bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Results of a national multicenter audit assessment of gynecologic history in surgical patients
Authors: Wilson Michael S.J. , Powell‐Bowns Matilda , Robertson Andrew G. , Luhmann Andreas , Richards Colin H. ,   the Scottish Surgical Research Group
Published: August 2017

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the adequacy of assessing gynecologic history for females of reproductive age (FRA) admitted to a general surgery department.MethodsThe present prospective multicenter audit included FRA who were admitted for elective or emergency procedures to general surgery departments in Scotland between May 11 and May 25, 2015. Data were compared between patients who were admitted for elective and emergency treatment.ResultsThere were 530 FRA included from 18 centers, including 169 (31.9%) and 361 (68.1%) elective and emergency admissions, respectively. The date of last menstrual period was document for 203 (38.3%) patients, use of contraception for 149 (28.1%), sexual activity for 83 (15.7%), pregnancy status for 274 (51.7%), and the possibility of pregnancy for 237 (44.7%). A higher incidence of documented date of last menstrual period (P=0.002) and pregnancy status (P<0.001) were identified among emergency admissions, and the possibility of pregnancy was documented more commonly among elective admissions (P<0.001).ConclusionsKey factors required for gynecologic assessment were often not documented for FRA admitted to general surgery both as elective and emergency admissions. Surgical teams and medical undergraduates require educating regarding the importance of obtaining gynecologic history for all FRA.
Protein adsorption in anion exchange resins – effects of polymer grafting, support structure porosity, and protein size
Authors: Zhu Mimi , Fuks Preston , Carta Giorgio 
Published: August 2017

AbstractBACKGROUNDAnion exchange resins are used extensively for the purification of acidic proteins. Grafting charged polymers to a rigid porous structure has been shown to improve performance under varying conditions. Understanding the underlying mechanisms is important for the optimum design and selection of material properties and operating conditions.RESULTSPositively charged grafted polymers incorporated into a rigid, porous polymeric backbone structure are found to significantly enhance adsorption capacity and kinetics of the proteins bovine serum albumin (BSA, Mr ∼ 65 kDa) and thyroglobulin (Tg, Mr ∼ 660 kDa) but under different conditions. For the smaller BSA, binding increases with grafted polymer length and content and decreases with salt concentration. For the much larger Tg, binding increases with the addition of some salt for the polymer‐grafted resins but can be lower than that observed for ungrafted resins without added salt. This behavior is caused by diffusional hindrance due to the bound protein. Increasing the length of the grafted polymer or the pore size of the backbone improves the Tg adsorption kinetics.CONCLUSIONProtein adsorption is controlled by different mechanisms dependent on polymer grafting, backbone structure, and size of the adsorbed protein. Optimum selection of resin properties and conditions is needed to maximize adsorption capacity and mass transfer kinetics. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Revisiting thermoplastic polyurethane, from composition to morphology and properties
Authors: Solouki Bonab Vahab , Manas‐Zloczower Ica 
Published: August 2017

ABSTRACTThermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) are among the most versatile engineering polymers. The presence of hard and soft segments on their backbone and specific hydrogen bond interactions between the hard segments, provide TPUs with outstanding engineering properties while rendering them as very complex systems to study. Knowledge of morphology–property relationship is essential for TPUs since their thermal and mechanical behavior are directly dictated by their complicated morphology. In this research, TPU morphological features related to the hard segment content (HSC) were explored in tandem with system macroscopic properties. It was observed that TPUs display multiscale phase separated morphology with specific morphological features dependent on the HSC. At a certain critical HSC, an interconnected network of hard segments was formed which resulted in significant changes in TPU properties. This was explained in analogy with percolation phenomena in filler reinforced systems and considering the hard segments as reinforcing agent. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017, 55, 1553–1564
Protein structure prediction: making AWSEM AWSEM‐ER by adding evolutionary restraints
Authors: Sirovetz Brian J. , Schafer Nicholas P. , Wolynes Peter G. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractProtein sequences have evolved to fold into functional structures, resulting in families of diverse protein sequences that all share the same overall fold. One can harness protein family sequence data to infer likely contacts between pairs of residues. In the current study, we combine this kind of inference from coevolutionary information with a coarse‐grained protein force field ordinarily used with single sequence input, the Associative memory, Water mediated, Structure and Energy Model (AWSEM), to achieve improved structure prediction. The resulting Associative memory, Water mediated, Structure and Energy Model with Evolutionary Restraints (AWSEM‐ER) yields a significant improvement in the quality of protein structure prediction over the single sequence prediction from AWSEM when a sufficiently large number of homologous sequences are available. Free energy landscape analysis shows that the addition of the evolutionary term shifts the free energy minimum to more native‐like structures, which explains the improvement in the quality of structures when performing predictions using simulated annealing. Simulations using AWSEM without coevolutionary information have proved useful in elucidating not only protein folding behavior, but also mechanisms of protein function. The success of AWSEM‐ER in de novo structure prediction suggests that the enhanced model opens the door to functional studies of proteins even when no experimentally solved structures are available.
Temperature‐Triggered Sulfur Vacancy Evolution in Monolayer MoS2/Graphene Heterostructures
Authors: Liu Mengxi , Shi Jianping , Li Yuanchang , Zhou Xiebo , Ma Donglin , Qi Yue , Zhang Yanfeng , Liu Zhongfan 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe existence of defects in 2D semiconductors has been predicted to generate unique physical properties and markedly influence their electronic and optoelectronic properties. In this work, it is found that the monolayer MoS2 prepared by chemical vapor deposition is nearly defect‐free after annealing under ultrahigh vacuum conditions at ≈400 K, as evidenced by scanning tunneling microscopy observations. However, after thermal annealing process at ≈900 K, the existence of dominant single sulfur vacancies and relatively rare vacancy chains (2S, 3S, and 4S) is convinced in monolayer MoS2 as‐grown on Au foils. Of particular significance is the revelation that the versatile vacancies can modulate the band structure of the monolayer MoS2, leading to a decrease of the bandgap and an obvious n‐doping effect. These results are confirmed by scanning tunneling spectroscopy data as well as first‐principles theoretical simulations of the related morphologies and the electronic properties of the various defect types. Briefly, this work should pave a novel route for defect engineering and hence the electronic property modulation of three‐atom‐thin 2D layered semiconductors.
New perspectives on the neurophysiology of primate amygdala emerging from the study of naturalistic social behaviors
Authors: Gothard Katalin M. , Mosher Clayton P. , Zimmerman Prisca E. , Putnam Philip T. , Morrow Jeremiah K. , Fuglevand Andrew J. 
Published: August 2017

A major challenge of primate neurophysiology, particularly in the domain of social neuroscience, is to adopt more natural behaviors without compromising the ability to relate patterns of neural activity to specific actions or sensory inputs. Traditional approaches have identified neural activity patterns in the amygdala in response to simplified versions of social stimuli such as static images of faces. As a departure from this reduced approach, single images of faces were replaced with arrays of images or videos of conspecifics. These stimuli elicited more natural behaviors and new types of neural responses: (1) attention‐gated responses to faces, (2) selective responses to eye contact, and (3) selective responses to touch and somatosensory feedback during the production of facial expressions. An additional advance toward more natural social behaviors in the laboratory was the implementation of dyadic social interactions. Under these conditions, neurons encoded similarly rewards that monkeys delivered to self and to their social partner. These findings reinforce the value of bringing natural, ethologically valid, behavioral tasks under neurophysiological scrutiny. WIREs Cogn Sci 2018, 9:e1449. doi: 10.1002/wcs.1449This article is categorized under:

Psychology > Emotion and Motivation
Neuroscience > Cognition
Neuroscience > Physiology
Abundance of manatees in Panama estimated from side‐scan sonar
Authors: Guzman Hector M. , Condit Richard 
Published: August 2017

ABSTRACTThe Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) is found in tropical and subtropical riverine and coastal waters across the Caribbean region. Little is known of its population status, particularly in Central America. We counted and mapped manatees using side‐scan sonar in the San San Pond Sak wetland, a protected estuary in western Panama, for 12 months, and converted the sightings into density and abundance estimates. A total of 214 sonar transects, covering 1,731 km and detecting 1,004 manatees, were completed. The greatest density of animals was found in the narrow and relatively deep upstream tributaries and also in a shallow lagoon near the river mouth. The estimated mean number of manatees in the 18‐km San San River system over the year was 18.3, but abundance was highly seasonal, with 33 animals present in May and just 2 animals in December. These figures are within the range reported for similar rivers in Central America and Florida, USA. Uncertainty of the population size was estimated with a Bayesian model, using daily variance in counts, and 95% credible intervals were 22–71 animals at peak season but just 1–6 animals in December. The active sonar survey used in this study located manatees, mapped their positions, and converted sightings into quantitative data for rigorous analysis. The method is cost‐effective for repeated counts across seasons and years, needed to evaluate population trends. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.
The Phospholipid Composition of Kangaroo Spermatozoa Verified by Mass Spectrometric Lipid Analysis
Authors: Engel Kathrin M. , Schiller Jürgen , Müller Karin , Dannenberger Dirk , Jakop Ulrike 
Published: August 2017

AbstractCryopreservation of kangaroo sperm has not been successful so far, and yet there is no promising cryopreservation protocol for these cells available. However, conservation of gametes is extremely important, particularly in the context of preserving endangered species. As spermatozoa are comprised of different membrane systems, the composition of these membranes might account for difficulties in cryopreservation. Lipids, as the main components, affect the physical properties of biological membranes and play a major role in sperm maturation. Therefore, knowledge of the lipid composition is crucial for any further step toward the preservation of the species. We used MALDI‐TOF, ESI‐IT, tandem mass spectrometry, and thin layer chromatography to investigate the lipid composition of epididymal spermatozoa of four different kangaroo species. Spectra of these species were very similar with respect to the identified lipid species. Tremendous changes in the lipid composition during the transit of sperm from caput to cauda epididymis could be seen, specifically an increase in poly‐unsaturated fatty acids, ether lipids, and plasmalogens, as well as a reduction in mono‐ and di‐unsaturated fatty acids. Additionally, phosphatidylcholines containing docosatrienoic acid (22:3), a heretofore unknown fatty acid for sperm membranes, showed the highest abundance in kangaroo sperm.
Meal-specific food patterns and the incidence of hyperglycemia in a Chinese adult population
Authors: Shi Zumin , Riley Malcolm , Taylor Anne , Noakes Manny 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThis study aimed to examine the association between meal-specific food patterns and incident hyperglycaemia in a Chinese adult population. Adults aged 20 years and older (n 1056) were followed from 2002 to 2007. Dietary data were collected using a 3-d food record and meal-specific (breakfast, lunch and dinner) food patterns were independently described by factor analysis based on the consumption of thirty-five food groups at each eating occasion. Each food pattern score was recoded as quartiles. Hyperglycaemia was defined as fasting plasma glucose >5·6 mmol/l at baseline and follow-up. The associated between food patterns and incident hyperglycaemia was assessed by logistic regression. During the follow-up, 125 new cases of hyperglycaemia were identified. Traditional (wheat) breakfast was inversely associated with incident hyperglycaemia, whereas traditional (rice, vegetable and pork) lunch and dinner were positively associated with the risk of incident hyperglycaemia, even after adjustment for a number of covariates including glycaemic load, carbohydrate intake and BMI. Incident hyperglycaemia occurred in 15·9, 13·6, 11·7, 6·1 % across quartiles of traditional breakfast; and 5·3, 9·1, 15·9, 17·1 % of the quartiles of traditional lunch pattern. The adjusted OR for hyperglycaemia was 0·67 (95 % CI 0·48, 0·92), 1·83 (95 % CI 1·32, 2·53) and 1·39 (95 % CI 1·04, 1·86) for 1 sd increase of traditional breakfast, lunch and dinner pattern factor score, respectively. A traditional wheat-based breakfast is associated with a decreased risk of hyperglycaemia. A rice-based traditional lunch and dinner is associated with an increased risk of hyperglycaemia in Chinese adults.
The role of elite rivalry and ethnic politics in livestock raids in northern Kenya
Authors: Okumu Willis , Bukari Kaderi Noagah , Sow Papa , Onyiego Evans 
Published: August 2017

ABSTRACTThis paper argues that livestock raids and pastoralists’ competition over water and pastures in north-western Kenya are manifestations of local ethnic political contests and rivalries. The culture of raiding among the Samburu, Turkana, Pokot, Borana, Gabra and Rendille communities has changed over the last 40 years. Whereas elders were once the gatekeepers of communal institutions, today new actors are at the forefront of new forms of violent raids. Among Samburu and Turkana communities, politicians and shrewd businessmen have emerged to exploit ethnic rivalry that exists between these groups and use it to mobilise raids. These political and business elites play influencing roles in raiding by paying and arming warriors to carry out raids. Competition for political influence is closely intertwined with competition over scarce water resources and grazing pastures among Turkana and Samburu. Given that pastoralists survive on decreasing pasture and water resources, our study shows that political elites arm their communities during the dry season to gain the upper hand in contests over access to limited resources. Livestock raids no longer occur in the traditional context of restocking, but rather as an expression and manifestation of local ethnic politics and political contests between ethnic kingpins. The study uses primary field data from a case study collected through in-depth interviews, oral history and group discussions with various actors.
Land conflicts and social differentiation in eastern Uganda
Authors: Kandel Matt 
Published: August 2017

ABSTRACTRising competition and conflict over land in rural sub-Saharan Africa continues to attract the attention of researchers. Recent work has especially focused on land governance, post-conflict restructuring of tenure relations, and large-scale land acquisitions. A less researched topic as of late, though one deserving of greater consideration, pertains to how social differentiation on the local-level shapes relations to land, and how these processes are rooted in specific historical developments. Drawing on fieldwork conducted in Teso sub-region of eastern Uganda, this paper analyses three specific land conflicts and situates them within a broad historical trajectory. I show how each dispute illuminates changes in class relations in Teso since the early 1990s. I argue that this current period of socioeconomic transformation, which includes the formation of a more clearly defined sub-regional middle class and elite, constitutes the most prominent period of social differentiation in Teso since the early 20th century.
SRSF1 promotes vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation through a Δ133p53/EGR1/KLF5 pathway
Authors: Xie Ning , Chen Min , Dai Rilei , Zhang Yan , Zhao Hanqing , Song Zhiming , Zhang Lufeng , Li Zhenyan , Feng Yuanqing , Gao Hua , Wang Li , Zhang Ting , Xiao Rui-Ping , Wu Jianxin , Cao Chun-Mei 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThough vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation underlies all cardiovascular hyperplastic disorders, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for this cellular process is still incomplete. Here we report that SRSF1 (serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 1), an essential splicing factor, promotes VSMC proliferation and injury-induced neointima formation. Vascular injury in vivo and proliferative stimuli in vitro stimulate SRSF1 expression. Mice lacking SRSF1 specifically in SMCs develop less intimal thickening after wire injury. Expression of SRSF1 in rat arteries enhances neointima formation. SRSF1 overexpression increases, while SRSF1 knockdown suppresses the proliferation and migration of cultured human aortic and coronary arterial SMCs. Mechanistically, SRSF1 favours the induction of a truncated p53 isoform, Δ133p53, which has an equal proliferative effect and in turn transcriptionally activates Krüppel-like factor 5 (KLF5) via the Δ133p53-EGR1 complex, resulting in an accelerated cell-cycle progression and increased VSMC proliferation. Our study provides a potential therapeutic target for vascular hyperplastic disease.
Agricultural pesticide use and adverse birth outcomes in the San Joaquin Valley of California
Authors: Larsen Ashley E. , Gaines Steven D. , Deschênes Olivier 
Published: August 2017

AbstractVirtually all agricultural communities worldwide are exposed to agricultural pesticides. Yet, the health consequences of such exposure are poorly understood, and the scientific literature remains ambiguous. Using individual birth and demographic characteristics for over 500 000 birth observations between 1997–2011 in the agriculturally dominated San Joaquin Valley, California, we statistically investigate if residential agricultural pesticide exposure during gestation, by trimester, and by toxicity influences birth weight, gestational length, or birth abnormalities. Overall, our analysis indicates that agricultural pesticide exposure increases adverse birth outcomes by 5–9%, but only among the population exposed to very high quantities of pesticides (e.g., top 5th percentile, i.e., ~4200 kg applied over gestation). Thus, policies and interventions targeting the extreme right tail of the pesticide distribution near human habitation could largely eliminate the adverse birth outcomes associated with agricultural pesticide exposure documented in this study.
Platelets reduce anoikis and promote metastasis by activating YAP1 signaling
Authors: Haemmerle Monika , Taylor Morgan L. , Gutschner Tony , Pradeep Sunila , Cho Min Soon , Sheng Jianting , Lyons Yasmin M. , Nagaraja Archana S. , Dood Robert L. , Wen Yunfei , Mangala Lingegowda S. , Hansen Jean M. , Rupaimoole Rajesha , Gharpure Kshipra M. , Rodriguez-Aguayo Cristian , Yim Sun Young , Lee Ju-Seog , Ivan Cristina , Hu Wei , Lopez-Berestein Gabriel , Wong Stephen T. , Karlan Beth Y. , Levine Douglas A. , Liu Jinsong , Afshar-Kharghan Vahid , Sood Anil K. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThrombocytosis is present in more than 30% of patients with solid malignancies and correlates with worsened patient survival. Tumor cell interaction with various cellular components of the tumor microenvironment including platelets is crucial for tumor growth and metastasis. Although it is known that platelets can infiltrate into tumor tissue, secrete pro-angiogenic and pro-tumorigenic factors and thereby increase tumor growth, the precise molecular interactions between platelets and metastatic cancer cells are not well understood. Here we demonstrate that platelets induce resistance to anoikis in vitro and are critical for metastasis in vivo. We further show that platelets activate RhoA-MYPT1-PP1-mediated YAP1 dephosphorylation and promote its nuclear translocation which induces a pro-survival gene expression signature and inhibits apoptosis. Reduction of YAP1 in cancer cells in vivo protects against thrombocytosis-induced increase in metastasis. Collectively, our results indicate that cancer cells depend on platelets to avoid anoikis and succeed in the metastatic process.
Anti-biofilm effects of anthranilate on a broad range of bacteria
Authors: Li Xi-Hui , Kim Soo-Kyoung , Lee Joon-Hee 
Published: August 2017

AbstractAnthranilate, one of tryptophan degradation products has been reported to interfere with biofilm formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Here, we investigated the effects of anthranilate on biofilm formation by various bacteria and the mechanisms responsible. Anthranilate commonly inhibited biofilm formation by P. aeruginosa, Vibrio vulnificus, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus, and disrupted biofilms preformed by these bacteria. Because anthranilate reduced intracellular c-di-GMP and enhanced swimming and swarming motilities in P. aeruginosa, V. vulnificus, B. subtilis, and S. enterica, it is likely that anthranilate disrupts biofilms by inducing the dispersion of these bacteria. On the other hand, in S. aureus, a non-flagellate bacterium that has no c-di-GMP signaling, anthranilate probably inhibits biofilm formation by reducing slime production. These results suggest that anthranilate has multiple ways for biofilm inhibition. Furthermore, because of its good biofilm inhibitory effects and lack of cytotoxicity to human cells even at high concentration, anthranilate appears to be a promising agent for inhibiting biofilm formation by a broad range of bacteria.