bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cardiorespiratory Responses of Adults and Children during Normoxic and Hypoxic Exercise
Authors: Kapus Jernej , Mekjavic Igor , McDonnell Adam , Ušaj Anton , Vodičar Janez , Najdenov Peter , Jakovljević Miroljub , Jaki Mekjavić Polona , Žvan Milan , Debevec Tadej 
Published: May 2017

AbstractWe aimed to elucidate potential differential effects of hypoxia on cardiorespiratory responses during submaximal cycling and simulated skiing exercise between adults and pre-pubertal children. Healthy, low-altitude residents (adults, N=13, Age=40±4yrs.; children, N=13, age=8±2yrs.) were tested in normoxia (Nor: PiO2=134±0.4 mmHg; 940 m) and normobaric hypoxia (Hyp: PiO2=105±0.6 mmHg; ~3 000 m) following an overnight hypoxic acclimation (≥12-hrs). On both days, the participants underwent a graded cycling test and a simulated skiing protocol. Minute ventilation (VE), oxygen uptake (VO2), heart rate (HR) and capillary-oxygen saturation (SpO2) were measured throughout both tests. The cycling data were interpolated for 2 relative workload levels (1 W·kg−1 & 2 W·kg−1). Higher resting HR in hypoxia, compared to normoxia was only noted in children (Nor:78±17; Hyp:89±17 beats·min−1; p<0.05), while SpO2 was significantly lower in hypoxia (Nor:97±1%; Hyp:91±2%; p<0.01) with no between-group differences. The VE, VO2 and HR responses were higher during hypoxic compared to normoxic cycling test in both groups (p<0.05). Except for greater HR during hypoxic compared to normoxic skiing in children (Nor:155±19; Hyp:167±13 (beats·min−1); p<0.05), no other significant between-group differences were noted during the cycling and skiing protocols. In summary, these data suggest similar cardiorespiratory responses to submaximal hypoxic cycling and simulated skiing in adults and children.
Mechanistic insights on the reduction of glutathione disulfide by protein disulfide isomerase
Authors: Neves Rui P. P. , Fernandes Pedro Alexandrino , Ramos Maria João 
Published: May 2017

Significance
Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) is a ubiquitous enzyme involved in disulfide bond formation during protein folding. It has been related to neurological diseases (Parkinson or Alzheimer’s) because of unfolded protein response phenomena. It also participates in the regulation of the glutathione redox buffer [glutathione/glutathione disulfide (GSH/GSSG)] in the endoplasmic reticulum, also important in protein folding. PDI catalyzes the nucleophilic attack of thiolates to disulfide bonds (thiol-disulfide exchange), enhancing the formation of correct disulfide links that drive protein folding and ensure protein function. This reaction is ubiquitous to disulfide-oxidoreductases across several organisms, and it shows a distinctive chemistry. We present the enzymatic mechanism of PDI in the GSH/GSSG buffer and discuss the chemistry of thiol-disulfide exchange.
Follistatin is critical for mouse uterine receptivity and decidualization
Authors: Fullerton Paul T. , Monsivais Diana , Kommagani Ramakrishna , Matzuk Martin M. 
Published: May 2017

Significance
An estimated 50% of in vitro fertilization attempts fail to achieve implantation, making implantation one of the most significant challenges in the assisted reproductive technologies (ART) clinic. Unfortunately, no effective treatments or biomarkers are available for the receptivity of the uterus to embryo implantation. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying implantation will enable future advances in ART to improve success rates and reduce the emotional, physical, and financial toll that ART failure takes on patients. We generated conditional knockout of follistatin in the uterus and demonstrated that follistatin plays a critical role in establishing uterine receptivity. Our results contribute to the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying uterine receptivity and offer a useful animal model for studying implantation and decidualization failure.
Spontaneous formation of aligned DNA nanowires by capillarity-induced skin folding
Authors: Nagashima So , Ha Hyun Dong , Kim Do Hyun , Košmrlj Andrej , Stone Howard A. , Moon Myoung-Woon 
Published: May 2017

Significance
Developing a method that is capable of manipulating the size, geometry, and alignment of DNA nanowires would expand their uses in fabricating functional materials and performing genetic analysis. Here, we present an approach that yields arrays of size-controllable straight or undulated DNA nanowires. This approach uses a template composed of a thin skin that dynamically changes its surface morphology in response to water. In particular, we exploit capillary forces of water containing DNA molecules to induce a wrinkle-to-fold transition of the template surface in an unconventional way, which in turn stretches and confines the molecules in the folded regions without any external forces and consequently forms the nanowires. This approach could make possible new fabrication opportunities for functional materials.
AraC-like transcriptional activator CuxR binds c-di-GMP by a PilZ-like mechanism to regulate extracellular polysaccharide production
Authors: Schäper Simon , Steinchen Wieland , Krol Elizaveta , Altegoer Florian , Skotnicka Dorota , Søgaard-Andersen Lotte , Bange Gert , Becker Anke 
Published: May 2017

Significance
Cyclic dimeric GMP (c-di-GMP) has emerged as ubiquitous bacterial second messenger, regulating multiple cellular functions, such as cell cycle, virulence, and biofilm formation. However, our knowledge on the molecular inventory, diversity, and function of c-di-GMP receptors, and the molecular evolution of c-di-GMP–responsive proteins is still incomplete. We have identified a class of c-di-GMP–responsive transcription factors, strikingly illustrating how a classical transcription factor has acquired the ability to sense this signaling molecule. The mode of c-di-GMP binding to the AraC-like transcription factor CuxR is highly reminiscent to that of the PilZ domain, the prototypic c-di-GMP receptor. PilZ and CuxR provide an example of convergent evolution in which c-di-GMP binding sites of similar topology have evolved independently in two distinct protein families.
Synchrony affects Taylor’s law in theory and data
Authors: Reuman Daniel C. , Zhao Lei , Sheppard Lawrence W. , Reid Philip C. , Cohen Joel E. 
Published: May 2017

SignificanceTwo widely confirmed patterns in ecology are Taylor’s law (TL), which states that the variance of population density is approximately a power of mean population density, and population synchrony, the tendency of species’ population sizes in different areas to be correlated through time. TL has been applied in many areas, including fisheries management, conservation, agriculture, finance, physics, and meteorology. Synchrony of populations increases the likelihood of large-scale pest or disease outbreaks and shortages of resources. We show that changed synchrony modifies and can invalidate TL. Widespread recent changes in synchrony, possibly resulting from climate change, may broadly affect TL and its applications.
Cortical neurons multiplex reward-related signals along with sensory and motor information
Authors: Ramakrishnan Arjun , Byun Yoon Woo , Rand Kyle , Pedersen Christian E. , Lebedev Mikhail A. , Nicolelis Miguel A. L. 
Published: May 2017

Significance
The ability to learn highly skilled movements may depend on the dopamine-related plasticity occurring in motor cortex, because the density of dopamine receptors—the reward sensor—increases in this area from rodents to primates. We hypothesized that primary motor (M1) and somatosensory (S1) neurons would encode rewards during operant conditioned motor behaviors. Rhesus monkeys were implanted with cortical multielectrode implants and trained to perform arm-reaching tasks with different reward schedules. Consistent with our hypothesis, M1 and S1 neurons represented reward anticipation and delivery and a mismatch between the quantities of anticipated and actual rewards. These same neurons also represented arm movement parameters. We suggest that this multiplexing of motor and reinforcement information by cortical neurons underlies motor learning.
Peripheral modifications of [Ψ[CH
2
NH]Tpg
4
]vancomycin with added synergistic mechanisms of action provide durable and potent antibiotics
Authors: Okano Akinori , Isley Nicholas A. , Boger Dale L. 
Published: May 2017

Significance
In a quest for antibiotics that may display durable clinical lifetimes, analogs of the glycopeptide antibiotics, including vancomycin, have been designed that not only directly overcome the molecular basis of existing vancomycin resistance but also contain two added peripheral modifications that endow them with two additional independent mechanisms of actions not found in the parent antibiotics. It is shown that such peripherally and binding pocket-modified vancomycin analogs display little propensity for acquired resistance by vancomycin-resistant Enterococci and that both their antimicrobial potency and durability against such challenges follow trends (three > two > one mechanisms of action) that are now predictable.
A mechanism for lipid binding to apoE and the role of intrinsically disordered regions coupled to domain–domain interactions
Authors: Frieden Carl , Wang Hanliu , Ho Chris M. W. 
Published: May 2017

Significance
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. It is irreversible, devastating, and costly. Apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4), a protein whose function in the brain is to transport cholesterol-laden lipid, is a major risk factor for the development of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease relative to the common apoE3 isoform. The two proteins differ by only a single amino acid. There has been no detailed mechanism explaining how apoE functions. Here, we propose a mechanism for lipid binding that involves simple domain–domain movement coupled to the role of intrinsically disordered regions of the protein. This mechanism may lead to the development of small molecular weight compounds that interfere with the role apoE4 plays in the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
Personhood Status of the Human Zygote, Embryo, Fetus
Authors: Miklavcic John Janez , Flaman Paul 
Published: May 2017

The fields of biology, medicine, and embryology have described the developmental milestones of humans throughout gestation in great detail. It is less clear as to when humans are recognized as people, persons, or beings with rights that are protected by legislation. The practice of law is irrevocably intertwined with that of ethical conduct; and the time at which a human life is considered a person has implications that extend to health care, legislation on abortion, and autonomy of individuals. This article reviews the economical position that fertilization is the moment that personhood of the conceptus begins. Alternate positions proposing that personhood begins at other possible times after fertilization are presented and contrasted to the economical hypothesis. Summary This article is an original work critically analyzing the various arguments for human personhood at fertilization and thereafter. The various positions on human personhood are compared and contrasted herein. The time of the human lifespan at which personhood is conferred has important implications for health care, legislation, and personal autonomy.
Use of Wind Fetch and Shoreline Relief to Predict Nearshore Substrate Composition in a North Temperate Lake
Authors: Schall Benjamin J. , Cross Timothy K. , Katzenmeyer Eric , Zentner Douglas L. 
Published: May 2017

Abstract
Spawning habitat assessments often focus on substrate composition, but few studies have predicted shoal substrates by using environmental factors. We developed a model for predicting shoal substrates in Belle Lake, Minnesota, using wind fetch and shoreline relief characteristics. Percent composition of four substrate classes (silt, sand, gravel, and rock), water depth estimated at 1 m from shore (shoal slope), effective wind fetch measured using a GIS model, and riparian bank height derived from LIDAR imaging were determined at 50 transects. Classification and regression tree (CART) analysis grouped substrates into categories, and general additive modeling described the effects of three predictor variables on the percent composition of substrate classes. The CART analysis correctly grouped 39 of 50 transects into four categories, and misclassifications primarily resulted from the movement of sand. Effective fetch most influenced silt (low fetch) and rock (high fetch) substrate classes, shoal slope was predictive of rock, and riparian height was useful in distinguishing sand from gravel. These results demonstrate the utility of a single empirical model for determining shoal substrate composition. Fisheries managers can use this technique to determine potential fish spawning locations and identify potential areas for habitat restoration or protection projects.
Received December 5, 2016; accepted May 5, 2017 Published online July 19, 2017
HUGIn: Hi-C Unifying Genomic Interrogator
Authors: Martin Joshua S , Xu Zheng , Reiner Alex P , Mohlke Karen L , Sullivan Patrick , Ren Bing , Hu Ming , Li Yun 
Published: May 2017

Abstract

Motivation
High throughput chromatin conformation capture (3C) technologies, such as Hi-C and ChIA-PET, have the potential to elucidate the functional roles of non-coding variants. However, most of published genome-wide unbiased chromatin organization studies have used cultured cell lines, limiting their generalizability.

Results
We developed a web browser, HUGIn, to visualize Hi-C data generated from 21 human primary tissues and cell lines. HUGIn enables assessment of chromatin contacts both constitutive across and specific to tissue(s) and/or cell line(s) at any genomic loci, including GWAS SNPs, eQTLs and cis-regulatory elements, facilitating the understanding of both GWAS and eQTL results and functional genomics data.

Availability and implementation
HUGIn is available at http://yunliweb.its.unc.edu/HUGIn

Supplementary information
Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Food quality and safety in Singapore: microbiology aspects
Authors: Zwe Ye Htut , Yuk Hyun Gyun 
Published: June 2017

AbstractBACKGROUNDSingapore’s status as a first world island city-state which relies chiefly on food imports to meet the demand for consumption presents unique challenges in terms of microbial food safety and quality. Despite the efforts of the Ministry of Health in Singapore, in conjunction with the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore and the National Environment Agency actively collaborate together to promote safety in Singapore, foodborne diseases are still a major public health issue.OBJECTIVEThe aim of the review was to summarize the various foodborne diseases reported in Singapore in the past few years as well as to give an account of all the currently available microbiological findings indicating safety and quality of poultry, vegetables, fruits, and seafood sold in Singapore.
Collaborative Clinical Reasoning—A Systematic Review of Empirical Studies
Authors: Kiesewetter Jan , Fischer Frank , Fischer Martin R. 
Published: May 2017

Introduction:
Health care delivery involves multiple health professions, and increasingly, diagnostic and therapeutic decisions are made through interprofessional teamwork. We define collaborative clinical reasoning (CCR) as the process in which two or more health care team members negotiate diagnostic, therapeutic, or prognostic issues of an individual patient resulting in an illness or treatment plan (and to reduce uncertainty). In a systematic review, we aimed to answer the following research question: Which empirically observable factors are considered crucial influences on performance in CCR in current empirical research?

Methods:
A systematic literature review was conducted. We included empirical studies taking place in a hospital setting, with a clear focus on CCR and published between January 1990 and September 2014. The studies were only included when at least one physician was part of the team. Nine articles were included in the review.

Results:
The factors crucially influencing the CCR performance (ie, diagnosis or treatment plan of patients) are (1) the initial distribution of information over team members, (2) clinical experience of physicians within a team, (3) information exchange within a team, and (4) individual retrieval of information from the team or information representation.

Discussion:
Despite the sparse empirical evidence on CCR, four factors influencing performance were extracted from the literature. Overall, there is little evidence though how each of these factors actually influences CCR performance. Thus, we need more empirical studies to better understand and foster CCR performance.
OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY FEATURES OF CHOROIDAL NEOVASCULARIZATION ASSOCIATED WITH CHOROIDAL NEVUS
Authors: Pellegrini Marco , Corvi Federico , Say Emil A. T. , Shields Carol L. , Staurenghi Giovanni 
Published: May 2017

Purpose:
To describe the imaging features of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) associated with choroidal nevus using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) imaging.

Methods:
Retrospective observational case series. Patients with CNV secondary to choroidal nevus underwent full imaging examination including fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, spectral domain OCT, and OCT-A. The OCT-A features were analyzed and correlated with conventional angiography findings and spectral domain OCT.

Results:
There were 11 eyes from 11 patients (6 men and 5 women, mean age of 65 ± 20.4 years) included in the analysis. Fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green angiography disclosed CNV in 90% and 83%, respectively. Optical coherence tomography angiography displayed CNV network in 11 eyes (100%) and the pattern was classified as “sea-fan” in 8 (73%) and “long filamentous linear vessels” in 3 (27%) eyes. Distinct from CNV, intrinsic vasculature within the nevus was observed in six eyes (55%), corresponding to those with chronic retinal pigment epithelium changes.

Conclusion:
Optical coherence tomography angiography is a useful imaging technique to disclose CNV associated with choroidal nevus. Despite the presence of intraretinal or subretinal fluid and hemorrhage, OCT-A revealed the CNV in all cases, results noninferior to indocyanine green angiography. This imaging modality can be useful for analysis of long-standing nevi with related exudation.
Heart Failure Rehospitalization and Delayed Decision Making
Authors: Xu Jiayun , Gallo Joseph J. , Wenzel Jennifer , Nolan Marie T. , Budhathoki Chakra , Abshire Martha , Bower Kelsey , Arruda Sofia , Flowers Deirdre , Szanton Sarah L. , Dennison Himmelfarb Cheryl , Gonzalez Kaylin , Han Hae-Ra 
Published: June 2017

Background:
Rehospitalization soon after discharge can be distressing for persons with heart failure (HF) and places a heavy burden on the healthcare system.

Objective:
We investigated and explored the association of self-care decision making variables with (1) rehospitalization within 30 days of discharge and (2) delay in seeking medical assistance (delayed decision making).

Methods:
A cross-sectional, explanatory sequential mixed methods design (quan > qual) was used to survey 127 hospitalized HF patients and interview 15 of these participants to explain their survey responses. The survey assessed rehospitalization within 30 days of discharge, delayed decision making, HF self-care, and psychosocial factors influencing self-care.

Results:
The likelihood of delaying the decision to be hospitalized was more than 5 times higher among those with high depressive symptoms (odds ratio, 5.33; 95% confidence interval, 2.14–13.28). Those who delayed going to the hospital were uncertain about their prognosis and did not feel their symptoms were urgent. The likelihood of being rehospitalized within 30 days was more than doubled among those with high depressive symptoms (OR, 2.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–5.31). Those who were rehospitalized within 30 days were less likely to consult healthcare professionals in their decision making and wanted immediate relief from their symptoms.

Conclusions:
We recommend a patient-centered approach to help HF patients identify and adequately self-manage symptoms. The strong association between high depressive symptoms and rehospitalization within 30 days as well as delayed decision making highlights the critical need for clinicians to carefully assess and address depression among HF patients.
Survivors of an Acute Coronary Syndrome With Lower Patient Activation Are More Likely to Experience Declines in Health-Related Quality of Life
Authors: Erskine Nathaniel A. , Gandek Barbara , Waring Molly E. , Kinney Rebecca L. , Lessard Darleen M. , Devereaux Randolph S. , Chrysanthopoulou Stavroula A. , Kiefe Catarina I. , Goldberg Robert J. 
Published: June 2017

Background:
Patient activation comprises the knowledge, skills, and confidence for self-care and may lead to better health outcomes.

Objectives:
We examined the relationship between patient activation and changes in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after hospitalization for an acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods:
We studied patients from 6 medical centers in central Massachusetts and Georgia who had been hospitalized for an ACS between 2011 and 2013. At 1 month after hospital discharge, the patients completed the 6-item Patient Activation Measure and were categorized into 4 levels of activation. Multinomial logistic regression analyses compared activation level with clinically meaningful changes (≥3.0 points, generic; ≥10.0 points, disease-specific) in generic physical (SF-36v2 Physical Component Summary [PCS]), generic mental (SF-36v2 Mental Component Summary [MCS]), and disease-specific (Seattle Angina Questionnaire [SAQ]) HRQOL from 1 to 3 and 1 to 6 months after hospitalization, adjusting for potential sociodemographic and clinical confounders.

Results:
The patients (N = 1042) were, on average, 62 years old, 34% female, and 87% non-Hispanic white. A total of 10% were in the lowest level of activation. The patients with the lowest activation had 1.95 times (95% confidence interval, 1.05–3.62) and 2.18 times (95% confidence interval, 1.17–4.05) the odds of experiencing clinically significant declines in MCS and SAQ HRQOL, respectively, between 1 and 6 months than the most activated patients. The patient activation level was not associated with meaningful changes in PCS scores.

Conclusions:
Hospital survivors of an ACS with lower activation may be more likely to experience declines in mental and disease-specific HRQOL than more-activated patients, identifying a group at risk of poor outcomes.
Assessment of Functionality of Multifunction Prosthetic Hands
Authors: Kyberd Peter J. 
Published: May 2017

ABSTRACT

Introduction
This study is part of a program to investigate the function of prosthetic arm systems, specifically the new generation multifunction hands.

Materials and Methods
The Southampton Hand Assessment Procedure was used to measure the relative performance of a range of commercial multifunction prosthetic hands. To compare different designs of hands, a single subject was used with repeated measures. Hands from Touch Bionics (i-limb), Steeper (BeBionic), and Ottobock (Michelangelo) were tested and compared with the most effective single degree of freedom hand (Motion Control), as measured in a previous study.

Results
The overall performance of the Motion Control hand (94) was a significantly higher score than the Ottobock (89) (P > 0.05); the other two hands also had lower Overall scores (Touch Bionics, 81; Steeper, 83). When the individual grip scores are normalized against the Overall score, the Tips grips for all hands showed a much poorer value than the other grips (Steeper, 0.77; Touch Bionics, 0.73; and Ottobock, 0.82).

Conclusions
All three hands were more anthropomorphic in action and appearance than the earlier hands, but this did not result in greater function than the simpler fixed geometry hands.