bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Factors associated with prostate specific antigen testing in Australians: Analysis of the New South Wales 45 and Up Study
Authors: Nair-Shalliker Visalini , Bang Albert , Weber Marianne , Goldsbury David E. , Caruana Michael , Emery Jon , Banks Emily , Canfell Karen , O’Connell Dianne L. , Smith David P. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractAustralia has one of the highest incidence rates of prostate cancer (PC) worldwide, due in part to widespread prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing. We aimed to identify factors associated with PSA testing in Australian men without a diagnosis of prostate cancer or prior prostate disease. Participants were men joining the 45 and Up Study in 2006–2009, aged ≥45 years at recruitment. Self-completed questionnaires were linked to cancer registrations, hospitalisations, health services data and deaths. Men with a history of PC, radical prostatectomy or a “monitoring” PSA test for prostate disease were excluded. We identified Medicare reimbursed PSA tests during 2012–2014. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (OR) for the association between having PSA tests and factors of interest. Of the 62,765 eligible men, 51.8% had at least one screening PSA test during 2012–2014. Factors strongly associated with having a PSA test included having 27+ general practitioner consultations (versus 3–9 consultations; OR = 2.00; 95%CI = 1.90–2.11), benign prostatic hyperplasia treatment (versus none; OR = 1.59(95%CI = 1.49–1.70), aged 60–69 years (versus 50–59 years; OR = 1.54; 95%CI = 1.48–1.60). These results emphasise the important role of primary care in decision making about PSA testing.
Estimating wildlife activity curves: comparison of methods and sample size
Authors: Lashley Marcus A. , Cove Michael V. , Chitwood M. Colter , Penido Gabriel , Gardner Beth , DePerno Chris S. , Moorman Chris E. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractCamera traps and radiotags commonly are used to estimate animal activity curves. However, little empirical evidence has been provided to validate whether they produce similar results. We compared activity curves from two common camera trapping techniques to those from radiotags with four species that varied substantially in size (~1 kg–~50 kg), diet (herbivore, omnivore, carnivore), and mode of activity (diurnal and crepuscular). Also, we sub-sampled photographs of each species with each camera trapping technique to determine the minimum sample size needed to maintain accuracy and precision of estimates. Camera trapping estimated greater activity during feeding times than radiotags in all but the carnivore, likely reflective of the close proximity of foods readily consumed by all species except the carnivore (i.e., corn bait or acorns). However, additional analyses still indicated both camera trapping methods produced relatively high overlap and correlation to radiotags. Regardless of species or camera trapping method, mean overlap increased and overlap error decreased rapidly as sample sizes increased until an asymptote near 100 detections which we therefore recommend as a minimum sample size. Researchers should acknowledge that camera traps and radiotags may estimate the same mode of activity but differ in their estimation of magnitude in activity peaks.
PEG/Dextran Double Layer Influences Fe Ion Release and Colloidal Stability of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles
Authors: Mohammadi M. Rezaa , Malkovskiy Andrey V. , Jothimuthu Preetha , Kim Kwang-Min , Parekh Mansi , Inayathullah Mohammed , Zhuge Yan , Rajadas Jayakumar 
Published: March 2018

AbstractDespite preliminary confidence on biosafety of polymer coated iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), toxicity concerns have hampered their clinical translation. SPIONs toxicity is known to be due to catalytic activity of their surface and release of toxic Fe ions originating from the core biodegradation, leading to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Here, we hypothesized that a double-layer polymeric corona comprising of dextran as an interior, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as an exterior layer better shields the core SPIONs. We found that ROS generation was cell specific and depended on SPIONs concentration, although it was reduced by sufficient PEG immobilization or 100 µM deferoxamine. 24 h following injection, PEGylated samples showed reduction of biodistribution in liver, heterogenous biodistribution profile in spleen, and no influence on NPs blood retention. Sufficient surface masking or administration of deferoxamine could be beneficial strategies in designing and clinical translation of future biomedical SPIONs.
Antimicrobial Photodynamic therapy enhanced by the peptide aurein 1.2
Authors: de Freitas Laura Marise , Lorenzón Esteban Nicolás , Santos-Filho Norival Alves , Zago Lucas Henrique de Paula , Uliana Marciana Pierina , de Oliveira Kleber Thiago , Cilli Eduardo Maffud , Fontana Carla Raquel 
Published: March 2018

AbstractIn the past few years, the World Health Organization has been warning that the post-antibiotic era is an increasingly real threat. The rising and disseminated resistance to antibiotics made mandatory the search for new drugs and/or alternative therapies that are able to eliminate resistant microorganisms and impair the development of new forms of resistance. In this context, antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) and helical cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMP) are highlighted for the treatment of localized infections. This study aimed to combine the AMP aurein 1.2 to aPDT using Enterococcus faecalis as a model strain. Our results demonstrate that the combination of aPDT with aurein 1.2 proved to be a feasible alternative capable of completely eliminating E. faecalis employing low concentrations of both PS and AMP, in comparison with the individual therapies. Aurein 1.2 is capable of enhancing the aPDT activity whenever mediated by methylene blue or chlorin-e6, but not by curcumin, revealing a PS-dependent mechanism. The combined treatment was also effective against different strains; noteworthy, it completely eliminated a vancomycin-resistant strain of Enterococcus faecium. Our results suggest that this combined protocol must be exploited for clinical applications in localized infections as an alternative to antibiotics.
A comprehensive sediment dynamics study of a major mud belt system on the inner shelf along an energetic coast
Authors: Liu James T. , Hsu Ray T. , Yang Rick J. , Wang Ya Ping , Wu Hui , Du Xiaoqin , Li Anchun , Chien Steven C. , Lee Jay , Yang Shouye , Zhu Jianrong , Su Chih-Chieh , Chang Yi , Huh Chih-An 
Published: March 2018

AbstractGlobally mud areas on continental shelves are conduits for the dispersal of fluvial-sourced sediment. We address fundamental issues in sediment dynamics focusing on how mud is retained on the seabed on shallow inner shelves and what are the sources of mud. Through a process-based comprehensive study that integrates dynamics, provenance, and sedimentology, here we show that the key mechanism to keep mud on the seabed is the water-column stratification that forms a dynamic barrier in the vertical that restricts the upward mixing of suspended sediment. We studied the 1000 km-long mud belt that extends from the mouth of the Changjiang (Yangtze) River along the coast of Zhejiang and Fujian Provinces of China and ends on the west coast of Taiwan. This mud belt system is dynamically attached to the fluvial sources, of which the Changjiang River is the primary source. Winter is the constructive phase when active deposition takes place of fine-grained sediment carried mainly by the Changjiang plume driven by Zhe-Min Coastal Currents southwestward along the coast.
Using dual eye tracking to uncover personal gaze patterns during social interaction
Authors: Rogers Shane L. , Speelman Craig P. , Guidetti Oliver , Longmuir Melissa 
Published: March 2018

AbstractWe report the personal eye gaze patterns of people engaged in face-to-face getting acquainted conversation. Considerable differences between individuals are underscored by a stability of eye gaze patterns within individuals. Results suggest the existence of an eye-mouth gaze continuum. This continuum includes some people showing a strong preference for eye gaze, some with a strong preference for mouth gaze, and others distributing their gaze between the eyes and mouth to varying extents. Additionally, we found evidence of within-participant consistency not just for location preference but also for the duration of fixations upon the eye and mouth regions. We also estimate that during a 4-minute getting acquainted conversation mutual face gaze constitutes about 60% of conversation that occurs via typically brief instances of 2.2 seconds. Mutual eye contact ranged from 0–45% of conversation, via very brief instances. This was despite participants subjectively perceiving eye contact occurring for about 70% of conversation. We argue that the subjective perception of eye contact is a product of mutual face gaze instead of actual mutual eye contact. We also outline the fast activity of gaze movements upon various locations both on and off face during a typical face-to-face conversation.
An accurate first-principles treatment of doping-dependent electronic structure of high-temperature cuprate superconductors
Authors: Furness James W. , Zhang Yubo , Lane Christopher , Buda Ioana Gianina , Barbiellini Bernardo , Markiewicz Robert S. , Bansil Arun , Sun Jianwei 
Published: March 2018

AbstractA first-principles density-functional description of the electronic structures of the high-Tc cuprates has remained a long-standing problem since their discovery in 1986, with calculations failing to capture either the insulating (magnetic) state of the pristine compound or the transition from the insulating to metallic state with doping. Here, by taking lanthanum cuprate as an exemplar high-Tc cuprate, we show that the recently developed non-empirical, strongly constrained and appropriately normed density functional accurately describes both the antiferromagnetic insulating ground state of the pristine compound and the metallic state of the doped system. Our study yields new insight into the low-energy spectra of cuprates and opens up a pathway toward wide-ranging first-principles investigations of electronic structures of cuprates and other correlated materials.
Three-observer classical dimension witness violation with weak measurement
Authors: Li Hong-Wei , Zhang Yong-Sheng , An Xue-Bi , Han Zheng-Fu , Guo Guang-Can 
Published: March 2018

AbstractDimension is an important resource in quantum information theory. Based on weak measurement technology, we propose the three-observer dimension witness protocol in a prepare-and-measure setup. By applying the dimension witness inequality based on the quantum random access code and the nonlinear determinant value, we demonstrate that double classical dimension witness violation is achievable if we choose appropriate weak measurement parameters. Analysis of the results will shed new light on the interplay between the multi-observer quantum dimension witness and the weak measurement technology, which can also be applied in the generation of semi-device-independent quantum random numbers and quantum key distribution protocols.
Patient Acceptance of Invasive Treatments for Tinnitus
Authors: Smit Jasper V. , Pielkenrood Bart J. , Arts Remo A. G. J. , Janssen Miranda L. , Temel Yasin , Stokroos Robert J. 
Published: March 2018

PurposeThe field of neuromodulation is currently seeking to treat a wide range of disorders with various types of invasive devices. In recent years, several preclinical trials and case reports in humans have been published on their potential for chronic tinnitus. However, studies to obtain insight into patients' willingness to undergo these treatments are scarce. The aim of this survey study was to find out whether tinnitus patients are willing to undergo invasive neuromodulation when taking its risks, costs, and potential benefits into account.MethodA Visual Analog Scale (VAS, 0–10) was used to measure the outcome. Spearman's rank-order correlation coefficients were computed to determine the correlation between patient characteristics and acceptance rates.ResultsAround one fifth of the patients were reasonably willing to undergo invasive treatment (VAS 5–7), and around one fifth were fully willing to do so (VAS 8–10). Hearing aids, used as a control, were accepted most, followed by cochlear implantation, deep brain stimulation, and cortical stimulation. Acceptance rates were slightly higher when the chance of cure was higher. Patients with a history of attempted treatments were more eager than others to find a new treatment for tinnitus.ConclusionsA considerable proportion of patients with tinnitus would accept a variety of invasive treatments despite the associated risks or costs. When clinical neuromodulatory studies for tinnitus are to be performed, particular attention should be given to obtaining informed consent, including explaining the potential risks and providing a realistic outcome expectation.
Switching regulator based on a high‐voltage gain DC–DC converter with non‐pulsating input/output currents
Authors: Mota‐Varona Ricardo , Ortiz‐Lopez Ma Guadalupe , Langarica‐Cordoba Diego , Leyva‐Ramos Jesus 
Published: March 2018

In recent years, new technological advances are requiring the use of direct current (DC)–DC switching converters with higher conversion ratios between input and output voltages. Additionally, the desirable characteristics of the converters are non‐pulsating input and output currents as well as a reduced voltage stress on the switching devices. In this work, a control strategy is proposed for the high‐voltage gain converter to regulate the output voltage. The steady‐state operating conditions are discussed as well as the bilinear switching, non‐linear averaged, and linear averaged models. The transfer functions of variables to be used for control purposes are analysed too. Experimental results for a 300 W switching regulator with 97% conversion efficiency are given to validate the controller design procedure.
Persistierendes Foramen ovale und ischämischer Schlaganfall: Aktuelle Aspekte
Authors: Kluge Jakob , Grau Armin 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe value of interventional closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) after cryptogenic stroke has been controversial. Recently, two randomized controlled trials showed a benefit of interventional closure of PFO compared to antiplatelet therapy only. We give a survey of the current literature and express questions that still remain unacknowledged.
Nachsorge bei Krebs: ausgewählte solide Tumore und hämatologische Neoplasien
Authors: Rörden Malte , Hinterleitner Clemens , Metzger Janina , Kanz Lothar 
Published: March 2018

AbstractMore and more follow-up care gets important in the treatment of oncological patients. In addition to detection of recurrent and secondary diseases, the focus should be put particularly on identifying and medicating sequelae associated with therapy. Anamnesis and clinical examination remain at the centre of follow-up treatment. Further contents of follow-up care are based on the disease situation, previous therapies and individual risk factors. For most entities there is no recommendation for routine radiological diagnosis in asymptomatic patients. However, imaging measures are indicated especially when symptoms require clarification. The increasing rate of oral long-term and permanent therapies implies new tasks in after-care. Here, potential side effects have to be registered specifically. Furthermore, treatment success should be monitored regularly.
Uranium isotope evidence for two episodes of deoxygenation during Oceanic Anoxic Event 2
Authors: Clarkson Matthew O. , Stirling Claudine H. , Jenkyns Hugh C. , Dickson Alexander J. , Porcelli Don , Moy Christopher M. , Pogge von Strandmann Philip A. E. , Cooke Ilsa R. , Lenton Timothy M. 
Published: March 2018

Significance
Past “Oceanic Anoxic Events” (OAEs) represent important carbon cycle perturbations that offer the opportunity to study Earth’s response to extreme climate warming. A fundamental limitation for understanding OAEs is quantifying the timing and total extent of ocean anoxia. We present a quantitative account of global redox conditions for OAE 2 (∼94 million years ago), using a high-resolution record of uranium isotopes combined with a biogeochemical model. We present new evidence for two discrete intervals of globally extensive anoxia that were coupled to enhanced terrestrial weathering, within the typically defined OAE interval. These anoxic intervals were separated by ocean reoxygenation and the temporary recovery of the carbon cycle.
BRICHOS domain of Bri2 inhibits islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) fibril formation and toxicity in human beta cells
Authors: Oskarsson Marie E. , Hermansson Erik , Wang Ye , Welsh Nils , Presto Jenny , Johansson Jan , Westermark Gunilla T. 
Published: March 2018

Significance
Accumulation of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP)-containing amyloid fibrils is the main pathological finding in pancreatic islets in type 2 diabetes. The formation of these IAPP amyloid fibrils is considered toxic and may constitute a major cause for the loss of insulin-producing beta cells. The protein domain BRICHOS is present in several different proproteins and possesses antiamyloid chaperone activity. This study demonstrates expression of the BRICHOS-containing protein Bri2 in human pancreatic beta cells and its colocalization with IAPP. The Bri2 BRICHOS domain effectively prevents IAPP from forming fibrils and protects cells from the toxicity associated with IAPP fibrillation. It is concluded that the Bri2 BRICHOS domain may act as an endogenous inhibitor of IAPP amyloid formation in pancreatic beta cells.
Biogeographical disparity in the functional diversity and redundancy of corals
Authors: McWilliam Mike , Hoogenboom Mia O. , Baird Andrew H. , Kuo Chao-Yang , Madin Joshua S. , Hughes Terry P. 
Published: March 2018

Significance
The wide variety of functional trait combinations among the world’s coral faunas can be represented by just a few dimensions of variation. The diversity of coral traits among these dimensions is consistently high along Pacific and Indian Ocean diversity gradients, despite a threefold decline in species richness (from approximately 600 to 200 species). Functional redundancy, defined as multiple species sharing similar arrays of traits, is highest in the central Indo-Pacific biodiversity hotspot. While these Indo-Pacific provinces are globally important reserves of coral reef resilience and function, peripheral species-poor regions are potentially more vulnerable to functional collapse, as indicated by a critical lack of redundancy among species and the reduced capacity for similar species to respond differently to chronic or acute stressors.
MERS coronaviruses from camels in Africa exhibit region-dependent genetic diversity
Authors: Chu Daniel K. W. , Hui Kenrie P. Y. , Perera Ranawaka A. P. M. , Miguel Eve , Niemeyer Daniela , Zhao Jincun , Channappanavar Rudragouda , Dudas Gytis , Oladipo Jamiu O. , Traoré Amadou , Fassi-Fihri Ouafaa , Ali Abraham , Demissié Getnet F. , Muth Doreen , Chan Michael C. W. , Nicholls John M. , Meyerholz David K. , Kuranga Sulyman A. , Mamo Gezahegne , Zhou Ziqi , So Ray T. Y. , Hemida Maged G. , Webby Richard J. , Roger Francois , Rambaut Andrew , Poon Leo L. M. , Perlman Stanley , Drosten Christian , Chevalier Veronique , Peiris Malik 
Published: March 2018

Significance
Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a zoonotic disease of global health concern, and dromedary camels are the source of human infection. Although Africa has the largest number of dromedary camels, and MERS-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is endemic in these camels, locally acquired zoonotic MERS is not reported from Africa. However, little is known of the genetic or phenotypic characterization of MERS-CoV from Africa. In this study we characterize MERS-CoV from Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Morocco, and Ethiopia. We demonstrate viral genetic and phenotypic differences in viruses from West Africa, which may be relevant to differences in zoonotic potential, highlighting the need for studies of MERS-CoV at the animal–human interface.
Near-atomic cryo-EM imaging of a small protein displayed on a designed scaffolding system
Authors: Liu Yuxi , Gonen Shane , Gonen Tamir , Yeates Todd O. 
Published: March 2018

Significance
New electron microscopy (EM) methods are making it possible to view the structures of large proteins and nucleic acid complexes at atomic detail, but the methods are difficult to apply to molecules smaller than approximately 50 kDa, which is larger than the size of the average protein in the cell. The present work demonstrates that a protein much smaller than that limit can be successfully visualized when it is attached to a large protein scaffold designed to hold 12 copies of the attached protein in symmetric and rigidly defined orientations. The small protein chosen for attachment and visualization can be modified to bind to other diverse proteins, opening a new avenue for imaging cellular proteins by cryo-EM.
Protein homology model refinement by large-scale energy optimization
Authors: Park Hahnbeom , Ovchinnikov Sergey , Kim David E. , DiMaio Frank , Baker David 
Published: March 2018

Significance
Protein structure refinement by direct global energy optimization has been a longstanding challenge in computational structural biology due to limitations in both energy function accuracy and conformational sampling. This manuscript demonstrates that with recent advances in both areas, refinement can significantly improve protein comparative models based on structures of distant homologues.
Enzymatic reconstitution of ribosomal peptide backbone thioamidation
Authors: Mahanta Nilkamal , Liu Andi , Dong Shihui , Nair Satish K. , Mitchell Douglas A. 
Published: March 2018

Significance
Thioamidation as a posttranslational modification is exceptionally rare, with only one protein example known (methyl-coenzyme M reductase, MCR), as well as a few ribosomal natural products. The genes involved in MCR thioamidation have recently been elucidated, but the enzymes have yet to be characterized. Herein, we report the in vitro reconstitution and substrate preferences of peptidic thioamidation using peptides and enzymes derived from methanogenic archaea. We demonstrate that MCR thioamidation requires an ATP-dependent YcaO enzyme and a sulfide source. Our results shed light on the biosynthesis of other thioamide-containing compounds, which bioinformatics surveys predict to be considerably more numerous than currently appreciated, thus laying a foundation for assigning biological functions for this posttranslational modification.
Antidepression action of BDNF requires and is mimicked by Gαi1/3 expression in the hippocampus
Authors: Marshall John , Zhou Xiao-zhong , Chen Gang , Yang Su-qing , Li Ya , Wang Yin , Zhang Zhi-qing , Jiang Qin , Birnbaumer Lutz , Cao Cong 
Published: March 2018

SignificanceHeterotrimeric Gαi proteins are known to transduce G protein-coupled receptor signals. We have identified a role for Gαi proteins in mediating brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)–tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) signaling. BDNF dysfunction contributes to the pathophysiology of depression. In a stress model of depression Gαi1 and Gαi3 proteins are downregulated in the hippocampus, a limbic structure associated with major depressive disorder. We show that Gαi1/Gαi3 proteins are required for TrkB downstream signaling, and knockout mice exhibited severe depressive behaviors with decreased dendritic morphology. Established stress-induced depressive behavior is corrected by intrahippocampal expression of Gαi3. These results demonstrate that heterotrimeric Gαi1 and Gαi3 proteins are essential for TrkB signaling and that disruption of Gαi1 or Gαi3 function could contribute to depressive behaviors.