bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How Small Can We Go? Evaluating Survival, Tag Retention, and Growth of Juvenile Chinook Salmon Implanted with a New Acoustic Microtag
Authors: Fischer Eric S. , Blackburn Shannon E. , Liss Stephanie A. , Hughes James S. , Li Huidong , Deng Zhiqun Daniel
Published: November 2019

Recently, an acoustic microtag, called the Eel–Lamprey Acoustic Tag (ELAT), was developed for use in juvenile American Eel Anguilla rostrata and Pacific Lamprey Entosphenus tridentatus. The ELAT (12.0 × 2.0 mm; 0.088 g in air) has the potential to be used to study other small-bodied fishes. In this pilot study, juvenile Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha 52–99 mm fork length (FL) were surgically implanted with an ELAT (n = 99) or remained untagged (control; n = 101). Fish were held for 30 d to evaluate survival, tag retention, and growth. Survival did not differ significantly between control (n = 98 or 97.0%) and tagged fish (n = 95 or 95.9%). Logistic regression analysis suggested that survival was influenced by initial FL and tag burden. Mortalities only occurred in tagged fish with initial FLs of ≤65 mm (FL range = 57–65 mm; tag burdens = 3.8–5.9%). However, a tagged fish with an initial FL of 62 mm or an initial tag burden of 4.1% (FL range = 58–64 mm) was predicted to have a 90% chance of survival, and the smallest fish that survived the study was 54 mm FL (1.8 g; tag burden = 4.9%). Tag retention was high (99%), with only one fish expelling an ELAT during the study. Control fish grew slightly larger than the tagged individuals, but differences in final pooled FLs and weight gains were not significant. Our results demonstrate the successful surgical implantation of the ELAT into Chinook Salmon as small as 54 mm FL (1.8 g).
Vorticity in lower urinary tract can be assessed and associates with urinary tract morphology in men
Authors: Minagawa Tomonori , Tezuka Masato , Ogawa Teruyuki , Ishizuka Osamu
Published: November 2019

Objectives

The aim of this study is to develop a method to evaluate the fluid dynamics of urine flow in the lower urinary tract (LUT), especially that of vorticity.

Materials and Methods

This investigation included three sub‐studies to demonstrate urine flow in the entire LUT. First, we attempted to observe vorticity generation in the urinary bladder during spontaneous voiding using transabdominal color Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS). Second, we performed transrectal CDUS to evaluate the vorticity of urine flow in the prostatic urethra. Patients with prostate cancer were enrolled before robotic surgery and divided into the vorticity and non‐vorticity groups based on CDUS findings for comparisons of longitudinal urethral diameter and prostatic urethral angle. Third, the vorticity of the voided urine stream was observed using a high‐speed video‐camera. Micturition was done in a standing position while synchronously monitored for urine flow using uroflowmetry.

Results

Vorticity formation could be dynamically demonstrated in the urinary bladder and prostatic urethra using CDUS. The prostatic urethral angle of the vorticity group was more than that of the non‐vorticity group. High‐speed video recording could clearly capture vorticity and spiral shape generation in voided urine. The distance from the external urethral orifice to the first twist changed in accordance with urine flow rate.

Conclusions

In a series of sub‐studies, this investigation proved vorticity generation in the LUT and voided urine. Vorticity was detectable in the LUT and in voided urine using CDUS and a high‐speed video‐camera. Vorticity generation might be associated with urethral morphology.
Identifying men with global polyuria on a nocturnal‐only voiding diary
Authors: Monaghan Thomas F. , Rahman Syed N. , Bliwise Donald L. , Michelson Kyle P. , Agudelo Christina W. , Miller Connelly D. , Weinstein Corey S. , Olesen Tine K. , Lazar Jason M. , Everaert Karel , Verbalis Joseph G. , Weiss Jeffrey P.
Published: November 2019

Aims

Nocturnal polyuria (NP) and global polyuria (GP) are not mutually exclusive. However, by rate, the common criteria for GP (40 mL/kg/24 hours [117 mL/kg/hour in a 70‐kg individual] or 3000 mL/24 hours [125 mL/h]) are more stringent than those for NP (90 mL/hour during the sleep period or NP index [NPi; nocturnal volume/24‐hour volume] > 0.33 [no minimum rate]). It remains unclear whether total nocturnal urine volume (NUV) may reliably delineate between NP patients with and without comorbid GP.

Methods

A clinical database of men with lower urinary tract symptoms was searched for voiding diaries completed by patients reporting greater than or equal to 1 nocturnal void(s). Four separate analyses were performed using all combinations of the two NP and two GP criteria listed above. For each analysis, patients were included if they met the criteria for NP, and then stratified by presence or absence of GP (ie, NP + GP vs isolated NP).

Results

Median NUV was greater among patients with NP + GP for all criteria combinations. Sensitivities greater than or equal to 80%/90%/100% for NP + GP were observed at 1275/1230/1085 mL for {NPi > 0.33 + 24‐hour volume > 3000 mL}; 1075/1035/1035 mL for {NPi > 0.33 + 24‐hour volume > 40 mL/kg}; 900/745/630 mL for {NUP > 90 mL/hour + 24‐hour volume > 3000 mL}; and 1074/1035/990 mL for {NUP > 90 mL/hour + 24‐hour volume > 40 mL/kg}.

Conclusions

An inordinate NUV among men with NP is fairly sensitive for comorbid GP. In the appropriate clinical setting, nocturnal‐only diaries may suffice in the evaluation and follow‐up of patients with NP, so long as outlying nocturnal volumes prompt a 24‐hour diary/urine collection.
Experiences, mental well‐being and community‐based care needs of fathers of late preterm infants: A mixed‐methods pilot study
Authors: Premji Shahirose Sadrudin , Reilly Sandra , Currie Genevieve , Dosani Aliyah , Oliver Lynnette May , Lodha Abhay K. , Young Marilyn , Hall Marc , Williamson Tyler
Published: November 2019

Aims

We explore fathers' experience of caring for a late preterm infant including their stressors, needs and corresponding interventions proffered by public health nurses.

Design

Pilot mixed‐methods exploratory sequential design.

Methods

We collected (a) qualitative data from semi‐structured interviews (N = 5) and (b) quantitative data (N = 31) about fathers' levels of stress (Parenting Stress Index), anxiety (Speilberger State–Trait Anxiety) and depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) at 6–8 weeks after birth of their infant.

Results

Fathers appreciated their infant was born ‘early’, however, discovered through experience the demands of their infant, which appeared as stress (child and parent domains) and anxiety. Themes: hypervigilance in care explained the fathers' sense of competency and role restriction; infant fatigue and parental feeding elucidated the stressful aspect of father–infant interaction. Unscientific advice from healthcare providers was confusing and frustrating while uncertainty of rehospitalization caused worries, fears or stress. One father experienced depressive symptoms.
High‐order discrete‐time orthogonal spline collocation methods for singularly perturbed 1D parabolic reaction–diffusion problems
Authors: Mishra Pankaj , Sharma Kapil K. , Pani Amiya K. , Fairweather Graeme
Published: November 2019

Quasi‐optimal error estimates are derived for the continuous‐time orthogonal spline collocation (OSC) method and also two discrete‐time OSC methods for approximating the solution of 1D parabolic singularly perturbed reaction–diffusion problems. OSC with C1 splines of degree r ≥ 3 on a Shishkin mesh is employed for the spatial discretization while the Crank–Nicolson method and the BDF2 scheme are considered for the time‐stepping. The results of numerical experiments validate the theoretical analysis and also exhibit additional quasi‐optimal results, in particular, superconvergence phenomena.
Corporate sustainable actions through United Nations sustainable development goals: The internal customer's response
Authors: Munro Virginia , Arli Denni
Published: November 2019

Designing sustainable corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy utilizing the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs) framework to deal with consumption in a sustainable and responsible fashion is increasingly a requirement in emerging economies. This paper examines sustainable social initiatives (SIs) via a CSR model and social lens as part of the SDG framework for multinational enterprises (MNEs), to determine the perception of the internal customer and stakeholder (i.e., the employee) alongside their identification and voluntary engagement in their organization's SIs. The study examines internal customers (as the employee) of two MNEs who reside in a developed country and two developing countries from emerging economies. The findings indicate that identification with the SDG‐based SIs selected by MNEs for this study mediates the relationship between perception of their organization's perceived CSR and engagement in these initiatives, for employees in developing countries (and emerging markets) but not the developed country. This suggests the importance that internal employees “identify” with SDG‐based SIs in emerging markets in particular and builds on significant managerial implications for MNEs in these markets alongside their voluntary work with nonprofits as part of their SIs and CSR strategy. The findings also confirm the importance of MNEs adopting SIs that are not only relevant to the global United Nations SDG framework but also relevant to the actors, collaborators, and nonprofit organizations involved in these SIs, including stakeholders and in particular the internal customer (i.e., employee) who volunteer their time to implement these SIs in the communities where MNEs reside.
Use Dashboards to Improve Water Treatment Plant Performance
Authors: Boyle Nathan J. , Biscardi Paul G. , Guendert Dawn M. , Spangenberg Carl W.
Published: November 2019

Advanced membrane treatment systems use a comprehensive array of instrumentation and routine water quality sampling to monitor plant performance. Dashboards provide a visual, interactive snapshot of key performance information and trends in a user‐friendly format.
Nudging Early Reduces Administrative Burden: Three Field Experiments to Improve Code Enforcement
Authors: Linos Elizabeth , Quan Lisa T. , Kirkman Elspeth
Published: November 2019

In the past decade, public sector organizations around the world have worked to simplify administrative processes as a way to improve user experience and compliance. Academic evidence on administrative burden supports this approach and there is a strong body of research showing that learning costs, compliance costs, and psychological costs help to explain why residents do not always take up programs for which they are eligible. This article considers the role of these types of costs in a different set of resident‐state interactions: compliance with regulations. We present the results of three large field experiments aimed at improving resident compliance with municipal housing codes using targeted behavioral interventions. We find that contacting property owners earlier, redesigning first notices, and proactively communicating with previous violators, can significantly improve compliance by 14.7 percent, 3.3 percent, and 9.2 percent, respectively, with costs savings ranging from 6 to 15 percent of a city's annual enforcement budget. Our results counterintuitively suggest that sometimes adding steps to an administrative process can reduce the costs associated with the resident‐state interaction.
Fabrication of polylactic acid/halloysite nanotube scaffolds by foam injection molding for tissue engineering
Authors: Eryildiz Meltem , Altan Mirigul
Published: November 2019

This study presents the improvement of mechanical properties and cell viability of polylactic acid/halloysite nanotube (PLA/HNT) scaffolds that were fabricated by foam injection molding. In this regard, firstly PLA and HNT were compounded on a twin screw extruder by melt mixing method within the HNT loadings of 1, 3, 5 wt%. Then, neat PLA and PLA/HNT pellets were foam injected molded to obtain tensile test samples. The mechanical properties of the scaffolds were determined by tensile test and methyl‐thiazol‐tetrazolium technique was used for determination of cell viability. The results have shown that the scaffold with 3 wt% of HNT addition gave the highest mechanical strength among the fabricated scaffolds with 124.2% and 79.2% of increments in tensile strength and elongation, respectively. Also, 3 wt% of HNT demonstrated the highest cell viability among the obtained scaffolds due to its improved scaffold morphology.
Creating basis for introducing non‐invasive prenatal testing in the Estonian public health setting
Authors: Žilina Olga , Rekker Kadri , Kaplinski Lauris , Sauk Martin , Paluoja Priit , Teder Hindrek , Ustav Eva‐Liina , Tõnisson Neeme , Reimand Tiia , Ridnõi Konstantin , Palta Priit , Vermeesch Joris Robert , Krjutškov Kaarel , Kurg Ants , Salumets Andres
Published: November 2019

Objective

The study aimed to validate a whole‐genome sequencing‐based NIPT laboratory method and our recently developed NIPTmer aneuploidy detection software with the potential to integrate the pipeline into prenatal clinical care in Estonia.

Method

In total, 424 maternal blood samples were included. Analysis pipeline involved cell‐free DNA extraction, library preparation and massively parallel sequencing on Illumina platform. Aneuploidies were determined with NIPTmer software, which is based on counting pre‐defined per‐chromosome sets of unique k‐mers from sequencing raw data. SeqFF was implemented to estimate cell‐free fetal DNA (cffDNA) fraction.

Results

NIPTmer identified correctly all samples of non‐mosaic trisomy 21 (T21, 15/15), T18 (9/9), T13 (4/4) and monosomy X (4/4) cases, with the 100% sensitivity. However, one mosaic T18 remained undetected. Six false‐positive (FP) results were observed (FP rate of 1.5%, 6/398), including three for T18 (specificity 99.3%) and three for T13 (specificity 99.3%). The level of cffDNA of <4% was estimated in eight samples, including one sample with T13 and T18. Despite low cffDNA level, these two samples were determined as aneuploid.

Conclusion

We believe that the developed NIPT method can successfully be used as a universal primary screening test in combination with ultrasound scan for the first trimester fetal examination.
Predictors of adverse drug reactions associated with ribavirin in direct‐acting antiviral therapies for chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Cursino Camille Nigri , Monteiro Priscilla Garcia de Oliveira , Duarte Gabriel da Silva , Vieira Tassita Bezz Quintanilha , Crisante Verônica de Carvalho , Giordani Fabíola , Xavier Analúcia Rampazzo , de Almeida Renan Moritz Varnier Rodrigues , Calil‐Elias Sabrina
Published: November 2019

Purpose

To identify factors associated with the development of adverse drug reactions (ADR) in ribavirin therapeutic regimens.

Methods

A multicenter, prospective study was conducted in three public health hospitals in Rio de Janeiro between November 2015 and March 2018. Inclusion criteria were defined by patient follow‐up at pharmaceutical consultation at the time of drug dispensing as those who used sofosbuvir in combination with simeprevir, daclatasvir, and/or ribavirin. All patients were invited to participate in the study during the first interview. Adverse drug reactions were reported according to the treatment regimen and frequency of occurrence. Statistical analysis was used to compare adverse reactions between treatments and their associated factors.

Results

A total of 405 patients were included in the study (mean age 59.6 ± 9.6 years); 61.0% were female, 88.1% were infected with genotype 1, and 65.4% were cirrhotic. The most prescribed treatment was the combination of sofosbuvir, daclatasvir, and ribavirin (55.3%). The majority of patients reported at least one ADR during treatment (83.2%), of which fatigue, anemia, and headache were the most common. Being female (OR = 1.86, [1.08‐3.20]) and use of ribavirin (OR: 2.39; 95% CI [1.38‐4.13]) were predictors for the development of ADR, which was also associated with development of anemia (OR: 10.28; 95% CI: [5.78‐18.30]). Treatment efficacy was 98.1%.

Conclusions

Direct‐acting antiviral has been shown to be safe and effective. Therefore, use of ribavirin is questionable due to associated adverse reactions and similar efficacy to other treatments.
Comparative Effectiveness of Taxane‐Containing Regimens for Treatment of HER2‐Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Network Meta‐analysis
Authors: Dong Lei , Zhu Li‐na , Xie Bao‐jie , Li Ji‐bin , Ding Tao , Jiang Yun‐fa , Zhu Zhong‐ning
Published: November 2019

Study Objectives

To compare the effectiveness of different taxane‐containing regimens and to identify the best strategy for the treatment of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)‐negative metastatic breast cancer (MBC).

Design

Network meta‐analysis of 20 randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Patients

A total of 6577 patients with HER2‐negative MBC who received treatment (20 different regimens) with taxanes (paclitaxel [4267 patients] or docetaxel [2310 patients]).

Measurements and Main Results

The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were searched (through March 2019) for RCTs that evaluated any taxane‐containing regimens for the treatment of HER2‐negative MBC. A network meta‐analysis in a Bayesian framework was performed using the random‐effects model. We compared the surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA) curve for each regimen. Overall, paclitaxel‐based combinations were superior to paclitaxel alone in objective response rate (ORR) (odds ratio 1.60, 95% credible interval [CrI] 1.15–2.16) and overall survival (OS) (hazard ratio 1.08, 95% CrI 1.01–1.15). Docetaxel‐based combinations were also superior to paclitaxel alone in ORR. Among the paclitaxel‐based regimens, based on the results of SUCRA, paclitaxel + bevacizumab + capecitabine was likely to be the most efficacious in improving ORR, OS, and progression‐free survival (PFS), whereas paclitaxel + gemcitabine was likely to be the most efficacious in 1‐year OS rate. Among the docetaxel‐based regimens, based on the results of SUCRA, docetaxel + gemcitabine was likely to be the most efficacious in improving PFS and OS.

Conclusion

These findings demonstrated that paclitaxel‐based combinations can provide significant improvement in ORR and OS compared with paclitaxel alone. The regimens of paclitaxel + bevacizumab + capecitabine, docetaxel + gemcitabine, and paclitaxel + gemcitabine may be superior to other regimens for the treatment of HER2‐negative MBC.
In Arabidopsis hybrids and Hybrid Mimics, up‐regulation of cell wall biogenesis is associated with the increased plant size
Authors: Wang Li , Wu Li Min , Greaves Ian K. , Dennis Elizabeth S. , Peacock William James
Published: November 2019

Hybrid breeding is of economic importance in agriculture for increasing yield, yet the basis of heterosis is not well understood. In Arabidopsis, crosses between different accessions produce hybrids with different levels of heterosis relative to parental phenotypes in biomass. In all hybrids, the advantage of the F1 hybrid in both phenotypic uniformity and yield gain is lost in the heterogeneous F2. F5/F6 Hybrid Mimics generated from a cross between C24 and Landsbergerecta(Ler) ecotypes demonstrated that the large plant phenotype of the F1 hybrids can be stabilized. Hybrid Mimic selection was applied to Wassilewskija (Ws)/Lerand Col/Lerhybrids. The two hybrids show different levels of heterosis. The Col/Lerhybrid generated F7 Hybrid Mimics with rosette diameter and fresh weight equivalent to the F1 hybrid at 30 DAS; F7 Ws/LerHybrid Mimics outperformed the F1 hybrid in both the rosette size and biomass. Transcriptome analysis revealed up‐regulation of cell wall biosynthesis, and cell wall expansion genes could be a common pathway in increased size in the Arabidopsis hybrids and Hybrid Mimics. Intercross of two independent Hybrid Mimic lines can further increase the biomass gain. Our results encourage the use of Hybrid Mimics for breeding and for investigating the molecular basis of heterosis.
Receptor‐Like Kinase Phosphorylation of Arabidopsis Heterotrimeric G‐Protein Gα ‐Subunit AtGPA1
Authors: Jia Haiyan , Song Gaoyuan , Werth Emily G. , Walley Justin W. , Hicks Leslie M. , Jones Alan M.
Published: November 2019

As molecular on–off switches, heterotrimeric G protein complexes, comprised of a Gα subunit and an obligate Gβγ dimer, transmit extracellular signals received by G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) to cytoplasmic targets that respond to biotic and abiotic stimuli. Signal transduction is modulated by phosphorylation of GPCRs and G protein complexes. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the Gα subunit AtGPA1 is phosphorylated by the receptor‐like kinase (RLK) BRI1‐associated Kinase 1 (BAK1), but the extent that other RLKs phosphorylates AtGPA1 is unknown. Twenty‐two trans‐phosphorylation sites on AtGPA1 are mapped by 12 RLKs hypothesized to act in the Arabidopsis G protein signaling pathway. Cis‐phosphorylation sites are also identified on these RLKs, some newly shown to be dual specific kinases. Multiple sites are present in the core AtGPA1 functional units, including pSer52 and/or pThr53 of the conserved P‐loop that directly binds nucleotide/phosphate, pThr164, and pSer175 from αE helix in the intramolecular domain interface for nucleotide exchange and GTP hydrolysis, and pThr193 and/or pThr194 in Switch I (SwI) that coordinates nucleotide exchange and protein partner binding. Several AtGPA1 S/T phosphorylation sites are potentially nucleotide‐dependent phosphorylation patterns, such as Ser52/Thr53 in the P‐loop and Thr193 and/or Thr194 in SwI.
Liquid Crystal Ordering on Conjugated Polymers Film Morphology for High Performance
Authors: Zhang Lu , Zhao Kefeng , Li Hongxiang , Zhang Tao , Liu Duo , Han Yanchun
Published: November 2019

The electronic performance of conjugated polymers depends on the microstructure of the polymer films. A percolated network morphology with high crystallinity, ordered intermolecular packing and long‐range order is beneficial for charge transport. In recent reports, some conjugated polymers have been shown to exhibit liquid crystallinity. The appearance of liquid crystalline ordering provides a new solution to solve the difficulties in microstructure manipulation. In this review, we summarize how liquid crystallinity can assist molecular arrangement and guide long‐range orientation during film processing, leading to high charge mobility. We expect that this article could draw more attention to the liquid crystallinity of conjugated polymers. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019, 57, 1572–1591
Phase Transformation Behavior of Polylactide Probed by Small Angle Light Scattering and Calorimetry
Authors: Schmidt Nico , Keuker‐Baumann Susanne , Meyer Jörg , Huber Klaus
Published: November 2019

Small angle light scattering (SALS) and differential scanning calorimetry DSC have been applied to investigate the melting of spherulites isothermally crystallized polylactide. At an isothermal crystallization temperature high enough, pure α‐phase crystals are formed. Exposed to a temperature gradient, the crystals first melt and then recrystallize before they finally melt. With decreasing crystallization temperature, an increasing fraction of polylactide is crystallizing in the less stable α
′‐phase. α
′‐crystals also melt upon increasing the temperature but recrystallize to the more stable α‐phase. A constant spherulite size is revealed by SALS for both processes, the α/α and α
′/α melt‐recrystallization, until completion of the final melting, thereby supporting integrity of the spherulites throughout the entire processes. Joint DSC and SALS experiments demonstrate that the depolarized scattering invariant correlates with the heat flow recorded by DSC and thus offer an alternative measure for the degree of crystallinity. The following mechanism is identified for both processes: initial melting and recrystallization overlay each other. Crystallinity is not fully recovered upon recrystallization because only part of the original lamellae survives the melt‐recrystallization, though with an increased thickness. While lamellae are melting and reforming or simply transforming their phase, the spherulites survive the process until final melting. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019, 57, 1483–1495
Prediction of impacts of mutations on protein structure and interactions: SDM, a statistical approach, and mCSM, using machine learning
Authors: Pandurangan Arun Prasad , Blundell Tom L.
Published: November 2019

Next‐generation sequencing methods have not only allowed an understanding of genome sequence variation during the evolution of organisms but have also provided invaluable information about genetic variants in inherited disease and the emergence of resistance to drugs in cancers and infectious disease. A challenge is to distinguish mutations that are drivers of disease or drug resistance, from passengers that are neutral or even selectively advantageous to the organism. This requires an understanding of impacts of missense mutations in gene expression and regulation, and on the disruption of protein function by modulating protein stability or disturbing interactions with proteins, nucleic acids, small molecule ligands, and other biological molecules. Experimental approaches to understanding differences between wild‐type and mutant proteins are most accurate but are also time‐consuming and costly. Computational tools used to predict the impacts of mutations can provide useful information more quickly. Here, we focus on two widely used structure‐based approaches, originally developed in the Blundell lab: site‐directed mutator (SDM), a statistical approach to analyze amino acid substitutions, and mutation cutoff scanning matrix (mCSM), which uses graph‐based signatures to represent the wild‐type structural environment and machine learning to predict the effect of mutations on protein stability. Here, we describe DUET that uses machine learning to combine the two approaches. We discuss briefly the development of mCSM for understanding the impacts of mutations on interfaces with other proteins, nucleic acids, and ligands, and we exemplify the wide application of these approaches to understand human genetic disorders and drug resistance mutations relevant to cancer and mycobacterial infections.

Statement for a Broader Audience

Genetic or somatic changes in genes can lead to mutations in human proteins, which give rise to genetic disorders or cancer, or to genes of pathogens leading to drug resistance. Computer software described here, using statistical approaches or machine learning, uses the information from genome sequencing of humans and pathogens, together with experimental or modeled 3D structures of gene products, the proteins, to predict impacts of mutations in genetic disease, cancer and drug resistance.
Structural complementarity of distance constraints obtained from chemical cross‐linking and amino acid coevolution
Authors: dos Santos Ricardo N. , Bottino Guilherme F. , Gozzo Fábio C. , Morcos Faruck , Martínez Leandro
Published: November 2019

The analysis of amino acid coevolution has emerged as a practical method for protein structural modeling by providing structural contact information from alignments of amino acid sequences. In parallel, chemical cross‐linking/mass spectrometry (XLMS) has gained attention as a universally applicable method for obtaining low‐resolution distance constraints to model the quaternary arrangements of proteins, and more recently even protein tertiary structures. Here, we show that the structural information obtained by XLMS and coevolutionary analysis are effectively complementary: the distance constraints obtained by each method are almost exclusively associated with non‐coincident pairs of residues, and modeling results obtained by the combination of both sets are improved relative to considering the same total number of constraints of a single type. The structural rationale behind the complementarity of the distance constraints is discussed and illustrated for a representative set of proteins with different sizes and folds.
Spirulina extract enriched for Braun‐type lipoprotein (Immulina®) for inhibition of 4T1 breast tumors' growth and metastasis
Authors: Kefayat Amirhosein , Ghahremani Fatemeh , Safavi Ashkan , Hajiaghababa Alireza , Moshtaghian Jamal
Published: November 2019

Spirulina platensis extracts have exhibited considerable anti‐cancer effects. To investigate the efficacy of the Spirulina extract enriched for Braun‐type lipoprotein (Immulina®) for breast cancer treatment, 4T1 breast tumor‐bearing mice were treated with 40 mg/kg Immulina® daily and the tumors' growth and metastasis were assessed. Also, CD4, CD8, and CD56 staining were performed to investigate the Immulina® effect on the immune cells' recruitment to the tumors by immunohistochemistry. Immulina® could significantly (P < 0.001) inhibit 4T1 breast tumors' growth. Immulina®‐treated group exhibited a 63% decrease in the tumors' volume in comparison with control (P < 0.001). Also, Immulina® could significantly (P < 0.001) decrease metastatic burden at the vital organs as 68% and 61% decrease in the liver and lungs metastatic colonies were observed, respectively. Also, Immulina® could increase mean survival time of the tumor‐bearing mice for 29 days. The Spirulina‐treated mice tumors contained significantly more infiltrated NK, CD4+, and CD8+ T lymphocytes in comparison with control. Taking together, Immulina® can be a safe anti‐cancer supplement with the ability to cause direct apoptosis to the cancer cells and activate the immune system against tumor. This supplement with natural origin seems to have bright future to help breast cancer patients.
The potential role of B5: A stitch in time and switch in cytokine
Authors: Gheita Alaa A. , Gheita Tamer A. , Kenawy Sanaa A.
Published: November 2019

The wound healing process is a multifaceted sequence of activities associated with tissue restoration. Novel approaches for the perfection of wound healing have been determined as a stitch in time saves nine. Dysregulation of the immune response is a key element in the pathogenesis of rheumatic diseases and serves as a potential target for novel therapeutic strategies. Vitamin B5 (VB5), also known as pantothenate or “anti‐stress vitamin,” is the precursor of coenzyme A, which is essential in every micro‐organism. Many pantothenic acid amides acquire persuasive antimicrobial activity. Pantothenic acid improves surgical wounds healing with moisturizing and skin barrier enhancing potential. Its deficiency leads to reduced cortisol production, increased arthritic pain, myalgia, fatigue, headache, depression, insomnia, and widespread “proinflammatory” effects on the immune‐system. VB5 triggers immune cells to produce cytokines and is multifunctional. The paradoxical effect of VB5 on the switch of anti‐inflammatory and proinflammatory cytokines has been revealed. This review aims to present the long research journey of B5 as it is becoming a forerunner in the healing of wounds and in enhancing the immune function, thus providing potentially important therapeutic implications. As its role in healing a wound stitch is promising, amending the immune system damage too is a hopeful target.
Effect of dimer formation via hydrogen bonding on static and dynamic nonlinear optical characteristics of chromophores
Authors: Shalin Nikita I. , Fominykh Olga D. , Balakina Marina Yu.
Published: November 2019

The effect of head‐to‐tail azochromophore dimer formation on the values of static and dynamic first hyperpolarizability is studied on the basis of calculations performed at M06‐2X/aug‐cc‐pVDZ and ωB97X‐D/aug‐cc‐pVDZ computational levels; the results are compared with those obtained at second‐order Moller‐Plesset pertubation theory (MP2)/aug‐cc‐pVDZ. AzochromophoresDO3andAAB‐DCV, participating in the dimer formation, contain nitro‐ or dicyanovinylene acceptor moieties. The structure of the studied dimers is obtained at the B3LYP‐D3/6‐31++G (d,p) level with basis set superposition error (BSSE) correction. Dynamic first hyperpolarizabilities are calculated at radiation frequencies of 0.65 eV, 0.918 eV and 1.165 eV. The essential effect of dimer formation is demonstrated: it results in almost a 3.5 times increase of the first hyperpolarizability. In the seriesD1‐D2‐D3, β(2ω) values at 0.65 eV increase in a way similar to the static case: β(2ω) forD2andD3are 1.5 and 1.8 times higher than that forD1. The notable resonance enhancement of β(2ω) for the studied hydrogen‐bonded dimers is demonstrated at radiation frequency of 1.165 eV.
Next‐generation quantum theory of atoms in molecules for the S1/S0 conical intersections in dynamics trajectories of a light‐driven rotary molecular motor
Authors: Wang LiLing , Azizi Alireza , Momen Roya , Xu Tianlv , Kirk Steven R. , Filatov Michael , Jenkins Samantha
Published: November 2019

Next‐generation quantum theory of atoms in molecules was applied to analyze, along an entire bond path, intramolecular interactions known to influence the photoisomerization dynamics of a light‐driven rotary molecular motor. The 3D bond‐path framework set B0,1 constructed from the least and most preferred directions of electronic motion, provided new insights into the bonding leading to different S1 state lifetimes including the first quantification of covalent character of a closed‐shell intramolecular bond path. We undertook the first use of the stress tensor trajectory Tσ(s) analysis on selected nonadiabatic molecular dynamics trajectories with the electron densities obtained using the ensemble density functional theory method. The stress tensor Tσ(s) analysis was found to be well suited to follow the dynamics trajectories that included the S0 and S1 electronic states through the conical intersection and also provided to a new measure to assess the degree of purity of the axial bond rotation for the design of rotary molecular motors.
The Simple View of Reading Made Complex by Morphological Decoding Fluency in Bilingual Fourth‐Grade Readers of English
Authors: Zhang Dongbo , Ke Sihui
Published: November 2019

The authors examined the complexity of the simple view of reading, focusing on morphological decoding fluency in fourth‐grade readers of English in Singapore. The participants were three groups of students who all learned to become bilingual and biliterate in the English language (EL) and their respective ethnic language in school but differed in the home language they used. The first group was ethnic Chinese students who used English as the dominant home language (ChineseEL1); the other two groups were ethnic Chinese and Malay students whose dominant home language was not English but Chinese (ChineseEL2) and Malay (MalayEL2), respectively. The measures included pseudoword decoding (phonemic decoding), timed decoding of derivational words (morphological decoding fluency), oral vocabulary, and passage comprehension. Path analysis showed that oral vocabulary significantly predicted reading comprehension across all three groups, yet a significant effect of morphological decoding fluency surfaced in the ChineseEL1 and MalayEL2 groups but not the ChineseEL2 group. Multigroup path analysis and commonality analysis further confirmed that morphological decoding played a larger role in the ChineseEL1 and MalayEL2 groups. These findings are discussed in light of the joint influence of target‐language experience and cross‐linguistic influence on second‐language or bilingual reading development.
Cisplatin‐induced alteration on membrane composition of A549 cells revealed by ToF‐SIMS
Authors: Zhang Yanyan , Zeng Wenjuan , Jia Feifei , Ye Juan , Zhao Yao , Luo Qun , Zhu Zihua , Wang Fuyi
Published: November 2019

Cisplatin has been clinically used for treatment of solid tumors such as non–small‐cell lung cancer for decades. However, tumor resistance may be acquired with losing the antitumor activity of cisplatin. As cellular membrane is the first barrier that cisplatin has to overcome before its further action inside the cells, the membrane composition must play a vital role in the cisplatin uptake and excretion, which further influences cisplatin sensitivity. In this work, we applied time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS) surface analysis combined with principle component analysis to distinguish the differences of cell membrane composition between non–small‐cell lung cancer cells (A549) and its cisplatin resistant counterpart A549/DDP cells. The decreased phosphatidylcholine content and more abundant cholesterol were observed in the drug resistant cell surfaces, indicating the decreased membrane fluidity of A549/DDP cells. Moreover, we further compared membrane composition of A549 and A549/DDP cells after being treated with different concentrations of cisplatin. A higher composition level of proteins was discovered on all groups of A549/DDP cell membranes. The altered surface chemistry of cellular membranes induced by cisplatin indicates the significance of membrane structures in the drug resistance, which deserves further investigations to this regard.
A new Bayesian joint model for longitudinal count data with many zeros, intermittent missingness, and dropout with applications to HIV prevention trials
Authors: Wu Jing , Chen Ming‐Hui , Schifano Elizabeth D. , Ibrahim Joseph G. , Fisher Jeffrey D.
Published: November 2019

In longitudinal clinical trials, it is common that subjects may permanently withdraw from the study (dropout), or return to the study after missing one or more visits (intermittent missingness). It is also routinely encountered in HIV prevention clinical trials that there is a large proportion of zeros in count response data. In this paper, a sequential multinomial model is adopted for dropout and subsequently a conditional model is constructed for intermittent missingness. The new model captures the complex structure of missingness and incorporates dropout and intermittent missingness simultaneously. The model also allows us to easily compute the predictive probabilities of different missing data patterns. A zero‐inflated Poisson mixed‐effects regression model is assumed for the longitudinal count response data. We also propose an approach to assess the overall treatment effects under the zero‐inflated Poisson model. We further show that the joint posterior distribution is improper if uniform priors are specified for the regression coefficients under the proposed model. Variations of the g‐prior, Jeffreys prior, and maximally dispersed normal prior are thus established as remedies for the improper posterior distribution. An efficient Gibbs sampling algorithm is developed using a hierarchical centering technique. A modified logarithm of the pseudomarginal likelihood and a concordance based area under the curve criterion are used to compare the models under different missing data mechanisms. We then conduct an extensive simulation study to investigate the empirical performance of the proposed methods and further illustrate the methods using real data from an HIV prevention clinical trial.
Younger age negatively impacts depression‐associated exacerbation of hemoglobin A1c levels in type 2 diabetes: Implications for intervention
Authors: Jean Moïse‐Denis K. , Mihailescu Dan V. , Ajilore Olugbenga , Kumar Anand , Ajilore Olusola A.
Published: November 2019

Adults with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and depression are associated with higher hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) compared to their nondepressed counterparts. Little is known about related clinical and demographic components contributing to these differences. We examined differences in HbA1C between adults who have T2DM with and without major depression. T tests and chi‐square analyses measured differences in HbA1C and clinical/demographic variables. HbA1C was statistically higher in depressed participants compared to nondepressed participants. The difference was no longer statistically significant after controlling for age. Age and HbA1C were negatively correlated across the sample and were still correlated in each group independently. The interaction of age and HbA1C was moderated by depression status. Additionally, mechanisms for diabetes severity differences were assessed using moderation analyses and Blinder‐Oaxaca decomposition technique. Seventy‐four percent of the mean outcome HbA1C difference between depressed and nondepressed diabetic participants was explained by age. Furthermore, age was negatively correlated with clinical variables, such as diastolic blood pressure and cholesterol. Comparing age to smoking and nonsmoking participants, smokers were statistically younger. Younger adults with T2DM may require more attention regarding self‐management, particularly in the context of depression. Depression should be screened and treated among individuals with diabetes since this exacerbates diabetes severity.
Behavior of fiber reinforced concrete members under sustained axial/flexural load
Authors: Watts Murray J. , Amin Ali , Gilbert Raymond Ian , Kaufmann Walter
Published: November 2019

The inclusion of steel or polypropylene fibers in the concrete mix can substantially improve the serviceability characteristics of reinforced concrete members. For fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) members, the fibers enhance the postcracking stiffness, thereby reducing the short‐term and long‐term deflections, and very significantly reducing the width of cracks and the spacing between them. Relatively little experimental and analytical research has been undertaken on the effects of creep and shrinkage on the long‐term performance of FRC structural members after cracking. Failure to account for creep and shrinkage of the concrete and creep of the fibers can lead to a serious under‐estimation of the extent and severity of cracking, as well as long‐term curvatures and deformations. This paper describes a method of analysis and the material modeling required to determine the time‐dependent behavior of cracked, steel or macro‐synthetic FRC members containing conventional bar reinforcement and subjected to a sustained bending moment and/or axial force. The model is versatile in that it can handle a range of inputs (fiber type, specimen geometry, loading conditions, etc.) and is simple enough for routine use. The model is validated against available test data and is shown to produce satisfactory correlations.
Outspoken Objects and Unspoken Myths: The Semiotics of Object‐Mediated Communication
Authors: Peña‐Alves Stephanie
Published: November 2019

This interactionist study draws on the semiotics of Peirce and Barthes to theorize object‐mediated communication, a nonverbal interpersonal technique in which individuals signal new information by using and orienting themselves to symbolically endowed material objects. Examining the case of door‐mediated communication, it proposes that objects lie symbolically dormant until their deeper collective significance is activated through their use in interaction. The article expands the scope of interactionist inquiry on human–nonhuman relations by moving beyond the dominant scholarly focus on identity. The semiotic approach foregrounds a distinct human–object phenomenon, a novel category of nonverbal communication, and important meaning‐making dynamics.
Acceptance of Sharīʿah‐compliant precious metal‐backed cryptocurrency as an alternative currency: An empirical validation of adoption of innovation theory
Authors: Ajouz Mousa , Abdullah Adam , Kassim Salina
Published: November 2019

In the crypto world, there is a proverbial (and literal) gold rush now occurring. Currently, more than 37 gold‐backed cryptocurrency companies have now emerged. Interestingly, some of them also claim to be Sharīʿah‐compliant. Introducing precious metal‐backed cryptocurrencies is perceived to be an innovation among global payment systems, hampered in part by lack of supporting empirical evidence. Therefore, this research investigates potential users' tendency to adopt a Sharīʿah‐compliant precious metal‐backed cryptocurrency. As such, this study adopts an extended adoption model, which consists of eight factors. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS‐SEM) analysis was conducted on data elicited from economic active residents in Klang Valley from questionnaires. Overall, it was found six out of the eight constructs specified to influence the adoption of precious metal‐backed cryptocurrency were statistically significant where 54.5% of the variation in adoption of PMBC can be explained by the structure model provided by this research. It was also found 63.55% of the respondents are willing to adopt precious metal‐backed cryptocurrency in their future transactions.
Chief executive officers' dispositional optimism, host country's rule of law, and foreign market equity mode choice of Ghanaian small and medium‐sized enterprises
Authors: Adomako Samuel , Frimpong Kwabena , Mohammed Riaz A. , Opoku Robert A. , Hussain Rifaqat
Published: November 2019

Despite a growing interest in the influence of managerial characteristics on firms' strategic decision‐making process, scholarly knowledge is limited with regard to how and when psychological attributes of executives affect firms' foreign entry mode decision. Building on behavioral decision‐making theory, we address this gap by investigating the effect of chief executive officers' (CEOs') optimism on firms' foreign market equity mode choice. In addition, we examine the moderating influence of the host country's rule of law on this relationship. Using primary data from 227 small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana, we found that increases in the levels of CEOs' optimism are related to the increases in preference for equity entry mode. This relationship is amplified when CEOs perceive the host country to have stronger rule of law. The findings have theoretical, managerial, and policy implications for SMEs' foreign market entry mode strategy.
Epigenetic modification of H3K4 and oxidative stress are involved in MC‐LR‐induced apoptosis in testicular cells of SD rats
Authors: Yuan Le , Liu Haohao , Liu Xiaohui , Zhang Xiaofeng , Wu Jinxia , Wang Yueqin , Du Xingde , Wang Rui , Ma Ya , Chen Xinghai , Petlulu Pavankumar , Cheng Xuemin , Zhuang Donggang , Guo Hongxiang , Zhang Huizhen
Published: November 2019

Microcystin‐leucine arginine (MC‐LR) is a cyclic heptapeptide, produced by aquatic cyanobacteria such as microcystis, with strong reproductive toxicity which poses greater threat to the reproductive abilities of humans and animals. By exploring the role of trimethylation of histone H3 at lysine 4 (H3K4me3) and the role of oxidative stress in MC‐LR‐induced apoptosis in testicular Sertoli cells in Sprague‐Dawley (SD) rats, this study indicated that MC‐LR increased the expression levels of apoptosis‐related genes by raising the levels of H3K4me3. 5′‐Deoxy‐5′‐methylthioadenosine (MTA), the inhibitor of H3K4me3, reduced apoptosis, indicating for the first time that epigenetic modification is closely related to the testicular reproductive toxicity induced by MC‐LR. MC‐LR also induced oxidative stress by stimulating the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and subsequently triggering mitochondria‐mediated apoptotic pathway by decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential and increasing the levels of Bax, Bcl‐2, Caspase‐3, and so on. MC‐LR‐induced apoptosis of testicular cells could be decreased after pretreatment with oxidative stress inhibitor N‐acetyl‐cysteine (NAC). Furthermore, the pathological damage to mitochondria and testes were observed in SD rats. These results show that MC‐LR can induce apoptosis by raising the levels of H3K4me3, and pretreatment with MTA can ameliorate the MC‐LR‐induced apoptosis of cocultured cells by lowering the levels of H3K4me3. Furthermore, NAC has a protective effect on MC‐LR‐induced apoptosis of testicular cells in SD rats by inhibiting the oxidative stress.