bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Seroprevalence and clinical characteristics of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in children with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Hergenroeder Georgene E. , Faino Anna V. , Cogen Jonathan D. , Genatossio Alan , McNamara Sharon , Pascual Michael , Hernandez Rafael E. 
Published: June 2023

AbstractBackgroundPeople with cystic fibrosis (PwCF) have chronic lung disease and may be at increased risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19)‐related morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to determine seroprevalence and clinical characteristics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection in children with cystic fibrosis (CF), and to assess antibody responses following SARS‐CoV‐2 infection or vaccination.MethodsChildren and adolescents with CF followed at Seattle Children's Hospital were enrolled between July 20, 2020 and February 28, 2021. SARS‐CoV‐2 serostatus was determined on enrollment at 6 and 11 months (±2 months) for nucleocapsid and spike IgG. Participants completed intake and weekly surveys inquiring about SARS‐CoV‐2 exposures, viral/respiratory illnesses, and symptoms.ResultsOf 125 PwCF enrolled, 14 (11%) had positive SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies consistent with recent or past infection. Seropositive participants were more likely to identify as Hispanic (29% vs. 8%,p = 0.04) and have pulmonary exacerbations requiring oral antibiotics in the year prior (71% vs. 41%,p = 0.04). Five seropositive individuals (35.7%) were asymptomatic, while six (42.9%) reported mild symptoms, primarily cough and nasal congestion. Antispike protein IgG levels were approximately 10‐fold higher in participants following vaccination compared with participants who had natural infection alone (p < 0.0001) and resembled levels previously reported in the general population.ConclusionsA majority of PwCF have mild or no symptoms of SARS‐CoV‐2 making it difficult to distinguish from baseline respiratory symptoms. Hispanic PwCF may be disproportionately impacted, consistent with racial and ethnic COVID‐19 disparities among the general US population. Vaccination in PwCF generated antibody responses similar to those previously reported in the general population.
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia
Authors: Hu Huiyong , Jing Xiaoping , Duan Xiuhua , Zhou Leiping , Xu Yunfeng 
Published: June 2023

AbstractA fetus was found to have a right diaphragmatic hernia during a prenatal ultrasonography examination late in the second trimester. A “green channel” with multi department dynamic monitoring was instituted, at 40 + 4 weeks, with the infant under general anesthesia, hernia repair was later successfully performed. After the operation, the infant's vital signs were stable and their condition remained good during follow‐up.
Taekwondo Poomsae practise in slow motion and the balance of healthy older adults: A Pre‐Experimental Study
Authors: Li Derong Eric , Chiang Ji Long , Loh Zhi Hao Melvin , Zainuldin Rahizan 
Published: June 2023

AbstractBackground and PurposePoor balance confidence and functional balance can lead to falls in community‐dwelling older adults. Exercises utilising slow movements have been shown to improve balance in this population. It is hypothesised that by superimposing the use of slow movements onto Taekwondo Poomsae, there could be similar benefits in improving balance confidence and functional balance in older adults.MethodsThis was a pre ‐ experimental study. Fifteen community‐dwelling older adults received 11 weeks of Slow Poomsae (SP) training using a proposed 50‐min protocol. Pre‐ and post‐intervention scores of the Activities‐Specific Balance Confidence Simplified Scale (ABC‐S), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), and ‘Timed Up and Go’ test (TUG) assessments were recorded and compared.ResultsFifteen eligible participants with mean and standard deviation (SD) of age 73.8 (6.05) years completed the study. Significant improvements (p < 0.05) were seen in the pre‐post differences between ABC‐S, BBS, DGI, and TUG, with median score changes of 15 points (Z = −3.408), 3 points (Z = −3.306), 3 points (Z = −2.852), and 3.5 s (Z = −3.296) respectively.ConclusionThe preliminary findings support the efficacy of SP as a potential balance training programme that is safe for healthy older adults to improve their balance confidence and functional balance. More research is required on this topic that leans towards a large population blinded randomised controlled trial with a longer intervention period and inclusion of a follow‐up to further elucidate the effects of long‐term practice and novelty of SP.
Conformational changes in the activation loop of a bacterial PASTA kinase
Authors: Bluma Matthew S. , Schultz Kathryn M. , Kristich Christopher J. , Klug Candice S. 
Published: June 2023

AbstractMany bacterial genomes encode a transmembrane protein kinase belonging to the PASTA kinase family, which controls numerous processes in diverse bacterial pathogens, including antibiotic resistance, cell division, stress resistance, toxin production, and virulence. PASTA kinases share a conserved three‐part domain architecture, consisting of an extracellular PASTA domain, proposed to sense the peptidoglycan layer status, a single transmembrane helix, and an intracellular Ser/Thr kinase domain. The crystal structures of the kinase domain from two homologous PASTA kinases reveal a characteristic two‐lobed structure typical of eukaryotic protein kinases with a centrally located, but unresolved, activation loop that becomes phosphorylated and regulates downstream signaling pathways. We previously identified three sites of phosphorylation on the activation loop (T163, T166, and T168) of IreK, a PASTA kinase from the pathogen Enterococcus faecalis, as well as a distal phosphorylation site (T218) that each influence IreK activity in vivo. Still, the mechanism by which loop phosphorylation regulates PASTA kinase function is yet unknown. Therefore, we utilized site‐directed spin labeling (SDSL) and continuous wave (CW) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy to assess the E. faecalis IreK kinase activation loop dynamics, including the effects of phosphorylation on activation loop motion, and the IreK‐IreB interaction. Our results reveal that the IreK activation loop occupies a more immobile state when dephosphorylated, and that loop autophosphorylation shifts the loop to a more mobile state that can then enable interaction with IreB, a known substrate.
Chemical interactions modulate λ6‐85stability in cells
Authors: Knab Edward , Davis Caitlin M. 
Published: June 2023

AbstractBecause steric crowding is most effective when the crowding agent is similar in size to the molecule that it acts upon and the average macromolecule inside cells is much larger than a small protein or peptide, steric crowding is not predicted to affect their folding inside cells. On the other hand, chemical interactions should perturb in‐cell structure and stability because they arise from interactions between the surface of the small protein or peptide and its environment. Indeed, previous in vitro measurements of the λ‐repressor fragment, λ6‐85, in crowding matrices comprised of Ficoll or protein crowders support these predictions. Here, we directly quantify the in‐cell stability of λ6‐85and distinguish the contribution of steric crowding and chemical interactions to its stability. Using a FRET‐labeled λ6‐85construct, we find that the fragment is stabilized by 5°C in‐cells compared to in vitro. We demonstrate that this stabilization cannot be explained by steric crowding because, as anticipated, Ficoll has no effect on λ6‐85stability. We find that the in‐cell stabilization arises from chemical interactions, mimicked in vitro by mammalian protein extraction reagent (M‐PER™). Comparison between FRET values in‐cell and in Ficoll confirms that U‐2 OS cytosolic crowding is reproduced at macromolecule concentrations of 15% w/v. Our measurements validate the cytomimetic of 15% Ficoll and 20% M‐PER™ that we previously developed for protein and RNA folding studies. However, because the in‐cell stability of λ6‐85is reproduced by 20% v/v M‐PER™ alone, we predict that this simplified mixture could be a useful tool to predict the in‐cell behaviors of other small proteins and peptides.
Extein residues regulate the catalytic function of Spl DnaX intein enzyme by restricting the near‐attack conformations of the active‐site residues
Authors: Boral Soumendu , Sen Srijon , Kushwaha Tushar , Inampudi Krishna K. , De Soumya 
Published: June 2023

AbstractIntein enzymes catalyze the splicing of their flanking polypeptide chains and have found tremendous biotechnological applications. Their terminal residues form the catalytic core and participate in the splicing reaction. Hence, the neighboring N‐ and C‐terminal extein residues influence the catalytic rate. As these extein residues vary depending on the substrate identity, we tested the influence of 20 amino acids at these sites in the Spl DnaX intein and observed significant variation of spliced product as well as N‐ and C‐terminus cleavage product formation. We investigated the dependence of these reactions on the extein residues by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations on eight extein variants, and found that the conformational sampling of the active‐site residues of the intein enzyme differed among these extein variants. We found that the extein variants that sample higher population of near‐attack conformers (NACs) of the active‐site residues undergo higher product formation in our activity assays. Ground state conformers that closely resemble the transition state are referred to as NACs. Very good correlation was observed between the NAC populations from the MD simulations of eight extein variants and the corresponding product formation from our activity assays. Furthermore, this molecular detail enabled us to elucidate the mechanistic roles of several conserved active‐site residues in the splicing reaction. Overall, this study shows that the catalytic power of Spl DnaX intein enzyme, and most likely other inteins, depends on the efficiency of formation of NACs in the ground state, which is further modulated by the extein residues.
A disulfide chaperone knockout facilitates spin labeling and pulse EPR spectroscopy of outer membrane transporters
Authors: Wimalasiri Viranga W. , Jurczak Kinga A. , Wieliniec Monika K. , Nilaweera Thushani D. , Nakamoto Robert K. , Cafiso David S. 
Published: June 2023

AbstractPulse EPR measurements provide information on distances and distance distributions in proteins but require the incorporation of pairs of spin labels that are usually attached to engineered cysteine residues. In previous work, we demonstrated that efficient in vivo labeling of the Escherichia coli outer membrane vitamin B12 transporter, BtuB, could only be achieved using strains defective in the periplasmic disulfide bond formation (Dsb) system. Here, we extend these in vivo measurements to FecA, the E. coli ferric citrate transporter. As seen for BtuB, pairs of cysteines cannot be labeled when the protein is present in a standard expression strain. However, incorporating plasmids that permit an arabinose induced expression of FecA into a strain defective in the thiol disulfide oxidoreductase, DsbA, enables efficient spin‐labeling and pulse EPR of FecA in cells. A comparison of the measurements made on FecA in cells with measurements made in reconstituted phospholipid bilayers suggests that the cellular environment alters the behavior of the extracellular loops of FecA. In addition to these in situ EPR measurements, the use of a DsbA minus strain for the expression of BtuB improves the EPR signals and pulse EPR data obtained in vitro from BtuB that is labeled, purified, and reconstituted into phospholipid bilayers. The in vitro data also indicate the presence of intermolecular BtuB‐BtuB interactions, which had not previously been observed in a reconstituted bilayer system. This result suggests that in vitro EPR measurements on other outer membrane proteins would benefit from protein expression in a DsbA minus strain.
A Note on Integrability Loss in Fuzzball Geometries
Authors: Emelin Maxim , Massai Stefano 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThe dynamics of certain string configurations in a class of fivebrane supertube backgrounds is studied. In the decoupling limit of the fivebranes, these solutions are known to admit an exact description in worldsheet string theory and string propagation is integrable. For the asymptotically flat solutions, by using analytic tools of classical Hamiltonian systems, the non‐integrability of classical string motion is proved. This suggests that string dynamics in circular supertube geometries exhibit a regime of chaotic behavior.
DMC (2′,4′‐dihydroxy‐6′‐methoxy‐3′,5′‐dimethylchalcone) enhances exercise tolerance via the AMPK‐SIRT1‐PGC‐1α pathway in mice fed a high‐fat diet
Authors: Su Xiaotong , Lai Linglin , Li Xu , Li Wenna , Mo Zhentao , Li Yiqi , Xiao Lu , Wang Wenjun , Wang Feng 
Published: June 2023

AbstractObesity is caused by an imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure. This study aimed to determine the effects and mechanisms of 2′,4′‐dihydroxy‐6′‐methoxy‐3′,5′‐dimethylchalcone (DMC) on exercise tolerance in high‐fat diet (HFD)‐fed mice. Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into two categories (7 groups [n = 8]): sedentary (control [CON], HFD, 200 mg/kg DMC, and 500 mg/kg DMC) and swimming (HFD, 200 mg/kg DMC, and 500 mg/kg DMC). Except the CON group, all other groups were fed HFD with or without DMC intervention for 33 days. The swimming groups were subjected to exhaustive swimming (three sessions/week). Changes in swimming time, glucolipid metabolism, body composition, biochemical indicators, histopathology, inflammation, metabolic mediators, and protein expression were assessed. DMC combined with regular exercise improved endurance performance, body composition, glucose and insulin tolerance, lipid profile, and the inflammatory state in a dose‐dependent manner. Further, DMC alone or combined with exercise could restore normal tissue morphology, reduce fatigue‐associated markers, and boost whole‐body metabolism and the protein expression of phospho‐AMP‐activated protein kinase alpha/total‐AMP‐activated protein kinase alpha (AMPK), sirtuin‐1 (SIRT1), peroxisome‐proliferator‐activated receptor gamma coactivator 1alpha (PGC‐1α), and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor alpha in the muscle and adipose tissues of HFD‐fed mice. DMC exhibits antifatigue effects by regulating glucolipid catabolism, inflammation, and energy homeostasis. Furthermore, DMC exerts a synergistic exercise‐related metabolic effect via the AMPK‐SIRT1‐PGC‐1α signaling pathway, suggesting that DMC is a potential natural sports supplement with mimicked or augmented exercise effects for obesity prevention.
An experimental and DFT investigations of fused ring anthracenyl chalcones with effective modification in acceptor moiety: Nonlinear optical and optical limiting response
Authors: Zainuri Dian Alwani , Abdullah Mundzir , Bakar Mohamad Aizat Abu , Arshad Suhana , Razak Ibrahim Abdul 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThe significance of the anthracene moiety on nonlinear optical (NLO) characteristics is thoroughly examined. The presence of strong electron donor and acceptor groups, large and prolonged conjugation transfer axis, amplifies the push–pull action and increases NLO responses. The values of χ3 obtained for AC derivatives are considerably larger (10−3 esu), indicating that they accurately reflect NLO reactions. According to the optical limiting (OL) investigation, AC has a strong limiting behavior with action beginning at 1.6 KW/cm2. The relationship between transmittance and intensity has demonstrated their potential use in OL applications. Nonlinear optical studies show that all conjugated anthracene chalcones are potential materials for OL devices.
Efficient Verification of Arbitrary Entangled States with Homogeneous Local Measurements
Authors: Liu Ye‐Chao , Li Yinfei , Shang Jiangwei , Zhang Xiangdong 
Published: June 2023

AbstractQuantum state verification (QSV) is the task of relying on local measurements only to verify that a given quantum device does produce the desired target state. Up to now, certain types of entangled states can be verified efficiently or even optimally by QSV. However, given an arbitrary entangled state, how to design its verification protocol remains an open problem. This study presents a systematic strategy to tackle this problem by considering the locality of what it initiates as the choice‐independent measurement protocols, whose operators can be directly achieved when they are homogeneous. Taking several typical entangled states as examples, this study shows the explicit procedures of the protocol design using standard Pauli projections, demonstrating the superiority of the method for attaining better QSV strategies. Moreover, the framework can be naturally extended to other tasks such as the construction of entanglement witnesses, and even parameter estimation.
Aperiodic sampled‐data consensus control for homogeneous and heterogeneous multi‐agent systems: A looped‐functional method
Authors: Peng Xiao‐Jie , He Yong 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThis paper examines the aperiodic sampled‐data consensus control problems for nonlinear homogeneous and heterogeneous multi‐agent systems (MASs). For homogeneous MASs, the consensus conditions, with and without time delays are derived by using a two‐sided‐looped functional. This less conservative approach takes full account of the information on the intervals to and to . On this basis, two aperiodic sampled‐data controllers are designed, and additional results on the estimate for the upper bound of the maximum allowable sampling interval are given as well. For heterogeneous MASs, the bounded consensus tracking criterion is derived based on the improved looped functional method. In addition, a corresponding heterogeneous sampled‐data controller is designed for each follower to ensure that the consensus tracking error exponentially converges to a bounded ellipsoid region. Finally, three illustrative examples are provided to show the efficiency and superiority of the proposed results.
Building resilience to climate change: Examining the impact of agro‐ecological zones and social groups on sustainable development
Authors: Kandel Giri Prasad , Bavorova Miroslava , Ullah Ayat , Kaechele Harald , Pradhan Prajal 
Published: June 2023

AbstractNepal is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, which is negatively affecting agricultural production and food security. However, the role of agro‐ecological zones and social groups in climate change adaptation (CCA) and its impact on smallholder farmers in Nepal remains unexplored. To fill this gap, this study aimed to identify the effect of agro‐ecological zones and social groups on smallholder farmers' adaptation to climate change using the multivariate probit model. Multistage sampling was used to collect data from 400 households in three agro‐ecological zones of Nepal. These zones were highland (mountainous region), midland (hilly region) and lowland (terai/plain region). The results of our study showed that farmers in the Mountain region are more likely to adopt off‐farm activities and temporary migration as a CCA strategy than those in the Terai/plain agro‐ecological zone. In the Terai/Plain, farmers mainly adopt small‐scale irrigation and agroforestry. In terms of social groups, the Brahmin group was more likely to adopt new crop varieties and small‐scale irrigation than the Sudra group. The Sudra farmers preferred temporary migration and off‐farm activities more than the Brahmins. Our study shows that policies to promote the adoption of CCA strategies need to take into account location and social group differences in order to improve the adaptive capacity of the most vulnerable farmers. Mountain and Sudra farmers need support to adapt to climate change and sustain agriculture.
Building a bridge to the future: Prospective legitimation in nascent markets
Authors: Harmon Derek , Rhee Eunice , Cho Yun Ha 
Published: June 2023

AbstractResearch SummaryHow do new things in nascent markets become legitimate? Existing research points to a process where legitimacy is built by making associations with already legitimate ideas from other domains. In this study, however, we investigate the Internet boom of the 1990s, a nascent setting where something new—engagement metrics used to evaluate firms—gained legitimacy amongst investors, but not by being associated with already legitimate metrics. Using a question‐driven mixed‐methods approach, we reveal that these new metrics instead gained legitimacy through a novel process we term prospective legitimation, where a new basis of legitimacy was constructed by firms linking their otherwise unproven new metrics to future profitability. We discuss how these findings inform research on legitimacy, the development of nascent markets, and future‐oriented communications.Managerial SummaryFirms in nascent markets often face the challenge of convincing investors to buy into something new. This is difficult because new ideas not only have few precedents, but they also have not been around long enough to have proven their value. Our research shows how firms can legitimate their new ideas prospectively by using future‐oriented communications that link their otherwise unproven new ideas to a desirable future outcome. Through an investigation of the Internet boom of the 1990s, we demonstrate that Internet firms gradually convinced investors to accept their new engagement metrics (e.g., traffic, visitors, users) before there was any concrete evidence that such metrics actually led to profitability. This study thus enhances our understanding of how new ideas gain traction in nascent markets.
Particles and Prejudice: Nanomedicine Approaches to Reducing Health Disparities in Endometrial Cancer
Authors: Rowlands Claire E. , Folberg Abigail M. , Beickman Zachary K. , Devor Eric J. , Leslie Kimberly K. , Givens Brittany E. 
Published: June 2023

AbstractEndometrial cancer is the most common gynecological malignancy worldwide and unfortunately has a much higher mortality rate in Black women compared with White women. Many potential factors contribute to these mortality rates, including the underlying effects of systemic and interpersonal racism. Furthermore, other trends in medicine have potential links to these rates including participation in clinical trials, hormone therapy, and pre‐existing health conditions. Addressing the high incidence and disparate mortality rates in endometrial cancer requires novel methods, such as nanoparticle‐based therapeutics. These therapeutics have been growing in increasing prevalence in pre‐clinical development and have far‐reaching implications in cancer therapy. The rigor of pre‐clinical studies is enhanced by the likeness of the model to the human body. In systems for 3D cell culture, for example, the extracellular matrix mimics the tumor more closely. The increasing emphasis on precision medicine can be applied to cancer using nanoparticle‐based methods and applied to pre‐clinical models by using patient‐derived model data. This review highlights the intersections of nanomedicine, precision medicine, and racial disparities within endometrial cancer and provides insights into reducing health disparities using recent scientific advances on the nanoscale.