bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Two Peptides Derived from the Nerve Growth Factor Precursor Are Biologically Active
Authors: Dicou Eleni , Pflug Beth , Magazin Marilyn , Lehy Thérèse , Djakiew Daniel , Ferrara Pascual , Nerrière Véronique , Harvie Douglas 
Published: July 2002

This report provides evidence that the proregion of the NGF precursor protein contains two novel bioactive peptides. The presence of pairs of basic amino acid (aa) residues in the NGF proregion suggests that two or three peptides other than NGF may be generated by proteolytic cleavage. Synthetic peptides of 29 aa (LIP1) and 38aa (LIP2) corresponding to the sequences −71 to −43 and −40 to −3 of the proNGF, respectively, were used in this study. ELISA specific for these two peptides revealed their presence in the rat intestine. LIP1 was localized by immunohistochemistry in endocrine cells of the intestinal epithelium, and LIP2 was immunoprecipitated from an intestinal extract. We also provide evidence for the presence of specific receptors for LIP2 in several cell lines. Scatchard analysis indicated the presence of a low affinity binding site with a Kd of ∼10−7 M and a high affinity binding site of 10−9 M. Cross-linking studies revealed receptor forms of about 140 kD and 93 kD in a prostatic adenocarcinoma cell line.
LIP1 and LIP2 induced rapid F-actin redistribution in PC12 cells within 2 min of incubation, which suggests a role of LIP1 and LIP2 in the process of neurite outgrowth. Furthermore, both propeptides induced rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of the Trk protein in both prostatic adenocarcinoma cells and PC12 cells, thus implicating trk in their mechanism of action. These results support our hypothesis that two peptides within the NGF precursor protein are biologically active.
Mapping and Use of a Sequence that Targets DNA Ligase I to Sites of DNA Replication In Vivo
Authors: Cardoso M. Cristina , Joseph Cuthbert , Rahn Hans-Peter , Reusch Regina , Nadal-Ginard Bernardo , Leonhardt Heinrich 
Published: July 2002

The mammalian nucleus is highly organized, and nuclear processes such as DNA replication occur in discrete nuclear foci, a phenomenon often termed “functional organization” of the nucleus. We describe the identification and characterization of a bipartite targeting sequence (amino acids 1–28 and 111–179) that is necessary and sufficient to direct DNA ligase I to nuclear replication foci during S phase. This targeting sequence is located within the regulatory, NH2-terminal domain of the protein and is dispensable for enzyme activity in vitro but is required in vivo. The targeting domain functions position independently at either the NH2 or the COOH termini of heterologous proteins.
We used the targeting sequence of DNA ligase I to visualize replication foci in vivo. Chimeric proteins with DNA ligase I and the green fluorescent protein localized at replication foci in living mammalian cells and thus show that these subnuclear functional domains, previously observed in fixed cells, exist in vivo. The characteristic redistribution of these chimeric proteins makes them unique markers for cell cycle studies to directly monitor entry into S phase in living cells.
On the image of the 𝑙-adic Abel-Jacobi map for a variety over the algebraic closure of a finite field
Authors: Schoen Chad 
Published: July 2002

Let

Y
Y

be a smooth projective variety of dimension at most 4 defined over the algebraic closure of a finite field of characteristic

>
2

>2

. It is shown that the Tate conjecture implies the surjectivity of the

l
l

-adic Abel-Jacobi map,

a

Y
,
l

r

:
C

H

h
o
m

r

(
Y
)
→

H

2
r
−
1

(
Y
,

Z

l

(
r
)
)
⊗

Q

l

/

Z

l

\mathbf {a}^{r}_{Y,l}:CH^{r}_{hom}(Y)\to H^{2r-1}(Y,\mathbb Z_l (r))\otimes \mathbb Q_l /\mathbb Z_l

, for all

r
r

and almost all

l
l

. For a special class of threefolds the surjectivity of

a

Y
,
l

2

\mathbf {a}^{2}_{Y,l}

is proved without assuming any conjectures.
COFFEE: an objective function for multiple sequence alignments.
Authors: Notredame C , Holm L , Higgins D G 
Published: July 2002

Abstract
MOTIVATION: In order to increase the accuracy of multiple sequence alignments, we designed a new strategy for optimizing multiple sequence alignments by genetic algorithm. We named it COFFEE (Consistency based Objective Function For alignmEnt Evaluation). The COFFEE score reflects the level of consistency between a multiple sequence alignment and a library containing pairwise alignments of the same sequences. RESULTS: We show that multiple sequence alignments can be optimized for their COFFEE score with the genetic algorithm package SAGA. The COFFEE function is tested on 11 test cases made of structural alignments extracted from 3D_ali. These alignments are compared to those produced using five alternative methods. Results indicate that COFFEE outperforms the other methods when the level of identity between the sequences is low. Accuracy is evaluated by comparison with the structural alignments used as references. We also show that the COFFEE score can be used as a reliability index on multiple sequence alignments. Finally, we show that given a library of structure-based pairwise sequence alignments extracted from FSSP, SAGA can produce high-quality multiple sequence alignments. The main advantage of COFFEE is its flexibility. With COFFEE, any method suitable for making pairwise alignments can be extended to making multiple alignments. AVAILABILITY: The package is available along with the test cases through the WWW: http://www. ebi.ac.uk/cedric CONTACT: cedric.notredame@ebi.ac.uk
Extending the method of mathematically controlled comparison to
include numerical comparisons
Authors: Alves Rui , Savageau Michael A. 
Published: July 2002

Abstract
Motivation: The method of mathematically controlled comparison has been used for some time to determine which of two alternative regulatory designs is better according to specific quantitative criteria for functional effectiveness. In some cases, the results obtained using this technique are general and independent of parameter values and the answers are clear-cut. In others, the result might be general, but the demonstration is difficult and numerical results with specific parameter values can help to clarify the situation. In either case, numerical results with specific parameter values can also provide an answer to the question of how much larger the values might be. In contrast, a more ambiguous result is obtained when either of the alternatives can have the larger value for a given systemic property, depending on the specific values of the parameters. In any case, introduction of specific values for the parameters reduces the generality of the results. Therefore, we have been motivated to develop and apply statistical methods that would permit the use of numerical values for the parameters and yet retain some of the generality that makes mathematically controlled comparison so attractive.
Results: We illustrate this new numerical method in a step-by-step application using a very simple didactic example. We also validate the results by comparison with the corresponding results obtained using the previously developed analytical method. The analytical approach is briefly present for reference purposes, since some of the same key concepts are needed to understand the numerical method and the results are needed for comparison. The numerical method confirms the qualitative differences between the systemic behavior of alternative designs obtained from the analytical method. In addition, the numerical method allows for quantification of the differences and it provides results that are general in a statistical sense. For example, the older analytical method showed that overall feedback inhibition in an unbranched pathway makes the system more robust whereas it decreases the stability margin of the steady state. The numerical method shows that the magnitudes of these differences are not comparable. The differences in stability margins (1–2% on average) are small when compared to the differences in robustness (50–100% on average). Furthermore, the numerical method shows that the system with overall feedback responds more quickly to change than the otherwise equivalent system without overall feedback. These results suggest reasons why overall feedback inhibition is such a prevalent regulatory pattern in unbranched biosynthetic pathways.
Contact: savageau@umich.edu
To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Fluoroquinolone phototoxicity: a comparison of moxifloxacin and lomefloxacin in normal volunteers
Authors: Man I. , Murphy J. , Ferguson J. 
Published: July 2002

Abstract
Moxifloxacin, a broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone with the methoxy group at position 8 of the quinolone structure that is believed to confer reduced phototoxicity, was investigated in 32 healthy human male volunteers by a randomized double-blind placebo and positive control (lomefloxacin) phototest technique. A comparison of pre- and on-drug photosensitivity levels tested with an irradiation monochromator using relevant sunlight wavelengths, failed to demonstrate phototoxicity after administration of either placebo or moxifloxacin (200 mg or 400 mg/day) for 7 days. As expected, lomefloxacin (400 mg/day) phototoxicity was revealed at the UVA wavebands 335 ± 30 nm and 365 ± 30 nm (maximal at 24 h), with a phototoxic index of 3–4. The susceptibility to this effect rapidly normalized within 48 h of stopping the drug. No special protection from UVA wavelengths is necessary for those taking moxifloxacin.
Leptin‐induced lipolysis opposes the tonic inhibition of endogenous adenosine in white adipocytes
Authors: FRÜHBECK GEMA , GÓMEZ‐AMBROSI JAVIER , SALVADOR JAVIER 
Published: July 2002

ABSTRACTThe aim of the present study was to gain insight into the signaling pathway used by leptin to stimulate lipolysis. The lipolytic rate of white adipocytes from sex‐ and age‐matched lean (+/+) and fa/fa rats was determined in the absence or presence of leptin together with a number of agents acting at different levels of the signaling cascade. Leptin did not modify FSK‐, dbcAMP‐, and IBMX‐stimulated lipolysis. Lipolysis can also be maximally stimulated by lowering media adenosine levels with adenosine deaminase (ADA), i.e., in the ligand‐free state. Although ADA produced near maximal lipolysis in adipocytes of lean animals, only half of the maximal lipolytic rate (50.9±3.2%) was achieved in fat cells from fa/fa rats (P=0.0034). In adipocytes from lean animals preincubated with ADA, leptin caused a concentration‐related stimulation of lipolysis (P=0.0001). However, leptin had no effect on the lipolytic activity of adipocytes in the ligand‐free state from fa/fa rats. The adenosine A1 receptor agonist CPA effectively inhibited basal lipolysis in both lean and obese adipocytes (P=0.0001 and P=0.0090, respectively). Leptin had no effect on the lipolytic rate of adipocytes isolated from fa/fa rats and preincubated with CPA. When adipocytes were incubated with the A1 receptor antagonist DPCPX, a significant increase in glycerol release was observed in fa/fa fat cells (P=0.009), whereas cells isolated from lean rats showed no differences to ADA‐stimulated lipolysis. After pretreatment with PTX, which inactivates receptor‐mediated Gi function, adipocytes of obese rats became as responsive to the stimulatory actions of ISO as cells from lean rats (P= 0.0090 vs. ISO in fa/fa rats;P=0.2416 vs. lean rats, respectively). PTX treatment of lean cells, however, did not alter their response to this lipolytic agent. It can be concluded that the lipolytic effect of leptin is located at the adenylate cyclase/Gi proteins level and that leptin‐induced lipolysis opposes the tonic inhibition of endogenous adenosine in white adipocytes.—Frühbeck, G., Gómez‐Ambrosi, J., Salvador, J. Leptin‐induced lipolysis opposes the tonic inhibition of endogenous adenosine in white adipocytes. FASEB J. 15, 333‐340 (2001)
Implementation and Assessment of No Opioid Prescription Strategy at Discharge After Major Urologic Cancer Surgery
Authors: Mian Badar M. , Singh Zorawar , Carnes Kevin , Lorenz Leanne , Feustel Paul , Kaufman Ronald P. , Avulova Svetlana , Bernstein Adrien , Cangero Theodore , Fisher Hugh A. G. 
Published: February 2023

ImportancePostoperative opioid prescriptions are associated with delayed recovery, perioperative complications, opioid use disorder, and diversion of overprescribed opioids, which places the community at risk of opioid misuse or addiction.ObjectiveTo assess a protocol for eliminating postdischarge opioid prescriptions after major urologic cancer surgery.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis cohort study of the no opioid prescriptions at discharge after surgery (NOPIOIDS) protocol was conducted between May 2017 and June 2021 at a tertiary referral center. Patients undergoing open or minimally invasive radical cystectomy, radical or partial nephrectomy, and radical prostatectomy were sorted into the control group (usual opioids), the lead-in group (reduced opioids), and the NOPIOIDS group (no opioid prescriptions).InterventionsThe NOPIOIDS group received a preadmission educational handout, postdischarge instructions for using nonopioid analgesics, and no routine opioid prescriptions. The lead-in group received a postdischarge instruction sheet and reduced opioid prescriptions at prescribers’ discretion. The control group received opioid prescriptions at prescribers’ discretion.Main Outcomes and MeasuresPrimary outcome measures included rate and dose of opioid prescriptions at discharge and for 30 days postdischarge. Additional outcome measures included patient-reported pain and satisfaction level, unplanned health care utilization, and postoperative complications.ResultsOf 647 opioid-naive patients (mean [SD] age, 63.6 [10.0] years; 478 [73.9%] male; 586 [90.6%] White), the rate of opioid prescriptions at discharge for the control, the lead-in, and the NOPIOIDS groups was 80.9% (157 of 194), 57.9% (55 of 95), and 2.2% (8 of 358) (Kruskal-Wallis test of medians: P &amp;lt; .001), and the overall median (IQR) tablets prescribed was 14 (10-20), 4 (0-5.3), and 0 (0-0) per patient in the control, lead-in, and NOPIOIDS groups, respectively (Kruskal-Wallis test of medians: P &amp;lt; .001). In the NOPIOIDS group, median and mean opioid dose was 0 tablets for all procedure types, with the exception of kidney procedures (mean [SD], 0.5 [1.7] tablets). Patient-reported pain surveys were received from 358 patients (72.6%) in the NOPIOIDS group, demonstrating low pain scores (mean [SD], 2.5 [0.86]) and high satisfaction scores (mean [SD], 86.6 [3.8]). There was no increase in postoperative complications in the group with no opioid prescriptions.Conclusions and RelevanceThis perioperative protocol, with emphasis on nonopioid alternatives and patient instructions, may be safe and effective in nearly eliminating the need for opioid prescriptions after major abdominopelvic cancer surgery without adversely affecting pain control, complications, or recovery.
Variability in Organ Procurement Organization Performance by Individual Hospital in the United States
Authors: Johnson Wali , Kraft Kathryn , Chotai Pranit , Lynch Raymond , Dittus Robert S. , Goldberg David , Ye Fei , Doby Brianna , Schaubel Douglas E. , Shah Malay B. , Karp Seth J. 
Published: February 2023

ImportanceAvailability of organs inadequately addresses the need of patients waiting for a transplant.ObjectiveTo estimate the true number of donor patients in the United States and identify inefficiencies in the donation process as a way to guide system improvement.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsA retrospective cross-sectional analysis was performed of organ donation across 13 different hospitals in 2 donor service areas covered by 2 organ procurement organizations (OPOs) in 2017 and 2018 to compare donor potential to actual donors. More than 2000 complete medical records for decedents were reviewed as a sample of nearly 9000 deaths. Data were analyzed from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2018.ExposureDeaths of causes consistent with donation according to medical record review, ventilated patient referrals, center acceptance practices, and actual deceased donors.Main Outcomes and MeasuresPotential donors by medical record review vs actual donors and OPO performance at specific hospitals.ResultsCompared with 242 actual donors, 931 potential donors were identified at these hospitals. This suggests a deceased donor potential of 3.85 times (95% CI, 4.23-5.32) the actual number of donors recovered. There was a surprisingly wide variability in conversion of potential donor patients into actual donors among the hospitals studied, from 0% to 51.0%. One OPO recovered 18.8% of the potential donors, whereas the second recovered 48.2%. The performance of the OPOs was moderately related to referrals of ventilated patients and not related to center acceptance practices.Conclusions and RelevanceIn this cross-sectional study of hospitals served by 2 OPOs, wide variation was found in the performance of the OPOs, especially at individual hospitals. Addressing this opportunity could greatly increase the organ supply, affirming the importance of recent efforts from the federal government to increase OPO accountability and transparency.
High‐Temporal‐Resolution Characterization Reveals Outstanding Random Telegraph Noise and the Origin of Dielectric Breakdown in h‐BN Memristors
Authors: Pazos Sebastian , Becker Thales , Villena Marco Antonio , Zheng Wenwen , Shen Yaqing , Yuan Yue , Alharbi Osamah , Zhu Kaichen , Roldán Juan Bautista , Wirth Gilson , Palumbo Felix , Lanza Mario 
Published: February 2023

AbstractMemristor‐based electronic memory have recently started commercialization, although its market size is small (~0.5%). Multiple studies claim their potential for hardware implementation of artificial neural networks, advanced data encryption, and high‐frequency switches for 5G/6G communication. Application aside, the performance and reliability of memristors need to be improved to increase their market size and fit technology standards. Multiple groups propose novel nano‐materials beyond phase‐change, metal‐oxides, and magnetic materials as resistive switching medium (e.g., two‐dimensional, nanowires, perovskites). However, most studies use characterization setups that are blind to critical phenomena in understanding charge transport across the devices. Here an advanced setup with high temporal resolution is used to analyze current noise, dielectric breakdown growth, and ambipolar resistive switching in memristors based on multilayer hexagonal boron nitride (h‐BN), one of the most promising novel nano‐materials for memristive applications. The random telegraph noise in pristine memristors and its evolution as the devices degrade, covering ~7 orders of magnitude in current with consistent observation, is studied. Additionally, an ambipolar switching regime with very low resistance down to 50Ω and its connection with a telegraph behavior with high/low current ratios >100, linked to a thermally‐driven disruption of a metallic nanofilament, is shown.
The relative financial performance of African American farms in the United States since the Great Recession
Authors: Collins LaPorchia A. , McDonald Tia M. , Giri Anil K. , Subedi Dipak 
Published: February 2023

AbstractUsing data from the 2009–2020 Agricultural Resource Management Surveys, we compare the financial position and performance of African American farms to that of other U.S. farms. The results suggest that, relative to others, the average African American farm has lower total value of production, net cash farm income, government payments, assets, and debts. We obtained mixed results regarding financial performance, with African American farms having lower profitability, liquidity, and efficiency than others but higher solvency. To our knowledge, this study is the first to provide a contemporary overview of the status of African American farms using detailed, farm‐level financial data.
Privacy, bias and the clinical use of facial recognition technology: A survey of genetics professionals
Authors: Aboujaoude Elias , Light Janice , Brown Julia E. H. , Boscardin W. John , Hallgrímsson Benedikt , Klein Ophir D. 
Published: February 2023

AbstractFacial recognition technology (FRT) has been adopted as a precision medicine tool. The medical genetics field highlights both the clinical potential and privacy risks of this technology, putting the discipline at the forefront of a new digital privacy debate. Investigating how geneticists perceive the privacy concerns surrounding FRT can help shape the evolution and regulation of the field, and provide lessons for medicine and research more broadly. Five hundred and sixty‐two genetics clinicians and researchers were approached to fill out a survey, 105 responded, and 80% of these completed. The survey consisted of 48 questions covering demographics, relationship to new technologies, views on privacy, views on FRT, and views on regulation. Genetics professionals generally placed a high value on privacy, although specific views differed, were context‐specific, and covaried with demographic factors. Most respondents (88%) agreed that privacy is a basic human right, but only 37% placed greater weight on it than other values such as freedom of speech. Most respondents (80%) supported FRT use in genetics, but not necessarily for broader clinical use. A sizeable percentage (39%) were unaware of FRT's lower accuracy rates in marginalized communities and of the mental health effects of privacy violations (62%), but most (76% and 75%, respectively) expressed concern when informed. Overall, women and those who self‐identified as politically progressive were more concerned about the lower accuracy rates in marginalized groups (88% vs. 64% and 83% vs. 63%, respectively). Younger geneticists were more wary than older geneticists about using FRT in genetics (28% compared to 56% “strongly” supported such use). There was an overall preference for more regulation, but respondents had low confidence in governments' or technology companies' ability to accomplish this. Privacy views are nuanced and context‐dependent. Support for privacy was high but not absolute, and clear deficits existed in awareness of crucial FRT‐related discrimination potential and mental health impacts. Education and professional guidelines may help to evolve views and practices within the field.
Room‐Temperature High‐Performance Thermoelectric Bi0.6Sb0.4Te: Elimination of Detrimental Band Inversion in BiTe
Authors: Jia Fei , Yin Xin , Cheng Wen‐Wen , Lan Jia‐Ting , Zhan Shu‐Hui , Chen Ling , Wu Li‐Ming 
Published: February 2023

AbstractRoom‐temperature thermoelectric materials are the key to miniaturizing refrigeration equipment and have great scientific and social implications, yet their application is hindered by their extreme scarcity. BiTe exhibiting strong spin‐orbit coupling peaks ZT at 600 K. Herein, we discover the synergy effect of Sb doping in BiTe that eliminates the detrimental band inversion and leads to an overlap of conduction band (CB) and valence band that significantly increases the S from 33 to 124 μV K−1. In addition, this effect enhances the μ from 58 to 92 cm2 V−1 s−1 owing to the sharp increase in the CB slope along the Γ‐A in the first Brillouin zone. Furthermore, Sb doping increases the anharmonicity, shortens the phonon lifetime and lowers κlat. Finally, Se/Sb codoping further optimizes the ZT to 0.6 at 300 K, suggesting that Bi0.6Sb0.4Te1−ySey is a potential room‐temperature TE material.