bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Incidentally identified genetic variants in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy‐associated genes among children undergoing exome sequencing reflect healthy population variation
Authors: Headrick Andrew T. , Rosenfeld Jill A. , Yang Yaping , Tunuguntla Hari , Allen Hugh D. , Penny Daniel J. , Kim Jeffrey J. , Landstrom Andrew P. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractBackgroundWith expanding use of clinical whole exome sequencing (WES), genetic variants of uncertain significance are increasingly identified. As pathologic mutations in genes associated with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) carry a risk of sudden death, determining the diagnostic relevance of incidentally identified variants associated with these genes is critical.MethodsWES variants from a large, predominantly pediatric cohort (N = 7,066 probands) were obtained for nine ARVC‐associated genes (Baylor Miraca). For comparison, a control cohort was derived from the gnomAD database and an ARVC case cohort (N = 1,379 probands) was established from ARVC cases in the literature. Topologic mapping was performed and signal‐to‐noise analysis was conducted normalizing WES, or case variants, against control variant frequencies. Retrospective chart review was performed of WES cases evaluated clinically (Texas Children's Hospital).ResultsIncidentally identified variants occurred in 14% of WES referrals and localized to genes which were rare among ARVC cases yet similar to controls. Amino acid‐level signal‐to‐noise analysis of cases demonstrated “pathologic hotspots” localizing to critical domains of PKP2 and DSG2 while WES variants did not. PKP2 ARM7 and ARM8 domains and DSG2 N‐terminal cadherin‐repeat domains demonstrated high pathogenicity while normalized WES variant frequency was low. Review of clinical data available on WES referrals demonstrated none with evidence of ARVC among variant‐positive individuals.ConclusionsIncidentally identified variants are common among pediatric WES testing with gene frequencies similar to “background” variants. Incidentally identified variants are unlikely to be pathologic.
Glycated Hemoglobin, but not Insulin Sensitivity, is Associated with Memory in Subjects with Obesity
Authors: Arnoriaga Rodríguez María , Blasco Gerard , Coll Clàudia , Biarnés Carles , Contreras‐Rodríguez Oren , Garre‐Olmo Josep , Puig Josep , Gich Jordi , Ricart Wifredo , Ramió‐Torrentà Lluís , Fernández‐Real José Manuel 
Published: April 2019

ObjectiveObesity has been related to later‐life dementia. Serum glucose levels and insulin resistance are known to influence cognition in individuals with diabetes. This study aimed to evaluate memory function in middle‐aged individuals with obesity in association with glucose metabolism and brain iron content.MethodsThis was a cross‐sectional case‐control study including 121 participants aged 27.2 to 66.6 years (56 without obesity, 65 with obesity) stratified according to sex and menopausal status. Insulin sensitivity, body composition, brain iron content, and memory function were evaluated by euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp, dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry, magnetic resonance relaxometry (R2*), and California Verbal Learning Test, respectively.ResultsWomen with obesity, but not men, had lower scores in some California Verbal Learning Tests in association with metabolic parameters and increased brain iron content compared with controls. Fasting plasma glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c; within normal range), and R2* were negatively associated with memory scores, whereas insulin sensitivity showed positive associations. Remarkably, only HbA1c levels and R2* in the right inferior fronto‐orbital region remained significant after controlling for age, sex, education, and BMI.ConclusionsImpairments in memory function in middle‐aged women with obesity are associated with HbA1c levels and brain iron content independently of insulin sensitivity. These results may have implications in the design of therapeutic strategies in women with obesity.
Integrated Transcriptomic and Proteomic Analysis of Primary Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
Authors: Madugundu Anil K. , Na Chan Hyun , Nirujogi Raja Sekhar , Renuse Santosh , Kim Kwang Pyo , Burns Kathleen H. , Wilks Christopher , Langmead Ben , Ellis Shannon E. , Collado‐Torres Leonardo , Halushka Marc K. , Kim Min‐Sik , Pandey Akhilesh 
Published: April 2019

AbstractUnderstanding the molecular profile of every human cell type is essential for understanding its role in normal physiology and disease. Technological advancements in DNA sequencing, mass spectrometry, and computational methods allow us to carry out multiomics analyses although such approaches are not routine yet. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) are a widely used model system to study pathological and physiological processes associated with the cardiovascular system. In this study, next‐generation sequencing and high‐resolution mass spectrometry to profile the transcriptome and proteome of primary HUVECs is employed. Analysis of 145 million paired‐end reads from next‐generation sequencing confirmed expression of 12 186 protein‐coding genes (FPKM ≥0.1), 439 novel long non‐coding RNAs, and revealed 6089 novel isoforms that were not annotated in GENCODE. Proteomics analysis identifies 6477 proteins including confirmation of N‐termini for 1091 proteins, isoforms for 149 proteins, and 1034 phosphosites. A database search to specifically identify other post‐translational modifications provide evidence for a number of modification sites on 117 proteins which include ubiquitylation, lysine acetylation, and mono‐, di‐ and tri‐methylation events. Evidence for 11 “missing proteins,” which are proteins for which there was insufficient or no protein level evidence, is provided. Peptides supporting missing protein and novel events are validated by comparison of MS/MS fragmentation patterns with synthetic peptides. Finally, 245 variant peptides derived from 207 expressed proteins in addition to alternate translational start sites for seven proteins and evidence for novel proteoforms for five proteins resulting from alternative splicing are identified. Overall, it is believed that the integrated approach employed in this study is widely applicable to study any primary cell type for deeper molecular characterization.
Determination of the best functional and basis sets for optimization of the structure of hypervalent iodines and calculation of their first and second bond dissociation enthalpies
Authors: Matsumoto Koki , Nakajima Masaya , Nemoto Tetsuhiro 
Published: April 2019

AbstractHypervalent iodines are widely used in organic chemistry, and their most important feature is the three‐center four‐electron bond. However, there have been few reports on the measurement of their bond dissociation enthalpy (BDE). Therefore, in many cases, BDE is estimated by computational calculations. However, the value of a calculated BDE usually varies depending on the choice of functional and basis set, and the best method for making an accurate evaluation of the three‐center four‐electron bond has not been determined. We succeeded in determining the best functional and basis set to calculate the three‐center four‐electron bond to within 0.79% error and 0.53 standard deviation. Using the optimal functional and basis set, the first and second BDEs of several hypervalent iodines are calculated, and as the effect of benzene substituents was investigated, negative correlation was observed in the Hammett plot. In addition, the effect of ortho‐substituent in cyclic hypervalent iodine was found to be significant. Furthermore, the decomposition route of hypervalent iodine is calculated. The value of a calculated BDE usually varies depending on the choice of functional and basis set. We succeeded in determining the best functional and basis sets to calculate the three‐center four‐electron bond of hypervalent iodine to within 0.79% error and 0.53 standard deviation. Using the optimal functional and basis sets, the first and second BDEs of several hypervalent iodines are calculated, and additionally, the decomposition route of hypervalent iodine is calculated.
Brittle‐ductile transition in uniaxial compression of polymer glasses
Authors: Liu Jianning , Zhao Zhichen , Wang Weiyu , Mays Jimmy W. , Wang Shi‐Qing 
Published: April 2019

ABSTRACTWe carried out a large set of tests to establish a correlation between the molecular (network) structure (influenced by molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, and melt predeformation) and mechanical responses of several glassy polymers to uniaxial compression at different temperatures and different compression speeds. The experimental results show that to have ductile responses there must be an adequate chain network, afforded by the interchain uncrossability among sufficiently long chains. Specifically, polystyrene (PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) of sufficiently low molar mass do not have chain network and are found to be very brittle. Binary PS mixtures are brittle at room temperature when the volume fraction of the high‐molecular‐weight component is sufficiently low (e.g., at and below 27.5%). Moreover, sufficiently melt‐stretched PS mixtures show brittle fracture when compressed along the same direction, along which melt stretching was made. All the experimental findings confirm that a robust chain network is also a prerequisite for yielding and ductile cold compression of polymer glasses, as is for extension. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019, 57, 758–770
An Efficient Synthesis of Darunavir Substantially Free from Impurities: Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Impurities
Authors: Rapolu Rajesh Kumar , Areveli Srinivas , Raju V. V. N. K. V. Prasada , Navuluri Srinivasu , Chavali Murthy , Mulakayala Naveen 
Published: April 2019

AbstractAn improved and novel process for the synthesis of antiviral drug Darunavir using 4‐(1,3‐dioxoisoindolin‐2‐yl)benzene‐1‐sulphonyl chloride was described to eliminate the critical furan dimer impurity which will be formed during the process. The best reaction conditions were identified by evaluating the impurity profile and their formation during the synthesis. The optimization of the process was made to control the furan dimer impurity which was one of the critical parameters in the synthesis of darunavir. All the impurities formed during the synthesis were identified, synthesized and characterized.
Sulfated Fly‐Ash Catalyzed Biodiesel Production from Maize Acid Oil Feedstock: A Comparative Study of Taguchi and Box‐Behnken Design
Authors: Lathiya Dharmesh R. , Bhatt Dhananjay V. , Maheria Kalpana C. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractIn the present investigation, the waste utilization approach has been followed for the bioenergy production. The focus is on the fly ash utilization for the development of heterogeneous catalyst synthesis under solvent‐free conditions. The fly ash is one of the environmental pollutant and unwanted material in thermal power plants. The sulfated fly ash (SFA) catalyst is synthesized by the sulfonation of waste fly ash. This catalyst has been characterized by various analysis such as elemental, thermal, spectral, surface area, acidity and basicity etc. The catalyst has been found to exhibit various phases such as Quartz, Mullite, Hematite, Lime etc. and thermally stable upto 550 °C. The results obtained from NH3‐TPD and CO2‐TPD analysis, confirms the presence of acid (0.401 mmol / g) and basic (0.197 mmol / g) sites in the SFA catalyst. Further, the utility of SFA catalyst has been demonstrated in the biodiesel production via esterification reaction from maize acid oil (MAO) feedstock containing high free fatty acid (FFA) (127.21 mg KOH / g). The maize acid oil is one of the biowaste feedstock, mainly a by‐product obtained from the refining of crude maize oil. Taguchi method and Box‐Behnken Design (BBD) have been applied to investigate the effect of different reaction parameters on the biodiesel production. The use of SFA catalyst has been found to be advantageous especially, in the biodiesel production from feedstock with high FFA content.
Investigations into an Intramolecular Proton Transfer and Solvent Dependent Acid‐Base Equilibria in 2,6‐Pyridine Diacetic Acid
Authors: Boodram Shivani , Roy Soumyabrata , Singh Nadia , Fairman Richard A. , Peter Sebastian C. , Rambaran Varma H. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThis study highlights an intramolecular proton transfer and solvent dependent acid‐base equilibria in 2,6‐pyridine diacetic acid, as contributing factors to a solid state reversible structural transformation and a spontaneous double decarboxylation. Differential scanning calorimetry exhibited several reversible phase transitions, with the most pronounced change occurring at 168 K. A reversible structural transformation, from the monoclinic system to the triclinic one, was confirmed via temperature dependent X‐ray diffraction studies. In water, absorbance shifts from 198 to 210 nm were observed, correlating to the deprotonation of the carboxylic groups, synergistically, protonation of the pyridine ring showed shifts from 280 to 270 nm. 1H NMR provided evidence of the solvent dependent, irreversible conversion to 2,6‐dimethylpyridine via sequential decarboxylations. The ΔS≠ for each decarboxylation were 39.53 ± 3.87 and 23.56 ± 2.84 JK−1mol−1 respectively. Finally, the rate constants for observed D2O exchange with the α‐carbon protons were determined as 1.02 ± 0.12 x 10−3 s−1 and 6.13 ± 0.12 x 10−4 s−1 with a double exponential fit.
An Ultra‐sensitive, Rapidly Responsive Strain Sensor Based on Silver Microflakes by Simple Process
Authors: Yan Shaocun , Saleem Muhammad Farooq , Ma Hongru , Li Zhe , Zhang Xiao , Guo Xuhong , Ma Yanqing , Ma Lei 
Published: April 2019

AbstractFlexible sensors with excellent sensitivity and stable performance are attracting more and more attention in emerging electronics. Herein, silver microflakes (AgMFs) as conductive filler in polyaniline (PANI)/polyurethane (PU) matrix are used to prepare the AgMFs/PANI/PU strain sensor by simple mixing and curing process. The AgMFs/PANI/PU strain sensor has high sensitivity (GF=173.66), ultra‐short response time (10 ms), and reassuring cycle stability (>4000 times). Excellent sensor performance demonstrates its unlimited potential for health monitoring, such as joint motion, breathing and pulse beat.
Biopebble Containers: DNA‐Directed Surface Assembly of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Cell Studies
Authors: Sun Pengchao , Leidner Arnold , Weigel Simone , Weidler Peter G. , Heissler Stefan , Scharnweber Tim , Niemeyer Christof M. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe development of methods for colloidal self‐assembly on solid surfaces is important for many applications in biomedical sciences. Toward this goal, described is a versatile class of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) that contain on their surface various types of DNA molecules to enable their self‐assembly into micropatterned surface architectures useful for cell studies. Monodisperse dye‐doped MSN are synthesized by biphase stratification and functionalized with an aptamer oligonucleotide that serves as gatekeeper for the triggered release of encapsulated molecular cargo, such as fluorescent dye rhodamine B or the anticancer drug doxorubicin. One or two additional types of oligonucleotides are installed on the MSN surface to enable DNA‐directed immobilization on solid substrates bearing patterns of complementary capture oligonucleotides. It is demonstrated that this strategy can be used for efficient self‐assembly of microstructured surface architectures, which not only promote the adhesion and guidance of cells but also are capable of affecting the fate of adhered cells through triggered release of their cargo. It is believed that this approach is useful for diverse applications in tissue engineering and nanobio sciences.
Unbiased Discovery of Dynamic Peptide‐ATP Complexes
Authors: Kroiss Daniela , Aramini James M. , McPhee Scott A. , Tuttle Tell , Ulijn Rein V. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractMinimalistic peptides are attractive as components for the design of active bio‐inspired materials that perform their functions enabled by the continuous turnover of chemical fuels. The first requirement for such systems is chemical complexation with the fuel source. Herein, we demonstrate the unbiased screening for heptapeptides that recognize adenosine triphosphate (ATP), life‘s ubiquitous energy source, using the in vitro method phage display. Characterization of the identified lead sequence by NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations revealed peptide‐ATP complexes that are highly dynamic and take on an ensemble of conformations. Systematic investigation of Ala variants of the identified peptide revealed the contribution of individual residues to association with the nucleotide. Importantly, the identified heptapeptide sequence is not related to any known nucleotide‐binding motif. Our results demonstrate the application of phage display for de novo selection of short peptides that adapt their conformational space through recognition of a small molecule and provides a first step toward the design of peptide‐based ATP‐metabolizing structures.
Assessment of waste management status in educational hospitals affiliated with Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences
Authors: Navazeshkhah Fatemeh , Mousavi Seyyed Alireza , Almasi Ali , Amini Jila , Moradi Payam , Janjani Hosna 
Published: April 2019

AbstractLack of proper hospital waste management creates favorable conditions for the growth of dangerous microorganisms that are directly and indirectly threatening to the environment and to public health. This study was conducted to investigate the waste management status of educational hospitals affiliated with Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences. This research was done using a descriptive‐analytical method by visiting the hospitals (A, B, C, D, E, and F) and filling out a standardized waste management checklist and recording the data using SPSS software. The results showed that there were significant differences among the scores of the hospitals’ waste management practices (p‐value = .013). According to the results, in terms of waste management process, hospital B is at the most desirable level, the situation at hospital C is the least favorable of the six hospitals, and the other four hospitals require corrective actions to improve their current status. Furthermore, based on the results, there was a significant difference between hospital F's score and those of the other hospitals (p‐value = .002–.047). Overall corrective actions for improving waste management within the studied hospitals can be applied by formulating and implementing rules and standards, planning regular training for personnel, designating staff to carry out environmental health procedures, and developing the hospitals’ infection control committees or Health, Safety, and Environment departments.
Virtuous Construal: In Defense of Silencing
Authors: VIGANI DENISE 
Published: April 2019

AbstractOver several articles, John McDowell sketches an analogy between virtue and perception, whereby the virtuous person sees situations in a distinctive way, a way that explains her virtuous behavior. Central to this view is his notion of silencing, a psychological phenomenon in which certain considerations fail to operate as reasons in a virtuous person's practical reasoning. Despite its influence on many prominent virtue ethicists, McDowell's ‘silencing view’ has been criticized as psychologically unrealistic. In this article, I defend a silencing view of practical reasoning. I argue that the phenomenon of silencing has a narrower scope than is typically acknowledged. As a result, the view does not require the virtuous to be detached, unfeeling, or unpalatably stoic. Furthermore, I offer a psychologically plausible interpretation of McDowell's claim that the virtuous see situations in a distinctive sort of way. The salient fact at which the virtuous arrive in their view of a situation should be understood, I argue, in terms of subjective construal.
Latent space models for network perception data
Authors: Sewell Daniel K. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractSocial networks, wherein the edges represent nonbehavioral relations such as friendship, power, and influence, can be difficult to measure and model. A powerful tool to address this is cognitive social structures (Krackhardt, D. (1987). Cognitive social structures.Social Networks,9(2), 109–134.), where the perception of the entire network is elicited from each actor. We provide a formal statistical framework to analyze informants’ perceptions of the network, implementing a latent space network model that can estimate, e.g., homophilic effects while accounting for informant error. Our model allows researchers to better understand why respondents’ perceptions differ. We also describe how to construct a meaningful single aggregated network that ameliorates potential respondent error. The proposed method provides a visualization method, an estimate of the informants’ biases and variances, and we describe a method for sidestepping forced-choice designs.
Clustering ensembles of social networks
Authors: Sweet Tracy M. , Flynt Abby , Choi David 
Published: April 2019

AbstractRecently there has been significant work in the social sciences involving ensembles of social networks, that is, multiple, independent, social networks such as students within schools or employees within organizations. There remains, however, very little methodological work on exploring these types of data structures. We present methods for clustering social networks with observed nodal class labels, based on statistics of walk counts between the nodal classes. We extend this method to consider only non-backtracking walks, and introduce a method for normalizing the counts of long walk sequences using those of shorter ones. We then present a method for clustering networks based on these statistics to explore similarities among networks. We demonstrate the utility of this method on simulated network data, as well as on advice-seeking networks in education.
Geology and geochemistry of the Yuanjiacun banded iron formation in Shanxi Province, China: constraints on the genesis
Authors: Men Yekai , Wang Ende , Fu Jianfei , Jia Sanshi , You Xinwei , He Qiangwen 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe Yuanjiacun banded iron formation (BIF) is hosted in lower Proterozoic metamorphic strata, and its structures are dominated by bands or streaks. Based on their differences in mineral compositions, the iron ores can be subdivided into haematite quartzite, magnetite quartzite, stilpnomelane magnetite quartzite and stilpnomelane haematite quartzite. The geochemical characteristics of the surrounding rocks show that the protoliths consisted of argillaceous and arenaceous sedimentary rocks. The predominant provenance was a high-maturity felsic sedimentary terrane. The absence of syn-depositional igneous rocks and the tectonic setting discrimination diagrams indicate that the Yuanjiacun BIF formed in a passive continental margin setting. Negligible terrigenous materials were involved in the precipitation of the Yuanjiacun BIF. The precipitation of the Yuanjiacun BIF was predominantly controlled by the mixing of seawater and hydrothermal fluids. Its metallogenic material originated from the leaching of mafic oceanic crust by hydrothermal fluids. The observed Ce anomaly deficiency and heavy Fe isotope enrichment indicate that the Yuanjiacun BIF formed in an anoxic marine environment. In a redox-stratified palaeo-ocean, the Yuanjiacun BIF formed in reducing seawater below the oxidation–reduction transition zone. The Si and O isotope compositions of quartz suggest that the formation of the Yuanjiacun BIF was closely related to submarine hydrothermal activity. The Si and Fe erupted from the seafloor and precipitated by supersaturation and biological oxidation under anoxic conditions, respectively.