bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Socio-economic Determinants Influencing Cervical Cancer Screening in Buea: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Fru C. Neh , Andrew Tassang , Cho F. Nchang , Tassang T. , Fru P. Ngum 
Published: August 2020

Introduction: Cervical cancer remains a huge burden in scarce resource communities as Cameroon. The morbidity and mortality are huge, despite the preventable nature of this pathology.
This study set to explore the socio-economic variables which could help influence positively presentation for screening and lessen the pressure on our fragile heath system.
Methodology: A one-day free screening campaign was carried out at the Buea regional hospital on the 2nd of November, 2019. The study population consisted of women aged 16 to 66 years old. After thorough explanation of the exercise to the potential participants to this study, a questionnaire was distributed to them. Assurance was given about the confidentiality of this study, and they were also informed that, they could opt out at any moment, if they so wish.
Results: Some of the socio-economic variables influencing presentation for cervical cancer screening were identified and they seem to modulate individual behaviour towards cervical cancer screening. They were namely: age, level of education, residence, marital status, age at first sexual intercourse, number of sexual partners, number of pregnancies and number of deliveries.
Conclusion: The key contributors influencing presentation at screening in this study were: age, level of education, residence, age at first sexual intercourse, number of sexual partners, number of pregnancies and number of deliveries. Understanding and acting on these variables could help curb down morbidity and mortality, thus alleviating the burden on our fragile heath system.
Amino Benzamidoxime (ABAO)‐Based Assay to Identify Efficient Aldehyde‐Producing Pichia pastoris Clones
Authors: Horvat Melissa , Larch Tanja‐Saskia , Rudroff Florian , Winkler Margit 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe chemoselective synthesis of aldehydes is a challenging task. Nature provides carboxylic acid reductases (CARs) as elegant tools for the direct reduction of carboxylic acids to their respective aldehydes. The discovery of new CARs and strains that efficiently produce these enzymes necessitates a robust high‐throughput assay with selectivity for aldehydes. We recently reported a simple assay that allows the substrate independent and chemoselective quantification of aldehydes (irrespective of their chemical structure). The assay utilized amino benzamidoxime (ABAO), which forms UV‐active and fluorescent dihydroquinazolines. In this study, we adapted the ABAO‐assay for the identification and comparison of Pichia pastoris clones with the ability to produce aldehydes from carboxylic acids. Specifically, CAR and PPTase from Mycobacterium marinum (MmCAR and MmPPTase) were co‐expressed using different bidirectional promoters (BDPs). A library of 598 clones was screened for piperonal production with the ABAO assay and the results were validated by HPLC quantification. 1 OD unit of the best Pichia pastoris clone 2.A7, regulating MmCAR and MmPPTase expression by two strong constitutive promoters, fully converted 5 mM of piperonylic acid within 2 h.magnified image
Economics of herbicide programs for weed control in conventional, glufosinate, and dicamba/glyphosate‐resistant soybean across Nebraska
Authors: Striegel Adam , Eskridge Kent M. , Lawrence Nevin C. , Knezevic Stevan Z. , Kruger Greg R. , Proctor Christopher A. , Hein Gary L. , Jhala Amit J. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractDespite widespread adoption of dicamba/glyphosate‐resistant (DGR) soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in Nebraska and across the United States in recent years, economic information comparing herbicide programs with glufosinate‐resistant (GLU‐R) and conventional soybean is not available. The objectives of this study were to evaluate weed control efficacy, crop safety, gross profit margin, and benefit/cost ratios of herbicide programs with multiple sites of action in DGR, GLU‐R, and conventional soybean. Field experiments were conducted in 2018 and 2019 at three irrigated and two rain‐fed locations across Nebraska, for a total of 10 site‐years. Herbicides applied pre‐emergence (PRE) that included herbicides with three sites of action provided 85–99% control of common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.), Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson), velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medik.), and a mixture of foxtail (Seteria spp.) and Poaceae species. Pre‐emergence herbicides evaluated in this study provided 72–96% weed biomass reduction and 61‒79% weed density reductions compared with the nontreated control. Herbicides applied post‐emergence (POST; dicamba plus glyphosate, glyphosate, glufosinate, and acetochlor plus clethodim plus lactofen) provided 93–99% control of all weed species 28 d after POST (DAPOST). Herbicides applied POST provided 89–98% weed biomass reduction and 86–96% density reduction at 28 DAPOST. For individual site‐years, yield was often similar for PRE followed by POST herbicide programs in herbicide‐resistant (HR) and conventional soybean. Gross profit margins and benefit/cost ratios were higher in HR soybean than in conventional soybean, although price premiums for conventional soybean can help compensate for increased herbicide costs.
Marked factor V activity elevation in severe COVID‐19 is associated with venous thromboembolism
Authors: Stefely Jonathan A. , Christensen Bianca B. , Gogakos Tasos , Cone Sullivan Jensyn K. , Montgomery Gabriella G. , Barranco John P. , Van Cott Elizabeth M. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractCoagulopathy causes morbidity and mortality in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection. Yet, the mechanisms are unclear and biomarkers are limited. Early in the pandemic, we observed markedly elevated factor V activity in a patient with COVID‐19, which led us to measure factor V, VIII, and X activity in a cohort of 102 consecutive inpatients with COVID‐19. Contemporaneous SARS‐CoV‐2‐negative controls (n = 17) and historical pre‐pandemic controls (n = 260‐478) were also analyzed. This cohort represents severe COVID‐19 with high rates of ventilator use (92%), line clots (47%), deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism (DVT/PE) (23%), and mortality (22%). Factor V activity was significantly elevated in COVID‐19 (median 150 IU/dL, range 34‐248 IU/dL) compared to contemporaneous controls (median 105 IU/dL, range 22‐161 IU/dL) (P < .001)—the strongest association with COVID‐19 of any parameter studied, including factor VIII, fibrinogen, and D‐dimer. Patients with COVID‐19 and factor V activity >150 IU/dL exhibited significantly higher rates of DVT/PE (16/49, 33%) compared to those with factor V activity ≤150 IU/dL (7/53, 13%) (P = .03). Within this severe COVID‐19 cohort, factor V activity associated with SARS‐CoV‐2 load in a sex‐dependent manner. Subsequent decreases in factor V were linked to progression toward DIC and mortality. Together, these data reveal marked perturbations of factor V activity in severe COVID‐19, provide links to SARS‐CoV‐2 disease biology and clinical outcomes, and nominate a candidate biomarker to investigate for guiding anticoagulation therapy in COVID‐19.
Insulating rigid polyurethane foams from laurel tree pruning based polyol
Authors: Rincón Esther , Balu Alina M. , Luque Rafael , Serrano Luis 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe present work deals with the production of a natural polyol from laurel tree pruning waste, aiming the preparation of polyurethane foams. The obtained bio‐polyol was characterized and applied into foams studying the influence of the isocyanate used and the addition of the physical blowing agent. The incorporation of the polyol allowed 40% polyol substitution for those foams in which TDI was used, and up to 60% using MDI. Apparent density, cell morphology, mechanical, and thermal properties were evaluated. Mechanical and thermal properties of the foams improve to a greater amount of polyol in the matrix. Specifically, the best thermal and mechanical properties (274.99 and 7275.91 kPa for compressive strength and Young Modulus, respectively) were obtained with 50% polyol substitution (0.63 RNCO/OH). Foams showed small, well‐defined cell morphology. Laurel derived polyol can be used for the preparation of foams using MDI, since the mechanical, and thermal properties are promising for obtaining insulation materials in the construction industry.
The emergence, peak, and abeyance of an online information ground: The lifecycle of a Facebook group for verifying information during violence
Authors: Rohman Abdul 
Published: August 2020

AbstractInformation grounds emerge as people share information with others in a common place. Many studies have investigated the emergence of information grounds in public places. This study pays attention to the emergence, peak, and abeyance of an online information ground. It investigates a Facebook group used by youth for sharing information when misinformation spread wildly during the 2011 violence in Ambon, Indonesia. The findings demonstrate change and continuity in an online information ground; it became an information hub when reaching a peak cycle, and an information repository when entering into abeyance. Despite this period of nonactivity, the friendships and collective memories resulting from information ground interactions last over time and can be used for reactivating the online information ground when new needs emerge. Illuminating the lifecycles of an online information ground, the findings have potential to explain the dynamic of users' interactions with others and with information in quotidian spaces.
Phytosynthesis of CuONPs via Laurus nobilis: Determination of antioxidant content, antibacterial activity, and dye decolorization potential
Authors: Bulut Kocabas Buket , Attar Azade , Peksel Aysegul , Altikatoglu Yapaoz Melda 
Published: August 2020

AbstractCopper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) were phytosynthesized by Laurus nobilis leaf extract, which was used as a reducing and capping agent. UV‐vis spectroscopy was applied, and the spectrum of CuONPs gave a peak around 300 and 325 nm. An intense Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy between 4000 and 500 cm−1 wavelengths exhibited exterior functional groups of CuONPs. The results of scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy revealed that the green synthesized CuONPs were spherical in shape with sizes between 90 and 250 nm. Antibacterial activity of CuONPs was evaluated against both Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria. Brilliant Blue R‐250 was employed in the dye decolorization studies, and CuONPs achieved 69% decolorization in 60 Min. The antioxidant activity of CuONPs was calculated by analyzing total phenolic compounds and flavonoid content. Furthermore, the reducing power of extract and nanoparticles was determined. Total phenolic compounds of CuONPs were determined as 6.7 µg of pyrocatechol equivalent/mg, while total flavonoids were measured as 236.62 µg catechin/mg sample. Results indicated that the method of CuONP formation is simple and low cost and the phytosynthesized CuONPs had antibacterial, antioxidant, and dye decolorization activity.
A model partnership for communication and dissemination of scientific recommendations for pregnant women during the emergency response to the Zika virus outbreak: MotherToBaby and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Authors: Harris‐Sagaribay Lorrie , Chambers Christina D. , Perrotta Kirstie , Polen Kara D. , Honein Margaret A. , Wasternack Elizabeth 
Published: August 2020

AbstractBackgroundDuring the Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak, an urgent need existed for strong partnerships to disseminate Zika‐related information to pregnant women and women of child‐bearing age.MethodsThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) partnered with MotherToBaby, a national organization experienced in providing information about exposures during pregnancy to healthcare providers and the public, to disseminate accurate information about ZIKV infection during pregnancy. Partnership activities included regular information sharing, cross‐linking information for the public, and promoting common messaging. Following the ZIKV outbreak, we reviewed common inquiries received as well as key strategies and lessons learned from the partnership.ResultsBetween June 2016 and June 2019, MotherToBaby received 5,387 Zika‐related inquiries from the public and health care providers. The majority (90%) of inquires came from preconception, pregnant, and breastfeeding women. Concerns about travel, pregnancy, sexual transmission, and preconception guidelines comprised the top information requests. Live chat was the preferred method of communication for Zika‐related inquiries. Key strategies and lessons learned from this partnership included: capitalizing on existing nationwide infrastructure and expertise, prominently referring to partners as a resource, promoting shared messaging using online resources and social media, holding regular calls to share information, and collecting data to identify common questions and revise messaging.ConclusionsThis examination of strategies, lessons learned, and metrics from MotherToBaby and CDC's partnership during the ZIKV outbreak can be applied to future partnerships to address emerging public health threats.
Introducing climate change into the biochemistry and molecular biology curriculum
Authors: Jakubowski Henry V. , Bock Nicholas , Busta Lucas , Pearce Matthew , Roston Rebecca L. , Shomo Zachery D. , Terrell Cassidy R. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractOur climate is changing due to anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases from the production and use of fossil fuels. Present atmospheric levels of CO2 were last seen 3 million years ago, when planetary temperature sustained high Arctic camels. As scientists and educators, we should feel a professional responsibility to discuss major scientific issues like climate change, and its profound consequences for humanity, with students who look up to us for knowledge and leadership, and who will be most affected in the future. We offer simple to complex backgrounds and examples to enable and encourage biochemistry educators to routinely incorporate this most important topic into their classrooms.
Automated sample preparation for the detection and confirmation of hypoxia‐inducible factor stabilizers in urine
Authors: De Wilde Laurie , Roels Kris , Deventer Koen , Van Eenoo Peter 
Published: August 2020

AbstractAs hypoxia‐inducible factor stabilizers (HIFs) can artificially enhance an athlete's erythropoiesis, the World Anti‐Doping Agency prohibits their use at all times. Every urine sample for doping control analysis has to be evaluated for the presence of HIFs and therefore sensitive methods that allow high sample throughput are needed. Samples suspicious for the presence of HIFs need to be confirmed following the identification criteria established by the World Anti‐Doping Agency. Previous work has shown the advantages of using turbulent flow online solid‐phase extraction (SPE) procedures to reduce matrix effects and retention time shifts. Furthermore, the use of online SPE allows for automation and high sample throughput. Both an initial testing procedure (ITP) and a confirmation method were developed and validated, using online SPE liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS), with limits of detection between 0.1 ng/ml (or possibly lower) and 4 ng/ml (or higher for GSK360a) and limits of identification between 0.1 ng/ml (or possibly lower) and 1.17 ng/ml. The ITP only takes 6.5 min per sample. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first ITP and confirmation methods that include more than three HIFs without the need for manual sample preparation.
Introducing a delivery system for melanogenesis inhibition in melanoma B16F10 cells mediated by the conjugation of tyrosine ammonia‐lyase and a TAT‐penetrating peptide
Authors: Behzadipour Yasaman , Sadeghian Issa , Ghaffarian Bahraman Ali , Hemmati Shiva 
Published: August 2020

AbstractHyperpigmentation disorders negatively influence an individual's quality of life and may cause emotional distress. Over the years, various melanogenesis inhibitors (mainly tyrosinase inhibitors) have been developed, most of which with low efficacy or high toxicity. Although metabolic engineering by deviation in the flux of substrate is of considerable interest, trials to develop a melanogenesis inhibitor based on L‐tyrosine (L‐Tyr) restriction are missing. We propose a novel proteinaceous melanogenesis inhibitor called tyrosine ammonia‐lyase (TAL), an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of L‐Tyr to p‐coumaric acid and ammonia. Since the cell membrane can act as a barrier for intracellular protein delivery, we have covalently conjugated a recombinant TAL enzyme from Rhodobacter sphaeroides (RsTAL) to a trans‐activator of transcription (TAT) cell‐penetrating peptide (CPP) to afford the intracellular delivery. The heterologously expressed TAT‐RsTAL fusion protein was delivered successfully into B16F10 melanocytes as confirmed by the direct fluorescence microscopy with increased intensity from 30 to 180 min. TAT‐RsTAL showed sufficient intracellular activity of about 0.83 ± 0.04 and 0.34 ± 0.03 nmol•mg−1•s−1 for the native and inclusion body‐extracted conjugates, respectively. The conjugate inhibited melanin biosynthesis in B16F10 cells in a time‐dependent manner. Melanin accumulation was inhibited by 12.7 ± 6.2%, 28.2 ± 5.7%, and 33.9 ± 2.9% compared to the nontreated control groups after 24, 48, and 72 hr of incubation, respectively. L‐Tyr restriction had no significant effect on the cell viability up to a concentration of 100 μgml−1 even after 72 hr. According to the observed hypopigmentary effect of the conjugate in this study, TAT‐RsTAL can be suggested as a melanogenesis inhibitor for further investigations.
CRISPR‐Cas9 mediated engineering of Bacillus licheniformis for industrial production of (2R,3S)‐butanediol
Authors: Song Chan Woo , Rathnasingh Chelladurai , Park Jong Myoung , Kwon Mina , Song Hyohak 
Published: August 2020

AbstractBacillus lichenformis is an industrially promising generally recognized as safe (GRAS) strain that can be used for the production of a valuable chemical, 2,3‐butanediol (BDO). Conventional gene deletion vectors and/or methods are time‐consuming and have poor efficiency. Therefore, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)‐Cas9 mediated homologous recombination was used to engineer a newly isolated and UV‐mutagenized B. licheniformis 4071–15 strain. With the help of a CRISPR‐Cas9 system, this one‐step process could be used for the deletion of ldh gene within 4 days with high‐efficiency exceeding 60%. In addition, the sequential deletion of target genes for engineering studies was evaluated, and it was confirmed that a triple mutant strain (ldh, dgp, and acoR) could be obtained by repeated one‐step cycles. Furthermore, a practical metabolic engineering study was carried out using a CRISPR‐Cas9 system for the stereospecific production of (2R,3S)‐BDO. The predicted (2R,3R)‐butanediol dehydrogenase encoded by the gdh gene was selected as a target for the production of (2R,3S)‐BDO, and the mutant was successfully obtained. The results show that the stereospecific production of (2R,3S)‐BDO was possible with the gdh deletion mutant, while the 4071–15 host strain still generated 26% of (2R,3R)‐BDO. It was also shown that the 4071–15 Δgdh mutant could produce 115 g/L of (2R,3S)‐BDO in 64 hr by two‐stage fed‐batch fermentation. This study has shown the efficient development of a (2R,3S)‐BDO producing B. licheniformis strain based on CRISPR‐Cas9 and fermentation technologies.
Regulating CRISPR/Cas9 Function through Conditional Guide RNA Control
Authors: Brown Wes , Zhou Wenyuan , Deiters Alexander 
Published: August 2020

AbstractConditional control of CRISPR/Cas9 has been developed by using a variety of different approaches, many focusing on manipulation of the Cas9 protein itself. However, more recent strategies for governing CRISPR/Cas9 function are based on guide RNA (gRNA) modifications. They include control of gRNAs by light, small molecules, proteins, and oligonucleotides. These designs have unique advantages compared to other approaches and have allowed precise regulation of gene editing and transcription. Here, we discuss strategies for conditional control of gRNA function and compare effectiveness of these methods.
Characteristics of cardiac catheterization laboratory directors at the 2017 U.S. News & World Report top 100 U.S. cardiovascular hospitals
Authors: Murugiah Karthik , Annapureddy Amarnath R. , Khera Rohan , Lansky Alexandra , Curtis Jeptha P. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractIntroductionThe cardiac catheterization laboratory (CCL) is a focal point for cardiovascular programs and the CCL director represents the key personnel. We outline profiles of CCL directors at the 2017 U.S. News & World Report top 100 U.S. cardiovascular hospitals.MethodsUsing hospital websites, LinkedIn, Healthgrades, Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data 2017, and Scopus, we described CCL directors (in 2017) by age, gender, years since medical graduation, international medical school graduate (IMG) status, academic rank, provider clinical focus, and Hirsch (h)‐index.ResultsNearly all CCL directors were male (97%). The median age (interquartile range [IQR]) was 53 (49–61) years and median (IQR) years since medical school graduation was 28 (23–35) years. Over a third of CCL directors (39.4%) were IMGs and 38.4% had completed fellowship training at the same facility where they were CCL director. The median (IQR) h‐index was 11 (6–22). Of the 69.7% CCL directors who held faculty positions, 60.9% were professors and 30.4% were associate professors. From Medicare data, 45.5% performed only percutaneous coronary interventions, 41.4% performed structural interventions, 3.0% peripheral interventions, and 2.0% performed both structural and peripheral. CCL directors at the top 25 hospitals had higher h‐indexes, and more likely to have completed fellowship training at their own institution.ConclusionsThere are very few women CCL directors at the top U.S. cardiovascular hospitals. A third of the CCL directors were IMGs. A significant proportion of CCL directors primarily performed structural interventions and trained at the same institution, more so at the top 25 hospitals.
Environmentally Friendly Binders for Lithium‐Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Jin Biyu , Li Yao , Qian Jie , Zhan Xiaoli , Zhang Qinghua 
Published: August 2020

AbstractLithium‐sulfur batteries (LSBs) have attracted the battery community's attention in recent years because of the ultra‐high theoretical specific capacity and energy density. To realize the commercial application of LSBs, issues including lithium polysulfide shuttle effects, insulating active materials, and large volume changes are urgently to be solved, especially LSBs with high sulfur loading suffering from more serious capacity fading. Developing environmentally friendly and multifunctional binders would not only overcome the problems existing in LSBs but could also satisfy the requirements for green materials. In this Review, we first conclude the required characteristics for binders in LSBs, then summarize the research progress of ecofriendly binders in detail, as well as outstanding binders applied in high‐sulfur‐loading electrodes. Finally, the challenges and development direction of binders for future industrial applications in LSBs are also highlighted.