bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cadmium Disrupts Vestibular Function by Interfering with Otolith Formation
Authors: Green Adrian J. , Mattingly Carolyn J. , Planchart Antonio 
Published: July 2017

AbstractCadmium (Cd2+) is a transition metal found ubiquitously in the earth’s crust and is extracted in the production of other metals such as copper, lead, and zinc1,2. Human exposure to Cd2+occurs through food consumption, cigarette smoking, and the combustion of fossil fuels. Cd2+has been shown to be nephrotoxic, neurotoxic, and osteotoxic, and is a known carcinogen. Animal studies and epidemiological studies have linked prenatal Cd2+exposure to hyperactivity and balance disorders although the mechanisms remain unknown. In this study we show that zebrafish developmentally exposed to Cd2+exhibit abnormal otolith development and show an increased tendency to swim in circles, observations that are consistent with an otolith-mediated vestibular defect, in addition to being hyperactive. We also demonstrate that the addition of calcium rescues otolith malformation and reduces circling behavior but has no ameliorating effect on hyperactivity, suggesting that hyperactivity and balance disorders in human populations exposed to Cd are manifestations of separate underlying molecular pathways.
A comprehensive characterization of cis-acting splicing-associated variants in human cancer
Authors: Shiraishi Yuichi , Kataoka Keisuke , Chiba Kenichi , Okada Ai , Kogure Yasunori , Tanaka Hiroko , Ogawa Seishi , Miyano Satoru 
Published: July 2017

AbstractAlthough many driver mutations are thought to promote carcinogenesis via abnormal splicing, the landscape of these splicing-associated variants (SAVs) remains unknown due to the complexity of splicing abnormalities. Here we developed a statistical framework to identify SAVs disrupting or newly creating splice site motifs and applied it to sequencing data from 8,976 samples across 31 cancer types. We constructed a catalog of 14,438 SAVs, approximately 50% of which consist of SAVs disrupting non-canonical splice sites (including the 3rd and 5th intronic bases of donor sites) or newly creating splice sites. Smoking-related signature substantially contributes to SAV generation. As many as 14.7% of samples harbor at least one SAVs in cancer-related genes, particularly in tumor suppressors. Importantly, in addition to previously reported intron retention, exon skipping or alternative splice site usage more frequently affected these genes. Our findings delineate a comprehensive portrait of SAVs, providing a basis for cancer precision medicine.
HECIL: A Hybrid Error Correction Algorithm for Long Reads with Iterative Learning
Authors: Choudhury Olivia , Chakrabarty Ankush , Emrich Scott J. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractSecond-generation sequencing techniques generate short reads that can result in fragmented genome assemblies. Third-generation sequencing platforms mitigate this limitation by producing longer reads that span across complex and repetitive regions. Currently, the usefulness of such long reads is limited, however, because of high sequencing error rates. To exploit the full potential of these longer reads, it is imperative to correct the underlying errors. We propose HECIL—Hybrid Error Correction with Iterative Learning—a hybrid error correction framework that determines a correction policy for erroneous long reads, based on optimal combinations of decision weights obtained from short read alignments. We demonstrate that HECIL outperforms state-of-the-art error correction algorithms for an overwhelming majority of evaluation metrics on diverse real data sets includingE. coli,S. cerevisiae, and the malaria vector mosquitoA. funestus. We further improve the performance of HECIL by introducing an iterative learning paradigm that improves the correction policy at each iteration by incorporating knowledge gathered from previous iterations via confidence metrics assigned to prior corrections.Availability and Implementationhttps://github.com/NDBL/HECILContactsemrich@nd.edu
Self-organization mechanism of distinct microtubule orientations in axons and dendrites
Authors: Naoki Honda , Uegaki Katsuhiro , Ishii Shin 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe identities of axons and dendrites are acquired through the self-organization of distinct microtubule (MT) orientations during neuronal polarization. The axon is generally characterized by a uniform MT orientation with all plus-ends pointing outward to the neurite terminal (‘plus-end-out’ pattern). On the other hand, the MT orientation pattern in the dendrites depends on species: vertebrate dendrites have a mixed alignment with both plus and minus ends facing either the terminal or the cell body (‘mixed’ pattern), whereas invertebrate dendrites have a ‘minus-end-out’ pattern. However, how MT organizations are developed in the axon and the dendrites is largely unknown. To investigate the mechanism of MT organization, we developed a biophysical model of MT kinetics, consisting of polymerization/depolymerization and MT catastrophe coupled with neurite outgrowth. The model simulation showed that the MT orientation can be controlled mainly by the speed of neurite growth and the hydrolysis rate. With a low hydrolysis rate, vertebrate plus-end-out and mixed microtubule patterns emerged in fast- and slow-growing neurites, respectively. In contrast, with a high hydrolysis rate, invertebrate plus-end-out and minus-end-out microtubule patterns emerged in fast- and slow-growing neurites, respectively. Thus, our model can provide a unified understanding of distinct microtubule organizations by simply changing the parameters.
Membrane bending begins at any stage of clathrin-coat assembly and defines endocytic dynamics
Authors: Scott Brandon L. , Sochacki Kem A. , Low-Nam Shalini T. , Bailey Elizabeth M. , Luu QuocAhn , Hor Amy , Dickey Andrea M. , Smith Steve , Kerkvliet Jason G. , Taraska Justin W. , Hoppe Adam D. 
Published: July 2017

Summary ParagraphClathrin-mediated endocytosis internalizes membrane from the cell surface by reshaping flat regions of membrane into spherical vesicles(1, 2). The relationship between membrane bending and clathrin coatomer assembly has been inferred from electron microscopy and structural biology, without directly visualization of membrane bending dynamics (3–6). This has resulted in two distinct and opposing models for how clathrin bends membrane (7–10). Here, polarized Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence microscopy was improved and combined with electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and super-resolution imaging to measure membrane bending during endogenous clathrin and dynamin assembly in living cells. Surprisingly, and not predicted by either model, the timing of membrane bending was variable relative to clathrin assembly. Approximately half of the time, membrane bending occurs at the start of clathrin assembly, in the other half, the onset of membrane bending lags clathrin arrival, and occasionally completely assembled flat clathrin transitions into a pit. Importantly, once the membrane bends, the process proceeds to scission with similar timing. We conclude that the pathway of coatomer formation is versatile and can bend the membrane during or after the assembly of the clathrin lattice. These results highlight the heterogeneity in this fundamental biological process, and provide a more complete nanoscale view of membrane bending dynamics during endocytosis.
The use of gamification mechanics to increase employee and user engagement in participative healthcare services
Authors: Hammedi Wafa , Leclerq Thomas , Van Riel Allard C.R. 
Published: July 2017

Purpose
Gamification introduces game-like properties into routine service processes to make them more engaging for service employees and users alike. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of gamification mechanics, or game design principles, on user engagement in gamified healthcare services.

Design/methodology/approach
Through observations, interviews and the study of desk materials, two cases of gamified healthcare services, each using different game mechanics, are analyzed.

Findings
Gamification mechanics produce four distinct experiential outcomes in patients: challenge, entertainment, social dynamics, and escapism. Patient engagement can be stimulated through these outcomes. However, to fully enjoy the benefits of gamified services, users are often expected to acquire and use new skills. The relative absence of these skills (or difficulties in acquiring them), depending on users’ medical predispositions and age, may defer or negatively moderate the positive effects of gamification on engagement. In the case of progressively decreasing capabilities (e.g. in the case of aging users or users with degenerative diseases, whose physical or mental disabilities may be emphasized by the mechanics), it is recommended that health professionals adapt the mechanics accordingly or search for alternative options to increase patient well-being.

Research limitations/implications
The study was conducted in healthcare, and caution must be exercised in generalizing the findings to other domains. However, the finding that gamified service users’ disabilities - or the lack of required abilities – may negatively impact the encouraging or engaging effects of the use of gamification appears to be relatively universal.

Originality/value
This study contributes to service research, specifically in the healthcare domain, by providing insight into employees’ and users’ motivations for using gamified service processes, the experiential impact of gamification mechanics, the individual factors that influence users’ gamified experience and multiple forms of cognitive, emotional and behavioral engagement outcomes. A research agenda is developed.
Oral health strategy for the older people in social protection centers in Villavicencio, Colombia
Authors: Rodas Avellaneda Claudia Patricia , Angarita Díaz María del Pilar , Nemocon Ramírez Luis Francisco , Pinzón Castro Luis Alexys , Robayo Herrera Yenny Tatiana , Rodriguez Baquero Ines Leonilde , González Sanchez Rocio del Pilar 
Published: July 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to design and to implement an oral health educational strategy that targeted an older population residing in three social protection centers (SPC) in Villavicencio, Colombia.

Design/methodology/approach
The first phase consisted in determining the oral health of older citizens in the SPC. To do this, the research group gathered patients’ personal information and indices. The second phase consisted in the development of an educational strategy based on the population’s requirements. The educational strategy, focusing on oral hygiene and denture care, was implemented for the older people and their caregivers. The third and final phase consisted in the research group measuring the effect of the designed strategy by repeating oral diagnoses for the older people six months after strategy implementation.

Findings
The results of the assessment indicated that implementing a strategy to strengthen oral hygiene care was positive, given that statistically significant reductions were observed in the soft plaque index and the Gingival Index (p<0.05).

Research limitations/implications
As a result of the complexity of the population, the data obtained after the strategy was implemented were significantly reduced. However, these results indicate that an educational strategy can have an effect on this type of population.

Originality/value
Implementing a strategy that promotes oral hygiene education and brushing skills, fosters good oral behavior and helps the older people in SPC to remember the information taught, thus contributing to their oral hygiene.
Measuring young consumers’ sustainable consumption behavior: development and validation of the YCSCB scale
Authors: Fischer Daniel , Böhme Tina , Geiger Sonja Maria 
Published: July 2017

PurposePromoting sustainable consumption among young consumers has become a key priority on the research agenda in such different fields as education for sustainable development, environmental psychology and consumer policy. Progress in this field has been hampered by a lack of sophisticated research instruments capable of measuring consumption behaviors that are relevant both in terms of their sustainability impacts and their suitability for teenagers. This study aims to address this research gap and presents a scale for young consumers’ sustainable consumption behaviors (YCSCB) in the areas of food and clothing.Design/methodology/approachThe scale was developed in a two-step, mixed-methods approach. In an initial qualitative interview study, the actual behaviors of theoretically selected young consumers (n= 8) were identified with regard to acquiring, using and disposing of consumer goods in the areas of food and clothing. The YCSCB scale was constructed using the findings of this qualitative study and then validated in a subsequent quantitative study (n= 155).FindingsThe YCSCB scale is a valid and reliable scale to measure young consumers’ sustainable consumption behavior in the areas of food (n= 14 items) and clothing (n= 13 items).Originality/valueThe findings of this research provide a twofold contribution to advancing research on YCSCB. Firstly, it presents a consolidated scale that is explicitly constructed for teenagers and their consumption contexts. Secondly, it proposes a heuristic for developing more sophisticated measurements of SCB among young consumers that would allow a comparison between studies, is focused on behaviors (instead of confounding behaviors with intentions, attitudes or values) and is impact-oriented in terms of sustainability relevance.
Angiotensin II‐preconditioning is associated with increased PKCε/PKCδ ratio and prosurvival kinases in mitochondria
Authors: Nuñez Rebeca E , Javadov Sabzali , Escobales Nelson 
Published: July 2017

SummaryAngiotensin II‐preconditioning (APC) has been shown to reproduce the cardioprotective effects of ischaemic preconditioning (IPC), however, the molecular mechanisms mediating the effects of APC remain unknown. In this study, Langendorff‐perfused rat hearts were subjected to IPC, APC or both (IPC/APC) followed by ischaemia‐reperfusion (IR), to determine translocation of PKCε, PKCδ, Akt, Erk1/2, JNK, p38 MAPK and GSK‐3β to mitochondria as an indicator of activation of the protein kinases. In agreement with previous observations, IPC, APC and IPC/APC increased the recovery of left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), reduced infarct size (IS) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, compared to controls. These effects were associated with increased mitochondrial PKCε/PKCδ ratio, Akt, Erk1/2, JNK, and inhibition of permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening. Chelerythrine, a pan‐PKC inhibitor, abolished the enhancements of PKCε but increased PKCδ expression, and inhibited Akt, Erk1/2, and JNK protein levels. The drug had no effect on the APC‐ and IPC/APC‐induced cardioprotection as previously reported, but enhanced the post‐ischaemic LVDP in controls. Losartan, an angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1‐R) blocker, abolished the APC‐stimulated increase of LVDP and reduced PKCε, Akt, Erk1/2, JNK, and p38. Both drugs reduced ischaemic contracture and LDH release, and abolished the inhibition of mPTP by the preconditioning. Chelerythrine also prevented the reduction of IS by APC and IPC/APC. These results suggest that the cardioprotection induced by APC and IPC/APC involves an AT1‐R‐dependent translocation of PKCε and survival kinases to the mitochondria leading to mPTP inhibition. In chelerythrine‐treated hearts, however, alternate mechanisms appear to maintain cardiac function.
Detection of viable Helicobacter pylori inside free‐living amoebae in wastewater and drinking water samples from Eastern Spain
Authors: Moreno‐Mesonero Laura , Moreno Yolanda , Alonso José Luis , Ferrús M. Antonia 
Published: July 2017

SummaryHelicobacter pylori is one of the most concerning emerging waterborne pathogens. It has been suggested that it could survive in water inside free‐living amoebae (FLA), but nobody has studied this relationship in the environment yet. Thus, we aimed to detect viable H. pylori cells from inside FLA in water samples. Sixty‐nine wastewater and 31 drinking water samples were collected. FLA were purified and identified by PCR and sequencing. For exclusively detecting H. pylori inside FLA, samples were exposed to sodium hypochlorite and assayed by specific PMA‐qPCR, DVC‐FISH and culture. FLA were detected in 38.7% of drinking water and 79.7% of wastewater samples, even after disinfection. In wastewater, Acanthamoeba spp. and members of the family Vahlkampfiidae were identified. In drinking water, Acanthamoeba spp. and Echinamoeba and/or Vermamoeba were present. In 39 (58.2%) FLA‐positive samples, H. pylori was detected by PMA‐qPCR. After DVC‐FISH, 21 (31.3%) samples harboured viable H. pylori internalized cells. H. pylori was cultured from 10 wastewater samples. To our knowledge, this is the first report that demonstrates that H. pylori can survive inside FLA in drinking water and wastewater, strongly supporting the hypothesis that FLA could play an important role in the transmission of H. pylori to humans.
Insurance for Technology Adoption: An Experimental Evaluation of Schemes and Subsidies with Maize Farmers in Mexico
Authors: Freudenreich Hanna , Mußhoff Oliver 
Published: July 2017

AbstractFor farmers in developing countries, the combination of both risk aversion and the lack of insurance is often a major impediment to adoption of productivity‐enhancing technologies, such as higher yielding hybrid seed. In a framed field experiment with Mexican maize farmers, we investigate whether bundling hybrid seed with an insurance scheme can increase its adoption, while also controlling for risk aversion. We test insurance schemes with different levels of risk coverage and premium subsidies and find that (1) all schemes significantly increase the degree of adoption of the higher yielding seed, (2) partial insurance schemes perform worse than full insurance, (3) weather index insurance with geographical basis risk performs no worse than indemnity insurance, and (4) premium subsidies significantly increase the adoption effect of indemnity insurance, but not that of index insurance.
Annual Estimates of Recharge, Quick‐Flow Runoff, and Evapotranspiration for the Contiguous U.S. Using Empirical Regression Equations
Authors: Reitz M. , Sanford W.E. , Senay G.B. , Cazenas J. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThis study presents new data‐driven, annual estimates of the division of precipitation into the recharge, quick‐flow runoff, and evapotranspiration (ET) water budget components for 2000‐2013 for the contiguous United States (CONUS). The algorithms used to produce these maps ensure water budget consistency over this broad spatial scale, with contributions from precipitation influx attributed to each component at 800 m resolution. The quick‐flow runoff estimates for the contribution to the rapidly varying portion of the hydrograph are produced using data from 1,434 gaged watersheds, and depend on precipitation, soil saturated hydraulic conductivity, and surficial geology type. Evapotranspiration estimates are produced from a regression using water balance data from 679 gaged watersheds and depend on land cover, temperature, and precipitation. The quick‐flow and ET estimates are combined to calculate recharge as the remainder of precipitation. The ET and recharge estimates are checked against independent field data, and the results show good agreement. Comparisons of recharge estimates with groundwater extraction data show that in 15% of the country, groundwater is being extracted at rates higher than the local recharge. These maps of the internally consistent water budget components of recharge, quick‐flow runoff, and ET, being derived from and tested against data, are expected to provide reliable first‐order estimates of these quantities across the CONUS, even where field measurements are sparse.
Implementing comprehensive land claims agreements in Canada: Towards an analytical framework
Authors: Alcantara Christopher 
Published: July 2017

AbstractAlthough there is a rich literature on the negotiation and contents of comprehensive land claims agreements, very little has been written on the dynamics of their implementation. This article contributes by sketching out a framework for analyzing the interactions between Indigenous, federal, and provincial/territorial governments in the implementation of modern treaties in Canada. It finds that a useful way for conceptualizing these situations is to focus on two characteristics relating to the treaty provisions and the signatories while remaining sensitive to the effects of time and other contextual factors.
Screening protocols to monitor respiratory status in primary immunodeficiency disease: findings from a European survey and subclinical infection working group
Authors: Jolles S , Sánchez-Ramón S , Quinti I , Soler-Palacín P , Agostini C , Florkin B , Couderc L-J , Brodszki N , Jones A , Longhurst H , Warnatz K , Haerynck F , Matucci A , de Vries E 
Published: July 2017

Summary
Many patients with primary immunodeficiency (PID) who have antibody deficiency develop progressive lung disease due to underlying subclinical infection and inflammation. To understand how these patients are monitored we conducted a retrospective survey based on patient records of 13 PID centres across Europe, regarding the care of 1061 adult and 178 paediatric patients with PID on immunoglobulin (Ig) G replacement. The most common diagnosis was common variable immunodeficiency in adults (75%) and hypogammaglobulinaemia in children (39%). The frequency of clinic visits varied both within and between centres: every 1–12 months for adult patients and every 3–6 months for paediatric patients. Patients diagnosed with lung diseases were more likely to receive pharmaceutical therapies and received a wider range of therapies than patients without lung disease. Variation existed between centres in the frequency with which some clinical and laboratory monitoring tests are performed, including exercise tests, laboratory testing for IgG subclass levels and specific antibodies, and lung function tests such as spirometry. Some tests were carried out more frequently in adults than in children, probably due to difficulties conducting these tests in younger children. The percentage of patients seen regularly by a chest physician, or who had microbiology tests performed following chest and sinus exacerbations, also varied widely between centres. Our survey revealed a great deal of variation across Europe in how frequently patients with PID visit the clinic and how frequently some monitoring tests are carried out. These results highlight the urgent need for consensus guidelines on how to monitor lung complications in PID patients.
Current insights into the role of human β-defensins in atopic dermatitis
Authors: Chieosilapatham P , Ogawa H , Niyonsaba F 
Published: July 2017

Summary
Anti-microbial peptides or host defence peptides are small molecules that display both anti-microbial activities and complex immunomodulatory functions to protect against various diseases. Among these peptides, the human β-defensins (hBDs) are localized primarily in epithelial surfaces, including those of the skin, where they contribute to protective barriers. In atopic dermatitis skin lesions, altered skin barrier and immune dysregulation are believed to be responsible for reduced hBD synthesis. Impaired hBD expression in the skin is reportedly the leading cause of increased susceptibility to bacterial and viral infection in patients with atopic dermatitis. Although hBDs have considerable beneficial effects as anti-microbial agents and immunomodulators and may ameliorate atopic dermatitis clinically, recent evidence has also suggested the negative effects of hBDs in atopic dermatitis development. In the current review, we provide an overview of the regulation of hBDs and their role in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. The efforts to utilize these molecules in clinical applications are also described.