicity. Motivated by collaborative works in studying immune response biomarkers of transmission of infectious diseases, we study estimation of continuous threshold models in this article with particular attention to inference under model misspecification. We derive the limiting distribution of the maximum likelihood estimator, and propose both Wald and test-inversion confidence intervals. We evaluate finite sample performance of our methods, compare them with bootstrap confidence intervals, and provide guidelines for practitioners to choose the most appropriate method in real data analysis. We illustrate the application of our methods with examples from the HIV-1 immune correlates studies.
The Developing Role of Unions in China's Foreign‐Invested Enterprises
Authors: Chan Andy W. , Snape Ed , Luo Michelle S. , Zhai Yujuan 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThis article evaluates the development of Chinese enterprise unions, drawing on case‐study evidence from foreign‐invested enterprises in the Pearl River Delta. Findings suggest that it was difficult for such employers to resist the establishment of an enterprise union. However, they generally sought to co‐opt the union to meet organizational needs. Management strategy was critical in shaping the union's role, and our evidence suggests that this was influenced by factors such as home‐country policies, the expectations of overseas customers, management ideology and pressures from the ACFTU and the Party‐State to comply with the requirement for a union. The implications for the role of unions are evaluated.