bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Considerations for Development of Exposure Limits for Chemicals Encountered During Aircraft Operation
Authors: Sweeney Lisa M , Gearhart Jeffery M , Ott Darrin K , Pangburn Heather A 
Published: February 2020

Abstract

Background
Military aircrews’ health status is critical to their mission readiness, as they perform physically and cognitively demanding tasks in nontraditional work environments. Research Objectives: Our objective is to develop a broad operational risk assessment framework and demonstrate its applicability to health risks to aircrews because of airborne chemical exposure, considering stressors such as heat and exertion.

Methods
Extrapolation of generic exposure standards to military aviation-specific conditions can include computation of risk-relevant internal dosimetry estimates by incorporating changes in breathing patterns and blood flow distribution because of aspects of the in-flight environment. We provide an example of the effects of exertion on peak blood concentrations of 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene computed using a physiologically based pharmacokinetic model.

Results
Existing published collections on the effects of flight-related stressors on breathing patterns and blood flow address only a limited number of stressors. Although data exist that can be used to develop operational exposure limits specific to military aircrew activities, efforts to integrate this information in specific chemical assessments have been limited.

Conclusions
Efforts to develop operational exposure limits would benefit from guidance on how to make use of existing assessments and expanded databases of the impact of environmental stressors on adult human physiology.
“Real world” use of a highly reliable imaging sign: “T2-FLAIR mismatch” for identification of IDH mutant astrocytomas
Authors: Jain Rajan , Johnson Derek R , Patel Sohil H , Castillo Mauricio , Smits Marion , van den Bent Martin J , Chi Andrew S , Cahill Daniel P 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
AbstractThe T2-FLAIR (fluid attenuated inversion recovery) mismatch sign is an easily detectable imaging sign on routine clinical MRI studies that suggests diagnosis of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)–mutant 1p/19q non-codeleted gliomas. Multiple independent studies show that the T2-FLAIR mismatch sign has near-perfect specificity, but low sensitivity for diagnosing IDH-mutant astrocytomas. Thus, the T2-FLAIR mismatch sign represents a non-invasive radiogenomic diagnostic finding with potential clinical impact. Recently, false positive cases have been reported, many related to variable application of the sign’s imaging criteria and differences in image acquisition, as well as to differences in the included patient populations. Here we summarize the imaging criteria for the T2-FLAIR mismatch sign, review similarities and differences between the multiple validation studies, outline strategies to optimize its clinical use, and discuss potential opportunities to refine imaging criteria in order to maximize its impact in glioma diagnostics.
Morphological Phylogenetics Evaluated Using Novel Evolutionary Simulations
Authors: Keating Joseph N , Sansom Robert S , Sutton Mark D , Knight Christopher G , Garwood Russell J 
Published: February 2020

AbstractEvolutionary inferences require reliable phylogenies. Morphological data have traditionally been analyzed using maximum parsimony, but recent simulation studies have suggested that Bayesian analyses yield more accurate trees. This debate is ongoing, in part, because of ambiguity over modes of morphological evolution and a lack of appropriate models. Here, we investigate phylogenetic methods using two novel simulation models—one in which morphological characters evolve stochastically along lineages and another in which individuals undergo selection. Both models generate character data and lineage splitting simultaneously: the resulting trees are an emergent property, rather than a fixed parameter. Standard consensus methods for Bayesian searches (Mki) yield fewer incorrect nodes and quartets than the standard consensus trees recovered using equal weighting and implied weighting parsimony searches. Distances between the pool of derived trees (most parsimonious or posterior distribution) and the true trees—measured using Robinson-Foulds (RF), subtree prune and regraft (SPR), and tree bisection reconnection (TBR) metrics—demonstrate that this is related to the search strategy and consensus method of each technique. The amount and structure of homoplasy in character data differ between models. Morphological coherence, which has previously not been considered in this context, proves to be a more important factor for phylogenetic accuracy than homoplasy. Selection-based models exhibit relatively lower homoplasy, lower morphological coherence, and higher inaccuracy in inferred trees. Selection is a dominant driver of morphological evolution, but we demonstrate that it has a confounding effect on numerous character properties which are fundamental to phylogenetic inference. We suggest that the current debate should move beyond considerations of parsimony versus Bayesian, toward identifying modes of morphological evolution and using these to build models for probabilistic search methods. [Bayesian; evolution; morphology; parsimony; phylogenetics; selection; simulation.]
Effectiveness and Safety of Advanced Audiology-Led Triage in Pediatric Otolaryngology Services
Authors: Pokorny Michelle A. , Wilson Wayne J. , Whitfield Bernard C. S. , Thorne Peter R. 
Published: February 2020

Objectives:
Expansion of the scopes of practice of allied health practitioners has the potential to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of healthcare, given the identified shortages in medical personnel. Despite numerous examples in other allied health disciplines, this has yet to be applied to pediatric Audiology. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and safety of using audiologists with advanced training to independently triage children referred to otolaryngology (ORL) services, and compare the subsequent use of specialist resources, and postoperative grommet care to a standard medical ORL service.

Design:
One hundred twenty children consecutively referred to a large ORL outpatient service in Queensland, Australia, for middle ear and hearing concerns were prospectively allocated to either the ORL service or Advanced Audiology-led service. Demographic and clinical data were extracted from electronic medical records and compared between the two services. Clinical incidents and adverse events were recorded for the Advanced Audiology-led service.

Results:
Approximately half of all children referred to ORL for middle ear or hearing concerns were discharged without requiring any treatment, with the remaining half offered surgical treatment. The Advanced Audiology-led model increased the proportion of children assessed by ORL that proceeded to surgery from 57% to 82% compared with the standard medical ORL model. Children followed up by the audiologists after grommet insertion were more likely to be discharged independently and at the first postoperative review appointment compared with the standard medical ORL service. There were no reports of adverse events or long-term bilateral hearing loss after discharge by the Advanced Audiology-led service.

Conclusions:
These findings indicate that an Advanced Audiology-led service provides a safe and effective triaging model for the independent management of children not requiring treatment, and children requiring routine postoperative grommet review, and improves the effective use of specialist resource compared with the standard medical ORL service.
Simultaneous Determination of Dabigatran, Rivaroxaban, and Apixaban in Human Plasma by Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Zhang Mei , Moore Grant A. , Chin Paul K. L. 
Published: February 2020

Background:
Pharmacokinetic studies and therapeutic drug monitoring of anticoagulants require a simple, rapid, and reliable analytical method for monitoring plasma concentrations. The aims of the current work were to develop and validate a liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous determination of 3 direct oral anticoagulants (dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and apixaban) in human plasma that is suitable for pharmacokinetic studies and routine therapeutic drug monitoring in busy hospital laboratories.

Methods:
This method included a hydrolysis step to account for the active acylglucuronide metabolites of dabigatran that demonstrate an equivalent anticoagulant effect as dabigatran. After hydrolysis, a simple one-step protein precipitation was used for sample preparation. Total dabigatran (the sum of free dabigatran and the contribution from dabigatran acylglucuronides), rivaroxaban, and apixaban, and their corresponding isotopically labeled internal standards were resolved on a C18(2) column. All compounds were detected using electrospray ionization liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry in the positive mode.

Results:
For all 3 anticoagulants, standard curves were linear over the concentration range of 1.0–1000 mcg/L (r > 0.99), bias was < ±10%, and intraday and interday coefficients of variation (imprecision) were <10%. The limit of quantification was 1.0 mcg/L. For all 3 anticoagulants and corresponding isotopically labeled internal standards, the absolute recoveries were similar and consistent, with mean values of 93%–102%. No significant matrix effects were observed.

Conclusions:
This method is simple, rapid, robust, and reliable and can be used to analyze the plasma concentrations of the drugs in patients on dabigatran or rivaroxaban therapy.
Gonioscopy-assisted Transluminal Trabeculotomy (GATT) in Patients With Secondary Open-Angle Glaucoma Following Vitreoretinal Surgery
Authors: Quan Ann V. , Yannuzzi Nicolas A. , Chen Jenny , Wang Ye Elaine , Townsend Justin H. , Chang Ta Chen 
Published: February 2020

Purpose:
To examine the short-term efficacy and safety of gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy (GATT) in a series of patients who developed glaucoma following vitreoretinal surgery.

Patients and Methods:
Retrospective case series of consecutive patients aged above 18 years with secondary open-angle glaucoma following vitreoretinal surgery who had undergone GATT between January 2015 and June 2019. Eyes were excluded if there is<1 month of follow-up or glaucoma before vitreoretinal surgery.

Results:
Eight eyes of 8 patients were included, with age range 18 to 72 years (median 43.5 y). Mean pretreatment intraocular pressure (IOP) was 32.7±5.1 mm Hg with a mean of 4.8±0.9 medications. Following GATT, mean IOP improved to 13.6±1.8 mm Hg (P<0.001) with a reduction to 1.6±1.4 medications after a mean follow-up of 8.6 months (range 1 to 25 mo). Five of the 8 eye (62.5%) had silicone oil in the vitreous cavity during GATT, none of which had concurrent oil removal.

Conclusions:
GATT is a safe and effective procedure for eyes with secondary open-angle glaucoma following vitreoretinal surgery. Further studies are needed to elucidate long-term benefits of angle surgery on eyes with high pressure following vitreoretinal surgery.
A series of dual-reporter vectors for ratiometric analysis of protein abundance in plants
Authors: Khosla Aashima , Rodriguez-Furlan Cecilia , Kapoor Suraj , Van Norman Jaimie M. , Nelson David C. 
Published: February 2020

ABSTRACTRatiometric reporter systems enable comparisons of the abundance of a protein of interest, or “target,” relative to a reference protein. Both proteins are encoded on a single transcript but are separated during translation. This arrangement bypasses the potential for discordant expression that can arise when the target and reference proteins are encoded by separate genes. We generated a set of 18 Gateway-compatible vectors termed pRATIO that combine a variety of promoters, fluorescent and bioluminescent reporters, and 2A “self-cleaving” peptides. These constructs are easily modified to produce additional combinations or introduce new reporter proteins. We found that mScarlet-I provides the best signal-to-noise ratio among several fluorescent reporter proteins during transient expression experiments inNicotiana benthamiana. Firefly and Gaussia luciferase also produce high signal-to-noise inN. benthamiana. As proof of concept, we used this system to investigate whether degradation of the receptor KAI2 after karrikin treatment is influenced by its subcellular localization. KAI2 is normally found in the cytoplasm and the nucleus of plant cells. InN. benthamiana, karrikin-induced degradation of KAI2 was only observed when it was retained in the nucleus. These vectors are tools to easily monitorin vivothe abundance of a protein that is transiently expressed in plants, and will be particularly useful for investigating protein turnover in response to different stimuli.
Single mosquito metatranscriptomics identifies vectors, emerging pathogens and reservoirs in one assay
Authors: Batson Joshua , Dudas Gytis , Haas-Stapleton Eric , Kistler Amy L. , Li Lucy M. , Logan Phoenix , Ratnasiri Kalani , Retallack Hanna 
Published: February 2020

AbstractMosquitoes are major infectious disease-carrying vectors. Assessment of current and future risks associated with the mosquito population requires knowledge of the full repertoire of pathogens they carry, including novel viruses, as well as their blood meal sources. Unbiased metatranscriptomic sequencing of individual mosquitoes offers a straightforward, rapid and quantitative means to acquire this information. Here, we profile 148 diverse wild-caught mosquitoes collected in California and detect sequences from eukaryotes, prokaryotes, 24 known and 46 novel viral species. Importantly, sequencing individuals greatly enhanced the value of the biological information obtained. It allowed us to a) speciate host mosquito, b) compute the prevalence of each microbe and recognize a high frequency of viral co-infections, c) associate animal pathogens with specific blood meal sources, and d) apply simple co-occurrence methods to recover previously undetected components of highly prevalent segmented viruses. In the context of emerging diseases, where knowledge about vectors, pathogens, and reservoirs is lacking, the approaches described here can provide actionable information for public health surveillance and intervention decisions.
A Cretaceous bug with exaggerated antennae might be a double-edged sword in evolution
Authors: Du Bao-Jie , Chen Rui , Tao Wen-Tao , Shi Hong-Liang , Bu Wen-Jun , Liu Ye , Ma Shuai , Ni Meng-Ya , Kong Fan-Li , Xiao Jin-Hua , Huang Da-Wei 
Published: February 2020

AbstractIn the competition for the opposite sex, sexual selection can favor production of exaggerated features, but the high cost of such features in terms of energy consumption and enemy avoidance makes them go to extinction under the influence of natural selection. However, to our knowledge, fossil on exaggerated traits that are conducive to attracting opposite sex are very rare. Here, we report the exaggerated leaf-like expansion antennae ofMagnusantenna wuaeDu & Chen gen. et sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Coreidae) with more abundant sensory hairs from a new nymph coreid preserved in a Cretaceous Myanmar amber. The antennae are the largest among species of coreid and one of the largest known insects. Such bizarre antennae indicate that sensitive and delicate sensory system and magnificent appearance in Hemiptera have been already well established in mid-Cretaceous. Our findings provide evidence for Darwin’s view that sensory organs play an important role in sexual selection. This nymph with the leaf-like antennae may also represents a new camouflage pattern for defense. However, the oversized antennae are costly to develop and maintain, increasing the risks from predators. Such unparalleled expanded antennae might be the key factor for the evolutionary fate of this Myanmar amber coreid species.SignificanceDarwin proposed the importance of sensory organs in sexual selection, but it was greatly ignored compared with weapons and other common ornaments. Here, we report a new type of insect antennae, the multiple segments leaf-like expansion antennae from a new nymph coreid preserved in a Cretaceous Myanmar amber. Our finding provides evidence for the prominent role of sensory organs in sexual selection and thus supports Darwin’s viewpoint. This discovery demonstrates that high-efficiency antennae were present in Coreidae 99 million years ago. In addition, the exaggerated antennae might represent a new evolutionary innovation for defensive behavior. This is a case in which the high benefits and high costs brought by the exaggerated antennae jointly determine the direction of species evolution.
Drivers of vascular plant species area relationships in British broadleaved woodlands and their effects on the species area curve
Authors: Guy Petra , Smart Simon , Prentice Colin 
Published: February 2020

SummaryThe loss of plant biodiversity in Great Britain is a major concern, with a fifth of species endangered or vulnerable according to the latest IUCN Red List. The Government’s 25 Year Plan for the environment aims to halt this loss and build new habitats, including new woodlands. To ensure that biodiversity loss is halted in existing woodlands and gain is maximised in new ones, we need to better understand which drivers have been most influential in controlling biodiversity. Here we focus on vascular plant species’ richness.Previous attempts to explain plant species richness have mainly focussed on alpha diversity in a consistent, fixed unit area. Here, we additionally undertake a novel analysis of the effects of environmental heterogeneity and abiotic factors on species-area relationships derived from 16 randomly placed quadrats in each of 103 semi-natural, broad-leaved woodlands across Britain. Species-area relationships were examined at two scales (4m2to 200m2and 200m2to 3200m2) to explore the relationship between the drivers of species richness and the exponent z, of the canonical species-area curve, S = cAz. We also explore the use of a new metric ζr, based on zeta diversity to quantify heterogeneity. Zeta diversity quantifies the number of species shared between multiple combinations of plots.Habitat heterogeneity increased species richness, as did the proximity of the woodlands to surrounding natural habitats. Higher levels of soil organic matter and the progression of woodlands to later successional stages, decreased species richness. Richness was also seen to have a unimodal response to soil acidity with a peak around pH 6. At the smaller scale, heterogeneity elements in the woodland such as riparian zones or coppicing led to an increase in the value of the exponent of the species area curve. At the larger scale, species turnover led to an increase in the exponent of the curves while succession led to a decrease. At both scales, soil organic matter content had a negative effect. ζrwas found to be a significant and important variable and to affect both species richness and the slope of the species accumulation curves at larger scales.SynthesisHabitat heterogeneity measures included the presence of coppicing, open areas such as rides and riparian zones and the difference between species assemblages in different plots in the woodland. Results suggest that to maximize vascular plant diversity, woodlands should be managed for heterogeneity. In addition, the increase in richness with exposure to surrounding natural habitats suggests that woodlands benefit from being embedded in more benign habitats and further, that land management surrounding woodlands has a clear role to play in supporting biodiversity within woodlands. This is an area were Agri-environment schemes have an important role.
Common Vetch: a drought tolerant, high protein neglected leguminous crop with potential as a sustainable food source
Authors: Nguyen Vy , Riley Samuel , Nagel Stuart , Fisk Ian , Searle Iain R. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractGlobal demand for protein is predicted to increase by 50% by 2050. To meet the increasing demand whilst ensuring sustainability, protein sources that generate low-greenhouse gas emissions are required and protein-rich legume seeds have the potential to make a significant contribution. Legumes like common vetch (Vicia sativa) that grow in marginal cropping zones and are drought tolerant and resilient to changeable annual weather patterns, will be in high demand as the climate changes. In common vetch, the inability to eliminate the γ-glutamyl-β-cyano-alanine (GBCA) toxin present in the seed has hindered its utility as a human and animal food for many decades, leaving this highly resilient species an “orphan” legume. However, the availability of the vetch genome and transcriptome data together with the application of CRISPR-Cas genome editing technologies lay the foundations to eliminate the GBCA toxin constraint. In the near future, we anticipate that a zero-toxin vetch variety will become a significant contributor to global protein demand.
Dimeric Transmembrane Orientations of APP/C99 Regulate γ-Secretase Processing Line Impacting Signaling and Oligomerization
Authors: Perrin Florian , Papadopoulos Nicolas , Opsomer Rémi , Vadukul Devkee M. , Vrancx Céline , Pierrot Nathalie , Smith Steven O. , Vertommen Didier , Kienlen-Campard Pascal , Constantinescu Stefan N. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractAmyloid precursor protein (APP) cleavage by the β secretase produces the C99 transmembrane (TM) protein, which contains three dimerization-inducing Gly-x-x-x-Gly motifs. We demonstrate that dimeric C99 TM orientations regulate the precise cleavage lines by γ-secretase. Of all possible dimeric orientations imposed by a coiled coil to the C99 TM-cytosolic domain, the dimer (cc-del7) containing33Gly-x-x-x-Gly37in the interface promoted Aβ42processing line and AICD (APP Intracellular Domain)-dependent gene transcription, including BACE1 mRNA induction, enhancing amyloidogenic signaling. Another orientation exhibiting25Gly-x-x-x-Gly29in the interface (cc-del6) favored processing to Aβ43/40, induced significantly less gene transcription, while promoting formation of SDS-resistant “Aβ-like” oligomers, reminiscent of Aβ peptide oligomers. These required both Val24 of a pro-β motif and the25Gly-x-x-x-Gly29interface. Thus, crossing angles imposed by dimeric orientations give access to γ-secretase at Aβ48or Aβ49,linking the former to enhanced signaling and Aβ42. We discuss avenues of blocking amyloidogenic processing.