bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Percepção materna do estado nutricional do filho sob a óptica da análise dos resíduos ajustados
Authors: Pinasco Gustavo Carreiro , Sales Arthur Brunelli , Santos Carla Venância Aguilar , Cola Elizandra , Barcellos Filho Fabiano Novaes , Rocha João Batista Francalino da , Farina Eduardo Moreno Júdice de Mattos , Fiorotti Willer França , Abreu Luiz Carlos de
Published: October 2020

Backgroung: The maternal perception of the nutritional status of their children has several important social factors in its composition and it can be important in determine quality of children’s food.
Objective: To assess social factors influencing maternal perception of her children´s nutritional status.
Methods: Cross sectional study with school children from 6 to 10 years from a public school in São Paulo, Brazil. The data was obtained through a structured questionnaire applied to mothers and through children’s body mass index. Associations between variables were analyzed by the Qui-square test andby the adjusted residues analysis, with 5% of significance. The agreement between maternal perception and nutritional status was assessed through the Kappa test.
 
Results: We found incorrect perception in 45.8% of cases, from which 98.2% were underestimation, with 80% of underestimation for overweight children. We found poor and slight agreement for all cases. Adjusted residuals pointed eutrophic underestimation; better maternal perception forthe obese; better perception for mothers that attained middle and high school levels; underestimation for eutrophic boys and correct perception for eutrophic girls. Single mothers andthose who do not work outside tended to underestimate their eutrophic children.
Conclusion: We found poor agreement for almost all cases, with exception to mothers of girls and those that do not work outside. A correct perception was related positively with lower education levels, being worse for mothers without a partner and for those who do not work outside. Mothers of girls, compared to mothers of boys, had a more accurate perception.
Comprehensive analysis of circular RNAs from steatotic livers after ischemia and reperfusion injury by next‐generation RNA sequencing
Authors: Qu Xiaoye , Zheng Chao , Wang Bingrui , Wang Fang , Sun Xuehua , Gao Yueqiu , Xia Qiang , Kong Xiaoni
Published: October 2020

Global organ shortage has led to the acceptance of steatotic livers for transplantation, taking the risk of graft dysfunction associated with the higher sensitivity of steatotic livers to ischemia and reperfusion injury (IRI). Data about circular RNAs (circRNAs) in steatotic livers following IRI are practically nonexistent. In our study, a high‐fat diet‐fed mouse model of hepatic steatosis was generated, and RNA sequencing was performed both on IRI and on sham liver tissues of these mice to screen for circRNAs with significant differential expression. To further validate our bioinformatics data, one upregulated circRNA and four downregulated circRNAs were examined. The circularity of these circRNAs was demonstrated using RNaseR digestion and Sanger sequencing. The expression of four stable circRNAs undigested by RNaseR was further validated by quantitative PCR. In summary, this study unearths several circRNAs as novel and potentially effective targets involved in the more severe damage of steatotic livers following IRI.
Deubiquitinase OTUD6A promotes proliferation of cancer cells via regulating Drp1 stability and mitochondrial fission
Authors: Shi Le , Liu Jing , Peng Yunhua , Zhang Jinfang , Dai Xiangpeng , Zhang Shuangxi , Wang Yongyao , Liu Jiankang , Long Jiangang
Published: October 2020

Dynamin‐related protein 1 (Drp1) is a cytosolic protein responsible for mitochondrial fission and is essential in the initiation and development of several human diseases, including cancer. However, the regulation of Drp1, especially of its ubiquitination, remains unclear. In this study, we report that the ovarian tumor‐associated protease deubiquitinase 6A (OTUD6A) deubiquitylates and stabilizes Drp1, thereby facilitating regulation of mitochondrial morphology and tumorigenesis. OTUD6A is upregulated in human patients with colorectal cancer. The depletion of OTUD6A leads to lower Drp1 levels and suppressed mitochondrial fission, and the affected cells are consequently less prone to tumorigenesis. Conversely, the overexpression of OTUD6A increases Drp1 levels and its protein half‐life and enhances cancer cell growth. Therefore, our results reveal a novel upstream protein of Drp1, and its role in tumorigenesis that is played, in part, through the activation of mitochondrial fission mediated by Drp1.
Comparison of variant allele frequency and number of mutant molecules as units of measurement for circulating tumor DNA
Authors: Bos Manouk K. , Nasserinejad Kazem , Jansen Maurice P. H. M. , Steendam Christi M.J. , Angus Lindsay , Atmodimedjo Peggy N. , de Jonge Evert , Dinjens Winand N. M. , van Schaik Ron H. N. , Del Re Marzia , Dubbink Hendrikus J. , Sleijfer Stefan , Martens John W. M.
Published: October 2020

Quantification of tumor‐specific variants (TSVs) in cell‐free DNA is rapidly evolving as a prognostic and predictive tool in patients with cancer. Currently, both variant allele frequency (VAF) and number of mutant molecules per mL plasma are used as units of measurement to report those TSVs. However, it is unknown to what extent both units of measurement agree and what are the factors underlying an existing disagreement. To study the agreement between VAF and mutant molecules in current clinical studies, we analyzed 1116 TSVs from 338 patients identified with next‐generation sequencing (NGS) or digital droplet PCR (ddPCR). On different study cohorts, a Deming regression analysis was performed and its 95% prediction interval was used as surrogate for the limits of agreement between VAF and number of mutant molecules per mL and to identify outliers. VAF and number of mutant molecules per mL plasma yielded greater agreement when using ddPCR than NGS. In case of discordance between VAF and number of mutant molecules per mL, insufficient molecular coverage in NGS and high cell‐free DNA concentration were the main responsible factors. We propose several optimization steps needed to bring monitoring of TSVs in cell‐free DNA to its full potential.
Melatonin stimulates transcription of the rat phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene in hepatic cells
Authors: Asano Kosuke , Tsukada Akiko , Yanagisawa Yuki , Higuchi Mariko , Takagi Katsuhiro , Ono Moe , Tanaka Takashi , Tomita Koji , Yamada Kazuya
Published: October 2020

Melatonin plays physiological roles in various critical processes, including circadian rhythms, oxidative stress defenses, anti‐inflammation responses, and immunity; however, the current understanding of the role of melatonin in hepatic glucose metabolism is limited. In this study, we examined whether melatonin affects gene expression of the key gluconeogenic enzyme, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK). We found that melatonin treatment increased PEPCK mRNA levels in rat highly differentiated hepatoma (H4IIE) cells and primary cultured hepatocytes. In addition, we found that melatonin induction was synergistically enhanced by dexamethasone, whereas it was dominantly inhibited by insulin. We also report that the effect of melatonin was blocked by inhibitors of mitogen‐activated protein kinase/extracellular signal‐regulated protein kinase (MAPK/ERK), RNA polymerase II, and protein synthesis. Furthermore, the phosphorylated (active) forms of ERK1 and ERK2 (ERK1/2) increased 15 min after melatonin treatment. We performed luciferase reporter assays to show that melatonin specifically stimulated promoter activity of the PEPCK gene. Additional reporter analysis using 5′‐deleted constructs revealed that the regulatory regions responsive to melatonin mapped to two nucleotide regions, one between −467 and −398 nucleotides and the other between −128 and +69 nucleotides, of the rat PEPCK gene. Thus, we conclude that melatonin induces PEPCK gene expression via the ERK1/2 pathway at the transcriptional level, and that induction requires de novo protein synthesis.
Leukocyte telomere length associated with glioma risk and survival
Authors: Shen Jie , Song Renduo , Ye Yuanqing , Gong Ye , Zhao Hua
Published: October 2020

Background

Relative telomere length (RTL) in leukocytes has been linked to risks of many cancers, although how leukocyte RTL contributes to adult glioma has rarely been studied

Aim

We performed a case‐control study to evaluate the association between RTL in leukocytes and glioma risk in 565 glioma patients and 1130 healthy controls

Methods and results

Overall, mean leukocyte RTL was significantly higher in cases than controls (P < .001). Longer RTL was associated with a 1.32‐fold increased risk of glioma (odds ratio [OR] = 1.32, 95% confidence internal [CI] = 1.13‐1.64). In quartile analysis, a significant dose‐response relationship was noted (P < .001). Compared to the first quartile with shortest RTL, the fourth quartile with longest RTL was associated with 1.51‐fold elevated risk of glioma (OR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.10‐2.18). In further stratified analysis by clinical characteristics at baseline, the significant relationship was observed among cases with aggressive tumor characteristics, including glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), high tumor grade, and absence of IDH mutation and 1p/19q co‐deletion. Finally, we evaluated leukocyte RTL in GBM prognosis. We found that longer RTL was associated with increased probability of overall survival (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.70‐0.98), and progression/recurrence‐free survival (HR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.60‐0.93) in patients with primary GBM

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that longer RTL is significantly associated with glioma risk, and the association differs by tumor aggressiveness. Also, RTL in leukocyte could be a prognostic predictor of survival and progression in patients with GBM.
Four iron(II) carbonyl complexes containing both pyridyl and halide ligands: Their synthesis, characterization, stability, and anticancer activity
Authors: Guo Zhuming , Jin Jing , Xiao Zhiyin , Chen Naiwen , Jiang Xiujuan , Liu Xiaoming , Wu Lingfeng , He Yi , Zhang Shuhua
Published: October 2020

Four iron(II) carbonyl complexes, fac‐[Fe (CO)3X2(py)] (X = I−, 1 and Br−, 3), fac‐[{Fe (CO)3X2}2(bipy)] (X = I−, 2 and Br−, 4), were facilely synthesized by reacting cis‐[Fe (CO)4X2] (X = I−, Br−) with pyridine (py) and 4,4′‐dipyridine (bipy) ligands, respectively, in good yields (70%~85%). These complexes were fully characterized, and the structures of Complexes 2 and 3 were crystallographically analyzed. In dimethyl sulfoxide, they decomposed rapidly to release carbon monoxide (CO), and in methanol, they showed better stability which allowed kinetically analyzing their decomposing behaviors. The self‐decomposing in methanol fitted first‐order kinetics with a half‐time ranging from several minutes to 1 h. Our results suggested that the ligand with great conjugation (bipy) and strong electron‐donating capability (iodide) could stabilize the iron(II) carbonyl complexes. The decomposition of the iodo complexes (1 and 2) involved the production of iodine radicals. MTT (3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assessments revealed that the efficacy against human bladder carcinoma cell line (RT112) is in the following trend: 1 > 2 > 3 > 4. The relatively strong efficacy of Complexes 1 and 2 is mainly contributed to the in situ generated iodine radicals. The combination of the cytotoxicity of the in situ generated radicals with the anticancer activity of CO as reported in literatures may lead to developing novel anticancer drugs with enhanced efficacy.
Electrochemical synthesis for new thiosemicarbazide complexes, spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, structural properties, and in silico study
Authors: Refat Moamen , El‐Metwaly Nashwa , Yamany Yamany B. , Althagafi Ismail , Hameed Ahmed , Alharbi Arwa , Abualnaja Matokah , Shah Reem , Al‐Brakati Ashraf , Al‐Humaidi Jehan Y.
Published: October 2020

A new thiosemicarbazide derivative ligand (HDCTS) was prepared from the reaction between 2,4‐dinitrophenylhydrazine and 4‐chlorophenyl isothiocyanate. Co(II) and Cu(II) complexes were synthesized from HDCTS derivative by electrochemical method to reach preferable yield in a safe environment. The new complexes as well as the original ligand were fully characterized to establish their chemical formulae. The spectral (infrared, Raman, mass, and ultraviolet–visible), analytical (elemental, thermogravimetric analysis [TGA], and cyclic voltammetry), and conformational techniques were implemented for characterization. According to spectral data and magnetic moments, the octahedral arrangement was proposed around metals through mono‐negative bidentate mode of bonding. TGA discriminates and quantitatively evaluates the presence of water molecules within two complexes. Electrochemical study was interested for all new compounds and suggests the electrode couples to be close for quasi‐reversible behavior. Elaborated conformational study was displayed to extract significant characteristics, which assert firstly on the mode of bonding inside the complexes. The perfect distribution of NH and CS groups inside the optimized structures facilitates their coordination as spectrally proposed. Crystal explorer program was used to investigate the degree of contact between molecules inside crystal packing systems. Effective contribution in surface contact feature was noticed from O and Cl atoms. A certified in silico study concerning the docking feature of new compounds against effective proteins in allergy and inflammation diseases was done. According to data exported, a promising anti‐allergic or anti‐inflammatory efficiency is expected strongly from Cu(II)–DCTS complex.
New heteroleptic lanthanide complexes as multimodal drugs: Cytotoxicity studies, apoptosis, cell cycle analysis, DNA interactions, and protein binding
Authors: Munteanu Alexandra‐Cristina , Musat Mihaela Georgiana , Mihaila Mirela , Badea Mihaela , Olar Rodica , Nitulescu George Mihai , Rădulescu Flavian Ștefan , Brasoveanu Lorelei Irina , Uivarosi Valentina
Published: October 2020

We report herein the synthesis and characterization of four new heteroleptic complexes of Sm(III), Eu(III), Gd(III), and Tb(III) with the natural flavonoid 5‐hydroxyflavone (primuletin) and 1,10‐phenanthroline. According to the physicochemical characterization, the mononuclear complexes correspond to the general formula [Ln(OH)2L1L2]·nH2O, where L1 = C15H9O3 (deprotonated 5‐hydroxyflavone) and L2 = C12H8N2 (1,10‐phenanthroline), Ln is the lanthanide cation, and n = 4 for Sm(III), 3.5 for Eu(III), 2 for Gd(III), and 3 for Tb(III). A six‐coordinated distorted octahedron geometry was proposed for the complexes, and density functional theory (DFT) studies were used to calculate their optimized geometry. Cytotoxicity was studied using MTS assay on cervical, colorectal, colon, breast, and ovarian adenocarcinoma cell lines. Flow cytometry data were consistent with apoptotic cell death and disruption of the cell cycle in cervical and colon cancer cells. As a means to investigate the mechanism underlying the cytotoxic effects, the abilities of the complexes to interact with calf thymus DNA, human serum albumin, and transferrin have also been assessed. According to experimental and computational studies, the four lanthanide complexes act as DNA intercalators and bind strongly to serum proteins.
Effective and selective aerobic oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols using CoFe2O4@HT@Imine‐CuII and TEMPO in the air atmosphere
Authors: Salimi Mehri , Esmaeli‐nasrabadi Farzaneh , Sandaroos Reza
Published: October 2020

In this study, we present a versatile and easy procedure for modifying a cobalt ferrite nanoparticle step by step. A new nanocatalyst was prepared via CuII immobilized onto CoFe2O4@HT@Imine. The catalyst was fully characterized by Fourier‐transform infrared (FT‐IR), energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) analyses. The current procedure as a green protocol offers benefits including a simple operational method, an excellent yield of products, mild reaction conditions, minimum chemical wastes, and short reaction times. Without any significant reduction in the catalytic performance, up to five recyclability cycles of the catalyst were obtained. The optimization results suggest that the best condition in the oxidation of benzyl alcohol derivatives is 0.003 g of the CoFe2O4@HT@Imine‐CuII catalyst, TEMPO, at 70°C under solvent‐free condition and air.
Mental health of medical personnel during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Antonijevic Jovana , Binic Iva , Zikic Olivera , Manojlovic Snezana , Tosic‐Golubovic Suzana , Popovic Nikola
Published: October 2020

Introduction

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic caused significant changes in the everyday functioning of the general population, as well as medical workers. Medical personnel, especially those in direct contact with COVID‐19 patients, could have increased levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. The objective of this study was to explore the mental health status of medical personnel in Serbia during the pandemic by assessing stress levels, symptoms of anxiety, and depression.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study was conducted as an online‐based survey, in the period from 8 April to 14 April 2020, during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The study included 1678 participants, and the snowball sampling technique was used to reach healthcare professionals. The level of stress and symptoms of depression and anxiety were assessed among medical personnel in Serbia by the 10‐item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Beck Depression Inventory IA (BDI‐IA), and the 7‐item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD‐7), respectively.

Results

A total of 1678 participants completed the survey, with a mean age of 40.38 ± 10.32 years, of which 1,315 (78.4%) were women, and 363 (21.6%) were men. Out of these, 684 (40.8%) participants were medical personnel, and 994 (59.2%) were people of other professions. Frontline medical personnel reported higher scores on all measurement tools than second‐line medical personnel (e.g., mean PSS scores: 19.12 ± 5.66 versus 17.53 ± 5.71; p = .006; mean GAD‐7 scores: 8.57 ± 6.26 versus 6.73 ± 5.76; p = .001; mean BDI‐IA scores: 9.25 ± 8.26 versus 7.36 ± 7.28; p = .006). Binary logistic regression showed that the probability of developing more severe anxiety symptoms doubles in frontline medical personnel.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that frontline medical personnel is under an increased psychological burden during the COVID‐19 pandemic, having higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression than second‐line medical personnel. Adequate measures should be taken to relieve this burden and preserve the mental health of frontline medical personnel.
What it takes to be at the top: The interrelationship between chronic social stress and social dominance
Authors: Šabanović Merima , Liu He , Mlambo Vongai , Aqel Hala , Chaudhury Dipesh
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Dominance hierarchies of social animal groups are very sensitive to stress. Stress experienced prior to social interactions between conspecifics may be a determinant of their future social dynamics. Additionally, long‐term occupancy of a specific hierarchical rank can have psychophysiological effects which increase vulnerability to future stressors.

Methods

We aimed to delineate differential effects of stress acting before or after hierarchy formation. We studied whether exposure to the chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) paradigm before a two‐week‐long hierarchy formation affected the attainment of a dominant status using the social confrontation tube test (TT). These animals were singly housed for at least one week before CSDS to decrease confounding effects of prior hierarchy experience. Additionally, we investigated whether social rank predicted vulnerability to CSDS, measured by a social interaction test.

Results

In TT, mice termed as dominant (high rank) win the majority of social confrontations, while the subordinates (low rank) lose more often. Within newly established hierarchies of stress‐naïve mice, the subordinate, but not dominant, mice exhibited significantly greater avoidance of novel social targets. However, following exposure to CSDS, both lowest‐ and highest‐ranked mice exhibited susceptibility to stress as measured by decreased interactions with a novel social target. In contrast, after CSDS, both stress‐susceptible (socially avoidant) and stress‐resilient (social) mice were able to attain dominant ranks in newly established hierarchies.

Conclusion

These results suggest that the response to CSDS did not determine social rank in new cohorts, but low‐status mice in newly established groups exhibited lower sociability to novel social targets. Interestingly, exposure of a hierarchical social group to chronic social stress led to stress susceptibility in both high‐ and low‐status mice as measured by social interaction.
Financial toxicity and strain among men receiving prostate cancer care in an equal access healthcare system
Authors: Bauer Alexandria G. , Jefferson Melanie , Nahhas Georges J. , Savage Stephen , Drake Richard , Lilly Michael , Ambrose Linda , Caulder Susan , Mahvi David , Hughes Halbert Chanita
Published: October 2020

Purpose

To examine financial toxicity and strain among men in an equal access healthcare system based on social determinants and clinical characteristics.

Methods

Observational study among men receiving prostate cancer care (n = 49) at a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facility. Financial hardship included overall financial strain and financial toxicity due to healthcare costs. Financial strain was measured with one item asking how much money they have leftover at the end of the month. Financial toxicity was measured with the Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (COST) scale.

Results

Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity scores among participants indicated moderate levels of financial toxicity (M = 24.4, SD = 9.9). For financial strain, 36% of participants reported that they did not have enough money left over at the end of the month. There were no racial or clinically related differences in financial toxicity, but race and income level had significant associations with financial strain.

Conclusion

Financial toxicity and strain should be measured among patients in an equal access healthcare system. Findings suggest that social determinants may be important to assess, to identify patients who may be most likely to experience financial hardship in the context of obtaining cancer care and implement efforts to mitigate the burden for those patients.
Rinsing sampling of core needle biopsy for flow cytometric analysis: A favorable method for lymphoma diagnosis
Authors: Chi Pei‐Dong , Liu Yi‐Jun , Huang Yu‐Hua , Mao Ming‐Jie , Wang Yu , Li Zhi‐Ming , Li Jian
Published: October 2020

Background

Conventional protocols utilize core needle biopsy (CNB) or fine needle aspiration (FNA) to produce cell suspension for flow cytometry (FCM) is a diagnostic challenge for lymphoid malignancies. We aim to develop an alternative CNB rinsing technique (RT) to produce cell suspension for FCM during this mini‐invasive procedure of CNB for lymphoma diagnosis.

Methods

FNA and CNB specimens from the same lesion of 93 patients with suspected lymphoma were collected under the guidance of B‐ultrasound simultaneously. The fresh CNB samples were prepared to cell suspension by RT for FCM immunophenotyping analysis (Group CNB‐RT). Then, the CNB tissues after performing the RT process and the fresh FNA tissues were processed by conventional tissue cell suspension (TCS) technique to obtain the cell suspensions (Groups of CNB‐TCS & FNA‐TCS), respectively, as comparison. The diagnostic efficacies, as well as the concordances of the FCM results with reference to the morphologic diagnoses were compared in these three groups.

Results

RT could yield sufficient cells for FCM immunophenotyping analysis, though a lower cell numbers compared to TCS technique. The diagnostic concordance was comparable in group CNB‐RT (91.1%) to the group CNB‐TCS (88.9%) and group FNA‐TCS (88.4%) (p = 0.819). The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of CNB‐RT (91.1%; 100%) was not inferior to that of CNB‐TCS (88.9%; 100%) and FNA‐TCS (88.4%; 98.8%).

Conclusions

This study shows the CNB‐RT presented non‐inferior diagnostic concordance and efficacy as compared to the TCS technique. CNB‐RT has the potential to produce cell suspension for FCM immunophenotyping while preserving tissue for lymphoma diagnosis and research.
Retinal horizontal cells of goldfish (Carassius auratus) display subtype‐specific differences in spontaneous action potentials in situ
Authors: Country Michael W. , Htite Elly Dimya , Samson Isaiah A. , Jonz Michael G.
Published: October 2020

Horizontal cells (HCs) are neurons of the outer retina, which provide inhibitory feedback onto photoreceptors and contribute to image processing. HCs in teleosts are classified into four subtypes (H1–H4), each having different roles: H1–H3 feed back onto different sets of cones, H4 feed back onto rods, and only H1 store and release the inhibitory neurotransmitter, γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA). Dissociated HCs exhibit spontaneous Ca2+‐based action potentials (APs), yet it is unclear if APs occur in situ, or if all subtypes exhibit APs. We measured intracellular Ca2+ and report APs in slice preparations of the goldfish retina. In HCs furthest from photoreceptors (i.e., H3/H4), APs were less frequent, with greater duration and area under the curve (a measure of Ca2+ flux). Next, we classified acutely dissociated HCs into subtypes by integrating the ratio of dendritic field size vs. soma size (rd/s). H1 and H2 subtypes had low rd/s values (<8); H3/H4 had high rd/s (>12). To verify this model, H1s were identified by immunoreactivity for GABA and 95% of these cells had an rd/s < 4. In Ca2+ imaging experiments, as rd/s increased, AP duration and area under the curve increased, while frequency decreased. Our results demonstrate the presence of Ca2+‐based APs in the goldfish retina in situ and show that HC subtypes H1 through H4 exhibit progressively longer and less frequent spontaneous APs. These results suggest that APs may play an important role in inhibitory feedback, and may have implications for understanding the relative contributions of HC subtypes in the outer retina.
Evolutionary and homeostatic changes in morphology of visual dendrites of Mauthner cells in Astyanax blind cavefish
Authors: Tanvir Zainab , Rivera Daihana , Severi Kristen E. , Haspel Gal , Soares Daphne
Published: October 2020

Mauthner cells are the largest neurons in the hindbrain of teleost fish and most amphibians. Each cell has two major dendrites thought to receive segregated streams of sensory input: the lateral dendrite receives mechanosensory input while the ventral dendrite receives visual input. These inputs, which mediate escape responses to sudden stimuli, may be modulated by the availability of sensory information to the animal. To understand the impact of the absence of visual information on the morphologies of Mauthner cells during developmental and evolutionary time scales, we examined the teleost Astyanax mexicanus. This species of tetra is found in two morphs: a seeing surface fish and a blind cavefish. We compared the structure of Mauthner cells in surface fish raised under daily light conditions, in surface fish raised in constant darkness, and in two independent lineages of cave populations. The length of ventral dendrites of Mauthner cells in dark‐raised surface fish larvae were longer and more branched, while in both cave morphs the ventral dendrites were smaller or absent. The absence of visual input in surface fish with normal eye development leads to a homeostatic increase in dendrite size, whereas over evolution, the absence of light led to the loss of eyes and a reduction in dendrite size.
Extracting signature responses from respiratory flows: Low‐dimensional analyses on Direct Numerical Simulation‐predicted wakes of a flapping uvula
Authors: Xi Jinxiang , Wang Junshi , Si Xiuhua April , Zheng Shaokuan , Donepudi Ramesh , Dong Haibo
Published: October 2020

Uvula‐induced snoring and associated obstructive sleep apnea is a complex phenomenon characterized by vibrating structures and highly transient vortex dynamics. This study aimed to extract signature features of uvula wake flows of different pathological origins and develop a linear reduced‐order surrogate model for flow control. Six airway models were developed with two uvula kinematics and three pharynx constriction levels. A direct numerical simulation (DNS) flow solver based on the immersed boundary method was utilized to resolve the wake flows induced by the flapping uvula. Key spatial and temporal responses of the flow to uvula kinematics and pharynx constriction were investigated using continuous wavelet transform (CWT), proper orthogonal decomposition (POD), and dynamic mode decomposition (DMD). Results showed highly complex patterns in flow topologies. CWT analysis revealed multiscale correlations in both time and space between the flapping uvular and wake flows. POD analysis successfully separated the flows among the six models by projecting the datasets in the vector space spanned by the first three eigenmodes. Perceivable differences were also captured in the time evolution of the DMD modes among the six models. A linear reduced‐order surrogate model was constructed from the predominant eigenmodes obtained from the DMD analysis and predicted vortex patterns from this surrogate model agreed well with the corresponding DNS simulations. The computational and analytical platform presented in this study could bring a variety of applications in breathing‐related disorders and beyond. The computational efficiency of surrogate modeling makes it well suited for flow control, forecasting, and uncertainty analyses.
Simulation of vowel‐vowel utterances using a 3D biomechanical‐acoustic model
Authors: Dabbaghchian Saeed , Arnela Marc , Engwall Olov , Guasch Oriol
Published: October 2020

A link is established between biomechanical and acoustic 3D models for the numerical simulation of vowel‐vowel utterances. The former rely on the activation and contraction of relevant muscles for voice production, which displace and distort speech organs. However, biomechanical models do not provide a closed computational domain of the 3D vocal tract airway where to simulate sound wave propagation. An algorithm is thus proposed to extract the vocal tract boundary from the surrounding anatomical structures at each time step of the transition between vowels. The resulting 3D geometries are fed into a 3D finite element acoustic model that solves the mixed wave equation for the acoustic pressure and particle velocity. An arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian framework is considered to account for the evolving vocal tract. Examples include six static vowels and three dynamic vowel‐vowel utterances. Plausible muscle activation patterns are first determined for the static vowel sounds following an inverse method. Dynamic utterances are then generated by linearly interpolating the muscle activation of the static vowels. Results exhibit nonlinear trajectory of the vocal tract geometry, similar to that observed in electromagnetic midsagittal articulography. Clear differences are appreciated when comparing the generated sound with that obtained from direct linear interpolation of the vocal tract geometry. That is, interpolation between the starting and ending vocal tract geometries of an utterance, without resorting to any biomechanical model.
Privacy preservation auction in a dynamic social network
Authors: Hu Xiangyu , Jin Zhiping , Zhang Lefeng , Zhou Andi , Ye Dayong
Published: October 2020

The growing popularity of users in online social network gives a big opportunity for online auction. The famous Information Diffusion Mechanism (IDM) is an excellent methods even meet the incentive compatibility and individual rationality. Although the existing auction in online social network has considered the buyers' information has not known by the seller, current mechanism still cannot preserve the information such as prices. In this paper, we propose a novel mechanism which modeled the auction process in online social network and preserved users' privacy by using differential privacy mechanism. Our mechanism can successfully process the auction and at the same time preserve clients' price information from neighbors. We achieved these by adding Laplace noise for its valuation and the number of valuation seller received in the auction process. We also formulate this mechanism on the real network to show the feasibility and effective of the proposed mechanism.
The role of corporate governance in environmental policy disclosure and sustainable development. Generalized estimating equations in longitudinal count data analysis.
Authors: Campanella Francesco , Serino Luana , Crisci Anna , D'Ambra Antonello
Published: October 2020

Addressing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues has become a critical element of company strategy. This study aims to investigate the relationship between corporate governance and financial characteristics and the extent of ESG disclosure in an international sample. The sample consists of 540 companies chosen from the Forbes Global 2000 list for the period 2014–2017. The econometric model used for analyzing the association between corporate characteristics and the extent of ESG disclosure is based on Generalized Estimating Equations for longitudinal count data. The current study argues that stakeholder engagement is the key to enhancing both business environmental policy and sustainable development. The statistical results show that all governance factors selected in our study, with the exception of the board size, are significant determinants that influence the extent of environmental policy disclosure.
Cultural environments and the appointment of female directors on boards: An analysis from a global perspective
Authors: Pucheta‐Martínez María Consuelo , Gallego‐Álvarez Isabel , Bel‐Oms Inmaculada
Published: October 2020

Hofstede's six cultural dimensions (power distance, individualism, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, long‐term orientation and indulgence) has received little attention concerning the presence of female directors on boards. Moreover, past research has only focussed on four or five of these six cultural dimensions. Thus, this research aimed to analyse how gender diversity on boards is affected by all of the Hofstede cultural dimensions in a sample of firms operating in different countries. The data for this research were collected from Thomson Reuters database. The article draws on institutional theory, which suggests that firms are influenced by cultural aspects, as they are not separated from their environment but interact with their environment through relationships with stakeholders. The findings show that cultural dimensions, such as power distance, individualism and indulgence, have a positive effect on the proportion of female directors on boards. In contrast, the dimensions of masculinity and long‐term orientation affect the proportion negatively, and uncertainty avoidance does not seem to have an influence.
Integrative immunogenomic analysis of gastric cancer dictates novel immunological classification and the functional status of tumor‐infiltrating cells
Authors: Sato Yasuyoshi , Wada Ikuo , Odaira Kosuke , Hosoi Akihiro , Kobayashi Yukari , Nagaoka Koji , Karasaki Takahiro , Matsushita Hirokazu , Yagi Koichi , Yamashita Hiroharu , Fujita Masashi , Watanabe Shuichi , Kamatani Takashi , Miya Fuyuki , Mineno Junichi , Nakagawa Hidewaki , Tsunoda Tatsuhiko , Takahashi Shunji , Seto Yasuyuki , Kakimi Kazuhiro
Published: October 2020

Objectives

A better understanding of antitumor immunity will help predict the prognosis of gastric cancer patients and tailor the appropriate therapies in each patient. Therefore, we propose a novel immunological classification of gastric cancer.

Methods

We performed whole‐exome sequencing (WES), RNA‐Seq and flow cytometry in 29 gastric cancer patients who received surgery. The TCGA data set of 323 gastric cancer patients and RNA‐Seq data of 45 patients who received pembrolizumab (Kim et al. Nat Med 2018; 24: 1449–1458) were also analysed.

Results

Immunogram analysis of cancer–immunity interaction of gastric cancer revealed immune signatures of four main types, designated Hot1, Hot2, Intermediate and Cold. Immunologically hot tumors displayed a dysfunctional T‐cell signature, while cold tumors had an exclusion signature. Ex vivo tumor‐infiltrating lymphocyte analysis documented T‐cell dysfunction with the expression of checkpoint molecules and impaired cytokine production. The T‐cell function was more profoundly damaged in Hot1 than Hot2 tumors. Patients in Hot2 subtypes had better survival in our cohort and TCGA cohort. Although these immunological subtypes overlapped to some degree with the molecular subtypes in the TCGA, intratumoral immune responses cannot be predicted solely based on histological or molecular subtyping of gastric cancer. Molecular and immunological classifications complement each other to predict the responses to anti‐PD‐1 therapy and have the potential to be a biomarker for the treatment of gastric cancer.

Conclusion

The immunological classification of gastric cancer resulted in four subtypes. Hot tumors were further divided into two subtypes, between which the functional status of T cells was different.
Stabilization of Human Whole Blood Samples for Multicenter and Retrospective Immunophenotyping Studies
Authors: Rybakowska Paulina , Burbano Catalina , Van Gassen Sofie , Varela Nieves , Aguilar‐Quesada Rocío , Saeys Yvan , Alarcón‐Riquelme Marta E. , Marañón Concepción
Published: October 2020

Whole blood is often collected for large‐scale immune monitoring studies to track changes in cell frequencies and responses using flow (FC) or mass cytometry (MC). In order to preserve sample composition and phenotype, blood samples should be analyzed within 24 h after bleeding, restricting the recruitment, analysis protocols, as well as biobanking. Herein, we have evaluated two whole blood preservation protocols that allow rapid sample processing and long‐term stability. Two fixation buffers were used, Phosphoflow Fix and Lyse (BD) and Proteomic Stabilizer (PROT) to fix and freeze whole blood samples for up to 6 months. After analysis by an 8‐plex panel by FC and a 26‐plex panel by MC, manual gating of circulating leukocyte populations and cytokines was performed. Additionally, we tested the stability of a single sample over a 13‐months period using 45 consecutive aliquots and a 34‐plex panel by MC. We observed high correlation and low bias toward any cell population when comparing fresh and 6 months frozen blood with FC and MC. This correlation was confirmed by hierarchical clustering. Low coefficients of variation (CV) across studied time points indicate good sample preservation for up to 6 months. Cytokine detection stability was confirmed by low CVs, with some differences between fresh and fixed conditions. Thirteen months regular follow‐up of PROT samples showed remarkable sample stability. Whole blood can be preserved for phenotyping and cytokine‐response studies provided the careful selection of a compatible antibody panel. However, possible changes in cell morphology, differences in antibody affinity, and changes in cytokine‐positive cell frequencies when compared to fresh blood should be considered. Our setting constitutes a valuable tool for multicentric and retrospective studies. © 2020 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Testosterone regulates the emission of ultrasonic vocalizations and mounting behavior during different developmental periods in mice
Authors: Kikusui Takefumi , Shima Yuichi , Sonobe Miku , Yoshida Yuuki , Nagasawa Miho , Nomoto Kensaku , Mogi Kazutaka
Published: October 2020

Testosterone masculinizes male sexual behavior by providing organizational and activational effects during the perinatal and peripubertal periods and during adulthood, respectively. We revealed that the emission of ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) and mounting behavior was regulated by different neural circuits. However, the detailed testosterone effects on these two behaviors have not been fully elucidated. Here, we evaluated the time‐dependent effects of testosterone on USVs and mounting behavior in mice using a testosterone treatment model, in which females were treated with testosterone to assess the “gain‐of‐function” and a “loss‐of‐function” model. In the loss‐of‐function model, we used Ad4BP/SF‐1ΔFLC/‐ male mice, in which testosterone production was abolished in prenatal and postnatal stages, and Ad4BP/SF‐1ΔFLC/ΔFLC mice, in which testosterone production was markedly reduced only in prenatal stages. When testosterone was administered to female mice during the neonatal and peripubertal periods, but not during adulthood, USV emissions increased. Conversely, testosterone treatment in adult female mice increased the mounting behavior, but not USVs. In Ad4BP/SF‐1ΔFLC/‐ mice, USVs and mounting behavior was completely absent. Ad4BP/SF‐1ΔFLC/ΔFLC male mice displayed equivalent levels of USVs but less mounting behavior. Collectively, these results suggest that testosterone has dual regulatory roles in USV emissions and mounting behavior.
Potentially handicapped but otherwise functional: Malformations in prey capture tools show no impacts on octopus life
Authors: Fernández‐Álvarez Fernando Ángel , Farré Marc , Sánchez‐Márquez Antoni , Villanueva Roger , Escolar Oscar , Navarro Joan
Published: October 2020

Larval mortality is a keystone ecological factor for many benthic octopus since it mostly occurs before their settlement in the sea bottom as benthic juveniles. The literature had revealed that records of adult animals with morphological abnormalities (teratologies) are fewer in species with complex life cycle than in those with direct development. This is a direct consequence of the morphological, physiological, and development challenges that the transition from the larval to the adult morphology represents. During a routine fishing sample, we found an immature female horned octopus with additional buccal structures in two suckers of its ventral arms, likely rendering these suckers as inefficient. Based on the literature about the natural history of octopus, we provide evidence that these abnormalities were present at the moment of hatch. We evaluated the impact of the teratologies by comparing the shape of the buccal beaks and the trophic niche of the individual with five normal conspecifics. Although the beaks showed a different shape than normal individuals, the trophic niche was similar. Surprisingly, the teratological condition of the individual likely had no severe impacts on its life, even though it likely represents a handicap for its survival during its planktonic life. We also comment on other previous records from the literature of teratological adult octopus to highlight the amazing adaptive capacity of octopus to deal with challenging morphologies.
Strong effects of a mutualism on freshwater community structure
Authors: Creed Robert P. , Skelton James , Farrell Kaitlin J. , Brown Bryan L.
Published: October 2020

Numerous mutualisms have been described from terrestrial and marine communities and many of these mutualisms have significant effects on community structure and function. In contrast, there are far fewer examples of mutualisms from freshwater habitats and there is no evidence that any mutualism has community‐wide or ecosystem‐level consequences. Northern hemisphere crayfish are host to a variety of ectosymbiotic worms called branchiobdellidans. The association between some of these “crayfish worms” and their hosts is a mutualism. The outcome of the association is context dependent and can be influenced by host size, symbiont number, and the environment. Here we document in two experiments that the mutualism between crayfish and these worms alters the effect of crayfish on stream community structure and sediment deposition, an important ecosystem variable. We enclosed crayfish stocked with 0 worms and intermediate (3–6) and high worm densities (12) in cages in streams in Boone, North Carolina and Clemson, South Carolina, United States. At both locations, there was a negative relationship between initial worm density and final macroinvertebrate abundance. There was a significant effect of worm treatment on macroinvertebrate community structure in both the Boone and Clemson experiments. In Boone, there were effects on both overall macroinvertebrate abundance and community composition, whereas in Clemson, changes to community structure were primarily driven by changes in total abundance. There was a negative relationship between benthic sediment volume and initial worm density in both experiments, primarily later in the experiments, though these effects were influenced by sediment deposition rates. Our results are the first to demonstrate strong effects of a mutualism on freshwater communities. Both members of this mutualism are found throughout the northern hemisphere, so similar impacts may occur in many other waterways. Given that various species in addition to crayfish function as keystone species and ecosystem engineers in freshwater systems throughout the world, mutualisms involving these strongly interacting species may be as important to the structure and functioning of freshwater systems as comparable mutualisms in marine and terrestrial systems.
Microencapsulation of Molten Salt in Titanium Shell for High‐Temperature Latent Functional Thermal Fluid
Authors: Li Jun , Li Longjian , Wang Huichang , Zhu Xiaoyun , Chen Ying , Jia Lisi
Published: October 2020

Herein, a water‐limited sol–gel method is applied to fabricate microencapsulated phase change materials (MEPCMs) which have a sodium nitrate (NaNO3) core and a titanium dioxide (TiO2) shell. The MEPCM has a high melting temperature of 306.5 °C and a solidification temperature of 296.7 °C, which shows a potential usage as a high‐temperature compatible thermal storage medium for industrial waste heat recovery and concentrated solar power (CSP). The MEPCM is demonstrated to be thermally stable for 200 thermal cycles with a high latent heat of 135.3 J g−1. The high‐temperature latent functional thermal fluid (HT‐LFTF) is prepared by dispersing the NaNO3@TiO2 MEPCMs into thermal oil. The test results show that MEPCMs provide an 18.4% effective thermal conductivity enhancement and 131.7% effective specific heat enhancement compared with base thermal oil. The rheological test indicates that the MEPCMs added in the thermal oil enhance the viscosity of the suspension and it increases with the MEPCM concentration. This work provides a new type of thermal oil–based functional thermal fluid containing high‐temperature MEPCM and paves the way for the application of LFTF in high‐temperature heat storage and transfer.