bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficient $${\boldsymbol{A}}{\boldsymbol{u}}{({\boldsymbol{C}}{\boldsymbol{N}})}_{{\bf{2}}}^{-{\bf{1}}}$$ adsorption using peach stone-derived granular activated carbon
Authors: Maponga Tayengwa Christopher , Mahamadi Courtie 
Published: March 2019

AbstractAgricultural wastes have attracted attention as alternative precursors for the production of granular activated carbon. Using batch sorption studies, we demonstrated that granular activated carbon prepared through chemical activation using zinc chloride followed by physical activation in nitrogen environment at high temperatures can effectively adsorb aurocyanide from solution. Furthermore, gold recovery process using the granular activated carbon was amenable to optimization of adsorption parameters such as carbon dosage, initial aurocyanide concentration and contact time. These results may open new fronts on the application of low-cost granular activated carbon, particularly in the carbon-in-pulp metallurgical process.
Probing the effects of nonannular lipid binding on the stability of the calcium pump SERCA
Authors: Espinoza-Fonseca L. Michel 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThe calcium pump SERCA is a transmembrane protein that is critical for calcium transport in cells. SERCA resides in an environment made up largely by the lipid bilayer, so lipids play a central role on its stability and function. Studies have provided insights into the effects of annular and bulk lipids on SERCA activation, but the role of a nonannular lipid site in the E2 intermediate state remains elusive. Here, we have performed microsecond molecular dynamics simulations to probe the effects of nonannular lipid binding on the stability and structural dynamics of the E2 state of SERCA. We found that the structural integrity and stability of the E2 state is independent of nonannular lipid binding, and that occupancy of a lipid molecule at this site does not modulate destabilization of the E2 state, a step required to initiate the transition toward the competent E1 state. We also found that binding of the nonannular lipid does not induce direct allosteric control of the intrinsic functional dynamics the E2 state. We conclude that nonannular lipid binding is not necessary for the stability of the E2 state, but we speculate that it becomes functionally significant during the E2-to-E1 transition of the pump.
Priority Attachment: a Comprehensive Mechanism for Generating Networks
Authors: Morzy Mikołaj , Kajdanowicz Tomasz , Kazienko Przemysław , Miebs Grzegorz , Rusin Arkadiusz 
Published: March 2019

AbstractWe claim that networks are created according to the priority attachment mechanism. We introduce a simple model, which uses the priority attachment to generate both synthetic and close to empirical networks. Priority attachment is a mechanism, which generalizes previously proposed mechanisms, such as small world creation or preferential attachment, but we also observe its presence in a range of real-world networks. In this paper, we show that by using priority attachment we can generate networks of very diverse topologies, as well as re-create empirical ones. An additional advantage of the priority attachment mechanism is an easy interpretation of the latent processes of network formation. We substantiate our claims by performing numerical experiments on both synthetic and empirical networks. The two main contributions of the paper are: the development of the priority attachment mechanism, and the design of Priority Rank: a simple network generative model based on the priority attachment mechanism.
Characterisation of novel-cell-wall LysM-domain proteins LdpA and LdpB from the human pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus
Authors: Muraosa Yasunori , Toyotome Takahito , Yahiro Maki , Kamei Katsuhiko 
Published: March 2019

AbstractAspergillus fumigatus, a filamentous fungus that is ubiquitous in the environment, causes several human pulmonary disorders, including chronic and acute invasive infections and allergic diseases. Lysin motif (LysM) is a small protein domain that binds chitin, a major component of fungal cell wall polysaccharides. Several secreted LysM-domain proteins without catalytic function (LysM effectors) have been identified. They act as virulence factors in plant pathogenic fungi by preventing the immune response induced by chitin; however, LysM proteins in mammalian pathogenic fungi remain largely unexplored. We describe two novel LysM-domain proteins, LdpA and LdpB, in A. fumigatus. Functional analyses of single and double knockouts revealed no significant effects on cell wall chitin content, cell wall integrity, fungal morphology and fungal growth. Fluorescent signals from LdpA-green fluorescent protein (GFP) and LdpB-GFP were observed in cell wall and extracellular matrix. In a mouse model of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, survival did not differ between ΔldpA/B and wild-type infection; however, further studies are required to reveal their functions in fungal−host interactions.
Integrated Analysis of Whole Exome Sequencing and Copy Number Evaluation in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Yemni Eman Al , Monies Dorota , Alkhairallah Thamer , Bohlega Saeed , Abouelhoda Mohamed , Magrashi Amna , Mustafa Abeer , AlAbdulaziz Basma , Alhamed Mohamed , Baz Batoul , Goljan Ewa , Albar Renad , Jabaan Amjad , Faquih Tariq , Subhani Shazia , Ali Wafa , Shinwari Jameela , Al-Mubarak Bashayer , Al-Tassan Nada 
Published: March 2019

AbstractGenetic studies of the familial forms of Parkinson’s disease (PD) have identified a number of causative genes with an established role in its pathogenesis. These genes only explain a fraction of the diagnosed cases. The emergence of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) expanded the scope of rare variants identification in novel PD related genes. In this study we describe whole exome sequencing (WES) genetic findings of 60 PD patients with 125 variants validated in 51 of these cases. We used strict criteria for variant categorization that generated a list of variants in 20 genes. These variants included loss of function and missense changes in 18 genes that were never previously linked to PD (NOTCH4,BCOR, ITM2B,HRH4,CELSR1,SNAP91,FAM174A,BSN,SPG7,MAGI2,HEPHL1,EPRS,PUM1,CLSTN1,PLCB3,CLSTN3,DNAJB9andNEFH) and 2 genes that were previously associated with PD (EIF4G1andATP13A2). These genes either play a critical role in neuronal function and/or have mouse models with disease related phenotypes. We highlightNOTCH4as an interesting candidate in which we identified a deleterious truncating and a splice variant in 2 patients. Our combined molecular approach provides a comprehensive strategy applicable for complex genetic disorders.
Large-scale data from wearables reveal regional disparities in sleep patterns that persist across age and sex
Authors: Ong Ju Lynn , Tandi Jesisca , Patanaik Amiya , Lo June C. , Chee Michael W. L. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractPrior reports on geographical differences in sleep duration have relied on samples collected at different time points with a variety of subjective instruments. Using sleep data from a total of 553,559 nights from 23,680 Fitbit users (aged 15–80y), we found objective evidence for regional disparities in sleep duration of 32–43 min between Oceanian and East Asian users on weekdays. This was primarily driven by later bedtimes in East Asians. Although users in all countries extended sleep on weekends, East Asians continued to sleep less than their Oceanian counterparts. Women generally slept more than men, and older users slept less than younger users. Reasons for shorter sleep duration in East Asians on both weekdays and weekends, across the lifespan and in both sexes remain to be investigated.
The homotopic connectivity of the functional brain: a meta-analytic approach
Authors: Mancuso Lorenzo , Costa Tommaso , Nani Andrea , Manuello Jordi , Liloia Donato , Gelmini Gabriele , Panero Melissa , Duca Sergio , Cauda Franco 
Published: March 2019

AbstractHomotopic connectivity (HC) is the connectivity between mirror areas of the brain hemispheres. It can exhibit a marked and functionally relevant spatial variability, and can be perturbed by several pathological conditions. The voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) is a technique devised to enquire this pattern of brain organization, based on resting state functional connectivity. Since functional connectivity can be revealed also in a meta-analytical fashion using co-activations, here we propose to calculate the meta-analytic homotopic connectivity (MHC) as the meta-analytic counterpart of the VMHC. The comparison between the two techniques reveals their general similarity, but also highlights regional differences associated with how HC varies from task to rest. Two main differences were found from rest to task: (i) regions known to be characterized by global hubness are more similar than regions displaying local hubness; and (ii) medial areas are characterized by a higher degree of homotopic connectivity, while lateral areas appear to decrease their degree of homotopic connectivity during task performance. These findings show that MHC can be an insightful tool to study how the hemispheres functionally interact during task and rest conditions.
Insights into the complex role of GRAS transcription factors in the arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis
Authors: Hartmann Rico M. , Schaepe Sieke , Nübel Daniel , Petersen Arne C. , Bertolini Martina , Vasilev Jana , Küster Helge , Hohnjec Natalija 
Published: March 2019

AbstractTo improve access to limiting nutrients, the vast majority of land plants forms arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbioses with Glomeromycota fungi. We show here that AM-related GRAS transcription factors from different subgroups are upregulated during a time course of mycorrhization. Based on expression studies in mutants defective in arbuscule branching (ram1-1, with a deleted MtRam1 GRAS transcription factor gene) or in the formation of functional arbuscules (pt4-2, mutated in the phosphate transporter gene MtPt4), we demonstrate that the five AM-related GRAS transcription factor genes MtGras1, MtGras4, MtGras6, MtGras7, and MtRad1 can be differentiated by their dependency on MtRAM1 and MtPT4, indicating that the network of AM-related GRAS transcription factors consists of at least two regulatory modules. One module involves the MtRAM1- and MtPT4-independent transcription factor MtGRAS4 that activates MtGras7. Another module is controlled by the MtRAM1- and MtPT4-dependent transcription factor MtGRAS1. Genome-wide expression profiles of mycorrhized MtGras1 knockdown and ram1-1 roots differ substantially, indicating different targets. Although an MtGras1 knockdown reduces transcription of AM-related GRAS transcription factor genes including MtRam1 and MtGras7, MtGras1 overexpression alone is not sufficient to activate MtGras genes. MtGras1 knockdown roots display normal fungal colonization, with a trend towards the formation of smaller arbuscules.
The nest fungus of the lower termite Reticulitermes labralis
Authors: Ye Chenxu , Li Jing , Ran Yuehua , Rasheed Humaira , Xing Lianxi , Su Xiaohong 
Published: March 2019

AbstractFitness-determining interactions with fungi have often been considered a by-product of social evolution in insects. In higher termites, the mutualistic association between the basidiomycete genus Termitomyces and Macrotermitinae is well known. However, whether and how lower termites use fungi is unclear. Here, we found a large amount of brown sclerotium-forming fungi in egg piles of the lower termite Reticulitermes labralis and identified the sclerotia as Fibulorhizoctonia sp. There was a significant difference in morphology between the sclerotia and the termite eggs. The workers of R. labralis and R. chinensis actively gathered the sclerotia into the egg piles within their nests, whereas the workers of R. aculabialis did not gather sclerotia outside their nests. None of the sclerotia in the egg piles germinated in the presence of workers. However, the sclerotia germinated in the absence of workers, and then the hyphae killed the termite eggs. The data from cellulase activity demonstrated that Fibulorhizoctonia sp. was able to exhaustively digest cellulose into glucose.We confirmed for the first time that the workers carrying the sclerotia into the piles of eggs is not due to mistaking the sclerotia for their eggs and that the workers of R. labralis may be able to select favourite fungi.
Discourse strategies of mitigation in an oral corpus of narratives of life experience collected in interviews
Authors: de Almeida Carla Aurélia 
Published: March 2019

Abstract
Taking as reference an oral corpus in European Portuguese constituted by twenty-three narratives of life experience gathered under the frame of a sociological research project developed in the North of Portugal, this chapter analyses the strategic use of linguistic mitigation devices in the interviewer’s actions and in the interviewees’ answers followed by justifications. Narratives occurring in research interviews are part of a testimonial discourse. In the development of the topics that concern interviewees’ lifestyles and housing conditions, we can identify the occurrence of sequences of justification with the use of a “membership categorization device” that speakers use to construct identities in talk and to invoke common places to deal with dilemmas brought by the questions that occur during the interview.
This chapter seeks to demonstrate that the narratives of life experiences are the result of collaborative work in jointly constructing the sense given by the interviewer and the interviewee. As such, the analysis of discourse segments that show the “conversational involvement” (Goffman 1981; Gumperz 1982) of participants in the research interviews has contributed to the debate on the specific discourse practices taking place within these interactional research contexts in the Social Sciences.
The conditionality principle in high-dimensional regression
Authors: Azriel D 
Published: March 2019

SummaryConsider a high-dimensional linear regression problem, where the number of covariates is larger than the number of observations and the interest is in estimating the conditional variance of the response variable given the covariates. A conditional and an unconditional framework are considered, where conditioning is with respect to the covariates, which are ancillary to the parameter of interest. In recent papers, a consistent estimator was developed in the unconditional framework when the marginal distribution of the covariates is normal with known mean and variance. In the present work, a certain Bayesian hypothesis test is formulated under the conditional framework, and it is shown that the Bayes risk is a constant. This implies that no consistent estimator exists in the conditional framework. However, when the marginal distribution of the covariates is normal, the conditional error of the above consistent estimator converges to zero, with probability converging to one. It follows that even in the conditional setting, information about the marginal distribution of an ancillary statistic may have a significant impact on statistical inference. The practical implication in the context of high-dimensional regression models is that additional observations where only the covariates are given are potentially very useful and should not be ignored. This finding is most relevant to semi-supervised learning problems where covariate information is easy to obtain.
Dynamic mitral valve geometry in patients with primary and secondary mitral regurgitation: implications for mitral valve repair†
Authors: Noack Thilo , Janietz Marie , Lurz Philipp , Kiefer Philipp , Sieg Franz , Marin-Cuartas Mateo , Spampinato Ricardo , Besler Christian , Rommel Karl-Philipp , Holzhey David , Mohr Friedrich-Wilhelm , Ender Joerg , Borger Michael Andrew , Seeburger Joerg 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The goal of this study was to quantify the mitral valve (MV) annulus, the MV shape and the anatomical MV orifice area throughout the cardiac cycle using 4-dimensional MV analysis software in patients with primary mitral regurgitation (PMR) and secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR) in comparison to a healthy control group.

METHODS
Three-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiograms of the MV were acquired for 29 patients with PMR, for 28 patients with SMR and for 18 healthy control subjects. The MV was quantified with regards to anterior-posterior and lateromedial diameter, annular area and circumference, intertrigonal (IT) distance, annular sphericity index, annular height to commissural width ration, and anatomical MV orifice area throughout the cardiac cycle using 3-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography-based 4-dimensional MV advanced analysis software.

RESULTS
Normal annulus dynamics display a systolic enlargement followed by an early-diastolic plateau phase and a late-diastolic contraction. The IT distance showed a linear association with the anterior-posterior diameter (= 1.11 × IT distance) and lateromedial diameter (= 1.44 × IT distance) in the control subjects. Mitral regurgitation is associated with a less dynamic, planar and dilated annulus with small variations between PMR and SMR. The IT distance was less affected by mitral regurgitation compared to the control subjects.

CONCLUSIONS
The novel 4-dimensional MV analysis allows new insights into the dynamic MV geometry in patients with PMR and SMR compared to the control subjects. The IT distance may be used to predict annuloplasty ring sizing.
From ‘OPAT’ to ‘COpAT’: implications of the OVIVA study for ambulatory management of bone and joint infection
Authors: Seaton R A , Ritchie N D , Robb F , Stewart L , White B , Vallance C 
Published: March 2019

AbstractBone and joint infection contributes significantly to clinical activity within outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) services. The OVIVA (oral versus intravenous antibiotics for bone and joint infection) randomized study has challenged the practice of prolonged intravenous therapy, because non-inferiority of oral antibiotic therapy was demonstrated, thereby implying that early transition to oral therapy is an appropriate alternative to prolonged intravenous therapy. We examine the caveats to the study and discuss the implications for OPAT practice, highlighting the importance of careful oral antibiotic selection with attention to bioavailability, bone penetration, drug interactions, compliance and toxicity monitoring. We emphasize that ambulatory antibiotic therapy (whether intravenous or oral) in this patient group requires expert multidisciplinary management, monitoring and follow-up, and ideally should be undertaken within existing OPAT or, more accurately, complex outpatient antibiotic therapy (COpAT) services.
Increased Oxidized High-Density Lipoprotein/High-Density Lipoprotein–Cholesterol Ratio as a Potential Indicator of Disturbed Metabolic Health in Overweight and Obese Individuals
Authors: Janac Jelena M , Zeljkovic Aleksandra , Jelic-Ivanovic Zorana D , Dimitrijevic-Sreckovic Vesna S , Vekic Jelena , Miljkovic Milica M , Stefanovic Aleksandra , Kotur-Stevuljevic Jelena M , Ivanisevic Jasmina M , Spasojevic-Kalimanovska Vesna V 
Published: March 2019

AbstractBackgroundWe evaluated the qualitative characteristics of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles in metabolically healthy and unhealthy overweight and obese subjects.MethodsThe study involved 115 subject individuals classified as metabolically healthy and unhealthy, as in overweight and obese groups. Commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits were used to measure oxidized HDL (OxHDL) and serum amyloid A (SAA) concentrations. Lipoprotein subfractions were separated using nondenaturing gradient gel electrophoresis.ResultsAn independent association was shown between increased OxHDL/HDL-cholesterol ratio and the occurrence of metabolically unhealthy phenotype in the overweight and obese groups. The OxHDL/HDL-cholesterol ratio showed excellent and acceptable diagnostic accuracy in determination of metabolic health phenotypes (overweight group, AUC = 0.881; obese group, AUC = 0.765). Accumulation of smaller HDL particles in metabolically unhealthy subjects was verified by lipoprotein subfraction analysis. SAA concentrations did not differ significantly between phenotypes.ConclusionsIncreased OxHDL/HDL-cholesterol ratio may be a potential indicator of disturbed metabolic health in overweight and obese individuals.
Ribosome Provisioning Activates a Bistable Switch Coupled to Fast Exit from Stationary Phase
Authors: Remigi Philippe , Ferguson Gayle C , McConnell Ellen , De Monte Silvia , Rogers David W , Rainey Paul B 
Published: March 2019

Abstract
Observations of bacteria at the single-cell level have revealed many instances of phenotypic heterogeneity within otherwise clonal populations, but the selective causes, molecular bases, and broader ecological relevance remain poorly understood. In an earlier experiment in which the bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25 was propagated under a selective regime that mimicked the host immune response, a genotype evolved that stochastically switched between capsulation states. The genetic cause was a mutation in carB that decreased the pyrimidine pool (and growth rate), lowering the activation threshold of a preexisting but hitherto unrecognized phenotypic switch. Genetic components surrounding bifurcation of UTP flux toward DNA/RNA or UDP-glucose (a precursor of colanic acid forming the capsules) were implicated as key components. Extending these molecular analyses—and based on a combination of genetics, transcriptomics, biochemistry, and mathematical modeling—we show that pyrimidine limitation triggers an increase in ribosome biosynthesis and that switching is caused by competition between ribosomes and CsrA/RsmA proteins for the mRNA transcript of a positively autoregulated activator of colanic acid biosynthesis. We additionally show that in the ancestral bacterium the switch is part of a program that determines stochastic entry into a semiquiescent capsulated state, ensures that such cells are provisioned with excess ribosomes, and enables provisioned cells to exit rapidly from stationary phase under permissive conditions.
Image Guidance for Ventricular Shunt Surgery: An Analysis of Hospital Charges
Authors: Ajmera Sonia , Motiwala Mustafa , Khan Nickalus R , Smith Lydia J , Giles Kim , Vaughn Brandy , Klimo Paul 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Image guidance for shunt surgery results in more accurate proximal catheter placement. However, reduction in shunt failure remains unclear in the literature. There have been no prior studies evaluating the cost effectiveness of neuronavigation for shunt surgery.

OBJECTIVE
To perform a cost analysis using available hospital charges of hypothetical shunt surgery performed with/without electromagnetic neuronavigation (EMN).

METHODS
Hospital charges were collected for physician fees, radiology, operating room (OR) time and supplies, postanesthesia care unit, hospitalization days, laboratory, and medications. Index shunt surgery charges (de novo or revision) were totaled and the difference calculated. This difference was compared with hospital charges for shunt revision surgery performed under 2 clinical scenarios: (1) same hospital stay as the index surgery; and (2) readmission through the emergency department.

RESULTS
Costs for freehand de novo and revision shunt surgery were $23 946.22 and $23 359.22, respectively. For stealth-guided de novo and revision surgery, the costs were $33 646.94 and $33 059.94, a difference of $9700.72. The largest charge increase was due to additional OR time (34 min; $4794), followed by disposable EMN equipment ($2672). Total effective charges to revise the shunt for scenarios 1 and 2 were $34 622.94 and $35 934.94, respectively. The cost ratios between the total revision charges for both scenarios and the difference in freehand vs EMN-assisted shunt surgery ($9700.72) were 3.57 and 3.70, respectively.

CONCLUSION
From an economic standpoint and within the limitations of our models, the number needed to prevent must be 4 or less for the use of neuronavigation to be considered cost effective.