bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Public transit mobility as a leading indicator of COVID-19 transmission in 40 cities during the first wave of the pandemic
Authors: Soucy Jean-Paul R. , Sturrock Shelby L. , Berry Isha , Westwood Duncan J. , Daneman Nick , Fisman David , MacFadden Derek R. , Brown Kevin A. 
Published: May 2024

Background
The rapid global emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 created urgent demand for leading indicators to track the spread of the virus and assess the consequences of public health measures designed to limit transmission. Public transit mobility, which has been shown to be responsive to previous societal disruptions such as disease outbreaks and terrorist attacks, emerged as an early candidate.

Methods
We conducted a longitudinal ecological study of the association between public transit mobility reductions and COVID-19 transmission using publicly available data from a public transit app in 40 global cities from March 16 to April 12, 2020. Multilevel linear regression models were used to estimate the association between COVID-19 transmission and the value of the mobility index 2 weeks prior using two different outcome measures: weekly case ratio and effective reproduction number.

Results
Over the course of March 2020, median public transit mobility, measured by the volume of trips planned in the app, dropped from 100% (first quartile (Q1)–third quartile (Q3) = 94–108%) of typical usage to 10% (Q1–Q3 = 6–15%). Mobility was strongly associated with COVID-19 transmission 2 weeks later: a 10% decline in mobility was associated with a 12.3% decrease in the weekly case ratio (exp(β) = 0.877; 95% confidence interval (CI): [0.859–0.896]) and a decrease in the effective reproduction number (β = −0.058; 95% CI: [−0.068 to −0.048]). The mobility-only models explained nearly 60% of variance in the data for both outcomes. The adjustment for epidemic timing attenuated the associations between mobility and subsequent COVID-19 transmission but only slightly increased the variance explained by the models.

Discussion
Our analysis demonstrated the value of public transit mobility as a leading indicator of COVID-19 transmission during the first wave of the pandemic in 40 global cities, at a time when few such indicators were available. Factors such as persistently depressed demand for public transit since the onset of the pandemic limit the ongoing utility of a mobility index based on public transit usage. This study illustrates an innovative use of “big data” from industry to inform the response to a global pandemic, providing support for future collaborations aimed at important public health challenges.
Student Course Engagement and Academic Life Satisfaction of College Students
Authors: Rebusa Niña Claire C. , Barote Laurence , Navarez Hacel Jane , Culajara Claire Lynn 
Published: May 2024

Student course engagement and academic life satisfaction are two determinants of student success. In university courses, student course engagement holds the power to shape numerous results, including learning, achievements, retention rates, satisfaction levels, and overall academic success. Academic life satisfaction, on the other hand, is defined as the student's attitude and sense of well-being with regard to their learning activities. Academic life satisfaction also plays a significant role in shaping student course engagement. This study utilized descriptive-predictive research design which provides insights into the levels of student course engagement and academic life satisfaction. The research aims to identify correlations and predictors, particularly the impact of academic life satisfaction on student course engagement. The study was particularly joined by 350 college students using a simple random sampling comprising first-year to fourth-year level students. The data interpretation is performed by Jamovi software together with Excel. The gathered data go through the test of normality using the Shapiro-Wilk Test which shows not normally distributed data because of the outliers. The result shows that student course engagement and academic life satisfaction have a significant relationship. The overall student course engagement of the college students had a mean score (x̄= 3.72, SD= .736) reflecting an overall positively engaged analysis. In addition, the overall Academic Life Satisfaction of the college students had a mean score of (x̄= 3.75, SD= .628) shows that the satisfaction is oftentimes evident, indicating a generally positive perception of their personal and academic circumstances. Moreover, using Linear Regression Analysis, personal satisfaction is the only predictor that contributes to student course engagement among the respondents. Linear regression analysis indicates a positive correlation between two variables: as the student becomes satisfied, the more they will engage themselves in certain activities. Lastly, this study is beneficial to the current student enrollee in the institution by knowing one of the factors that predict academic success.
Abusive supervision and work behaviors: The mediating role of LMX
Authors: Xu Erica , Huang Xu , Lam Catherine K. , Miao Qing 
Published: July 2011

SummaryWe investigated the mediating role of the leader–member exchange (LMX) in the association of abusive supervision and employee work behaviors (task performance and organizational citizenship behaviors toward the organization and individuals). Using data collected from 366 supervisor–subordinate dyads, we found that LMX fully mediated the negative effects of abusive supervision on all three work behaviors. In addition, we conducted a supplementary study on the basis of the data collected from 54 supervisor–subordinate dyads from a garment company, and we found that LMX mediated the relationship between abusive supervision and employee objective future performance with interactional justice controlled. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Assessment and characterisation of common renal masses with CT and MRI
Authors: Pallwein-Prettner Leo , Flöry Daniel , Rotter Claus Raphael , Pogner Kurt , Syré Gerhard , Fellner Claudia , Frauscher Ferdinand , Aigner Friedrich , Krause Frens Steffen , Fellner Franz 
Published: July 2011

Abstract

Objective
Owing to the widespread use of abdominal imaging studies the detection rate of solid renal masses has increased, and an accurate characterisation of imaging features of renal masses has become more essential for case management.

Method and results
MR imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) are frequently used modalities for detection and differentiation of renal masses. This article gives a review of imaging characteristics of benign and malignant renal masses, discussing their appearance in CT and MR imaging. Advanced MR techniques like diffusion-weighted imaging and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) mapping, which have shown promising results in the differentiation between benign and malignant renal lesions, will be introduced.

Conclusion
MRI and CT are useful in the characterisation and estimation of the prognosis for renal masses.
Preliminary study on the modelling of negative leader discharges
Authors: Arevalo L , Cooray V 
Published: July 2011

Nowadays, there is considerable interest in understanding the physics underlying positive and negative discharges because of the importance of improving lightning protection systems and of coordinating the insulation for high voltages. Numerical simulations of positive switching impulses made in long spark gaps in a laboratory are achievable because the physics of the process is reasonably well understood and because of the availability of powerful computational methods. However, the existing work on the simulation of negative switching discharges has been held up by a lack of experimental data and the absence of a full understanding of the physics involved. In the scientific community, it is well known that most of the lightning discharges that occur in nature are of negative polarity, and because of their complexity, the only way to understand them is to generate the discharges in laboratories under controlled conditions.
The voltage impulse waveshape used in laboratories is a negative switching impulse. With the aim of applying the available information to a self-consistent physical method, an electrostatic approximation of the negative leader discharge process is presented here. The simulation procedure takes into consideration the physics of positive and negative discharges, considering that the negative leader propagates towards a grounded electrode and the positive leader towards a rod electrode. The simulation considers the leader channel to be thermodynamic, and assumes that the conditions required to generate a thermal channel are the same for positive and negative leaders. However, the magnitude of the electrical charge necessary to reproduce their propagation and thermalization is different, and both values are based on experimental data. The positive and negative streamer development is based on the constant electric field characteristics of these discharges, as found during experimental measurements made by different authors. As a computational tool, a finite element method based software is employed. The simulations are compared with experimental data available in the literature.
Phylogenetic Analysis of Bacillus subtilis Strains Applicable to Natto (Fermented Soybean) Production
Authors: Kubo Yuji , Rooney Alejandro P. , Tsukakoshi Yoshiki , Nakagawa Rikio , Hasegawa Hiromasa , Kimura Keitarou 
Published: July 2011

ABSTRACT

Spore-forming
Bacillus
strains that produce extracellular poly-γ-glutamic acid were screened for their application to natto (fermented soybean food) fermentation. Among the 424 strains, including
Bacillus subtilis
and
B. amyloliquefaciens
, which we isolated from rice straw, 59 were capable of fermenting natto. Biotin auxotrophism was tightly linked to natto fermentation. A multilocus nucleotide sequence of six genes (
rpoB
,
purH
,
gyrA
,
groEL
,
polC
, and 16S rRNA) was used for phylogenetic analysis, and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis was also conducted on the natto-fermenting strains. The ability to ferment natto was inferred from the two principal components of the AFLP banding pattern, and natto-fermenting strains formed a tight cluster within the
B. subtilis
subsp.
subtilis
group.
Molecular Basis of Sulfonamide and Trimethoprim Resistance in Fish-Pathogenic Aeromonas Isolates
Authors: Kadlec Kristina , von Czapiewski Ellen , Kaspar Heike , Wallmann Jürgen , Michael Geovana Brenner , Steinacker Ulrike , Schwarz Stefan 
Published: July 2011

ABSTRACT

Sulfonamide-trimethoprim-resistant
Aeromonas salmonicida
and motile
Aeromonas
spp. from diseased fish of the GE
RM
-Vet study carried the
sul1
gene together with mostly cassette-borne trimethoprim resistance genes, including the novel gene
dfrA28
. The seven
dfrA
and
dfrB
genes identified were located mostly in class 1 integrons which commonly harbored other gene cassettes.
Strategy for Modular Tagged High-Throughput Amplicon Sequencing
Authors: de Cárcer Daniel Aguirre , Denman Stuart E. , McSweeney Chris , Morrison Mark 
Published: July 2011

ABSTRACT
The use and validation of a strategy that allows a universal set of bar-coded sequencing primers to be appended to an amplified PCR product is described. The strategy allows a modular approach, in that the same bar code can be used with two or more target-specific primer sets, even simultaneously.
PCR Amplification-Independent Methods for Detection of Microbial Communities by the High-Density Microarray PhyloChip
Authors: DeAngelis Kristen M. , Wu Cindy H. , Beller Harry R. , Brodie Eoin L. , Chakraborty Romy , DeSantis Todd Z. , Fortney Julian L. , Hazen Terry C. , Osman Shariff R. , Singer Mary E. , Tom Lauren M. , Andersen Gary L. 
Published: July 2011

ABSTRACT
Environmental microbial community analysis typically involves amplification by PCR, despite well-documented biases. We have developed two methods of PCR-independent microbial community analysis using the high-density microarray PhyloChip: direct hybridization of 16S rRNA (dirRNA) or rRNA converted to double-stranded cDNA (dscDNA). We compared dirRNA and dscDNA communities to PCR-amplified DNA communities using a mock community of eight taxa, as well as experiments derived from three environmental sample types: chromium-contaminated aquifer groundwater, tropical forest soil, and secondary sewage in seawater. Community profiles by both direct hybridization methods showed differences that were expected based on accompanying data but that were missing in PCR-amplified communities. Taxon richness decreased in RNA compared to that in DNA communities, suggesting a subset of 20% in soil and 60% in groundwater that is active; secondary sewage showed no difference between active and inactive populations. Direct hybridization of dscDNA and RNA is thus a viable alternative to PCR-amplified microbial community analysis, providing identification of the active populations within microbial communities that attenuate pollutants, drive global biogeochemical cycles, or proliferate disease states.
Magnetosome Expression of Functional Camelid Antibody Fragments (Nanobodies) in Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense
Authors: Pollithy Anna , Romer Tina , Lang Claus , Müller Frank D. , Helma Jonas , Leonhardt Heinrich , Rothbauer Ulrich , Schüler Dirk 
Published: July 2011

ABSTRACT

Numerous applications of conventional and biogenic magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), such as in diagnostics, immunomagnetic separations, and magnetic cell labeling, require the immobilization of antibodies. This is usually accomplished by chemical conjugation, which, however, has several disadvantages, such as poor efficiency and the need for coupling chemistry. Here, we describe a novel strategy to display a functional camelid antibody fragment (nanobody) from an alpaca (
Lama pacos
) on the surface of bacterial biogenic magnetic nanoparticles (magnetosomes). Magnetosome-specific expression of a red fluorescent protein (RFP)-binding nanobody (RBP)
in vivo
was accomplished by genetic fusion of RBP to the magnetosome protein MamC in the magnetite-synthesizing bacterium
Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense
. We demonstrate that isolated magnetosomes expressing MamC-RBP efficiently recognize and bind their antigen
in vitro
and can be used for immunoprecipitation of RFP-tagged proteins and their interaction partners from cell extracts. In addition, we show that coexpression of monomeric RFP (mRFP or its variant mCherry) and MamC-RBP results in intracellular recognition and magnetosome recruitment of RFP within living bacteria. The intracellular expression of a functional nanobody targeted to a specific bacterial compartment opens new possibilities for
in vivo
synthesis of MNP-immobilized nanobodies. Moreover, intracellular nanotraps can be generated to manipulate bacterial structures in live cells.
Horizontal Gene Transfer and Assortative Recombination within the Acinetobacter baumannii Clinical Population Provide Genetic Diversity at the Single
carO
Gene, Encoding a Major Outer Membrane Protein Channel
Authors: Mussi María Alejandra , Limansky Adriana S. , Relling Verónica , Ravasi Pablo , Arakaki Adrián , Actis Luis A. , Viale Alejandro M. 
Published: July 2011

ABSTRACT

We described previously the presence in
Acinetobacter baumannii
of a novel outer membrane (OM) protein, CarO, which functions as an
l
-ornithine OM channel and whose loss was concomitant with increased carbapenem resistance among clonally related nosocomial isolates of this opportunistic pathogen. Here, we describe the existence of extensive genetic diversity at the
carO
gene within the
A. baumannii
clinical population. The systematic analysis of
carO
sequences from
A. baumannii
isolates obtained from public hospitals in Argentina revealed the existence of four highly polymorphic
carO
variants among them. Sequence polymorphism between the different
A. baumannii
CarO variants was concentrated in three well-defined protein regions that superimposed mostly to predicted surface-exposed loops. Polymorphism among
A. baumannii
CarO variants was manifested in differential electrophoretic mobilities, antigenic properties, abilities to form stable oligomeric structures, and
l
-ornithine influx abilities through the
A. baumannii
OM under
in vivo
conditions. Incongruence between the phylogenies of the clinical
A. baumannii
isolates analyzed and those of the
carO
variants they harbor suggests the existence of assortative (entire-gene)
carO
recombinational exchange within the
A. baumannii
population. Exchange of
carO
variants possessing differential characteristics mediated by horizontal gene transfer may constitute an
A. baumannii
population strategy to survive radically changing environmental conditions, such as the leap from inanimate sources to human hosts and vice versa, persistence in a compromised host, and/or survival in health care facilities.
Bacillus subtilis CodY Operators Contain Overlapping CodY Binding Sites
Authors: Wray Lewis V. , Fisher Susan H. 
Published: July 2011

ABSTRACT

CodY is a global transcriptional regulator that is activated by branched-chain amino acids. A palindromic 15-bp sequence motif, AATTTTCNGAAAATT, is associated with CodY DNA binding. A gel mobility shift assay was used to examine the effect of pH on the binding of
Bacillus subtilis
CodY to the
hutPp
and
ureAp
3
promoters. CodY at pH 6.0 has higher affinity for DNA, more enhanced activation by isoleucine, and a lower propensity for nonspecific DNA binding than CodY at pH 8.0. DNase I footprinting was used to identify the CodY-protected regions in the
hutPp
and
ureAp
3
promoters. The CodY-protected sequences for both promoters were found to contain multiple copies of the 15-bp motif with 6-bp overlaps. Mutational analysis of the
hutPp
regulatory region revealed that two overlapping sequence motifs were required for CodY-mediated regulation. The presence of overlapping sequence motifs in the regulatory regions of many
B. subtilis
CodY-regulated genes suggests that CodY binds to native operators that contain overlapping binding sites.
Population-based cross-sectional study of barriers to utilisation of refraction services in South India: Rapid Assessment of Refractive Errors (RARE) Study
Authors: Marmamula Srinivas , Keeffe Jill E , Raman Usha , Rao Gullapalli N 
Published: July 2011

AimTo assess the barriers to the uptake of refraction services in the age group of 15–49 years in rural Andhra Pradesh, India.MethodsA population-based cross-sectional study was conducted using cluster random sampling to enumerate 3300 individuals from 55 clusters. A validated questionnaire was used to elicit information on barriers to utilisation of services among individuals with uncorrected refractive error (presenting visual acuity <6/12 but improving to ≥6/12 on using a pinhole) and presbyopia (binocular near vision <N8 in individuals aged >35 years with binocular distance visual acuity of ≥6/12).Results3095 (94%) were available for examination. Those with uncorrected refractive errors cited affordability as the main barrier to the uptake of eye-care services. Among people with uncorrected presbyopia, lack of ‘felt need’ was the leading barrier.ConclusionThe barriers that were ‘relatively easy to change’ were reported by those with uncorrected refractive errors in contrast to ‘difficult to change’ barriers reported by those with uncorrected presbyopia. Together, the data on prevalence and an understanding of the barriers for the uptake of services are critical to the planning of refractive error services.
Effect of Low-Fat Diets on Plasma Levels of NF-κB–Regulated Inflammatory Cytokines and Angiogenic Factors in Men with Prostate Cancer
Authors: Heymach John V. , Shackleford Terry J. , Tran Hai T. , Yoo Suk-Young , Do Kim-Anh , Wergin Melanie , Saintigny Pierre , Vollmer Robin T. , Polascik Thomas J. , Snyder Denise C. , Ruffin Mack T. , Yan Shaoyu , Dewhirst Mark , Kunnumakkara Ajaikumar B. , Aggarwal Bharat B. , Demark-Wahnefried Wendy 
Published: July 2011

AbstractDiet, nutritional status, and certain dietary supplements are postulated to influence the development and progression of prostate cancer. Angiogenesis and inflammation are central to tumor growth and progression, but the effect of diet on these processes remains uncertain. We explored changes in 50 plasma cytokines and angiogenic factors (CAF) in 145 men with prostate cancer enrolled in a preoperative, randomized controlled phase II trial with four arms: control (usual diet), low-fat (LF) diet, flaxseed-supplemented (FS) diet, and FS+LS diet. The mean duration of dietary intervention was 30 to 31 days. Among the individual arms, the largest number of significant changes (baseline vs. preoperative follow-up) was observed in the LF arm, with 19 CAFs decreasing and one increasing (P &lt; 0.05). Compared with the control arm, 6 CAFs—including proangiogenic factors (stromal-cell derived-1α) and myeloid factors (granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor, macrophage colony-stimulating factor)—all decreased in the LF arm compared with controls; three and four CAFs changed in the FS and FS+LF arms, respectively. Weight loss occurred in the LF arms and significantly correlated with VEGF decreases (P &lt; 0.001). The CAFs that changed in the LF arm are all known to be regulated by NF-κB, and a pathway analysis identified NF-κB as the most likely regulatory network associated with these changes in the LF arm but not in the FS-containing arms. These results suggest that a LF diet without flaxseed may reduce levels of specific inflammatory CAFs and suggests that the NF-κB pathway may be a mediator of these changes. Cancer Prev Res; 4(10); 1590–8. ©2011 AACR.
Effects of Continuous-Flow Versus Pulsatile-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Devices on Myocardial Unloading and Remodeling
Authors: Kato Tomoko S. , Chokshi Aalap , Singh Parvati , Khawaja Tuba , Cheema Faisal , Akashi Hirokazu , Shahzad Khurram , Iwata Shinichi , Homma Shunichi , Takayama Hiroo , Naka Yoshifumi , Jorde Ulrich , Farr Maryjane , Mancini Donna M. , Schulze P. Christian 
Published: July 2011

Background—
Continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) are increasingly used for patients with end-stage heart failure (HF). We analyzed the effects of ventricular decompression by continuous-flow versus pulsatile-flow LVADs on myocardial structure and function in this population.

Methods and Results—

Sixty-one patients who underwent LVAD implantation as bridge-to-transplant were analyzed (pulsatile-flow LVAD: group P, n=31; continuous-flow LVAD: group C, n=30). Serial echocardiograms, serum levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and extracellular matrix biomarkers (ECM) were compared between the groups. Myocardial BNP and ECM gene expression were evaluated in a subset of 18 patients. Postoperative LV ejection fraction was greater (33.2±12.6% versus 17.6±8.8%,
P
<0.0001) and the mitral E/E′ was lower (9.9±2.6 versus 13.2±3.8,
P
=0.0002) in group P versus group C. Postoperative serum levels of BNP, metalloproteinases (MMP)-9, and tissue inhibitor of MMP (TIMP)-4 were significantly lower in group P compared with group C (BNP: 552.6±340.6 versus 965.4±805.7 pg/mL,
P
<0.01; MMP9: 309.0±220.2 versus 475.2±336.9 ng/dL,
P
<0.05; TIMP4: 1490.9±622.4 versus 2014.3±452.4 ng/dL,
P
<0.001). Myocardial gene expression of ECM markers and BNP decreased in both groups; however, expression of TIMP-4 decreased only in group P (
P
=0.024).

Conclusions—
Mechanical unloading of the failing myocardium using pulsatile devices is more effective as indicated by echocardiographic parameters of systolic and diastolic LV function as well as dynamics of BNP and ECM markers. Therefore, specific effects of pulsatile mechanical unloading on the failing myocardium may have important implications for device selection especially for the purpose of bridge-to-recovery in patients with advanced HF.