bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Structural dynamics and transient lipid binding of synaptobrevin-2 tune SNARE assembly and membrane fusion
Authors: Lakomek Nils-Alexander , Yavuz Halenur , Jahn Reinhard , Pérez-Lara Ángel 
Published: April 2019

Significance
The vesicular membrane protein synaptobrevin-2 (syb-2) plays an important role in vesicular membrane fusion at the neuronal synapse by participating in the dynamic formation of the SNARE complex. Here, by a combination of solution-state NMR and fluorescence spectroscopy, we find that syb-2 in its prefusion form, before forming the SNARE complex, shows high internal flexibility, characteristic for an intrinsically disordered protein (IDP). But it also reveals an increasing rigidity from the N to C terminus that correlates with an observed increase in lipid binding affinity as well as the known increased rate for C-terminal compared with N-terminal SNARE zippering. This provides a mechanistic perspective on how an IDP and its lipid interactions can lower the energy barrier for membrane fusion.
Scale-free resilience of real traffic jams
Authors: Zhang Limiao , Zeng Guanwen , Li Daqing , Huang Hai-Jun , Stanley H. Eugene , Havlin Shlomo 
Published: April 2019

SignificanceTraffic congestion has become the most stubborn disease for the health of a city. Like the self-healing ability of a biological unit from diseases, transportation can also recover spontaneously from various disturbances. To describe this recovery, we define the resilience metric as the spatiotemporal congestion cluster, which can be used for other network systems. Based on large-scale GPS datasets, we reveal that the recovery behavior of transportation from congestion is governed by three scaling laws for all of the congestion scales. These scaling laws are found independent of microscopic details, including fluctuation of traffic demand and corresponding management. Our results of resilience scaling can help to better characterize and improve the adaptation and recovery of city traffic from various perturbations.
Environmental DNA for improved detection and environmental surveillance of schistosomiasis
Authors: Sengupta Mita E. , Hellström Micaela , Kariuki Henry C. , Olsen Annette , Thomsen Philip F. , Mejer Helena , Willerslev Eske , Mwanje Mariam T. , Madsen Henry , Kristensen Thomas K. , Stensgaard Anna-Sofie , Vennervald Birgitte J. 
Published: April 2019

Significance
Accurate detection and delineation of schistosomiasis transmission sites will be vital in ongoing efforts to control and ultimately eliminate one of the most neglected tropical parasitic diseases affecting >250 million people worldwide. Conventional methods to detect parasites in the environment are cumbersome and have low sensitivity. We therefore developed an environmental DNA (eDNA)-based method for schistosome detection in aquatic environments. Aquatic eDNA showed higher sensitivity than conventional snail surveys. We conclude that eDNA is a promising noninvasive and sensitive tool for environmental surveillance of schistosomiasis transmission. As the efforts and aims to control the disease are transitioning toward complete transmission interruption, this could be the robust and cost-effective surveillance tool needed in the “endgame” of schistosomiasis.
Evolution of social norms and correlated equilibria
Authors: Morsky Bryce , Akçay Erol 
Published: April 2019

Significance
We consider social norms as collections of beliefs or superstitions about events occurring in nature. These events have no inherent meaning, but individuals can choose to believe that they do. Specifically, individuals can interpret events as prescribing behaviors for themselves along with expectations of the behaviors of others. We show how evolutionary competition between such beliefs can give rise to both prescriptive and descriptive self-enforcing norms that can allow populations to coordinate behavior. Our model provides an evolutionary account for how normative meaning emerges in an inherently meaningless world.
Correlated interfacial water transport and proton conductivity in perfluorosulfonic acid membranes
Authors: Ling Xiao , Bonn Mischa , Domke Katrin F. , Parekh Sapun H. 
Published: April 2019

Significance
Fuel-cell proton-exchange membranes (PEMs) are central to hydrogen fuel-cell technology. The mechanism and optimization of proton transport in these materials is intimately linked with hydration and water transport. Studies of water transport in PEMs have previously been limited to macroscopic permeability measurements. Our work connects the macroscopic proton transport in PEMs to the molecular water arrangement: Two distinct types of water, differing in their degree of molecular coordination, transit the membrane at very different rates. The more weakly coordinated water species consistently exhibits faster transit across five different PEMs and shows a direct correlation to the proton conductivity, suggesting that designing PEMs to maximize the fraction of undercoordinated water is key for maximizing overall transport.
Shock growth of ice crystal near equilibrium melting pressure under dynamic compression
Authors: Kim Yong-Jae , Lee Yun-Hee , Lee Sooheyong , Nada Hiroki , Lee Geun Woo 
Published: April 2019

Significance
Crystal growth and morphological transitions are crucial for fundamental science and wide applications. Nevertheless, their mechanisms under local nonequilibrium growth condition are unclear due to severe interference of thermal and mass transports on the interplay between thermodynamic driving force and interface kinetics. Here, we reveal the origin of the pressure-induced 2D shock growth of ice VI crystal by using dynamic compression, in which a dimensional transition from 3D to 2D is observed. Unlike generally expected, the 2D shock growth occurs from 3D crystal edges rather than from its corners upon fast compression, even near equilibrium growth condition. This is due to similar interface structure to the crystal edge plane facilitating the fast interface kinetics under local nonequilibrium growth.
Exploratory trial of a biepitopic CAR T-targeting B cell maturation antigen in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma
Authors: Xu Jie , Chen Li-Juan , Yang Shuang-Shuang , Sun Yan , Wu Wen , Liu Yuan-Fang , Xu Ji , Zhuang Yan , Zhang Wu , Weng Xiang-Qin , Wu Jing , Wang Yan , Wang Jin , Yan Hua , Xu Wen-Bin , Jiang Hua , Du Juan , Ding Xiao-Yi , Li Biao , Li Jun-Min , Fu Wei-Jun , Zhu Jiang , Zhu Li , Chen Zhu , Fan Xiao-Hu (Frank) , Hou Jian , Li Jian-Yong , Mi Jian-Qing , Chen Sai-Juan 
Published: April 2019

Significance
Multiple myeloma (MM) is one of the most common hematological malignancies. Developing an effective treatment strategy for refractory/relapsed (R/R) MM represents a major challenge. In this trial, 17 R/R MM patients, who had previously experienced multiple lines of treatments, received a chimeric antigen receptor modified T (CAR T) cell preparation targeting two epitopes of BCMA, and a remarkable overall response of 88.2% was achieved. This work confirms the feasibility and importance of CAR T cell therapy in the treatment of patients with R/R MM. Meanwhile, the adverse events encountered in this study are analyzed, providing a reference for other studies. We also suggest that CAR T treatment can eventually be combined with other effective therapeutics to treat newly diagnosed MM for achieving a better result in future trials.
Compulsive drug use is associated with imbalance of orbitofrontal- and prelimbic-striatal circuits in punishment-resistant individuals
Authors: Hu Yuzheng , Salmeron Betty Jo , Krasnova Irina N. , Gu Hong , Lu Hanbing , Bonci Antonello , Cadet Jean L. , Stein Elliot A. , Yang Yihong 
Published: April 2019

Significance
Addiction is characterized by compulsive drug use despite negative consequences. In a rat model of methamphetamine self-administration, we found that compulsive-like drug taking was correlated with alterations in the balance between an increased orbitofrontal cortex-dorsomedial striatal “go” circuit and a decreased prelimbic cortex-ventrolateral striatal “stop” circuit only in an addictive-like subgroup resistant to foot shock punishment paired with drug taking. In nonaddictive-like rats, the go-stop balance, which was similarly changed after repeated self-administration without punishment, normalized toward baseline levels after punishment. These results indicate that restoring the go-stop physiological balance, perhaps with noninvasive brain stimulation, may provide a promising avenue for addiction treatment when coupled with neuroimaging to assess clinical responses to determine the adequacy of a course of treatment.
Intrinsically cell-penetrating multivalent and multitargeting ligands for myotonic dystrophy type 1
Authors: Lee JuYeon , Bai Yugang , Chembazhi Ullas V. , Peng Shaohong , Yum Kevin , Luu Long M. , Hagler Lauren D. , Serrano Julio F. , Chan H. Y. Edwin , Kalsotra Auinash , Zimmerman Steven C. 
Published: April 2019

SignificanceMultivalent ligands have tremendous potential as therapeutic agents; however, their efficacy is limited by delivery issues, poor cell permeability, and toxicity. We report here a strategy wherein multivalent ligands are designed to be intrinsically cell-penetrating, allowing them to target the expanded trinucleotide repeat sequences of DNA and RNA that cause myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). The multivalent ligand studied shows cell permeability and low toxicity both in cells and in mice. Importantly, the ligand reduced or eliminated DM1 defects in DM1 cells and in vivo, validating the multivalent strategy. The approach should be broadly applicable to other repeat expansion diseases and to any multivalent oligomeric therapeutic agent whose activity can accommodate structural elements that mimic cell-penetrating peptides.
Bootstrapping variables in algebraic circuits
Authors: Agrawal Manindra , Ghosh Sumanta , Saxena Nitin 
Published: April 2019

SignificanceZero testing [or polynomial identity testing (PIT)] for circuits is a computational algebra problem with numerous practical applications and a beautiful theory (e.g., primality testing and graph matching are solved using PIT). It strongly relates to showing that there are explicit/natural polynomials that require exponentially large circuits. The latter is also called the algebraic version of the P≠NP question (or VP≠?VNP) and lies in the intersection of mathematics and computing. This work provides a plausible route to it if we can design a polynomial-time computable, but small enough, hitting set for trivariate depth-4 circuits [merelyΣΠΣ∧(3)].
Interaction between p53 N terminus and core domain regulates specific and nonspecific DNA binding
Authors: He Fan , Borcherds Wade , Song Tanjing , Wei Xi , Das Mousumi , Chen Lihong , Daughdrill Gary W. , Chen Jiandong 
Published: April 2019

Significance
The p53 tumor suppressor is a sequence-specific DNA binding protein that activates gene transcription to regulate cell survival and proliferation. This report investigates the role of the p53 N-terminal transactivation domain in regulating DNA binding affinity and specificity. The results suggest the N-terminal acidic transactivation region of p53 dynamically interacts with the DNA binding domain near residues that contact DNA, thus inhibiting DNA binding and increasing sequence specificity by nucleic acid mimicry or electrostatic shielding. Furthermore, p53 N-terminal–interacting proteins and posttranslational modifications may regulate DNA binding affinity and specificity partly by modulating the N terminus–DNA binding domain interaction.
Effects of Pilates on fall risk factors in community‐dwelling elderly women: A randomized, controlled trial.
Authors: Aibar‐Almazán Agustín , Martínez‐Amat Antonio , Cruz‐Díaz David , De la Torre‐Cruz Manuel J. , Jiménez‐García José D. , Zagalaz‐Anula Noelia , Pérez‐Herrezuelo Isabel , Hita‐Contreras Fidel 
Published: April 2019

AbstractObjective: the main objective was to analyze the effects that an exercise programme based on the Pilates method would have on balance confidence, fear of falling, and postural control among women ≥60 years old. Methods: a total of 110 women (69.15 ± 8.94 years) participated in this randomized, controlled trial that took place in Jaén (Spain). The participants were randomly assigned to either a control group (n = 55), which received no intervention, or to a Pilates group (n = 55), which carried out an exercise programme based on the Pilates method in 60‐minute sessions for 12 weeks. The Falls Efficacy Scale‐International and the activity‐specific balance confidence scale were respectively used to assess fear of falling and balance confidence in performing activities of daily living. Postural control was evaluated using a stabilometric platform. Results: Regarding balance confidence, the Pilates group showed higher values compared to the control group (77.52 ± 18.27 vs 72.35 ± 16.39, Cohen's d = 0.030). Women in the Pilates group showed lower fear of falling, compared to those of the control group (22.07 ± 5.73 vs 27.9 ± 6.95, Cohen's d = 0.041). Finally, concerning static balance, participants of the Pilates group experienced statistically significant improvements on the velocity and anteroposterior movements of the centre of pressure with eyes open and closed respectively (Cohen's d = 0.44 and 0.35 respectively). Conclusion: A 12‐week Pilates training programme has beneficial effects on balance confidence, fear of falling and postural stability, in elderly women.
Robustness of ballistic transport in antidot superlattices
Authors: Datseris George , Geisel Theo , Fleischmann Ragnar 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
The magneto-resistance of antidot lattices shows pronounced peaks, which became a hallmark of ballistic electron transport. While most studies agree that they reflect the interplay of regular and chaotic motion in the quasi-classical dynamics, the exact mechanism has been surprisingly controversial. Inspired by recent experiments on graphene antidot lattices showing that the effect survives strong impurity scattering, we give a new explanation of the peaks linked to a fundamental relation between collision times and accessible phase space volumes, accounting for their robustness. Due to the fundamental nature of the mechanism described it will be relevant in many mesoscopic transport phenomena.
Determination of CaOH and CaOCH3 vibrational branching ratios for direct laser cooling and trapping
Authors: Kozyryev Ivan , Steimle Timothy C , Yu Phelan , Nguyen Duc-Trung , Doyle John M 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
Alkaline earth monoalkoxide free radicals (MORs) have molecular properties conducive to direct laser cooling to sub-millikelvin temperatures. Using dispersed laser induced fluorescence measurements from a pulsed supersonic molecular beam source we determine vibrational branching ratios and Franck–Condon factors for the MORs CaOH and CaOCH3. With narrow linewidth continuous-wave dye laser excitation, we precisely measure fluorescence branching for both

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electronic systems in each molecule. Weak symmetry-forbidden decays to excited bending states with non-zero vibrational angular momentum are observed. Normal mode theoretical analysis combined with ab initio structural calculations are performed and compared to experimental results. Our measurements and analysis pave the way for direct laser cooling of these (and other) complex nonlinear polyatomic molecules. We also describe a possible approach to laser cooling and trapping of molecules with fewer symmetries like chiral species.
Structure, thermal and electrical properties of PVDF-HFP/LiBOB solid polymer electrolyte
Authors: Lestariningsih T , Sabrina Q , Ratri C R , Nuroniah I 
Published: April 2019

AbstractSolid polymer electrolyte (SPE), which is composed of poly (vinylidenefluroride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP), lithium bis(oxalate) borate (LiBOB) salt and various concentrations of TiO2 as filler, has been prepared by solution casting technique. Structure, thermal and electrical properties of the SPE were examined using XRD and SEM, TG/DSC, and impedance spectroscopy, respectively. XRD analysis reveals amorphous nature of PVDF-HFP / LiBOB and TiO2 composite matrix. SEM photographs of polymer electrolyte membrane indicate good compatibility between polymer, salt, and other contents as well as amorphous phase formation in the fabricate of SPE. We obtained that (SPE) with composition of 70 wt% polymer, 28 wt% LiBOB and 2 wt% TiO2 has highest conductivity. XRD and DSC analysis indicate that the conductivity increases due to high amount of amorphous nature content. We suggest that the amorphous nature content may enhance segmental flexibility of polymeric chains and disordered structure of the electrolyte.
International comparison of health care carbon footprints
Authors: Pichler Peter-Paul , Jaccard Ingram S , Weisz Ulli , Weisz Helga 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
Climate change confronts the health care sector with a dual challenge. Accumulating climate impacts are putting an increased burden on the service provision of already stressed health care systems in many regions of the world. At the same time, the Paris agreement requires rapid emission reductions in all sectors of the global economy to stay well below the 2 °C target. This study shows that in OECD countries, China, and India, health care on average accounts for 5% of the national CO2 footprint making the sector comparable in importance to the food sector. Some countries have seen reduced CO2 emissions related to health care despite growing expenditures since 2000, mirroring their economy wide emission trends. The average per capita health carbon footprint across the country sample in 2014 was 0.6 tCO2, varying between 1.51 tCO2/cap in the US and 0.06 tCO2/cap in India. A statistical analysis shows that the carbon intensity of the domestic energy system, the energy intensity of the domestic economy, and health care expenditure together explain half of the variance in per capita health carbon footprints. Our results indicate that important leverage points exist inside and outside the health sector. We discuss our findings in the context of the existing literature on the potentials and challenges of reducing GHG emissions in the health and energy sector.
Greater Adherence to Life’s Simple 7 Is Associated With Less Arterial Stiffness: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study
Authors: Oyenuga Abayomi O , Folsom Aaron R , Cheng Susan , Tanaka Hirofumi , Meyer Michelle L 
Published: April 2019

Abstract

Background
Greater arterial stiffness is associated independently with increased cardiovascular disease risk. The American Heart Association (AHA) has recommended following “Life’s Simple 7 (LS7)” to optimize cardiovascular health; we tested whether better LS7 in middle age is associated with less arterial stiffness in later life.

Methods
We studied 4,232 black and white participants aged 45–64 years at the baseline (1987–89) visit of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study cohort who also had arterial stiffness measured in 2011–13 (mean ± SD interval: 23.6 ± 1.0 years). We calculated a 14-point summary score for baseline LS7 and classified participants as having “poor” (0–4), “average” (5–9), or “ideal” (10–14) cardiovascular health. We used logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for arterial stiffening: a high carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV, ≥13.23 m/s) or a high central pulse pressure (central PP, ≥ 82.35 mm Hg).

Results
The age, race, sex, and heart rate-adjusted ORs (95% CI) for high cfPWV in the “ideal,” “average,” and “poor” LS7 summary categories were 1 (Reference), 1.30 (1.11, 1.53), and 1.68 (1.10,2.56), respectively (P-trend = 0.0003). Similarly, the adjusted ORs (95% CI) for high central PP across LS7 summary categories were 1 (Reference), 1.48 (1.27, 1.74), and 1.63 (1.04, 2.56), respectively (P-trend &lt;0.0001).

Conclusion
Greater LS7 score in middle age is associated with less arterial stiffness 2–3 decades later. These findings further support the AHA recommendation to follow LS7 for cardiovascular disease prevention.
Relationships Between Calcium Channel Blockers and Vascular Function Tests
Authors: Maruhashi Tatsuya , Kajikawa Masato , Kishimoto Shinji , Matsui Shogo , Hashimoto Haruki , Takaeko Yuji , Aibara Yoshiki , Yusoff Farina M , Hidaka Takayuki , Chayama Kazuaki , Noma Kensuke , Nakashima Ayumu , Goto Chikara , Kihara Yasuki , Higashi Yukihito 
Published: April 2019

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Differences between the effects of calcium channel blockers (CCBs) and other antihypertensive drugs on vascular function have not been fully investigated. The purpose of this study was to determine the confounding effect of CCBs on vascular function tests.

METHODS
We measured flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), nitroglycerine-induced vasodilation (NID), and brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in 1,134 subjects who underwent health-screening examinations or who visited the outpatient clinic at Hiroshima University Hospital.

RESULTS
FMD and NID were significantly lower (4.3 ± 3.2% vs. 2.3 ± 2.4% and 14.1 ± 5.8% vs. 10.6 ± 5.3%, P &lt; 0.001, respectively) and baPWV was significantly higher (1,604 ± 412 cm/s vs. 1,715 ± 343 cm/s, P &lt; 0.001) in subjects receiving CCB treatment than in subjects without CCB treatment. Multivariate analyses revealed that CCB treatment was significantly associated with lower FMD (β = –0.151, P &lt; 0.001) and lower NID (β = –0.120, P &lt; 0.001) but not with baPWV (β = 0.017, P = 0.42). Propensity score matching analyses revealed that FMD and NID were significantly lower and baseline brachial artery diameter was significantly larger in subjects receiving CCB monotherapy than in subjects without antihypertensive medication or subjects receiving non-CCB antihypertensive monotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS
CCB treatment was significantly associated with lower FMD and lower NID, which might be, at least in part, due to larger baseline brachia artery diameter, whereas there was no significant association between CCB treatment and baPWV. FMD and NID may be of no use as prognostic markers of cardiovascular events in individuals who have been receiving CCB treatment.

PUBLIC TRIALS REGISTRY NUMBER
Trial Number UMIN000003409
Transcriptional variation in malaria parasites: why and how
Authors: Llorà-Batlle Oriol , Tintó-Font Elisabet , Cortés Alfred 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
Transcriptional differences enable the generation of alternative phenotypes from the same genome. In malaria parasites, transcriptional plasticity plays a major role in the process of adaptation to fluctuations in the environment. Multiple studies with culture-adapted parasites and field isolates are starting to unravel the different transcriptional alternatives available to Plasmodium falciparum and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Here we discuss how epigenetic variation, directed transcriptional responses and also genetic changes that affect transcript levels can all contribute to transcriptional variation and, ultimately, parasite survival. Some transcriptional changes are driven by stochastic events. These changes can occur spontaneously, resulting in heterogeneity within parasite populations that provides the grounds for adaptation by dynamic natural selection. However, transcriptional changes can also occur in response to external cues. A better understanding of the mechanisms that the parasite has evolved to alter its transcriptome may ultimately contribute to the design of strategies to combat malaria to which the parasite cannot adapt.