bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Feasibility study on the use of methylation‐specific MLPA for the 11p15 region on prenatal samples
Authors: Gede Lene Bjerring , Hahnemann Johanne M. D. , Tümer Zeynep , Brøndum‐Nielsen Karen , Grønskov Karen 
Published: November 2015

What's already known about this topic?

A few publications describing prenatal diagnosis of BWS are known.
However, the methylation status of the 11p15 imprinted region in normal prenatal samples is not known. Such information is important for determining if regions or specific nucleotides are suitable for prenatal diagnosis.
What does this study add?

In postnatal diagnosis, methylation‐specific MLPA is the most frequently used method for the diagnosis of Beckwith–Wiedemann and Silver–Russell syndrome. In the work presented here, the feasibility of such a ms‐MLPA on prenatal samples from normal pregnancies is studied.
Biochemical basis of alphamethrin resistance in different life stages ofAnopheles stephensistrains of Bangalore, India
Authors: Hariprasad Thiruvaipati PN , Shetty Nadikere J 
Published: November 2015

AbstractBACKGROUNDAnopheles stephensiis an important urban malaria vector in the Indian subcontinent. Extensive application of insecticides evokes microevolution, which results in resistance that can be traced back to their genotypes. In this study, resistant and susceptible strains ofAn. stephensifor alphamethrin were selected by selective inbreeding for 27 and ten generations respectively. The biochemical basis of resistance in all the life stages was investigated. Quantitative assays were performed for proteins (total and soluble), esterases (α,βand acetylcholine) and phosphatases (acid and alkaline) by spectrophotometry, and qualitative assays for the enzymes by native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.RESULTSThe enzyme quantities significantly varied in all life stages of the resistant strain as compared with the susceptible ones. Qualitative studies showed seven isoforms forα‐ andβ‐esterases, three each for acetylcholinesterase and alkaline phosphatase and two for acid phosphatase. Exclusive bands were found in the resistant strain, such asα‐Est 1andβ‐Est 1in eggs and larvae,β‐Est 3in adult males,β‐Est 2in adult females andAlkP 1,AlkP 2andAlkP 3in adult females, larvae and adult males respectively.CONCLUSIONVariations in the quantity and specific enzyme isoforms play a key role in the development of alphamethrin resistance inAn. stephensi.© 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Global metabolic profiling for the study of Rhizoma Paridis saponins‐induced hepatotoxicity in rats
Authors: Man Shuli , Qiu Peiyu , Li Jing , Zhang Liming , Gao Wenyuan 
Published: November 2015

ABSTRACTRhizoma Paridis saponins (RPS) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) from the plant Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis (Fr.) Hand.‐Mazz. Despite its potentially clinical utility such as anticancer and anti‐inflammation, it has slight side effects and toxicity as previous report. In this work, 90‐day administration of RPS induced liver injury. 1H‐NMR‐ and GC/MS‐based metabonomic analyses in conjunction with histopathological examinations, blood biochemistry and hepatic phase I and II enzymes assays were performed to evaluate the toxic mechanisms of RPS induced in rats. As a result, oral administration of RPS possessed certain liver toxicity in SD rats. 1H‐NMR and GC/MS data indicated that RPS inhibited the oxidation of fatty acids, glycolysis, and TCA cycle pathway, and disturbed glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism. Low expression of TG, T‐CHO, and LDL‐C and high levels of ALT and AST indicated that chronic exposure to RPS caused hepatocyte damage, synthesis dysfunction, and transportation failure of lipoproteins. In addition, RPS downregulated the mRNA levels of CYP1A2, CYP2E1, and UGTs. In conclusion, we used metabonomics approach to study the toxicity of RPS for the first time. This research demonstrated that metabonomics method was a promising tool to study and diagnose TCM‐induced toxicity. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 99–108, 2017.
Cellular and molecular hypoxic response in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) exposed to linear alkylbenzene sulfonate at sublethal concentrations
Authors: Tasaki Junichi , Nakayama Kei , Shimizu Ichiyo , Yamada Hiroko , Suzuki Takahiro , Nishiyama Naohiro , Yamane Masayuki 
Published: November 2015

ABSTRACTLinear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) is an anionic surfactant commonly used in cleaning agents such as laundry detergents. Trace amounts of LAS are released into environmental waters after processing in wastewater treatment plants after the use of this chemical. Acute toxicity of LAS has been well‐studied using various organisms, and its effects are particularly well known in fish. LAS damages fish gill morphology and induces mucous excretion from these organs. LAS also causes hematological changes. These observations suggest that LAS might induce hypoxic conditions in fish. However, the connections between hypoxia and hematological changes at the cellular and molecular levels remain unknown. Common carp were exposed to LAS at concentrations of 625, 1250, and 2500 μg/L for 96 h. A total of 9–10 fish were sampled at the end of the exposure period for each concentration. For hematological analysis, carp blood was sampled from the caudal vein. Gill tissue was used for real‐time PCR analysis to evaluate transcriptional changes of hypoxia‐induced genes. The number of normal red blood cells and the number of immature red blood cells were significantly decreased and increased, respectively, in fish exposed to 2500 µg/L LAS. The hypoxic marker genes hypoxia inducible factor 1α, myoglobin 1, and erythropoietin 2 were upregulated in these fish. Our results suggest that LAS decreases erythrocyte numbers and induces hypoxic conditions. In addition, LAS‐exposed fish increase production of immature erythrocytes and upregulate myoglobin expression in gills to improve oxygen transport and absorption. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 122–130, 2017.
Methamidophos induces cytotoxicity and oxidative stress in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells
Authors: Ramirez‐Vargas Marco Antonio , Huerta‐Beristain Gerardo , Guzman‐Guzman Iris Paola , Alarcon‐Romero Luz del Carmen , Flores‐Alfaro Eugenia , Rojas‐Garcia Aurora Elizabeth , Moreno‐Godinez Ma Elena 
Published: November 2015

ABSTRACTPrevious studies have shown that organophosphate pesticide (OP) exposure is associated with oxidative stress. Methamidophos (MET) is an OP widely used in agriculture, which is regarded as a highly toxic pesticide and it is a potent inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether MET can induce oxidative stress at low concentrations in primary cultures of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). PBMCs from healthy individuals were exposed to MET (0–80 mg/L) for 0–72 h. We performed the MTT and neutral‐red assays to assess the cytotoxicity. As indicators of oxidative stress, the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were assessed using flow cytometry, and the malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were determined. MET decreased the viability of PBMCs in a dose‐dependent manner. At concentrations of 3, 10, or 20 mg/L for 24 h, MET increased the ROS production significantly compared with the vehicle control. Similarly, MET increased the levels of MDA at the same concentrations that increased ROS (10 and 20 mg/L); however, no changes in GSH levels were observed. These results suggest that MET increased the generation of oxidative stress in PBMCs. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 147–155, 2017.
Nanoparticle dosage—a nontrivial task of utmost importance for quantitative nanosafety research
Authors: Feliu Neus , Pelaz Beatriz , Zhang Qian , del Pino Pablo , Nyström Andreas , Parak Wolfgang J. 
Published: November 2015

For a detailed and correct understanding of effects of colloidal nanoparticles exposed to organisms, a correlation of such effects to the physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles is a necessity. Such correlation is complex by the fact that many physicochemical parameters such as size, shape, surface charge, and colloidal stability are interlinked, and nontrivial to experimentally determine. This review aims to give an overview regarding such correlations. Particular focus will be given on the role of determining nanoparticle concentrations, which is the basis for most quantitative toxicity evaluations. A comparison of mass versus particle number concentrations is given, and their respective differences are highlighted. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2016, 8:479–492. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1378This article is categorized under:

Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology
Toxicology and Regulatory Issues in Nanomedicine > Toxicology of Nanomaterials
An examination of the cross‐cultural validity of the Identity Capital Model: American and Japanese students compared
Authors: Côté James E. , Mizokami Shinichi , Roberts Sharon E. , Nakama Reiko 
Published: November 2015

ABSTRACTThe Identity Capital Model proposes that forms of personal agency are associated with identity development as part of the transition to adulthood. This model was examined in two cultural contexts, taking into account age and gender, among college and university students aged 18 to 24 (N = 995). Confirmatory Factor Analyses verified cultural, age, and gender invariance of the two key operationalizations of the model. A Structural Equation Model path analysis confirmed that the model applies in both cultures with minor variations—types of personal agency are associated with the formation of adult‐ and societal‐identities as part of the resolution of the identity stage. It was concluded that forms of personal agency providing the most effective ways of dealing with “individualization” (e.g., internal locus of control) are more important in the transition to adulthood among American students, whereas types of personal agency most effective in dealing with “individualistic collectivism” (e.g., ego strength) are more important among Japanese students.
Identification of genes associated with melanoma metastasis
Authors: Qiu Tao , Wang Hongyi , Wang Yang , Zhang Yu , Hui Qiang , Tao Kai 
Published: November 2015

AbstractThe aims of the study were to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between primary melanomas and metastasis melanomas (MMs), and to investigate the mechanisms of MMs. The microarray data GSE8401 including 31 primary melanomas and 52 MMs were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus. DEGs were identified using the Linear Models for Microarray Data package. The functional and pathway enrichment analyses were performed for DEGs. Identification of transcription factors, tumor‐associated genes (TAGs), and tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) were performed with the TRANSFAC, TAG, and TSGene databases, respectively. A protein–protein interaction network was constructed using Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes. The modules construction and analysis was performed using Molecular Complex Detection and Gene Cluster with Literature Profiles, respectively. In total, 1004 upregulated and 1008 downregulated DEGs were identified. The upregulated DEGs, such as CDK1, BRCA1, MAD2L1, and PCNA, were significantly enriched in cell cycles, DNA replication, and mismatch repair. The downregulated DEGs, such as COLIAL, COL4A5, COL18A1, and LAMC2, were enriched in cell adhesion and extracellular matrix‐receptor interaction. BRCA1 was identified as a transcription factor and TSG, and COL18A1 and LAMC2 were identified as a TSG and TAG, respectively. The upregulated DEGs had higher degrees in the protein–protein interaction network and module, such as PCNA, CDK1, and MAD2L1, and the heat map showed they were clustered in the functions of cell cycle and division. These results may demonstrate the potential roles of DEGs such as CDK1, BRCA1, COL18A1, and LAMC2 in the mechanism of MM.
Drift sands, lakes, and soils: the multiphase Holocene history of the Laarder Wasmeren area near Hilversum, the Netherlands
Authors: Sevink J. , Koster E.A. , van Geel B. , Wallinga J. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractA unique complex of multiphased Holocene drift sands and paleosols, with at least two lacustrine phases, was discovered during a major sanitation project in the Laarder Wasmeren area near Hilversum, the Netherlands. The complex could be studied in detail, highly facilitated by the excellent and large-scale exposure of the various deposits and soils. OSL dating was used to establish ages of the phases, where possible differentiating between time of deposition and time of burial by taking into account the potential effects of bioturbation. Pollen analysis served to reconstruct the vegetation during the various phases.A first minor phase of aeolian activity already started before approx. 5,000 BC, followed around 4,000 BC by a second phase and a rather massive third phase around 3,000 BC. After a long phase of soil formation, the latest, massive drift sand phase started around the 14th to 15th century. It clearly represents the classic drift sand phase that started in the Late Middle Ages in the Netherlands. Sand drifting followed on soil forming phases during which the vegetation became increasingly dominated by ericaceous plants and culminated in heathlands. The first three aeolian phases and associated heathlands are much older than generally assumed for heathland and drift sand to occur in the Netherlands. Moreover, podzolisation was found to have started very early, true podzols already occurring before 4,000 BC.Around 3,000 BC groundwater in the area reached a maximum altitude of about 230 cm +NAP, resulting in local open water in the area. This rise is probably linked to the development of the Dutch coastal area, where at that time peat accumulated and drainage was poor, inducing a rise of the groundwater level in ‘het Gooi’. This groundwater level fell later on, to never reach this altitude again. The Groot Wasmeer was formed by local stagnation on a slowly permeable podzol and already reached a level of 320-325 cm +NAP by 400 BC, which more or less equals its 20thcentury level.The results demonstrate that earlier concepts on the occurrence and age of aeolian phases, podzols and heathland vegetations in the Netherlands are far too schematic, and that early, pre-agricultural cultures may already have had an impact on the stability of fragile cover sand landscapes, e.g. through burning. Results are in line with those from several contemporary studies on early prehistoric cultures and their impact in river dune areas in the Central and Eastern Netherlands.
3.—A Criterion for the Existence of Solutions of Non-linear Elliptic Boundary Value Problems
Authors: Deuel Johanna , Hess Peter 
Published: November 2015

SynopsisBy a new method it is proved that a non-linear elliptic boundary value problem of rather general type admits a weak solution lying between a given weak lower solution ϕ and a given weak upper solution ψ≧ϕ
Tuning magnetotransport in a compensated semimetal at the atomic scale
Authors: Wang Lin , Gutiérrez-Lezama Ignacio , Barreteau Céline , Ubrig Nicolas , Giannini Enrico , Morpurgo Alberto F. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractEither in bulk form, or in atomically thin crystals, layered transition metal dichalcogenides continuously reveal new phenomena. The latest example is 1T’-WTe2, a semimetal found to exhibit the largest known magnetoresistance in the bulk, and predicted to become a topological insulator in strained monolayers. Here we show that reducing the thickness through exfoliation enables the electronic properties of WTe2 to be tuned, which allows us to identify the mechanisms responsible for the observed magnetotransport down to the atomic scale. The longitudinal resistance and the unconventional magnetic field dependence of the Hall resistance are reproduced quantitatively by a classical two-band model for crystals as thin as six monolayers, whereas a crossover to an Anderson insulator occurs for thinner crystals. Besides establishing the origin of the magnetoresistance of WTe2, our results represent a complete validation of the classical theory for two-band electron-hole transport, and indicate that atomically thin WTe2 layers remain gapless semimetals.
Nuclear factor, erythroid 2-like 2-associated molecular signature predicts lung cancer survival
Authors: Qian Zhongqing , Zhou Tong , Gurguis Christopher I. , Xu Xiaoyan , Wen Qing , Lv Jingzhu , Fang Fang , Hecker Louise , Cress Anne E. , Natarajan Viswanathan , Jacobson Jeffrey R. , Zhang Donna D. , Garcia Joe G. N. , Wang Ting 
Published: November 2015

AbstractNuclear factor, erythroid 2-like 2 (NFE2L2), a transcription factor also known as NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), is a key cytoprotective gene that regulates critical antioxidant and stress-responsive genes. Nrf2 has been demonstrated to be a promising therapeutic target and useful biomarker in malignant disease. We hypothesized that NFE2L2-mediated gene expression would reflect cancer severity and progression. We conducted a meta-analysis of microarray data for 240 NFE2L2-mediated genes that were enriched in tumor tissues. We then developed a risk scoring system based on NFE2L2 gene expression profiling and designated 50 tumor-associated genes as the NFE2L2-associated molecular signature (NAMS). We tested the relationship between this gene expression signature and both recurrence-free survival and overall survival in lung cancer patients. We find that NAMS predicts clinical outcome in the training cohort and in 12 out of 20 validation cohorts. Cox proportional hazard regressions indicate that NAMS is a robust prognostic gene signature, independent of other clinical and pathological factors including patient age, gender, smoking, gene alteration, MYC level and cancer stage. NAMS is an excellent predictor of recurrence-free survival and overall survival in human lung cancer. This gene signature represents a promising prognostic biomarker in human lung cancer.
Fingerprint resampling: A generic method for efficient resampling
Authors: Mestdagh Merijn , Verdonck Stijn , Duisters Kevin , Tuerlinckx Francis 
Published: November 2015

AbstractIn resampling methods, such as bootstrapping or cross validation, a very similar computational problem (usually an optimization procedure) is solved over and over again for a set of very similar data sets. If it is computationally burdensome to solve this computational problem once, the whole resampling method can become unfeasible. However, because the computational problems and data sets are so similar, the speed of the resampling method may be increased by taking advantage of these similarities in method and data. As a generic solution, we propose to learn the relation between the resampled data sets and their corresponding optima. Using this learned knowledge, we are then able to predict the optima associated with new resampled data sets. First, these predicted optima are used as starting values for the optimization process. Once the predictions become accurate enough, the optimization process may even be omitted completely, thereby greatly decreasing the computational burden. The suggested method is validated using two simple problems (where the results can be verified analytically) and two real-life problems (i.e., the bootstrap of a mixed model and a generalized extreme value distribution). The proposed method led on average to a tenfold increase in speed of the resampling method.
Operational derivation of Boltzmann distribution with Maxwell’s demon model
Authors: Hosoya Akio , Maruyama Koji , Shikano Yutaka 
Published: November 2015

AbstractThe resolution of the Maxwell’s demon paradox linked thermodynamics with information theory through information erasure principle. By considering a demon endowed with a Turing-machine consisting of a memory tape and a processor, we attempt to explore the link towards the foundations of statistical mechanics and to derive results therein in an operational manner. Here, we present a derivation of the Boltzmann distribution in equilibrium as an example, without hypothesizing the principle of maximum entropy. Further, since the model can be applied to non-equilibrium processes, in principle, we demonstrate the dissipation-fluctuation relation to show the possibility in this direction.
Defining habitat covariates in camera-trap based occupancy studies
Authors: Niedballa Jürgen , Sollmann Rahel , Mohamed Azlan bin , Bender Johannes , Wilting Andreas 
Published: November 2015

AbstractIn species-habitat association studies, both the type and spatial scale of habitat covariates need to match the ecology of the focal species. We assessed the potential of high-resolution satellite imagery for generating habitat covariates using camera-trapping data from Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, within an occupancy framework. We tested the predictive power of covariates generated from satellite imagery at different resolutions and extents (focal patch sizes, 10–500 m around sample points) on estimates of occupancy patterns of six small to medium sized mammal species/species groups. High-resolution land cover information had considerably more model support for small, patchily distributed habitat features, whereas it had no advantage for large, homogeneous habitat features. A comparison of different focal patch sizes including remote sensing data and an in-situ measure showed that patches with a 50-m radius had most support for the target species. Thus, high-resolution satellite imagery proved to be particularly useful in heterogeneous landscapes and can be used as a surrogate for certain in-situ measures, reducing field effort in logistically challenging environments. Additionally, remote sensed data provide more flexibility in defining appropriate spatial scales, which we show to impact estimates of wildlife-habitat associations.
Targeted cellular ablation based on the morphology of malignant cells
Authors: Ivey Jill W. , Latouche Eduardo L. , Sano Michael B. , Rossmeisl John H. , Davalos Rafael V. , Verbridge Scott S. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractTreatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is especially challenging due to a shortage of methods to preferentially target diffuse infiltrative cells and therapy-resistant glioma stem cell populations. Here we report a physical treatment method based on electrical disruption of cells, whose action depends strongly on cellular morphology. Interestingly, numerical modeling suggests that while outer lipid bilayer disruption induced by long pulses (~100 μs) is enhanced for larger cells, short pulses (~1 μs) preferentially result in high fields within the cell interior, which scale in magnitude with nucleus size. Because enlarged nuclei represent a reliable indicator of malignancy, this suggested a means of preferentially targeting malignant cells. While we demonstrate killing of both normal and malignant cells using pulsed electric fields (PEFs) to treat spontaneous canine GBM, we proposed that properly tuned PEFs might provide targeted ablation based on nuclear size. Using 3D hydrogel models of normal and malignant brain tissues, which permit high-resolution interrogation during treatment testing, we confirmed that PEFs could be tuned to preferentially kill cancerous cells. Finally, we estimated the nuclear envelope electric potential disruption needed for cell death from PEFs. Our results may be useful in safely targeting the therapy-resistant cell niches that cause recurrence of GBM tumors.