bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Physical activity and dietary habits among Moroccan adolescents
Authors: Hamrani Abdeslam , Mehdad Slimane , El Kari Khalid , El Hamdouchi Asmaa , El Menchawy Imane , Belghiti Hakim , El Mzibri Mohammed , Musaiger Abdulrahman O , Al-Hazzaa Hazzaa M , Hills Andrew P , Mokhtar Najat , Aguenaou Hassan 
Published: October 2014

AbstractObjectiveThe study aimed to detail the lifestyle (physical activity and dietary habits) of Moroccan adolescents.DesignCross-sectional study undertaken in the framework of the ATLS (Arab Teens Lifestyle Study).SettingPhysical activity and dietary habits were determined using a validated questionnaire in public secondary schools.SubjectsA total of 669 adolescents aged 15·0–19·9 years were randomly recruited from Kenitra, Morocco.ResultsPhysical activity patterns and intensity differed between genders. As anticipated, male adolescents were more active than female adolescents across a typical week and engaged in more vigorous-intensity physical activity than female adolescents, who spent more time than male adolescents in moderate-intensity physical activity. Of particular concern was that one in five of the adolescents surveyed was inactive, with almost 45 % of the sample reporting television viewing for more than 2 h/d and 38 % engaged in computer use for a similar period. From a dietary perspective, most adolescents reported that they do not take breakfast or consume milk and dairy products, fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. In contrast, most reported consumption of doughnuts, cakes, candy and chocolate more than three times per week and approximately 50 % consumed sugary drinks more than three times per week.ConclusionsBased on a continuation of the self-reported lifestyle behaviours, adolescents in the present study are at risk of developing chronic diseases. Education programmes are urgently needed to assist in the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and reduce the likelihood of overweight and obesity and related health risks among young people.
The effect of stress on microbial growth
Authors: Lyte Mark 
Published: October 2014

AbstractThe neurophysiological response of an animal to stress involves the production of a number of stress-related neurochemicals including the catecholamines norepinephrine and epinephrine. It is generally believed that such neurochemicals belong exclusively to the animal kingdom and that any role such neurochemicals play in the infective process is largely confined to host physiology and immunology-related parameters. This, however, is wholly incorrect as many of the bacterial species that are known to cause infections possess the capacity to not only recognize neuroendocrine hormones produced by the host in response to stress, but also synthesize the very same neurochemicals. Given this, infectious microorganisms are capable of directly responding to the neurochemical outflow resulting from a stress event and initiating pathogenic processes. Although the neuroendocrine environment of the lung following a stress event is not fully understood, it most likely possesses abundant levels of stress-related neurochemicals due to its rich blood supply and rich noradrenergic tissue innervation. The ability of microorganisms to recognize and produce neurochemicals that can influence the host, known as microbial endocrinology, provides for a mechanistic basis with which to examine the ability of stress to influence health and susceptibility to disease.
Community transcriptomics reveals unexpected high microbial diversity in acidophilic biofilm communities
Authors: Aliaga Goltsman Daniela S , Comolli Luis R , Thomas Brian C , Banfield Jillian F 
Published: October 2014

Abstract
A fundamental question in microbial ecology relates to community structure, and how this varies across environment types. It is widely believed that some environments, such as those at very low pH, host simple communities based on the low number of taxa, possibly due to the extreme environmental conditions. However, most analyses of species richness have relied on methods that provide relatively low ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sampling depth. Here we used community transcriptomics to analyze the microbial diversity of natural acid mine drainage biofilms from the Richmond Mine at Iron Mountain, California. Our analyses target deep pools of rRNA gene transcripts recovered from both natural and laboratory-grown biofilms across varying developmental stages. In all, 91.8% of the ∼254 million Illumina reads mapped to rRNA genes represented in the SILVA database. Up to 159 different taxa, including Bacteria, Archaea and Eukaryotes, were identified. Diversity measures, ordination and hierarchical clustering separate environmental from laboratory-grown biofilms. In part, this is due to the much larger number of rare members in the environmental biofilms. Although Leptospirillum bacteria generally dominate biofilms, we detect a wide variety of other Nitrospira organisms present at very low abundance. Bacteria from the Chloroflexi phylum were also detected. The results indicate that the primary characteristic that has enabled prior extensive cultivation-independent ‘omic’ analyses is not simplicity but rather the high dominance by a few taxa. We conclude that a much larger variety of organisms than previously thought have adapted to this extreme environment, although only few are selected for at any one time.
Ecological roles of dominant and rare prokaryotes in acid mine drainage revealed by metagenomics and metatranscriptomics
Authors: Hua Zheng-Shuang , Han Yu-Jiao , Chen Lin-Xing , Liu Jun , Hu Min , Li Sheng-Jin , Kuang Jia-Liang , Chain Patrick S G , Huang Li-Nan , Shu Wen-Sheng 
Published: October 2014

AbstractHigh-throughput sequencing is expanding our knowledge of microbial diversity in the environment. Still, understanding the metabolic potentials and ecological roles of rare and uncultured microbes in natural communities remains a major challenge. To this end, we applied a ‘divide and conquer’ strategy that partitioned a massive metagenomic data set (&gt;100 Gbp) into subsets based on K-mer frequency in sequence assembly to a low-diversity acid mine drainage (AMD) microbial community and, by integrating with an additional metatranscriptomic assembly, successfully obtained 11 draft genomes most of which represent yet uncultured and/or rare taxa (relative abundance &lt;1%). We report the first genome of a naturally occurring Ferrovum population (relative abundance &gt;90%) and its metabolic potentials and gene expression profile, providing initial molecular insights into the ecological role of these lesser known, but potentially important, microorganisms in the AMD environment. Gene transcriptional analysis of the active taxa revealed major metabolic capabilities executed in situ, including carbon- and nitrogen-related metabolisms associated with syntrophic interactions, iron and sulfur oxidation, which are key in energy conservation and AMD generation, and the mechanisms of adaptation and response to the environmental stresses (heavy metals, low pH and oxidative stress). Remarkably, nitrogen fixation and sulfur oxidation were performed by the rare taxa, indicating their critical roles in the overall functioning and assembly of the AMD community. Our study demonstrates the potential of the ‘divide and conquer’ strategy in high-throughput sequencing data assembly for genome reconstruction and functional partitioning analysis of both dominant and rare species in natural microbial assemblages.
miR-24 limits aortic vascular inflammation and murine abdominal aneurysm development
Authors: Maegdefessel Lars , Spin Joshua M. , Raaz Uwe , Eken Suzanne M. , Toh Ryuji , Azuma Junya , Adam Matti , Nagakami Futoshi , Heymann Helen M. , Chernugobova Ekaterina , Jin Hong , Roy Joy , Hultgren Rebecka , Caidahl Kenneth , Schrepfer Sonja , Hamsten Anders , Eriksson Per , McConnell Michael V. , Dalman Ronald L. , Tsao Philip S. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractIdentification and treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) remain among the most prominent challenges in vascular medicine. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial regulators of cardiovascular pathology and represent intriguing targets to limit AAA expansion. Here we show, by using two established murine models of AAA disease along with human aortic tissue and plasma analysis, that miR-24 is a key regulator of vascular inflammation and AAA pathology. In vivo and in vitro studies reveal chitinase 3-like 1 (Chi3l1) to be a major target and effector under the control of miR-24, regulating cytokine synthesis in macrophages as well as their survival, promoting aortic smooth muscle cell migration and cytokine production, and stimulating adhesion molecule expression in vascular endothelial cells. We further show that modulation of miR-24 alters AAA progression in animal models, and that miR-24 and CHI3L1 represent novel plasma biomarkers of AAA disease progression in humans.
Observation of strongly entangled photon pairs from a nanowire quantum dot
Authors: Versteegh Marijn A. M. , Reimer Michael E. , Jöns Klaus D. , Dalacu Dan , Poole Philip J. , Gulinatti Angelo , Giudice Andrea , Zwiller Val 
Published: October 2014

AbstractA bright photon source that combines high-fidelity entanglement, on-demand generation, high extraction efficiency, directional and coherent emission, as well as position control at the nanoscale is required for implementing ambitious schemes in quantum information processing, such as that of a quantum repeater. Still, all of these properties have not yet been achieved in a single device. Semiconductor quantum dots embedded in nanowire waveguides potentially satisfy all of these requirements; however, although theoretically predicted, entanglement has not yet been demonstrated for a nanowire quantum dot. Here, we demonstrate a bright and coherent source of strongly entangled photon pairs from a position-controlled nanowire quantum dot with a fidelity as high as 0.859±0.006 and concurrence of 0.80±0.02. The two-photon quantum state is modified via the nanowire shape. Our new nanoscale entangled photon source can be integrated at desired positions in a quantum photonic circuit, single-electron devices and light-emitting diodes.
Circular trimers of gelatinase B/matrix metalloproteinase-9 constitute a distinct population of functional enzyme molecules differentially regulated by tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1
Authors: Vandooren Jennifer , Born Benjamin , Solomonov Inna , Zajac Ewa , Saldova Radka , Senske Michael , Ugarte-Berzal Estefanía , Martens Erik , Van den Steen Philippe E. , Van Damme Jo , Garcia-Pardo Angeles , Froeyen Matheus , Deryugina Elena I. , Quigley James P. , Moestrup Søren K. , Rudd Pauline M. , Sagi Irit , Opdenakker Ghislain 
Published: October 2014

Gelatinase B/matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) (EC 3.4.24.35) cleaves many substrates and is produced by most cell types as a zymogen, proMMP-9, in complex with the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1). Natural proMMP-9 occurs as monomers, homomultimers and heterocomplexes, but our knowledge about the overall structure of proMMP-9 monomers and multimers is limited. We investigated biochemical, biophysical and functional characteristics of zymogen and activated forms of MMP-9 monomers and multimers. In contrast with a conventional notion of a dimeric nature of MMP-9 homomultimers, we demonstrate that these are reduction-sensitive trimers. Based on the information from electrophoresis, AFM and TEM, we generated a 3D structure model of the proMMP-9 trimer. Remarkably, the proMMP-9 trimers possessed a 50-fold higher affinity for TIMP-1 than the monomers. In vivo, this finding was reflected in a higher extent of TIMP-1 inhibition of angiogenesis induced by trimers compared with monomers. Our results show that proMMP-9 trimers constitute a novel structural and functional entity that is differentially regulated by TIMP-1.
Vinculin-dependent actin bundling regulates cell migration and traction forces
Authors: Jannie Karry M. , Ellerbroek Shawn M. , Zhou Dennis W. , Chen Sophia , Crompton David J. , García Andrés J. , DeMali Kris A. 
Published: October 2014

Vinculin binding to actin filaments is thought to be critical for force transduction within a cell, but direct experimental evidence to support this conclusion has been limited. In the present study, we found mutation (R1049E) of the vinculin tail impairs its ability to bind F-actin, stimulate actin polymerization, and bundle F-actin in vitro. Further, mutant (R1049E) vinculin expressing cells are altered in cell migration, which is accompanied by changes in cell adhesion, cell spreading and cell generation of traction forces, providing direct evidence for the critical role of vinculin in mechanotransduction at adhesion sites. Lastly, we discuss the viability of models detailing the F-actin-binding surface on vinculin in the context of our mutational analysis.
Vascular injury in diabetic db/db mice is ameliorated by atorvastatin: role of Rac1/2-sensitive Nox-dependent pathways
Authors: Bruder-Nascimento Thiago , Callera Glaucia E. , Montezano Augusto C. , He Ying , Antunes Tayze T. , Cat Aurelie Nguyen Dinh , Tostes Rita C. , Touyz Rhian M. 
Published: October 2014

Oxidative stress [increased bioavailability of reactive oxygen species (ROS)] plays a role in the endothelial dysfunction and vascular inflammation, which underlie vascular damage in diabetes. Statins are cholesterol-lowering drugs that are vasoprotective in diabetes through unknown mechanisms. We tested the hypothesis that atorvastatin decreases NADPH oxidase (Nox)-derived ROS generation and associated vascular injury in diabetes. Leprdb/Leprdb (db/db) mice, a model of Type 2 diabetes and control Leprdb/Lepr+ (db/+) mice were administered atorvastatin (10 mg/kg per day, 2 weeks). Atorvastatin improved glucose tolerance in db/db mice. Systemic and vascular oxidative stress in db/db mice, characterized by increased plasma TBARS (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances) levels and exaggerated vascular Nox-derived ROS generation respectively, were inhibited by atorvastatin. Cytosol-to-membrane translocation of the Nox regulatory subunit p47phox and the small GTPase Rac1/2 was increased in vessels from db/db mice compared with db/+ mice, an effect blunted by atorvastatin. The increase in vascular Nox1/2/4 expression and increased phosphorylation of redox-sensitive mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) was abrogated by atorvastatin in db/db mice. Pro-inflammatory signalling (decreased IκB-α and increased NF-κB p50 expression, increased NF-κB p65 phosphorylation) and associated vascular inflammation [vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression and vascular monocyte adhesion], which were increased in aortas of db/db mice, were blunted by atorvastatin. Impaired acetylcholine (Ach)- and insulin (INS)-induced vasorelaxation in db/db mice was normalized by atorvastatin. Our results demonstrate that, in diabetic mice, atorvastatin decreases vascular oxidative stress and inflammation and ameliorates vascular injury through processes involving decreased activation of Rac1/2 and Nox. These findings elucidate redox-sensitive and Rac1/2-dependent mechanisms whereby statins protect against vascular injury in diabetes.
Stable multiple non‐Foster circuits loaded waveguide for broadband non‐dispersive fast‐wave propagation
Authors: Long J. , Sievenpiper D.F. 
Published: October 2014

Periodically loading non‐Foster circuits (NFCs) in a conventional waveguide has been proved to be possible for achieving broadband non‐dispersive fast‐wave (FW) propagation. However, the unconditional stability of such structures has been argued due to the multiple NFC loadings. Despite the potential instability, it is demonstrated that the NFC‐loaded waveguide can still be stable for specific terminations, in particular, with the 50 Ω load that is commonly used in radio frequency/microwave applications. For purpose of demonstration, a NFC‐loaded waveguide that contains substantially more unit cells than in prior work has been designed and measured, showing a stable and causal FW propagation with a 1.2 c phase velocity over the bandwidth of 80–120 MHz.
Quad‐band bandpass filter design by embedding dual‐band bandpass filter with dual‐mode notch elements
Authors: Cui Chenwei , Liu Yun 
Published: October 2014

A quad‐band bandpass filter of compact dimensions by embedding several dual‐mode notch elements into a stub‐type dual‐band bandpass filter is presented, and the four passbands are achieved by splitting the two passbands of the dual‐band bandpass filter with two notch bands generated by the dual‐mode notch elements. A prototype filter with passbands located at 1.4–1.7, 2.1–2.3, 3.3–3.6 and 5.2–5.4 GHz is designed with the help of optimisation methods. Good agreement between simulations and measurements are achieved, demonstrating good features such as controllable and wide bandwidths, higher filter order, compact dimensions and high isolations.
Performance comparison of analogue inter‐satellite microwave photonics link using intensity modulation with direct detection and phase modulation with interferometric detection
Authors: Zhu Zihang , Zhao Shanghong , Li Yongjun , Li Xuan 
Published: October 2014

The performance of optical inter‐satellite communications using microwave photonics technologies employing intensity modulation with direct detection (IMDD) and phase modulation (PM) with interferometric detection are investigated and demonstrated with a numerical example. The theoretical model considering the saturated gain and amplifier spontaneous emission noise of optical booster amplifier and optical preamplifier is constructed for both architectures. Furthermore, the authors compare the performance of PM with interferometric detection to optimum biased IMDD in terms of radio frequency (RF) gain, RF noise figure and compression dynamic range (CDR). The numerical results show that the PM with interferometric detection can achieve better RF gain, RF noise figure and CDR than the optimum biased IMDD link as the laser output power is lower than 14.34, 12.45 and 4.2 dBm, respectively.
Reducing Bias and Filling in Spatial Gaps in Fishery-Dependent Catch-per-Unit-Effort Data by Geostatistical Prediction, I. Methodology and Simulation
Authors: Walter John F. , Hoenig John M. , Christman Mary C. 
Published: October 2014

Abstract
Geostatistical prediction can address two difficult issues in interpreting fishery-dependent catch per unit effort (CPUE): the lack of a sampling design and the need to fill spatial gaps. In this paper we demonstrate the spatial weighting properties of geostatistics for treating data collected without a sampling design or with a selection bias, two basic traits of fishery-dependent data. We then examine the bias and precision of geostatistical prediction of CPUE based on fishery-dependent data through simulation. We create data sets with known variograms, sample them with a preference for sites with high abundance, and then estimate variograms and CPUE as the geostatistical mean relative abundance. The variograms obtained from the simulated fishery samples correctly estimated the range but underestimated the sill, and the geostatistical mean substantially improved the estimation of CPUE over the arithmetic mean. Though the geostatistical mean still overestimated the true value, the error was primarily due to prediction into unsampled locations, where predictions revert toward the arithmetic mean. The geostatistical variance at a point, which is a function of spatial autocorrelation and the location of adjacent samples, provides a measure of uncertainty. This variance measures the degree to which predictions are derived from nearby data versus distant observations, which translates the spatial extent of extrapolation into probabilistic terms. In conjunction with conventional standardization methods that account for factors affecting catchability, geostatistical prediction provides an additional tool that reduces but does not eliminate biases inherent in fishery-dependent data and supports the need to predict CPUE in unsampled areas.
Received July 26, 2013; accepted June 2, 2014
Using Hard-Part Microchemistry to Advance Conservation and Management of North American Freshwater Fishes
Authors: Pracheil Brenda M , Hogan J Derek , Lyons John , McIntyre Peter B 
Published: October 2014

ABSTRACT
Hard-part microchemistry offers a powerful tool for inferring the environmental history and stock assignment of individual fishes. However, despite the applicability of this technique to a wide range of fisheries conservation and management issues, its use has been restricted to only a small fraction of North American species and inland waters. In this article, we provide freshwater fisheries professionals with an accessible review of methods and applications of hard-part microchemistry techniques. Our objectives are to (1) summarize the science of hard-part microchemistry; (2) provide guidelines for designing hard-part microchemistry studies, including sample sizes, laboratory analyses, statistical techniques, and inferential limitations; and (3) identify conservation and management applications where these techniques may be particularly useful. We argue that strategic use of hard-part microchemistry methods (specifically when they are used in concert with other indirect tracer techniques such as stable isotope chemistry and genetics) can advance fish management and conservation across all stages of fish life history.
RESUMEN
la microquímica de partes duras representa una herramienta poderosa para inferir la historia ambiental y la asignación de stocks en peces. No obstante, a pesar de la aplicabilidad de esta técnica a un amplio rango de aspectos de conservación y manejo de pesquerías, su utilización se ha restringido a sólo una pequeña fracción de especies de aguas continentales en Norte América. En este trabajo, se presenta una revisión accesible de los métodos y aplicaciones de técnicas de microquímica de partes duras, dirigida a los profesionales en pesquerías de aguas interiores. Los objetivos son: (1) resumir la ciencia de la microquímica de partes duras, (2) proporcionar guías para el diseño de estudios de microquímica de partes duras, incluyendo tamaños de muestra, análisis de laboratorio, técnicas estadísticas y limitaciones de orden inferencial, y (3) identificar aplicaciones para la conservación y manejo en las cuales estas técnicas puedan ser particularmente útiles. Se argumenta que la utilización estratégica de métodos de microquímica de partes duras (específicamente cuando éstos son usados en conjunto con otras técnicas de rastreo indirecto como química de isótopos estables y genética) puede abonar a la conservación y manejo de los peces durante todos los estadios de vida.