bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Superior performance of National Early Warning Score compared with quick Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment Score in predicting adverse outcomes: a retrospective observational study of patients in the prehospital setting
Authors: Silcock Daniel J. , Corfield Alasdair R. , Staines Harry , Rooney Kevin D. 
Published: January 2019

Background
Early intervention and response to deranged physiological parameters in the critically ill patient improve outcomes. A National Early Warning Score (NEWS) based on physiological observations has been developed for use throughout the National Health Service in the UK. The quick Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment Score (qSOFA) was developed as a simple bedside criterion to identify adult patients outwith the ICU with suspected infection who are likely to have a prolonged ICU stay or die in hospital. We aim to compare the ability of NEWS and qSOFA to predict adverse outcomes in a prehospital population.

Patients and methods
All clinical observations taken by emergency ambulance crews transporting patients to a single hospital were collated along with information relating to mortality over a 2-month period. The performance of the NEWS and qSOFA in identifying the endpoints of 30-day mortality, ICU admission and a combined endpoint of 48 h. ICU admission or 30-day mortality was analysed.

Results
Complete data were available for 1713 patients. For the primary outcome of ICU admission within 48 h or 30-day mortality, the odds ratio for a qSOFA score of 3 compared with 0 was 124.1 [95% confidence interval (CI): 13.5–1137.7] and the odds ratio for a high NEWS category, compared with the low NEWS category was 9.82 (95% CI: 5.74–16.81). Comparison of qSOFA and NEWS performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the primary outcome for qSOFA was 0.679 (95% CI: 0.624–0.733), for NEWS category was 0.707 (95% CI: 0.654–0.761) and for NEWS total score was 0.740 (95% CI: 0.685–0.795). Comparison of the receiver operating characteristic curves between NEWS total score and qSOFA using DeLong’s test showed NEWS total score to be superior to qSOFA at predicting combined ICU admission within 48 h of presentation or 30-day mortality (P = 0.011).

Conclusion
Our study shows qSOFA can identify patients at risk of adverse outcomes in the prehospital setting. However, NEWS is superior to qSOFA in a prehospital environment at identifying patients at risk of adverse outcomes.
Microvesicles generated following traumatic brain injury induce platelet dysfunction via adenosine diphosphate receptor
Authors: Martin Grace E. , Pugh Amanda M. , Moran Ryan , Veile Rose , Friend Lou Ann , Pritts Timothy A. , Makley Amy T. , Caldwell Charles C. , Goodman Michael D. 
Published: January 2019

BACKGROUND
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can result in an acute coagulopathy including platelet dysfunction that can contribute to ongoing intracranial hemorrhage. Previous studies have shown adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation to be reduced after TBI. In addition, circulating microvesicles (MVs) are increased following TBI and have been shown to play a role in post-TBI coagulopathy and platelet function. We hypothesized that post-TBI MVs would affect platelet aggregation in a murine head injury model.

METHODS
Moderate TBI was performed using a weight-drop method in male C57BL6 mice. Whole blood, plasma, MVs, and MV-poor plasma were isolated from blood collected 10 minutes following TBI and were mixed separately with whole blood from uninjured mice. Platelet aggregation was measured with Multiplate impedance platelet aggregometry in response to ADP. The ADP P2Y12 receptor inhibitor, R-138727, was incubated with plasma and MVs from TBI mice, and platelet inhibition was again measured.

RESULTS
Whole blood taken from 10-minute post-TBI mice demonstrated diminished ADP-induced platelet aggregation compared with sham mice. When mixed with normal donor blood, post-TBI plasma and MVs induced diminished ADP-induced platelet aggregation compared with sham plasma and sham MVs. By contrast, the addition of post-TBI MV-poor plasma to normal blood did not change ADP-induced platelet aggregation. The observed dysfunction in post-TBI ADP platelet aggregation was prevented by the pretreatment of post-TBI plasma with R-138727. Treatment of post-TBI MVs with R-138727 resulted in similar findings of improved ADP-induced platelet aggregation compared with nontreated post-TBI MVs.

CONCLUSION
Adenosine diphosphate-induced platelet aggregation is inhibited acutely following TBI in a murine model. This platelet inhibition is reproduced in normal blood by the introduction of post-TBI plasma and MVs. Furthermore, observed platelet dysfunction is prevented when post-TBI plasma and MVs are treated with an inhibitor of the P2Y12 ADP receptor. Clinically observed post-TBI platelet dysfunction may therefore be partially explained by the presence of the ADP P2Y12 receptor within post-TBI MVs.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
Level III.
Integrated biphasic growth rate, gene expression, and cell-size homeostasis behaviour of singleB. subtiliscells
Authors: Nordholt Niclas , van Heerden Johan H. , Bruggeman Frank J. 
Published: January 2019

ABSTRACTThe growth rate of single bacterial cells is continuously disturbed by random fluctuations in biosynthesis rates and by deterministic cell-cycle events, such as division, genome duplication, and septum formation. It is not understood whether, and how, bacteria reject these disturbances. Here we quantified growth and constitutive protein expression dynamics of singleBacillus subtiliscells, as a function of cell-cycle-progression. Variation in birth size and growth rate, resulting from unequal cell division, is largely compensated for when cells divide again. We analysed the cell-cycle-dynamics of these compensations and found that both growth and protein expression exhibited biphasic behaviour. During a first phase of variable duration, the absolute rates were approximately constant and cells behaved as sizers. In the second phase, rates increased and growth behaviour exhibited characteristics of a timer-strategy. This work shows how cell-cycle-dependent rate adjustments of biosynthesis and growth are integrated to compensate for physio-logical disturbances caused by cell division.IMPORTANCEUnder constant conditions, bacterial populations can maintain a fixed average cell size and constant exponential growth rate. At the single cell-level, however, cell-division can cause significant physiological perturbations, requiring compensatory mechanisms to restore the growth-related characteristics of individual cells toward that of the average cell. Currently, there is still a major gap in our understanding of the dynamics of these mechanisms, i.e. how adjustments in growth, metabolism and biosynthesis are integrated during the bacterial cell-cycle to compensate the disturbances caused by cell division. Here we quantify growth and constitutive protein expression in individual bacterial cells at sub-cell-cycle resolution. Significantly, both growth and protein production rates display structured and coordinated cell-cycle-dependent dynamics. These patterns reveal the dynamics of growth rate and size compensations during cell-cycle progression. Our findings provide a dynamic cell-cycle perspective that offers novel avenues for the interpretation of physiological processes that underlie cellular homeostasis in bacteria.
Preparation of Organ Scaffolds by Decellularization of Pancreas and Re-functionalization
Authors: Chandrika K Uday , Tripathi Rekha , Avinash Raj T , Sairam N. , Parliker Vasundhara Kamineni , Swami VB , Rangaraj Nandini , Mahesh Kumar J , Singh Shashi 
Published: January 2019

AbstractExtracellular matrix of each tissue is unique in composition, architecture and finer details that support the very identity of the organ by regulating the status/character of the cells within it. Tissue engineering centers around creating a niche similar to the natural one, with a purpose of developing an organ/oid. In this study, whole organ decellularization of pancreas was attempted followed by reseeding it with adult mesenchymal stem cells. Decellularization completely removes cells leaving behind extracellular matrix rich scaffold. After reseeding, mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into pancreas specific cells. Upon transplantation of recellularized pancreas in streptozotocin induced diabetic mice, this organ was capable of restoring its histomorphology and normal functioning. Restoration of endocrine islets, the exocrine acinar region, and vascular network was seen in transplanted pancreas. The entire process of functional recovery took about 20 days when the mice demonstrated glucoregulation, though none achieved gluconormalization. Transplanted mice upon feeding show insulin and c-peptide in circulation. This process demonstrates that natural scaffolds of soft organs can be refunctionalized using recipients cells to counter immune problems arising due to organ transplantation.
Multiple splitting of droplets using multi-furcating microfluidic channels
Authors: Li Zida , Li Luoquan , Liao Meixiang , He Liqun , Wu Ping 
Published: January 2019

AbstractRemoving volumes from droplets is a challenging but critical step in many droplet-based applications. Geometry-mediated droplet splitting has the potential to reliably divide droplets and thus facilitate the implementation of this step. In this paper, we report the design of multi-furcating microfluidic channels for efficient droplet splitting. We studied the splitting regimes as the size of the mother droplets varied and investigated the effect of channel lengths. We further examined the droplet breakup mechanisms. This study could potentially be applied in washing steps in droplet-based biological assays or assays that require aliquot.
Bacterial community changes with cryoconite granule size and their susceptibility to exogenous nutrients on 10 glaciers in northwestern Greenland
Authors: Uetake Jun , Nagatuska Naoko , Onuma Yukihiko , Takeuchi Nozomu , Motoyama Hideaki , Aoki Teruo 
Published: January 2019

AbstractCryoconite granules, which are dark-colored biological aggregates on glaciers, effectively accelerate the melting of glacier ice. Bacterial community varies with granule size, however, community change in space and their susceptibility to environmental factors has not been described yet. Therefore, we focused on bacterial community from 4 different granule sizes (30-249 μm, 250- 750 μm, 750-1599 μm, more than 1600 μm diameter) in 10 glaciers in northwestern Greenland and their susceptibility for exogenous nutrients in cryoconite hole. A filamentous cyanobacterium Phormidesmis priestleyi, which has been frequently reported from glaciers in Arctic was abundant (10-26%) across any size of granules on most of glaciers. Bacterial community across glaciers became similar with size increase, and whence smallest size fractions contain more unique genera in each glacier. Multivariate analysis suggests that phosphate, which is significantly higher in one glacier (Scarlet Heart Glacier), is primary associated with bacterial beta diversity. Correlation coefficients between abundance of major genera and nutrients largely changed with granule size, suggesting that nutrients susceptibility to genera changes with growth process of granule (e.g. P. priestleyi was affected by nitrate in early growth stage).
High-quality, genome-wide SNP genotypic data for pedigreed germplasm of the diploid outbreeding species apple, peach, and sweet cherry through a common workflow
Authors: Vanderzande Stijn , Howard Nicholas P , Cai Lichun , Linge Cassia Da Silva , Antanaviciute Laima , Bink Marco CAM , Kruisselbrink Johannes W , Bassil Nahla , Gasic Ksenija , Iezzoni Amy , Weg Eric Van de , Peace Cameron 
Published: January 2019

AbstractHigh-quality genotypic data is a requirement for many genetic analyses. For any crop, errors in genotype calls, phasing of markers, linkage maps, pedigree records, and unnoticed variation in ploidy levels can lead to spurious marker-locus-trait associations and incorrect origin assignment of alleles to individuals. High-throughput genotyping requires automated scoring, as manual inspection of thousands of scored loci is too time-consuming. However, automated SNP scoring can result in errors that should be corrected to ensure recorded genotypic data are accurate and thereby ensure confidence in downstream genetic analyses. To enable quick identification of errors in a large genotypic data set, we have developed a comprehensive workflow. This multiple-step workflow is based on inheritance principles and on removal of markers and individuals that do not follow these principles, as demonstrated here for apple, peach, and sweet cherry. Genotypic data was obtained on pedigreed germplasm using 6-9K SNP arrays for each crop and a subset of well-performing SNPs was created using ASSIsT. Use of correct (and corrected) pedigree records readily identified violations of simple inheritance principles in the genotypic data, streamlined with FlexQTL™ software. Retained SNPs were grouped into haploblocks to increase the information content of single alleles and reduce computational power needed in downstream genetic analyses. Haploblock borders were defined by recombination locations detected in ancestral generations of cultivars and selections. Another round of inheritance-checking was conducted, for haploblock alleles (i.e., haplotypes). High-quality genotypic data sets were created using this workflow for pedigreed collections representing the U.S. breeding germplasm of apple, peach, and sweet cherry evaluated within the RosBREED project. These data sets contain 3855, 4005, and 1617 SNPs spread over 932, 103, and 196 haploblocks in apple, peach, and sweet cherry, respectively. The highly curated phased SNP and haplotype data sets, as well as the raw iScan data, of germplasm in the apple, peach, and sweet cherry Crop Reference Sets is available through the Genome Database for Rosaceae.
Adenovirus-mediated expression of SIK1 improves hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism in type 2 diabetes mellitus rats
Authors: Song DaoFei , Yin Lei , Wang Chang , Wen XiuYing 
Published: January 2019

AbstractAIMIn this study, we investigated the role and mechanism of Salt-induced kinase 1 (SIK1) in regulation of hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism in a high-fat food (HFD) and streptozocin (STZ)-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rat model.MethodsA diabetic rat model treated with HFD plus low-dose STZ was developed and was transduced to induce a high expression of SIK1 in vivo via a tail-vein injection of a recombinant adenoviral vector. The effects on hepatic glucogenetic and lipogenic gene expression, systemic metabolism and pathological changes were then determined.ResultsIn T2DM rats, SIK1 expression was reduced in the liver. Overexpression of SIK1 improved hyperglycaemia, hyperlipidaemia and fatty liver, reduced the expression of cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB)-regulated transcription co-activator 2 (CRTC2), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase), pS577 SIK1, sterol regulatory element binding-protein-1c (SREBP-1c) and its target genes, including acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and fatty acid synthase (FAS), and increased the expression of SIK1, pT182 SIK1 and pS171 CRTC2 in diabetic rat livers with the suppression of gluconeogenesis and lipid deposition.ConclusionSIK1 plays a crucial role in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism in the livers of HFD/STZ-induced T2DM rats, where it suppresses hepatic gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis by regulating the SIK1/CRTC2 and SIK1/SREBP-1c signalling pathways. Strategies to activate SIK1 kinase in liver would likely have beneficial effects in patients with T2DM and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Dissecting the energetics of subunit rotation in the ribosome
Authors: Levi Mariana , Whitford Paul C. 
Published: January 2019

AbstractThe accurate expression of proteins requires the ribosome to efficiently undergo elaborate conformational rearrangements. The most dramatic of these motions is subunit rotation, which is necessary for tRNA molecules to transition between ribosomal binding sites. While rigid-body descriptions provide a qualitative picture of the process, obtaining quantitative mechanistic insights requires one to account for the relationship between molecular flexibility and collective dynamics. Using simulated rotation events, we assess the quality of experimentally-accessible measures for describing the collective displacement of the ~ 4000-residue small subunit. For this, we ask whether each coordinate is able to identify the underlying free-energy barrier and transition state ensemble (TSE). We find that intuitive structurally-motivated coordinates (e.g. rotation angle, inter-protein distances) can distinguish between the endpoints, though they are poor indicators of barrier-crossing events, and they underestimate the free-energy barrier. In contrast, coordinates based on inter-subunit bridges can identify the TSE. We additionally verify that the committor probability for the putative TSE configurations is 0.5, a hallmark feature of any transition state. In terms of structural properties, these calculations implicate a transition state in which flexibility allows for asynchronous rearrangements of the bridges as the ribosome adopts a partially-rotated orientation. These calculations provide a theoretical foundation, upon which experimental techniques may precisely quantify the energy landscape of the ribosome.
Challenges to transferring and sharing of tacit knowledge within a construction supply chain
Authors: Saini Mandeep , Arif Mohammed , Kulonda Dennis J. 
Published: January 2019

Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the potential challenges that hinder the effective transfer and sharing of tacit knowledge (knowledge communication [KC]) within a construction supply chain (CSC).

Design/methodology/approach
This study identifies six challenges (through literature review) with 15 positive correlations between them. Quantitative methodology is used to validate those challenges and correlations between challenges. First, data are collected through semi-structured e-survey questionnaire. Afterwards, a Frequency and Kruskal–Wallis H test is run for initial validation of identified challenges. A correlation analysis is used to highlight the taxonomic relations between those challenges. Finally, the study establishes the rank order of the first and following challenges.

Findings
This study highlights that traditional ways of working with construction organisations are the predominant challenge that hinders effective transferring and sharing of tacit knowledge. The cause of challenges is the fragmented nature of CSC. Also, it brings out the correlation between those challenges. The study draws the conclusion and recommendation to implement KC within a CSC.

Originality/value
The study highlights the challenges that hinder KC in a construction process of a CSC. It establishes that the fragmented nature of the construction sector is not the first challenge that hinders implementation of transferring and sharing of tacit knowledge but somewhat traditional organisation structures and working processes. This is the first paper that investigates and tests the challenges in four dimensions and establishes the rank order of challenges with crucial distinction in a KC approach within a CSC.
Academic mothers as ideal workers in the USA and Finland
Authors: Ollilainen Marjukka 
Published: January 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore how women academics experience academic motherhood in the USA and Finland, how they time their pregnancy in an academic career, and the ways in which the different policy environments and academic opportunity structures in each country shape the management of academic work and care work during maternity leave.

Design/methodology/approach
Data collection involved a snowball, convenience sample of semi-structured, long interviews with 67 academic mothers, 33 in Finland and 34 in the USA. Recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed for emerging themes.

Findings
In both countries, women academics made fertility decisions by carefully deliberating their access to maternity leave, age-related concerns and the perception of job security. In Finland, the insecurity of fixed-term contracts and intensification of the ideal worker norm shaped fertility decisions and leave activities despite generous work-family policies. The US mothers’ timing of pregnancy was influenced by concerns of age-related infertility more than career risks. Women in both countries felt pressure to maintain presence at work even while they were on leave.

Originality/value
The paper addresses a paucity of comparative studies about motherhood (and parenthood) in the academe, an increasingly central question for today’s academic workforce.
Patriarchal hegemony
Authors: Adisa Toyin Ajibade , Abdulraheem Issa , Isiaka Sulu Babaita 
Published: January 2019

PurposeResearch on the impact of patriarchy and patriarchal norms on women’s work-life balance is scarce. A typical patriarchal society, such as Nigeria, tends to be organised based on gender, and the construct is embedded in the culture. This paper aims to investigate the impact of patriarchy on women’s work-life balance in a non-Western context: Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachThe authors adopt a qualitative research approach to enhance their insight into the issue of patriarchy and women’s work-life balance. Data for the study were collected over a four-month period, using semi-structured interviews as the primary method of data collection.FindingsThe findings of the thematic analysis reveal the impact of patriarchy on women’s work-life balance in Sub-Saharan Africa, specifically Nigeria. Women’s aspirations to achieve work-life balance in this part of the world are often frustrated by patriarchal norms, which are deeply ingrained in the culture. The findings of this study reveal that male dominance of and excessive subordination of females, domestic and gender-based division of labour and higher patriarchal proclivities among men are the ingredients of a patriarchal society. These issues make the achievement of work-life balance difficult for women.Research limitations/implicationsThe extent to which the findings of this research can be generalised is constrained by the limited sample size and the selected research context.Practical implicationsThe insights gleaned from this research suggest that there are still major challenges for women in the global south, specifically Nigeria, in terms of achieving work-life balance due to the prevalent patriarchy and patriarchal norms in the society. Strong patriarchal norms and proclivity negatively affect women’s work-life balance and in turn may impact employee productivity, organisational effectiveness, employee performance and employee punctuality at work. However, an Australian “Champion of Change” initiative may be adopted to ease the patriarchal proclivity and help women to achieve work-life balance.Originality/valueThis paper provides valuable insights by bringing patriarchy into the discussion of work-life balance. This issue has been hitherto rare in the literature. It therefore enriches the literature on work-life balance from a patriarchal perspective.