bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Respiratory function and cognitive profile in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Huynh W. , Sharplin L. E. , Caga J. , Highton‐Williamson E. , Kiernan M. C. 
Published: November 2019

Background and purposeAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is increasingly recognized as a multisystem disorder with 30%–50% of patients exhibiting cognitive impairment. The pathophysiological mechanisms of cognitive dysfunction are probably multifactorial although hypoventilation secondary to respiratory dysfunction may contribute to cognitive decline. The current study aimed to identify the relationship between respiratory function in ALS patients and the presence and degree of cognitive impairment.MethodsAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients were prospectively recruited from a multidisciplinary ALS clinic. Baseline clinical assessments including respiratory function as assessed by spirometry were recorded with forced vital capacity (FVC) ≤ 75% considered to be reduced respiratory function. Cognitive testing was performed utilizing the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination (ACE) and the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE).ResultsFrom a cohort of 100 ALS patients, 48% were categorized as having impaired respiratory function (FVC = 58.24% ± 2.15%) whilst 52% had normal function (88.65% ± 1.27%). Compared to the group with normal respiratory function (ACE 90.68 ± 0.89, MMSE 28.22 ± 0.21), patients with respiratory dysfunction had significantly reduced cognitive function (ACE 86.83 ± 1.5, P = 0.025; MMSE 26.29 ± 0.45, P = 0.029). Furthermore, subscores demonstrated significant differences between the groups with respect to domains in memory (P = 0.003) and attention (P = 0.05) with a trend observed in fluency (P = 0.082). There was a significant correlation between patient baseline FVC and ACE scores as well as between FVC and memory and fluency subscores (P < 0.01).ConclusionAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients with respiratory compromise were more likely to develop reduced cognitive function. In addition to improving physical function, it remains plausible that non‐invasive ventilation may alter the progression of cognitive impairment in ALS patients and potentially improve overall quality of life and carer burden.
Structural and biochemical analysis of Bacillus anthracis prephenate dehydrogenase reveals an unusual mode of inhibition by tyrosine via the ACT domain
Authors: Shabalin Ivan G. , Gritsunov Artyom , Hou Jing , Sławek Joanna , Miks Charles D. , Cooper David R. , Minor Wladek , Christendat Dinesh 
Published: November 2019

Tyrosine biosynthesis via the shikimate pathway is absent in humans and other animals, making it an attractive target for next‐generation antibiotics, which is increasingly important due to the looming proliferation of multidrug‐resistant pathogens. Tyrosine biosynthesis is also of commercial importance for the environmentally friendly production of numerous compounds, such as pharmaceuticals, opioids, aromatic polymers, and petrochemical aromatics. Prephenate dehydrogenase (PDH) catalyzes the penultimate step of tyrosine biosynthesis in bacteria: the oxidative decarboxylation of prephenate to 4‐hydroxyphenylpyruvate. The majority of PDHs are competitively inhibited by tyrosine and consist of a nucleotide‐binding domain and a dimerization domain. Certain PDHs, including several from pathogens on the World Health Organization priority list of antibiotic‐resistant bacteria, possess an additional ACT domain. However, biochemical and structural knowledge was lacking for these enzymes. In this study, we successfully established a recombinant protein expression system for PDH from Bacillus anthracis (BaPDH), the causative agent of anthrax, and determined the structure of a BaPDH ternary complex with NAD+ and tyrosine, a binary complex with tyrosine, and a structure of an isolated ACT domain dimer. We also conducted detailed kinetic and biophysical analyses of the enzyme. We show that BaPDH is allosterically regulated by tyrosine binding to the ACT domains, resulting in an asymmetric conformation of the BaDPH dimer that sterically prevents prephenate binding to either active site. The presented mode of allosteric inhibition is unique compared to both the competitive inhibition established for other PDHs and to the allosteric mechanisms for other ACT‐containing enzymes. This study provides new structural and mechanistic insights that advance our understanding of tyrosine biosynthesis in bacteria.EnzymesPrephenate dehydrogenase from Bacillus anthracis (PDH): EC database ID: 1.3.1.12.DatabasesCoordinates and structure factors have been deposited in the Protein Data Bank (PDB) with accession numbers PDB ID: 6U60 (BaPDH complex with NAD+ and tyrosine), PDB ID: 5UYY (BaPDH complex with tyrosine), and PDB ID: 5V0S (BaPDH isolated ACT domain dimer). The diffraction images are available at http://proteindiffraction.org with DOIs: https://doi.org/10.18430/M35USC, https://doi.org/10.18430/M35UYY, and https://doi.org/10.18430/M35V0S.
A new continuum damage mechanics–based two‐scale model for high‐cycle fatigue life prediction considering the two‐segment characteristic in S‐N curves
Authors: Yang Susong , Hu Weiping , Meng Qingchun , Zhao Boyu 
Published: November 2019

AbstractIn this study, we propose a new two‐scale fatigue model based on continuum damage mechanics. A representative volume element (RVE) consisting of microinclusions and a matrix is constructed. Further, damage‐coupled constitutive equations are derived. The degradation in the mechanical properties of the RVE is determined by the damaged inclusions and matrix using the Mori‐Tanaka scheme. A numerical calculation of the fatigue lives of notched specimens is executed. This new model predicts high‐cycle fatigue (HCF) life more effectively, considering the two‐segment characteristic of S‐N curves of smooth specimens. This study provides novel insights into the evolution mechanism of HCF damage.
Sensitivity of mangrove soil organic matter decay to warming and sea level change
Authors: Arnaud Marie , Baird Andy J. , Morris Paul J. , Dang Thuong Huyen , Nguyen Tai Tue 
Published: November 2019

AbstractMangroves are among the world's most carbon‐dense ecosystems, but they are threatened by rapid climate change and rising sea levels. The accumulation and decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM) are closely tied to mangroves' carbon sink functions and resistance to rising sea levels. However, few studies have investigated the response of mangrove SOM dynamics to likely future environmental conditions. We quantified how mangrove SOM decay is affected by predicted global warming (+4°C), sea level changes (simulated by altering of the inundation duration to 0, 2, and 6 hr/day), and their interaction. Whilst changes in inundation duration between 2 and 6 hr/day did not affect SOM decay, the treatment without inundation led to a 60% increase. A warming of 4°C caused SOM decay to increase by 21%, but longer inundation moderated this temperature‐driven increase. Our results indicate that (a) sea level rise is unlikely to decrease the SOM decay rate, suggesting that previous mangrove elevation gain, which has allowed mangroves to persist in areas of sea level rise, might result from changes in root production and/or mineral sedimentation; (b) sea level fall events, predicted to double in frequency and area, will cause periods of intensified SOM decay; (c) changing tidal regimes in mangroves due to sea level rise might attenuate increases in SOM decay caused by global warming. Our results have important implications for forecasting mangrove carbon dynamics and the persistence of mangroves and other coastal wetlands under future scenarios of climate change.
Prevalence of apical periodontitis and its association with previous root canal treatment, root canal filling length and type of coronal restoration – a cross‐sectional study
Authors: Meirinhos J. , Martins J. N. R. , Pereira B. , Baruwa A. , Gouveia J. , Quaresma S. A. , Monroe A. , Ginjeira A. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractAimTo analyse the prevalence of periapical lesions and their association with previous root canal treatment, root canal filling length and type of coronal restoration using in vivo cone‐beam computed tomographic (CBCT) assessment.MethodologyA global sample of 20 836 teeth, with a combined total of 27 046 roots, from 1160 patients, was analysed via CBCT assessment in eight health centres. Each tooth was evaluated by one out of five examiners after having performed a defined calibration procedure on the basis of 319 teeth. Intra‐ and inter‐rater reliability tests were performed. Each tooth was classified according the tooth number, presence/absence of periapical lesions, presence/absence of previous root canal treatment, length of root canal filling (short, good or overfilling) and type of coronal restoration. The z‐test for proportions was used to analyse differences between tooth subgroups, and an odds ratio was determined in order to analyse the association between treatment status and periapical lesions. A P < 0.05 was considered significant.ResultsAt a tooth level, the overall prevalence of periapical lesions in the sample was 10.4%. Maxillary teeth were associated with a significantly larger percentage of lesions (13.1%), whilst maxillary first molars had the greater proportion of lesions (21.2%). The prevalence of periapical lesions was significantly larger in root filled teeth (55.5%), short root canal fillings (72.7%) and in teeth restored with crowns (46.1%). At a root level, the mesiobuccal roots of both maxillary first molars had a tendency for a larger percentage of periapical lesions.ConclusionHistory of root canal treatment, root canal filling length and type of coronal restoration influenced the presence of periapical lesions. Molars were more commonly associated with periapical lesions on root filled teeth, particularly those with short root fillings and those with crowns.
Development of pectin–eugenol emulsion coatings for inhibition of Listeria on webbed‐rind melons: a comparative study with fig and citrus pectins
Authors: Çavdaroğlu Elif , Farris Stefano , Yemenicioğlu Ahmet 
Published: November 2019

SummaryThe objective of this study was to employ pectin‐based antimicrobial coatings for inhibition of Listeria on surfaces of whole webbed‐rind melons that cause frequent outbreaks of listeriosis. For this purpose, emulsion‐based coatings were developed using citrus pectin (CPEC) or pectin extracted from processing wastes of sun‐dried figs (FPEC) and eugenol (EUG). The emulsions of FPEC and CPEC with EUG (droplet size range: 1.99–11.22 µm) were highly stable for minimum 10 days at 10 °C. The FPEC‐EUG films showed higher flexibility and degree of wettability than CPEC‐EUG films. In contrast, CPEC‐EUG films had a higher gas barrier performance against oxygen at 50% relative humidity than FPEC‐EUG films. The zone inhibition tests showed that FPEC‐EUG films are more effective against Listeria innocua than CPEC‐EUG films. However, FPEC and CPEC coatings with 2% EUG caused 2.2 and 2.7 decimal inactivation of Listeria on Galia melons within 1 week, respectively. The pectin coatings with EUG could reduce the risk of listeriosis from webbed‐rind melons.
Multiple Migration and Use of Ties: Bangladeshis in Italy and Beyond
Authors: Morad Mohammad , Sacchetto Devi 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThis article analyses previous multiple migratory trajectories of Bangladeshi first generation migrants before their arrival in Italy and within Italy. It also uncovers the role of social networks and transnational ties in their multiple migrations. The findings show that their first international migration was mainly shaped by their family’s socio‐economic condition and transnational kinship networks. They already had someone from their family or close relatives in the preferred country with whom they were connected. Their onward relocations until arriving in Italy, in most cases, was to achieve the socio‐economic success and legal status that they had failed to attain in their first and subsequent destinations, but the transnational connections with friends or acquaintances are a key resource facilitating these remigrations. Bangladeshis who arrived in Italy from various countries mostly had networks, either with someone from their local district in Bangladesh or with their earlier fellow migrants who moved to Italy before them.
The Third Design Space: A postcolonial perspective on corporate engagement with open source software communities
Authors: Kendall Kenneth E. , Kendall Julie E. , Germonprez Matt , Mathiassen Lars 
Published: November 2019

AbstractCorporations increasingly engage with open source software communities in the co‐creation of software. This collaboration between corporate professionals and open source software community members is strikingly different from the early days of software development where for‐profit firms attempted to dominate and control the industry while attempting to throttle the success of independent developers offering an alternative, open source option. While many metaphors like trading zones, common pool resources and ecosystems have helped understand the phenomenon, the metaphors do not portray what the industry was like before and after the transition. We adopt a postcolonial metaphor as an analytical lens to examine such collaboration based on qualitative data gathered over three years from executives, managers and developers within corporations that engage in open source software development. Drawing on these insights, we then theorize a “Third Design Space,” based on the concept of the third space proposed by Bhabha. This metaphor encourages the cultivation of a new design environment, creation of new design associations and circulation of shared design resources. Together these practices and behaviours make it possible to nurture innovative methods and new rituals for designing software with results and methods that represent a distinct departure from the competitive and proprietary past, even creating innovative artefacts that could not have been created without the Third Design Space.
All I Want for Christmas is…Rigorous Validation of Predictive Models to Prevent Hasty Generalisations
Authors: Mateen Bilal , Sonabend Raphael 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Bilal Mateen and Raphael Sonabend are searching for Santa Claus, armed only with a statistical model to predict ear size based on age. The plan sounds ridiculous, but there's a serious lesson here about the limits of predictive models
Campanometry The Statistics of Bells
Authors: de Wet Tertius , Teugels Jef , van Deventer Pieta 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
For the past decade, Tertius de Wet, Jef Teugels and Pieta van Deventer have been documenting bells found in South Africa's Western Cape Province. But while some bells come with a rich and detailed history, others are more of a mystery. Can the statistical analysis of sound help trace their origins?
DDX49 is a novel biomarker and therapeutic target for lung cancer metastases
Authors: Lian Xiaojuan , Xiang Debing , Peng Chunfang , Chen Jiangyan , Liao Maojun , Sun Guiyin , Zhang Zhimin 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe identification of lymph node metastases is important for the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of patients with lung cancer. We found DDX49 was associated with the lymph node metastases in lung cancer by the Akt/β‐catenin pathway. Transcriptome sequencing, bioinformatics analysis, quantitative RT‐PCR, cell transfection and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data set were used to identify DDX49 responsible for lymph node metastases. A Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis was used to explore the possible molecular mechanism in experimental cell. The DDX49 gene was correlated significantly with lymph node metastases of lung cancer. The knockdown of DDX49 inhibited the cell proliferation and migration in PC‐9 and H460 cells. The mechanism research found downexpression of DDX49 decreased the Akt/β‐catenin pathway in lung cancer cell. In vivo experiments showed that DDX49 promoted the proliferation and metastases of lung cancer cells by increasing the Akt/β‐catenin pathway. These findings suggested that DDX49 may be useful as a novel biomarker of lymph node metastases and therapeutic target for lung cancer metastasis.
LncRNA ACART protects cardiomyocytes from apoptosis by activating PPAR‐γ/Bcl‐2 pathway
Authors: Wu Hao , Zhu Haixia , Zhuang Yuting , Zhang Jifan , Ding Xin , Zhan Linfeng , Luo Shenjian , Zhang Qi , Sun Fei , Zhang Mingyu , Pan Zhenwei , Lu Yanjie 
Published: November 2019

AbstractCardiomyocyte apoptosis is an important process occurred during cardiac ischaemia‐reperfusion injury. Long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNA) participate in the regulation of various cardiac diseases including ischaemic reperfusion (I/R) injury. In this study, we explored the potential role of lncRNA ACART (anti‐cardiomyocyte apoptosis‐related transcript) in cardiomyocyte injury and the underlying mechanism for the first time. We found that ACART was significantly down‐regulated in cardiac tissue of mice subjected to I/R injury or cultured cardiomyocytes treated with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Knockdown of ACART led to significant cardiomyocyte injury as indicated by reduced cell viability and increased apoptosis. In contrast, overexpression of ACART enhanced cell viability and reduced apoptosis of cardiomyocytes treated with H2O2. Meanwhile, ACART increased the expression of the B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl‐2) and suppressed the expression of Bcl‐2‐associated X (Bax) and cytochrome‐C (Cyt‐C). In addition, PPAR‐γ was up‐regulated by ACART and inhibition of PPAR‐γ abolished the regulatory effects of ACART on cell apoptosis and the expression of Bcl‐2, Bax and Cyt‐C under H2O2 treatment. However, the activation of PPAR‐γ reversed the effects of ACART inhibition. The results demonstrate that ACART protects cardiomyocyte injury through modulating the expression of Bcl‐2, Bax and Cyt‐C, which is mediated by PPAR‐γ activation. These findings provide a new understanding of the role of lncRNA ACART in regulation of cardiac I/R injury.
CYP2J2/EET reduces vulnerability to atrial fibrillation in chronic pressure overload mice
Authors: Li Xuguang , Zhu Feng , Meng Weidong , Zhang Feng , Hong Jiang , Zhang Guobing , Wang Fang 
Published: November 2019

AbstractGrowing evidence has well established the protective effects of CYP2J2/EET on the cardiovascular system. The aim of the present study was to determine whether CYP2J2/EET has a preventive effect on atrial fibrillation (AF) and to investigate the underlying mechanisms. Wild‐type mice were injected with or without AAV9‐CYP2J2 before abdominal aortic constriction (AAC) operation. After 8 weeks, compared with wild‐type mice, AAC mice display higher AF inducibility and longer AF durations, which were remarkably attenuated with AAV9‐CYP2J2. Also, AAV9‐CYP2J2 reduced atrial fibrosis area and the deposit of collagen‐I/III in AAC mice, accompanied by the blockade of TGF‐β/Smad‐2/3 signalling pathways, as well as the recovery in Smad‐7 expression. In vitro, isolated atrial fibroblasts were administrated with TGF‐β1, EET, EEZE, GW9662, SiRNA Smad‐7 and pre‐MiR‐21, and EET was demonstrated to restrain the differentiation of atrial fibroblasts largely dependent on Smad‐7, due to the inhibition of EET on MiR‐21. In addition, increased inflammatory cytokines, as well as activated NF‐κB pathways induced by AAC surgery, were also significantly blunted by AAV9‐CYP2J2 treatment. These effects of CYP2J2/EET were partially blocked by GW9662, the antagonist of PPAR‐γ. In conclusion, this study revealed that CYP2J2/EET ameliorates atrial fibrosis through modulating atrial fibroblasts activation by disinhibition of MiR‐21 on Smad‐7, and attenuates atrial inflammatory response by repressing NF‐κB pathways, reducing the vulnerability to AF, and CYP2J2/EET exerts its role at least partially through PPAR‐γ activation. Our findings might provide a novel upstream therapeutic strategy for AF.
Trust and world view in shared decision making with indigenous patients: A realist synthesis
Authors: Groot Gary , Waldron Tamara , Barreno Leonzo , Cochran David , Carr Tracey 
Published: November 2019

AbstractIntroductionHow shared decision making (SDM) works with indigenous patient values and preferences is not well understood. Colonization has affected indigenous peoples' levels of trust with institutions, and their world view tends to be distinct from that of nonindigenous people. Building on a programme theory for SDM, the present research aims to refine the original programme theory to understand how the mechanisms of trust and world view might work differently for indigenous patients.DesignWe used a six‐step iterative process for realist synthesis: preliminary programme theory development, search strategy development, selection and appraisal of literature, data extraction, data analysis and synthesis, and formation of a revised programme theory.Data SourcesSearches were through Medline, CINAHL, and the University of Saskatchewan iPortal for grey literature. Medline and CINAHL searches included the University of Alberta Canada‐wide indigenous peoples search filters.Data synthesisFollowing screening 731 references, 90 documents were included for data extraction (53 peer reviewed and 37 grey literature). Documents from countries with similar colonization experiences were included.ResultsA total of 518 context‐mechanism‐outcome (CMO) configurations were identified and synthesized into 21 CMOs for a revised programme theory. Demographics, indigenous world view, system and institutional support, language barriers, and the macro‐context of discrimination and historical abuse provided the main contexts for the programme theory. These inspired mechanisms of reciprocal respect, perception of world view acceptance, and culturally appropriate knowledge translation. In turn, these mechanisms influenced the level of trust and anxiety experienced by indigenous patients. Trust and anxiety were both mechanisms and intermediate outcomes and determined the level of engagement in SDM.ConclusionThis realist synthesis provides clinicians and policymakers a deeper understanding of the complex configurations that influence indigenous patient engagement in SDM and offers possible avenues for improvement.
Patient safety culture in Oman: A national study
Authors: Al Nadabi Waleed , Faisal Muhammad , Mohammed Mohammed Amin 
Published: November 2019

AbstractRational, aim, and objectivesA positive patient safety culture in maternity units is linked to higher quality of care and better outcomes for mothers. However, safety culture varies across maternity units. Analyses of variation in safety culture using statistical process control (SPC) methods may help provider units to learn from each other's performance. This study aims to measure patient safety culture across maternity units in Oman using SPC methods.MethodsThe 36‐item Safety Attitude Questionnaire (SAQ) was distributed to all doctors, nurses, and midwifes working in ten maternity care units in Oman's hospitals and analysed using SPC methods. The SAQ considers six domains: job satisfaction, perception of management, safety climate, stress recognition, teamwork, and work condition.ResultsOf the 892 targeted participants, 735 (82%) questionnaires were returned. The overall percentage of positive safety responses in all hospitals ranged from 53% to 66%, but no hospital had the targeted response of above 75%. Job satisfaction had the highest safety score (4.10) while stress recognition was the lowest (3.17). SPC charts showed that the overall percentage of positive responses in three maternity units (H1, H7, and H10) was above and one (H4) was below the control limits that represent special cause variation that merits further investigation.ConclusionGenerally, the safety culture in maternity units in Oman is below target and suggests that considerable work is required to enhance safety culture. Several maternity units showed evidence of high/low special cause variation that may offer a useful starting point for understanding and enhancing safety culture.