bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of inositol-requiring enzyme 1α RNase activity protects pancreatic beta cell and improves diabetic condition in insulin mutation-induced diabetes
Authors: Herlea-Pana Oana , Eeda Venkateswararao , Undi Ram Babu , Rus Iulia , Lim Hui-Ying , Wang Weidong
Published: September 2020

Proinsulin misfolding in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) plays an important role in β-cell dysfunction and death and the pathogenesis of mutantINS-gene-induced diabetes of youth (MIDY). There is no effective treatment for MIDY except the insulin administration. Here, we found that the ER stress sensor inositol-requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1α) was activated in the Akita mice, a mouse model of MIDY. Normalization of IRE1α RNase hyperactivity by pharmacological inhibitors significantly ameliorated the hyperglycemic conditions and increased serum insulin levels in Akita mice. These benefits were accompanied by a concomitant protection of functional β-cell mass, as shown by the suppression of β-cell apoptosis, increase in mature insulin production and reduction of proinsulin level. At the molecular level, we observed that the expression of genes associated with β-cell identity and function was significantly up-regulated and ER stress and its associated inflammation and oxidative stress were suppressed in islets from Akita mice treated with IRE1α RNase inhibitors. This study provides the first evidence of the in vivo efficacy of IRE1α RNase inhibition in Akita mice, pointing to the possibility of targeting IRE1α RNase as a therapeutic direction for the treatment of MIDY diabetes.
Trunk Control during Gait: Walking with Wide and Narrow Step Widths Present Distinct Challenges
Authors: Shih Hai-Jung Steffi , Gordon James , Kulig Kornelia
Published: September 2020

The active control of the trunk plays an important role in frontal plane gait stability. We characterized trunk control in response to different step widths using a novel feedback system and examined the different effects of wide and narrow step widths as they each present unique task demands. Twenty healthy young adults walked on a treadmill at 1.25 m/s at five prescribed step widths: 0.33, 1.67, 1, 1.33, 1.67 times preferred step width. Motion capture was used to record trunk kinematics, and surface electromyography was used to record longissimus muscle activation bilaterally. Vector coding was used to analyze coordination between pelvis and thorax segments of the trunk. Results showed that while center of mass only varied across step width in the mediolateral direction, trunk kinematics in all three planes were affected by changes in step width. Angular excursions of the trunk segments increased only with wider widths in the transverse plane. Thorax-pelvis kinematic coordination was affected more by wider widths in transverse plane and by narrower widths in the frontal plane. Peak longissimus activation and bilateral co-activation increased as step widths became narrower. As a control task, walking with varied step widths is not simply a continuum of adjustments from narrow to wide. Rather, narrowing step width and widening step width from the preferred width represent distinct control challenges that are managed in different ways. This study provides foundation for future investigations on the trunk during gait in different populations.
Atomic structures of respiratory complex III2, complex IV and supercomplex III2-IV from vascular plants
Authors: Maldonado María , Guo Fei , Letts James A.
Published: September 2020

Mitochondrial complex III (CIII2) and complex IV (CIV), which can associate into a higher-order supercomplex (SC III2+IV), play key roles in respiration. However, structures of these plant complexes remain unknown. We present atomic models of CIII2, CIV and SC III2+IV fromVigna radiatadetermined by single-particle cryoEM. The structures reveal plant-specific differences in the MPP domain of CIII2and define the subunit composition of CIV. Conformational heterogeneity analysis of CIII2revealed long-range, coordinated movements across the complex, as well as the motion of CIII2’s iron-sulfur head domain. The CIV structure suggests that, in plants, proton translocation does not occur via the H-channel. The supercomplex interface differs significantly from that in yeast and bacteria in its interacting subunits, angle of approach and limited interactions in the mitochondrial matrix. These structures challenge long-standing assumptions about the plant complexes, generate new mechanistic hypotheses and allow for the generation of more selective agricultural inhibitors.
A three-dimensional Air-Liquid Interface Culture Model for the Study of Epstein-Barr virus Infection in the Nasopharynx
Authors: Ziegler Phillip , Bai Yulong , Tian Yarong , Abrahamsson Sanna , Green Anthony , Moore John , Lee Stella E. , Myerburg Michael M. , Park Hyun Jung , Tang Ka-Wei , Shair Kathy H.Y.
Published: September 2020

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is ubiquitous in humans and is associated with the cancer, nasopharyngeal carcinoma. EBV replicates in the differentiated layers of stratified keratinocytes but whether the other cell types of the airway epithelium are susceptible to EBV is unknown. Here, we demonstrate with primary nasopharyngeal cells grown at the air-liquid interface that the pseudostratified epithelium can be susceptible to EBV infection and we report that susceptible cell types with distinct EBV transcription profiles can be identified by single-cell RNA-sequencing. Although EBV infection in the nasopharynx has evaded detection in asymptomatic carriers, these findings demonstrate that EBV latent and lytic infection can occur in the cells of the nasopharyngeal epithelium.
Statistical Integration of Two Omics Datasets Using GO2PLS
Authors: Gu Zhujie , el Bouhaddani Said , Pei Jiayi , Houwing-Duistermaat Jeanine , Uh Hae-Won
Published: September 2020

Background

Nowadays, multiple omics data are measured on the same samples in the belief that these different omics datasets represent various aspects of the underlying biological systems. Integrating these omics datasets will facilitate the understanding of the systems. For this purpose, various methods have been proposed, such as Partial Least Squares (PLS), decomposing two datasets into joint and residual subspaces. Since omics data are heterogeneous, the joint components in PLS will contain variation specific to each dataset. To account for this, Two-way Orthogonal Partial Least Squares (O2PLS) captures the heterogeneity by introducing orthogonal subspaces and better estimates the joint subspaces. However, the latent components spanning the joint subspaces in O2PLS are linear combinations of all variables, while it might be of interest to identify a small subset relevant to the research question. To obtain sparsity, we extend O2PLS to Group Sparse O2PLS (GO2PLS) that utilizes biological information on group structures among variables and performs group selection in the joint subspace.

Results

The simulation study showed that introducing sparsity improved the feature selection performance. Furthermore, incorporating group structures increased robustness of the feature selection procedure. GO2PLS performed optimally in terms of accuracy of joint score estimation, joint loading estimation, and feature selection. We applied GO2PLS to datasets from two studies: TwinsUK (a population study) and CVON-DOSIS (a small case-control study). In the first, we incorporated biological information on the group structures of the methylation CpG sites when integrating the methylation dataset with the IgG glycomics data. The targeted genes of the selected methylation groups turned out to be relevant to the immune system, in which the IgG glycans play important roles. In the second, we selected regulatory regions and transcripts that explained the covariance between regulomics and transcriptomics data. The corresponding genes of the selected features appeared to be relevant to heart muscle disease.

Conclusions

GO2PLS integrates two omics datasets to help understand the underlying system that involves both omics levels. It incorporates external >group information and performs group selection, resulting in a small subset of features that best explain the relationship between two omics datasets for better interpretability.
Non-coding RNAs in fluid shear stress-driven and reactive oxygen species-mediated colon cancer metastasis
Authors: KrishnaPriya Siluveru , Banerjee Satarupa , Karunagaran Devarajan , Suraishkumar G. K.
Published: September 2020

Background

Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) is the third most common cancer in the world. Fluid shear stress (FSS) and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels are known to mediate COAD metastasis. The present work was performed to explore the role of regulatory non-coding RNA molecules associated with FSS and ROS in COAD metastasis.

Methods

The interactions between the mRNAs associated with FSS and ROS, the corresponding miRNAs, lncRNAs and circRNAs in COAD metastasis were used to generate the mRNA-miRNA-lncRNA-circRNA network. The expression levels of the RNAs in the network were also considered besides the identification of RNA hubs and modules. Further, functional enrichment and survival analysis of the significant miRNAs together with the OncoPrint as well as survival analysis of the selected mRNAs were performed. Subsequently, their functional role was also corroborated with existing literature.

Results

Ten significant miRNA hubs were identified, out of which hsa-miR-17-5p and hsa-miR-20a-5p were found to interact with a lncRNA, CCAT2 and hsa-miR-335 was found to interact with four circRNAs. 60% of the FSS and ROS associated mRNAs and 90% of the top 10 miRNA-enriched pathways that emerged from the functional analysis were reported to be involved in COAD metastasis. 15 significant miRNAs were identified in ten different modules suggesting their importance in FSS and ROS mediated COAD metastasis. Finally, ten miRNAs and three mRNAs associated with FSS and/or ROS were identified as significant overall survival markers; 33 mRNAs were also identified as metastasis-free survival markers whereas 15 mRNAs showed >10% gene alterations in TCGA-COAD data and hence emerged as significant molecular markers in the process.

Conclusion

We hypothesize that the biologically significant RNAs identified in this integrated analysis may provide valuable insights to understand the molecular mechanism of the FSS driven and ROS mediated COAD metastasis and to design efficient treatment strategies.
Endosperm development is an autonomously programmed process independent of embryogenesis
Authors: Xiong Hanxian , Wang Wei , Sun Meng-Xiang
Published: September 2020

The seeds of land plants contain three genetically distinct structures: the embryo, endosperm, and seed coat. The embryo and endosperm need to interact and exchange signals to ensure coordinated growth. Accumulating evidence has confirmed that embryo growth is supported by the nourishing endosperm and regulated by signals originating from the endosperm. Available data also support that endosperm development requires communication with the embryo. Here, using single-fertilization mutants,Arabidopsis dmp8/9andgex2, we demonstrate that in the absence of a zygote and embryo, endosperm initiation, syncytium formation, free nuclear cellularization, and endosperm degeneration are as normal as in the wild type in terms of the cytological process and time course. Although rapid embryo expansion accelerates endosperm breakdown, our findings strongly suggest that endosperm development is an autonomously organized process, independent of egg cell fertilization and embryo–endosperm communication. This work confirms both the altruistic and self-directed nature of the endosperm during coordinated embryo-endosperm development. The findings provide novel insights into the intricate interaction between the two fertilization products and will help to distinguish the real roles of the signaling between endosperm and embryo. These finding also shed new light on agro-biotechnology for crop improvement.
Complex effects of pH on ROS from mitochondrial complex II driven complex I reverse electron transport challenge its role in tissue reperfusion injury
Authors: Milliken Alexander S. , Kulkarni Chaitanya A. , Brookes Paul S.
Published: September 2020

Generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) is an important process in triggering cellular necrosis and tissue infarction during ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. Ischemia results in accumulation of the metabolite succinate. Rapid oxidation of this succinate by mitochondrial complex II (Cx-II) during reperfusion reduces the co-enzyme Q (Co-Q) pool, thereby driving electrons backward into complex-I (Cx-I), a process known as reverse electron transport (RET), which is thought to be a major source of ROS. During ischemia, enhanced glycolysis results in an acidic cellular pH at the onset of reperfusion. While the process of RET within Cx-I is known to be enhanced by a high mitochondrial trans-membrane ΔpH, the impact of pH itself on the integrated process of Cx-II to Cx-I RET has not been fully studied. Using isolated mitochondria under conditions which mimic the onset of reperfusion (i.e., high [ADP]). We show that mitochondrial respiration (state 2 and state 3) as well as isolated Cx-II activity are impaired at acidic pH, whereas the overall generation of ROS by Cx-II to Cx-I RET was insensitive to pH. Together these data indicate that the acceleration of Cx-I RET ROS by ΔpH appears to be cancelled out by the impact of pH on the source of electrons, i.e. Cx-II. Implications for the role of Cx-II to Cx-I RET derived ROS in IR injury are discussed.
Codon-optimized FAM132b prevents diet-induced obesity by modulating adrenergic response and insulin action
Authors: Qi Zhengtang , Xia Jie , Xue Xiangli , Liu Wenbin , Huang Zhuochun , Zhang Xue , Zou Yong , Liu Jianchao , Liu Jiatong , Li Xingtian , Cao Lu , Li Lingxia , Cui Zhiming , Ji Benlong , Zhang Qiang , Ding Shuzhe , Liu Weina
Published: September 2020

FAM132b, also known as myonectin, has been identified as a myokine produced by exercise. It is a secreted protein precursor that belongs to the adipolin/erythroferrone family, and has hormone activity in circulation to regulate cellular iron homeostasis and lipid metabolism via unknown receptors. Here, adeno-associated viral vectors (AAV9) were engineered to induce overexpression of FAM132b with 2 codon mutations (A136T and P159A). Treatment of mice under high-fat diet feeding with FAM132b gene transfer resulted in marked reductions in body weight, fat depot, adipocytes size, glucose intolerance and insulin resistance. Moreover, FAM132b overproduction reduced glycemic response to epinephrine (EPI) in whole body and increased lipolytic response to EPI in adipose tissues. This adrenergic response of adipose tissue led to the result that gene transfer reduced glycogen utilization and increased fat consumption in skeletal muscle during exercise. FAM132b knockdown by shRNA significantly increased glycemic response to EPI in vivo and reduced adipocytes response to EPI and adipose tissue browning. Structural analysis suggested that FAM132b mutants delivered by AAV9 may form a weak bond with ADRB2, and potentially bind to insulin against insulin receptor by blocking the receptor binding sites on insulin B-chain. Our study underscores the potential of FAM132b gene therapy with codon optimization to treat obesity by modulating adrenergic response and interfering insulin action.

Significance

We show here that AAV9-mediated expression of FAM132b with A136T and P159A is a safe and effective therapeutic strategy for improving glucose homeostasis. This is the first demonstration of a therapeutic effect on metabolic disorders in mice with FAM132b codon optimization. These therapeutic effects indicate that FAM132b gene transfer with selective codon mutants in vivo might be a valid therapy for diabetes that can be extended to other metabolic disorders.
Heterogeneity of midgut cells and their differential responses to blood meal ingestion by the mosquito,Aedes aegypti
Authors: Cui Yingjun , Franz Alexander W.E.
Published: September 2020

Mosquitoes are the most notorious hematophagous insects and due to their blood feeding behavior and genetic compatibility, numerous mosquito species are highly efficient vectors for certain human pathogenic parasites and viruses. The mosquito midgut is the principal organ of blood meal digestion and nutrient absorption. It is also the initial site of infection with blood meal acquired parasites and viruses. We conducted an analysis based on single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-Seq) to assess the cellular diversity of the midgut and how individual cells respond to blood meal ingestion to facilitate its digestion. Our study revealed the presence of 20 distinguishable cell-type clusters in the female midgut ofAedes aegypti. The identified cell types included intestinal stem cell (ISC), enteroblasts (EB), differentiating EB (dEB), enteroendocrine cells (EE), enterocytes (EC), EC-like cells, cardia cells, and visceral muscle (VM) cells. Blood meal ingestion dramatically changed the overall midgut cell type composition, profoundly increasing the proportions of ISC and three EC/EC like clusters. In addition, transcriptional profiles of all cell types were strongly affected while genes involved in various metabolic processes were significantly upregulated. Our study provides a basis for further physiological and molecular studies on blood digestion, nutrient absorption, and cellular homeostasis in the mosquito midgut.
A nanocompartment containing the peroxidase DypB contributes to defense against oxidative stress inM. tuberculosis
Authors: Lien Katie A. , Nichols Robert J. , Cassidy-Amstutz Caleb , Dinshaw Kayla , Knight Matthew , Singh Rahul , Eltis Lindsay D. , Savage David F. , Stanley Sarah A.
Published: September 2020

Encapsulin nanocompartments are an emerging class of prokaryotic protein-based organelles consisting of an encapsulin protein shell that encloses a protein cargo1. Genes encoding nanocompartments are widespread in bacteria and archaea, and recent works have characterized the biochemical function of several cargo enzymes2. However, the importance of these organelles to host physiology is poorly understood. Here, we report that the human pathogenMycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb) produces a nanocompartment that contains the dye-decolorizing peroxidase DypB. We show that this nanocompartment is important for the ability of Mtb to resist oxidative stress in low pH environments, including during infection of host cells and upon treatment with a clinically relevant antibiotic. Our findings are the first to implicate a nanocompartment in bacterial pathogenesis and reveal a new mechanism that Mtb uses to combat oxidative stress.
Soil chemical legacies trigger species-specific and context-dependent root responses in later arriving plants
Authors: Delory Benjamin M. , Schempp Hannes , Spachmann Sina Maria , Störzer Laura , van Dam Nicole M. , Temperton Vicky M. , Weinhold Alexander
Published: September 2020

Soil legacies play an important role for the creation of priority effects. However, we still poorly understand to what extent the metabolome found in the soil solution of a plant community is conditioned by its species composition and whether soil chemical legacies affect subsequent species during assembly. To test these hypotheses, we collected soil solutions from forb or grass communities and evaluated how the metabolome of these soil solutions affected the growth, biomass allocation, and functional traits of a forb (Dianthus deltoides) and a grass species (Festuca rubra).Results showed that the metabolomes found in the soil solutions of forb and grass communities differed in composition and chemical diversity. While soil chemical legacies did not have any effect onF. rubra,root foraging byD. deltoidesdecreased when plants received the soil solution from a grass or a forb community. Structural equation modelling showed that reduced soil exploration byD. deltoidesarose via either a root growth-dependent pathway (forb metabolome) or a root trait-dependent pathway (grass metabolome). Reduced root foraging was not connected to a decrease in total N uptake. Our findings reveal that soil chemical legacies can create belowground priority effects by affecting root foraging in later arriving plants.
Total RNA Extraction from Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Green Michael R. , Sambrook Joseph
Published: September 2020

This protocol is for isolating total RNA from either larvae (L1–L4) or adult worms using a monophasic lysis reagent. It is preferable when multiple samples have to be processed.
Decision-making under interval uncertainty revisited
Authors: Kosheleva Olga , Kreinovich Vladik , Pham Uyen
Published: September 2020

Purpose

In many real-life situations, we do not know the exact values of the expected gain corresponding to different possible actions, we only have lower and upper bounds on these gains – i.e., in effect, intervals of possible gain values. The purpose of this study is to describe all possible ways to make decisions under such interval uncertainty.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used both natural invariance and additivity requirements.

Findings

The authors demonstrated that natural requirements – invariance or additivity – led to a two-parametric family of possible decision-making strategies.

Originality/value

This is a first description of all reasonable strategies for decision-making under interval uncertainty – strategies that satisfy natural requirements of invariance or additivity.
Why someone did not stop them? Aversive racism and the responsibility of bystanders
Authors: Murrell Audrey J.
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the impact of persistent racial bias, discrimination and racial violence is facilitated by otherwise well-intentioned individuals who fail to act or intercede. Utilizing the aversive racism framework, the need to move beyond awareness raising to facilitate behavioral changes is discussed. Examining the unique lens provided by the aversive racism framework and existing research, the bystander effect provides important insights on recent acts of racial violence such as the murder of Mr. George Floyd. Some promise is shown by the work on effective bystander behavior training and highlights the need for shared responsibility in preventing the outcomes of racial violence and discrimination to create meaningful and long-lasting social change.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses literature based on the aversive racism framework together with the literature on the bystander effect to understand the factors, conditions and consequences for lack of intervention when the victim is African American. This paper also provides evidence and theory-based recommendations for strategies to change passive bystanders into active allies.

Findings

The use of the aversive racism framework provides a powerful lens to help explain the inconsistencies in the bystander effect based on the race of the victim. The implications for intervention models point to the need for behavioral and competency-based approaches that have been shown to provide meaningful change.

Practical implications

Several different approaches to address incidents of racial aggression and violence have been developed in the past. However, given the principles of aversive racism, a unique approach that considers the inconsistencies between self-perceptions and actions is needed. This sets a new agenda for future research and meaningful behavioral intervention programs that seek to equip bystanders to intercede in the future.

Social implications

The need to address and provide effective strategies to reduce the incidence of racial aggression and violence have wide-ranging benefits for individuals, communities and society.

Originality/value

By connecting the aversive racism framework to the bystander effect, the need for different models for developing responsive and active bystanders can be more effectively outlined.
Exploring factors influencing online classes due to social distancing in COVID-19 pandemic: a business students perspective
Authors: Zia Adil
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This study explores the factors responsible for influencing online classes for business school during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study also examines the level of influence of these factors on online classes.

Design/methodology/approach

Primary data were collected online from 716 business school students using a questionnaire developed by the researcher. Smart PLS3 software was used to analyze the data.

Findings

Attitude, curriculum, motivation, technology and training were found to have an impact on online classes. Three variables (attitude, motivation and training) have a positive impact on online classes, whereas two variables (curriculum and technology) have a negative impact on the online classes. All the factors have been found to be significant except technology which is found to have an insignificant impact (p = 0.356) on online classes.

Research limitations/implications

Only one university’s students were surveyed.

Practical implications

Outlines the factors which have a positive and significant impact on online classes during COVID-19 pandemic. This study can be generalized through a student's community across the world as the students face similar problems associated with online classes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Social implications

Suggest factors that can be considered while COVID-19 pandemic during social distancing to make online classes more effective and to reduce the impact of this pandemic.

Originality/value

No study has documented the factors associated to impact the online classes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Two‐dimensional dictionary learning for suppressing random seismic noise
Authors: Li Kunhong , Liu Zhining , She Bin , Cai Hanpeng , Wang Yaojun , Hu Guangmin
Published: September 2020

Dictionary learning is a successful method for random seismic noise attenuation that has been proven by some scholars. Dictionary learning–based techniques aim to learn a set of common bases called dictionaries from given noised seismic data. Then, the denoising process will be performed by assuming a sparse representation on each small local patch of the seismic data over the learned dictionary. The local patches that are extracted from the seismic section are essentially two‐dimensional matrices. However, for the sake of simplicity, almost all of the existing dictionary learning methods just convert each two‐dimensional patch into a one‐dimensional vector. In doing this, the geometric structure information of the raw data will be revealed, leading to low capability in the reconstruction of seismic structures, such as faults and dip events. In this paper, we propose a two‐dimensional dictionary learning method for the seismic denoising problem. Unlike other dictionary learning–based methods, the proposed method represents the two‐dimensional patches directly to avoid the conversion process, and thus reserves the important structure information for a better reconstruction. Our method first learns a two‐dimensional dictionary from the noisy seismic patches. Then, we use the two‐dimensional dictionary to sparsely represent all of the noisy two‐dimensional patches to obtain clean patches. Finally, the clean patches are patched back to generate a denoised seismic section. The proposed method is compared with the other three denoising methods, including FX‐decon, curvelet and one‐dimensional learning method. The results demonstrate that our method has better denoising performance in terms of signal‐to‐noise ratio, fault and amplitude preservation.
A critical review of methods for eliciting voice from children with speech, language and communication needs
Authors: Bloom Ashley , Critten Sarah , Johnson Helen , Wood Clare
Published: September 2020

In this paper we discuss the need to find suitable methods for eliciting the voices of children with communication, speech and language needs in order to gain insights into their experiences of school, especially in the context of renewed legal requirements to involve children in decisions about their education. A critical review of existing methods for eliciting and facilitating communication from children with communication needs is presented, and an analysis of those approaches is offered. From this analysis we propose a framework for the characteristics needed in any new tool developed for this purpose.
Design principles of oil‐in‐water emulsions with functionalized interfaces: Mixed, multilayer, and covalent complex structures
Authors: Li Moting , McClements David Julian , Liu Xuebo , Liu Fuguo
Published: September 2020

Proteins and polysaccharides are widely used as ingredients in food emulsions due to their high biocompatibility, good biodegradability, and a broad range of techno‐functionalities. In particular, they are used as emulsifiers, texture modifiers, and stabilizers in many emulsion‐based foods. Moreover, the functionality of these biopolymers can be extended by forming protein–polysaccharide complexes that can be used to modulate the characteristics of the oil–water interface, thereby altering the stability and performance of food emulsions. This review highlights a number of approaches to modulate the interfacial properties of oil‐in‐water emulsions based on the utilization of protein–polysaccharide complexes: direct mixing, layer‐by‐layer assembly, and conjugation. Besides, the impact of altering the interfacial properties on emulsion performance is highlighted, including their formation, stability, and functional attributes. Interfacial engineering approaches can be used to tailor the properties of food emulsions to particular applications. For instance, they can be used to create emulsion‐based delivery systems for bioactive agents, such as vitamins, nutraceuticals, antimicrobials, colors, flavors, and antioxidants. Moreover, they can be used to create emulsion‐based foods with lower calorie contents and enhanced satiety responses. Nevertheless, it is important to account for various factors when developing successful interfacial engineering technologies, including safety concerns, production costs, environmental impact, sustainability, government regulations, and labeling issues.
Synergistic enhancement of loading contents and chemical stability of lycopene distributing both inside and on the oil/water interface
Authors: Nian Yingqun , Yuan Lei , Zhao Di , Li Chunbao
Published: September 2020

Loading contents and chemical stability of lycopene were synergistically enhanced after dispersion in genipin‐crosslinked‐chitosan (CS) stabilized high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs). HIPEs could be prepared with the parameters for the emulsifiers of CS concentration from 0.5 to 5 mg/mL, pH value from 5.5 to 7.5, and CS/genipin mass ratio from 2:1 to 20:1. High loading content of lycopene, up to 0.25 wt% was achieved, with emulsifier in the final system only 1 mg/mL. As the loading contents were elevated, increasing amount of lycopene distributed in HIPEs in the form of insoluble crystals. Meanwhile, density of oil droplets decreased and the shape changed from polygon to sphere, which is supposed to be related to the interaction between the crystal and the oil–water interface. Stability of lycopene against ultraviolet, temperature, hydrogen peroxide, and iron ions was improved significantly, which could be ascribed to the layer of genipin‐crosslinked‐CS on oil droplet surface and the crystal status of lycopene. The storage stability of lycopene was improved tremendously after encapsulation by HIPEs.

Practical Application

Low loading content of lycopene in emulsion systems is not conducive to the evaluation of its biological function in subsequent experiments, as well as their real application in food industry. It is also crucial to improve the stability of lycopene for the practical application in food industry. In this work, the loading content in delivery system and the chemical stability of lycopene are improved through encapsulation with high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs). The significance of these results may have implications in fields spanning from colloidal science to functional foods applications.
Multivariate gene expression‐based survival predictor model in esophageal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Zhao Maoyuan , Wang Jingsong , Yuan Meng , Ma Zeliang , Bao Yongxin , Hui Zhouguang
Published: September 2020

Background

Despite the recent development of molecular‐targeted treatment and immunotherapy, survival of patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) with poor prognosis is still poor due to lack of an effective biomarker. In this study, we aimed to explore the ceRNA and construct a multivariate gene expression predictor model using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to predict the prognosis of EAC patients.

Methods

We conducted differential expression analysis using mRNA, miRNA and lncRNA transciptome data from EAC and normal patients as well as corresponding clinical information from TCGA database, and gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis of those unique differentially expressed mRNAs using the Integrate Discovery Database (DAVID) database. We then constructed the lncRNA‐miRNA‐mRNA competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network of EAC and used Cox proportional hazard analysis to generate a multivariate gene expression predictor model. We finally performed survival analysis to determine the effect of differentially expressed mRNA on patients' overall survival and discover the hub gene.

Results

We identified a total of 488 lncRNAs, 33 miRNAs, and 1207 mRNAs with differentially expressed profiles. Cox proportional hazard analysis and survival analysis using the ceRNA network revealed four genes (IL‐11, PDGFD, NPTX1, ITPR1) as potential biomarkers of EAC prognosis in our predictor model, and IL‐11 was identified as an independent prognostic factor.

Conclusions

In conclusion, we identified differences in the ceRNA regulatory networks and constructed a four–gene expression‐based survival predictor model, which could be referential for future clinical research.
Blessed be Discord, 1910: Ricardo Flores Magón's Manifesto Mode
Authors: Campbell Zachary
Published: September 2020

This article explores how Ricardo Flores Magón used images to transpose the graphic tradition of nineteenth‐century Mexican political journalism into prose by deploying montage to craft both allegorical and prismatic images: while certain images are divorced from their original context and take on a new life, others, analogically related to a single idea, appear prismatically in fragments on the page. The affinities Flores Magón's writing shared with modernismo and the historical avant garde – as intensification of the former and precursor of the latter – have been a blind spot for literary history, to which this article attempts to restore the importance of his writing.
From Parent to Child to Parent: Associations Between Parent and Offspring Psychopathology
Authors: Xerxa Yllza , Rescorla Leslie A. , van der Ende Jan , Hillegers Manon H.J. , Verhulst Frank C. , Tiemeier Henning
Published: September 2020

Parental psychopathology can affect child functioning, and vice versa. We examined bidirectional associations between parent and offspring psychopathology in 5,536 children and their parents. We asked three questions: (a) are parent‐to‐child associations stronger than child‐to‐parent associations? (b) are mother‐to‐child associations stronger than father‐to‐child associations? and (c) do within‐ and between‐person effects contribute to bidirectional associations between parent and offspring psychopathology? Our findings suggest that only within‐rater bidirectional associations of parent and offspring psychopathology can be consistently detected, with no difference between mothers and fathers. Child psychopathology was hardly associated with parental psychopathology. No evidence for cross‐rater child‐to‐parent associations was found suggesting that the within‐rater child‐to‐parent associations reflect shared method variance. Moreover, within‐person change accounted for a part of the variance observed.
Projected expansion of Trichodesmium’s geographical distribution and increase in growth potential in response to climate change
Authors: Boatman Tobias G. , Upton Graham J. G. , Lawson Tracy , Geider Richard J.
Published: September 2020

Estimates of marine N2 fixation range from 52 to 73 Tg N/year, of which we calculate up to 84% is from Trichodesmium based on previous measurements of nifH gene abundance and our new model of Trichodesmium growth. Here, we assess the likely effects of four major climate change‐related abiotic factors on the spatiotemporal distribution and growth potential of Trichodesmium for the last glacial maximum (LGM), the present (2006–2015) and the end of this century (2100) by mapping our model of Trichodesmium growth onto inferred global surface ocean fields of pCO2, temperature, light and Fe. We conclude that growth rate was severely limited by low pCO2 at the LGM, that current pCO2 levels do not significantly limit Trichodesmium growth and thus, the potential for enhanced growth from future increases in CO2 is small. We also found that the area of the ocean where sea surface temperatures (SST) are within Trichodesmium's thermal niche increased by 32% from the LGM to present, but further increases in SST due to continued global warming will reduce this area by 9%. However, the range reduction at the equator is likely to be offset by enhanced growth associated with expansion of regions with optimal or near optimal Fe and light availability. Between now and 2100, the ocean area of optimal SST and irradiance is projected to increase by 7%, and the ocean area of optimal SST, irradiance and iron is projected to increase by 173%. Given the major contribution of this keystone species to annual N2 fixation and thus pelagic ecology, biogeochemistry and CO2 sequestration, the projected increase in the geographical range for optimal growth could provide a negative feedback to increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations.
Rapid ART start in early HIV infection: Time to viral load suppression and retention in care in a London cohort
Authors: Girometti Nicolò , Lander Frances , McOwan Alan , Nwokolo Nneka , Boffito Marta , Whitlock Gary ,   the Dean Street Collaborative group
Published: September 2020

Objectives

Rapid antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation is recommended in early HIV infection (EHI), even in the absence of baseline viral resistance test result. We analysed time to viral suppression according to ART regimen started in a cohort of patients diagnosed with EHI.

Methods

Clinical records of individuals consecutively diagnosed with EHI between July 2016‐June 2018 were reviewed. The distribution of clinical, virological and immunological factors was compared in treatment groups using the Mann–Whitney U‐test.

Results

262 individuals (97% MSM) were diagnosed with EHI. 58% of patients agreed to start ART within 14 days of diagnosis. Tenofovir‐based combinations were prescribed to all patients. DRV/b was the most commonly prescribed third agent (78%), when genotypic resistance testing was not available at time of ART choice. Switching to INSTI was encouraged once VRT became available and 27% switched from DRV/b to INSTI (mainly RAL) within 28 days from ART start. Those receiving INSTI were more likely to have a baseline viral load exceeding 1 million HIV‐1 RNA copies/mL compared with those starting with DRV/b. Rapid start with INSTI regimens resulted in quicker viral suppression than when DRV/b was chosen in EHI, even when that was subsequently switched to INSTI. Retention in care following rapid ART start was achieved by all patients at 24 weeks.

Conclusions

Starting an INSTI‐based ART combination was associated with quicker viral suppression than when a protease inhibitor‐based combination was chosen. No differences in the achievement of viral suppression or in retention in care were observed.
Financial literacy, money management skill and credit card repayments
Authors: Hamid Fazelina Sahul , Loke Yiing Jia
Published: September 2020

This paper studies the relationship between socio‐economic factors, financial literacy, money management skill, overspending and impulsiveness on credit card repayment decisions. Analysis based on a sample of 451 credit card users in Malaysia showed that socio‐economic factors related to education, income, ethnicity, marital status and number of credit cards held influence credit card repayment decisions. Financial literacy and money management skill have a positive effect on credit cardholders’ decision making. Specifically, money management skill related to financial statements monitoring, prompt bill payment, spending within budget and handling money matters well influence credit card repayments. However, personality traits such as overspending and impulsiveness do not exert a significant effect on credit card payment behaviour. The findings of this study support the argument that financial education and behavioural intervention that inculcate good money management skill are important in shaping individuals’ behaviour.
Show or tell: Children's learning about food from action vs verbal testimony
Authors: DeJesus Jasmine M. , Venkatesh Shruthi
Published: September 2020

Background

Childhood obesity continues to be a critical health concern in the United States. Nonetheless, interventions that focus on delivering verbal lessons about food and health to children in preschool classrooms have had only modest effects.

Objectives

The present study examines the relative effectiveness of showing vs telling children about food to promote healthy eating, with a focus on unfamiliar foods and vegetables.

Methods

Three‐ to six‐year‐old children (n = 71) were tested in a laboratory study in which they watched videos of two people eating apple‐broccoli puree. One person took five bites of the food; the other said they liked the food.

Results

Children did not differentiate between the food they saw someone eat and the food they heard someone talk about. Children's food intake was negatively associated with parent reports of children's eating behavior on the Food Fussiness subscale of the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire. We found similar patterns in an analogous toy task. In an unfamiliar object task, children selected the action demonstration as the right way to use the object.

Conclusions

We find no evidence that action vs verbal testimony is more persuasive in guiding children's food choices, but action testimony may be persuasive in other domains. The associations between children's food intake and pickiness provide growing evidence of alignment between parent assessments of their children's typical eating behavior and children's food choices in laboratory studies.
What's the point of European Sectoral Social Dialogue? Effectiveness and polycontexturality in the hospital and metal sectors
Authors: Larsson Bengt , Galetto Manuela , Weber Sabrina , Bechter Barbara , Prosser Thomas
Published: September 2020

Drawing on pragmatism and systems theory, this article analyses how participants in the European Sectoral Social Dialogue in the metal and hospital committees understand its effectiveness. We find that the participants have a broad understanding of effectiveness compared with the European Commission and existing research. Participants do not dismiss the importance of direct effects on working conditions in member states but downplay it in comparison with indirect effects from, and effectiveness in, European Sectoral Social Dialogue. That is, horizontal learning, knowledge sharing and pragmatic bottom‐up work to reach consensus are emphasised as more prominent than top‐down regulatory effectiveness.
Oxidative stress and Liver X Receptor agonist induce hepatocellular carcinoma in Non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis model
Authors: Shimizu Yoshio , Tamura Takafumi , Kemmochi Akira , Owada Yohei , Ozawa Yusuke , Hisakura Katsuji , Matsuzaka Takashi , Shimano Hitoshi , Nakano Noriyuki , Sakashita Shingo , Oda Tatsuya , Ohkohchi Nobuhiro
Published: September 2020

Background and Aim

The incidence of non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)‐related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is progressively increasing. However, the pathophysiology and etiology of NASH progression to HCC are unknown. We hypothesized that steatosis was the key factor in NASH‐related hepatocarcinogenesis and aimed to evaluate the effects of long‐term liver X receptor (LXR) agonist stimulation on hepatic steatosis induced by a high‐fat diet and oxidative stress.

Methods

We used an LXR agonist (T0901317) and CCl4 to induce hepatic steatosis and oxidative stress, respectively. C57BL/6 mice fed with a high‐fat diet were treated with either T0901317 + CCl4 (T09 + CCl4 group) or CCl4 alone (CCl4 group). T0901317 (2.5 mg/kg) and CCl4 (0.1 mL/kg) were intraperitoneally administered twice weekly for 24 weeks.

Results

The liver‐to‐body weight ratio was significantly higher in the T09 + CCl4 group than in the CCl4 group. Mice in the T09 + CCl4 group exhibited abnormal lipid metabolism and NASH‐like histopathological features. Additionally, all mice in the T09 + CCl4 group developed liver tumors diagnosed as well‐differentiated HCC. The genes identified via microarray analysis were related to NASH and HCC development.

Conclusions

By combining long‐term LXR agonist stimulation with oxidative stress and a high‐fat diet, we successfully reproduced liver conditions in mice similar to those in humans with NASH and progression to HCC. Our results provide new insight into NASH‐related HCC progression and therapy.
Association of Clostridioides difficile with adverse clinical outcomes in patients with acute diverticulitis: A nationwide study
Authors: Makar Michael , Makar Gabriel , Xia Weiyi , Greenberg Patricia , Patel Anish Vinit
Published: September 2020

Background and Aim

Acute diverticulitis (AD) is a common gastrointestinal disease with a significant health care‐associated burden. Patients hospitalized with AD have many risk factors for developing Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). CDI is associated with poor outcomes in many diseases but has yet to be studied in AD.

Methods

We utilized data from the National Inpatient Sample from January 2012 to October 2015 for patients hospitalized with AD and CDI compared with AD alone. Primary outcomes, which were mortality, length of stay, and hospitalization cost, were compared. Secondary outcomes were complications of diverticulitis and need for surgical interventions. Risk factors for mortality in AD and risk factors associated with CDI in AD patients were analyzed.

Results

Among 767 850 hospitalizations for AD, 8755 also had CDI. A propensity score‐matched cohort analysis demonstrated that CDI was associated with increased risk of inpatient mortality (odds ratio [OR] 2.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.30, 5.95), prolonged duration of hospitalization by 4.27 days (P < 0.0001), total hospital cost by $33 271 (P < 0.0001), need for surgery (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.22, 1.71), and complications of diverticulitis (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.21, 1.74). Predictors of CDI among patients with AD included female gender (1.12 OR, 95% CI 1.01, 1.24), three or more comorbidities (1.81 OR, 95% CI 1.57, 2.09), and admissions to teaching hospitals (1.44 OR, 95% CI 1.22, 1.70).

Conclusions

Clostridioides difficile infection in AD is associated with increased mortality, length of stay, and hospital cost. Preventative measures should be made for at‐risk patients with AD to decrease infection rate and poor outcomes.