bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Breeding success of short-tailed shearwaters following extreme environmental conditions
Authors: Glencross JS , Lavers JL , Woehler EJ
Published: June 2021

Extreme weather events are increasing in frequency, causing disruption to global ecosystems. Large-scale events, such as marine heatwaves, can impact the abundance of prey species, which consequently influences the behaviour of top-level predators such as seabirds. The short-tailed shearwater Ardenna tenuirostris is a trans-hemispheric migrant with typically a highly synchronous breeding phenology. Here, we document short-tailed shearwater colony occupancy for the period 2011-2020, with a focussed assessment of their breeding success in the 2019/20 season, which followed a marine heatwave that occurred predominantly in the non-breeding areas in the North Pacific Ocean. The return of the birds to their breeding colonies in southeast Australia was delayed by approximately 2 wk in October 2019, and the subsequent breeding season ended with only 34% breeding success, with nest abandonment beginning in the incubation phase. A North Pacific marine heatwave in 2019, associated with a mass mortality event of over 9000 birds (‘wreck’ of beach-washed birds), led to reduced adult body condition and carry-over effects causing egg and chick failures during the subsequent breeding season. Localised weather events (i.e. flooding of burrows due to heavy rainfall) also influenced breeding outcomes of the 2019/20 season. The relationship between wreck events and seabird breeding ecology is an understudied area, partly due to the difficulties around quantifying the scale of wrecks. Our study is one of few that documents poor seabird breeding success following the extreme marine conditions which have persisted in the North Pacific Ocean since 2013.
Multiscale spatial variability in epibiont assemblage structure associated with stipes of kelp Laminaria hyperborea in the northeast Atlantic
Authors: King NG , Moore PJ , Wilding C , Jenkins HL , Smale DA
Published: June 2021

Foundation species elevate local biodiversity and underpin critical ecological processes and functions. Kelp species are distributed along ~25% of the world’s coastlines, where they serve as foundation species in intertidal and subtidal habitats. As well as ameliorating environmental conditions and producing organic matter, they provide biogenic habitat for a vast array of associated organisms. Here, we investigated patterns of diversity and structure in assemblages associated with the stipe of the kelp Laminaria hyperborea in the NE Atlantic. Stipes were sampled at 4 study regions (with 3 sites nested within each region) in the UK, spanning ~9° of latitude. Stipe-associated communities were highly diverse (134 species) and abundant (16-4532 ind. stipe-1), with no obvious sequential shift in diversity or overall trends in abundance/biomass of assemblages with latitude. However, we observed high degrees of variability between sites from the same region and individuals within sites, indicating that processes working across smaller spatial scales were more important than those at regional scales. While we observed high between-site variability in assemblage structure, regional differences were also evident. Most notably, sites within our southernmost region (southern England) were largely devoid of amphipods that dominated all other regions. This study highlights the important role of L. hyperborea in elevating biodiversity at local to regional scales through a facilitative interaction. Moreover, given that L. hyperborea forests may be increasingly impacted by ocean warming, changes in coastal water quality and proposed exploitation, our study serves as an important benchmark against which to detect future changes.
DAHAGA: An Islamic spiritual mindfulness-based application to reduce depression among nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Dwidiyanti Meidiana , Munif Badrul , Santoso Agus , Rahmawati Ashri Maulida , Prasetya Rikhan Luhur
Published: June 2021

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacts students’ mental health. Most of them may experience depression. Due to restrictions and social distancing during the pandemic, counseling may not be applicable in detecting the problems. Therefore, an Islamic spiritual mindfulness-based application called DAHAGA is created in order to detect and reduce depression. It is believed that this innovative app could reduce mental health problems among students.
Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of DAHAGA on reducing depression among nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia.
Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with a comparison group pretest/posttest design conducted from May to June 2020. Seventy students were selected using convenience sampling, of which 35 were assigned in an experimental group and a comparison group. The validated Indonesian Version-Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) was used for data collection. Paired t-test and independent t-test were used for data analysis.
Results: There was a significant effect of DAHAGA on depression (p < 0.001). The level of depression after intervention (mean 11.49, SD 4.49) was lower than it before the intervention (mean 17.20, SD 4.94). Additionally, there was a significant difference in depression level between the experimental and comparison groups after the intervention with a p-value of < 0.001. 
Conclusion: The DAHAGA is proven effective in reducing depression. Therefore, this study offers a new and innovative app that fits with the COVID-19 pandemic to help Muslim students maintain their health status. The findings also support Islamic spiritual mindfulness as a part of nursing interventions among psychiatric nurses to deal with mental health problems, especially depression.
The Network Life of Non-biomedical Knowledge: Mapping Vietnamese Traditional Medicine Discourses on Facebook
Authors: Nguyen Dang
Published: June 2021

Traditional medicine is hugely popular throughout Southeast Asia and other parts of the world. The development of the internet and online social networks in these contexts has enabled a significant proliferation of non-biomedical knowledge and practices via platforms such as Facebook. People use Facebook to advocate for non- biomedical alternatives to unaffordable biomedicine, share family medical recipes, discuss medicinal properties of indigenous plants, buy and sell these plants, and even crowdsource disease diagnoses. This paper examines the network characteristics of, and discourses present within, three popular Vietnamese non-biomedical knowledge Facebook sites over a period of five years. These large-scale datasets are studied using social network analysis and generative statistical models for topic analysis (Latent Dirichlet allocation). Forty-nine unique topics were quantitatively identified and qualitatively interpreted. Among these topics, themes of religion and philanthropy, critical discussions of traditional medicine, and negotiations involving overseas Vietnamese were particularly notable. Although non-biomedical networks on Facebook are growing both in terms of scale and popularity, sub-network comment activities within these networks exhibit ‘small world’ characteristics. This suggests that social media seem to be replicating existing social dynamics that historically enable the maintenance of traditional forms of medical knowledge, rather than transforming them here.
The genetic causes of infertility in patients with oligozoospermia and azoospermia in Turkish population
Authors: Danacıoglu Yavuz Onur , Yenice Mustafa Gürkan , Akkas Fatih , Soytas Mustafa , Seyhan Serhat , Tasci Ali İhsan
Published: June 2021

Objective: Advances in the science of genetics and the development of assisted reproductive techniques focus on the genetic causes of infertility. The aim of this research is to reveal genetic abnormalities in terms of sex chromosome aneuploidy and Y chromosome microdeletions.
Material and Methods: A total of 350 patients with azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia were selected. After general examination of the patients and laboratory investigations were performed, cartoypes and Y chromosome microdeletions were examined.
Results: A total of 225 infertile men with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) and 125 infertile men with oligozoospermia were enrolled into the study. The overall cytogenetic anomaly rate was 16%. Chromosomal changes were detected in 32 of 350 (9.1%) cases. The most common genetic anomaly was 47, XXY (Klinefelter syndrome) and the incidence was 11.5% in NOA group. This rate was 3.2% in oligozoospermia group. Y chromosome microdeletions were detected in 24 (6.8%) patients and similarly, it was observed more frequently in the NOA group than in the oligozoospermia group.
Conclusion: The incidence of genetic causes have been increasing with the severity of infertility. As a result, genetic screening and appropriate genetic counseling are needed before the use of assisted reproductive techniques.
Keywords: azospermia, chromosome, infertility, microdeletion, oligozoospermiaage
Single center results of magnetic resonance imaging ultrasound guided
fusion prostate biopsy obtained patients
Authors: Yılmaz Sercan , Aybal Halil Cagri , Özdemir Hakan , Gazel Eymen , Kaya Engin , Yalcin Serdar , Yilmaz Mehmet , Oner Ali Yusuf , Yorubulut Mehmet , Tunc Lutfi
Published: June 2021

Objective: We aimed to evaluate magnetic resonance imaging-ultrasound guided fusion prostate biopsy (MRI- US FPBx) results from a single center and to compare with current literature.
Material and Methods: Between January 2016 and July 2019, MRI-US FPBx pathological and imaging results of 358 men were retrospectively analyzed. PI-RADS scores were determined as 3, 4 and 5 in 222 (62%), 107 (29.8%) and 29 (8.1%) patients, respectively. Totally 454 lesions were underwent MRI-US FPBx. 303 (66.7%) lesions were scored as PI-RADS 3, 120 (26.4%) lesions were scored as PI-RADS 4 and 31 (6.8%) lesions were scored as PI-RADS 5. 315 (69.3%) of lesions were in peripheral zone, 26 (5.7%) were in central zone, 111 (24.4%) were in transitional zone and 2 of them were in anterior fibromuscular stroma.
Results: Overall prostate cancer detection rate was 36.3%. Concerning detection rates, MRI-US FPBx alone and transrectal ultrasonography guided prostate biopsy (TRUS-Bx) alone were 27.6% and 26.5%, respectively. Cancer detection rate only through MRI-US FPBx PIRADS-3 and PI-RADS 4&5 were 6.9% and 20.6%, respectively. Clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) rates were evaluated and csPCa to overall prostate cancer (PCa) rates for TRUS-Bx, MRI-US FPBx and combined techniques were 16.8%, 35.4% and 39.2%, respectively. Results of 11 patients were evaluated as benign.
Conclusion: MRI-US FPBx significantly increases success rate of prostate biopsy procedure. Regarding current MRI technology, it is not appropriate to consider MRI-US FPBx as a stand-alone biopsy option without concomitant with TRUS-Bx.
Keywords: prostate cancer; biopsy; MRI; fusion
The Anthrobscene
Authors: Parikka Jussi
Published: June 2021

Smartphones, laptops, tablets, and e-readers all at one time held the promise of a more environmentally healthy world not dependent on paper and deforestation. The result of our ubiquitous digital lives is, as we see in The Anthrobscene, actually quite the opposite: not ecological health but an environmental wasteland, where media never die. Jussi Parikka critiques corporate and human desires as a geophysical force, analyzing the material side of the earth as essential for the existence of media and introducing the notion of an alternative deep time in which media live on in the layer of toxic waste we will leave behind as our geological legacy. The published (.epub) version of the Anthrobscene (published by University of Minnesota Press, 2014) and available as CC Attribution-NonCommercial-Sharealike 4.0 International license
PENGARUH KONSENTRASI ASAM SITRAT TERHADAP PEWARNA ALAMI BUNGA KEMBANG SEPATU
Authors: Suseno Rahayu , Surhaini Surhaini , Ampitasari Cici Nofri
Published: June 2021

Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pengaruh asam sitrat dalam ekstraksi antosianin bunga kembang sepatu. penelitian ini dilakukan menggunakan rancangan acak lengkap yang terdri dari 5 taraf perlakuan asam sitrat yaitu 0%, 3%, 5%, 7% dan 9%. Data di analisis menggunakan Analisys of Varian (ANOVA) dan uji lanjut Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) pada taraf kepercayaan 95%. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa penggunaan asam sitrat berpengaruh nyata terhadap rendemen, pH, warna dan konsentrasi antosianin. perlakuan asam sitrat 9% merupakan perlakuan terbaik dengan rendemen 75,12%; pH 3,23; L 40,33; A 58,00; B 30,33 dengan deskripsi warna dark red dan kadar antosianin sebesar 135,04 (mg cyaniding 3-glukosida/100 g bahan).
PENGARUH PENAMBAHAN HIDROKOLOID TERHADAP SIFAT FISIK DAN SENSORI ES KRIM SANTAN KELAPA
Authors: Utama Rozi Satria , Fajri Prima Yaumil , Agustina Agustina , Rahayu Cucu
Published: June 2021

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh penambahan hidrokoloid terhadap sifat fisik (waktu leleh dan overrun) dan sensori (rasa, tekstur, aroma, dan penerimaan keseluruhan) es krim santan kelapa. Rancangan penelitian ini menggunakan rancangan acak lengkap (RAL) faktor tunggal yang terdiri dari 4 perlakuan yaitu penambahan hidrokoloid 0%, penambahan guar gum, karagenan, dan CMC dengan konsentrasi masing – masing 0,3%. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa penambahan hidrokoloid berpengaruh signifikan terhadap waktu leleh es krim santan kelapa. Waktu leleh es krim penambahan hidrokoloid 0%, penambahan guar gum, karagenan, dan CMC berturut-turut adalah 44,67 menit, 49 menit, 56,67 menit, dan 51,33 menit. Penambahan hidrkoloid tidak berpengaruh signifikan terhadap overrun es krim santan kelapa. Pada uji kesukaan, penambahan CMC dan karagenan berpengaruh signifikan terhadap nilai kesukaan untuk tekstur dan penerimaan keseluruhan, namun tidak berpengaruh terhadap rasa dan aroma, sedangkan penambahan guar gum tidak berpengaruh terhadap rasa, aroma, tekstur dan penerimaan keseluruhan. Es krim santan kelapa dengan penambahan CMC mempunyai nilai tertinggi untuk parameter tekstur dan penerimaan keseluruhan.
Pengaruh Blansing terhadap Aktivitas Antioksidan Sari Buah Kersen (Muntingia calabura L.)
Authors: Manuel Shannon Erchelia , Samual Maria , Taroreh Mercy
Published: June 2021

Buah kersen merupakan salah satu jenis buah yang memiliki fungsi fisiologis karena terdapat kandungan antioksidan. Buah kersen dapat dimanfaatkan sebagai bahan utama dalam pembuatan sari buah. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pengaruh lama blansing terhadap total fenol, kadar vitamin C, angka peroksida, warna dan aktivitas antioksidan, Rancangan percobaan yang digunakan  adalah Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) dengan satu faktor yang diulang sebanyak tiga kali. Faktor tersebut yaitu variasi lama blansing (B: 0 menit, C: 1 menit, D: 3 menit, dan E: 5 menit) dan A: tanpa blansing sebagai kontrol. Analisis data secara deskriptif pada total fenol, kadar vitamin C, angka peroksida, warna dan aktivitas antioksidan. Hasil penelitian yang diperoleh menunjukan bahwa ada pengaruh lama blansing terhadap total fenol, kadar vitamin C, angka  peroksida, warna dan tidak ada pengaruh lama blansing terhadap antioksidan sebagai penangkal radikal bebas. Hasil uji aktivitas antioksidan sari buah kersen perlakuan terbaik yaitu sampel D blansing 3 menit pada suhu 65°C dengan nilai IC50 5,15 mg/mL (sangat kuat).
Pattern Reduction in Paper Cutting
Authors: Aldridge Chris , Chapman Jon , Gower Rebecca , Leese Robert , McDiarmid Colin , Shepherd Mark , Tuenter Hans , Wilson Helen , Zinober Alan
Published: June 2021

A large part of the paper industry involves supplying customers with reels of specified width in specified quantities. These 'customer reels' must be cut from a set of wider 'jumbo reels' as economically as possible. The first priority is to satisfy the customer demands using as few jumbo reels as possible. This is an example of the well-known one-dimensional cutting stock problem, which can be solved by creating a series of patterns, each corresponding to a different set of reels that can be cut from a single jumbo. A secondary problem is to minimize the number of patterns needed in order to reduce frequency of cutting-knife resets. Existing methods account for 90% of cases. The problem is to provide methods for the remaining 10%. This is shown to be an NP-hard problem, and so efficient design heuristics are proposed and tested for reducing further the frequency of resets.
Memórias de Orfeu
Authors: Silva João Maria da
Published: June 2021

Um cineasta brasileiro que mora em Paris recebe a notícia de que seu irmão mais velho, o qual ele não vê há vários anos, ingeriu veneno e está muito mal. Ele toma o primeiro avião com destino ao Brasil. Os desdobramentos desse episódio o levam a pesquisar sobre transtornos neurológicos, como um dos temas de seu primeiro filme. E, logo no início da investigação, se depara com o diário de um professor que sofria de uma espécie de transtorno, além daqueles próprios do ofício. A partir daí, passa, igualmente, a colher depoimentos daqueles que são citados no diário. E, alternando passagens do diário com depoimentos de pessoas que conheceram o professor e de alguns especialistas no assunto, vai estruturando seu roteiro, bem como o livro que está sendo escrito. Esse processo, contudo, não se dá de modo tão ameno. E o cineasta vai percebendo que a história de vida de um sujeito nunca se completa, é plena de contradições; compreende que as pessoas se recusam a serem lidas em seus estereótipos; são mais que a soma das funções ou papéis que desempenham; e também não se reduzem a uma síntese de tudo; não funcionam isoladamente e são bem mais complexas que seus rótulos.
Human iPSCs and Genome Editing Technologies for Precision Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering
Authors: Gähwiler Eric K. N. , Motta Sarah E. , Martin Marcy , Nugraha Bramasta , Hoerstrup Simon P. , Emmert Maximilian Y.
Published: June 2021

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) originate from the reprogramming of adult somatic cells using four Yamanaka transcription factors. Since their discovery, the stem cell (SC) field achieved significant milestones and opened several gateways in the area of disease modeling, drug discovery, and regenerative medicine. In parallel, the emergence of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated protein 9 (CRISPR-Cas9) revolutionized the field of genome engineering, allowing the generation of genetically modified cell lines and achieving a precise genome recombination or random insertions/deletions, usefully translated for wider applications. Cardiovascular diseases represent a constantly increasing societal concern, with limited understanding of the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms. The ability of iPSCs to differentiate into multiple cell types combined with CRISPR-Cas9 technology could enable the systematic investigation of pathophysiological mechanisms or drug screening for potential therapeutics. Furthermore, these technologies can provide a cellular platform for cardiovascular tissue engineering (TE) approaches by modulating the expression or inhibition of targeted proteins, thereby creating the possibility to engineer new cell lines and/or fine-tune biomimetic scaffolds. This review will focus on the application of iPSCs, CRISPR-Cas9, and a combination thereof to the field of cardiovascular TE. In particular, the clinical translatability of such technologies will be discussed ranging from disease modeling to drug screening and TE applications.
RNAi-Related Dicer and Argonaute Proteins Play Critical Roles for Meiocyte Formation, Chromosome-Axes Lengths and Crossover Patterning in the Fungus Sordaria macrospora
Authors: Girard Chloe , Budin Karine , Boisnard Stéphanie , Zhang Liangran , Debuchy Robert , Zickler Denise , Espagne Eric
Published: June 2021

RNA interference (RNAi) is a cellular process involving small RNAs that target and regulate complementary RNA transcripts. This phenomenon has well-characterized roles in regulating gene and transposon expression. In addition, Dicer and Argonaute proteins, which are key players of RNAi, also have functions unrelated to gene repression. We show here that in the filamentous Ascomycete Sordaria macrospora, genes encoding the two Dicer (Dcl1 and Dcl2) and the two Argonaute (Sms2 and Qde2) proteins are dispensable for vegetative growth. However, we identified roles for all four proteins in the sexual cycle. Dcl1 and Sms2 are essential for timely and successful ascus/meiocyte formation. During meiosis per se, Dcl1, Dcl2, and Qde2 modulate, more or less severely, chromosome axis length and crossover numbers, patterning and interference. Additionally, Sms2 is necessary both for correct synaptonemal complex formation and loading of the pro-crossover E3 ligase-protein Hei10. Moreover, meiocyte formation, and thus meiotic induction, is completely blocked in the dcl1 dcl2 and dcl1 sms2 null double mutants. These results indicate complex roles of the RNAi machinery during major steps of the meiotic process with newly uncovered roles for chromosomes-axis length modulation and crossover patterning regulation.
Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Attenuate Transverse Aortic Constriction Induced Heart Failure by Increasing Angiogenesis
Authors: Pang Yanan , Ma Minglu , Wang Dong , Xia Jiacun , Wang Xinyue , Hou Lei , Wang Zhiguo , Li Xun
Published: June 2021

Background: Although there are concerns regarding their clinical use, embryonic stem cells (ESCs) hold a great promise for cardiac repair. Exosomes deriving from ESCs constitute a promising alternative for heart restoration. However, their effects in hypertension-induced heart failure are still unknown.

Objective and Methods: To investigate the effects of ESCs-derived exosomes on hypertension-induced heart failure and the underlying mechanisms, sustained transverse aortic constriction (TAC) was performed on 8-week-old C57BL/6 male mice. After 1 months, ESCs-derived exosomes were isolated and injected intravenously once a week for 6 weeks. Echocardiography, wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), Masson staining, immunohistochemistry, and tube formation assays were all involved in our study.

Results: Proteomics analyses revealed that ESC-derived exosomes contain FGF2 protein. Tube formation induced by these exosomes could be inhibited by FGF2R siRNA interference. ESCs-derived exosomes evidently attenuated TAC-induced heart failure, improving cardiac function and promoting myocardial angiogenesis which can be attenuated by selective FGF2 inhibitor AZD4547.

Conclusions: ESC-derived exosomes attenuate TAC-induced heart failure mostly by promoting myocardial angiogenesis. FGF2 signaling plays a vital role in the myocardial angiogenesis induced by ESC-derived exosomes.
Effect of Cytochrome P450 Family 2 Subfamily R Member 1 Variants on the Predisposition of Coronary Heart Disease in the Chinese Han Population
Authors: Wang Qi , Lin Zhen , Chen Hairong , Ma Tianyi , Pan Biyun
Published: June 2021

Propose: Cytochrome P450 family 2 subfamily R member 1 (CYP2R1) variations can affect the activity of 25-hydroxylase, resulting in the deficiency of 25(OH)D, which leads to an increased incidence and mortality of coronary heart disease (CHD). The purpose is to assess the influence of CYP2R1 variants on CHD risk among the Chinese Han population.

Methods: A total of 508 CHD patients and 510 healthy controls were enrolled. The MassARRAY platform completed genotyping of CYP2R1 variants. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using logistic regression analysis.

Results: Rs6486205 (OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.05–1.50, p = 0.014), rs10741657 (OR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.08–1.54, p = 0.005), and rs2060793 (OR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.06–1.51, p = 0.009) were associated with the increased susceptibility to CHD in the whole subjects. Interestingly, the relationships between these variants and CHD risk were observed in the subjects with age >60 years, males or non-smoker. Additionally, the haplotypes Ars10741657Ars2060793 and Grs10741657Grs2060793 had the higher risk of CHD, and the combination (rs6486205 and rs10741657) was the best multi-locus model.

Conclusion: Our study suggested the contribution of CYP2R1 polymorphisms to the increased CHD predisposition in the Chinese Han population. Furthermore, the risk association was related to confounding factors for CHD, including age, sex, and smoking. These findings might help to strengthen the understanding of the CYP2R1 gene in the occurrence of CHD.
Tricuspid Regurgitation in Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction: Marker or Target?
Authors: Margonato Davide , Ancona Francesco , Ingallina Giacomo , Melillo Francesco , Stella Stefano , Biondi Federico , Boccellino Antonio , Godino Cosmo , Margonato Alberto , Agricola Eustachio
Published: June 2021

Far from being historically considered a primary healthcare problem, tricuspid regurgitation (TR) has recently gained much attention from the scientific community. In fact, in the last years, robust evidence has emerged regarding the epidemiological impact of TR, whose prevalence seems to be similar to that of other valvulopathies, such as aortic stenosis, with an estimated up to 4% of people >75 years affected by at least moderate TR in the United States, and up to 23% among patients suffering from heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. This recurrent coexistence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) and TR is not surprising, considered the multiple etiologies of tricuspid valve disease. TR can complicate heart failure mostly as a functional disease, because of pulmonary hypertension (PH), subsequent to elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, leading to right ventricular dilatation, and valve tethering. Moreover, the so-called “functional isolated” TR can occur, in the absence of PH, as a result of right atrial dilatation associated with atrial fibrillation, a common finding in patients with LVSD. Finally, TR can result as a iatrogenic consequence of transvalvular lead insertion, another frequent scenario in this cohort of patients. Nonetheless, despite the significant coincidence of these two conditions, their mutual relation, and the independent prognostic role of TR is still a matter of debate. Whether significant TR is just a marker for advanced left-heart disease, or a crucial potential therapeutical target, remains unclear. Aim of the authors in this review is to present an update concerning the epidemiological features and the clinical burden of TR in the context of LVSD, its prognostic value, and the potential benefit for early tricuspid intervention in patients affected by contemporary TR and LVSD.
Two-Dimensional Space-Time Image Velocimetry for Surface Flow Field of Mountain Rivers Based on UAV Video
Authors: Han Xiaolin , Chen Kebing , Zhong Qiang , Chen Qigang , Wang Fujun , Li Danxun
Published: June 2021

Space-time image velocimetry (STIV) is a promising technique for river surface flow field measurement with the development of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). STIV can give the magnitude of the velocity along the search line set manually thus the application of the STIV needs to determine the flow direction in advance. However, it is impossible to judge the velocity direction at any points before measurement in most mountainous rivers due to their complex terrain. A two-dimensional STIV is proposed in this study to obtain the magnitude and direction of the velocity automatically. The direction of river flow is independently determined by rotating the search line to find the space-time image which has the most prominent oblique stripes. The performance of the two-dimensional STIV is examined in the simulated images and the field measurements including the Xiasi River measurements and the Kuye River measurements, which prove it is a reliable method for the surface flow field measurement of mountain rivers.
Misdiagnosis of Paget’s Disease of Bone in a Congenital Generalized Lipodystrophy Patient: Case Report
Authors: Freire Erika Bastos Lima , Madeira Mayara Ponte , Lima Grayce Ellen da Cruz Paiva , Fernandes Virginia Oliveira , Aguiar Lindenberg Barbosa , Fontenele João Paulo Uchoa , Montenegro Ana Paula Dias Rangel , Marques Thyciara Fontenele , Ozório Renan Galvão , d’Alva Catarina Brasil , Montenegro Renan Magalhães
Published: June 2021

Paget’s disease of bone (PDB) is a common skeleton disorder in which the diagnosis is suggested by radiological analyses. Congenital generalized lipodystrophy (CGL) is a rare, but a radiologic differential diagnosis of Paget’s disease. Patients present total or almost total lack of subcutaneous adipose tissue, leptin deficiency, and precocious ectopic lipid accumulation, which lead to intense insulin resistance, poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, and hypertriglyceridemia. CGL subtypes 1 and 2 present sclerosis and osteolytic lesions that can resemble “pagetic” lesions. The clinical correlation is, therefore, essential. We report a CGL patient with bone lesions in which the radiographic findings led to a misdiagnosis of PDB. This case report brings awareness to CGL, a life-threating condition. Its early recognition is essential to avoid clinical complications and premature death. Therefore, it is important to consider CGL as PDB’s differential diagnosis, especially in countries with high prevalence of this rare disease, such as Brazil.
Grazing Exclusion Changed the Complexity and Keystone Species of Alpine Meadows on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Zhang Yong , Gao Qingzhu , Ganjurjav Hasbagan , Dong Shikui , Zheng Qiuzhu , Ma Yandan , Liang Kemin
Published: June 2021

Grazing exclusion is an effective approach to restore degraded grasslands. However, the effects of grazing exclusion on keystone species and the complexity of plant community were poorly investigated. Here, we conducted a field survey among different grazing exclusion durations, i.e., Grazing, grazing exclusion below 5 years, grazing exclusion with 5 years, grazing exclusion with 7 years, and grazing exclusion over 7 years, in alpine meadows on the central Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). The complexity and keystone species of alpine meadows were analyzed by a network analysis. The results showed the following: (1) The species richness did not change, but aboveground biomass and the coverage of the plant community tended to increase with the extension of the grazing exclusion duration. (2) The soil nutrients, i.e., total nitrogen, total organic carbon, available nitrogen, and available potassium, remained stable, while the soil bulk density decreased under grazing exclusion conditions. (3) There was a hump-shaped change of the complexity (i.e., average connectivity and average clustering coefficient) of the plant community along with the extension of the grazing exclusion duration. Moreover, the keystone species were different among the grazing exclusion treatments. Based on the complexity of the plant community and the changes of keystone species, the optimum duration of grazing exclusion for alpine meadows should be between 5 and 7 years. Our results suggest that besides the productivity, the change of the complexity and keystone species of plant community should be considered when grazing exclusion is adopted to restore the degraded alpine meadows.
Temporary Salt Lakes: Ecosystem Services Shift in a Ramsar Site Over a 50-Year Period
Authors: Ioannidou Ioanna , Manolaki Paraskevi , Litskas Vassilis D. , Vogiatzakis Ioannis N.
Published: June 2021

Changes in land use/land cover (LULC) are the key factors driving biodiversity and ecosystem services decline globally. This study examines spatiotemporal LULC changes in a Ramsar coastal temporary wetland (Larnaca Salt Lake) on the island of Cyprus between 1963 and 2015. LULC changes in the area are related to variations in the provision of ecosystem services (ES) namely food provision, climate regulation, avifauna support and landscape aesthetics. LULC mapping was performed based on the interpretation of aerial photos taken in 1963, while 2015 mapping was based on CORINE classification validated by satellite image analysis and fieldwork. We used the following indicators for the ES examined: (1) crops’ yield for the estimation of food supply, (2) carbon storage potential for climate regulation, (3) land cover potential to support avifauna richness and (4) naturalness as a proxy for landscape aesthetics. Quantifications were based on a mixed-methods approach with the use of statistical data, expert opinion and bibliography. Estimates for every service were assigned to CORINE land use classes (CLC) present in the area. Landscape structure was measured using a suite of commonly employed landscape metrics. The results showed that between 1963 and 2015 there has been a significant reduction in food provisioning service by 75%, a 37% reduction in carbon storage capacity, an 11% reduction in the capacity to support avifauna, and a 13% reduction in landscape aesthetics. Increased soil surface sealing, mainly with the construction of the international airport, which resulted in the conversion of natural or semi-natural to artificial surfaces, has been the main reason for the decrease in ES supply over the last fifty years in the study area. The character of the area in terms of land use types richness and diversity remains fairly stable but the dominant land use types have experienced fragmentation. The study sets the basis for a monitoring scheme to evaluate the state of the temporary wetlands with emphasis placed on spatial processes as a link to ES provision.
RNA-Seq Data for Reliable SNP Detection and Genotype Calling: Interest for Coding Variant Characterization and Cis-Regulation Analysis by Allele-Specific Expression in Livestock Species
Authors: Jehl Frédéric , Degalez Fabien , Bernard Maria , Lecerf Frédéric , Lagoutte Laetitia , Désert Colette , Coulée Manon , Bouchez Olivier , Leroux Sophie , Abasht Behnam , Tixier-Boichard Michèle , Bed’hom Bertrand , Burlot Thierry , Gourichon David , Bardou Philippe , Acloque Hervé , Foissac Sylvain , Djebali Sarah , Giuffra Elisabetta , Zerjal Tatiana , Pitel Frédérique , Klopp Christophe , Lagarrigue Sandrine
Published: June 2021

In addition to their common usages to study gene expression, RNA-seq data accumulated over the last 10 years are a yet-unexploited resource of SNPs in numerous individuals from different populations. SNP detection by RNA-seq is particularly interesting for livestock species since whole genome sequencing is expensive and exome sequencing tools are unavailable. These SNPs detected in expressed regions can be used to characterize variants affecting protein functions, and to studycis-regulated genes by analyzing allele-specific expression (ASE) in the tissue of interest. However, gene expression can be highly variable, and filters for SNP detection using the popular GATK toolkit are not yet standardized, making SNP detection and genotype calling by RNA-seq a challenging endeavor. We compared SNP calling results using GATK suggested filters, on two chicken populations for which both RNA-seq and DNA-seq data were available for the same samples of the same tissue. We showed, in expressed regions, a RNA-seq precision of 91% (SNPs detected by RNA-seq and shared by DNA-seq) and we characterized the remaining 9% of SNPs. We then studied the genotype (GT) obtained by RNA-seq and the impact of two factors (GT call-rate and read number per GT) on the concordance of GT with DNA-seq; we proposed thresholds for them leading to a 95% concordance. Applying these thresholds to 767 multi-tissue RNA-seq of 382 birds of 11 chicken populations, we found 9.5 M SNPs in total, of which ∼550,000 SNPs per tissue and population with a reliable GT (call rate ≥ 50%) and among them, ∼340,000 with a MAF ≥ 10%. We showed that such RNA-seq data from one tissue can be used to (i) detect SNPs with a strong predicted impact on proteins, despite their scarcity in each population (16,307 SIFT deleterious missenses and 590 stop-gained), (ii) study, on a large scale,cis-regulations of gene expression, with ∼81% of protein-coding and 68% of long non-coding genes (TPM ≥ 1) that can be analyzed for ASE, and with ∼29% of them that werecis-regulated, and (iii) analyze population genetic using such SNPs located in expressed regions. This work shows that RNA-seq data can be used with good confidence to detect SNPs and associated GT within various populations and used them for different analyses as GTEx studies.
Systems Immunology Analysis Reveals the Contribution of Pulmonary and Extrapulmonary Tissues to the Immunopathogenesis of Severe COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Hammoudeh Sarah Musa , Hammoudeh Arabella Musa , Bhamidimarri Poorna Manasa , Al Safar Habiba , Mahboub Bassam , Künstner Axel , Busch Hauke , Halwani Rabih , Hamid Qutayba , Rahmani Mohamed , Hamoudi Rifat
Published: June 2021

As one of the current global health conundrums, COVID-19 pandemic caused a dramatic increase of cases exceeding 79 million and 1.7 million deaths worldwide. Severe presentation of COVID-19 is characterized by cytokine storm and chronic inflammation resulting in multi-organ dysfunction. Currently, it is unclear whether extrapulmonary tissues contribute to the cytokine storm mediated-disease exacerbation. In this study, we applied systems immunology analysis to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in lung, liver, kidney, and heart tissues and the potential contribution of these tissues to cytokines production. Notably, genes associated with neutrophil-mediated immune response (e.g. CXCL1) were particularly upregulated in lung, whereas genes associated with eosinophil-mediated immune response (e.g. CCL11) were particularly upregulated in heart tissue. In contrast, immune responses mediated by monocytes, dendritic cells, T-cells and B-cells were almost similarly dysregulated in all tissue types. Focused analysis of 14 cytokines classically upregulated in COVID-19 patients revealed that only some of these cytokines are dysregulated in lung tissue, whereas the other cytokines are upregulated in extrapulmonary tissues (e.g. IL6 and IL2RA). Investigations of potential mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 modulates the immune response and cytokine production revealed a marked dysregulation of NF-κB signaling particularly CBM complex and the NF-κB inhibitor BCL3. Moreover, overexpression of mucin family genes (e.g. MUC3A, MUC4, MUC5B, MUC16, and MUC17) and HSP90AB1 suggest that the exacerbated inflammation activated pulmonary and extrapulmonary tissues remodeling. In addition, we identified multiple sets of immune response associated genes upregulated in a tissue-specific manner (DCLRE1C, CHI3L1, and PARP14 in lung; APOA4, NFASC, WIPF3, and CD34 in liver; LILRA5, ISG20, S100A12, and HLX in kidney; and ASS1 and PTPN1 in heart). Altogether, these findings suggest that the cytokines storm triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infection is potentially the result of dysregulated cytokine production by inflamed pulmonary and extrapulmonary (e.g. liver, kidney, and heart) tissues.
Low-Dose Vitamin D3 Supplementation Does Not Affect Natural Regulatory T Cell Population but Attenuates Seasonal Changes in T Cell-Produced IFN-γ: Results From the D-SIRe2 Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Maboshe Wakunyambo , Macdonald Helen M. , Wassall Heather , Fraser William D. , Tang Jonathan C. Y. , Fielding Shona , Barker Robert N. , Vickers Mark A. , Ormerod Anthony , Thies Frank
Published: June 2021

Background

Seasonal variations have been reported for immune markers. However, the relative contributions of sunlight and vitamin D variability on such seasonal changes are unknown.

Objective

This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial tested whether daily 400 IU vitamin D3supplementation affected short-term (12 weeks) and long-term (43 weeks) natural regulatory T cell (nTreg) populations in healthy participants.

Design

62 subjects were randomized equally to vitamin D versus placebo in March and assessed at baseline, April (4w), June (12w), September (25w) and January (43w). Circulating nTregs,ex vivoproliferation, IL-10 and IFN-γ productions were measured. Vitamin D metabolites and sunlight exposure were also assessed.

Results

Mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) increased from 35.8(SD 3.0) to 65.3(2.6) nmol/L in April and remained above 75 nmol/L with vitamin D supplementation, whereas it increased from 36.4(3.2) to 49.8(3.5) nmol/L in June to fall back to 39.6(3.5) nmol/L in January with placebo. Immune markers varied similarly between groups according to the season, but independently of 25(OH)D. For nTregs, the mean (%CD3+CD4+CD127locells (SEM)) nadir observed in March (2.9(0.1)%) peaked in September at 4.0(0.2)%. Mean T cell proliferation peaked in June (33156(1813) CPM) returning to the nadir in January (17965(978) CPM), while IL-10 peaked in June and reached its nadir in September (median (IQR) of 262(283) to (121(194) pg/ml, respectively). Vitamin D attenuated the seasonal increase in IFN-γ by ~28% with mean ng/ml (SEM) for placebo vs vitamin D, respectively, for April 12.5(1.4) vs 10.0(1.2) (p=0.02); June 13.9(1.3) vs 10.2(1.7) (p=0.02) and January 7.4(1.1) vs 6.0(1.1) (p=0.04).

Conclusions

Daily low dose Vitamin D intake did not affect the nTregs population. There were seasonal variation in nTregs, proliferative response and cytokines, suggesting that environmental changes influence immune response, but the mechanism seems independent of vitamin D status. Vitamin D attenuated the seasonal change in T cell-produced IFN-γ, suggesting a decrease in effector response which could be associated with inflammation.

Clinical Trial Registration

https://www.isrctn.com, identifier (ISRCTN 73114576).
Enhanced Susceptibility of Galectin-1 Deficient Mice to Experimental Colitis
Authors: Fernandez-Perez Raquel , Lopez-Santalla Mercedes , Sánchez-Domínguez Rebeca , Alberquilla Omaira , Gutiérrez-Cañas Irene , Juarranz Yasmina , Bueren Juan A. , Garin Marina I.
Published: June 2021

Galectin-1 is aβ-galactoside-binding lectin, ubiquitously expressed in stromal, epithelial, and different subsets of immune cells. Galectin-1 is the prototype member of the galectin family which shares specificity withβ-galactoside containing proteins and lipids. Immunomodulatory functions have been ascribed to endogenous galectin-1 due to its induction of T cell apoptosis, inhibitory effects of neutrophils and T cell trafficking. Several studies have demonstrated that administration of recombinant galectin-1 suppressed experimental colitis by modulating adaptive immune responses altering the fate and phenotype of T cells. However, the role of endogenous galectin-1 in intestinal inflammation is poorly defined. In the present study, the well-characterized acute dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced model of ulcerative colitis was used to study the function of endogenous galectin-1 during the development of intestinal inflammation. We found that galectin-1 deficient mice (Lgals1−/−mice) displayed a more severe intestinal inflammation, characterized by significantly elevated clinical scores, than their wild type counterparts. The mechanisms underlying the enhanced inflammatory response in coliticLgals1−/−mice involved an altered Th17/Th1 profile of effector CD4+T cells. Furthermore, increased frequencies of Foxp3+CD4+regulatory T cells in colon lamina propria inLgals1−/−mice were found. Strikingly, the exacerbated intestinal inflammatory response observed inLgals1−/−mice was alleviated by adoptive transfer of wild type Foxp3+CD4+regulatory T cells at induction of colitis. Altogether, these data highlight the importance of endogenous galectin-1 as a novel determinant in regulating T cell reactivity during the development of intestinal inflammation.
Single-Dose Immunization With a Chimpanzee Adenovirus-Based Vaccine Induces Sustained and Protective Immunity Against SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Authors: Li Mingxi , Guo Jingao , Lu Shuaiyao , Zhou Runhong , Shi Hongyang , Shi Xuanling , Cheng Lin , Liang Qingtai , Liu Hongqi , Wang Pui , Wang Nan , Wang Yifeng , Fu Lili , Xing Man , Wang Ruoke , Ju Bin , Liu Li , Lau Siu-Ying , Jia Wenxu , Tong Xin , Yuan Lin , Guo Yong , Qi Hai , Zhang Qi , Huang Zhen , Chen Honglin , Zhang Zheng , Chen Zhiwei , Peng Xiaozhong , Zhou Dongming , Zhang Linqi
Published: June 2021

The development of a safe and effective vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of pandemic coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), is a global priority. Here, we aim to develop novel SARS-CoV-2 vaccines based on a derivative of less commonly used rare adenovirus serotype AdC68 vector. Three vaccine candidates were constructed expressing either the full-length spike (AdC68-19S) or receptor-binding domain (RBD) with two different signal sequences (AdC68-19RBD and AdC68-19RBDs). Single-dose intramuscular immunization induced robust and sustained binding and neutralizing antibody responses in BALB/c mice up to 40 weeks after immunization, with AdC68-19S being superior to AdC68-19RBD and AdC68-19RBDs. Importantly, immunization with AdC68-19S induced protective immunity against high-dose challenge with live SARS-CoV-2 in a golden Syrian hamster model of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Vaccinated animals demonstrated dramatic decreases in viral RNA copies and infectious virus in the lungs, as well as reduced lung pathology compared to the control animals. Similar protective effects were also found in rhesus macaques. Taken together, these results confirm that AdC68-19S can induce protective immune responses in experimental animals, meriting further development toward a human vaccine against SARS-CoV-2.
Immune-Based Prediction of COVID-19 Severity and Chronicity Decoded Using Machine Learning
Authors: Patterson Bruce K. , Guevara-Coto Jose , Yogendra Ram , Francisco Edgar B. , Long Emily , Pise Amruta , Rodrigues Hallison , Parikh Purvi , Mora Javier , Mora-Rodríguez Rodrigo A.
Published: June 2021

Expression of CCR5 and its cognate ligands have been implicated in COVID-19 pathogenesis, consequently therapeutics directed against CCR5 are being investigated. Here, we explored the role of CCR5 and its ligands across the immunologic spectrum of COVID-19. We used a bioinformatics approach to predict and model the immunologic phases of COVID so that effective treatment strategies can be devised and monitored. We investigated 224 individuals including healthy controls and patients spanning the COVID-19 disease continuum. We assessed the plasma and isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 29 healthy controls, 26 Mild-Moderate COVID-19 individuals, 48 Severe COVID-19 individuals, and 121 individuals with post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) symptoms. Immune subset profiling and a 14-plex cytokine panel were run on all patients from each group. B-cells were significantly elevated compared to healthy control individuals (P<0.001) as was the CD14+, CD16+, CCR5+ monocytic subset (P<0.001). CD4 and CD8 positive T-cells expressing PD-1 as well as T-regulatory cells were significantly lower than healthy controls (P<0.001 and P=0.01 respectively). CCL5/RANTES, IL-2, IL-4, CCL3, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ, and VEGF were all significantly elevated compared to healthy controls (all P<0.001). Conversely GM-CSF and CCL4 were in significantly lower levels than healthy controls (P=0.01). Data were further analyzed and the classes were balanced using SMOTE. With a balanced working dataset, we constructed 3 random forest classifiers: a multi-class predictor, a Severe disease group binary classifier and a PASC binary classifier. Models were also analyzed for feature importance to identify relevant cytokines to generate a disease score. Multi-class models generated a score specific for the PASC patients and defined as S1 = (IFN-γ + IL-2)/CCL4-MIP-1β. Second, a score for the Severe COVID-19 patients was defined as S2 = (IL-6+sCD40L/1000 + VEGF/10 + 10*IL-10)/(IL-2 + IL-8). Severe COVID-19 patients are characterized by excessive inflammation and dysregulated T cell activation, recruitment, and counteracting activities. While PASC patients are characterized by a profile able to induce the activation of effector T cells with pro-inflammatory properties and the capacity of generating an effective immune response to eliminate the virus but without the proper recruitment signals to attract activated T cells.