bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Oxygen requirement as a screening tool for the detection of late pulmonary hypertension in extremely low birth weight infants
Authors: Aswani Rohit , Hayman Lisa , Nichols Gina , Luciano Angel A. , Amankwah Ernest K. , Leshko Jennifer L. , Dadlani Gul H. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractBackgroundMany extremely low birth weight infants develop pulmonary hypertension late in their clinical course, and over 60% go undetected by early screening echocardiography. At present, no standardised screening protocol exists for detecting late pulmonary hypertension in extremely low birth weight infants. We assessed the utility of oxygen supplementation as a predictor of late pulmonary hypertension.MethodsA retrospective single-centre review of extremely low birth weight infants with no evidence of CHD and those surviving for >30 days was performed. The association between oxygen ⩾30% at day of life 30 and diagnosis of late pulmonary hypertension was estimated with an odds ratio and 95% confidence interval using logistic regression. Doppler echocardiography was used to diagnose pulmonary hypertension in the infants.ResultsA total of 230 infants met the study criteria. The incidence of late pulmonary hypertension was 8.3% (19/230). Infants with late pulmonary hypertension were more likely to have a lower mean birth weight (667.1±144 versus 799.3±140 g, p=0.001) and more likely to be small for gestational age (47.4 versus 14.2%, p=0.004). Oxygen requirement ⩾30% at day of life 30 was associated with increased risk of late pulmonary hypertension (odds ratio=3.77, 95% confidence interval=1.42–10.00, p=0.008) in univariate analysis and after adjusting for birth weight (odds ratio=2.47, 95% confidence interval=0.89–6.84, p=0.08).ConclusionsThe need of oxygen supplementation ⩾30% at day of life 30 may be a good screening tool for detecting late pulmonary hypertension in extremely low birth weight infants.
Sociodemographic Effects on the Test-Retest Reliability of the Big	Five Inventory
Authors: Gnambs Timo 
Published: June 2015

Abstract. Psychometric properties of self-report scales can be affected by sociodemographic differences among respondents. For example, factor structures of established personality scales tend to be distorted in samples with less formal education. Whether test-retest reliabilities are comparably affected is of yet not well known. Therefore, this study examined the measurement precision of a short Big Five instrument in a diverse sample of the German population. A sample of 1,696 (50% women) participants reported on their personality twice within an interval of 10 weeks. The median test-retest reliability for the five traits, rtt = .66, was notably smaller than previously reported coefficients from college students, median rtt = .78. Moderator analyses identified modest effects of age and educational attainment on these reliability estimates, whereas sex showed no differential impact. These results highlight that test-retest reliabilities derived from student samples should not be generalized to sociodemographically diverse groups of respondents.
PML is required for telomere stability in non-neoplastic human cells
Authors: Marchesini M , Matocci R , Tasselli L , Cambiaghi V , Orleth A , Furia L , Marinelli C , Lombardi S , Sammarelli G , Aversa F , Minucci S , Faretta M , Pelicci P G , Grignani F 
Published: June 2015

Abstract
Telomeres interact with numerous proteins, including components of the shelterin complex, whose alteration, similarly to proliferation-induced telomere shortening, initiates cellular senescence. In tumors, telomere length is maintained by Telomerase activity or by the Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres mechanism, whose hallmark is the telomeric localization of the promyelocytic leukemia (PML) protein. Whether PML contributes to telomeres maintenance in normal cells is unknown. We show that in normal human fibroblasts the PML protein associates with few telomeres, preferentially when they are damaged. Proliferation-induced telomere attrition or their damage due to alteration of the shelterin complex enhances the telomeric localization of PML, which is increased in human T-lymphocytes derived from patients genetically deficient in telomerase. In normal fibroblasts, PML depletion induces telomere damage, nuclear and chromosomal abnormalities, and senescence. Expression of the leukemia protein PML/RARα in hematopoietic progenitors displaces PML from telomeres and induces telomere shortening in the bone marrow of pre-leukemic mice. Our work provides a novel view of the physiologic function of PML, which participates in telomeres surveillance in normal cells. Our data further imply that a diminished PML function may contribute to cell senescence, genomic instability, and tumorigenesis.
Microbial population dynamics in response to Pectobacterium atrosepticum infection in potato tubers
Authors: Kõiv Viia , Roosaare Märt , Vedler Eve , Ann Kivistik Paula , Toppi Kristel , Schryer David W. , Remm Maido , Tenson Tanel , Mäe Andres 
Published: June 2015

AbstractEndophytes are microbes and fungi that live inside plant tissues without damaging the host. Herein we examine the dynamic changes in the endophytic bacterial community in potato (Solanum tuberosum) tuber in response to pathogenic infection by Pectobacterium atrosepticum, which causes soft rot in numerous economically important crops. We quantified community changes using both cultivation and next-generation sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and found that, despite observing significant variability in both the mass of macerated tissue and structure of the endophytic community between individual potato tubers, P. atrosepticum is always taken over by the endophytes during maceration. 16S rDNA sequencing revealed bacteria from the phyla Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Fusobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Acidobacteria, TM7 and Deinococcus-Thermus. Prior to infection, Propionibacterium acnes is frequently among the dominant taxa, yet is out competed by relatively few dominant taxa as the infection proceeds. Two days post-infection, the most abundant sequences in macerated potato tissue are Gammaproteobacteria. The most dominant genera are Enterobacter and Pseudomonas. Eight days post-infection, the number of anaerobic pectolytic Clostridia increases, probably due to oxygen depletion. These results demonstrate that the pathogenesis is strictly initiated by the pathogen (sensu stricto) and proceeds with a major contribution from the endophytic community.
Prognostic role of copeptin after stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies
Authors: Choi Kyu-Sun , Kim Hyun Jung , Chun Hyoung-Joon , Kim Jae Min , Yi Hyeong-Joong , Cheong Jin-Hwan , Kim Choong-Hyun , Oh Suck-Jun , Ko Yong , Kim Young-Soo , Bak Koang-Hum , Ryu Je-Il , Kim Wonhee , Lim Taeho , Ahn Hyeong sik , Ahn Il Min , Lee Seon-Heui 
Published: June 2015

AbstractCopeptin, the C-terminal part of provasopressin, has emerged as a novel prognostic marker after hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke. The aim of this study was to quantitatively assess the prognostic significance of plasma copeptin level on functional outcome and mortality in patients with acute stroke using a meta-analysis of the available evidence. Thirteen relevant studies from 2,746 patients were finally included in our study. An elevated plasma copeptin level was associated with an increased risk of unfavorable outcome and mortality after stroke (OR 1.77; 95% CI, 1.44–2.19 and OR 3.90; 95% CI 3.07–4.95, respectively). The result of the pooled measure on standardized mean difference (SMD) was that plasma copeptin levels were found to be significantly higher in patients who died compared to survivors (SMD 1.70; 95% CI, 1.36–2.03). A stratified analysis by study region showed significant differences in SMD of copeptin and the heterogeneity among studies was significantly decreased. However, the positive association of copeptin with poor prognosis after stroke was consistent in each stratified analysis. The present meta-analysis suggests that early measurement of plasma copeptin could provide better prognostic information about functional outcome and mortality in patients with acute stroke.
Dimensional crossover in the quantum transport behaviour of the natural topological insulator Aleksite
Authors: Gehring Pascal , Vaklinova Kristina , Hoyer Alexander , Benia Hadj M. , Skakalova Viera , Argentero Giacomo , Eder Franz , Meyer Jannik C. , Burghard Marko , Kern Klaus 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThree-dimensional topological insulators comprise topologically protected surface states displaying massless, Dirac-like linear dispersion with spin-momentum locking. Electrical conduction through such surface states has been documented to manifest itself in a two-dimensional character of the angle-dependent magnetotransport behavior. Here, we explore the size-dependent electronic properties of nanostructures made of the lead-containing mineral Aleksite, a naturally occurring topological insulator. Compared to its sister compound Kawazulite, a member of the well-studied Tetradymite crystal class, the crystal structure of Aleksite is distinguished by its lack of any counterpart within the group of synthetic topological insulators. Low temperature Hall measurements on thin Aleksite nanosheets reveal a significant carrier mobility on the order of 1000 cm2/(Vs) and a high carrier density of n = 3.9 × 1025 m−3. Importantly, for Aleksite nanoribbons with a width below 150 nm, a 1D weak antilocalization effect along with 1D universal conductance fluctuations emerges, which transforms into 2D behavior for larger ribbon widths
Homology modeling of DFG-in FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) and structure-based virtual screening for inhibitor identification
Authors: Ke Yi-Yu , Singh Vivek Kumar , Coumar Mohane Selvaraj , Hsu Yung Chang , Wang Wen-Chieh , Song Jen-Shin , Chen Chun-Hwa , Lin Wen-Hsing , Wu Szu-Huei , Hsu John T. A. , Shih Chuan , Hsieh Hsing-Pang 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe inhibition of FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) activity using small-molecule inhibitors has emerged as a target-based alternative to traditional chemotherapy for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In this study, we report the use of structure-based virtual screening (SBVS), a computer-aided drug design technique for the identification of new chemotypes for FLT3 inhibition. For this purpose, homology modeling (HM) of the DFG-in FLT3 structure was carried using two template structures, including PDB ID: 1RJB (DFG-out FLT3 kinase domain) and PDB ID: 3LCD (DFG-in CSF-1 kinase domain). The modeled structure was able to correctly identify known DFG-in (SU11248, CEP-701 and PKC-412) and DFG-out (sorafenib, ABT-869 and AC220) FLT3 inhibitors, in docking studies. The modeled structure was then used to carry out SBVS of an HTS library of 125,000 compounds. The top scoring 97 compounds were tested for FLT3 kinase inhibition and two hits (BPR056, IC50 = 2.3 and BPR080, IC50 = 10.7 μM) were identified. Molecular dynamics simulation and density functional theory calculation suggest that BPR056 (MW: 325.32; cLogP: 2.48) interacted with FLT3 in a stable manner and could be chemically optimized to realize a drug-like lead in the future.
Enhanced dipicolinic acid production during the stationary phase in Bacillus subtilis by blocking acetoin synthesis
Authors: Toya Yoshihiro , Hirasawa Takashi , Ishikawa Shu , Chumsakul Onuma , Morimoto Takuya , Liu Shenghao , Masuda Kenta , Kageyama Yasushi , Ozaki Katsuya , Ogasawara Naotake , Shimizu Hiroshi 
Published: June 2015

Abstract
Bacterial bio-production during the stationary phase is expected to lead to a high target yield because the cells do not consume the substrate for growth. Bacillus subtilis is widely used for bio-production, but little is known about the metabolism during the stationary phase. In this study, we focused on the dipicolinic acid (DPA) production by B. subtilis and investigated the metabolism. We found that DPA production competes with acetoin synthesis and that acetoin synthesis genes (alsSD) deletion increases DPA productivity by 1.4-fold. The mutant showed interesting features where the glucose uptake was inhibited, whereas the cell density increased by approximately 50%, resulting in similar volumetric glucose consumption to that of the parental strain. The metabolic profiles revealed accumulation of pyruvate, acetyl-CoA, and the TCA cycle intermediates in the alsSD mutant. Our results indicate that alsSD-deleted B. subtilis has potential as an effective host for stationary-phase production of compounds synthesized from these intermediates.
Intraoperative Protective Mechanical Ventilation for Prevention of Postoperative Pulmonary Complications
Authors: Güldner Andreas , Kiss Thomas , Serpa Neto Ary , Hemmes Sabrine N. T. , Canet Jaume , Spieth Peter M. , Rocco Patricia R. M. , Schultz Marcus J. , Pelosi Paolo , Gama de Abreu Marcelo 
Published: June 2015

AbstractAbstract
Postoperative pulmonary complications are associated with increased morbidity, length of hospital stay, and mortality after major surgery. Intraoperative lung-protective mechanical ventilation has the potential to reduce the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications. This review discusses the relevant literature on definition and methods to predict the occurrence of postoperative pulmonary complication, the pathophysiology of ventilator-induced lung injury with emphasis on the noninjured lung, and protective ventilation strategies, including the respective roles of tidal volumes, positive end-expiratory pressure, and recruitment maneuvers. The authors propose an algorithm for protective intraoperative mechanical ventilation based on evidence from recent randomized controlled trials.
Postoperative pulmonary complications increase morbidity and mortality, but can be reduced by lung-protective mechanical ventilation. Different strategies using low tidal volumes, positive end-expiratory pressure, recruitment maneuvers, and a combination of these have been suggested, but only a few of them are based on evidence. This review proposes an algorithm for protective intraoperative mechanical ventilation that builds on utmost recent randomized clinical trials.
Modeling small RNA competition inC. elegans
Authors: Elkington Joshua M. 
Published: June 2015

Website SummarySmall RNAs are important regulators of gene expression; however, the relationship between small RNAs is poorly understood. Studying the crosstalk between small RNA pathways can help understand how gene expression is regulated. One hypothesis suggests that small RNA competition arises from limited enzymatic resources. Therefore, a model was created in order to gain insights into this competition.AbstractSmall RNAs have been determined to have an essential role in gene regulation. However, competition between small RNAs is a poorly understood aspect of small RNA dynamics. Recent evidence has suggested that competition between small RNA pathways arises from a scarcity of common resources essential for small RNA activity. In order to understand how competition affects small RNAs inC. elegans, a system of differential equations was used. The model recreates normal behavior of small RNAs and uses random sampling in order to determine the coefficients of competition for each small RNA class. The model includes endogenous small-interfering RNAs (endo-siRNA), exogenous small-interfering RNAs (exo-siRNA), and microRNAs (miRNA). The model predicts that exo-siRNAs is dominated by competition between endo-siRNAs and miRNAs. Furthermore, the model predicts that competition is required for normal levels of endogenous small RNAs to be maintained. Although the model makes several assumptions about cell dynamics, the model is still useful in order to understand competition between small RNA pathways.
Connecting small RNAs and Aging
Authors: Elkington Joshua 
Published: June 2015

Website SummarySmall RNAs are important gene regulators of stress response, aging, and many other things. More analysis needs to be done in order to gain a better understanding of these molecules to find connections between small RNAs and important things like aging.SummarySmall RNAs are a diverse population of gene regulators, but their role in the cell is not fully characterized. Bioinformatics was used to prove their connection with aging and expand current knowledge for these molecules.AbstractSmall RNAs have a wide range of functions and recent studies have found connections between these molecules and aging pathways. However, the process to systematically characterize this relationship is slow. Prediction tools can be used to expedite this process by finding new genes and pathways that cross talk with each other. Using phylogenetic and systems analysis, connections between small RNAs and aging were proven and new genes that may be related to aging were identified. This type of analysis can be applied to many different pathways in order to fully characterize the role of small RNAs.
An equity management and planning tool for cooperatives
Authors: Royer Jeffrey 
Published: June 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to describe an equity management and planning tool used by rural electric cooperatives (RECs) and based on the times-interest-earned ratio (TIER). The objectives of the paper are to construct a mathematical model that provides a rigorous foundation for the TIER approach, modify the approach so the rate of return on equity is a function of the cooperative’s equity position, demonstrate how elements of the model can be used by RECs in setting electric rates that will enable them to accelerate the retirement of member equity, and derive a generalized form of the “modified Goodwin formula” that can be used by both RECs and agricultural cooperatives.

Design/methodology/approach
– Mathematical and graphical expressions of the TIER approach are developed. Simulations are used to demonstrate how RECs can set electric rates according to a target revolving period. The modified Goodwin formula is generalized to include the payment of cash patronage refunds through use of a growth model of an agricultural cooperative developed in Royer (1993).

Findings
– This paper demonstrates how TIER analysis and the modified Goodwin formula can be used by cooperatives to aid their decisions regarding debt and equity financing and their choices regarding cash patronage refunds, equity retirement, and growth. The paper demonstrates that cooperatives that fail to recognize the functional relationship between the rate of return on equity and the equity position may substantially underestimate the equity position necessary to meet interest coverage requirements and overestimate their ability to grow and retire equity. It also shows that RECs may be able to make substantial improvements in equity revolvement with only modest increases in electric rates.

Research limitations/implications
– The model developed in this paper has been simplified to focus on fundamental financial relationships. To apply this model, cooperatives may need to modify it to accommodate the complexities of their business operations.

Practical implications
– TIER analysis can provide a useful equity management and planning tool for both RECs and agricultural cooperatives. It also can be used by lending institutions to assess the financial health of individual cooperative organizations.

Originality/value
– Constructing a mathematical model that provides a foundation for TIER analysis, modifying the approach so that the rate of return on equity is a function of the equity position, demonstrating how RECs can use the model to set electric rates according to a target revolving period, and generalizing the modified Goodwin formula so it can be used by agricultural cooperatives are all original contributions.
Valuing new random genetically modified (GM) traits with real options
Authors: Wilson William , Shakya Sumadhur , Dahl Bruce 
Published: June 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to develop an analytical model to value traits at different developmental phases and to determine the value of drought tolerance (DT) in wheat using GM technology.

Design/methodology/approach
– A stochastic binomial real-options model of GM traits was developed to estimate the value of a DT wheat trait.

Findings
– The results indicate that the value of DT wheat using GM technology is in-the-money at each development phase. The greatest value would accrue for the Prairie Gateway and Northern Great Plains regions in the USA.

Research limitations/implications
– The approach is useful for valuing high-cost risky investments in technology and results provide guidance for development strategies.

Originality/value
– The model is original and its applications to wheat are unique.
The long-term linkages between direct and indirect property in Australia
Authors: Yong Jaime , Khoi Pham Anh 
Published: June 2015

Purpose– Investment in Australia’s property market, whether directly or indirectly through Australian real estate investment trusts (A-REITs), grew remarkably since the 1990s. The degree of segregation between the property market and other financial assets, such as shares and bonds, can influence the diversification benefits within multi-asset portfolios. This raises the question of whether direct and indirect property investments are substitutable. Establishing how information transmits between asset classes and impacts the predictability of returns is of interest to investors. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approach– The authors study the linkages between direct and indirect Australian property sectors from 1985 to 2013, with shares and bonds. This paper employs an Autoregressive Fractionally Integrated Moving Average (ARFIMA) process to de-smooth a valuation-based direct property index. The authors establish directional lead-lag relationships between markets using bi-variate Granger causality tests. Johansen cointegration tests are carried out to examine how direct and indirect property markets adjust to an equilibrium long-term relationship and short-term deviations from such a relationship with other asset classes.Findings– The authors find the use of appraisal-based property data creates a smoothing bias which masks the extent of how information is transmitted between the indirect property sector, stock and bond markets, and influences returns. The authors demonstrate that an ARFIMA process accounting for a smoothing bias up to lags of four quarters can overcome the overstatement of the smoothing bias from traditional AR models, after individually appraised constituent properties are aggregated into an overall index. The results show that direct property adjusts to information transmitted from market-traded A-REITs and stocks.Practical implications– The study shows direct property investments and A-REITs are substitutible in a multi-asset portfolio in the long and short term.Originality/value– The authors apply an ARFIMA(p,d,q) model to de-smooth Australian property returns, as proposed by Bond and Hwang (2007). The authors expect the findings will contribute to the discussion on whether direct property and REITs are substitutes in a multi-asset portfolio.