bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationship Between Weather and Changes in Annual and Seasonal Abundance of Culicoides sonorensis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Alberta
Authors: Lysyk T J , Couloigner I , Massolo A , Cork S C
Published: October 2022

Factors influencing annual and seasonal abundance of Culicoides sonorensis (Wirth and Jones) (Diptera; Ceratopogonidae) were examined at 10 sites in southern Alberta using negative binomial regression. Annual abundance varied among locations with greatest abundance in a narrow geographic band between −112.17 and −112.64°W longitude and 49.32 and 50.17°N latitude. Sites were grouped depending on whether abundance was continuous and high; discontinuous and low; or sporadic and low without much loss of information. Maximum annual abundance declined with spring precipitation, increased with spring temperature, and was unrelated to spring relative humidity, suggesting that abundance is highest during years with early drought conditions. Seasonal abundance was associated with the same factors but was further influenced by temperature and relative humidity during the sample intervals. Lagged effects were apparent, suggesting abundance increased with warmer temperatures over a six-week period, and increased when relative humidity declined closer to the sampling period. Predicted values were slightly biased and tended to overestimate observed data, but this could be adjusted using calibration curves. The model can also be used to predict presence/absence of C. sonorensis and will be useful for developing risk assessments.
The JASMONATE ZIM-domain–OPEN STOMATA1 cascade integrates jasmonic acid and abscisic acid signaling to regulate drought tolerance by mediating stomatal closure in poplar
Authors: Rao Shupei , Tian Yuru , Zhang Chong , Qin Yingzhi , Liu Meiqin , Niu Shihui , Li Yue , Chen Jinhuan
Published: October 2022

Drought, which directly affects the yield of crops and trees, is a natural stress with a profound impact on the economy. Improving water use efficiency (WUE) and drought tolerance are relatively effective strategies to alleviate drought stress. OPEN STOMATA1 (OST1), at the core of abscisic acid (ABA) signaling, can improve WUE by regulating stomatal closure and photosynthesis. Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and ABA crosstalk is considered to be involved in the response to drought stress, but the detailed molecular mechanism is insufficiently known. Here, Populus euphratica, which naturally grows in arid and semiarid regions, was selected as the species for studying MeJA and ABA crosstalk under drought. A yeast two-hybrid assay was performed using PeOST1 as bait and a nucleus-localized factor, JASMONATE ZIM-domain protein 2 (PeJAZ2), was found to participate in MeJA signaling by interacting with PeOST1. Overexpression of PeJAZ2 in poplar notably increased water deficit tolerance and WUE in both severe and mild drought stress by regulating ABA signaling rather than ABA synthesis. Furthermore, a PeJAZ2 overexpression line was shown to have greater ABA-induced stomatal closure and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production. Collectively, this evidence establishes a mechanism in which PeJAZ2 acts as a positive regulator in response to drought stress via ABA-induced stomatal closure caused by H2O2 production. Our study presents a new insight into the crosstalk of ABA and jasmonic acid signaling in regulating WUE and drought stress, providing a basis of the drought tolerance mechanism of P. euphratica.
The homogeneity of chemical abundances in H ii regions of the Magellanic Clouds
Authors: Domínguez-Guzmán G , Rodríguez M , García-Rojas J , Esteban C , Toribio San Cipriano L
Published: October 2022

We use very deep spectra obtained with the Ultraviolet-Visual Echelle Spectrograph at the Very Large Telescope to derive physical conditions and chemical abundances of four H ii regions of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and four H ii regions of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). The observations cover the spectral range 3100–10400 Å with a spectral resolution of Δλ ≥ λ/11600, and we measure 95–225 emission lines in each object. We derive ionic and total abundances of O, N, S, Ne, Ar, Cl, and Fe using collisionally excited lines. We find average values of 12 + log (O/H) = 8.37 in the LMC and 8.01 in the SMC, with standard deviations of σ = 0.03 and 0.02 dex, respectively. The S/O, Ne/O, Ar/O, and Cl/O abundance ratios are very similar in both clouds with σ = 0.02–0.03 dex, which indicates that the chemical elements are well mixed in the interstellar medium of each galaxy. The LMC is enhanced in N/O by ∼0.20 dex with respect to the SMC, and the dispersions in N/O, σ = 0.05 dex in each cloud, are larger than those found for the other elements. The derived standard deviations would be much larger for all the abundance ratios, up to 0.20 dex for N/O, if previous spectra of these objects were used to perform the analysis. Finally, we find a wide range of iron depletions in both clouds with more than 90 per cent of the iron atoms deposited on to dust grains in most objects.
Chemical evolution of 26Al and 60Fe in the Milky Way
Authors: Vasini A , Matteucci F , Spitoni E
Published: October 2022

We present theoretical mass estimates of 26Al and 60Fe throughout the Galaxy, performed with a numerical chemical evolution model including detailed nucleosynthesis prescriptions for stable and radioactive nuclides. We compared the results for several sets of stellar yields taken from the literature, for massive, low and intermediate mass stars, nova systems (only for 26Al) and supernovae Type Ia. We then computed the total masses of 26Al and 60Fe in the Galaxy. We studied the bulge and the disc of the Galaxy in a Galactocentric radius range of 0–22 kpc. We assumed that the bulge region (within 2 kpc) evolved quickly suffering a strong star formation burst, while the disc formed more slowly and inside–out. We compared our results with the 26Al mass observed by the gamma-ray surveys COMPTEL and INTEGRAL to select the best model. Concerning 60Fe, we do not have any observed mass value so we just performed a theoretical prediction for future observations. In conclusion, low, intermediate mass stars, and Type Ia supernovae contribute negligibly to the two isotopes, while massive stars are the dominant source. The nova contribution is, however, necessary to reproduce the observations of 26Al. Our best model predicts 2.12 M⊙ of 26Al, in agreement with observations, while for 60Fe our best mass estimate is ∼1.05 M⊙. We also predicted the present injection rate of 26Al and 60Fe in the Galaxy and compared it with previous results, and we found a larger present time injection rate along the disc.
Long-term trends of light pollution assessed from SQM measurements and an empirical atmospheric model
Authors: Puschnig Johannes , Wallner Stefan , Schwope Axel , Näslund Magnus
Published: October 2022

We present long-term (4–10 yr) trends of light pollution observed at 26 locations, covering rural, intermediate, and urban sites, including the three major European metropolitan areas of Stockholm, Berlin, and Vienna. Our analysis is based on (i) night sky brightness (NSB) measurements obtained with sky quality metres (SQMs) and (ii) a rich set of atmospheric data products. We describe the SQM data reduction routine in which we filter for moon- and clear-sky data and correct for the SQM ‘aging’ effect using an updated version of the twilight method of Puschnig et al. (2021). Our clear-sky, aging-corrected data reveal short- and long-term (seasonal) variations due to atmospheric changes. To assess long-term anthropogenic NSB trends, we establish an empirical atmospheric model via multivariate penalized linear regression. Our modelling approach allows to quantitatively investigate the importance of different atmospheric parameters, revealing that surface albedo and vegetation have by far the largest impact on zenithal NSB. Additionally, the NSB is sensitive to black carbon and organic matter aerosols at urban and rural sites, respectively. Snow depth was found to be important for some sites, while the total column of ozone leaves impact on some rural places. The average increase in light pollution at our 11 rural sites is 1.7 per cent per year. At our nine urban sites, we measure an increase of 1.8 per cent per year and for the remaining six intermediate sites we find an average increase of 3.7 per cent per year. These numbers correspond to doubling times of 41, 39, and 19 yr. We estimate that our method is capable of detecting trend slopes shallower/steeper than ±1.5 per cent per year.
First detection of the He i 10 830 Å emission in spectra of classical Cepheid X Cyg
Authors: Kovtyukh V V , Andrievsky S M , Korotin S A
Published: October 2022

For the first time, we describe a detection of the emission in the infrared (IR) He i triplet at 10 830 Å in the classical Cepheid X Cyg. Emissions are clearly seen at phases approximately from 0.25 to 0.85. The IR redshifted He i emission is excited by shock wave in the uppermost layers of the star’s envelope, in its falling layers. This is a first detection of the helium IR emission in the classical Cepheids.
Early Nitrogenase Ancestors Encompassed Novel Active Site Diversity
Authors: Schwartz Sarah L , Garcia Amanda K , Kaçar Betül , Fournier Gregory P
Published: October 2022

Ancestral sequence reconstruction (ASR) infers predicted ancestral states for sites within sequences and can constrain the functions and properties of ancestors of extant protein families. Here, we compare the likely sequences of inferred nitrogenase ancestors to extant nitrogenase sequence diversity. We show that the most-likely combinations of ancestral states for key substrate channel residues are not represented in extant sequence space, and rarely found within a more broadly defined physiochemical space—supporting that the earliest ancestors of extant nitrogenases likely had alternative substrate channel composition. These differences may indicate differing environmental selection pressures acting on nitrogenase substrate specificity in ancient environments. These results highlight ASR's potential as an in silico tool for developing hypotheses about ancestral enzyme functions, as well as improving hypothesis testing through more targeted in vitro and in vivo experiments.
Beyond corrosion: development of a single cell-ICP-ToF-MS method to uncover the process of microbiologically influenced corrosion
Authors: Olbrich Adelina-Elisa , Stepec Biwen A An , Wurzler Nina , Terol Estela C , Koerdt Andrea , Meermann Björn
Published: October 2022

The development of the microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC)-specific inductively coupled plasma-time of flight-mass spectrometry (ICP-ToF-MS) analytical method presented here, in combination with the investigation of steel-MIC interactions, contributes significantly to progress in instrumental MIC analysis. For this, a MIC-specific staining procedure was developed, which ensures the analysis of intact cells. It allows the analysis of archaea at a single cell level, which is extremely scarce compared to other well-characterized organisms. The detection method revealed elemental selectivity for the corrosive methanogenic strain Methanobacterium-affiliated IM1. Hence, the possible uptake of individual elements from different steel samples was investigated and results showed the cells responded at a single-cell level to the different types of supplemented elements and displayed the abilities to uptake chromium, vanadium, titanium, cobalt, and molybdenum from solid metal surfaces. The methods developed and information obtained will be used in the future to elucidate underlying mechanisms, compliment well-developed methods, such as SEM-EDS, and develop novel material protection concepts.
Structure-based screening for functional non-coding RNAs in fission yeast identifies a factor repressing untimely initiation of sexual differentiation
Authors: Ono Yu , Katayama Kenta , Onuma Tomoki , Kubo Kento , Tsuyuzaki Hayato , Hamada Michiaki , Sato Masamitsu
Published: October 2022

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) ubiquitously exist in normal and cancer cells. Despite their prevalent distribution, the functions of most long ncRNAs remain uncharacterized. The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe expresses >1800 ncRNAs annotated to date, but most unconventional ncRNAs (excluding tRNA, rRNA, snRNA and snoRNA) remain uncharacterized. To discover the functional ncRNAs, here we performed a combinatory screening of computational and biological tests. First, all S. pombe ncRNAs were screened in silico for those showing conservation in sequence as well as in secondary structure with ncRNAs in closely related species. Almost a half of the 151 selected conserved ncRNA genes were uncharacterized. Twelve ncRNA genes that did not overlap with protein-coding sequences were next chosen for biological screening that examines defects in growth or sexual differentiation, as well as sensitivities to drugs and stresses. Finally, we highlighted an ncRNA transcribed from SPNCRNA.1669, which inhibited untimely initiation of sexual differentiation. A domain that was predicted as conserved secondary structure by the computational operations was essential for the ncRNA to function. Thus, this study demonstrates that in silico selection focusing on conservation of the secondary structure over species is a powerful method to pinpoint novel functional ncRNAs.
A phage weaponizes a satellite recombinase to subvert viral restriction
Authors: Nguyen Maria H T , Netter Zoe , Angermeyer Angus , Seed Kimberley D
Published: October 2022

Bacteria can acquire mobile genetic elements (MGEs) to combat infection by viruses (phages). Satellite viruses, including the PLEs (phage-inducible chromosomal island-like elements) in epidemic Vibrio cholerae, are MGEs that restrict phage replication to the benefit of their host bacterium. PLEs parasitize the lytic phage ICP1, unleashing multiple mechanisms to restrict phage replication and promote their own spread. In the arms race against PLE, ICP1 uses nucleases, including CRISPR-Cas, to destroy PLE’s genome during infection. However, through an unknown CRISPR-independent mechanism, specific ICP1 isolates subvert restriction by PLE. Here, we discover ICP1-encoded Adi that counteracts PLE by exploiting the PLE’s large serine recombinase (LSR), which normally mobilizes PLE in response to ICP1 infection. Unlike previously characterized ICP1-encoded anti-PLE mechanisms, Adi is not a nuclease itself but instead appears to modulate the activity of the LSR to promote destructive nuclease activity at the LSR’s specific attachment site, attP. The PLE LSR, its catalytic activity, and attP are additionally sufficient to sensitize a PLE encoding a resistant variant of the recombination module to Adi activity. This work highlights a unique type of adaptation arising from inter-genome conflicts, in which the intended activity of a protein can be weaponized to overcome the antagonizing genome.
Role of NS2 specific RNA binding and phosphorylation in liquid–liquid phase separation and virus assembly
Authors: Rahman Shah Kamranur , Ampah Khamal Kwesi , Roy Polly
Published: October 2022

Liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) has assumed a prominent role in biological cell systems, where it underpins the formation of subcellular compartments necessary for cell function. We investigated the underlying mechanism of LLPS in virus infected cells, where virus inclusion bodies are formed by an RNA-binding phosphoprotein (NS2) of Bluetongue virus to serve as sites for subviral particle assembly and virus maturation. We show that NS2 undergoes LLPS that is dependent on protein phosphorylation and RNA-binding and that LLPS occurrence is accompanied by a change in protein secondary structure. Site-directed mutagenesis identified two critical arginine residues in NS2 responsible for specific RNA binding and thus for NS2–RNA complex driven LLPS. Reverse genetics identified the same residues as essential for VIB assembly in infected cells and virus viability. Our findings suggest that a specific arginine–RNA interaction in the context of a phosphorylated state drives LLPS in this, and possibly other, virus infections.
Effects of Mantle Hybridization by Interaction with Slab Derived Melts in the Genesis of Alkaline Lavas across the Back-Arc Region of South Shetland Subduction System
Authors: Altunkaynak Şafak , Aldanmaz Ercan , Nývlt Daniel
Published: October 2022

Late Miocene to Late Pleistocene alkaline lavas in the northernmost part of the Antarctic Peninsula and its off-lying islands are the latest stage of magmatic activity that took place in response to lithospheric extension in the back-arc region of the South Shetland subduction system. The alkaline magmatism occurred much later than the main pulse of Cretaceous arc magmatism and generated basaltic extrusive rocks during several sub-aqueous/sub-glacial and sub-aerial eruption periods. The suite consists primarily of alkali olivine basalts with oceanic island basalt (OIB)-like trace element signatures, characterized by elevated highly to less incompatible element ratios compared to MORB. The samples have higher 87Sr/86Sr (0.70301–0.70365), and lower 143Nd/144Nd (0.51283–0.51294) and 176Hf/177Hf (0.28291–0.28298) than depleted MORB mantle. Their lead isotope ratios vary within a limited range with 206Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb, 208Pb/204Pb ratios of 18.797–18.953, 15.577–15.634, and 38.414–38.701, respectively. Sr, Nd, Hf and Pb isotope systematics suggest involvement of diverse source materials in the genesis of the alkaline magmas. Evaluation of radiogenic isotope and trace element data indicates that the source of the alkaline melts had a complex petrogenetic history, reflecting the effects of mantle hybridization along the slab mantle interface through interaction of mantle wedge peridotites with volatile-bearing, siliceous melts produced by melting of subducted sediments and basaltic oceanic crust. Hf-Nd isotope and trace element projections further demonstrate that the metasomatizing melt was likely generated by eclogite partial melting at sub-arc to post-arc depths, in equilibrium with a garnet-bearing residue and involved breakdown of high field strength elements (HFSE) retaining phases. Consumption of metasomatic amphibole during partial melting of hybridized peridotite at the wet solidus appears to have had a significant effect on the final melt compositions with high HFSE, Na and H2O contents.
Placebos in Schizophrenia Research: An Historical Overview and Introduction to Ethical Issues
Authors: Berkhout Suze G
Published: October 2022

This short introduction provides a historical and ethical overview of placebos and placebo controls in relation to schizophrenia research, with a focus on long-term clinical trials. Drawing on historical and philosophical scholarship, it sketches a two-level analysis of ethical issues that placebos and the placebo effect raise for the field, particularly in light of shifts in clinical trial methodologies and clinical practices.
A machine learning eye movement detection algorithm using electrooculography
Authors: Dupre Alicia E , Cronin Michael F M , Schmugge Stephen , Tate Samuel , Wack Audrey , Prescott Brenton R , Li Cheyi , Auerbach Sanford , Suchdev Kushak , Al-Faraj Abrar , He Wei , Cervantes-Arslanian Anna M , Abdennadher Myriam , Saxena Aneeta , Lehan Walter , Russo Mary , Pugsley Brian , Greer David , Shin Min , Ong Charlene J
Published: October 2022

Study Objectives

Eye movement quantification in polysomnograms (PSG) is difficult and resource intensive. Automated eye movement detection would enable further study of eye movement patterns in normal and abnormal sleep, which could be clinically diagnostic of neurologic disorders, or used to monitor potential treatments. We trained a long short-term memory (LSTM) algorithm that can identify eye movement occurrence with high sensitivity and specificity.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective, single-center study using one-hour PSG samples from 47 patients 18–90 years of age. Team members manually identified and trained an LSTM algorithm to detect eye movement presence, direction, and speed. We performed a 5-fold cross validation and implemented a “fuzzy” evaluation method to account for misclassification in the preceding and subsequent 1-second of gold standard manually labeled eye movements. We assessed G-means, discrimination, sensitivity, and specificity.

Results

Overall, eye movements occurred in 9.4% of the analyzed EOG recording time from 47 patients. Eye movements were present 3.2% of N2 (lighter stages of sleep) time, 2.9% of N3 (deep sleep), and 19.8% of REM sleep. Our LSTM model had average sensitivity of 0.88 and specificity of 0.89 in 5-fold cross validation, which improved to 0.93 and 0.92 respectively using the fuzzy evaluation scheme.

Conclusion

An automated algorithm can detect eye movements from EOG with excellent sensitivity and specificity. Noninvasive, automated eye movement detection has several potential clinical implications in improving sleep study stage classification and establishing normal eye movement distributions in healthy and unhealthy sleep, and in patients with and without brain injury.
Profiling transcriptional heterogeneity of epithelium, fibroblasts, and immune cells in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by single‐cell RNA sequencing
Authors: Shi Ke , Li Yueqi , Yang Liang , Zhang Zichao , Guo Dan , Zhang Jinzhong , Lu Yucheng
Published: October 2022

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most aggressive malignancies with complex tumor microenvironment (TME) which has been proven to be associated with therapeutic failure or resistance. A deeper understanding of the complex TME and cellular heterogeneity is urgently needed in ESCC. Here, we generated single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) of 25 796 immune and 8197 non‐immune cells from three primary tumor and paired normal samples in ESCC patients. The results revealed intratumoral and intertumoral epithelium heterogeneity and tremendously differences in tumor and normal epithelium. The infiltration of myofibroblasts, one subtype of fibroblasts, might play important roles in the progression of ESCC. We also found that some differentially expressed genes and markers in epithelium and fibroblast subtypes showed prognostic values for ESCC. Diverse cell subtypes of T cells and myeloid cells were identified, including tumor‐enriched HAVCR2+ CD4+ T cells with significantly exhausted signature. The epithelium and myeloid cells had more frequent cell–cell communication compared with epithelium and T cells. Taken together, this study provided in‐depth insights into the cellular heterogeneity of TME in ESCC and highlighted potential therapeutic targets including for immunotherapy.
Strengthening the case for intralymphatic immunotherapy
Authors: Hoffmann Hans Jürgen , Hviid-Vyff Bjarke
Published: October 2022

Purpose of review

Intralymphatic immunotherapy (ILIT) is a promising novel method of immunotherapy, that is short and convenient, and may be very effective. Results have been varied, and efforts to unravel the real value of the treatment are ongoing. Methods used to assess the effect in clinical trials have been so varied that it is difficult to compare studies with each other.

Recent findings

Some advances have been made; the importance of injecting into the lymph node has been illustrated, and treatment with a range of medicines has proven to be successful. In meta-analyses the treatment has been shown to have no serious side effects and to be an effective short term desensitizing agent. Now it remains to be shown that ILIT also has long-term effects of tolerance. Preliminary data suggest that there is a long-term effect.

Injecting allergen directly into a lymph node strengthens the protective immune response. ILIT is safe and induces desensitization and very likely also induces tolerance. Compliance will improve compared with other treatment forms. If ILIT holds its promise, it will become an attractive option for patients with allergy.
Sensitivity of Medicaid Claims Data for Identifying Opioid Use Disorder in Patients Admitted to 6 New York City Public Hospitals
Authors: McNeely Jennifer , Gallagher Shane D. , Mazumdar Medha , Appleton Noa , Fernando Jasmine , Owens Elizabeth , Bone Emmeline , Krawczyk Noa , Dolle Johanna , Marcello Roopa Kalyanaraman , Billings John , Wang Scarlett
Published: October 2022

Objectives

Behavioral health diagnoses are frequently underreported in administrative health data. For a pragmatic trial of a hospital addiction consult program, we sought to determine the sensitivity of Medicaid claims data for identifying patients with opioid use disorder (OUD).

Methods

A structured review of electronic health record (EHR) data was conducted to identify patients with OUD in 6 New York City public hospitals. Cases selected for review were adults admitted to medical/surgical inpatient units who received methadone or sublingual buprenorphine in the hospital. For cases with OUD based on EHR review, we searched for the hospitalization in Medicaid claims data and examined International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision discharge diagnosis codes to identify opioid diagnoses (OUD, opioid poisoning, or opioid-related adverse events). Sensitivity of Medicaid claims data for capturing OUD hospitalizations was calculated using EHR review findings as the reference standard measure.

Results

Among 552 cases with OUD based on EHR review, 465 (84.2%) were found in the Medicaid claims data, of which 418 (89.9%) had an opioid discharge diagnosis. Opioid diagnoses were the primary diagnosis in 49 cases (11.7%), whereas in the remainder, they were secondary diagnoses.

Conclusion

In this sample of hospitalized patients receiving OUD medications, Medicaid claims seem to have good sensitivity for capturing opioid diagnoses. Although the sensitivity of claims data may vary, it can potentially be a valuable source of information about OUD patients.
Circ_0026123 promotes cisplatin resistance and progression of ovarian cancer by upregulating RAB1A through sequestering miR-543
Authors: Wei Lei , He Weicai , Zhao Hua , Zhao Peixi
Published: October 2022

Background

Circular RNAs can act as critical regulators in the tumorigenesis and chemoresistance of ovarian cancer (OC). Herein, this work aimed to probe the function and mechanism of circ_0026123 in the cisplatin (DDP) resistance and progression of OC and its potential value in the clinic.

Methods

The quantitative real-time PCR and western blotting were used to detect the levels of RNAs and proteins. In vitro experiments were conducted using CCK-8, EdU, transwell, tube formation assays and flow cytometry. Mouse subcutaneous xenograft model was used for in vivo experiments. The interaction between circ_0026123 or RAB1A (Ras-related protein Rab-1A) and miR-543 was confirmed using dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation assays.

Results

Circ_0026123 expression was higher in DDP-resistant OC tissues and cells. Silencing of circ_0026123 dramatically boosted the sensitivity of DDP-resistant OC cells to DDP, as well as inhibited cell growth, angiogenesis, invasion and migration abilities in vitro. Circ_0026123 functionally targeted miR-543, and knockdown of miR-543 reversed the impacts of circ_0026123 deficiency on DDP sensitivity and the malignant behaviors of DDP-resistant OC cells. RAB1A was a target of miR-543, RAB1A overexpression attenuated the inhibitory functions of miR-543 on DDP resistance and the malignant phenotypes of DDP-resistant OC cells. Preclinically, lentivirus-mediated circ_0026123 downregulation also suppressed OC growth and enhanced DDP cytotoxicity in vivo.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated that circ_0026123 acted as a sponge for miR-543 to elevate RAB1A expression, thus promoting cisplatin resistance and tumorigenesis in ovarian cancer.
G protein subunit gamma 5 promotes the proliferation, metastasis and glycolysis of breast cancer cells through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway
Authors: Yuan Zuguo , Ren Ruiping , Xu Zhengyang
Published: October 2022

GNG5 is suggested to exert a critical effect on tumor development in human beings; however, its function and related mechanism within breast cancer (BC) are still unclear. In this regard, the present work focused on identifying and evaluating GNG5’s function and revealing its possible molecular mechanism. Subcutaneous tumorigenesis model of nude mice and in-vitro cell model was established. The relationship between GNG5 expression and BC was studied through knockdown and overexpression experiments. The proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of liver cancer cell lines overexpressing or silencing GNG5 were detected. Furthermore, the pathway mechanism of GNG5 was evaluated at the molecular level and was performed to further verify the possible targets and mechanisms of action. In comparison with that in normal tissue, GNG5 level within BC tissue was higher. In addition, GNG5 overexpression stimulated BC cell proliferation, invasion, migration and EMT. BC cells with reduced GNG5 expression exhibited significant decreases in glucose uptake, lactate levels, and ATP concentrations. In addition, GNG5 knockdown inhibited Wnt/β-catenin signaling. This study indicates that GNG5 may generate a vital function in BC. The results of the current work demonstrated GNG5’s effect on BC pathological process, also providing a reference for developing new targeted therapies for BC.
Effect of the use of prediagnosis hormones on breast cancer prognosis: MCC-Spain study
Authors: Alonso-Molero Jéssica , Gómez-Acebo Inés , Llorca Javier , Lope-Carvajal Virginia , Amiano Pilar , Guevara Marcela , Martín Vicente , Castaño-Vinyals Gemma , Fernández-Ortiz María , Obón-Santacana Mireia , Alguacil Juan , Fernandez-Tardon Guillermo , Molina-Barceló Ana , Marcos-Gragera Rafael , Pérez-Gómez Beatriz , Aizpurua Amaia , Ardanaz Eva , Molina Antonio J. , Rodríguez-Cundín Paz , Moreno Víctor , Rodríguez-Reinado Carmen , Aragonés Nuria , Kogevinas Manolis , Pollán Marina , Dierssen-Sotos Trinidad
Published: October 2022

Objective

To extend knowledge about the long-term use of hormones in hormone therapy or oral contraception as prognostic factors in breast cancer.

Methods

The MCC-Spain project is a cohort of 1,685 women with incident breast cancer recruited in Spain. Recruitment was carried out between 2007 and 2010, and the follow-up finished in December 2017. The impact of hormone therapy or oral contraception on breast cancer prognosis was analyzed considering year of birth and menopausal status (1,095 women [65%] were postmenopausal). Hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated using Cox regression models. Death by any cause was considered as the event, and hormone therapy or oral contraception were analyzed as regressors.

Results

Oral contraception use for less than 5 years shows an HR of 1.10 (95% CI, 0.75 to 1.62), whereas use for 5 or more years shows an HR of 1.46 (95% CI, 0.95 to 2.25), with a P trend of 0.01, showing a dose-dependent response. Regarding hormone therapy and restricting the analysis to postmenopausal women born between1940 and 1959, where most hormone therapy (consumption) is concentrated, the results did not show any trend.

Conclusion

Concerning oral contraception use, our results demonstrate that their use is related to poor prognosis in breast cancer. However, research in this field is limited and controversial, indicating the need for more research in this area. Regarding hormone therapy consumption, our results indicate no association with better prognosis, which contradicts what has previously been published.
Need for Improved Collection and Harmonization of Rural Maternal Healthcare Data
Authors: Santillan Donna A. , Davis Heather A. , Faro Elissa Z. , Knosp Boyd M. , Santillan Mark K.
Published: October 2022

Representation in data sets is critical to improving healthcare for the largest possible number of people. Unfortunately, pregnancy is a very understudied period of time. Further, the gap in available data is wide between pregnancies in urban areas versus rural areas. There are many limitations in the current data that is available. Herein, we review these limitations and strengths of available data sources. In addition, we propose a new mechanism to enhance the granularity, depth, and speed with which data is made available regarding rural pregnancy.
Workplace Injuries and Receipt of Benefits From Workers’ Compensation and Social Security Disability Insurance
Authors: Ladd Daniel , Neumark David
Published: October 2022

Objective

We examine whether workers who experience permanently disabling injuries covered by workers’ compensation (WC) end up on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and whether Social Security Administration (SSA) seems to offset WC payments for permanently disabling injuries against SSDI benefits, when appropriate. Methods: We capture data on WC benefit receipt from the Health and Retirement Study and link it to SSA data on WC and SSDI recipients to study descriptive information on these questions. Results: We find that SSA seems to be missing data on WC benefits for a sizable share of recipients of WC benefits and that the frequency with which SSDI benefits are reduced because of the WC offset seems surprisingly low. Conclusions: For a variety of reasons, WC benefits for permanently disabling injuries may not be appropriately offset against SSDI benefits, possibly shifting the cost of these workplace injuries to SSDI.
A Systematic Review of Strategies to Enhance Response Rates and Representativeness of Patient Experience Surveys
Authors: Anhang Price Rebecca , Quigley Denise D. , Hargraves J. Lee , Sorra Joann , Becerra-Ornelas Alejandro U. , Hays Ron D. , Cleary Paul D. , Brown Julie , Elliott Marc N.
Published: October 2022

Background:

Data from surveys of patient care experiences are a cornerstone of public reporting and pay-for-performance initiatives. Recently, increasing concerns have been raised about survey response rates and how to promote equity by ensuring that responses represent the perspectives of all patients.

Objective:

Review evidence on survey administration strategies to improve response rates and representativeness of patient surveys.

Research Design:

Systematic review adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

Study Selection:

Forty peer-reviewed randomized experiments of administration protocols for patient experience surveys.

Results:

Mail administration with telephone follow-up provides a median response rate benefit of 13% compared with mail-only or telephone-only. While surveys administered only by web typically result in lower response rates than those administered by mail or telephone (median difference in response rate: −21%, range: −44%, 0%), the limited evidence for a sequential web-mail-telephone mode suggests a potential response rate benefit over sequential mail-telephone (median: 4%, range: 2%, 5%). Telephone-only and sequential mixed modes including telephone may yield better representation across patient subgroups by age, insurance type, and race/ethnicity. Monetary incentives are associated with large increases in response rates (median increase: 12%, range: 7%, 20%).

Conclusions:

Sequential mixed-mode administration yields higher patient survey response rates than a single mode. Including telephone in sequential mixed-mode administration improves response among those with historically lower response rates; including web in mixed-mode administration may increase response at lower cost. Other promising strategies to improve response rates include in-person survey administration during hospital discharge, incentives, minimizing survey language complexity, and prenotification before survey administration.
Nocardia Infection With Adrenal Gland Abscess Mimicking Metastatic Lung Cancer on FDG PET/CT
Authors: Kesim Selin , Oksuzoglu Kevser , Ozguven Salih
Published: October 2022

We present FDG PET/CT findings of a human immunodeficiency virus–positive patient suspicious for lung cancer with a solitary metastasis to the adrenal gland. Wedge resection of the pulmonary nodules revealed Nocardia infection and a repeat FDG PET/CT imaging after the antibiotic treatment demonstrated complete metabolic response of the adrenal lesion and pulmonary nodules. It should be kept in mind that nocardiosis may present with FDG-avid lesions masquerading as malignancies in immunocompromised patients.
Complete Metabolic Response in Adenocarcinoma Lung With Lymphangitic Carcinomatosis
Authors: Goyal Harish , Kishore Sai , Ganesan Prasanth , Halanaik Dhanapathi
Published: October 2022

Pulmonary lymphangitic carcinomatosis refers to the tumor spread into the lymphatic system of the lungs and is considered a poor prognostic marker. We present an interesting case of adenocarcinoma of right lung evaluated with 18F-FDG PET/CT for baseline staging, with extensive bilateral lung involvement and lymphangitic carcinomatosis pattern. Subsequently, the patient received 3 cycles of carboplatin- and pemetrexed-based chemotherapy regimen along with oral ceritinib. Complete metabolic response and significant reduction in size of the primary lung lesion was noted on response evaluation with 18F-FDG PET/CT, which is a rare phenomenon.
Evidence that catecholaminergic systems mediate dynamic colour change during explosive breeding events in toads
Authors: Stückler Susanne , Fuxjager Matthew J. , Preininger Doris
Published: October 2022

Many animals communicate by rapidly (within minutes or seconds) changing their body coloration; however, we know little about the physiology of this behaviour. Here we study how catecholaminergic hormones regulate rapid colour change in explosive breeding toads (Duttaphrynus melanostictus), where large groups of males gather and quickly change their colour from brown to bright yellow during reproduction. We find that both epinephrine (EP) and/or norepinephrine (NE) cause the toads' skin to become yellow in minutes, even in the absence of social and environmental cues associated with explosive breeding. We hypothesize that natural selection drives the evolution of rapid colour change by co-opting the functional effects of catecholaminergic action. If so, then hormones involved in ‘fight or flight’ responses may mechanistically facilitate the emergence of dynamic visual signals that mediate communication in a sexual context.
Functional constraints channel mandible shape ontogenies in rodents
Authors: Dubied Morgane , Montuire Sophie , Navarro Nicolas
Published: October 2022

In mammals, postnatal growth plays an essential role in the acquisition of the adult shape. During this period, the mandible undergoes many changing functional constraints, leading to spatialization of bone formation and remodelling to accommodate various dietary and behavioural changes. The interactions between the bone, muscles and teeth drive this developmental plasticity, which, in turn, could lead to convergences in the developmental processes constraining the directionality of ontogenies, their evolution and thus the adult shape variation. To test the importance of the interactions between tissues in shaping the ontogenetic trajectories, we compared the mandible shape at five postnatal stages on three rodents: the house mouse, the Mongolian gerbil and the golden hamster, using geometric morphometrics. After an early shape differentiation, by both longer gestation and allometric scaling in gerbils or early divergence of postnatal ontogeny in hamsters in comparison with the mouse, the ontogenetic trajectories appear more similar around weaning. The changes in muscle load associated with new food processing and new behaviours at weaning seem to impose similar physical constraints on the mandible, driving the convergences of the ontogeny at that stage despite an early anatomical differentiation. Nonetheless, mice present a rather different timing compared with gerbils or hamsters.
Using web-sourced photographs to examine temporal patterns in sex-specific diet of a highly sexually dimorphic raptor
Authors: Panter Connor T. , Amar Arjun
Published: October 2022

Traditional methods to study raptor diet are usually limited temporally, e.g. prey remains at nesting sites, and are unsuitable to examine dietary changes throughout the year. Using web-sourced photography, we explore temporal patterns in prey size and key prey species between sexes of the sexually dimorphic Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) throughout the United Kingdom. We examined 666 photographs of sparrowhawk on prey and identified the prey species involved, together with sparrowhawk sex. Changes in prey size and proportions of key prey species over time (seasonally and monthly) were explored for each sex. Prey weight was substantially higher for females than males. However, on average, prey size for both sexes declined during the summer period (May–June) being the lowest in June, which is the main nestling-rearing month for both sparrowhawks and their prey. Compared with summer, rock doves (Columba livia) were more important prey for female sparrowhawk in winter. Whereas, for males, Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula) were more important in spring compared with autumn. Web-sourced photography can overcome several limitations of previous methods used to study raptor diet including the ability to quantify diet between the sexes throughout the entire year, however, may also introduce a prey-size bias toward larger prey items.
Viral spillover risk increases with climate change in High Arctic lake sediments
Authors: Lemieux Audrée , Colby Graham A. , Poulain Alexandre J. , Aris-Brosou Stéphane
Published: October 2022

The host spectrum of viruses is quite diverse, as they can sustainedly infect a few species to several phyla. When confronted with a new host, a virus may even infect it and transmit sustainably in this new host, a process called ‘viral spillover’. However, the risk of such events is difficult to quantify. As climate change is rapidly transforming environments, it is becoming critical to quantify the potential for spillovers. To address this issue, we resorted to a metagenomics approach and focused on two environments, soil and lake sediments from Lake Hazen, the largest High Arctic freshwater lake in the world. We used DNA and RNA sequencing to reconstruct the lake’s virosphere in both its sediments and soils, as well as its range of eukaryotic hosts. We then estimated the spillover risk by measuring the congruence between the viral and the eukaryotic host phylogenetic trees, and show that spillover risk increases with runoff from glacier melt, a proxy for climate change. Should climate change also shift species range of potential viral vectors and reservoirs northwards, the High Arctic could become fertile ground for emerging pandemics.
Variable metabolic scaling breaks the law: from ‘Newtonian’ to ‘Darwinian’ approaches
Authors: Glazier Douglas S.
Published: October 2022

Life's size and tempo are intimately linked. The rate of metabolism varies with body mass in remarkably regular ways that can often be described by a simple power function, where the scaling exponent (b, slope in a log-linear plot) is typically less than 1. Traditional theory based on physical constraints has assumed thatbis 2/3 or 3/4, following natural law, but hundreds of studies have documented extensive, systematic variation inb. This overwhelming, law-breaking, empirical evidence is causing a paradigm shift in metabolic scaling theory and methodology from ‘Newtonian’ to ‘Darwinian’ approaches. A new wave of studies focuses on the adaptable regulation and evolution of metabolic scaling, as influenced by diverse intrinsic and extrinsic factors, according to multiple context-dependent mechanisms, and within boundary limits set by physical constraints.
Strains of Bradyrhizobium barranii sp. nov. associated with legumes native to Canada are symbionts of soybeans and belong to different subspecies (subsp. barranii subsp. nov. and subsp. apii subsp. nov.) and symbiovars (sv. glycinearum and sv. septentrionale)
Authors: Bromfield Eden S. P. , Cloutier Sylvie , Wasai-Hara Sawa , Minamisawa Kiwamu
Published: October 2022

Four bacterial strains isolated from root nodules of soybean plants that had been inoculated with root-zone soils of legumes native to Canada were previously identified as a novelBradyrhizobiumlineage consisting of symbiovars (sv.) glycinearum and septentrionale. Our purpose was to verify the taxonomic status of these strains using phylogenetic, genomic and phenotypic analyses. Multiple phylogenetic analyses including analysis of 51 full-length ribosome protein subunit (rps) gene sequences confirmed placement of the novel strains in a highly supported lineage distinct from namedBradyrhizobiumspecies withB. japonicumUSDA 6Tas the closest relative. The results of genomic and phylogenomic analyses based on digital DNA–DNA hybridization and genomeblastdistance phylogeny showed that novel strains in comparisons with type strains of closest relatives were below the established threshold (70 %) for species delineation. Moreover, the novel strains were divided into two subspecies clusters based on the established threshold of 79 %. The genomes of strains 144S4T, 323S2, 1S5 and 38S5Thave sizes of 11 399 526, 11 474 152, 10580853 and 10 530 141 bp with DNA G+C contents of 63.1, 63.0, 63.4 and 63.3 mol%, respectively. These strains possess symbiosis islands harbouring key nodulation, nitrogen-fixation and type III secretion system genes as well as abundant insertion sequences and between two and four putative plasmids. Strains 144S4Tand 323S2 (sv. glycinearum) are effective with regard to nitrogen fixation in symbiotic association with soybeans whereas strains 1S5 and 38S5T(sv. septentrionale) are ineffective. Data for morphological, physiological and symbiotic characteristics complement the sequence-based results. The data presented here support the description of a new species and two new subspecies for which the namesBradyrhizobium barraniisp. nov. subsp.barraniisubsp. nov. (sv. glycinearum) andBradyrhizobium barraniisp. nov. subsp.apiisubsp. nov. (sv. septentrionale) are proposed with strain 144S4T(=LMG 31552T=HAMBI 3722T) as the species type strain and type strain of subsp.barraniisubsp. nov., and strain 38S5T(=LMG 31556T=HAMBI 3721T) as the type strain of subsp.apiisubsp. nov.
Sphingomonas cannabina sp. nov., isolated from Cannabis sativa L. ‘Cheungsam’
Authors: Jeon Doeun , Jiang Lingmin , Peng Yuxin , Seo Jiyoon , Li Zhun , Park Seung-Hwan , Jeong Rae-Dong , Park Soon Ju , Jeong Jae Cheol , Lee Jiyoung
Published: October 2022

A Gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium, designated DM2-R-LB4T was isolated from Cannabis sativa L. ‘Cheungsam’ in Andong, Republic of Korea. The strain DM2-R-LB4T grew at temperatures of 15–45 °C (optimum, 30–37 °C), pH of 5.5–9 (optimum, 8.0), and 0–2 % (w/v) NaCl concentration (optimum, 0%). Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain DM2-R-LB4T is related to species of the genus

Sphingomonas

, and shared 97.8 and 97.5% similarity to Sphingomonas kyenggiensis KCTC 42244T and

Sphingomonas leidyi

DSM 4733T, respectively. The DNA G+C content was 67.9 mol% and genome analysis of the strain DM2-R-LB4T revealed that the genome size was 4 386 171 bp and contained 4 009 predicted protein-coding genes. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between strain DM2-R-LB4T and S. kyenggiensis KCTC 42244T, and

S. leidyi

DSM 4733T was 76.8 and 76.7 %, respectively, while the values of digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) were 20.7 and 20.6 %, respectively. C14 : 0 2-OH, C16 : 0, and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω6c and/or C18 : 1 ω7c) were the major fatty acids (>10 %) in the strain DM2-R-LB4T. The polar lipids comprised diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylcholine (PC), sphingoglycolipid (SGL), glycolipid (GL), phospholipid (PL), and two unidentified polar lipids (L1 and L2). Ubiquinone-10 (Q-10) was the only respiratory quinone. The polyamine pattern was found to contain homospermidine, putrescine, and spermidine. The results of phylogenetic anlayses, polyphasic studies, revealed that strain DM2-R-LB4T represents a novel species of the genus

Sphingomonas

, for which the name Sphingomonas cannabina sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is DM2-R-LB4T (=KCTC 92075T = GDMCC 1.3018T).