bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Limited seed dispersability in a megadiverse OCBIL grassland
Authors: Arruda Andre J , Junqueira Patricia A , Rodrigues Hanna T S , Yvanez Florian , Poschlod Peter , Silveira Fernando A O , Buisson Elise
Published: August 2020

Species from OCBILs (old, climatically buffered, infertile landscapes) are expected to exhibit reduced dispersability, linked to long-term stable environmental conditions. We tested the prediction of limited dispersability in plant communities in campo rupestre, a megadiverse OCBIL grassland. In a field experiment, we sampled sticky and funnel traps for 12 months along paired preserved and disturbed plots to estimate and compare annual seed density and richness. Our community-level seed rain assessment suggested widespread seed limitation in both preserved and disturbed areas, expressed by the low seed density in traps (average of 2.6 seeds/m2/day) and remarkably low seed density found for 90% of the morphospecies. Although seed density in campo rupestre was much lower than for other grasslands, species richness (92 seed morphospecies) was the highest reported in the literature. Higher seed density and species richness were captured in funnel traps, especially during the rainy season. Approximately 32% of morphospecies were registered exclusively in disturbed plots and 25% exclusively in preserved plots. This limited seed dispersability is of particular relevance for a better understanding of seed ecology and resilience in campo rupestre and may partially explain the poor recovery of these disturbed areas after soil removal.
Vouchers and Consumer-Directed Care: Implications for Community Care Services in Hong Kong
Authors: Kan Wing Shan , Chui Ernest
Published: August 2020

There has been considerable interest in the concept of consumer-directed care (CDC) for ageing populations. One type of CDC employs vouchers that older people can use to procure a panel of social services that best fits their needs. The voucher-based strategy has been institutionalised in Hong Kong as the Community Care Service Voucher for the Elderly (CCSV). Using a qualitative, semi-structured interview method, researchers probed the experiences of two groups (twenty-six CCSV users and twenty-seven CCSV non-users) with the voucher programme between March 2014 and September 2015 during the first phase of CCSV. The interviews revealed a set of social and institutional supports needed to empower clients to effectively utilise the voucher. These supports (or forms of capital) were consistently present amongst active CCSV users and deficient amongst non-users. The research demonstrates that instituting a voucher does not, by itself, lead to optimised choices but, rather, that a network of institutional and social resources must be assembled in support of the voucher programme. In some instances, a case management approach may be needed, as older people (and family) need to combine different forms of institutional and social support to comprehend the voucher programme and utilise it for their particular needs.
Neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio predicts short-term outcome of COVID-19 in haemodialysis patients
Authors: Mutinelli-Szymanski Prisca , Hude Iulia , Merle Emilie , Lombardi Yannis , Seris Pascal , Abtahi Medhi , Azeroual Latifa , Bourgain Cecile , Ensergueix Gael , Katerinis Ioannis , Kolko Anne , Kolta Amir , Maheas Catherine , Mehrbanian Saeed , Morel Pauline , Ossman Rim , Préneuf Hélène de , Roux Arthur , Saltiel Claudine , Vendé Florence , Verhoeven Anne-Sophie , Viron Béatrice , Laplanche Sophie , Le Monnier Alban , Ridel Christophe , Ureña-Torres Pablo , Touzot Maxime
Published: August 2020

Background

Information regarding coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in haemodialysis (HD) patients is limited and early studies suggest a poor outcome. We aimed to identify clinical and biological markers associated with severe forms of COVID-19 in HD patients.

Methods

We conducted a prospective, observational and multicentric study. Sixty-two consecutive adult HD patients with confirmed COVID-19 from four dialysis facilities in Paris, France, from 19 March to 19 May 2020 were included.

Blood tests were performed before diagnosis and at Days 7 and 14 after diagnosis. Severe forms of COVID-19 were defined as requiring oxygen therapy, admission in an intensive care unit or death. Cox regression models were used to compute adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs). Kaplan–Meier curves and log-rank tests were used for survival analysis.

Results

Twenty-eight patients (45%) displayed severe forms of COVID-19. Compared with non-severe forms, these patients had more fever (93% versus 56%, P < 0.01), cough (71% versus 38%, P = 0.02) and dyspnoea (43% versus 6%, P < 0.01) at diagnosis. At Day 7 post-diagnosis, neutrophil counts, neutrophil:lymphocyte (N:L) ratio, C-reactive protein, ferritin, fibrinogen and lactate dehydrogenase levels were significantly higher in severe COVID-19 patients. Multivariate analysis revealed an N:L ratio >3.7 was the major marker associated with severe forms, with an aHR of 4.28 (95% confidence interval 1.52–12.0; P = 0.006). After a median follow-up time of 48 days (range 27–61), six patients with severe forms died (10%).

Conclusions

HD patients are at increased risk of severe forms of COVID-19. An elevated N:L ratio at Day 7 was highly associated with the severe forms. Assessing the N:L ratio could inform clinicians for early treatment decisions.
Methanol and methyl group conversion in acetogenic bacteria: biochemistry, physiology and application
Authors: Kremp Florian , Müller Volker
Published: August 2020

The production of bulk chemicals mostly depends on exhausting petroleum sources and leads to emission of greenhouse gases. Within the last decades the urgent need for alternative sources has increased and the development of bio-based processes received new attention. To avoid the competition between the use of sugars as food or fuel, other feedstocks with high availability and low cost are needed, which brought acetogenic bacteria into focus. This group of anaerobic organisms uses mixtures of CO2, CO and H2 for the production of mostly acetate and ethanol. Also methanol, a cheap and abundant bulk chemical produced from methane, is a suitable substrate for acetogenic bacteria. In methylotrophic acetogens the methyl group is transferred to the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway, a pathway to reduce CO2 to acetate via a series of C1-intermediates bound to tetrahydrofolic acid. Here we describe the biochemistry and bioenergetics of methanol conversion in the biotechnologically interesting group of anaerobic, acetogenic bacteria. Further, the bioenergetics of biochemical production from methanol is discussed.
lncRNA-PACER upregulates COX-2 and PGE2 through the NF-κB pathway to promote the proliferation and invasion of colorectal-cancer cells
Authors: Sun Peng , Quan Ji-Chuan , Wang Song , Zhuang Meng , Liu Zheng , Guan Xu , Wang Gui-Yu , Wang Hong-Ying , Wang Xi-Shan
Published: August 2020

Background

p50-associated cyclooxygenase-2 extragenic RNA (PACER) is a recently identified antisense long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) located on the upstream of the promoter region of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Preliminary studies have suggested that PACER is involved in the regulation of COX-2 expression in macrophagocyte and osteosarcoma cells. However, the role of this lncRNA in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains elusive. Here, we investigated the expression of PACER and its effect on cell proliferation and invasion to explore the role of PACER in CRC.

Methods

Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis was used to evaluate the expression of PACER in CRC tissues and cells. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) analysis was then used to investigate the inhibition effect of PACER knock-down in cell proliferation. The promoting role of this lncRNA on invasion by CRC cells was analysed by wound-healing assays, colony-formation assay, and transwell assays. We then used fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to establish the subcellular localization of PACER. COX-2 protein levels were quantified by Western blot analysis and grayscale scanning analysis following the knock-down of PACER. Luciferase assay was carried out to monitor the modulation of the COX-2 promoter region by PACER. Tumor xenografts models were used to investigate the impact of PACER on the tumorigenesis of CRC cells in vivo. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was then used to quantify prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production upon knock-down of PACER.

Results

RT-qPCR analysis revealed that PACER was highly expressed in CRC tissues and cells, and a high PACER-expression level was associated with poor prognosis. MTT assay, wound-healing assay, colony-formation assay, and transwell assay revealed that PACER enhanced CRC-cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis in vitro. Analysis of lncRNA localization by FISH showed that it mainly resided in the nucleus. RT-qPCR showed that PACER increased mRNA levels of COX-2. Western blot analysis demonstrated, under normal circumstances, that knock-down of PACER decreased the COX-2 protein level. In the case of p50 absence, COX-2 protein increased rapidly and remained highly expressed after knocking down PACER. Luciferase assay revealed that PACER modulated the COX-2 promoter region. Mouse xenograft models of CRC revealed that PACER promoted colorectal tumorigenesis in vivo. ELISA revealed that PACER knock-down inhibited PGE2 production.

Conclusions

PACER modulates COX-2 expression through the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway in CRC. An increased level of PACER enhances proliferation, migration, and invasion of tumor cells by increasing COX-2 and PGE2 synthesis.
Simultaneous Preconcentration and Spectrophotometric Determination of Two Colorants (E110 and E133) in Some Foodstuffs Using a New Mussel-Inspired Adsorbent
Authors: Bişgin Abdullah Taner , Nalvuran Zeynep , Gezici Orhan
Published: August 2020

Background

A naturally occurring material, namely sporopollenin (SP), was subjected to an easy physical surface modification process called a polydopamine coating. The treatment changed the acid-base properties of the surface, so that in the new form the SP surface gained a very attractive character for anionic dyes.

Objective

The aim of the study was to develop preconcentration and subsequent spectrophotometric determination methods for two anionic colorants, brilliant blue (BB) and sunset yellow (SY), using polydopamine-coated (PDC) SP.

Method

The experiments were carried out in a column system, and the effects of experimental parameters were studied to determine optimal conditions for the quantitative, simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of the dyes.

Results

The dyes could be detected at µg/L levels in their binary mixtures, so the detection limits were found to be 1.5 and 4.3 µg/L in the linear dynamic ranges of 0.0–3.5 and 0–8 µg/mL for BB and SY, respectively. The proposed material and procedure led to quantitative recoveries of between 95 and 100% for the dyes.

Conclusions

The procedure was applied to real food samples containing BB and SY and both dyes were successfully determined in liquid and solid foodstuffs. The mussel-inspired surface modification is proposed as a useful process to modify the surface of SP.

Highlights

The mussel-inspired polydopamine dip-coating method was adopted to modify the surface of SP for the first time. The PDCSP was successfully used to create a new adsorptive preconcentration method for simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of BB and SY in foodstuffs.
Human Shielding, Subjective Intent, and Harm to the Enemy
Authors: Kis Kelemen Bence
Published: August 2020

The weaker party in asymmetrical conflicts often attempts to protect itself from attack in a fashion prohibited by international law, particularly by using human shields. This article examines whether the traditional characterization of shielding based on subjective intent (the voluntary or involuntary nature of shielding) has any legal consequence and if so, how subjective intent can result in a change of status under international humanitarian law. This article argues that protective status cannot be altered solely through the intent of protected persons. In light of a careful analysis of treaty law, the author proposes a new understanding of the threshold of harm requirement of direct participation in hostilities and suggests that all human shields should be considered persons directly participating in hostilities, even when they do not possess a legally relevant will. Consequently, this article calls for an equal treatment of human shields due to their status as direct participants in hostilities. The article also calls for clarification of law by states on this issue, for there are inherent tensions within the law of armed conflict between the applicable law and state policies, in light of the relevant legal norms regulating the consequences of human shielding.
Multimodal channel cancer chemotherapy by 2D functional gadolinium metal–organic framework
Authors: Xia Jiale , Xue Yumeng , Lei Bo , Xu Lingling , Sun Mingzi , Li Na , Zhao Hongyang , Wang Min , Luo Meng , Zhang Chao , Huang Bolong , Du Yaping , Yan Chun-Hua
Published: August 2020

2D nanomaterials generally exhibit enhanced physiochemical and biological functions in biomedical applications due to their high surface-to-volume ratio and surface charge. Conventional cancer chemotherapy based on nanomaterials has been hindered by their low drug loading and poor penetration in tumor tissue. To overcome these difficulties, novel materials systems are urgently needed. Hereby, the lanthanide-based porphyrin metal–organic framework (MOF) nanosheets (NSs) with promising cancer imaging/chemotherapy capacities are fabricated, which display superior performance in the drug loading and tumor tissue penetration. The biodegradable PPF-Gd NSs deliver an ultrahigh drug loading (>1500%) and demonstrate the stable and highly sensitive stimuli-responsive degradation/release for multimodal tumor imaging and cancer chemotherapy. Meanwhile, PPF-Gd NSs also exhibit excellent fluorescence and magnetic resonance imaging capability in vitro and in vivo. Compared to the traditional doxorubicin (DOX) chemotherapy, the in vivo results confirm the evident suppression of the tumor growth by the PPF-Gd/DOX drug delivery system with negligible side effects. This work further supports the potential of lanthanide-based MOF nanomaterials as biodegradable systems to promote the cancer theranostics technology development in the future.
15Animal Studies
Authors: Iveson Richard
Published: August 2020

In light of the extraordinary social and political situation under which we all now labor, I have chosen to take a rather different approach than usual in this year’s essay. To this end, I deploy Bruno Latour’s Down to Earth: Politics in the New Climatic Regime as both a framing mechanism and a heuristic device in order to focus attention on the compelling question of posthumanist political ecology. While originally published as Où atterrir? Comment s’orienter en politique in 2017, Latour’s short text has only continued to gain relevance consequent on the heavy black pall cast over society first by the Covid-19 pandemic, and then quickly followed by the political hucksterism of the Trump administration in lieu of any reasoned response—as clearly evidenced by the opportunistic refusal by the US to pay dues amounting to millions of dollars to the World Health Organization by way of an inflammatory campaign of lies and blame aimed at denying any and all responsibility for the current woes of the Earth writ large. Whereas to some this might seem to concern animal studies only obliquely, the questions brought to bear by political ecology upon the agitated thickness of geological history are among the most important facing animal studies today.
Induction and deduction in sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy: five typical categories
Authors: Wang Jie , Wang Xiao-Ting , Liu Da-Wei , Zhang Hong-Min , Su Long-Xiang
Published: September 2020

Sepsis is defined as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. The heart is one of the most important oxygen delivery organs, and dysfunction significantly increases the mortality of the body. Hence, the heart has been studied in sepsis for over half a century. However, the definition of sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy is not unified yet, and the conventional conception seems outdated: left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) along with enlargement of the left ventricle, recovering in 7 to 10 days. With the application of echocardiography in intensive care units, not only LVSD but also left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, right ventricular dysfunction, and even diffuse ventricular dysfunction have been seen. The recognition of sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy is gradually becoming complete, although our understanding of it is not deep, which has made the diagnosis and treatment stagnate. In this review, we summarize the research on sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy. Women and young people with septic cardiomyopathy are more likely to have LVSD, which may have the same mechanism as stress cardiomyopathy. Elderly people with ischemic cardiomyopathy and hypertension tend to have left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. Patients with mechanical ventilation, acute respiratory distress syndrome or other complications of increased right ventricular afterload mostly have right ventricular dysfunction. Diffuse cardiac dysfunction has also been shown in some studies; patients with mixed or co-existing cardiac dysfunction are more common, theoretically. Thus, understanding the pathophysiology of sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy from the perspective of critical care echocardiography is essential.
The Likelihood of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes and Genetic Disease (Transgenerational Effects) from Exposure to Radioactive Fallout from the 1945 Trinity Atomic Bomb Test
Authors: Boice John D.
Published: September 2020

The potential health consequences of the Trinity nuclear weapon test of 16 July 1945 at Alamogordo, New Mexico, are challenging to assess. Population data are available for mortality but not for cancer incidence for New Mexico residents for the first 25 y after the test, and the estimates of radiation dose to the nearby population are lower than the cumulative dose received from ubiquitous natural background radiation. Despite the estimates of low population exposures, it is believed by some that cancer rates in counties near the Trinity test site (located in Socorro County) are elevated compared with other locations across the state. Further, there is a concern about adverse pregnancy outcomes and genetic diseases (transgenerational or heritable effects) related to population exposure to fallout radiation. The possibility of an intergenerational effect has long been a concern of exposed populations, e.g., Japanese atomic bomb survivors, survivors of childhood and adolescent cancer, radiation workers, and environmentally exposed groups. In this paper, the likelihood of discernible transgenerational effects is discounted because (1) in all large-scale comprehensive studies of exposed populations, no heritable genetic effects have been demonstrated in children of exposed parents; (2) the distribution of estimated doses from Trinity is much lower than in other studied populations where no transgenerational effects have been observed; and (3) there is no evidence of increased cancer rates among the scientific, military, and professional participants at the Trinity test and at other nuclear weapons tests who received much higher doses than New Mexico residents living downwind of the Trinity site.
Daytime Sleepiness in University Students and Internet Addiction as the Determinant
Authors: Demir Gokce , Arslan Selda , Kocoglu-Tanyer Deniz
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The aim of the study is to determine daytime sleepiness in university students and its relationship with internet addiction as the determinant.

Method

A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. Study population consisted of 1,150 first- and fourth-year students studying in some faculties at a university located in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey.

Findings

In this study, it was determined that the students obtained a mean score of 5.9 ± 2.1 points from the daytime sleepiness scale and the rate of those with daytime sleepiness problem was 17.9%. Furthermore, 52.3% of the students had a sleep duration of 7–8 hours. An increase in internet addiction mean score increases the risk of daytime sleepiness approximately one time.

Conclusions

Increase of internet addiction score increases the risk of daytime sleepiness approximately one time.
Psychological and Behavioral Correlates of Readiness to Stop Smoking
Authors: Lucchiari Claudio , Masiero Marianna , Pravettoni Gabriella
Published: August 2020

Accruing evidence strongly suggests that the motivation to give up smoking is a crucial predictor of tobacco cessation attempt. However, even motivated people often fail in their attempts and relapse is very common, even if most people who smoke are confident that the desire to quit is enough to change and maintain abstinence. According to this framework, the main objective of the current study was to identify psychological and lifestyle patterns that might characterize people who smoke cigarettes with different motivations to quit. A secondary aim was to compare the characteristics of people who are currently smoking with people who stopped or never smoked. A convenient sample of 360 volunteers (179 women, 181 men), with a mean age of 55 years (SD = 14.33), participated in this study. Participants completed a battery of psychological and behavioral scales aimed at assessing psychological characteristics as well as dependence level and readiness to stop. Our results strongly suggest that the behavior of people who smoke differs as a function of specific psychological variables. People who currently smoke may fall into two different clusters: In the first one, they have a healthy lifestyle and high self-perceived vitality and vigor, whereas those who fall in the second report lower psychological well-being and an unhealthier lifestyle. Unfortunately, the actual lifestyle does not seem to modulate the motivation to quit, and consequently, people keep on smoking anyway, although some participants tend to adopt compensative behaviors. However, the adoption of a healthier lifestyle might favor a successful cessation attempt once a ready-to-stop motivation level is achieved.
Smoking and Cognitive Function Among Middle-Aged Adults in China
Authors: Ge Song , Tang Xianping , Wei Zhe , Dune Linda , Liu Tingting , Li Junxin , Li Changwei
Published: August 2020

Background

Smoking is prevalent among people in China. In this study, we examined the association between smoking and cognitive function in a representative sample of adults aged 45 years and older in China.

Methods

We analyzed the baseline data of 16,892 participants from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. We measured smoking based on smoking status (never, former, and current smokers) and pack years (one pack year equals 20 cigarettes per day for 1 year). We assessed cognitive function for visuospatial ability, episodic memory, orientation/attention, and overall cognitive function. Multivariate linear and logistic regressions were used to examine the independent association between smoking and cognitive function, controlling for sociodemographic factors, domestic partner status, physical health status, and depressive symptoms.

Results

The study participants were, on average, 60 years old. The prevalence of former and current smoking in this population was 8.4% and 28.8%, respectively. Compared with nonsmokers, former and current smokers had better cognitive function (p < .0001). After controlling for covariates, only former smokers, compared with nonsmokers, have better orientation and attention (p = .04) and overall cognitive function (p = .01). Moreover, pack years are positively associated with orientation, attention (p = .04), and overall cognitive function among all participants (p = .02).

Conclusions

This study identified that, among middle-aged and older Chinese adults, former smokers had the highest cognitive function, especially attention and orientation, followed by never smokers and current smokers. When screening for cognition impairment among Chinese middle-aged and older adults, we should encourage them to quit smoking.
Prevalence and Epidemiological Profile of Smokers in the Psychiatric Population and General Population
Authors: de Oliveira Renata Marques , Santos Jair Lício Ferreira , Furegato Antonia Regina Ferreira
Published: August 2020

This study aims to estimate the prevalence of smokers living in Brazil who use outpatient and hospital psychiatric services and outpatient services in primary health care services. It also aims to identify the sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with current smoking in these samples. This is a cross-sectional study with 378 participants from a Brazilian city: P1, persons from the mental health outpatient service; and P2, persons from the psychiatric hospital; P3, general population from the primary healthcare center. A Poisson multiple regression model for current smoking was adjusted. The prevalence of smokers was greater in the psychiatric population than those in the primary health care population (mental health outpatient service = 27%, psychiatric hospital = 60.3%, primary healthcare center = 19%). Current smoking is associated with younger groups (15–29 years old: PRadjusted = 3.35; 30–39 years old: PRadjusted = 2.28), Roman Catholicism (PRadjusted = 1.60), not having a religion (PRadjusted = 2.45), severe psychiatric illness (PRadjusted = 3.04), anxiety disorders/other disorders (PRadjusted = 3.96), and the previous and current use of alcohol (PRadjusted = 2.27 and 2.25, respectively) and illicit substances (PRadjusted = 1.81 and 2.00, respectively). In conclusion, the independent factors associated with current smoking are age, religion, psychiatric diagnosis, and use of alcohol/illicit substances.
Vaping in the Workplace
Authors: Graham Amanda L. , Amato Michael S. , Jacobs Megan A. , Romberg Alexa R. , Diaz Megan C. , Rahman Basmah , Schillo Barbara A.
Published: September 2020

Objective:

Assess workplace vaping as a trigger for tobacco use; examine interest in and prevalence of vaping cessation programs; determine needs of parents whose children vape.

Methods:

Employees of companies with more than 150 employees, drawn from an opt-in national online panel (N = 1607), ages 18 to 65, completed an online survey in November 2019.

Results:

Among tobacco users, 46% to 48% reported workplace vaping was a trigger for smoking and vaping, respectively; 7% of former users reported it as a trigger. Quit vaping support is important to 85% of employees; 1/3 of workplaces have such programs, with industry variation. Child vaping results in presenteeism and absenteeism among roughly 1/3 of parents.

Conclusions:

Workplace vaping is a trigger for smoking and vaping among current and former tobacco users. A gap exists between desired support for vaping cessation and current employer-sponsored cessation programs.
New Approach for Endoscopic Endonasal Transsphenoidal Pituitary Surgery: Modified Nasoseptal Rescue Flap
Authors: Ulu Şahin , Aslan Adem , Boyaci M. Gazi , Kuzu Selçuk
Published: September 2020

Introduction:

Endoscopic endonasal approach has become popularly preferred for pituitary surgery in recent years. In this study we described a new technique which is developed by the first author and which is modified from The Rivera-Serrano “salvage” flap approach. With this new technique the septum morbidity was completely prevented and a wider and more comfortable vision was provided for the operation.

Material-method:

This study consists 7 patients who underwent endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal pituitary surgery (EETPS) with the described technique (modified salvage flap technique) between 2017 and 2019 and 13 patients underwent EETPS using salvage flap technique. The follow-up period was at least 6 months (24–6 months) for septal integrity.

Results:

Intraoperative septum integrity was observed in all 7 patients who were treated with modified rescue flap technique. In 9 of 13 patients who had salvage flap technique, intraoperative septum posterior defects were observed. In postoperative follow-up (min postop 3 months), endoscopic examination showed no septal perforation in 6 patients who were treated with modified rescue flap technique, and 1 patient had 2 × 2 mm perforation posteriorly. In postoperative endoscopic follow-up of 13 patients who underwent salvage flap technique (min postop 3 months), 4 patients had complete septal integrity, while 9 patients had different sizes of posterior septal perforation.

Conclusion:

According to other described approach techniques, our modification using a pedicle and septum protective-transposition technique provides improved access to the downstream side of the sphenoid sinus and clivus, allowing the pedicle to slide down and take a more horizontal position. The improved maneuverability of the pedicle created in the case of cerebrospinal fluid leakage as a complication also allows it to be used as a bilateral wing to cover the exposed bone. We think that this technique is the best method to be used for EETPS with modified saline flap technique.
Cellular immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans: a systematic review
Authors: Shrotri Madhumita , van Schalkwyk May C. I. , Post Nathan , Eddy Danielle , Huntley Catherine , Leeman David , Rigby Samuel , Williams Sarah V. , Bermingham William H. , Kellam Paul , Maher John , Shields Adrian M. , Amirthalingam Gayatri , Peacock Sharon J. , Ismail Sharif A.
Published: August 2020

Introduction

Understanding the cellular immune response to SARS-CoV-2 is critical to vaccine development, epidemiological surveillance and control strategies. This systematic review critically evaluates and synthesises the relevant peer-reviewed and pre-print literature published in recent months.

Methods

For this systematic review, independent keyword-structured literature searches were carried out in MEDLINE, Embase and COVID-19 Primer for studies published from 01/01/2020-26/06/2020. Papers were independently screened by two researchers, with arbitration of disagreements by a third researcher. Data were independently extracted into a pre-designed Excel template and studies critically appraised using a modified version of the MetaQAT tool, with resolution of disagreements by consensus. Findings were narratively synthesised.

Results

61 articles were included. Almost all studies used observational designs, were hospital-based, and the majority had important limitations. Symptomatic adult COVID-19 cases consistently show peripheral T cell lymphopenia, which positively correlates with increased disease severity, duration of RNA positivity, and non-survival; while asymptomatic and paediatric cases display preserved counts. People with severe or critical disease generally develop more robust, virus-specific T cell responses. T cell memory and effector function has been demonstrated against multiple viral epitopes, and, cross-reactive T cell responses have been demonstrated in unexposed and uninfected adults, but the significance for protection and susceptibility, respectively, remains unclear.

Interpretation

A complex pattern of T cell response to SARS-CoV-2 infection has been demonstrated, but inferences regarding population level immunity are hampered by significant methodological limitations and heterogeneity between studies. In contrast to antibody responses, population-level surveillance of the cellular response is unlikely to be feasible in the near term. Focused evaluation in specific sub-groups, including vaccine recipients, should be prioritised.
The introduction of standardised packaging and availability of illicit cigarettes: a difference-in-difference analysis of European Union survey data 2015-2018
Authors: Laverty Anthony A , Millett Christopher , Hopkinson Nicholas S , Filippidis Filippos T
Published: September 2020

Standardised packaging of tobacco products is intended to reduce the appeal of smoking, but the tobacco industry claims this increases illicit trade. We examined the percentage of people reporting being regularly offered illicit cigarettes before and after implementation of standardised packaging in the United Kingdom, Ireland and France and compared this to other European Union countries. Reported regular illicit tobacco exposure fell from 2.7% to 2.3% between 2015 and 2018 in the three countries implementing the policy, and from 2.3% to 1.7% in control countries (p for difference=0.320). Standardised packaging does not appear to increase the availability of illicit cigarettes.
Generating Property-Matched Decoy Molecules Using Deep Learning
Authors: Imrie Fergus , Bradley Anthony R. , Deane Charlotte M.
Published: August 2020

An essential step in the development of virtual screening methods is the use of established sets of actives and decoys for benchmarking and training. However, the decoy molecules in commonly used sets are biased meaning that methods often exploit these biases to separate actives and decoys, rather than learning how to perform molecular recognition. This fundamental issue prevents generalisation and hinders virtual screening method development. We have developed a deep learning method (DeepCoy) that generates decoys to a user’s preferred specification in order to remove such biases or construct sets with a defined bias. We validated DeepCoy using two established benchmarks, DUD-E and DEKOIS 2.0. For all DUD-E targets and 80 of the 81 DEKOIS 2.0 targets, our generated decoy molecules more closely matched the active molecules’ physicochemical properties while introducing no discernible additional risk of false negatives. The DeepCoy decoys improved the Deviation from Optimal Embedding (DOE) score by an average of 81% and 66%, respectively, decreasing from 0.163 to 0.032 for DUD-E and from 0.109 to 0.038 for DEKOIS 2.0. Further, the generated decoys are harder to distinguish than the original decoy molecules via docking with Autodock Vina, with virtual screening performance falling from an AUC ROC of 0.71 to 0.63. The code is available athttps://github.com/oxpig/DeepCoy. Generated molecules can be downloaded fromhttp://opig.stats.ox.ac.uk/resources.
3D Interferometric Lattice Light-Sheet Imaging
Authors: Cao Bin , Wang Guanshi , Li Jieru , Pertsinidis Alexandros
Published: August 2020

Understanding cellular structure and function requires live-cell imaging with high spatio-temporal resolution and high detection sensitivity. Direct visualization of molecular processes using single-molecule/super-resolution techniques has thus been transformative. However, extracting the highest-resolution 4D information possible from weak and dynamic fluorescence signals in live cells remains challenging. For example, some of the highest spatial resolution methods, e.g. interferometric (4Pi) approaches1-6can be slow, require high peak excitation intensities that accelerate photobleaching or suffer from increased out-of-focus background. Selective-plane illumination (SPIM)7-12reduces background, but most implementations typically feature modest spatial, especially axial, resolution. Here we develop 3D interferometric lattice light-sheet (3D-iLLS) imaging, a technique that overcomes many of these limitations. 3D-iLLS provides, by virtue of SPIM, low light levels and photobleaching, while providing increased background suppression and significantly improved volumetric imaging/sectioning capabilities through 4Pi interferometry. We demonstrate 3D-iLLS with axial resolution and single-particle localization precision down to <100nm (FWHM) and <10nm (1σ) respectively. 3D-iLLS paves the way for a fuller elucidation of sub-cellular phenomena by enhanced 4D resolution and SNR live imaging.
Measuring Orthopedic Plate Strain to Track Bone Healing Using a Fluidic Sensor Read via Plain Radiography
Authors: Rajamanthrilage Apeksha C. , Arifuzzaman Md. , Millhouse Paul W. , Pace Thomas B. , Behrend Caleb J. , DesJardins John D. , Anker Jeffrey N.
Published: August 2020

We describe a fluidic X-ray visualized strain indicator under applied load (X-VISUAL) to quantify orthopedic plate strain and inform rehabilitative care. This sensor uses a liquid-level gauge with hydro-mechanical amplification and is visualized in plain radiographs which are routinely acquired during patient recovery to find pathologies but are usually insufficient to quantify fracture stiffness. The sensor has two components: a stainless-steel lever which attaches to the plate, and an acrylic fluidic component which sits between the plate and lever. The fluidic component has a reservoir filled with radio-dense solution and an adjoining capillary wherein the fluid level is measured. When the plate bends under load, the lever squeezes the reservoir, which pushes the fluid along the channel. A tibial osteotomy model (5 mm gap) was used to simulate an unstable fracture, and allograft repair used to simulate a stiffer healed fracture. A cadaveric tibia and a mechanically equivalent composite tibia mimic were cyclically loaded five times (0 – 400 N axial force) while fluid displacement was measured from radiographs. The sensor displayed reversible and repeatable behavior with a slope of 0.096 mm/kg and fluid level noise of 50 to 80 micrometers (equivalent to 5-10 N). The allograft-repaired composite fracture was 13 times stiffer than the unstable fracture. An analysis of prior external fracture fixation studies and fatigue curves for internal plates indicates that the threshold for safe weight bearing should be 1/5th−1/10thof the initial bending for an unstable fracture. The precision of our device (<2% body weight) should thus be sufficient to track fracture healing from unstable through safe weight bearing.
Fly wing evolutionary rate is a near-isometric function of mutational variation
Authors: Houle David , Bolstad Geir H. , Hansen Thomas F.
Published: August 2020

If there is abundant mutational and standing genetic variation, most expect that the rate of evolution would be driven primarily by natural selection, and potentially be independent of current variability or variation. Contrary to this expectation, we (H17: Houle et al. 2017 Nature 548:447) found surprisingly strong scaling relationships with slopes near one between mutational variance, standing genetic variance and macro-evolutionary rate in Drosophilid wing traits. Jiang and Zhang (J&Z20: 2020 Evolutionhttps://doi.org/10.1111/evo.14076) have challenged these results and our interpretation of them. J&Z20 showed that the method used in H17 to estimate the scaling relationship between variation at different biological levels is uninformative. Using an alternative method, they estimated that the scaling relationship has a slope substantially less than one, and propose a variant of our neutral subset hypothesis to explain this. Here we use simulations to confirm J&Z20’s finding that the H17 method for estimating scaling of variances is uninformative. The simulations also show their alternative method for estimating scaling is likely to be seriously biased towards lower scaling relationships. We propose and verify an alternative approach to calculating scaling relationships based on independently estimated variance matrices, which we call the Q method. Simulations and reanalyses of the Drosophilid data set using the Q method suggests that our original estimates of the scaling relationship were close to the true value. We propose an analytical version of the neutral subset model, and show that it can indeed explain any scaling slope by varying assumptions about the pattern of pleiotropy. We continue to regard neutral subset models as implausible for wing shape in Drosophilids due to the likelihood that wing shape is subject to direct selection. Hybrid models in which pleiotropy reduces the available genetic and mutational variation, and a combination of selection and drift controls the change in species means seem more biologically promising.
Laser Ablation of the Pia Mater for Insertion of High-Density Microelectrode Arrays in a Translational Sheep Model
Authors: Boergens Kevin M. , Tadić Aleksandar , Hopper Matthew S. , McNamara Ingrid , Sahasrabuddhe Kunal , Kong Yifan , Straka Malgorzata , Sohal Harbaljit S. , Angle Matthew R.
Published: August 2020

The safe insertion of high density intracortical electrode arrays has been a long-standing practical challenge for neural interface engineering and applications such as brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). Here we describe a surgical procedure, inspired by laser corneal ablation, that can be used in large mammals to thin the pia mater, the innermost meningeal layer encapsulating the brain. This procedure allows for microelectrode arrays to be inserted into the cortex with less force, thus reducing deformation of underlying tissue during placement of the microelectrodes. We demonstrate that controlled pia removal over a small area of cortex allows for insertion of high-density electrode arrays and subsequent acute recordings of spiking neuron activity in sheep cortex. We also show histological and electrophysiological evidence that laser removal of the pia does not acutely affect neuronal viability in the region. This approach suggests a promising new path for clinical BCI with high-density microelectrode arrays.
Quantifying Physiological Synchrony through Windowed Cross-Correlation Analysis: Statistical and Theoretical Considerations
Authors: Behrens F. , Moulder R. G. , Boker S. M. , Kret M. E.
Published: August 2020

Interpersonal synchrony is a widely studied phenomenon. A great challenge is to statistically capture the dynamics of social interactions with fluctuating levels of synchrony and varying delays between responses of individuals. Windowed Cross-Correlation analysis accounts for both characteristics by segmenting the time series into smaller windows and shifting the segments of two interacting individuals away from each other up to a maximum lag. Despite evidence showing that these parameters affect the estimated synchrony level, there is a lack of guidelines on which parameter configurations to use. The current study aimed to close this knowledge gap by comparing the effect of different parameter configurations on two outcome criteria: (1) the ability to distinguish synchrony from pseudosynchrony by means of surrogate data analyses, and (2) the sensitivity to detect change in synchrony as measured by the difference between two within-subject conditions. Focusing on physiological synchrony, we performed these analyses on heartrate, skin conductance level, pupil size, and facial expressions data. Results revealed that a range of parameters was able to discriminate synchrony from pseudosynchrony. Window size was more influential than the maximum lag with smaller window sizes showing better discrimination. No clear patterns emerged for the second criterion. Integrating the statistical findings and theoretical considerations regarding the physiological characteristics and biological boundaries of the signals, we provide recommendations for optimizing the parameter settings to the signal of interest.
Investigation of anti-IgLON5-induced neurodegenerative changes in human neurons
Authors: Ryding Matias , Gamre Mattias , Nissen Mette S , Nilsson Anna Christine , Okarmus Justyna , Poulsen Anne Amalie E , Meyer Morten , Blaabjerg Morten
Published: August 2020

Anti-IgLON5 disease is a progressive neurological disorder, associated with autoantibodies against a neuronal cell adhesion molecule, IgLON5. In human post-mortem brain tissue neurodegeneration and accumulation of phosphorylated-Tau is found. Whether IgLON5 antibodies induce neurodegeneration or neurodegeneration provokes an immune response remains to be elucidated. To clarify this, we exposed human stem cell derived neurons to patient anti-IgLON5 antibodies.

Human neural stem cells were differentiated for 14-48 days, and exposed from day 9-14, or day 13-48 to either 1) IgG from a patient with confirmed anti-IgLON5 antibodies; 2) IgG from a healthy person or left untreated. Electrical neuronal activity was quantified using a multi electrode array. Cultures were immunostained for β-tubulin III, phosphorylated-Tau and counterstained with DAPI. Other cultures were immunostained for synaptic proteins PSD95 and synaptophysin. Lactate dehydrogenase release and nuclei morphology analyses were performed to assess cell viability.

Spike rates and quantity of synaptic clusters were significantly reduced in anti-IgLON5 exposed cultures, and the proportion of cells with degenerative appearance was significantly higher for the anti-IgLON5 IgG group. Furthermore, the content of cells displaying accumulation of phosphorylated-Tau was higher for anti-IgLON5 exposed cultures. After five weeks, cultures exposed to anti-IgLON5 IgG contained significantly more dying cells.

In conclusion, exposure of human neurons to pathological anti-IgLON5 antibodies cause functional impairment, synaptic and neurodegenerative changes, ultimately leading to cell death. This supports autoantibodies as a causative factor responsible for the neurodegenerative changes seen in patients with anti-IgLON5 disease and mimics pathological observations.
Distinct evolutionary trajectories in asexual populations through an interplay of their size, resource availability and mutation rates
Authors: Kumawat Bhaskar , Bhat Ramray
Published: August 2020

Asexually reproducing populations of single cells evolve through mutation, natural selection, and genetic drift to enhance their reproductive fitness. The environment provides the contexts that allow and regulate their fitness dynamics. In this work, we used Avida - a digital evolution framework - to uncover the effect of mutation rates, maximum size of the population, and the relative abundance of resources, on evolutionary outcomes in asexually reproducing populations of digital organisms. We observed that over extended simulations, the population evolved predominantly to one of several discrete fitness classes, each with distinct sequence motifs and/or phenotypes. For a low mutation rate, the organisms acquired either of four fitness values through an enhancement in the rate of genomic replication. Evolution at a relatively higher mutation rate presented a more complex picture. While the highest fitness values at a high mutation rate were achieved through enhanced genome replication rates, a suboptimal one was achieved through organisms sharing information relevant to metabolic tasks with each other. The information sharing capacity was vital to fitness acquisition and frequency of the genotype associated with it increased with greater resource levels and maximum population size. In addition, populations optimizing their fitness through such means exhibited a greater degree of genotypic heterogeneity and metabolic activity than those that improved replication rates. Our results reveal a minimal set of conditions for the emergence of interdependence within evolving populations with significant implications for biological systems in appropriate environmental contexts.