bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identification of Gip as a novel phage‐encoded gyrase inhibitor protein of Corynebacterium glutamicum
Authors: Kever Larissa , Hünnefeld Max , Brehm Jannis , Heermann Ralf , Frunzke Julia 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBy targeting key regulatory hubs of their host, bacteriophages represent a powerful source for the identification of novel antimicrobial proteins. Here, a screening of small cytoplasmic proteins encoded by the CGP3 prophage of Corynebacterium glutamicum resulted in the identification of the gyrase‐inhibiting protein Cg1978, termed Gip. Pull‐down assays and surface plasmon resonance revealed a direct interaction of Gip with the gyrase subunit A (GyrA). The inhibitory activity of Gip was shown to be specific to the DNA gyrase of its bacterial host C. glutamicum. Overproduction of Gip in C. glutamicum resulted in a severe growth defect as well as an induction of the SOS response. Furthermore, reporter assays revealed an RecA‐independent induction of the cryptic CGP3 prophage, most likely caused by topological alterations. Overexpression of gip was counteracted by an increased expression of gyrAB and a reduction of topA expression at the same time, reflecting the homeostatic control of DNA topology. We postulate that the prophage‐encoded Gip protein plays a role in modulating gyrase activity to enable efficient phage DNA replication. A detailed elucidation of the mechanism of action will provide novel directions for the design of drugs targeting DNA gyrase.
Population structure of North Pacific gray whales in light oftrans‐Pacificmovements
Authors: Lang Aimée R. , Weller David W. , Burdin Alexander M. , Robertson Kelly , Sychenko Olga , Urbán Jorge , Martínez‐Aguilar Sergio , Pease Victoria L. , LeDuc Richard G. , Litovka Dennis I. , Burkanov Vladimir N. , Brownell Robert L. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractRecent findings that some gray whales that feed off Sakhalin Island (SI), Russia, in the western North Pacific (WNP) overwinter in the eastern North Pacific (ENP) indicate that population structure in this species is more complex than originally thought. We generated mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region sequences and microsatellite genotypes (n = 12 loci) from 156 whales sampled off SI and compared them to available data from 106 ENP whales. Significant mitochondrial and nuclear genetic differentiation between the SI and ENP whales was found. Genetic cluster analysis identified two groups among the SI whales, one of which was genetically similar to ENP whales. Photographs collected from the biopsied SI whales showed that both groups comprised whales known to migrate to the ENP, suggesting that the clustering pattern was not reflective of some SI whales interbreeding while overwintering in the WNP. Instead, the genetic differentiation observed between the SI and ENP whales may be due to assortative mating of SI whales while west of eastern migratory routes. The rare but continued reports of gray whales off the coasts of Japan and China, however, confirm that some gray whales overwinter in the WNP and highlight the need to collect additional data from these whales.
Diagnosis of fungal opportunistic infections in people living with HIV from Guatemala and El Salvador
Authors: Forno Diana , Samayoa Blanca , Medina Narda , Arathoon Eduardo , Mejia Carlos Rodolfo , Gordillo Remei , Cedillos Rolando , Rodas Jose , Ahlquist Cleveland Angela , Chiller Tom , Caceres Diego H. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractObjectivesHistoplasmosis and cryptococcosis are important public health problems in people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Central America. Conventional laboratory tests, such as culture and microscopy, are not optimal; however, antigen (Ag) tests are rapid, highly sensitive, and specific for diagnosis of fungal opportunistic infections (OI). The aim of this study was to describe the results of a laboratory‐based surveillance system for histoplasmosis and cryptococcosis.MethodsAn observational cross‐sectional study based on laboratory surveillance, was carried out in two hospitals in Guatemala and one hospital in El Salvador, between July 2012 and December 2014. Diagnosis of histoplasmosis and cryptococcosis in PLHIV were performed by culture and Ag test.ResultsA total of 160 PLHIV were diagnosed with fungal OI, of which, 96 (60%) were diagnosed with histoplasmosis, 62 (39%) were with cryptococcosis, and two patients (1%) were diagnosed with both fungal diseases. Of the 160 patients analysed in this study, 94 (59%) were diagnosed using only an Ag assay. CD4 cell count data were available for 136 (85%) patients; 127 (93%) patients had a CD4 count <200; and 90 (66%) had counts <50 CD4 cells per µl. Antiretroviral therapy utilisation at diagnosis was low (33%). Seventy‐one out of 160 (44%) were co‐infected with tuberculosis or other OIs.ConclusionMore than half of the patients in this study were diagnosed only by rapid laboratory Ag tests. A high per cent of the patients had advanced HIV disease.
An echocardiography‐derived calcium score as a predictor of major adverse cardiovascular events in peritoneal dialysis patients—A prospective cohort study
Authors: Sin Ho‐Kwan , Wong Ping‐Nam , Lo Kin‐Yee , Lo Man‐Wai , Chan Shuk‐Fan , Lo Kwok‐Chi , Wong Yuk‐Yi , Ho Lo‐Yi , Kwok Wing‐Tung , Chan Kai‐Chun , Wong Andrew Kui‐Man , Mak Siu‐Ka 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackgroundAn echocardiography‐derived calcium score (ECS) has been shown to predict cardiovascular (CV) mortality in the general population but has not been utilized in the dialysis population.MethodsWe conducted a prospective cohort study including 125 prevalent PD patients. Two blinded and independent echocardiographers determined the ECS for each subject at baseline. The primary outcome was the three‐point major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) which is a composite outcome comprising CV death, non‐fatal myocardial infarction and non‐fatal stroke. The secondary outcome was all‐cause mortality.ResultsThe mean age was 61 ± 13 years. The median follow‐up duration was 40 months (range 1–50). Seventy six (60.8%) of the subjects had diabetes mellitus (DM). The median duration of dialysis was 32 (IQR 16–54) months. The incidences of MACE and all‐cause mortality were 13.0 per 100 patient‐years and 18.3 per 100 patient‐years. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified the following three independent predictors of MACE: ECS (HR 1.253/unit increase in ECS, 95% CI 1.014–1.547, p = .036), DM (HR 2.467, 95% CI 1.014–6.005, p = .047) and pre‐existing cardiovascular disease (CVD) (HR 2.441, 95% CI 1.261–4.728, p = .008); and the following two predictors of all‐cause mortality: pre‐existing CVD (HR 2.156, 95% CI 1.251–3.714, p = .006) and serum albumin (HR 0.887/g/L increase in serum albumin, 95% CI 0.839–0.937, p < .001).ConclusionThe ECS appears to be a significant predictor of MACE in PD patients independently of DM and pre‐existing CVD.
Integrative effects of transcutaneous electrical acustimulation on abdominal pain, gastrointestinal motility, and inflammation in patients with early‐stage acute pancreatitis
Authors: Xuan Jia‐lei , Zhu Ying‐wei , Xu Wen‐hui , Zhao Han , Chen Jiande D. Z. , Wu Gao‐jue , Gong Lei 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackground/AimsGastrointestinal (GI) dysmotility in acute pancreatitis (AP) aggravates inflammation and results in severe complications. This study aimed to explore effects and possible mechanisms of transcutaneous electrical acustimulation (TEA) on abdominal pain, GI dysmotility, and inflammation in AP patients.MethodsForty‐two AP patients were blindly randomized to receive TEA (n = 21) at acupoints PC6 and ST36 or Sham‐TEA (n = 21) at sham points for 2 days. Symptom scores, gastric slow waves, autonomic functions (assessed by spectral analysis of heart rate variability), circulatory levels of motilin, ghrelin, and TNF‐α were measured before and after the treatment. Sixteen healthy controls (HCs) were also included without treatment for the assessment of gastric slow waves and biochemistry.Key ResultsCompared with Sham‐TEA, TEA decreased abdominal pain score (2.57 ± 1.78 vs. 1.33 ± 1.02,p < 0.05), bloating score (5.19 ± 1.21 vs. 0.76 ± 0.99,p < 0.001), the first defecation time (65.79 ± 19.51 h vs. 51.38 ± 17.19 h,p < 0.05); TEA, but not Sham‐TEA, improved the percentage of normal gastric slow waves by 41.6% (p < 0.05), reduced AP severity score (5.52 ± 2.04 vs. 3.90 ± 1.90,p < 0.05) and serum TNF‐α (7.59 ± 4.80 pg/ml vs. 4.68 ± 1.85 pg/ml,p < 0.05), and upregulated plasma ghrelin (0.85 ± 0.96 ng/ml vs. 2.00 ± 1.71 ng/ml,p = 0.001) but not motilin (33.08 ± 22.65 pg/ml vs. 24.12 ± 13.95 pg/ml,p > 0.05); TEA decreased sympathetic activity by 15.0% and increased vagal activity by 18.3% (bothp < 0.05).Conclusions & InferencesTEA at PC6 and ST36 administrated at early stage of AP reduces abdominal pain, improves GI motility, and inhibits inflammatory cytokine, TNF‐α, probably mediated via the autonomic and ghrelin mechanisms.
Irritable bowel syndrome is strongly associated with the primary and idiopathic mast cell disorders
Authors: Kurin Michael , Elangovan Abbinaya , Alikhan Muhammed Mustafa , Al Dulaijan Basmah , Silver Eli , Kaelber David C. , Cooper Gregory 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackgroundMounting evidence supports a mechanistic association between irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms and mast cell hyperactivity. Yet, association between IBS and mast cell disorders (MCDs) has not been studied. We examined this association using two large databases and verified with manual chart review.MethodsThe IBM Watson Health Explorys database (Somers, NY), an aggregate of electronic health record (EHR) data from over two dozen US healthcare systems, and Epic's SlicerDicer tool, a self‐service tool containing de‐identified data from the Epic EHR, were used to identify patients with IBS and MCDs. Patients with organic gastrointestinal disease or diseases associated with secondary mast cell hyperproliferation were excluded. Results were verified with manual chart review from two academic centers.Key ResultsUp to 4% of IBS patients had a comorbid MCD. IBS was strongly associated with all MCDs. The strongest association was between IBS and mast cell activation syndrome (OR 16.3; 95% CI 13.1–20.3). Odds ratios for IBS+urticaria, IBS+idiopathic urticaria, IBS+non‐malignant mastocytosis, and IBS+mast cell malignancy ranged from 4.5 to 9.9. Patients from each of these overlap cohorts were predominantly female, and the overlap occurred with all IBS subtypes. Thorough endoscopic evaluation and comorbid mood disorders and migraines are more common in the overlap cohorts than in IBS alone.Conclusions/InferencesIn a large US database encompassing >53 million patients over >20 years, patients with IBS are at least 4 times more likely to have a MCD than the general population. Further study of mast cell involvement in the pathogenesis of IBS is warranted.
Evidence for efficient nonevaporative leaf‐to‐air heat dissipation in a pine forest under drought conditions
Authors: Muller Jonathan D. , Rotenberg Eyal , Tatarinov Fyodor , Oz Itay , Yakir Dan 
Published: September 2021

Summary

The drier climates predicted for many regions will result in reduced evaporative cooling, leading to leaf heat stress and enhanced mortality. The extent to which nonevaporative cooling can contribute to plant resilience under these increasingly stressful conditions is not well known at present.

Using a novel, high accuracy infrared system for the continuous measurement of leaf temperature in mature trees under field conditions, we assessed leaf‐to‐air temperature differences (ΔTleaf–air) of pine needles during drought.

On mid‐summer days, ΔTleaf–air remained < 3°C, both in trees exposed to summer drought and in those provided with supplemental irrigation, which had a more than 10‐fold higher transpiration rate. The nonevaporative cooling in the drought‐exposed trees must be facilitated by low resistance to heat transfer, generating a large sensible heat flux, H. ΔTleaf–air was weakly related to variations in the radiation load and mean wind speed in the lower part of the canopy, but was dependent on canopy structure and within‐canopy turbulence that enhanced the H.

Nonevaporative cooling is demonstrated as an effective cooling mechanism in needle‐leaf trees which can be a critical factor in forest resistance to drying climates. The generation of a large H at the leaf scale provides a basis for the development of the previously identified canopy‐scale ‘convector effect’.
The macroecology of plant populations from local to global scales
Authors: Buckley Yvonne M. , Puy Javier 
Published: September 2021

SummaryPopulation ecologists develop theoretical and pragmatic knowledge of how and why populations change or remain stable, how life histories evolve and devise management strategies for populations of concern. However, forecasting the effects of global change or recommending management strategies is often urgent, requiring ecologists to work without detailed local evidence while using data and models from outside the focal location or species. Here we explore how the comparative ecology of populations, population macroecology, can be used to develop generalisations within and between species across different scales, using available demographic, environmental, life history, occurrence and trait data. We outline the strengths and weaknesses of using broad climatic variables and suitability inferred from probability of occupancy models to represent environmental variation in comparative analyses. We evaluate the contributions of traits, environment and their interaction as drivers of life history strategy. We propose that insights from life history theory, together with the adaptive capacity of populations and individuals, can inform on ‘persist in place’ vs ‘shift in space’ responses to changing conditions. As demographic data accumulate at landscape and regional scales for single species, and throughout plant phylogenies, we will have new opportunities for testing macroecological generalities within and across species.
Conceptual representation of real‐world surface material: Early integration with linguistic‐labels indicated in the N400‐component
Authors: Dudschig Carolin , Kaup Barbara , Leuthold Hartmut , Mackenzie Ian Grant 
Published: September 2021

AbstractResearch in perception in the visual and auditory domains has traditionally focused on investigating highly controlled artificial stimulus material. However, a key feature of our perceptual system is the ease with which the input of a wide set of naturalistic co‐occurring information is dealt with. This study investigated whether, during perception of real‐world surface material, a conceptual representation is built that has the potential to interact with a linguistic description of the material directly. Short sentences were presented (e.g., This surface is smooth) followed by a matching or mismatching picture of a real‐world surface material. The results showed early cross‐modal integration effects during material surface perception in an N400‐like potential, originating approximately 280 ms after stimulus presentation. Overall, these findings suggest a rather early influence of linguistic information on material perception, suggesting that in line with object representation, real‐world materials are represented in the brain in a format that allows interaction with non‐visual information.
Cortical activation by a salient sound modulates visual temporal order judgments: An electrophysiological study of multisensory attentional processes
Authors: Simal Amour , Jolicoeur Pierre 
Published: September 2021

AbstractPrevious event‐related potential (ERP) studies show that a salient lateral sound activates the visual cortex more strongly contralateral to the sound, observed as an auditory‐evoked contralateral occipital positivity (ACOP). Studies showed that this activation enhances the early cortical processing of co‐localized visual stimuli presented after, reflected by better detection rates, better discrimination, and sharper perceived contrast. We replicated the ACOP, using earphones, and tested whether auditory cuing can influence temporal order judgments (TOJ) for two visual stimuli (horizontal arrangement) as well as if the ACOP would predict the amplitude of this influence. A lateral salient sound was followed, after 150 or 630 ms, by the visual presentation of a pair of disks, one in left and one in right hemifield, with variable SOA. The TOJ task was to indicate which disk appeared first or which disk appeared second (controlling for response bias). We observed an ACOP at posterior electrode sites and confirmed our hypothesis that the lateral sound influenced TOJ by accelerating the perception of the disk presented on the cued side, even though the sound was irrelevant to the task. Furthermore, the ACOP amplitude was correlated to this visual perceptual change, indicating that a larger change in brain activity was associated with a faster processing of co‐localized visual stimuli.
Your Competitive Side Is Calling: An Analysis of Florida Contract Performance
Authors: Brunjes Benjamin M. 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Competition over the allocation of scarce resources motivates many public policy choices, and increasingly influences the management of public organizations. With the rise of the business‐like approach espoused by adherents of “new public management,” competitive mechanisms are increasingly used in the public sector to improve organization and program performance. Despite the wide acceptance of competition as a viable method to improve public management, little large n empirical work has been done to determine whether competition improves performance, especially in the networked, cross‐sectoral setting of modern governance. Analyzing nearly 20,000 Florida contracts over a three‐year period, this research explores whether competitive sourcing procedures lead to improved contractor performance. Results show that competitive sourcing may be associated with higher contract spending and undesirable contract outcomes. Other factors, including experience, existing relationships, and lower transaction costs, are more likely to lead to better performance.
Practitioner Points

Competition is theorized to drive down costs, encourage innovation, and help hold contractors accountable for their work.
Competitively sourced contracts are more likely to experience cost overruns and to terminate early than noncompetitive contracts, suggesting that competition may not always be the best approach.
Instead, agency‐contractor relationships and goal alignment are better predictors of good performance.
Putting Big Data to Work in Government: The Case of the United States Border Patrol
Authors: Coulthart Stephen , Riccucci Ryan 
Published: September 2021

AbstractInvestigating how the public sector adopts technologies to process and analyze very large datasets is crucial for understanding governance in the digital age. The authors of this article examine a large government agency, the United States Border Patrol (USBP), an organization that is in the early phases of building big data capabilities. They argue the wide‐scale adoption of big data analytics will require trial‐and‐error processes coordinated by organizational leadership in partnership with front‐line employees who make the technology relevant to their needs in the field. Absent engagement from both levels, organizations like USBP that face significant barriers to adoption (e.g., limited data science expertise) will struggle to leverage data at scale. The authors also extend the literature on big data in the public sector and provide a rich description of how factors, such as organizational leadership and resources, impact the innovation process.
Who captures whom? Regulatory misperceptions and the timing of cognitive capture
Authors: Rilinger Georg 
Published: September 2021

AbstractTo explain cognitive capture, economic sociologists often examine the structure of relationships between regulators and market participants. This paper argues that the nature of regulators' misperception should be subject to analysis as well. Different types of misperceptions develop over timelines of varying lengths. Depending on the misperception, different sets of relationships and parties may therefore be the cause of regulators' capture. The paper illustrates this point with a case study of regulators' failure to detect pervasive market power in California's electricity markets between 1998 and 2001. Existing explanations focus on sellers' short‐term attempts to distract regulators from widespread evidence of market power. Using data from three archives and in‐depth interviews, I show that the regulators did not fall prey to such “information problems.” Instead, their misperception resulted from a more foundational “worldview problem.” This error affects regulators' basic conception of the marketplace and can be traced to earlier and more gradual forms of influence exerted by utilities that, ironically, would become the victims of market power.
Intradialytic periodized exercise improves cardiopulmonary fitness and respiratory function: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Andrade Francini Porcher , Borba Gabrielle Costa , da Silva Kacylen Costa , Ferreira Tatiane de Souza , de Oliveira Samantha Gonçalves , Antunes Verônica Verleine Hörbe , Veronese Francisco Veríssimo , Rovedder Paula Maria Eidt 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackgroundChronic kidney disease (CKD) is a factor that predisposes to gradual physical deconditioning from its early stages leading to cardiorespiratory fitness and musculoskeletal system impairment. We evaluated the effects of combined and periodized intradialytic exercise training on cardiopulmonary fitness and respiratory function in HD subjects.MethodsA randomized controlled trial with HD subjects was allocated into two groups: exercise group (EXG) and usual care group (UCG). EXG performed a 12‐week combined and periodized intradialytic training. UCG maintained the HD routine.ResultsThirty‐nine HD subjects were analyzed (EXG = 20; UCG = 19). The EXG in comparison with the UCG showed improvements in peak oxygen consumption (Δ3.1[0.4–5.5] vs. −0.2[−2.0–1.5] ml/kg/min; p = 0.003), forced expiratory volume in the first second (Δ0.1[−0.0–0.1] vs. −0.0[−0.1–0.0] L; p = 0.022), forced vital capacity (Δ0.1[0.0–0.2] vs. −0.1[−0.2–0.0] L; p = 0.005), peak expiratory flow (Δ0.4[−0.7–1.2] vs. −0.1[−0.5–0.2] L; p = 0.046), and maximal inspiratory pressure (Δ7.35[−8.5–17.5] vs. −4.0[−18.0–12.0] cmH2O; p = 0.028). The EXG, different from the UCG, did not worsen the maximal expiratory pressure (Δ0.1[−8.8–7.5] vs. −2.5[−15.0–9.0] cmH2O; p = 0.036). Besides, EXG showed a significant improvement in quadriceps strength (32.05 ± 10.61 vs. 33.35 ± 11.62 kg; p = 0.042).ConclusionsThe combined and periodized intradialytic exercise training improved cardiopulmonary fitness, respiratory function, inspiratory muscle strength, and quadriceps strength, beyond maintaining the expiratory muscle strength in HD subjects.