bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of vitamin C and vitamin E supplementation on endothelial function: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
Authors: Ashor Ammar W. , Siervo Mario , Lara Jose , Oggioni Clio , Afshar Sorena , Mathers John C. 
Published: April 2015

Randomised controlled trials (RCT) testing the effects of antioxidant supplements on endothelial function (EF) have reported conflicting results. We aimed to investigate the effects of supplementation with antioxidant vitamins C and E on EF and to explore factors that may provide explanations for the inconsistent results. We searched four databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library and Scopus) from inception until May 2014 for RCT involving adult participants aged ≥ 18 years who were supplemented with vitamins C and E alone or in combination for more than 2 weeks and reporting changes in EF measured using flow mediated dilation or forearm blood flow. Data were pooled as standardised mean difference (SMD) and analysed using a random-effects model. Significant improvements in EF were observed in trials supplementing with vitamin C alone (500–2000 mg/d) (SMD: 0·25, 95 % CI 0·02, 0·49,P= 0·043) and vitamin E alone (300–1800 IU/d; 1 IU vitamin E = 0·67 mg natural vitamin E) (SMD: 0·48, 95 % CI 0·23, 0·72,P= 0·0001), whereas co-administration of both vitamins was ineffective (vitamin C: 500–2000 mg/d; vitamin E: 400–1200 IU/d) (SMD: 0·12, 95 % CI − 0·18, 0·42,P= 0·428). The effect of vitamin C supplementation on EF increased significantly with age (β 0·023, 95 % CI 0·001, 0·05,P= 0·042). There was a significant negative correlation between baseline plasma vitamin E concentration and the effect of vitamin E supplementation on EF (β − 0·03, 95 % CI − 0·06, − 0·001,P= 0·029). Supplementation with either vitamin C or vitamin E alone improves EF. However, subgroup analysis emphasises the importance of careful characterisation and selection of a population group which may benefit from such supplementation.
ICJ Halts Antarctic Whaling – Japan Starts Again
Authors: Payne Cymie R. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThe International Court of Justice (ICJ) judgment inWhaling in the Antarctic, a dispute brought by Australia against Japan, found that Japan had violated the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW) moratoria on all commercial whaling and the use of factory ships to process whales, and also the prohibition on whaling in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary. In the course of analyzing whether special permits issued by Japan qualified for the scientific whaling exemption under Article VIII ICRW, the Court benefited from a more robust scientific fact-finding process than at times in the past. The judgment emphasized the mutual obligations of this multilateral agreement by taking the view that the provisions of the ICRW’s scientific whaling exemptions are neither self-judging nor subject to a ‘margin of appreciation’ in favour of a state party claiming the exemption. The case was driven by conflicting attitudes towards commercial whaling, and also towards global common spaces. The ICJ’s decision and Japan’s response indicate the limits of the ICRW in resolving those differences.
Growth phase-specific evolutionary benefits of natural transformation in Acinetobacter baylyi
Authors: Utnes Ane L G , Sørum Vidar , Hülter Nils , Primicerio Raul , Hegstad Joachim , Kloos Julia , Nielsen Kaare M , Johnsen Pål J 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
Natural transformation in bacteria facilitates the uptake and genomic integration of exogenous DNA. This allows horizontal exchange of adaptive traits not easily achieved by point mutations, and has a major role in the acquisition of adaptive traits exemplified by antibiotic resistance determinants and vaccination escape. Mechanisms of DNA uptake and genomic integration are well described for several naturally transformable bacterial species; however, the selective forces responsible for its evolution and maintenance are still controversial. In this study we evolved transformation-proficient and -deficient Acinetobacter baylyi for 175 days in serial transfer cultures where stress was included. We found that natural transformation-proficient populations adapted better to active growth and early stationary phase. This advantage was offset by the reduced performance in the late stationary/death phase. We demonstrate fitness trade-offs between adaptation to active growth and survival in stationary/death phase caused by antagonistic pleiotropy. The presented data suggest that the widely held assumption that recombination speeds up adaptation by rapid accumulation of multiple adaptive mutations in the same genetic background is not sufficient to fully account for the maintenance of natural transformation in bacteria.
The diversity and host interactions of Propionibacterium acnes bacteriophages on human skin
Authors: Liu Jared , Yan Riceley , Zhong Qiao , Ngo Sam , Bangayan Nathanael J , Nguyen Lin , Lui Timothy , Liu Minghsun , Erfe Marie C , Craft Noah , Tomida Shuta , Li Huiying 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
The viral population, including bacteriophages, is an important component of the human microbiota, yet is poorly understood. We aim to determine whether bacteriophages modulate the composition of the bacterial populations, thus potentially playing a role in health or disease. We investigated the diversity and host interactions of the bacteriophages of Propionibacterium acnes, a major human skin commensal implicated in acne pathogenesis. By sequencing 48 P. acnes phages isolated from acne patients and healthy individuals and by analyzing the P. acnes phage populations in healthy skin metagenomes, we revealed that P. acnes phage populations in the skin microbial community are often dominated by one strain. We also found phage strains shared among both related and unrelated individuals, suggesting that a pool of common phages exists in the human population and that transmission of phages may occur between individuals. To better understand the bacterium–phage interactions in the skin microbiota, we determined the outcomes of 74 genetically defined Propionibacterium strains challenged by 15 sequenced phages. Depending on the Propionibacterium lineage, phage infection can result in lysis, pseudolysogeny, or resistance. In type II P. acnes strains, we found that encoding matching clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat spacers is insufficient to confer phage resistance. Overall, our findings suggest that the prey–predator relationship between bacteria and phages may have a role in modulating the composition of the microbiota. Our study also suggests that the microbiome structure of an individual may be an important factor in the design of phage-based therapy.
Wideband symmetric near‐field radiation pattern of sleeve dipole antenna by connecting additional ferrite‐loaded wire
Authors: Cho Jae‐Hyoung , Kim Se‐Yun 
Published: April 2015

A scaled‐down laboratory experiment has been performed in a well‐controlled situation to find an enhanced rule for detecting a man‐made underground tunnel by employing a cross‐borehole frequency‐swept radar system. A sleeve dipole antenna, fed by a coaxial cable passing inside its upper arm, is employed to easily put and pull it along an air‐filled thin and long glass tube in scaled‐down experiments. The tube‐guided wave along the coaxial cable can be suppressed by ferrite‐loading along the coaxial cable. However, the dipole antenna fed by the ferrite‐loaded coaxial cable provides an asymmetrical radiation pattern in the near‐field region. To improve the symmetry of its near‐field radiation pattern, an additional ferrite‐loaded wire is connected to the lower arm of the sleeve dipole antenna. According to the scattering measurement by an air‐filled circular cylinder, the additional ferrite‐loaded wire improves the symmetry of the electric field by more 30 dB in the frequency range of 1.5–3 GHz.
Modified corner‐fed dual‐polarised stacked patch antenna for micro‐base station applications
Authors: Zhu Quanjiang , Yang Shiwen , Chen Zong 
Published: April 2015

A modified corner‐fed dual‐polarised stacked patch antenna, with improved port isolation, is proposed. By shifting the feed points along the lower patch edge and introducing a triangular cut in the middle of another edge, the isolation between the two ports is improved significantly. The proposed antenna achieves a return loss of about 14 dB and a port isolation of more than 28 dB, within the band 2.5–2.7 GHz. The proposed antenna is highly suitable for micro‐base station applications in which features such as low profile, low cost and easy fabrication are required.
Broadband high‐power line driver with synthetic output impedance
Authors: Watkins G.T. , Mimis K. 
Published: April 2015

Broadband line drivers usually include a back termination resistor at the output to match to the cable they are driving. Half the output power is dissipated in this resistor, therefore halving their efficiency. The resistive termination can be replaced with synthetic impedance using a combination of voltage and current feedback. This implementation is based around a current mirror amplifier capable of producing a 40 V peak‐to‐peak signal into a 50 Ω load impedance from a ±24 V supply. Using bandwidth enhancement, the small signal bandwidth was 15 MHz and the full power bandwidth was 6 MHz. When driving a 50 m long terminated 50 Ω coaxial cable, the amplifier produced a clean output signal with little ringing, indicating that it is well matched over a broad bandwidth.
Lightweight stator structure for a large diameter direct‐drive permanent magnet synchronous generator intended for wind turbines
Authors: Semken R. Scott , Nutakor Charles , Mikkola Aki , Alexandrova Yulia 
Published: April 2015

A concept has been developed for a novel lightweight wheel structure intended for rotor and stator use in direct‐drive wind turbine generators. It uses a slanted spoke and rim architecture to provide maximum static structural performance with minimum weight. A unique attribute of the structure is its use of layered sheet steel elements to form the spokes and rim. Friction between layers establishes structural integrity. The interaction between layers and the resulting increase in damping normal to the stack offers improved dynamic performance. A static structural analysis of a full‐scale stator wheel structure for an 8 MW permanent magnet machine demonstrates the structural effectiveness of the architecture. To understand vibration characteristics of the lightweight wheel structure, a quarter‐scale prototype was built and an experimental modal analysis was carried out to measure actual radial vibration responses. This data was used to verify a numerical model, and there was good agreement between measured and predicted behaviours. Finally, a modal analysis was carried out for the full‐scale stator wheel structure. The dynamic performance of the wheel is acceptable for the stator of the 8 MW direct‐drive permanent magnet synchronous generator embodiment.
US protected lands mismatch biodiversity priorities
Authors: Jenkins Clinton N. , Van Houtan Kyle S. , Pimm Stuart L. , Sexton Joseph O. 
Published: April 2015

Significance
The United States has one of the oldest and most sophisticated systems of protected areas in the world. Given the large amount of information on the country’s biodiversity, and the potential resources available, one might expect it to do well in protecting biodiversity. We find that it does not. The United States protected areas do not adequately cover the country’s unique species. To improve the coverage, we map priorities for multiple taxa and recommend specific areas for immediate conservation attention. These areas contain a mix of public and private land, meaning that major progress in conservation will require actions in both the public and private sectors, and will succeed only if done in the correct areas.
Productive mRNA stem loop-mediated transcriptional slippage: Crucial features in common with intrinsic terminators
Authors: Penno Christophe , Sharma Virag , Coakley Arthur , O’Connell Motherway Mary , van Sinderen Douwe , Lubkowska Lucyna , Kireeva Maria L. , Kashlev Mikhail , Baranov Pavel V. , Atkins John F. 
Published: April 2015

Significance
Perturbation of transcription register by RNA polymerase, transcription slippage, is used to yield additional protein products. Known functionally important cases involve a small number of short sequences without secondary structure. The discovery reported here of the dependence of a newly identified motif on nascent RNA forming a stem loop structure within the RNA exit channel of the polymerase greatly extends the potential for a broad variety of putative slippage sequences, especially as the phenomenon has been observed with both bacterial and eukaryotic RNA polymerases. Characterization of the mechanism involved shows similarities with, and differences from, intrinsic transcription termination, which also depends on formation of RNA stem loop structures. Our findings reveal novel insights to RNA polymerase versatility and functioning.
Sterile inflammation in the spleen during atherosclerosis provides oxidation-specific epitopes that induce a protective B-cell response
Authors: Grasset Emilie K. , Duhlin Amanda , Agardh Hanna E. , Ovchinnikova Olga , Hägglöf Thomas , Forsell Mattias N. , Paulsson-Berne Gabrielle , Hansson Göran K. , Ketelhuth Daniel F. J. , Karlsson Mikael C. I. 
Published: April 2015

Significance
In this study we investigate the origin of the protective B-cell response in the spleen in atherosclerosis. We find an ongoing B-cell activation with production of antibodies against oxidation-specific epitopes. In addition, this response can be accelerated using apoptotic cells alone that reduce lesion development and serum cholesterol in a B-cell–dependent manner. This study pinpoints the spleen as an important organ for atherosclerosis-associated immunity and provides novel pathways to use for treatment.
Pain-enhancing mechanism through interaction between TRPV1 and anoctamin 1 in sensory neurons
Authors: Takayama Yasunori , Uta Daisuke , Furue Hidemasa , Tominaga Makoto 
Published: April 2015

Significance
The capsaicin receptor transient receptor potential cation channel vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and anoctamin 1 (ANO1) work as receptors activated by noxious stimuli in sensory nerve endings. It is believed that activation of the two channels causes cation influx and anion efflux, respectively, both of which lead to depolarization. We show that ANO1 is activated by calcium ions entering neurons through TRPV1 activation based on their physical binding on the cell membrane. Indeed, both capsaicin-activated inward currents in sensory neurons and capsaicin-induced pain-related behaviors in mice were inhibited significantly by ANO1 blockade. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence for a mechanism by which interaction between TRPV1 and ANO1 functions as a pain-enhancing mechanism.
Fishing amplifies forage fish population collapses
Authors: Essington Timothy E. , Moriarty Pamela E. , Froehlich Halley E. , Hodgson Emma E. , Koehn Laura E. , Oken Kiva L. , Siple Margaret C. , Stawitz Christine C. 
Published: April 2015

Significance
Forage fish provide substantial benefits to both humans and ocean food webs, but these benefits may be in conflict unless there are effective policies governing human activities, such as fishing. Collapses of forage fish induce widespread ecological effects on dependent predators, but attributing collapses to fishing has been difficult because of natural fluctuations of these stocks. We implicate fishing in forage fish stock collapses by showing that high fishing rates are maintained when stock productivity is in rapid decline. As a consequence, the magnitude and frequency but not duration of stock collapses are far greater than expected from natural fluctuations. Risk-based management policies would provide substantial ecological benefits with little effect on fishery catches.
Potential role for snoRNAs in PKR activation during metabolic stress
Authors: Youssef Osama A. , Safran Sarah A. , Nakamura Takahisa , Nix David A. , Hotamisligil Gökhan S. , Bass Brenda L. 
Published: April 2015

Significance
Animals respond to stress in many ways, including initiating cell death to eliminate damaged cells. Protein kinase RNA-activated (PKR) is a protein that senses stress, and it promotes cell death by phosphorylating eIF2α to block protein synthesis in damaged cells. PKR is activated by metabolic stress, such as that associated with obesity, and this activation depends on its RNA-binding domain. Here we investigated whether endogenous RNA triggers PKR activation in response to lipid exposure. Our results indicate that a noncoding RNA, the small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA), binds PKR during cellular metabolic stress, and multiple experiments suggest snoRNAs also activate PKR during metabolic stress. snoRNAs have established roles in RNA modification, and our studies suggest they have additional roles in metabolic stress.
Insights into the origins of fish hunting in venomous cone snails from studies of
Conus tessulatus
Authors: Aman Joseph W. , Imperial Julita S. , Ueberheide Beatrix , Zhang Min-Min , Aguilar Manuel , Taylor Dylan , Watkins Maren , Yoshikami Doju , Showers-Corneli Patrice , Safavi-Hemami Helena , Biggs Jason , Teichert Russell W. , Olivera Baldomero M. 
Published: April 2015

Significance
Only rarely is it possible to reconstruct molecular events that trigger the radiation of new lineages. Here we report key evidence that allows reconstruction of the transition from worm hunting to fish hunting among the species-rich family (Conidae) of marine cone snails (>700 species), which resulted in the emergence of multiple biodiverse piscivorous clades. A priori, the evolution of fish-hunting specialists would seem extremely improbable in a lineage of slowly moving snails that cannot swim, unlike their fish prey. The combination of results from molecular neuroscience, phylogenetic analysis, and chemical biology demonstrates that an ancestral cone snail venom peptide similar to δ-conotoxin TsVIA, a defensive venom component, preadapted a worm-hunting cone snail lineage, enabling the shift to a piscivorous lifestyle.
Long-acting progestin-only contraceptives impair endometrial vasculature by inhibiting uterine vascular smooth muscle cell survival
Authors: Kayisli Umit A. , Basar Murat , Guzeloglu-Kayisli Ozlem , Semerci Nihan , Atkinson Helen C. , Shapiro John , Summerfield Taryn , Huang S. Joseph , Prelle Katja , Schatz Frederick , Lockwood Charles J. 
Published: April 2015

Significance
Over a million unintended pregnancies occur in the United States each year because of either discontinuation or misuse of contraceptives. The major reason for discontinuation of long-acting progestin-only contraceptives (LAPCs) is the occurrence of abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB). Uncovering the mechanisms underlying LAPC-induced AUB is essential to prevent their discontinuation. We found that LAPCs reduce proliferation of human and guinea pig endometrial vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), resulting in production of thin-walled hyperdilated fragile microvessels. In cultured VSMCs, chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 reverses LAPC-mediated inhibition of VSMC proliferation, suggesting that LAPCs impair endometrial vascular integrity and that chemokine ligand 2 administration may prevent LAPC-induced AUB.
Ovary ecdysteroidogenic hormone requires a receptor tyrosine kinase to activate egg formation in the mosquito
Aedes aegypti
Authors: Vogel Kevin J. , Brown Mark R. , Strand Michael R. 
Published: April 2015

Significance
Mosquitoes are important because several species transmit pathogens that cause major diseases of humans and other vertebrates. Mosquitoes acquire and transmit pathogens because most species must consume blood from a vertebrate host to produce eggs. Thus, a promising strategy for disease control is to interfere with mosquito reproduction. Blood feeding triggers the release of ovary ecdysteroidogenic hormone (OEH) from the mosquito brain, which is a key regulator of egg formation. To function, however, OEH must bind a receptor, which was previously unknown. Here we identify an OEH receptor and show that it is required for egg formation. Targeting OEH–receptor interactions provides opportunities for reducing mosquito reproduction and disease transmission.
Identity-specific coding of future rewards in the human orbitofrontal cortex
Authors: Howard James D. , Gottfried Jay A. , Tobler Philippe N. , Kahnt Thorsten 
Published: April 2015

Significance
To make adaptive choices based on reward-predicting stimuli, organisms must take into account information about both the value and the specific identity of the reward to be obtained. Using appetizing food odors and pattern-based functional magnetic resonance imaging, we show that the human orbitofrontal cortex encodes future rewards in the form of identity-specific value codes. That is, even if valued the same, different expected rewards, such as pizza and chocolate cake, are differently encoded in this region. We further show that identity-specific and -general value coding regions are functionally linked to distinct regions, providing a novel account for the neural circuitry that underlies integration of both sensory and affective information to guide reward-related behavior.
Stratifying tumour subtypes based on copy number alteration profiles using next-generation sequence data
Authors: Gusnanto Arief , Tcherveniakov Peter , Shuweihdi Farag , Samman Manar , Rabbitts Pamela , Wood Henry M. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractMotivation: The role of personalized medicine and target treatment in the clinical management of cancer patients has become increasingly important in recent years. This has made the task of precise histological substratification of cancers crucial. Increasingly, genomic data are being seen as a valuable classifier. Specifically, copy number alteration (CNA) profiles generated by next-generation sequencing (NGS) can become a determinant for tumours subtyping. The principle purpose of this study is to devise a model with good prediction capability for the tumours histological subtypes as a function of both the patients covariates and their genome-wide CNA profiles from NGS data.Results: We investigate a logistic regression for modelling tumour histological subtypes as a function of the patients’ covariates and their CNA profiles, in a mixed model framework. The covariates, such as age and gender, are considered as fixed predictors and the genome-wide CNA profiles are considered as random predictors. We illustrate the application of this model in lung and oral cancer datasets, and the results indicate that the tumour histological subtypes can be modelled with a good fit. Our cross-validation indicates that the logistic regression exhibits the best prediction relative to other classification methods we considered in this study. The model also exhibits the best agreement in the prediction between smooth-segmented and circular binary-segmented CNA profiles.Availability and implementation: An R package to run a logistic regression is available in http://www1.maths.leeds.ac.uk/~arief/R/CNALR/.Contact: a.gusnanto@leeds.ac.ukSupplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.