bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A bioisostere of Dimebon/Latrepirdine delays the onset and slows the progression of pathology in FUS transgenic mice
Authors: Chaprov Kirill , Rezvykh Alexander , Funikov Sergei , Ivanova Tamara A. , Lysikova Ekaterina A. , Deykin Alexei V. , Kukharsky Michail S. , Yu. Aksinenko Alexey , Bachurin Sergey O. , Ninkina Natalia , Buchman Vladimir L. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAimsTo assess effects of DF402, a bioisostere of Dimebon/Latrepirdine, on the disease progression in the transgenic model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) caused by expression of pathogenic truncated form of human FUS protein.MethodsMice received DF402 from the age of 42 days and the onset of clinical signs, the disease duration and animal lifespan were monitored for experimental and control animals, and multiple parameters of their gait were assessed throughout the pre‐symptomatic stage using CatWalk system followed by a bioinformatic analysis. RNA‐seq was used to compare the spinal cord transcriptomes of wild‐type, untreated, and DF402‐treated FUS transgenic mice.ResultsDF402 delays the onset and slows the progression of pathology. We developed a CatWalk analysis protocol that allows detection of gait changes in FUS transgenic mice and the effect of DF402 on their gait already at early pre‐symptomatic stage. At this stage, a limited number of genes significantly change expression in transgenic mice and for 60% of these genes, DF402 treatment causes the reversion of the expression pattern.ConclusionDF402 slows down the disease progression in the mouse model of ALS, which is consistent with previously reported neuroprotective properties of Dimebon and its other bioisosteres. These results suggest that these structures can be considered as lead compounds for further optimization to obtain novel medicines that might be used as components of complex ALS therapy.
The impact of frailty on epistaxis admission, a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Davies Timothy , Alatsatianos Anton , Slim Mohd Afiq Mohd , Royce William , Whymark Andrew 
Published: March 2021

AbstractObjectivesEpistaxis is frequently managed with intra‐nasal packing devices, traditionally requiring patient admission. Current COVID‐19 guidelines encourage ambulatory care where possible in this patient cohort. This paper aims to establish the impact of the Clinical Frailty Scale, anticoagulant/antiplatelet therapeutics and season variation on pre‐pandemic admissions to help identify patients suitable for ambulatory epistaxis management.DesignRetrospective cohort studySettingScottish Regional Health BoardParticipantsAdult patients attending secondary care with epistaxis between March 2019 and March 2020.Main outcome measuresLikelihood of epistaxis hospital admission based on Clinical Frailty Scale.Results299 epistaxis presentations were identified, of which 122 (40.8%) required admission. Clinical Frailty Scale of ≥4 had an increased likelihood of admission (OR 3.15 (95% CI:1.94–5.16), P < .05). In the majority of presentations (66.2%), patients were taking either an antiplatelet or anticoagulant. Of these presentations, the use of an anticoagulant (OR: 2.00 (95% CI: 1.20‐3.33), P < .05 and dual antiplatelet (OR: 2.82 (95% CI: 1.02‐7.86), P < .05) demonstrated increased likelihood of admission.ConclusionsWe have shown that frailty increases the risk of admission in adult patients presenting with epistaxis. Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) could be utilised in risk stratification to identify suitable patients for outpatient management. Patients with CFS ≤ 3 could be considered for outpatient management of their epistaxis. It is likely that patients with CFS ≥4 on anticoagulant or dual antiplatelet will require admission.
Attention Does Not Affect the Speed of Subjective Time, but Whether Temporal Information Guides Performance: A Large‐Scale Study of Intrinsically Motivated Timers in a Real‐Time Strategy Game
Authors: van der Mijn Robbert , van Rijn Hedderik 
Published: March 2021

AbstractMany prepared actions have to be withheld for a certain amount of time in order to have the most beneficial outcome. Therefore, keeping track of time accurately is vital to using temporal regularities in our environment. Traditional theories assume that time is tracked by means of a clock and an “attentional gate” (AG) that modulates subjective time if not enough attentional resources are directed toward the temporal process. According to the AG theory, the moment of distraction does not have an influence on the subjective modulation. Here, we show, based on an analysis of 28,354 datasets, that highly motivated players of the online multiplayer real‐time strategy game StarCraft2 indeed respond later to timed events when they are distracted by other tasks during the interval. However, transient periods of distraction during the interval influence the response time to a lesser degree than distraction just before the required response. We extend the work of Taatgen, van Rijn, and Anderson (2007) and propose an alternative active check theory that postulates that distracted attention prevents people from checking their internal clock; we demonstrate that this account better predicts variance observed in response time. By analyzing StarCraft2 data, we assessed the role of attention in a naturalistic setting that more directly generalizes to real‐world settings than typical laboratory studies.
Adjectives Modulate Sensorimotor Activation Driven by Nouns
Authors: Garofalo Gioacchino , Marino Barbara F. M. , Bellelli Stefano , Riggio Lucia 
Published: March 2021

AbstractWe performed three experiments to investigate whether adjectives can modulate the sensorimotor activation elicited by nouns. In Experiment 1, nouns of graspable objects were used as stimuli. Participants had to decide if each noun referred to a natural or artifact, by performing either a precision or a power reach‐to‐grasp movement. Response grasp could be compatible or incompatible with the grasp typically used to manipulate the objects to which the nouns referred. The results revealed faster reaction times (RTs) in compatible than in incompatible trials. In Experiment 2, the nouns were combined with adjectives expressing either disadvantageous information about object graspability (e.g.,sharp) or information about object color (e.g.,reddish). No difference in RTs between compatible and incompatible conditions was found when disadvantageous adjectives were used. Conversely, a compatibility effect occurred when color adjectives were combined with nouns referring to natural objects. Finally, in Experiment 3 the nouns were combined with adjectives expressing tactile or shape proprieties of the objects (e.g.,longorsmooth). Results revealed faster RTs in compatible than in incompatible condition for both noun categories. Taken together, our findings suggest that adjectives can shape the sensorimotor activation elicited by nouns of graspable objects, highlighting that language simulation goes beyond the single‐word level.
Conditional political budget cycles: The role of time preference
Authors: Kyriacou Andreas P. , Okabe Tomohito , Roca‐Sagalés Oriol 
Published: March 2021

AbstractWe revisit work that has indicated that the presence and strength of political budget cycles depend on a range of conditioning factors. We point to the importance of voter time preference and argue that, in relatively poorer countries, high discount rates will lead impatient voters to value immediate consumption due to fiscal expansions over the future benefits from fiscally responsible policies. Consistent with this assertion, our empirical evidence, based on a sample of up to 67 low‐ and high‐income countries over the period 1995 to 2016, indicates that budget cycles emerge in countries with a GDP per capita below a threshold of around 30,000 PPP‐adjusted constant 2017 U.S. dollars. This goes beyond previous explanations of budget cycles based on voters with short memories who underestimate the costs of expansionary policies, voters with little experience with democracy or voters who are poorly informed about the competence or policy preferences of political candidates.
A tipping point in carbon storage when forest expands into tundra is related to mycorrhizal recycling of nitrogen
Authors: Clemmensen Karina Engelbrecht , Durling Mikael Brandström , Michelsen Anders , Hallin Sara , Finlay Roger D. , Lindahl Björn D. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractTundra ecosystems are global belowground sinks for atmospheric CO2. Ongoing warming‐induced encroachment by shrubs and trees risks turning this sink into a CO2 source, resulting in a positive feedback on climate warming. To advance mechanistic understanding of how shifts in mycorrhizal types affect long‐term carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks, we studied small‐scale soil depth profiles of fungal communities and C–N dynamics across a subarctic‐alpine forest‐heath vegetation gradient. Belowground organic stocks decreased abruptly at the transition from heath to forest, linked to the presence of certain tree‐associated ectomycorrhizal fungi that contribute to decomposition when mining N from organic matter. In contrast, ericoid mycorrhizal plants and fungi were associated with organic matter accumulation and slow decomposition. If climatic controls on arctic‐alpine forest lines are relaxed, increased decomposition will likely outbalance increased plant productivity, decreasing the overall C sink capacity of displaced tundra.
Thalamic oscillatory activity may predict response to deep brain stimulation of the anterior nuclei of the thalamus
Authors: Deutschová Barbora , Klimeš Petr , Jordan Zsofia , Jurák Pavel , Erőss Lorand , Lamoš Martin , Halámek Josef , Daniel Pavel , Rektor Ivan , Fabo Daniel 
Published: March 2021

AbstractWe hypothesized that local/regional properties of stimulated structure/circuitry contribute to the effect of deep brain stimulation (DBS). We analyzed intracerebral electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings from externalized DBS electrodes targeted bilaterally in the anterior nuclei of the thalamus (ANT) in 12 patients (six responders, six nonresponders) with more than 1 year of follow‐up care. In the bipolar local field potentials of the EEG, spectral power (PW) and power spectral entropy (PSE) were calculated in the passbands 1–4, 4–8, 8–12, 12–20, 20–45, 65–80, 80–200 and 200–500 Hz. The most significant differences between responders and nonresponders were observed in the BRIDGE area (bipolar recordings with one contact within the ANT and the second contact in adjacent tissue). In responders, PW was significantly decreased in the frequency bands of 65–80, 80–200, and 200–500 Hz (p < .05); PSE was significantly increased in all frequency bands (p < .05) except for 200–500 Hz (p = .06). The local EEG characteristics of ANT recorded after implantation may play a significant role in DBS response prediction.
Library and knowledge staff in England share similar perceptions of the roles and personal characteristics of the clinical librarian
Authors: Rudd Sarah , Harding Sam 
Published: March 2021

AbstractIntroductionIndications on the development of the health library and knowledge workforce (LKS) in England suggest that more staff may need to shift into clinical librarian (CL) roles. Anecdotal evidence suggested that CL roles have changed recently.ObjectivesTo examine perceptions of CL tasks and required personal characteristics of CLs, amongst both practising CLs and other LKS staff in England.MethodsAn online survey was followed by descriptive statistical and content analysis to identify any differences in perceptions between the CL and non‐CL staff groups.ResultsResponse rate: 10% (123/1181). Both staff groups identified literature searching as the top core task and agreed on the main CL roles. Perceptions on the necessary personal characteristics were also similar. Ranking differed for a few tasks: non‐CL staff may ascribe more importance to some tasks (evidence synthesis, critical appraisal training and attending ward rounds/team meetings) than the CL staff state. CLs spent more time on staff management, and less time on study skills training than non‐CL staff perceived.DiscussionResults indicated that CL roles are continuing to develop, but that CLs are more integrated into library administration than some non‐CL staff believe.ConclusionShared perceptions around CL roles should help workforce development.
Sedimentary records of the late Early Cretaceous compressional setting in the South China block: A case study of the Xingning Basin, Guangdong Province
Authors: Kong Jintao , Xu Zhongjie , Liang Yunyi , Cheng Rihui 
Published: March 2021

AbstractRecently, some scholars have proposed that the South China Block (SCB) was controlled by a compressive tectonic regime in the middle–late Early Cretaceous, challenging the belief that the SCB was under an extensional setting during the Cretaceous. The Early Cretaceous tectonic setting constraint in the SCB can offer vital insight to clarify the Mesozoic subduction history of the Paleo‐Pacific. Therefore, to determine the SCB tectonic regime during the Early Cretaceous, this study investigated sedimentary rocks from the Lower Cretaceous Heshui Formation in the Xingning Basin, a foreland basin located in the southeastern SCB. Provenance analysis was performed using sandstone modal analysis, sandstone geochemical characteristics, and detrital zircon geochronology. Based on the results, we discussed basin sediment sources and the SCB tectonic regime during the Early Cretaceous. The results showed that the maximum Heshui Formation depositional age was 103 Ma ± 1.6 Ma in the Early Cretaceous Albian. Detrital framework modes and geochemical characteristics of sandstone indicated that Heshui Formation's source rocks were granites and sedimentary rocks. The detrital zircon U–Pb ages could be classified into two major and four subordinate age populations. The Wuyi Terrane to the north and southeast coastal regions to the east were the primary potential Heshui Formation source areas. However, the lower and upper sandstones are different in the peak ages, ~437 and ~146 to 104 Ma, respectively, indicating that the major source area shifted from the Wuyi Terrane to the southeastern coastal regions during the late Early Cretaceous. The sandstone modal analysis results indicated that the source area comprised mainly collisional–orogenic material. The SCB was under a compressive tectonic regime during the late Early Cretaceous and this compression action continued until at least 103 Ma ± 1.6 Ma.
Effect of processing on bioaccessibility of carotenoids from orange maize products
Authors: Song Yuwei , Ndolo Victoria , Fu Bin Xiao , Ames Nancy , Katundu Mangani , Beta Trust 
Published: March 2021

SummaryThis study assessed the effect of processing including boiling, roasting and fermenting on bioaccessibility of carotenoids (lutein, zeaxanthin, β‐cryptoxanthin, α‐carotene and β‐carotene) from orange maize. Bioaccessibility of carotenoids was analysed using a three‐stage in vitro digestion. High‐performance liquid chromatography was used to analyse the contents of carotenoid compounds in the processed orange maize products and digesta. On average, boiled maize had the highest retention rate (79.0%) of carotenoids followed by fermented porridge (73.8%), fermented maize (68.4%) and unfermented porridge (59.0%). Roasted maize had the lowest retention rate of 56.1%. Without further processing, carotenoids recovery from raw orange maize ranged from 73.0% to 100.5%. After treatments, carotenoids recovery showed varying levels of increase except for fermented maize. The average recovery of carotenoids in whole digesta of boiled maize, roasted maize, fermented porridge and unfermented porridge was 108.5%, 116.9%, 101.9% and 110.7%, respectively.
Characterisation of a novel laminarinase from Microbulbifer sp. ALW1 and the antioxidant activity of its hydrolysates
Authors: Hu Qingsong , Yin Xiaoqian , Li Hebin , Wang Xinghua , Jiang Zedong , Li Lijun , Ni Hui , Li Qingbiao , Zhu Yanbing 
Published: March 2021

AbstractLaminarin and its derived oligosaccharides have diverse bioactivities. The β‐1,3‐glucanase in marine bacteria can be employed as a tool to digest laminarin in the cell wall of brown algae. Here, we cloned, expressed and characterised a β‐1,3‐glucanase (laminarinase), MaLamNA, from the previously characterised marine bacterium Microbulbifer sp. ALW1, phylogenetically distinct from the glycoside hydrolase families of characterised laminarinases. The recombinant laminarinase was heterologously expressed and purified from Pichia pastoris GS115 cells with a molecular mass of 57.3 kDa. MaLamNA exerted its hydrolytic activity specifically against laminarin, with the highest activity at 45 °C and pH 4.5–5.5, respectively, and demonstrated high stability against extreme acidic and alkaline pH exposure. The addition of reducing agent dithiothreitol could significantly enhance the activity of MaLamNA. The hydrolytic products of laminarin by MaLamNA exhibited more effective antioxidant activities than the undigested laminarin. These characteristics of MaLamNA provide clues to its industrial application for laminarin bioresource development.
Metaproteomic analysis of enzymatic composition in Baobaoqu fermentation starter for Wuliangye baijiu
Authors: Fan Weiye , Zhao Xinrui , Du Guocheng , Chen Jian , Li Jianghua , Zheng Jia , Qiao Zongwei , Zhao Dong 
Published: March 2021

SummaryWuliangye is one of the most famous brands of baijiu in China. The typical flavours of Wuliangye baijiu are mainly formed by the multifarious enzymes in fermentation starter (Baobaoqu, BBQ). As the enzymes remained poorly understood, the detailed enzymatic composition of BBQ was analysed by metaproteomics for the first time. It is worth noting that the enzymes from plant, animals and micro‐organisms were detected together and oxidoreductases were the dominant enzymes. Next, the analysis of function showed that the enzymes were mainly involved in carbon metabolism and the biosynthesis of amino acids. Additionally, the relationship between differential abundant enzymes and formation of typical flavour substances in premium and normal BBQ was established. Furthermore, the activities of classic enzymes in BBQ were examined to verify the reliability of metaproteomic results. This study will provide clues to further improve the manufacturing technology for Wuliangye baijiu.
Patient perceptions of current and potential inflammatory bowel disease diagnostic and monitoring tests
Authors: Ho Shaun S. C. , Keenan Jacqueline I. , Day Andrew S. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundLess invasive inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) tests are increasingly being incorporated into clinical practice as adjuncts to endoscopy to monitor disease activity and guide optimal care. Little is known about patient perspectives of these tests.AimsTo assess patient perspectives of the current IBD tests and potential future tests, such as saliva, urine or breath.MethodsNew Zealand adults with IBD were invited to complete an anonymous online survey. Experiences relating to blood or faecal tests, medical imaging (abdominal ultrasound, abdominal computed tomography and magnetic resonance enterography) and colonoscopy were collected.ResultsOf the 117 completed surveys, 112 respondents provided background details. The majority (85%) of participants were female and 88% were aged <55 years with a mean disease duration of 8.98 years. General blood tests were reported as the most prescribed, completed, comfortable test and the least worrying test results. Imaging tests were reported as the least ordered and the most refused tests. Colonoscopy was rated as the least comfortable and generated the most worry. Test explanations by a referring clinician significantly impacted on respondents' levels of understanding across all tests, but did not affect the level of worry when receiving test results. Saliva, blood and breath tests were chosen as the most preferred disease monitoring tests.ConclusionsPatients with IBD preferred any tests less invasive than colonoscopy. An explanation by referring doctor enhanced patients' understanding, but did not necessarily influence their level of comfort or worry.
Algorithms for the multiperiod workforce scheduling and routing problem with dependent tasks
Authors: Notini Pontes Vitor , Pereira Dilson Lucas 
Published: March 2021

AbstractLogistics problems lie at the core of industries' everyday operations. These types of problems are also one of the main points of interest in the operational research field of study. In recent years, the workforce scheduling and routing problems (WSRP) class of optimization problems has gained significant attention from researchers. In this paper, a recently proposed WSRP is studied: the multiperiod WSRP with dependent tasks. In this problem, a given company provides services by means of heterogeneously skilled mobile teams. Service requests are known beforehand and each service is composed of one or more activities. Execution of one activity may depend on the completion of another. A feasible schedule in which the requested activities are completed in the minimum amount of days must be provided. Two matheuristic algorithms are proposed. Several new upper bounds for a set of instances from the literature are discovered.
Pricing strategy for logistics service platforms with competition and user distance preference
Authors: Hou Rui , Li Liang , Lin Xiaogang , Zha Yong , Zhao You 
Published: March 2021

AbstractIn practice, the demanders (customers) and providers (sellers) of logistics service platforms not only care about prices but also are sensitive to the spatial distance between each other (because longer distance would lead to longer service waiting time). We study the impacts of spatial distance preference on two competing logistics platforms' pricing strategies. Two groups of agents (demanders and providers) are required to pay the logistics service platform a fixed (registration) fees to gain access. We analyze two commonly seen scenarios in practice: (i) the single‐homing model—both demanders and providers can only join one of the platforms; (ii) the competitive bottleneck model—demanders (providers) can join only one of the platforms while providers (demanders) are allowed to join both platforms. We find that under the single‐homing setting, an increase in demanders' (providers') distance preference would lead to higher but lower (lower but higher) prices charged to demanders and providers, respectively, and higher profits of both platforms. Under the competitive bottleneck model, however, the price charged to demanders (providers) might decrease (increase) in demanders' (providers') distance preference. Finally, compared to the case in which both sides single homing, we find that allowing providers or demanders to join both platforms would decrease the profits of both platforms if users' distance preference is sufficiently low or high.