bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Random coil chemical shifts for serine, threonine and tyrosine phosphorylation over a broad pH range
Authors: Hendus-Altenburger Ruth , Fernandes Catarina B. , Bugge Katrine , Kunze Micha B. A. , Boomsma Wouter , Kragelund Birthe B. 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Phosphorylation is one of the main regulators of cellular signaling typically occurring in flexible parts of folded proteins and in intrinsically disordered regions. It can have distinct effects on the chemical environment as well as on the structural properties near the modification site. Secondary chemical shift analysis is the main NMR method for detection of transiently formed secondary structure in intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and the reliability of the analysis depends on an appropriate choice of random coil model. Random coil chemical shifts and sequence correction factors were previously determined for an Ac-QQXQQ-NH2-peptide series with X being any of the 20 common amino acids. However, a matching dataset on the phosphorylated states has so far only been incompletely determined or determined only at a single pH value. Here we extend the database by the addition of the random coil chemical shifts of the phosphorylated states of serine, threonine and tyrosine measured over a range of pH values covering the pKas of the phosphates and at several temperatures (www.bio.ku.dk/sbinlab/randomcoil). The combined results allow for accurate random coil chemical shift determination of phosphorylated regions at any pH and temperature, minimizing systematic biases of the secondary chemical shifts. Comparison of chemical shifts using random coil sets with and without inclusion of the phosphoryl group, revealed under/over estimations of helicity of up to 33%. The expanded set of random coil values will improve the reliability in detection and quantification of transient secondary structure in phosphorylation-modified IDPs.
Assessing seed desiccation responses of native trees in the Caribbean
Authors: Mattana Efisio , Peguero Brígido , Di Sacco Alice , Agramonte Wilvin , Encarnación Castillo Wilkin Rafael , Jiménez Francisco , Clase Teodoro , Pritchard Hugh W. , Gómez-Barreiro Pablo , Castillo-Lorenzo Elena , Terrero Encarnación Marianny , Way Michael J. , García Ricardo , Ulian Tiziana 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Native trees from the Caribbean were tested for seed desiccation responses, by adapting the “100-seed test” protocol. Ninety-seven seed lots of 91 species were collected in the Dominican Republic and tested for germination immediately after collecting, and after drying and moist storage. Seed desiccation sensitivity was assessed as a continuous variable (Viability Loss Index; VLI), based on seed germination values before and after drying. The results were compared with predictions of seed desiccation responses based on seed lot traits (initial moisture content and thousand-seed weight) and with those of published predictive models based on plant and seed traits. VLI could be calculated for seed lots of 40 species. 80% of these seed lots showed consistent results among experiments and predictive models. Issues on the set up of the experiments were discussed, as well as the species for which experimental results and predictions led to contrasting results. Overall, the “100-seed test” confirmed to be an effective tool for assessing seed desiccation responses of a diverse under-investigated woody flora, guiding the seed conservation of trees and their use in reforestation programmes. In addition, by providing new data, it might improve the performance of available predictive models.
Sample Collection and Return from Mars: Optimising Sample Collection Based on the Microbial Ecology of Terrestrial Volcanic Environments
Authors: Cockell Charles S. , McMahon Sean , Lim Darlene S. S. , Rummel John , Stevens Adam , Hughes Scott S. , Kobs Nawotniak Shannon E. , Brady Allyson L. , Marteinsson Viggo , Martin-Torres Javier , Zorzano Maria-Paz , Harrison Jesse 
Published: October 2019

AbstractWith no large-scale granitic continental crust, all environments on Mars are fundamentally derived from basaltic sources or, in the case of environments such as ices, evaporitic, and sedimentary deposits, influenced by the composition of the volcanic crust. Therefore, the selection of samples on Mars by robots and humans for investigating habitability or testing for the presence of life should be guided by our understanding of the microbial ecology of volcanic terrains on the Earth. In this paper, we discuss the microbial ecology of volcanic rocks and hydrothermal systems on the Earth. We draw on microbiological investigations of volcanic environments accomplished both by microbiology-focused studies and Mars analog studies such as the NASA BASALT project. A synthesis of these data emphasises a number of common patterns that include: (1) the heterogeneous distribution of biomass and diversity in all studied materials, (2) physical, chemical, and biological factors that can cause heterogeneous microbial biomass and diversity from sub-millimetre scales to kilometre scales, (3) the difficulty ofa prioriprediction of which organisms will colonise given materials, and (4) the potential for samples that are habitable, but contain no evidence of a biota. From these observations, we suggest an idealised strategy for sample collection. It includes: (1) collection of multiple samples in any given material type (∼9 or more samples), (2) collection of a coherent sample of sufficient size (${\sim}10~\mbox{cm}^{3}$∼10cm3) that takes into account observed heterogeneities in microbial distribution in these materials on Earth, and (3) collection of multiple sample suites in the same material across large spatial scales. We suggest that a microbial ecology-driven strategy for investigating the habitability and presence of life on Mars is likely to yield the most promising sample set of the greatest use to the largest number of astrobiologists and planetary scientists.
Comparison of progesterone concentrations in blubber and plasma among female Antarctic minke whales of known reproductive status
Authors: Inoue Satoko , Yasunaga Genta , Pastene Luis A. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractThe utility of progesterone concentration in blubber as a means of determining reproductive status in the Antarctic minke whaleBalaenoptera bonaerensiswas assessed through a comparative analysis of progesterone concentration in blubber and plasma among 230 female whales of known reproductive status (immature, resting, ovulating or pregnant). Whales were sampled during the austral summer in the Antarctic Ocean. The general pattern of progesterone concentration by reproductive category was well correlated between blubber and plasma samples, validating in principle the use of progesterone concentrations in blubber to determine the reproductive status of females. However, some differences were found for resting and ovulating females, which require further consideration. For blubber, overlap of progesterone concentrations was observed between reproductive categories with the exception of immature/ovulating and immature/pregnant. This result suggests that the method of using progesterone concentration in blubber cannot distinguish between pregnant and non-pregnant mature females. However, it can be used to distinguish between immature and mature females. Although a low overlap ratio in concentration was found between immature and resting females, the method is still useful for determining sexual maturity, because resting females of the Antarctic minke whale are seldom found in the Antarctic Ocean.
Prevention of hypermelanosis by rearing Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus in net-lined tanks
Authors: Mizutani Koei , Yamada Toshiyuki , Suzuki Keita W. , Masuda Reiji , Nakata Kuniaki , Tagawa Masatomo 
Published: October 2019

AbstractIn artificially reared flatfish, especially the Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus, pigmented skin (hypermelanosis) frequently appears on the fish’s blind side after normal metamorphosis. As no practical prevention method has yet been proposed, we examined the effectiveness of a loose net placed inside the rearing tank that covers the bottom and walls like a pouch. When juveniles (standard length [SL] 6 cm) were transferred to the net-lined tank (mesh size 4 mm) before the first appearance of hypermelanosis, the pigmented area after 2 months covered about 0.5% of the blind side; this is about 1/40th of the area covered by pigment in fish reared in an ordinary tank (20%). Although the initial appearance of pigmentation in the axilla area (the area covered by the pectoral fin) was not suppressed, utilization of a larger mesh size (12 mm) decreased the expansion of pigmentation in this area. Juveniles reared in the net-lined tank were about 5–15% smaller (SL) than those reared in the ordinary tank, but their body depth:SL ratio was closer to that of wild-caught juveniles. From the results of this study, we propose that net-lined rearing tanks with larger-sized mesh are a practical method of preventing hypermelanosis in Japanese flounder aquaculture systems.
The Causal Effect of Maternal Education on Child Mortality: Evidence From a Quasi-Experiment in Malawi and Uganda
Authors: Andriano Liliana , Monden Christiaan W. S. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractSince the 1980s, the demographic literature has suggested that maternal schooling plays a key role in determining children’s chances of survival in low- and middle-income countries; however, few studies have successfully identified a causal relationship between maternal education and under-5 mortality. To identify such a causal effect, we exploited exogenous variation in maternal education induced by schooling reforms introducing universal primary education in the second half of the 1990s in Malawi and Uganda. Using a two-stage residual inclusion approach and combining individual-level data from Demographic and Health Surveys with district-level data on the intensity of the reform, we tested whether increased maternal schooling reduced children’s probability of dying before age 5. In Malawi, for each additional year of maternal education, children have a 10 % lower probability of dying; in Uganda, the odds of dying for children of women with one additional year of education are 16.6 % lower. We also explored which pathways might explain this effect of maternal education. The estimates suggest that financial barriers to medical care, attitudes toward modern health services, and rejection of domestic violence may play a role. Moreover, being more educated seems to confer enhanced proximity to a health facility and knowledge about the transmission of AIDS in Malawi, and wealth and improved personal illness control in Uganda.
Emerging Big Data Sources for Public Transport Planning: A Systematic Review on Current State of Art and Future Research Directions
Authors: Zannat Khatun E , Choudhury Charisma F. 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
The rapid advancement of information and communication technology has brought a revolution in the domain of public transport (PT) planning alongside other areas of transport planning and operations. Of particular significance are the passively generated big data sources (e.g., smart cards, detailed vehicle location data, mobile phone traces, social media) which have started replacing the traditional surveys conducted onboard, at the stops/stations and/or at the household level for gathering insights about the behavior of the PT users. This paper presents a systematic review of the contemporary research papers related to the use of novel data sources in PT planning with particular focus on (1) assessing the usability and potential strengths and weaknesses of different emerging big data sources, (2) identifying the challenges and highlighting research gaps. Reviewed articles were categorized based on qualitative pattern matching (similarities/dissimilarities) and multiple sources of evidence analysis under three categories—use of big data in (1) travel pattern analysis, (2) PT modelling, and (3) PT performance assessment. The review revealed research gaps ranging from methodological and applied research on fusing different forms of big data as well as big data and traditional survey data; further work to validate the models and assumptions; lack of progress on developing more dynamic planning models. Findings of this study could inform transport planners and researchers about the opportunities/challenges big data bring for PT planning. Harnessing the full potential of the big data sources for PT planning can be extremely useful for cities in the developing world, where the PT landscape is changing more rapidly, but traditional forms of data are expensive to collect.
Local ancestry at APOE modifies Alzheimer's disease risk in Caribbean Hispanics
Authors: Blue Elizabeth E. , Horimoto Andréa R.V.R. , Mukherjee Shubhabrata , Wijsman Ellen M. , Thornton Timothy A. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractIntroductionAlthough the relationship between APOE and Alzheimer's disease (AD) is well established in populations of European descent, the effects of APOE and ancestry on AD risk in diverse populations is not well understood.MethodsLogistic mixed model regression and survival analyses were performed in a sample of 3067 Caribbean Hispanics and 3028 individuals of European descent to assess the effects of APOE genotype, local ancestry, and genome‐wide ancestry on AD risk and age at onset.ResultsAmong the Caribbean Hispanics, individuals with African‐derived ancestry at APOE had 39% lower odds of AD than individuals with European‐derived APOE, after adjusting for APOE genotype, age, and genome‐wide ancestry. While APOE E2 and E4 effects on AD risk and age at onset were significant in the Caribbean Hispanics, they were substantially attenuated compared with those in European ancestry individuals.DiscussionThese results suggest that additional genetic variation in the APOE region influences AD risk beyond APOE E2/E3/E4.
Ganglion cell layer thinning in prodromal Alzheimer's disease defined by amyloid PET
Authors: López‐de‐Eguileta Alicia , Lage Carmen , López‐García Sara , Pozueta Ana , García‐Martínez María , Kazimierczak Martha , Bravo María , de Arcocha‐Torres María , Banzo Ignacio , Jimenez‐Bonilla Julio , Cerveró Andrea , Rodríguez‐Rodríguez Eloy , Sánchez‐Juan Pascual , Casado Alfonso 
Published: October 2019

AbstractIntroductionThe objective of this study was to investigate and compare optic nerve and retinal layers in eyes of patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) with paired control eyes using optical coherence tomography.MethodsSixty‐three eyes of 34 subjects, 12 eyes with AD and 51 eyes with MCI, positive to 11C‐labeled Pittsburgh Compound‐B with positron emission tomography (11C‐PiB PET/CT), and the same number of sex‐ and age‐paired control eyes underwent optical coherence tomography scanning analyzing retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell layer (GCL), Bruch's membrane opening–minimum rim width (BMO‐MRW), inner plexiform layer (IPL), outer nuclear layer, and lamina cribrosa (LC).ResultsCompared with healthy controls, eyes of patients with positive 11C‐PiB PET/CT showed a significant thinning of RNFL (P < .028) and GCL (P < .014). IPL and outer nuclear layer also showed significant thinning in two (P < .025) and one location (P < .010), respectively. No significant differences were found when optic nerve measurements BMO‐MRW and LC were compared (P > .131 and P > .721, respectively). Temporal sector GCL, average RNFL, and temporal sector RNFL also exhibited significant thinning when MCI and control eyes were compared (P = .015, P = .005 and P = .050, respectively), and also the greatest area under the curve values (0.689, 0.647, and 0.659, respectively). GCL, IPL, and RNFL tend to be thinner in the AD group compared with healthy controls.DiscussionOur study suggests that RNFL and GCL are useful for potential screening in the early diagnosis of AD. LC and BMO‐MRW appear not to be affected by AD.
A single systemic inflammatory insult causes acute motor deficits and accelerates disease progression in a mouse model of human tauopathy
Authors: Torvell Megan , Hampton David W. , Connick Peter , MacLullich Alasdair M.J. , Cunningham Colm , Chandran Siddharthan 
Published: October 2019

AbstractIntroductionNeuroinflammation, which contributes to neurodegeneration, is a consistent hallmark of dementia. Emerging evidence suggests that systemic inflammation also contributes to disease progression.MethodsThe ability of systemically administered lipopolysaccharide (LPS ‐ 500 μg/kg) to effect acute and chronic behavioural changes in C57BL/6 and P301S tauopathy mice was assessed. Markers of pathology were assessed in the brain and spinal cord.ResultsP301S mice display regional microgliosis. Systemic LPS treatment induced exaggerated acute sickness behaviour and motor dysfunction in P301S mice compared with wild‐type controls and advanced the onset and accelerated chronic decline. LPS treatment was associated with increased tau pathology 24 hours after LPS injection and spinal cord microgliosis at the end stage.DiscussionThis is the first demonstration that a single systemic inflammatory episode causes exaggerated acute functional impairments and accelerates the long‐term trajectory of functional decline associated with neurodegeneration in a mouse model of human tauopathy. The findings have relevance to management of human dementias.
Hot-streak effect on internally air-cooled nozzle guide vanes and shrouds
Authors: Jiang L. Y. , Han Y. , Zhang Z. , Wu X. , Clement M. , Patnaik P. 
Published: October 2019

ABSTRACTThe effect of hot streaks from a gas turbine combustor on the thermodynamic load of internally air-cooled nozzle guide vanes (NGVs) and shrouds has been numerically investigated under flight conditions. The study follows two steps: one for the high-fidelity 60° combustor sector with simplified ten NGVs and three thermocouples attached; and the other for the NGV sectors where each sector consists of one high-fidelity NGV (probe NGV) and nine dummy NGVs. The first step identifies which NGV has the highest thermal load and provides the inlet flow boundary conditions for the second step. In the second step, the flow fields and thermal loads of the probe NGVs are resolved in detail.With the systematically validated physical models, the two-phase flowfield of the combustor-NGVs sector has been successfully simulated. The predicted mean and maximum temperature at the combustor sector exit are in excellent agreement with the experimental data, which provides a solid basis for the hot-streak effect investigation. The results indicate that the second NGV, looking upstream from left, has the highest thermal load. Its maximum surface temperature is 8.4% higher than that for the same NGV but with the mean inlet boundary conditions, and 14.1% higher than the ninth NGV. The finding is consistent with the field-observed NGV damage pattern. To extend the service life of these vulnerable NGVs, some protection methods should be considered.
A Cost-Utility Analysis of Endovascular Thrombectomy in a Real-World Setting
Authors: Koto Prosper S. , Hu Sherry X. , Virani Karim , Simpkin Wendy L. , Christian Christine A. , Cao Huiling , Shankar Jai J. S. , Phillips Stephen J. 
Published: October 2019

ABSTRACT:Objective:Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is efficacious for ischemic stroke caused by proximal intracranial large-vessel occlusion involving the anterior cerebral circulation. However, evidence of its cost-effectiveness, especially in a real-world setting, is limited. We assessed whether EVT ± tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) was cost-effective when compared with standard care ± tPA at our center.Method:We identified patients treated with EVT ± tPA after the Endovascular treatment for Small Core and Anterior circulation Proximal occlusion with Emphasis on minimizing computed tomography to recanalization times trial from our prospective stroke registry from February 1, 2013 to January 31, 2017. Patients admitted before February 2013 and treated with standard care ± tPA constitute the controls. The sample size was 88. Cost-effectiveness was assessed using the net monetary benefit (NMB). Differences in average costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were estimated using the augmented inverse probability weighted estimator. We accounted for sampling and methodological uncertainty in sensitivity analyses.Results:Patients treated with EVT ± tPA had a net gain of 2.89 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.93–4.99] QALYs at an additional cost of $22,200 (95% CI: −28,902–78,244) per patient compared with the standard care ± tPA group. The NMB was $122,300 (95% CI: −4777–253,133) with a 0.85 probability of being cost-effective. The expected savings to the healthcare system would amount to $321,334 per year.Conclusion:EVT ± tPA had higher costs and higher QALYs compared with the control, and is likely to be cost-effective at a willingness-to-pay threshold of $50,000 per QALY.
Psychological First-Aid Experiences of Disaster Health Care Workers: A Qualitative Analysis
Authors: Choi Yun-Jung 
Published: October 2019

ABSTRACTObjective:Disaster health care workers experience much greater stress providing psychological first-aid and suffer from the indirect experience of traumatic events. This study examines how disaster health care workers experience disaster mental health.Methods:Twenty-one disaster health care workers recruited from fire stations, community mental health service centers, and disaster trauma centers in Korea participated in this study. Data were collected via in-depth interviews and qualitatively analyzed according to Colaizzi’s phenomenological approach.Results:Disaster health care workers’ experiences of disaster mental health can be analyzed according to 4 theme categories: (1) commitment to one’s duty as a disaster health care worker; (2) powerlessness and lack of confidence; (3) incident shock and burnout; and (4) incomplete and inadequate healing.Conclusions:In order to prevent mental health problems and support the disaster health care workers, it is necessary to develop and provide effective, nationwide psychological first-aid training, as well as disaster trauma recovery programs that are tailored to Korean sociocultural context and use immersive digital health care/education technology.