bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High altitude adaptation mitigates anemia risk associated with diabetes among the Mosuo of Southwest China
Authors: Su M , Wander K , Shenk MK , Blumenfield T , Li H , Mattison SM 
Published: September 2018

AbstractHuman populations native to high altitude regions (≥2500 m) exhibit numerous adaptations to hypoxic stress. On the Tibetan Plateau, these include modifications of the hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) pathway to essentially uncouple erythropoiesis (red blood cell production) and blood hemoglobin (Hb) concentration—which normally increase in response to low oxygen—from hypoxia. Uncoupling of erythropoiesis and hypoxia is also observed among people with diabetes due to damage to kidney tissues. This is hypothesized to result in elevated risk for anemia among diabetics, which increases risk for cardiovascular disease and death. We tested the hypothesis that the independence of erythropoiesis from HIF among high-altitude adapted populations of the Tibetan Plateau may protect against diabetes-associated anemia. We investigated this hypothesis among the Mosuo, a population living in Yunnan Province, China (at ~2800 m altitude) that is undergoing rapid market integration and lifestyle change, with concomitant increase in risk for type 2 diabetes. We found that, although diabetes (glycated hemoglobin, HbA1c ≥6.5%) is associated with anemia (females: Hb<12g/dl; males: Hb<13g/dl) among the Chinese population as a whole (N: 5,606; OR: 1.48; p: 0.008), this is not the case among the Mosuo (N: 316; OR: 1.36; p: 0.532). Both pathways uncoupling hypoxia from erythropoiesis (diabetic disease and high altitude adaptation) are incompletely understood; their intersection in protecting Mosuo with diabetes from anemia may provide insight into the mechanisms underlying each. Further, these findings point to the importance of understanding how high-altitude adaptations interact with chronic disease processes, as populations like the Mosuo experience rapid market integration.
Wheat avenin-like protein and its significant Fusarium Head Blight resistant functions
Authors: Zhang Yujuan , Cao Xinyou , Juhasz Angela , Islam Shahidul , Qi Pengfei , She Maoyun , Zhu Zhanwang , Hu Xin , Yu Zitong , Wylie Steve , Dowla Mirza , Chen Xueyan , Yang Rongchang , Xia Xianchun , Zhang Jingjuan , Zhao Yun , Shi Nan , Dell Bernard , He Zhonghu , Ma Wujun 
Published: September 2018

AbstractWheat Avenin-like proteins (TaALP) are atypical storage proteins belonging to the Prolamin superfamily. Previous studies on ALPs have focused on the proteins’ positive effects on dough strength, whilst no correlation has been made between TaALPs and the plant immune system. Here, we performed genome-wide characterization of ALP encoding genes in bread wheat. In silico analyses indicated the presence of critical peptides in TaALPs that are active in the plant immune system. Pathogenesis-related nucleotide motifs were also identified in the putative promoter regions of TaALP encoding genes. RT-PCR was performed onTaALPand previously characterised pathogenesis resistance genes in developing wheat caryopses under control andFusarium graminearuminfection conditions. The results showed thatTaALPand NMT genes were upregulated uponF. graminearuminoculation. mRNA insitu hybridization showed thatTaALPgenes were expressed in the embryo, aleurone and sub-aleurone layer cells. SevenTaALPgenes were cloned for the expression of recombinant proteins inEscherichia coli, which displayed significant inhibitory function onF. graminearumunder anti-fungal tests. In addition, FHB index association analyses showed that allelic variations of two ALP genes on chromosome 7A were significantly correlated with FHB symptoms. Over-expression of an ALP gene on chromosome 7A showed an enhanced resistance to FHB. Yeast two Hybridization results revealed that ALPs have potential proteases inhibiting effect on metacaspases and beta-glucosidases. A vital infection process related pathogen protein,F. graminearumBeta-glucosidase was found to interact with ALPs. Our study is the first to report a class of wheat storage protein or gluten protein with biochemical functions. Due to its abundance in the grain and the important multi-functions, the results obtained in the current study are expected to have a significant impact on wheat research and industry.
BicGO: a new biclustering algorithm based on global optimization
Authors: Li Guojun , Su Zhengchang 
Published: September 2018

AbstractRecognizing complicated biclusters submerged in large scale datasets (matrix) has been being a highly challenging problem. We introduce a biclustering algorithm BicGO consisting of two separate strategies which can be selectively used by users. The BicGO which was developed based on global optimization can be implemented by iteratively answering if a real number belongs to a given interval. Tested on various simulated datasets in which most complicated and most general trend-preserved biclusters were submerged, BicGO almost always extracted all the actual bicluters with accuracy close to 100%, while on real datasets, it also achieved an incredible superiority over all the salient tools compared in this article. As far as we know, the BicGO is the first tool capable of identifying any complicated (e.g., constant, shift, scale, shift-scale, order-preserved, trend-preserved, etc), any shapes (narrow or broad) of biclusters with overlaps allowed. In addition, it is also highly parsimonious in the usage of computing resources. The BicGO is available at https://www.dropbox.com/s/hsj3j96rekoks5n/BicGO.zip?dl=0 for free download.
Genetic Circuits to Detect Nanomaterial Triggered Toxicity through Engineered Heat Shock Response Mechanism
Authors: Saltepe Behide , Haciosmanoğlu Nedim , Şafak Şeker Urartu Özgür 
Published: September 2018

ABSTRACTBiocompatibility assessment of nanomaterials has been of great interest due to their potential toxicity. However, conventional biocompatibility tests are short of providing a fast toxicity report. We developed a whole cell based biosensor to track biocompatibility of nanomaterials with the aim of providing fast feedback for engineering nanomaterials with lower toxicity levels. We have engineered promoters of four heat shock response proteins. As an initial design a reporter coding gene was cloned to downstream of the promoter regions selected. Initial results indicated that native HSP promoter regions were not very promising to generate signals with low background signals. Introducing riboregulators to native promoters eliminated unwanted background signal almost entirely. Unfortunately, this approach also leads a decrease in expected sensor signal. Thus, a repression based genetic circuit, inspired from HSP mechanism ofMycobacterium tuberculosiswas constructed. These genetic circuits can report the toxicity of Quantum Dot nanoparticles in one hour with high precision. Our designed nanoparticle toxicity sensors can provide quick reports which can lower the demand for additional experiments with more complex organisms.
The influence of cyclic tensile strain on multi-compartment collagen-GAG scaffolds for tendon-bone junction regeneration
Authors: Grier William K. , Han Chang Raul A. Sun , Ramsey Matthew D. , Harley Brendan A.C. 
Published: September 2018

ABSTRACTOrthopedic injuries often occur at the interface between soft tissues and bone. The tendon-bone junction (TBJ) is a classic example of such an interface. Current clinical strategies for TBJ injuries prioritize mechanical reattachment over regeneration of the native interface, resulting in poor outcomes. The need to promote regenerative healing of spatially-graded tissues inspires our effort to develop new tissue engineering technologies that replicate features of the spatially-graded extracellular matrix and strain profiles across the native TBJ. We recently described a biphasic collagen-glycosaminoglycan (CG) scaffold containing distinct compartment with divergent mineral content and structural alignment (isotropic vs. anisotropic) linked by a continuous interface zone to mimic structural and compositional features of the native TBJ. Here, we report application of physiologically relevant levels of cyclic tensile strain (CTS) to the scaffold via a bioreactor leads to non-uniform strain profiles across the spatially-graded scaffold. Further, combinations of CTS and matrix structural features promote rapid, spatially-distinct differentiation profiles of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) down multiple osteotendinous lineages. CTS preferentially upregulates MSC activity and tenogenic differentiation in the anisotropic region of the scaffold. Further, there are no negative effects of CTS on MSC osteogenic potential in the mineralized region previously shown to promote robust bone regeneration. Together, this work demonstrates a tissue engineering approach that couples instructive biomaterials with physiological stimuli as a mean to promote regenerative healing of orthopedic interfaces.
Transcripts from multicopy gene families localizing to mouse Y long arm encode piRNAs and proteins
Authors: Jesudasan Rachel A , Mishra Kankadeb , Annapurna Pranatharthi , Chaturvedi Anurag , Praveena Nissankararao M , Alex Jomini L , Karunanithi Sivarajan , Reddy Hemakumar M 
Published: September 2018

ABSTRACTHeterochromatic long arm of mouse Y chromosome harbors the multicopy species-specific sequencesSsty, Sly, Asty,andOrlythat are transcribed in testis. Of theseSstyandSlygenes encode proteins – yet all the copies of these RNAs are not translated. Using bioinformatic approaches, small RNA northern blots and electrophoretic mobility shift assays, we demonstrate here that these multicopy gene families from mouse Y-long arm generate piRNAs predominantly in testis. Thus, we identified a piRNA cluster on mouse Y chromosome and also unraveled the dual role of Y-chromosome-encoded transcripts to act as primary transcripts of piRNAs in addition to their role as protein-coding RNAs.HIGHLIGHTSFirst report of a cluster of piRNAs on a mammalian Y chromosomeReport of primary transcripts of piRNAsThese piRNAs putatively regulate autosomal genes expressed in mouse testis Ssty and Sly genes code for proteins as well as generate piRNAs
Predicting Aquatic Development and Mortality Rates of Aedes Aegypti
Authors: Zapletal Josef , Gupta Himanshu , Erraguntla Madhav , Adelman Zach N. , Myles Kevin M. , Lawley Mark A. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractMosquito-borne pathogens continue to be a significant burden within human populations, with Aedes aegypti continuing to spread dengue, chikungunya, and Zika virus throughout the world. Using data from a previously conducted study, a linear regression model was constructed to predict the aquatic development rates based on the average temperature, temperature fluctuation range, and larval density. Additional experiments were conducted with different parameters of average temperature and larval density to validate the model. Using a paired t-test, the model predictions were compared to experimental data and showed that the prediction models were not significantly different for average pupation rate, adult emergence rate, and juvenile mortality rate. The models developed will be useful for modeling and estimating the number of Aedes aegypti in the environment under different temperature, diurnal temperature variations, and larval densities.Author SummaryUsing experimental data from experiments conducted on Aedes aegypti, we formulated regression models to predict pupation, adult emergence, and juvenile mortality rates based on average temperature, temperature fluctuation range, and larval density. The prediction models produced were shown to account for high levels of variation within the data. Validation was performed by comparing omitted data sets to the predictions generated by our models. Our results show that the models produce results that are not significantly different from the experimental results and are capable of predicting aquatic development rates of Ae. aegypti.
Reframing construction within the built environment sector
Authors: de Valence Gerard 
Published: September 2018

Purpose
Official statistics on the output of the construction industry capture on-site activities of contractors and sub-contractors; however, the role of the industry linking suppliers of materials, machinery, products, services and other inputs is also widely recognised. These two views have been called broad and narrow, with the narrow industry defined as on-site work and the broad industry as the supply chain of materials, products and assemblies, and professional services. An argument is made for using the term “built environment sector” (BES) for the broad industry definition of construction. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach
Construction industry statistics capture the on-site activities of contractors and sub-contractors. This paper reviews research that adds to construction output the contributions of suppliers of materials, machinery and equipment, products and components, professional services and other inputs required to deliver the buildings and structures that make up the built environment.

Findings
The same term, “construction”, has been used in a number of ways in different definitional studies of the narrow and broad industry. The term that best encompasses the large number and range of participants in the creation and maintenance of the built environment, from suppliers to end users, is the BES.

Research limitations/implications
Construction economics makes an important contribution to researching the macroeconomic role of the BES. There is also a special role for construction economics in researching both the boundaries of the BES and the data available on the industries that contribute to the BES.

Practical implications
Measuring the BES would improve the understanding of its macroeconomic role and significance.

Social implications
Measuring the BES would contribute to city policies and urban planning.

Originality/value
The paper proposes a new approach to defining and measuring the industries that contribute to the production, maintenance and management of the built environment. It introduces a new name for the combination of those industries.
Digitising psychiatry? Sociotechnical expectations, performative nominalism and biomedical virtue in (digital) psychiatric praxis
Authors: Pickersgill Martyn 
Published: September 2018

AbstractDigital artefacts and infrastructures have been presented as ever more urgent and necessary for mental health research and practice. Telepsychiatry, mHealth, and now digital psychiatry have been promoted in this regard, among other endeavours. Smartphone apps have formed a particular focus of promissory statements regarding the improvement of epistemic and clinical work in psychiatry. This article contextualises and historicises some of these developments. In doing so, I show how purportedly novel fields have been constituted in part through practices of ‘performative nominalism’ (whereby articulations of a neologism in relation to established and recent developments participate in producing the referent of the new term). Central to this has been implicit and explicit extolment of what I term biomedical virtues in public‐facing and professionally orientated discourse. I document how emphases on various virtues have shifted with the attention of psychiatry to different digital modalities, culminating with knowledge‐production in mental health as one significant focus.
A new molecular multiplex IgE assay for the diagnosis of pollen allergy in Mediterranean countries: A validation study
Authors: Di Fraia Marco , Arasi Stefania , Castelli Sveva , Dramburg Stephanie , Potapova Ekaterina , Villalta Danilo , Tripodi Salvatore , Sfika Ifigenia , Zicari Anna Maria , Villella Valeria , Perna Serena , Travaglini Alessandro , Verardo Pier Luigi , Matricardi Paolo Maria 
Published: September 2018

SummaryBackgroundThe identification of the primary sensitizing pollen is difficult in Southern European patients with Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis (SAR) if sensitized to various pollen sources with overlapping seasonality. A more precise diagnosis is obtained by IgE assays to allergen molecules, currently available as singleplex or microarrays.ObjectivesTo test the analytical performance of a multi‐parameter immunoblot molecular “Pollen Test” specifically designed to test IgE antibodies to pollen extracts and molecules clinically relevant in Southern Europe.MethodsSera were obtained from 101 children and 98 adults with SAR and tested with a customized multiplex immunoblot assay (EUROLINE Southern European Pollen Profile [ESEP]; EUROIMMUN AG, Luebeck, Germany) containing a comprehensive panel of allergen extracts and molecules. ESEP's outcomes were then compared in selected sera (ESEP positive to negative = 2:1) with those of singleplex IgE assays (ImmunoCAP; ThermoFisher Scientific, Uppsala, Sweden). For each of the examined reagents, qualitative (sensitivity, specificity, accuracy), semi‐quantitative (classes) and quantitative (Spearman's rank correlation, Bland‐Altmann plots) comparisons were performed.ResultsCompared to ImmunoCAP, cumulative ESEP's sensitivity and specificity were 87% (95% CI 84%‐90%) and 88% (83%‐93%) for extracts and 99% (98%‐100%) and 87% (83%‐91%) for molecules. Cohen's kappa coefficients (κC) ranged for extracts from 0.18 (Pellitory) to 0.50 (Cypress) and for molecules from 0.21 (Ole e 1) to 0.68 (Phl p 7). The quantitative outcomes of the two diagnostic tests were highly correlated, with Spearman's rank correlation coefficients always exceeding 0.80. Bland‐Altmann plots showed a tendency of ESEP to overestimate serum specific IgE levels, when compared to ImmunoCAP.Conclusions and clinical relevanceSensitivity and specificity of ESEP in testing serum IgE antibodies against pollen allergen extracts and molecules, in Italian patients with SAR, both exceeded 85%. The advantages and limitations of a multiplex customized immunoblot assay, in the routine clinical use of molecular diagnostics in Southern European pollen allergic patients, deserve to be tested.
Gender equality in 4‐ to 5‐year‐old preschoolers’ early numerical competencies
Authors: Bakker Merel , Torbeyns Joke , Wijns Nore , Verschaffel Lieven , De Smedt Bert 
Published: September 2018

AbstractNumerical competencies acquired in preschool are foundational and predictive for children's later mathematical development. It remains to be determined whether there are gender differences in these early numerical competencies which could explain the often‐reported gender differences in later mathematics and STEM‐related abilities. Using a Bayesian approach, we quantified the evidence in favor of the alternative hypothesis of gender differences versus the null hypothesis of gender equality. Participants were 402 4‐ to 5‐year‐old children attending preschool in Flanders (Belgium). Children were selected via stratified cluster sampling to represent the full range of socioeconomic backgrounds. All children completed eight numerical tasks (verbal counting, object counting, numeral recognition, symbolic comparison, nonsymbolic comparison, nonverbal calculation, number order, dot enumeration). Results supported the gender equality hypothesis, and this evidence was substantial for seven of the eight numerical tasks. Preschoolers’ early numerical competencies are characterized by gender equality. They probably do not explain later‐reported gender differences.
Bodily communions: An eschatological proposal for addressing the Christian body problem
Authors: MacDougall Scott 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThis article is a programmatic proposal for providing a theological and existential (experiential and practical) framework for addressing the problem of the body in Christianity, specifically by examining the body against its eschatological horizon. It outlines the character of the problem, specifies an eschatological approach for addressing it, and begins to unfold a number of topics regarding embodiment that have new salience when apprehended in eschatological terms. It concludes by providing a preliminary agenda for carrying such a project forward.
From body to body: A post‐gender politics for the cosmic homo1
Authors: Pedersen Else Marie Wiberg 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThis article engages in establishing some common ground, some human and humane politics for the global Luther, in contradistinction to the focus in much recent scholarship on difference/s as an almost hegemonic way of understanding human life. The aim is to move beyond feminist, poststructuralist, and postcolonial theories to a post‐gender politics by employing Judith Butler's concepts of performativity and “abject” bodies. Homo, the human being, will be the hermeneutical key for examining Luther's understanding of God's creation and incarnation as well as of baptism, the Lord's Supper, and the church. The aim is that of searching out Luther's differing performances of body, from the carnal body of the incarnate Christ and the human body to the spiritual body of church and community, and how these matter, materialize and intersect in the body of Christ as one body/homo.
Luther's body language: Re‐membering the reformer1
Authors: Stortz Martha E. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractMartin Luther's Reformation is too often taken as a head trip, and theologians analyze the reformer's theology by looking at the great doctrines he launched, like the doctrine of justification by grace through faith, and the Reformation solas—by faith alone, sola fide; by grace alone, sola gratia; by scripture alone, sola scriptura; and Christ alone, solus Christus. But theology comes out of hands‐on experience, and Luther's is no exception. Each of those great doctrines was attached to concrete situations and actual bodies in motion. I look at Luther's theology in the context of three bodies, his experience with his own body, with the body of Christ, and with the body politic. Then, I pose to Luther's body language a very Lutheran question: “What does this mean?” For us. Today.
The courage to be: Paul Tillich's existentialist theology of the cross in relation to Martin Luther
Authors: Jennings Brach S. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractPaul Tillich is a traditionally rooted, yet progressive, theologian and philosopher who sought to bring the Christian message to the predicament of existential meaninglessness faced by modern people. The present article addresses a scholarly gap by emphasizing Tillich's use of Martin Luther's theology of the cross, in order to demonstrate Tillich's theological relevance for today from a Lutheran lens.
In search of miracles
Authors: Stjerna Kirsi 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThe movie The Third Miracle invites theological reflection on miracles, sainthood, and faith. A movie filled with Lutheran themes of unmerited grace and blessings of the ordinary life, the story line follows a Catholic priest tasked with exploring the authenticity of reported miracles associated with a lay woman and a bleeding statue. Faith and miracles are shown in their ordinariness, easily missed without the eye of faith, and sainthood is juxtaposed with the expected and unexpected vis‐à‐vis motherhood.