bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
First-Trimester Prenatal Dexamethasone Treatment Is Associated With Alterations in Brain Structure at Adult Age
Authors: van’t Westeinde Annelies , Karlsson Leif , Nordenström Anna , Padilla Nelly , Lajic Svetlana 
Published: June 2020

Abstract

Context
Prenatal treatment of human disease is rare. Dexamethasone (DEX) is used in pregnancies at risk for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) to prevent virilization in an affected female fetus. The safety and long-term consequences of prenatal DEX exposure on the brain are largely unknown.

Objective
We investigate whether first-trimester prenatal DEX treatment is associated with alterations in brain structure at adult age, and if these alterations are associated with DNA methylation, mood, and cognitive abilities.

Design, Setting, and Participants
T1-weighted and diffusion-weighted imaging scans, from a single research institute, are compared between 19 (9 women) first-trimester DEX-treated individuals, at risk of CAH but not having CAH, and 43 (26 women) controls (age range, 16.0-26.4 years).

Results
DEX-treated participants showed bilateral enlargement of the amygdala, increased surface area and volume of the left superior frontal gyrus, and widespread increased radial, mean, and axial diffusivity of white matter, in particular in the superior longitudinal fasciculi and corticospinal tracts. In the DEX-treated group, increased mean and radial diffusivity correlated with increased methylation of the promotor region of the FKBP5 gene. There were no group differences in cognition or in scales assessing depression or anxiety, and the relationship between brain structure and cognition did not differ between DEX-treated and controls.

Conclusions
First-trimester prenatal DEX treatment is associated with structural alterations of the brain at adult age, with an accompanying change in gene methylation. The findings add to the safety concerns of prenatal DEX treatment in the context of CAH.
Trypanosomes have divergent kinesin-2 proteins that function differentially in flagellum biosynthesis and cell viability
Authors: Douglas Robert L. , Haltiwanger Brett M. , Albisetti Anna , Wu Haiming , Jeng Robert L. , Mancuso Joel , Cande W. Zacheus , Welch Matthew D. 
Published: June 2020

ABSTRACT
Trypanosoma brucei, the causative agent of African sleeping sickness, has a flagellum that is crucial for motility, pathogenicity, and viability. In most eukaryotes, the intraflagellar transport (IFT) machinery drives flagellum biogenesis, and anterograde IFT requires kinesin-2 motor proteins. In this study, we investigated the function of the two T. brucei kinesin-2 proteins, TbKin2a and TbKin2b, in bloodstream form trypanosomes. We found that, compared to kinesin-2 proteins across other phyla, TbKin2a and TbKin2b show greater variation in neck, stalk and tail domain sequences. Both kinesins contributed additively to flagellar lengthening. Silencing TbKin2a inhibited cell proliferation, cytokinesis and motility, whereas silencing TbKin2b did not. TbKin2a was localized on the flagellum and colocalized with IFT components near the basal body, consistent with it performing a role in IFT. TbKin2a was also detected on the flagellar attachment zone, a specialized structure that connects the flagellum to the cell body. Our results indicate that kinesin-2 proteins in trypanosomes play conserved roles in flagellar biosynthesis and exhibit a specialized localization, emphasizing the evolutionary flexibility of motor protein function in an organism with a large complement of kinesins.
Ciliary proteins specify the cell inflammatory response by tuning NFκB signalling, independently of primary cilia
Authors: Mc Fie Megan , Koneva Lada , Collins Isabella , Coveney Clarissa R. , Clube Aisling M. , Chanalaris Anastasios , Vincent Tonia L. , Bezbradica Jelena S. , Sansom Stephen N. , Wann Angus K. T. 
Published: June 2020

ABSTRACT
Complex inflammatory signalling cascades define the response to tissue injury but also control development and homeostasis, limiting the potential for these pathways to be targeted therapeutically. Primary cilia are subcellular regulators of cellular signalling, controlling how signalling is organized, encoded and, in some instances, driving or influencing pathogenesis. Our previous research revealed that disruption of ciliary intraflagellar transport (IFT), altered the cell response to IL-1β, supporting a putative link emerging between cilia and inflammation. Here, we show that IFT88 depletion affects specific cytokine-regulated behaviours, changing cytosolic NFκB translocation dynamics but leaving MAPK signalling unaffected. RNA-seq analysis indicates that IFT88 regulates one third of the genome-wide targets, including the pro-inflammatory genes Nos2, Il6 and Tnf. Through microscopy, we find altered NFκB dynamics are independent of assembly of a ciliary axoneme. Indeed, depletion of IFT88 inhibits inflammatory responses in the non-ciliated macrophage. We propose that ciliary proteins, including IFT88, KIF3A, TTBK2 and NPHP4, act outside of the ciliary axoneme to tune cytoplasmic NFκB signalling and specify the downstream cell response. This is thus a non-canonical function for ciliary proteins in shaping cellular inflammation.
This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Cep57 and Cep57l1 function redundantly to recruit the Cep63–Cep152 complex for centriole biogenesis
Authors: Zhao Huijie , Yang Sen , Chen Qingxia , Duan Xiaomeng , Li Guoqing , Huang Qiongping , Zhu Xueliang , Yan Xiumin 
Published: June 2020

ABSTRACT
The Cep63–Cep152 complex located at the mother centriole recruits Plk4 to initiate centriole biogenesis. How the complex is targeted to mother centrioles, however, is unclear. In this study, we show that Cep57 and its paralog, Cep57l1, colocalize with Cep63 and Cep152 at the proximal end of mother centrioles in both cycling cells and multiciliated cells undergoing centriole amplification. Both Cep57 and Cep57l1 bind to the centrosomal targeting region of Cep63. The depletion of both proteins, but not either one, blocks loading of the Cep63–Cep152 complex to mother centrioles and consequently prevents centriole duplication. We propose that Cep57 and Cep57l1 function redundantly to ensure recruitment of the Cep63–Cep152 complex to the mother centrioles for procentriole formation.
Drosophila Wash and the Wash regulatory complex function in nuclear envelope budding
Authors: Verboon Jeffrey M. , Nakamura Mitsutoshi , Davidson Kerri A. , Decker Jacob R. , Nandakumar Vivek , Parkhurst Susan M. 
Published: June 2020

ABSTRACT
Nuclear envelope (NE) budding is a recently described phenomenon wherein large macromolecular complexes are packaged inside the nucleus and extruded through the nuclear membranes. Although a general outline of the cellular events occurring during NE budding is now in place, little is yet known about the molecular machinery and mechanisms underlying the physical aspects of NE bud formation. Using a multidisciplinary approach, we identify Wash, its regulatory complex (SHRC), capping protein and Arp2/3 as new molecular components involved in the physical aspects of NE bud formation in a Drosophila model system. Interestingly, Wash affects NE budding in two ways: indirectly through general nuclear lamina disruption via an SHRC-independent interaction with Lamin B leading to inefficient NE bud formation, and directly by blocking NE bud formation along with its SHRC, capping protein and Arp2/3. In addition to NE budding emerging as an important cellular process, it shares many similarities with herpesvirus nuclear egress mechanisms, suggesting new avenues for exploration in both normal and disease biology.
Proteomic analysis reveals the direct recruitment of intrinsically disordered regions to stress granules in S. cerevisiae
Authors: Zhu Mang , Kuechler Erich R. , Zhang Joyce , Matalon Or , Dubreuil Benjamin , Hofmann Analise , Loewen Chris , Levy Emmanuel D. , Gsponer Joerg , Mayor Thibault 
Published: June 2020

ABSTRACT
Stress granules (SGs) are stress-induced membraneless condensates that store non-translating mRNA and stalled translation initiation complexes. Although metazoan SGs are dynamic compartments where proteins can rapidly exchange with their surroundings, yeast SGs seem largely static. To gain a better understanding of yeast SGs, we identified proteins that sediment after heat shock using mass spectrometry. Proteins that sediment upon heat shock are biased toward a subset of abundant proteins that are significantly enriched in intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs). Heat-induced SG localization of over 80 proteins were confirmed using microscopy, including 32 proteins not previously known to localize to SGs. We found that several IDRs were sufficient to mediate SG recruitment. Moreover, the dynamic exchange of IDRs can be observed using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, whereas other components remain immobile. Lastly, we showed that the IDR of the Ubp3 deubiquitinase was critical for yeast SG formation. This work shows that IDRs can be sufficient for SG incorporation, can remain dynamic in vitrified SGs, and can play an important role in cellular compartmentalization upon stress.
This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Effect of Catalyst Preparation Method on Ammonia Decomposition Reaction over Ru/MgO Catalyst
Authors: Fujitani Tadahiro , Nakamura Isao , Hashiguchi Yuta , Kanazawa Shoichi , Takahashi Atsushi 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Ammonia decomposition on Ru/MgO was strongly affected by the pore structure of the MgO support. We found that highly active Ru/MgO catalysts were successfully prepared by using Ru hydroxide and hydromagnesite as catalyst precursors. The mesopores of MgO of about 3–5 nm and highly dispersed Ru species improved the catalytic performance.
Impact of malaria on haematological parameters of urban, peri-urban and rural residents in the Ashanti region of Ghana: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Mutala Abdul-Hakim , Badu Kingsley , Owusu Christian , Agordzo Samuel Kekeli , Tweneboah Austine , Abbas Dawood Ackom , Addo Matthew Glover 
Published: June 2020

Background: We aimed at investigating the impact of malaria on the haematological parameters of residents from different demographic settlements in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Malaria parasites trigger changes in certain haematological parameters, which may result in a number of clinical manifestations. Differences in demographic settlements, such as rural, peri-urban and urban settlements may also influence these changes, but this has not been extensively studied in Ghana. Methods: We conducted a hospital-based, cross-sectional study from January to December 2018 in three different settlements. A total of 598 participants were recruited. Blood smears were examined to detect and quantify malaria parasitaemia, while haematological parameters were measured using a haematology analyser. Results: Participants from the rural settlement had the highest malaria prevalence (21.3%) compared to the urban (11.8%) and peri-urban areas (13.3%); however, the peri-urban area had the highest median parasite density (568; IQR=190.0-1312.0). Age was significantly associated with the odds of malaria positivity (OR: 0.97; CI:0.96 — 0.99). When haematological parameters of the malaria-infected study participants were compared to the parameters of uninfected participants, red blood cell count (p=0.017), haemoglobin (p=0.0165), haematocrit (p=0.0015), mean corpuscular volume (p=0.0014), plateletcrit (p<0.0001) and platelet count (p<0.0001) were all significantly lower in the malaria infected group. In addition to age, haemoglobin and plateletcrit levels were also inversely correlated with the odds of testing positive for malaria, suggesting that children who were anaemic and/or thrombocytopaenic were likely to be infected. After fitting the data to a logistic regression model comprising the three variables, the model correctly categorised 78% of uninfected study participants, but only 50% of the malaria-positive participants. Conclusions: Study participants who were positive for malaria were younger and had low haemoglobin and plateletcrit levels compared to uninfected individuals. Further studies are needed to more precisely elucidate the relationship between malaria infection,demographic and haematological parameters.
Product-Line Design in the Presence of Consumers’ Anticipated Regret
Authors: Zou Tianxin , Zhou Bo , Jiang Baojun 
Published: June 2020

Consumers are often uncertain about their valuations for product quality when choosing among different products and will learn their valuations only after buying and using a product. Some consumers may thus experience overpurchase or underpurchase regret, depending on whether they have purchased a higher- or lower-quality level than what they would have chosen had they known their true valuations. When consumers anticipate their potential postpurchase regret, their purchase decisions may be affected. Our analysis shows that overpurchase regret lowers the firm’s profit, but underpurchase regret can benefit the firm if consumers’ overpurchase regret is not strong. When the firm optimally designs its product line, the quality difference between its offerings will be larger (smaller) if consumers’ anticipated regret increases (reduces) its profit. Surprisingly, although anticipated regret tends to reduce consumers’ utility, in equilibrium, the presence of anticipated regret can increase consumers’ expected surplus. We further examine when the firm should allow consumers to return their products by paying a restocking fee and how the optimal restocking fee will change with consumers’ propensities for the two types of regret. We also experimentally show that consumers’ propensities of underpurchase and overpurchase regret are different and can be influenced by the firm’s messages. This paper was accepted by Juanjuan Zhang, marketing.
Customization, extension and reuse of outdated hydrogeological software
Authors: Serrano-Juan A. , Criollo R. , Vázquez-Suñé E. , Alcaraz M. , Ayora C. , Velasco V. , Scheiber L. 
Published: June 2020

Each scientist is specialized in his or her field of research and in the tools that he or she uses during the research in a specified site. Thus, he or she is the most suitable person for improving the tools by overcoming their limitations to realize faster and higher quality analysis. However, most scientists are not software developers. Hence, it is necessary to provide them with an easy approach that enables non-software developers to improve and customize their tools. This paper presents an approach for easily improving and customizing any hydrogeological software. It is the result of experiences with updating several interdisciplinary case studies. The main insights of this approachhave been demonstrated using four examples: MIX (FORTRAN-based), BrineMIX (C++-based), EasyQuim and EasyBal (both spreadsheet-based). The improved software has been proven to be a better tool for enhanced analysis by substantially reducing the computation time and the tedious processing of the input and output data files.
Comparison of probability density functions for aperture-averaged irradiance fluctuations of a Gaussian beam with beam wander
Authors: Beason Melissa , Gladysz Szymon , Andrews Larry 
Published: June 2020

Over the years, there has been much interest in the use of optical wavelengths for communication because of the potential for high data rates. However, the performance of these systems can become significantly degraded due to turbulence-induced signal fluctuations. These fluctuations can be minimized by enlarging the receiving aperture, thereby averaging the fluctuations. There is extensive interest in developing probability density functions (PDFs) describing these intensity fluctuations so as to accurately predict system performance. This work examines several PDF models that have been suggested to represent fluctuations by comparing them to simulations of realistic propagation scenarios of a collimated Gaussian beam with centroid wander. Unlike with an infinite plane or spherical wave, the empirical PDF shape in these simulations changed significantly with increased aperture, going from a positively skewed to a negatively skewed distribution; therefore, the PDF model that describes it also must change. This change in skew can have serious consequences on the metrics of an optical communication system, e.g., number of fades and bit-error rate. In this work, we examine the evolution of the empirical PDF with aperture size and the fit of potential PDF models under various strengths of turbulence. We show that the change in skew with increasing aperture size occurred for all strengths of turbulence and that the currently used PDF models do not adequately characterize this for realistically sized apertures where beam wander is present.
Models of Adaptive Targeted Forecasting of Socio-Economic Region Development Indicators
Authors: DAVNIS Valeriy Vladimirovich , DOBRINA Maria Valeryevna , CHEKMAREV Artem Vitalievich , TINYAKOVA Viktoria Ivanovana 
Published: June 2020

The aim of the paper is description of the new approach, which provides the construction of models having the opportunity to reflect in the predicted trajectories of the plans, the expected implementation of which in the future period will lead to changes in the past patterns of socio-economic development of the region. In order to implement this idea, it is proposed to use the adaptive mechanism of targeted adjustment of the forecast model coefficients. Correction is based on the newly received observation data. As a newly arrived observation, a specially formed target value is used, in which the plan is concentrated on changing existing patterns. It is possible to conduct multivariate predictive calculations depending on the variation of target settings, followed by an assessment of the obtained options’ preference according to special criteria.
Results: computational experiments with models built on real data showed that the proposed approach is a fairly effective tool for developing forecasts of the socio-economic development of regions and municipalities.
Development of Trade Relations between Kazakhstan and the Countries of Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)
Authors: DOSMUKHAMEDOVA Zarina , ZHIYENTAYEV Sansyzbay 
Published: June 2020

The purpose of research is to analyze strength of mutual trade relations between Kazakhstan and the EAEU countries. In addition, identification of the competitiveness of Kazakhstan export goods, in particular copper ore to the markets of the EAEU countries. To achieve the identified research goal, we examine the theoretical and practical integration issues. The results show that as long as the Trade Union is established, the share of mutual trade and investment has increased. However, the remaining unresolved issues impede the implementation of the Union’s goal, that is freedom of goods, services, finance and labor mobility. The authors highlight and describe the characteristic features that have contributed to the EAEU establishment. It has been brought to the sharp focus that the EAEU competition is intensifying in the current context to ensure the objective basis for considering Public Regulation of Agricultural Sector.
Along, this research, the author used methodological approaches to underline the changes of integration processes: analysis of mutual relations and sectoral analysis as well as approaches of scientific abstraction, comparative analysis and a retrospective analysis of integration processes that had been carried out. To make analysis of Kazakhstan's trade relations with the EAEU countries, the author implemented various approaches. In particular, materialist dialectics, the rising from the abstract to the concrete, induction and deduction, comparative analysis, and other approaches that made it possible to analyze the development of the trade relations between Kazakhstan and the said countries were implemented. These approaches enhanced identification of the strengths and weaknesses of the trade development in Kazakhstan and explored the dynamics of mutual flows either investments or goods.The conclusion contains some summarizing notes addressed to strengthening of economic ties within the Union.
Identification and Analysis of the Cluster Structure of a Territory and its Impact on Regional Development: An example of Russia
Authors: KUDRYAVTSEVA Tatiana , OLANIYI Eunice Omolola 
Published: June 2020

Identification, development, and management of the cluster structure of territories is an important factor of economic growth. The purpose of this study is to determine the cluster structure of Russian regions and assess the impact of these cluster specialization on the size of gross regional product (GRP). For this purpose, the methodology of the European Cluster Observatory was used and the following indicators were calculated: ‘Location quotient’, ‘Cluster size’, and ‘Cluster focus’ for 37 clusters in 83 regions of the Russian Federation within the period from 2009 to 2018. The calculation was performed using the developed automated database ‘Clusters of Russian regions’.
Based on the results obtained, the cluster specialization was determined and hypotheses were tested on the presence of positive externalities, i.e. on the existence of a positive correlation between the cluster specialization of regions and the size of their GRP from 2011 to 2015. Thus, the authors conclude that the increased specialization of Russian regions lled to positive agglomeration effects - externalities. The proposed toolkit can serve as a reference for the development and justification of the state industrial cluster policy.
Preistransparenz und -struktur von Artikelbearbeitungsgebühren
Authors: Schönfelder Nina 
Published: June 2020

Zusammenfassung
Das zurzeit dominierende Geschäftsmodell im Bereich von Open-Access-Zeitschriften basiert auf dem Erheben von Artikelbearbeitungsgebühren. Dieses wird im Zuge der Open-Access-Transformation weiter an Bedeutung gewinnen. In diesem Beitrag wird mittels einer linearen, multivariaten Regression analysiert, was die Höhe von tatsächlich gezahlten Artikelbearbeitungsgebühren beeinflusst. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass der Impact einer Zeitschrift und ihre Erscheinungsform (Open Access oder hybrid) die wichtigsten Faktoren sind.